Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collections
Publication
Simon & Schuster Children's, Paperback
Description
At Spence Academy, sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle continues preparing for her London debut while struggling to determine how best to use magic to resolve a power struggle in the enchanted world of the realms, and to protect her own world and loved ones.
User reviews
LibraryThing member alana_leigh
Well, it's over. The Sweet Far Thing is the last in this trilogy of books by Libba Bray that depict young women in Victorian England with access to magical realms (creatively called "the realms") and yet don't have any idea what to do with this magic, so they spend three books trying to figure that
Here's the thing. It's the third book, so if you've made it through the first two, it means that you either (a) love these books and so you're excited or (b) are like me and have an obsessive need to finish what you've begun. Either way, you're probably going to read it, having made it this far, so I don't feel like I need to sell anyone on this.
Gemma is still seventeen, in her last few months attending Spence's boarding school for young ladies, and she's still trying to decide what to do with this power she's been given -- and everyone else is quick to demand that she hand it over. The Order, the Rakshana, Circe... yes, I know that Gemma thought she killed her in book two, but as you know if you've read these books, people who have been killed aren't nearly as dead as they should be when the realms are concerned. Pippa, who was already lost to the realms, is now assured that she's certainly stuck there and her own sense of self-importance is fanned by a coterie of adoring girls (victims of a factory fire also stuck in this limbo) who might not be cultured, but worship Pip. Circe is still somehow present in the realms' temple and all too easily works her way into Gemma's confidence. (Um, Gemma? This woman is responsible for your mom's death. Remember that?) And then there's Amar, the brother of Gemma's love interest, Kartik, and member of the Rakshana. He's prowling around as a corrupted being like Pippa and he seems to be commanding an army of Winterlands creatures in a bid to keep the magic for their own use. How are the mighty fallen.
Of course, Gemma has to come a long way before she realizes that curtsying correctly for her presentation to Queen Victoria is not exactly something she can compare with all the difficult decisions ahead. It's too easy for Gemma to use magic for her own purposes... whether that's making her family a little happier or making herself seem more powerful and wanted by Simon to upset his father, a member of the Rakshana. Sure, she's a teenager, but even she should know better by this point. When it comes down to the big decisions, a lot of them are made off the cuff, without much forethought. Spur of the moment things that are meant to show bravery or somesuch nonsense, but really just seem to suggest that no one can think ahead.
Suffice to say that since this is the last book, we finally have some resolutions about things. The Felicity/Pippa connection (if you haven't figured out that they're not just friends by now, then I'm not sure that you actually read the previous two books) is built up to this huge unveiling, but since that seemed obvious, it was a bit annoying... and particularly annoying is Fee's absolute conviction in her inclinations. Being only a teenager at this time period, I should think that she would still be figuring it all out as opposed to being so convinced of her orientation. Those looking for Gemma and Kartik to finally get together should feel pleased... for a few minutes. Kartik's utter devotion to Gemma might seem unrealistic, but given the out-of-the-ordinary circumstances that unite them, I accepted it as sweet and chivalrous, because at least you knew he had struggled with his decisions. Though the fact that they get together before we're close to the finale should be your first indication that nothing can end well. It did, however, annoy me that Bray settled on the path that allows their love (which could probably never exist in the real world outside the realms, given the time period) but takes the easy way out as far as resolutions go. Ultimately, I have a hard time seeing how all this trouble can be attributed to anything but Gemma's inability to make up her mind and part with her powers. She acts much younger than her age, particularly given how most everyone else around her seems capable of rising to their challenges. She may be the narrator and thus, the one we are supposed to identify with and root for, but my sympathy for Gemma only goes so far.
As for the writing, I feel as though Bray isn't quite where she needs to be. She moves much too quickly through her descriptions, particularly as it concerns the action. It's as though she assumed by writing quickly, we'd hurry through it and the only important part, really, is the outcome so we'll focus on that instead. And that's an odd feeling to have... for eight hundred or so pages. Even three lengthy books didn't seem enough to encompass an adequate description of this fantasy world that Bray created. I would have preferred a storyline much more compact in its scope and more detail about the realms. Or if epic was the objective, then something else needed to give way. I felt as though very few decisions were made... which rather makes me equate Gemma with Libba Bray in that sense.
If you enjoyed the series up to now, you'll probably still like it because you're predisposed to such a decision. If you're on the fence, then I think you might be swayed towards annoyance. I do appreciate Bray's expansive imagination that allows for such fantastic creations, but ultimately I think she needs to learn that writing is about making choices... which seems to be the lesson that she's trying to teach Gemma throughout this trilogy, so it would be a good one to take to heart.
