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chelford's review against another edition
4.25
This doesn't live up to my memory of it, and it's heartbreaking. Don't get me wrong: it is wonderful. It just isn't everything I remembered. Specifically, the queer storyline isn't as pronounced as I remember it, though those stories were fewer and farther between when I first read this series. I think this might be the first book I ever read with lesbians in it, and for that I definitely put and kept it on a pedestal. However, it's definitely a YA book, and it shows some signs of its time. Having read The Diviners, I can't help but compare the two and see seeds for the sequel-ish series in this one. I just wasn't expecting to come away liking The Diviners more in the end.
xrider's review against another edition
4.5
4.5 stars
I reread the whole series recently because I was having a minor identity crisis since I had taken a break from reading and everything that was coming to me ‘highly recommended’ felt more like badly written Wattpad stories so I opted to go back and see if my old favorites were as horrible as the new trends and I just never saw it when I was younger.
No it was just as well written and structured as I remembered. The writing style is just a favorite. It really pulls you in like you’re right there and can touch and smell everything around you. THERE IS A PLOT which is something so many new stuff is missing these days. At the very least a well constructed one. Still not overly a fan of one bits of the ending but I think most of us were heartbroken over that choice. Which reminds me my original comment on the first book, the slight forced/rush hint of romance lurking there. Over the other two books it’s more properly spread out actually making it more of a respectable possibility. Also makes what happens a bit more heartbreaking.
There are still some characters I wish would have been a bit more changed as time went on. Simply character growth that they never got that I think the reader would have enjoyed to see but at least others got some.
Overall if Libba Bray would like to resurrect this series in a fast forward to what the Order would be like today I’m sure it would be heavily loved
I reread the whole series recently because I was having a minor identity crisis since I had taken a break from reading and everything that was coming to me ‘highly recommended’ felt more like badly written Wattpad stories so I opted to go back and see if my old favorites were as horrible as the new trends and I just never saw it when I was younger.
No it was just as well written and structured as I remembered. The writing style is just a favorite. It really pulls you in like you’re right there and can touch and smell everything around you. THERE IS A PLOT which is something so many new stuff is missing these days. At the very least a well constructed one. Still not overly a fan of one bits of the ending but I think most of us were heartbroken over that choice. Which reminds me my original comment on the first book, the slight forced/rush hint of romance lurking there. Over the other two books it’s more properly spread out actually making it more of a respectable possibility. Also makes what happens a bit more heartbreaking.
There are still some characters I wish would have been a bit more changed as time went on. Simply character growth that they never got that I think the reader would have enjoyed to see but at least others got some.
Overall if Libba Bray would like to resurrect this series in a fast forward to what the Order would be like today I’m sure it would be heavily loved
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke my heart - which is not to say I didn't like it, I loved it - I loved being wrong over and over and right over and over, I loved the small details thrown in to make me say, "Ah ha. I never thought of that." A small part of me hates, hates, hates the ending and you will know what I mean, but I'll accept it. It was brilliantly written.
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a fitting conclusion to the series. There were many surprises, additional twists to keep the plot going - all in all I was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this trilogy.
nlwclark's review against another edition
4.0
A nice ending to the trilogy. I definitely felt satisfied with the series.
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first real book review I've ever done. So I apologize for the roughness of it.
The Sweet Far Thing was a good conclusion to the Great and Terrible Beauty series. Libba Bray wrapped up the story nicely. Her writing style was beautiful and the detail she put into her research of this time period is evident. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.
I did have a few complaints though. Sometimes, the careless Gemma and the others used the magic really bothered me. Gemma would get flashes of how important it was to use the magic wisely, but then let her friends convince her of keeping it for their own, selfish use. It got repetitive after awhile and almost made me put down the book.
I'm glad I stuck with it though because Gemma's character really redeemed herself in the end. She came into who she was, and not just as a carrier of the magic of the realms but as a woman. She did the right thing, for herself and for the others.
The ending made this book a four star read for me. It was exciting, full of action, and heartbreaking. Yet it left you feeling hopeful.
And can I mention how much I love Kartick? His character was so well done. You could see how torn he was between what he wanted and what he thought was right. He was a great love interest.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong female main character. Though Gemma didn't always make the right decisions, she learned to accept herself and want she wanted and didn't make excuses for either. It was a great series I really enjoyed.
The Sweet Far Thing was a good conclusion to the Great and Terrible Beauty series. Libba Bray wrapped up the story nicely. Her writing style was beautiful and the detail she put into her research of this time period is evident. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.
I did have a few complaints though. Sometimes, the careless Gemma and the others used the magic really bothered me. Gemma would get flashes of how important it was to use the magic wisely, but then let her friends convince her of keeping it for their own, selfish use. It got repetitive after awhile and almost made me put down the book.
I'm glad I stuck with it though because Gemma's character really redeemed herself in the end. She came into who she was, and not just as a carrier of the magic of the realms but as a woman. She did the right thing, for herself and for the others.
The ending made this book a four star read for me. It was exciting, full of action, and heartbreaking. Yet it left you feeling hopeful.
And can I mention how much I love Kartick? His character was so well done. You could see how torn he was between what he wanted and what he thought was right. He was a great love interest.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong female main character. Though Gemma didn't always make the right decisions, she learned to accept herself and want she wanted and didn't make excuses for either. It was a great series I really enjoyed.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I got the feeling that the author was having a bit of trouble letting go of the characters and thus decided to stretch out the final book in the trilogy as long as possible. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the book, but I think the extreme length did take away from the overall strength of the story.
