Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

Now, What I Thought: 

This is the first book in Libba Bray's trilogy,Gemma Doyle. It starts off with Gemma in India where her and her mother live. I actually really liked where this was set. Iv actually never read a book based out of India, which is interesting because it should happen more often. I definitely liked that about Bray's book.

Some events play out and Gemma finds herself in London with her brother on their way to a boarding school, due to her mothers sudden death. Its basically like every other school book except based in the Victorian Era. It has the mean girls, then the mean girls open their arms toward the slightly vulnerable protagonist which then creates drama. This all happens except, its slightly more paranormal. 

I actually liked this book! As soon as I was done it, I knew that I should probably go and buy the next one haha! Of course the book leaves you off wondering whats going to happen next, so thumbs up to Libba Bray, for her writing skills that made me buy the second book in this trilogy :) I would definitely suggest reading this one