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out while dodging all adult advice/manipulation. Of course, just because it's the last book doesn't mean that it's a fast conclusion. Oh no. You've got 819 pages to savor the end of the series. It's Harry Potter proportions... only I haven't found this series to be anywhere near as compelling.Here's the thing. It's the third book, so if you've made it through the first two, it means that you either (a) love these books and so you're excited or (b) are like me and have an obsessive need to finish what you've begun. Either way, you're probably going to read it, having made it this far, so I don't feel like I need to sell anyone on this.
Gemma is still seventeen, in her last few months attending Spence's boarding school for young ladies, and she's still trying to decide what to do with this power she's been given -- and everyone else is quick to demand that she hand it over. The Order, the Rakshana, Circe... yes, I know that Gemma thought she killed her in book two, but as you know if you've read these books, people who have been killed aren't nearly as dead as they should be when the realms are concerned. Pippa, who was already lost to the realms, is now assured that she's certainly stuck there and her own sense of self-importance is fanned by a coterie of adoring girls (victims of a factory fire also stuck in this limbo) who might not be cultured, but worship Pip. Circe is still somehow present in the realms' temple and all too easily works her way into Gemma's confidence. (Um, Gemma? This woman is responsible for your mom's death. Remember that?) And then there's Amar, the brother of Gemma's love interest, Kartik, and member of the Rakshana. He's prowling around as a corrupted being like Pippa and he seems to be commanding an army of Winterlands creatures in a bid to keep the magic for their own use. How are the mighty fallen.
Of course, Gemma has to come a long way before she realizes that curtsying correctly for her presentation to Queen Victoria is not exactly something she can compare with all the difficult decisions ahead. It's too easy for Gemma to use magic for her own purposes... whether that's making her family a little happier or making herself seem more powerful and wanted by Simon to upset his father, a member of the Rakshana. Sure, she's a teenager, but even she should know better by this point. When it comes down to the big decisions, a lot of them are made off the cuff, without much forethought. Spur of the moment things that are meant to show bravery or somesuch nonsense, but really just seem to suggest that no one can think ahead.
Suffice to say that since this is the last book, we finally have some resolutions about things. The Felicity/Pippa connection (if you haven't figured out that they're not just friends by now, then I'm not sure that you actually read the previous two books) is built up to this huge unveiling, but since that seemed obvious, it was a bit annoying... and particularly annoying is Fee's absolute conviction in her inclinations. Being only a teenager at this time period, I should think that she would still be figuring it all out as opposed to being so convinced of her orientation. Those looking for Gemma and Kartik to finally get together should feel pleased... for a few minutes. Kartik's utter devotion to Gemma might seem unrealistic, but given the out-of-the-ordinary circumstances that unite them, I accepted it as sweet and chivalrous, because at least you knew he had struggled with his decisions. Though the fact that they get together before we're close to the finale should be your first indication that nothing can end well. It did, however, annoy me that Bray settled on the path that allows their love (which could probably never exist in the real world outside the realms, given the time period) but takes the easy way out as far as resolutions go. Ultimately, I have a hard time seeing how all this trouble can be attributed to anything but Gemma's inability to make up her mind and part with her powers. She acts much younger than her age, particularly given how most everyone else around her seems capable of rising to their challenges. She may be the narrator and thus, the one we are supposed to identify with and root for, but my sympathy for Gemma only goes so far.
As for the writing, I feel as though Bray isn't quite where she needs to be. She moves much too quickly through her descriptions, particularly as it concerns the action. It's as though she assumed by writing quickly, we'd hurry through it and the only important part, really, is the outcome so we'll focus on that instead. And that's an odd feeling to have... for eight hundred or so pages. Even three lengthy books didn't seem enough to encompass an adequate description of this fantasy world that Bray created. I would have preferred a storyline much more compact in its scope and more detail about the realms. Or if epic was the objective, then something else needed to give way. I felt as though very few decisions were made... which rather makes me equate Gemma with Libba Bray in that sense.
If you enjoyed the series up to now, you'll probably still like it because you're predisposed to such a decision. If you're on the fence, then I think you might be swayed towards annoyance. I do appreciate Bray's expansive imagination that allows for such fantastic creations, but ultimately I think she needs to learn that writing is about making choices... which seems to be the lesson that she's trying to teach Gemma throughout this trilogy, so it would be a good one to take to heart.
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LibraryThing member bookgal123
A lovely and fierce ending to a wonderful series. Although it was a tad long and slightly repetitive in parts (a smidge more editing would not have gone amiss), in the end I was happy that I made the effort.
