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What are readers saying about The Sweet Far Thing (The Gemma Doyle Trilogy)?
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-01-20 02:20:37.
(Language: English)
  
This wasn't nearly as good as the two previous books. It was at least 150 pages too long and if I had to read the words "bind the magic" one more time I was going to scream. Towards the end I actually started skipping huge chunks of descriptive passage and read only the dialogue. And, unfortunately, I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It was still a good book, but not of the same caliber as its predecessors.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-01-30 10:13:08.
(Language: English)
Probably my favorite series ever. Well, it's a close tie with Harry Potter. This is also my favorite book in the series because it was the one I was addicted to the most. :) This series is so unique, which is why I love it so much. It combines the strict London Victorian society with magic, mystery, and the lives of a group of teenage girls of the era. Libba Bray's writing style not only employs amazingly intelligent and genuinely entertaining sarcasm, but has a way of writing that will have you staying up until 4 am reading because it is THAT GOOD! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! :D
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-26 04:27:38.
(Language: English)
this book was simply breath-taking, the ending was fantastic, but very depressing, i couldn't stop crying!!! Kartik is the most amazing character ever!! what he did for Gemma is the sweetest thing ever. The ending did not end in a good place. It almost seemed like the author got tired of writing the book at a certain point, so she just leaves you hanging there. I did really like this book though, and I reccomend it to anyone who read the first two books.
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Kelsey posted a review at 2008-01-14 12:24:20.
(Language: English)
A bit of a disappointing wrap-up to the series. The first two hundred pages mainly focus on the Victorian culture and not much else. Although I highly enjoyed reading about this period, at one point I went, "Where's the real story here?" Finally, once you've trudged through about six hundred pages, the action starts up and delivers the most action-packed scene the series has ever had. It was a little confusing, a little long but overall I liked it. I do hope Mrs. Bray's next work is in a more modern setting, as I think her writing style, sharp and sarcastic, is better suited to the present than having to be watered down to work in 19th century England.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-08-25 10:07:18.
(Language: English)
Everyone has at least one ‘escapist’ book; one that allows them to lose themselves in a fantasy and perhaps return to a younger, less worldly age. For many people nowadays, the Harry Potter series provides that opportunity. For me, one such author is Libba Bray.The Sweet Far Thing is the final instalment in Ms Bray’s historical fantasy trilogy for young adults, starring Gemma Doyle, Victorian teenager and hereditary sorceress. For those who are new to the trilogy, a quick précis – the series opens with Gemma living with her mother in India in the days of the British Empire. After her mother’s violent death, during which Gemma experiences the first of many unsettling visions, Gemma is returned to England to attend finishing school at the Spence Academy for Young Ladies, where she meets and befriends the beautiful, romantically-minded Pippa, headstrong admiral’s daughter Felicity and shy working class orphan Ann, who is attending the Academy on a scholarship in order to be trained as a governess for the children of her wealthy cousins. As well as dealing with the usual nightmarish politics of teenage girls and the lessons designed to shape them into future wives and mothers of the Empire, the four are drawn, via Gemma’s developing abilities, into the magical world of the Realms, and the lethal struggle for power dominating them.By the time The Sweet Far Thing begins, Gemma’s class are in their final year at Spence. Gemma and Felicity are soon to have their season in London and be presented at court before Queen Victoria, while Ann will be despatched to a life of servitude, her natural talent for singing neglected. In the Realms, the race is on to destroy Gemma and seize her power, while Gemma’s ongoing attraction to Kartik, a former member of the magical brotherhood the Rakshana, is developing all the more strongly. In this final climactic episode of the trilogy, written in the classic five-act format of the tragedy, characters will be killed; begin relationships; ‘come out’; take charge of their destinies. Perceptions of good and evil will be challenged, and futures decided for the young women whose fates initially appeared so set in stone. For the readers who have been with Gemma