A Great and Terrible Beauty

Bray, L. (2003). A Great and Terrible Beauty. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 978-0385732314 

Sixteen-year-old Gemma lives in India during the Victorian era and yearns for a London upbringing. While at a Bombay market with her mother they happen upon a man and his younger brother. The man says something to Gemma's mother who reacts with frightened agitation and forces Gemma to go home. Angry, Gemma runs away, but has a disturbing vision of her mother's death by suicide, which turns out to be true; soon after Gemma attends Spence Academy near London. 

After a period of being ostracized by her peers Gemma befriends Felicity the most popular girl at school after witnessing an event that could ruin Felicity's life and keeping it a secret. Grappling with constant visions Gemma soon meets with Kartik who insists she block out the visions.

One night Gemma's vision leads her to a diary by Mary Dowd. Gemma, Felicity, Pippa, and Ann learn about a secret group that is called the Order from Mary's diary. The Order was a group of women who could cross over from the human world to other realms and they each possessed powers. The four friends decide to make a new Order and unlock the door to the other realms. The mysteries of the Order unfold and Gemma and company find themselves ensnared in an uncontrollable force.

A Great and Terrible Beauty is one part historical novel and one part Gothic novel. Set in the Victorian era this novel creatively and historically expresses the time period and women's roles therein. Gemma displays flaws that society has put upon her, but she learns to unhinge herself from the conformities of her time. 

Rich and dark this exciting and thrilling novel is the perfect set up to some heavier Victorian reads like Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre and Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights.

Book trailer made by ME!

Cover art link: shelfari

Girls image link: steamthing 

Victorian girl image link: getty
Book trailer link: youtube