LibraryThing member booksandbosox
Gemma has bound the magic to herself and can no longer enter the realms. When she, Ann and Felicity discover another entryway through the under-development East Wing, their joy in the realms resumes. But soon, Gemma is pressured to make the alliance she promised and the creatures of the realms will
I was really glad to finish this series (and it better be done now!) but this one daunted me a bit. It is way too long, clocking in around 800 pages, many of which feel unnecessary. Bray spends more time in this one discussing things that feel superfluous to the story. Much of what takes place in the real world seemed to drag on, as the action is almost all occurring in the realms. I was incredibly annoyed with Gemma in this one - she seemed much more ignorant than in the previous books. Her adamant refusal to acknowledge what Pip had become and to demonstrate this to Fee and Ann was incredibly frustrating. I was also rather disappointed with the way everything sorted itself out in the end. Fee and Pip never struck me as lesbians and it didn't seem to fit into the story very well. I thought the revelation of Eugenia as traitor was one twist too many - Circe has clearly been the villain all along; why are we changing that so far into the final book? And I absolutely abhored what happened to Kartik - most bizarre ending for a character I have seen in a long time. I am glad I finished out the series (like I said, there better not be anymore!) but I wish it had ended differently.
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not be silenced until she does so.I was really glad to finish this series (and it better be done now!) but this one daunted me a bit. It is way too long, clocking in around 800 pages, many of which feel unnecessary. Bray spends more time in this one discussing things that feel superfluous to the story. Much of what takes place in the real world seemed to drag on, as the action is almost all occurring in the realms. I was incredibly annoyed with Gemma in this one - she seemed much more ignorant than in the previous books. Her adamant refusal to acknowledge what Pip had become and to demonstrate this to Fee and Ann was incredibly frustrating. I was also rather disappointed with the way everything sorted itself out in the end. Fee and Pip never struck me as lesbians and it didn't seem to fit into the story very well. I thought the revelation of Eugenia as traitor was one twist too many - Circe has clearly been the villain all along; why are we changing that so far into the final book? And I absolutely abhored what happened to Kartik - most bizarre ending for a character I have seen in a long time. I am glad I finished out the series (like I said, there better not be anymore!) but I wish it had ended differently.
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LibraryThing member susanbevans
In this concluding novel from Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle Trilogy, Gemma and her friends at Spence Academy deal with the strict rules of their Victorian society, worry about making their debuts and becoming women, and hope to find a way out from under the tight control of their fathers and brothers.
The only beef I have with this book is that it did seem overly long in parts. I felt the full weight of the 800+ pages, especially toward the beginning. I could have done with less tedious information about parties and balls and talk of the girls' debutante "season", and had more time in the Realms. It's the magical part of the novels that I enjoyed the most.
Libba Bray is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination . You sort of fall into her books, and she makes you see everything through the eyes of her wonderful characters. The story was really thrilling and enchanting. I was so anxious to learn the fate of the girls, and at the same time I wasn't ready for the story end.
This is such an epic, moving story and I am a sucker for happy endings, so I was upset to hear that perhaps this wasn't going to be a fairy tale ending. But after finishing the book, I realize that it needed to end the way it did. It was a heart-wrenching, beautiful conclusion to the trilogy.
This series is a journey of four young women searching for their place in the world and managing the magic inside themselves. They suffer the same hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities as the modern young woman. I would recommend this book to young women who like mysteries and intrigue, and fantasy stories that drag you into the lives of the characters. The Sweet Far Thing is a masterpiece of Gothic fiction.
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At the same time however, they must sort out the lethal mystery that surrounds the Realms, a complex alter-universe peopled by mythical creatures and the undead. Gemma must decide what to do with the magic that is bound to her - which tribes to make alliances with, and which to deny, for the safety of all concerned. In this book she will discover her strengths and the fears and desires she holds closest to her heart. She must decide who to trust, and who needs to be let go.The only beef I have with this book is that it did seem overly long in parts. I felt the full weight of the 800+ pages, especially toward the beginning. I could have done with less tedious information about parties and balls and talk of the girls' debutante "season", and had more time in the Realms. It's the magical part of the novels that I enjoyed the most.
Libba Bray is a fantastic writer with an incredible imagination . You sort of fall into her books, and she makes you see everything through the eyes of her wonderful characters. The story was really thrilling and enchanting. I was so anxious to learn the fate of the girls, and at the same time I wasn't ready for the story end.
This is such an epic, moving story and I am a sucker for happy endings, so I was upset to hear that perhaps this wasn't going to be a fairy tale ending. But after finishing the book, I realize that it needed to end the way it did. It was a heart-wrenching, beautiful conclusion to the trilogy.
This series is a journey of four young women searching for their place in the world and managing the magic inside themselves. They suffer the same hopes, dreams, fears and insecurities as the modern young woman. I would recommend this book to young women who like mysteries and intrigue, and fantasy stories that drag you into the lives of the characters. The Sweet Far Thing is a masterpiece of Gothic fiction.