et al since the first book, The Sweet Far Thing is likely to be an affecting read, especially towards the end, as the losses and gains of the battle for the Realms mount up.I found myself smiling at quite a few scenes, particularly those in which the teenage protagonists’ characters are explored. Bray’s talent for creating likeably flawed personalities is clear, and the younger characters in particular are in most ways very believable. They do not conform to the ‘frigid Victorian’ stereotype held by many people nowadays, nor are they wise and responsible beyond their years; indeed, Gemma frequently makes errors of judgement the sort of which one would expect from a young girl still coming to terms with life, both in and outside of the magical Realms.Her relationship with Kartik is not presented as the be-all-and-end-all of her existence, and while the ending of the story is far from ‘happily ever after’, there remains a strong sense of hope and possibility for the futures of the girls at the centre of the tale. I was especially pleased to see my favourite character from the entire series redeemed at least to a degree, as I considered her to be the best role model in the trilogy (still do, actually), and was somewhat perturbed by her being demonised in the second book.As with the novel’s two predecessors, there were a few minor factors that made me wince a little, such as the strong liberalism frequently displayed by Gemma, which seems a touch anachronistic for a 19th Century girl with her relatively privileged background. In particular, the corset as a metaphor for the restrictive gender roles of the time is perhaps a little overused, as are the regular complaints about wearing the garment made by the girls: to the vast majority of Victorian women who could afford corsetry, the idea of going without would be as popular as the idea of going braless would be today – a tiny minority might well have done, but they would indeed be the minority.Also, a ‘respectable’ institution like Spence kitting its charges out in bloomers for an afternoon’s cycling would almost certainly lead to complaints from horrified parents, too, as in the early 1890s such garments would still generally be viewed as unsuitable attire for a young woman, particularly among the relatively conservative upper classes who send their daughters to Spence. The phonetic spelling used for the speech of working class characters felt a little uncomfortable (“Wot’re you luvbirds whisp’rin ‘bout?”), although not without precedent, being a technique employed by Dickens and Hardy among others, and the portrayal of the character who comes out to her friends as a “Sapphist” occasionally veers predictably towards the classic ‘butch’ stereotype.All the same, the book is a pleasurable and entertaining read, both for adults and for its target audience, many of whom may just be getting into historical fiction. Buy the trilogy for the bookish teenager in your life…or just read it yourself, of course.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-13 10:19:24.
(Language: English)
Icon Options Libba Bray Book Trilogy Source: Variety July 21, 2006 Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey's Icon Productions has optioned the rights to a Libba Bray book trilogy to develop as a big screen franchise and set helmer Charles Sturridge to direct the first installment. Variety says the books center on four rebel teens in Victorian England who gain power from access to a mysterious realm. Sturridge will also adapt the first film, "A Great and Terrible Beauty." The story centers on Gemma Doyle, a free spirit brought up in India who witnesses the death of her mother. At boarding school she uncovers a conspiracy surrounding her mom's death that draws her into a world of magic and deception. I loved this book - the rights have been optioned by Mel Gibson's film production company. First two books in the trilogy -- "A Great and Terrible Beauty" and "Rebel Angels" -- were New York Times bestsellers published by Delacorte Books.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-10-11 07:35:19.
(Language: English)
Third book of the Gemma Doyle trilogy. Historical fiction with a generous mix of fantasy and romance that features strong female characters who question the repressive rules placed on women in Victorian society. As in the previous novels, not everything is what it seems. Good and evil are two sides of the same coin and Gemma struggles to figure out who is trying to help her and who will do her harm. Who can she trust? And can she even trust herself? Gemma is is a compelling character because she is not perfect. She makes some selfish choices, but in the end she finds strength and fairness within herself. Ann, Felicity, and Kartik also struggle to find a balance between their desires and what is right. Fans of the first two books in the trilogy, will devour this one as well.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-05-01 08:12:41.
