i’ve recently been rereading through my favorite books growing up, the Gemma Doyle Trilogy

since middle school, it’s been like a kind of dream to draw Gemma and do her justice

this series really got me back into reading as a kid, so thank you @libbabraysactualblog ❤️

Series info:

Book 1 of The Gemma Doyle Trilogy

Book 2: Rebel Angels

Book 3: The Sweet Far Thing

Started the third book of the Gemma Doyle trilogy today, and it reminded me of how one of my favourite things about the three main characters is how they're imperfect little shits.

Like, it's so common for a lot of YA books for the female characters to not be given any flaws (other then, like, they're clumsy or they've got low self-esteem, or some other harmless "flaw"). But the three main girls in the trilogy are so deeply flawed.

They're not perfect. Heck, sometimes they can be pretty selfish and insensitive - especially Felicity, who basically has the traits of the stereotypical Mean Girl/Rich Bully, but is still one of the good guys.

And I just love that.

Felicity Worthington

"I had thought Felicity dangerous a moment ago, when she felt powerful. I was wrong. Wounded and powerless, she is more dangerous than I could imagine."

- Gemma Doyle Trilogy (by Libba Bray)

Dream cast for Gemma Doyle Trilogy....

Girls mood boards by @crescentmoons-and-stardust

'No, [The Lady of Shalott] dies for love,' Pippa says, sounding sure of herself for the first time. 'She can't live without him. It's terribly romantic.' Miss Moore gives a wry smile. 'Or romantically terrible.'

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

your favorite character in the gemma doyle trilogy says a lot about you

THE GEMMA DOYLE TRILOGY: A GREAT & TERRIBLE BEAUTY (Book 1) Review

By Libba Bray

I’ve had this book on my shelf for over a decade, and I am so sad I didn’t pick it up until now. A Great and Terrible Beauty is many of my favorite things in one pretty package: historical fiction, fantasy, and young girls finding out who they want to be. I read the entire series in just a few days, which means I’m having to backtrack to write these reviews. I regret that a little, but I just couldn’t put the books down!

I actually have very few complaints about this book. Gemma, the main character, is fun to follow, and I love her inner dialogue; she’s sarcastic and witty in equal measure. I found myself laughing a few times while reading! Each character in A Great and Terrible Beauty has a distinct personality and motivation. And they clash! Even the main four girls have conflict between each other frequently, which is something I really appreciate in books because it cultivates character growth or, at the very least, understanding. There’s some wonderfully written tension between Gemma and Kartik too. No, really, it’s great. (And it gets better in the next couple books.)

Bray deals with the Victorian era rather well. Most of the girls in the story are worried about their futures in relation to making a good marriage. Some girls are happy with that. Some are ambivalent. Some don’t care. And some are actively hostile toward the prospect. Pippa, one of my favorite characters, wants to marry for love and is instead betrothed against her will. Ultimately, she makes her choice. (Guess you’ll have to read the book to find out what she decided!) Felicity doesn’t wish to be married at all! Ann would like to be swept off her feet and live a safe, stable life as a lady. Gemma doesn’t know quite what she wants yet, but she’ll figure it out eventually.

There’s a few spaces in A Great and Terrible Beauty that have mentions of racism: one inner thought of a character not “supposed” to find someone of a certain race attractive was the one mention that really stuck out to me. Honestly, I think it wasn’t necessary in the book at all. I understand the time and place the book is set in, but the “way of the world” for the time is obvious enough through action and interaction. And for the character, it felt, well, out of character.

A major theme in this book is control. Who has it? Who wants it? And what are these clashing parties willing to do to get it? There’s an argument for man versus woman to be made—which will come back to haunt us in book three—but A Great and Terrible Beauty mostly deals with loss. There’s so, so much loss in this book. It’s not always a bad thing, but the main characters are 16-year-old girls trying to find their place in the world and finding they have very little wiggle room.

But on to something happier: the magic! I adore the magic system in this book. It’s a physical thing. It drains and fades. There are consequences for its use! I really enjoyed how the magic affected the girls’ mental states. It changed how they felt about their futures. About life. And that alteration caused a need for more. More power. More control. More freedom.

I love how Libba Bray writes. Her descriptions are immersive and unique and fit the story to perfection. I didn’t notice any phrases “out of their time” either. Bray’s world is alive and full of amazing characters and conflicts. At this point, it’s obvious I recommend this book—the whole series—so what’re you waiting for? Have fun!

~ Anna

"Sometimes when I wake in the early hours, I feel as if I am emerging from a long, strange dream. The velvety light softens every edge in the room, bathing it in possibility. In that blissful moment, I expect a day like any other: I shall study French, laugh with friends. I shall see Kartik coming across the lawn, his smile filling me with warmth. And just as I begin to believe that all is well, there is some subtle change in the light. The room takes its true shape. I fight to go back to that blissful ignorance, but it is too late. The dull pain of truth weights my soul, pulling it under. I am left hopelessly awake."

~ Libba Bray, The Sweet Far Thing

pippa cross. that’s all.

top 5 underrated books/tv shows

because “underrated” could be defined different ways I’m going to make this list specifically books that regardless of how well they do like, sales wise, on goodreads etc. specifically receive little to no attention in terms of like, book tumblr fandom here xd. 

the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor

The Parasol Protecturate series by Gail Carriger and her Steampunk books in general

Libba Bray’s fantasy series both The Diviners and the Gemma Doyle trilogy

Riley Redgate’s contemporary books Seven Ways We Lie and Final Draft in particular

The Dead Queens Club by Hannah Capin side note: the other books I listed ik the people who love them really love them even if they’re not as popular as I think they deserve to be but this book is apparently really hated by the general public the reviews I’ve seen are sooo negative lmao but I’m speaking my truth I thought it was a lot of fun and also camp

I was going to elaborate on each one but it was taking too long and I got impatient xd. The first three are certified favorites of mine the other two I just really like

(ask me top 5/10 of anything)

just read a satyr!levi x nymph!reader fic which has reignited my Greek mythology bullshit

“Do you think they missed him terribly when he fell? Did God cry over his lost angel, I wonder?”

- Felicity Worthington (Gemma Doyle Trilogy)

Doing my annual Gemma Doyle Trilogy reread and i have to say, Hester Asa Moore aka Sarah Rees-Toome is my problematic fav-- i would pay money to read an entire prequel book about her and Mary at Spence, especially because this is the first time I picked up on the queer subtext between her and Mary and yeah they were in love, you cannot convince me otherwise

Kartik in book 3: relationship with faith ended. Dreams are my best friend now.

Gemma in book 3: neither magic nor shopping will help me fix my problems in the long run but this doesn't stop me from trying