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LibraryThing member roseysweetpea
This book was an excellent conclusion to the triology. It tied up all the loose ends (although with some sad twists) and addresses some major issues teens face today. It brought the super natural with normal problems in as neat a package as possible. All in all I highly recomend this book and the
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series itself as a wonderful look into a magical world and for all we know may just exist. Show Less
LibraryThing member herbcat
The third and final of the Gemma Doyle Trilogy. After much waiting and playing in the delights of the Realm, Gemma must fight the rebellious creatures of the wild and the awesome and terrible Tree of All Souls with the help of some of the other groups from the other worlds. There are traitors and
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acts of duplicity and times of difficulty in knowing what and who is true. She succeeds in stopping the immediate power of the Tree but realizes that the battle against its power will have to continue. Her lover decides he must sacrifice himself to the endless fight and so is lost to her. A sort of peace and stability is achieved. This is a powerful picture of the culture and society of Victorian England in which women are mere currency and pawns. Nothing more than snobbery and sense of conformity can ruin the futures and lives of many who choose to be different or cannot help being so, no matter their talent or character. Money and station can elevate even those who are vile, deceitful and guilty of crimes from the pettiest to the most soul sickening. Not really a standalone. Show Less
LibraryThing member vgnunez
Now that I've finished the entire trilogy I have to say that Libbra Bray's characters and plot may be a bit overdone/melodramatic but they still lure in readers all the same. It's hard not to like Gemma Doyle and understand her plights as a young woman on the brink of adulthood in Victorian
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England. The magic she wields proves to be both problematic and helpful. I think this trilogy is a great recommendation for girls. It explores the hardships of what it means to be a girl and/or woman in the world while not talking down to its audience. Overall, the trilogy (and this installment) is thoroughly enjoyable. Show Less
LibraryThing member utsusemia
When the third novel in this trilogy finally came out, I nearly did cartwheels. And it’s so deliciously long. Have I mentioned how much I dislike this imposed word-limit on YA novels? I mean, it has become obvious over the last several years that people like me who read YA novels are voracious
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readers who hardly mind the occasional tome over 80,000 words. But the only time you see really long YA novels are later books in the series’ of major authors. Oh well. Lucky for me, this falls in that category, so I had over 600 pages in which to love, and say goodbye to, these characters. And characters are what this series is all about. Bray’s plotting can sometimes be confusing and intensely contrived (this was no exception: Gemma overheard sensitive conversations by following people down dark hallways an improbable number of times), but her characterization is easily some of the best I’ve ever read. She has this knack for creating very real characters who are utterly the products of their times, but hide deeper facets that you might mistakenly think are only modern afflictions. In this novel, she takes on cutting, lesbian relationships, incest and interracial dating, just to name a few. The veneer over Victorian society has never been thinner. By the end of this, I was just weeping. Okay, novels make me weep all the time, but this was particularly satisfying. Show Less
LibraryThing member snapplechick
Gemma Doyle is back at Spence Academy with her two best friends Felicity and Ann who are anxcious to get back into the realms. There's only one problem-Gemma has lost the ability to enter the realms.With the reserection of the East Wing, Gemma is able to return to the realms and a is met with all
This story was a great ending to a wonderful series. There are some unexpected twists at the end that made the book all the more exciting. I would definatly read this series if you haven't started all ready.
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the problems she's left behind.This story was a great ending to a wonderful series. There are some unexpected twists at the end that made the book all the more exciting. I would definatly read this series if you haven't started all ready.
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LibraryThing member willowwaw
One of my favorties of the Gemma Doyle series. I would recomend this book to many others! It was great!
LibraryThing member dmorrison
Good ending but I think I was looking for a little more variety, kind of felt it was much the same thing as the first two books. I enjoyed the first book of the trilogy the most. A lot of repeated info in this book from the first two, too much...
LibraryThing member stephxsu
I must admit, I began THE SWEET FAR THING, the last in Libba Bray’s enormously successful magical series, with some trepidation, having heard some bad things about it. However, I was far from being disappointed. This novel wraps up the series in a bittersweet way, and yet, knowing how the series
It is nearing the season of Gemma’s debut, where she will be presented to the queen as a lady, but Gemma has far more important things on her mind than pretty gowns and airheaded girls. For one thing, Mrs. Nightwing, the headmistress of Spence Academy, and her friend Miss McCleethy, a member of the Order who wants Gemma to relinquish her magic, are finally putting into action plans to rebuild the East Wing, destroyed in a fire years ago when one of the last great priestesses of the Order and former headmistress of Spence, sealed the Realms shut for the time being. Bad things soon start to happen: workmen disappear forever in the middle of the night, and the disappearances are blamed on the gypsies.
The Rakshana continue to threaten Gemma if she does not give her magic to them, and she fears they may start to hurt her family if she does not give them what they want. Kartik, the disowned Rakshana who is linked to Gemma by the death of her mother and his brother, does not act toward Gemma how she wish he would act toward her. To top it all off, Felicity’s in danger of losing her inheritance if she doesn’t rein herself in for her debut, and Ann seems to be digging her own grave as a governess when she will not seize the opportunity to make something out of herself with her singing and acting talent.
