A Great and Terrible Beauty--A review

All Gemma Doyle wants is to do is leave India and go to London.

After experiencing a horrible vision and the suicide of her mother, Gemma is finally back in England, attending Spence School for Young Ladies.

Spence is trying to produce ladies of good breeding--French lessons, waltzing, manners. But Gemma can't keep the memories of her vision or her mother out of her head.

She befriends Felicity, Ann and Pippa, and with the three girls she begins to understand the visions and the powers connected with it. But secrets are everywhere as Gemma begins to unfold the life of her mother and a secret history of Spence.

I really enjoyed this book. The style of writing, especially in the beginning, was a bit different, and I had to reread the first chapter in order to get a grasp on the writing style. However, once I got past that part I was hooked. I've placed the other two novels in the trilogy on hold at the library.

However, as much as I enjoyed the novels, they are missing a certain Victorian quality to them. The clothing and environment are Victorian, but the girls' attitudes and actions seem out of place. They are much more modern than Victorian.

But all in all, a quick and easy read. Would recommend for anyone who enjoys YA fiction.