Gemma is certainly strong, but flawed in many ways and I can only imagine she will continue stumbling through life doing the wrong thing 50% of the time. I fear that in an effort to assert her independence, she ends up being a bit selfish with the "do whatever you want" mentality. I think it is possible to empower women without making them quite so self serving.
Gemma is certainly strong, but flawed in many ways and I can only imagine she will continue stumbling through life doing the wrong thing 50% of the time. I fear that in an effort to assert her independence, she ends up being a bit selfish with the "do whatever you want" mentality. I think it is possible to empower women without making them quite so self serving.
iceangel32's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know if it was the size that was intimidating...but I have to say that I had a hard time getting into the book. I feel that in the end there was many questions and no real answers and for the last book in the series i feel that it could have ended things a little better. It leaves you feeling like there should have been another book. but I guess that happens in the end of a series...there is only so much you can write. I am sure it Ms Bray wanted she could have gone on and on with this story. However I enjoyed it. I feel that the strong Gemma in the first two books becomes a little soft and shows you a different side of herself. Pippa was great character in this book. And I like the way that alot of the characters secrets come out and how they were all able to make their own decisions and start to shape their own lives in the end, even the creatures in the realms.
bibliophile_jpeg's review against another edition
5.0
I cannot believe this trilogy isn't rated 5 stars, it changed my LIFE. I don't even remember the first time I've read it or how many times since. Libba Bray seriously was gifted by the gods for this saga, and at the time, I don't think there was anything else like it. In fact, I still haven't found another author that gave me the warm, urgent, panicked, chilled, fierce, and melancholy feelings at all once that the Gemma Doyle series gave me. I'm also not big on period pieces, but Bray's description of 19th century England and all of the etiquette and comforts involved, it felt like I had been drifted away, homesick for a time I'd never even lived in. The connection that Bray builds between her characters and her readers is just amazing, and years later, I still feel pity and pride for the fictional girls. This book seriously swept me up, wrapped me in colorful Indian scarves, threw me into the torrential downpour of old England, pushed me through a portal into another magical realm, and sent me home knowing that it was, in fact, NOT a dream. I would pay huge money to read this series again for the first time.
_bookdrag0n's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 ish stars
I don’t know why I went into this with high hopes. This book was WAY longer than it should have been, especially since half the book, absolutely nothing is happening. It just didn’t draw me in or capture me in any way. I had to force myself through this one. I rolled my eyes A LOT
***review contains spoilers**
As usual, Gemma ignores every single warning she is given by people looking out for her. She continues to lie and evade her responsibilities to share the magic like she promised, but then acts like she doesn’t understand why the residents of the realms are upset with her and are on the edge of war? She already made the decision in the last book to form the alliance and share the magic, yet she spends this entire book backtracking on that and keeping the magic to only her little band of fake friends.
In true fashion of the other books, the “friends” lie to each other, backstab each other, use each other (cause let’s face it, if Gemma didn’t have the ability to get them to the realms and give them magic, Felicity, Ann, and Pippa would have all forgotten she existed and none of them would be friends). They still fat and “ugly” shamed Ann relentlessly throughout and she was only “beautiful” when she was changed by magic.
The Felicity/Pippa twist just seemed…. Weird? NOWHERE leading up to that bit did their relationship EVER seem like anything more than two best girl friends if there had been more stolen glances or touches it would have made more sense. They only acted the same way towards each other as they did with their friends they weren’t secretly in love with. It just seemed forced for a plot twist that wasn’t believable and authentic. At least not to me – a non-straight woman.
Kartik’s death made absolutely no sense to me and I’m still not entirely sure what happened? Like, he sacrificed himself for Gemma, I get that. But now he’s stuck as some tree in the Winterlands for the rest of eternity? Will he be corrupted in the Winterlands? Or is all the “evil” gone now? Because Eugenia didn’t start out evil? I don’t know.
Gemma in the end gives up everything to start a new life in America in New York, which, I don’t know, just seems like an ending that was slapped together and mediocre.
I don’t know why I went into this with high hopes. This book was WAY longer than it should have been, especially since half the book, absolutely nothing is happening. It just didn’t draw me in or capture me in any way. I had to force myself through this one. I rolled my eyes A LOT
***review contains spoilers**
As usual, Gemma ignores every single warning she is given by people looking out for her. She continues to lie and evade her responsibilities to share the magic like she promised, but then acts like she doesn’t understand why the residents of the realms are upset with her and are on the edge of war? She already made the decision in the last book to form the alliance and share the magic, yet she spends this entire book backtracking on that and keeping the magic to only her little band of fake friends.
In true fashion of the other books, the “friends” lie to each other, backstab each other, use each other (cause let’s face it, if Gemma didn’t have the ability to get them to the realms and give them magic, Felicity, Ann, and Pippa would have all forgotten she existed and none of them would be friends). They still fat and “ugly” shamed Ann relentlessly throughout and she was only “beautiful” when she was changed by magic.
The Felicity/Pippa twist just seemed…. Weird? NOWHERE leading up to that bit did their relationship EVER seem like anything more than two best girl friends if there had been more stolen glances or touches it would have made more sense. They only acted the same way towards each other as they did with their friends they weren’t secretly in love with. It just seemed forced for a plot twist that wasn’t believable and authentic. At least not to me – a non-straight woman.
Kartik’s death made absolutely no sense to me and I’m still not entirely sure what happened? Like, he sacrificed himself for Gemma, I get that. But now he’s stuck as some tree in the Winterlands for the rest of eternity? Will he be corrupted in the Winterlands? Or is all the “evil” gone now? Because Eugenia didn’t start out evil? I don’t know.
Gemma in the end gives up everything to start a new life in America in New York, which, I don’t know, just seems like an ending that was slapped together and mediocre.