And then, things go from bad to worse. A lady in a lavender dress begins to appear to Gemma in visions of warning, and rebellion is definitely stirring in the Winterlands. Pippa has gone beyond just petty with her delusions of grandeur, and the forest folk are beginning to distrust Gemma as she has not shared her magic with them. And when a particular day in May arrives, it may be the end of the world as everyone knows it, unless Gemma and her motley group of friends give it their all…and win some and lose some in the end.
I get the feeling that a lot of people don’t like this book because it does not have a happy ending. But this is a fact that I appreciate because, hey, in real life, there are few perfect happy endings. Do not be daunted by its length (800+ pages), because the finale, a bittersweet one that left me crying for hours, is something that cannot be imagined: it must be read.
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concentrated so much on flawed characters and radical opinions (for their time, anyway), I would not expect anything else as its ending.It is nearing the season of Gemma’s debut, where she will be presented to the queen as a lady, but Gemma has far more important things on her mind than pretty gowns and airheaded girls. For one thing, Mrs. Nightwing, the headmistress of Spence Academy, and her friend Miss McCleethy, a member of the Order who wants Gemma to relinquish her magic, are finally putting into action plans to rebuild the East Wing, destroyed in a fire years ago when one of the last great priestesses of the Order and former headmistress of Spence, sealed the Realms shut for the time being. Bad things soon start to happen: workmen disappear forever in the middle of the night, and the disappearances are blamed on the gypsies.
The Rakshana continue to threaten Gemma if she does not give her magic to them, and she fears they may start to hurt her family if she does not give them what they want. Kartik, the disowned Rakshana who is linked to Gemma by the death of her mother and his brother, does not act toward Gemma how she wish he would act toward her. To top it all off, Felicity’s in danger of losing her inheritance if she doesn’t rein herself in for her debut, and Ann seems to be digging her own grave as a governess when she will not seize the opportunity to make something out of herself with her singing and acting talent.
And then, things go from bad to worse. A lady in a lavender dress begins to appear to Gemma in visions of warning, and rebellion is definitely stirring in the Winterlands. Pippa has gone beyond just petty with her delusions of grandeur, and the forest folk are beginning to distrust Gemma as she has not shared her magic with them. And when a particular day in May arrives, it may be the end of the world as everyone knows it, unless Gemma and her motley group of friends give it their all…and win some and lose some in the end.
I get the feeling that a lot of people don’t like this book because it does not have a happy ending. But this is a fact that I appreciate because, hey, in real life, there are few perfect happy endings. Do not be daunted by its length (800+ pages), because the finale, a bittersweet one that left me crying for hours, is something that cannot be imagined: it must be read.
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LibraryThing member knielsen83
The last of the trilogy, Bray has done an outstanding job of mixing her magic realms with that of London society through the eyes of a debutante. There was a lot to this book that I can't even go into. It was 800 pages long and I enjoyed every word of it. I only wish the book had not ended as it
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had and the author would give me a better piece of mind about the future of the character Gemma Doyle. Show Less
LibraryThing member simplykatie
if you want to see a spoiler-full review, scroll down. if not, avoid this review. this book left me luke-warm. but at the same time, there were so many lovely moments in the book that i liked it better than "rebel angels."good tie-up to the series, i wasn't left with many questions.
so. he dies. and
as a feminist, i appreciate that ending.
as a teen librarian, i can name about one teen out of twenty that *might* understand that ending and appreciate it. especially considering the first two books in the trilogy are this back and forth, back and forth, on-again, off-again love/hate affair between these characters.
i, myself, was upset at the ending after re-reading and reading over 2,000 pages. a simple task for me. i can't imagine a teen's reaction to the book after that.
i feel almost like the audience was over-estimated. that the good lesson -- girls can be independent, they don't need a boy -- was heavy handed. and that gemma's story was completely unresolved. and i've been bummed ever since i closed the book.
maybe a re-read will set me right. but even reading libba bray's explanation about the ending didn't make me feel right. even if she *did* quote "no one is alone," which is one of my favorite songs *ever.*
however, this - in my opinion - does not detract from the trilogy. and i know that i will definitely be re-reading it.
so. he dies. and
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seriously, i saw it coming, i respect that the author has little to no control over who dies, and i see the ending that she was trying to achieve.as a feminist, i appreciate that ending.
as a teen librarian, i can name about one teen out of twenty that *might* understand that ending and appreciate it. especially considering the first two books in the trilogy are this back and forth, back and forth, on-again, off-again love/hate affair between these characters.
i, myself, was upset at the ending after re-reading and reading over 2,000 pages. a simple task for me. i can't imagine a teen's reaction to the book after that.
i feel almost like the audience was over-estimated. that the good lesson -- girls can be independent, they don't need a boy -- was heavy handed. and that gemma's story was completely unresolved. and i've been bummed ever since i closed the book.
maybe a re-read will set me right. but even reading libba bray's explanation about the ending didn't make me feel right. even if she *did* quote "no one is alone," which is one of my favorite songs *ever.*
however, this - in my opinion - does not detract from the trilogy. and i know that i will definitely be re-reading it.
