A Sweet Far Thing

This is the third and final book in the Gemma Doyle trilogy. It is a big book, but I promise it doesn't read like a big book. The story advances with great pacing, there were again twists that I didn't expect and my care for several of the characters increased even within the first few pages.

This continues the story of Gemma as she tries to resolve the issues that are presenting themselves with the magic. The Order and the Rakshana are battling for control and the reader experiences many of the frustrations as Gemma does in trying to figure out who is really good and who is really bad. Then there are the issues in Gemma's English world - she is just a month or two away from her debut, has to determine how to fit in this society where she can't even curtsy as well as everyone else, deals with feelings for two different boys eventhough she is convinced she has made up her mind, and realizes things about her friends that takes her to a different understanding of who they really are and what it is that is truly important to them.

Like I said, this book moves fast. I really love Gemma - I love her individuality and desire to have things done according to her guidelines for happiness. There are moments in this when the sympathy strings are pulled for Tom, Kartik, Ann, Felicity and Pippa. I also like that Libba Bray understands that living happily ever after doesn't always mean for everyone and in the way they thought. I appreciate an author who can resolve a story in the way that best suits the story, and I'm happy that the resolution really didn't leave a place for any more. These three were just right, and I'm so glad I read this trilogy.

Rebel Angels

You know how sometimes, in a trilogy, there is the great hook book, the story is new and intriguing, and there are complications showing all over and you can't wait to read the next only to find nothing is resolved? Thank heavens that was not the case for Rebel Angels. This is the second book in the Gemma Doyle Trilogy, and I adored it.

This book takes place during Christmas and Gemma is to spend the holiday away from Spence Academy, where she will go to fantastic balls and still be able to associate with her friends Felicity and Ann. There is a wealthy young man who is interested in her, and she in him. But she keeps having visions of girls in white who need her help and Gemma returns to the realms again to discover some answers to the many mysteries. Kartik is in this book as well, as a more prevalent character, with instructions from the Rakshana to bind the magic and find the temple or there will be destruction, which will not be limited to just Gemma.

Hard to believe but I loved this book more than the first, and I don't even think the reference to Milton had anything to do with it. The characters develop depth and likability, there is romance that isn't over the top and the conflicts that Gemma faces are more than just which gown to wear what night. There are hints at a love triangle, and some of the characters from book one, through their development, become more intriguing. There were several times when I was reading this that I wasn't positive who I wanted to be victorious, have their dreams found or even if they were who they said they were. Very, very smart writing and incredible imagination. Amazingly enjoyable.

A Great and Terrible Beauty

I have been hearing about this series for a couple years, but never made it to it. I think I thought it was going to be a ridiculous, romantic Jane Austen wannabe, and I just wasn't interested. But it kepts showing up on lists, kept getting rave reviews, and finally, when I found out I could take books from our school library and keep them all summer, I grabbed the whole trilogy and put it on my need-to-read-over-the-summer list. Even then I put it off (they are big books) until I decided to take them with me to Vegas a couple weeks ago and really had the time to read. Once again I'm kicking myself for waiting so long.

This is the story of a girl, Gemma Doyle, who witnesses the tragic death of her mother while living with her parents in India, and returns to England, with her father, to attend a finishing school. While there, she longs to investigate the disturbing events of her mother's death that just don't add up, figure out how to find her place in a society she is not accustomed to, and find some way to overcome her grief. Mysterious events begin to take place - dreams that haunt her even when awake, and then she starts to hear tales about a society that enabled women and had significant power, but for some reason was lost.

This is a very smart book. It is in Victorian England and has all of the finesse and foolishness of that society. Gemma is a very strong willed heroine but understands the necessity to conform and fit in. She stands up for herself when questioned, takes the sides she decides to be appropriate and is smart. Felicity, her friend, borders a stereotype of being a snob, but has moments that make her endearing. Pippa also toys with being cliche but is just different enough, just unique enough, to make her lovable, even when I didn't want to. Ann could be annoying with her despair and vicitm-like attitude, but somehow the pity isn't overwhelming. There are few series I've read that fused the intelligence and imagination this well.

Going Bovine

I had heard a great deal about this book but never came across anyone who had read it yet, so I thought I'd give it a go. The cover and the title peaked my interest - really? Going Bovine? There is no way this book is going to be any good. But low and behold it was - in its own very unique way.

This is the story of a boy named Cameron who has a sister, mom and dad but they all kindof live together but only as beings that co-exist. His sister, Jenna, is super popular, and he's a loser. He has an experience where he smokes some weed, thinks he got a bad batch because of the continued strange hallucinations only to discover after one incident that he in fact has Mad Cow Disease, and the lesions in his brain are causing the hallucinations. Then, while in the hospital, a punk angel with bright pink wings comes to visit him with a quest to save the world from the attacking parallel universe and find Dr. X, the only man who can save him. He grabs his roommate, a dwarf named Gonzo, and together they embark on the journey to save the world and each other before his E ticket runs out.

I know, right? Strange. But I couldn't stop reading! I wanted to know if this was reality or Mad Cow hallucinations, if Dulcie (the punk angel) really knew what was going on or if she was just the messenger as she said. I was giving up a little when they met the talking yard gnome who is really a Viking god that was transformed by a trickster. I know this book isn't for everyone, and there is more bad language that many will feel comfortable reading, eventhough it is absolutely spot on for the characters. The conclusion was perfect and sentimental and I really am glad I took the time to read this book.