Review: Gemma Doyle / Realms Trilogy

Series: GEMMA DOYLE TRILOGY
Books: A Great and Terrible Beauty | Rebel Angels | Sweet Far Thing

This series is a cross between period fiction and Fantasy. The story revolves around Gemma Doyle, a young woman sent from her home in British India to the boarding school, Spence Academy, after the mysterious death of her mother. There she meets Ann, Felicity, and Pippa, three other remarkable young women. Together, they discover the dark past of their school, which closely revolves around a mystical group referred to as The Order. In the first book, they find out that this group of sorceresses was forced to disband after one of their own, a woman named Sarah Rees-Toome, betrayed them.  

Throughout the series Gemma learns of her own heritage and the magical powers she possesses, including the ability to enter "The Realms," a magical world in which dreams can become reality, but everything seems to have a cost. This series addresses some of the issues faced by women in the late 1800s, and creates parallels to issues faced by women today. There are many female characters, and the struggles they encounter on their journey to becoming empowered both within and outside of The Realms ring true. Other themes include dissecting dualities (in particular, the duality between good and evil;) free will versus fate; going against social norms; power; and, most of all, the concept of choice.

The three books in the trilogy span just one year, with A Great and Terrible Beauty beginning in June 1895 and The Sweet Far Thing ending in June 1896.


I don't want to say that i was disappointed with the ending. I actually liked it, except for Kartik's demise, of course. *spoiler alert*

For me, Gemma And Kartik should have been reunited.. I think, a fourth book about the realms should be nice.

It is imperative for me to let you all know that the reason I love this series is because you never know who to trust in this book. You are taken from their ups and lows, getting bounced between characters' ever-changing personalities, and right when you are ready to hit rock bottom, someone takes your hand and lifts you up and you see that face you never expected. That's how I felt with Miss McCleethy, Circe, Mrs. Nightwing, Wilhelmina Wyatt, even Pippa. Overall, this series is awesome!