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LibraryThing member eatcakes
This definitely filled my craving for a good series! I enjoyed all the books and the characters offered a good variety of good and evil, magic and the hum drum of everyday. The historic aspect lent an extra bit of interest to the writing as well.
LibraryThing member francescadefreitas
This is the slightly unsatisfying conclusion to the story of The Realms. Gemma Doyle is a society misfit a few months from her London debut, a school girl and friend, and the current holder of all the magic of another world. Sometimes she can be annoyingly blind, but she is charmingly full of
But it is in the horror that I though this book fell a little flat. BY the time we visited the winterlands, I found them so full of gore I started to ignore it. I found the sudden transitions from tension in the Realms to pettiness at school quite jarring.
And I felt that there were too many plot ends to be tied up - some of resulting knots felt forced, and Gemma's final plans seemed a little pat.
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impulsive generosity and occasional spite. While nothing on par with the ghost girls dragging their toes across the floor, there are some really creepy moments.But it is in the horror that I though this book fell a little flat. BY the time we visited the winterlands, I found them so full of gore I started to ignore it. I found the sudden transitions from tension in the Realms to pettiness at school quite jarring.
And I felt that there were too many plot ends to be tied up - some of resulting knots felt forced, and Gemma's final plans seemed a little pat.
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LibraryThing member keltwister
I had to give myself a day to recover from the ending of this book before I really knew how I felt. Initially I was saddened and angry by the ending but I see now that it was necessary and the closest thing to a "happy ending" that Bray could find. The book is long but doesn't feel long at all, it
The book is a fun ride, don't get me wrong. I just felt like the storylines seemed less thought out and more "oh, lets just have this happen next" when the girls were outside of the realms. It seems Bray knew exactly where she wanted to go within the realms but was a little lost in the "real world" (ironic, I know). I thought Ann's character development was weak when she went away, suddenly came back (with Gemma's help) and then made it on Broadway. Then Felicity turning out to be a lesbian and Gemma wanting to use the magic and not wanting to but doing it anyway...it seemed at some points that there was a lack of building toward an event and instead events just took place. I wonder if a great deal of this was due to editing as the last novel is so long and probably could have been longer.
Now about Katrik, hmm, I've been worrying over this aspect of the story for 24 hours now and I'm so frustrated. I know why Katrik had to become the new tree but I'm angry at the same time. Of course he and Gemma couldn't live "happily ever after," the book takes place in a time where Gemma could barely escape her "season" in the book, let alone marry an Indian. In some ways I feel like Libba Bray was being true to the time period in which she writes to give us an ending where Katrik could save Gemma and live on in some way but in others I feel like she's hypocritical to write a novel about women who stand up against the ways of their world and not allow Gemma to fully embrace this. Yes, she goes onto a university in the new world of America. Yes, she probably will love again. But how sad to think that they worked so hard and still have so far to come. I guess that's the point though. (sigh). Still, if I were to finish the book I would have some way for Katrik to live on in the realms, in his own form, so that at least he and Gemma could have some sort of true happiness together. Overall, I think its a brilliant series.
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moves quickly and is fun to read. As it is the third installment and final act within the series, it brings about few new plot lines and characters but deeply grows upon the new ones. My favorite book in the series is still Rebel Angels and while I will continue to recommend this series to others, I felt that Bray went a little too far in conveniently pushing her fiction into true history in this book. We see that women all around the world in the late Victorian era are grasping for rights and trying to find their place in this world. I love how the novels fit into this era, like a fictional piece of a giant world puzzle, but here it was like she was weaving the storyline into the worlds events so much that it feel forced at times. I felt as if I'd gone from reading an exciting fantasy, to a history on women's rights.The book is a fun ride, don't get me wrong. I just felt like the storylines seemed less thought out and more "oh, lets just have this happen next" when the girls were outside of the realms. It seems Bray knew exactly where she wanted to go within the realms but was a little lost in the "real world" (ironic, I know). I thought Ann's character development was weak when she went away, suddenly came back (with Gemma's help) and then made it on Broadway. Then Felicity turning out to be a lesbian and Gemma wanting to use the magic and not wanting to but doing it anyway...it seemed at some points that there was a lack of building toward an event and instead events just took place. I wonder if a great deal of this was due to editing as the last novel is so long and probably could have been longer.
Now about Katrik, hmm, I've been worrying over this aspect of the story for 24 hours now and I'm so frustrated. I know why Katrik had to become the new tree but I'm angry at the same time. Of course he and Gemma couldn't live "happily ever after," the book takes place in a time where Gemma could barely escape her "season" in the book, let alone marry an Indian. In some ways I feel like Libba Bray was being true to the time period in which she writes to give us an ending where Katrik could save Gemma and live on in some way but in others I feel like she's hypocritical to write a novel about women who stand up against the ways of their world and not allow Gemma to fully embrace this. Yes, she goes onto a university in the new world of America. Yes, she probably will love again. But how sad to think that they worked so hard and still have so far to come. I guess that's the point though. (sigh). Still, if I were to finish the book I would have some way for Katrik to live on in the realms, in his own form, so that at least he and Gemma could have some sort of true happiness together. Overall, I think its a brilliant series.
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LibraryThing member dasuzuki
I enjoyed it more so than the first 3 but still did not think it was a great series. It has been awhile since I read the first two so there were a few things I was still fuzzy about. I couldn’t really remember how Gemma trapped Circe. Even though I wasn’t in love with the first two books I had
I read this one pretty fast as I had to get back to work today but there were a few things I did not understand or like about the characters. I think one of the main reasons I did not care for this series is I did not really like Gemma. She seems so self-centered and spoiled. She is always moping about how alone she is and she is tired of people using her and telling her what to do. Yet over the three books I don’t see her maturing at all and making any decisions that show she is growing up and deserves to choose her own fate. Even Felicity seemed to grow up more than Gemma in the end despite Gemma’s constant thoughts of how thoughtless Felicity is to the real world and other people’s feelings. I felt sorry for the way Ann was treated but this is one instance I agreed with Gemma. If Ann was not going to make any effort to try and change her lot in life then she might just deserve what she gets. Stop here if you do not want any spoilers.
It was nice to see that Mrs. Nightwing was on the good side. I was surprised in the end Ms. McCleethy was basically a good character and just misguided in trusting Eugenia Spence. I did not care for the way she was killed off though. At first when she tells Pippa to sacrifice her instead of Gemma she appears noble and self-sacrificing but then when she sees Pippa is going through with it and then she protests. So instead of looking self-sacrificing it looks more like she thought she was bluffing Pippa. Since she was going to die I would have rather her gone out as the brave heroine.
I was happy to see that even though she was not able to cross over Wendy wasn’t really “sacrificed” like Pippa claimed. I actually don’t understand what happened there. When Pippa sacrificed Mr. Darcy and Wendy did she just hand them over to the creatures of the Winterland and not actually kill them? It was a little confusing since for Ms. McCleethy and Gemma she was going to sacrifice them in her castle.
I was shocked to find out that Eugenia Spence was really the ultimate villainess in the book. That was one outcome I did not expect. Not to mention the fact that Circe helped Gemma and even seemed to sort of care for her. I was sad that Gemma did not end up Kartik.
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to read this one because I wanted to find out if Felicity and Pippa would prove to be good friends or turn on Gemma. I also wanted to know if Gemma ended up with Kartik. Gemma’s brother was such a jerk and idiot I found his character really irritating. I suppose you could say that was good character development since I’m assuming that was how he was supposed to come off.I read this one pretty fast as I had to get back to work today but there were a few things I did not understand or like about the characters. I think one of the main reasons I did not care for this series is I did not really like Gemma. She seems so self-centered and spoiled. She is always moping about how alone she is and she is tired of people using her and telling her what to do. Yet over the three books I don’t see her maturing at all and making any decisions that show she is growing up and deserves to choose her own fate. Even Felicity seemed to grow up more than Gemma in the end despite Gemma’s constant thoughts of how thoughtless Felicity is to the real world and other people’s feelings. I felt sorry for the way Ann was treated but this is one instance I agreed with Gemma. If Ann was not going to make any effort to try and change her lot in life then she might just deserve what she gets. Stop here if you do not want any spoilers.
It was nice to see that Mrs. Nightwing was on the good side. I was surprised in the end Ms. McCleethy was basically a good character and just misguided in trusting Eugenia Spence. I did not care for the way she was killed off though. At first when she tells Pippa to sacrifice her instead of Gemma she appears noble and self-sacrificing but then when she sees Pippa is going through with it and then she protests. So instead of looking self-sacrificing it looks more like she thought she was bluffing Pippa. Since she was going to die I would have rather her gone out as the brave heroine.
I was happy to see that even though she was not able to cross over Wendy wasn’t really “sacrificed” like Pippa claimed. I actually don’t understand what happened there. When Pippa sacrificed Mr. Darcy and Wendy did she just hand them over to the creatures of the Winterland and not actually kill them? It was a little confusing since for Ms. McCleethy and Gemma she was going to sacrifice them in her castle.
I was shocked to find out that Eugenia Spence was really the ultimate villainess in the book. That was one outcome I did not expect. Not to mention the fact that Circe helped Gemma and even seemed to sort of care for her. I was sad that Gemma did not end up Kartik.
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LibraryThing member chosler
The conclusion of Gemma’s quest to understand herself and the Realms. As the border between the Realms and the real world weakens, the darker forces of the Realms begin to terrorize the girls of Spence. Gemma must find a way to control the magic she has bound to herself, and use it to defeat the
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Tree of All Souls, which possessed Eugenia Spence 35 years ago. All of this as she prepares for her debut, begins a physical romance with Kartik, and tries to keep her friends and family happy and safe. Non-explicit sex, discussion of lesbianism and prostitution, mild violence, several characters die. Ages 14+. Show Less
LibraryThing member rfewell
A satisfying end to the Gemma Doyle trilogy. Much more action takes place in the Realms and even more people in her regular world at Spence become entangled in the drama there.
LibraryThing member Jadesbooks
Libba Bray is wonderful. This last book in her trilogy of Gemma Doyle, her friends and the realms ~ what a fitting end. What a way to end a story. Full of love, friendship, family, loyalty, doubt and finally personal growth. It truly is a very fitting end. Libba Bray should be proud of her work.
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But for some, do not be put off by some of the slower parts toward the begining of the book - the pay off is worth it. Show Less
LibraryThing member vanedow
I've really enjoyed this series, and Bray does a good job of wrapping everything up in a way that seems true to the characters. However, this book was heavy... almost 800 pages, and I estimate at least 200 of them could have been edited out because the ground had been covered already. Other than
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that, good book! Show Less
LibraryThing member Jaie22
Good, but still not as good as the first in the trilogy.
LibraryThing member coffee.is.yum
I did not like this book as much as the first two. For one, I was incredibly disappointed with the Kartik and Gemma relationship...if you could call it a relationship. Their relationship seemed to be very "go with the flow" and kissing was supposed to be enough, I guess, to convince the readers
The structure of the novel is so chaotic that I had difficulty finding what the author's motive was---or the characters! Gemma complains about being lonely, then is thankful for having friends, then she hates her friends, then she loves her friends the next day, then hates them again and hates Kartik, then loves Kartik and hates her family, then....everything was just too fickle! Gemma spends the entire book roaming around without any clear purpose. She seems to be a strong independent thinker, but she never really has the energy to physically carry out independent action. So many times I wanted her to stand up for herself, be it to her friend or the Centaurs and she never would.
The books seemed to to skip from events too abruptly. They were very rushed and I think about half of them could have just been left out all together. I loved the series, and the whole idea behind the story. I also love how the author describes situations and makes her readers think deeply about the confinement Victorian women suffered...and this book had so much potential (why I hate to give it less than 3 1/2 stars)! Sadly, it just seemed like a bunch of writing without any thought behind editing to make the story more accessible to its readers.
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they loved each other. How could they when every time they talked one of them went running off into the woods! I swear, after the fifth time Kartik said he was leaving for good I rolled my eyes...why does he keep saying this? Then it's Gemma's turn to pretend to leave. Then they are back together the next day all smiles and full of kisses, without a moment's hesitation. This is the sum of their relationship. Like I said, disappointing.The structure of the novel is so chaotic that I had difficulty finding what the author's motive was---or the characters! Gemma complains about being lonely, then is thankful for having friends, then she hates her friends, then she loves her friends the next day, then hates them again and hates Kartik, then loves Kartik and hates her family, then....everything was just too fickle! Gemma spends the entire book roaming around without any clear purpose. She seems to be a strong independent thinker, but she never really has the energy to physically carry out independent action. So many times I wanted her to stand up for herself, be it to her friend or the Centaurs and she never would.
The books seemed to to skip from events too abruptly. They were very rushed and I think about half of them could have just been left out all together. I loved the series, and the whole idea behind the story. I also love how the author describes situations and makes her readers think deeply about the confinement Victorian women suffered...and this book had so much potential (why I hate to give it less than 3 1/2 stars)! Sadly, it just seemed like a bunch of writing without any thought behind editing to make the story more accessible to its readers.
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LibraryThing member mzonderm
Gemma Doyle is the worst kind of unreliable narrator. It's not that she herself is untrustworthy, but that throughout this trilogy, she can't figure out who to trust. As a result, the reader never knows who to trust, or what the rules are for "realms" or for the magic that inhabits them. This is
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problematic if one agrees (which I do) with the general rule for fantasy writing that the rules for the world that the author has created must be clear and consistent. If neither the reader nor the narrator know the rules or who to trust, the story doesn't hang together very well. At least, it doesn't in this case. Some of the people we initially think are friends become enemies, and then some become friends again, and it is never through actual shifting loyalties, but because Gemma doesn't ask the right questions and rarely takes the time to think things through the reader is never quite sure who's on what side. So although she's the only clearly identified "good guy" in the story, I couldn't help but wish she acted more like the heroine she's supposed to be. Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Colorado Blue Spruce Award (Nominee — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2007-12-26
Physical description
8.43 inches
ISBN
1847383254 / 9781847383259
Local notes
The Order - the mysterious group her mother was once part of - is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.
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