(Language: English)
I listened to the book on CD, and it was 20 hours long. I noticed some people complain how it was 800+ pages to read. I totally agree with them. It was too darn long. I felt that Libba Bray was valuing quantity over quality. I felt that this was the worst book in the series. All the events that happened in the first two novels were repeated with details in this novel, which was very annoying. There was no character development. Their stories were same old. Ann is the depressing one. Felicity was intolerable. Pippa was the predictable one and Gemma was brainless. Along with that, they are all very childish and selfish. Every single decision Gemma took was wrong. The friendship was filled with backstabbing and treachery. The end is the only time when you can truly call their relationship friendship. The only character that seems to make sense was Kartik. I loved his character, but the ending ruined it all. The ending was much unexpected, but did not make any sense just like rest of the novel. The plot did not make sense. Overall, I was disappointed. I think the author could have done so much more with the last book in the series. To me, this book was a disappointment in comparison to the first two novels.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-19 06:28:21.
(Language: English)
After years of waiting for this book, it did not disappoint. The writing style was atmospheric and haunting, much like the first book. Having bound all the magic of the realms to herself as a means of protecting it, Gemma must decide how to restore it properly. This is made complicated by power struggles in the real world and in the realms. As the story progressed, I enjoyed the suspense of not knowing who was giving Gemma true advice. And I really enjoyed her increasingly intense relationship with Kartik! The conclusion of the story reduced me to tears several times, but it was beautifully done. If you have not read this series, check out A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels before reading this book. I highly recommend this trilogy
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-07-02 04:12:45.
(Language: English)
This book was a fantastic read! I was not disappointed after waiting years for its release, I would even say it remains better than the second novel. Gemma, Felicity, Ann, Karitk, McCleethy, Miss Moore, Pippa, Simon, Tom and the rest of the characters are as intriguing and exciting as ever. Libba Bray remains a fascinating author and captivates with every word on the page. I do not usually display much emotion while reading books, yet on the completion of this novel I cried (well, actually beginning on page 776, not just 819). I immediately reread the novel with aproximately the same result. An amazing novel, yet please do remember to start from the beginning of the series, the books will make so much more sense.
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Jennifer posted a review at 2009-11-16 01:54:44.
(Language: English)
Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com The third and final book in Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle trilogy, THE SWEET FAR THING picks up a few months after REBEL ANGELS ended. It's now spring, and Gemma has been unable to reenter the realms with or without her friends since the Christmas holidays, when she sealed all the magic inside herself. She has grown uneasy with dreams of the supposedly dead Circe and the absence of Kartrik, despite his pledge to support her. As Mrs. Nightwing oversees the rebuilding of Spence Academy's long destroyed East Wing, Gemma discovers a door that leads into the realms. Soon she, Felicity, and Ann have rejoined Pippa in the realms. All is far from well, however. Within the realms, the various tribes strive to convince Gemma to share her magic, and she finds herself unable to trust any of them. Circe is not dead after all, and her warnings frighten Gemma. And what of the new visions, in which Gemma sees a former student of Spence Academy, who writes of the Tree of All Souls? Outside the realms, there is just as much uncertainty. Gemma prepares for her debut and tries to make her peace with her father and brother. Felicity's headstrong behavior has put her on the verge of losing her inheritance and freedom. Ann must decide whether to risk everything on the chance of a career in the theatre. As dark forces spread through the realms and the girls' debuts approach, Gemma must find more strength in herself than she ever thought possible, and decide just what kind of woman she wants to be -- for herself, not anyone else. Fans of the trilogy will tear through this book, eager to reach its conclusion and learn the fates of all its characters. Bray's descriptions of Victorian life and the mysterious realms are as colorful as ever. Gemma makes a sympathetic if sometimes frustrating narrator, believable in her struggle to make the right decision. At over 800 pages, THE SWEET FAR THING is far longer than either of the books before it, and there is some repetition to the earlier scenes, but those who love the world will be happy to spend as much time there as they can. Toward the end, the plot picks up to a heart-pounding pace. Between cheering the happier parts of the ending, and grieving over its inevitable sadness, readers will be glad to have lived through this tale with Gemma and her friends.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-10-08 11:52:45.
(Language: English)
This is the 3rd in the triliogy. Once again a little slow going, At time i felt like it was repetative, and could have been summed up. Overall i really liked this series. I would love to read it again because i think i will have a better understand of the whole story now that i know what all happens.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-11 09:16:37.
(Language: English)
Although this concluding book in the series was LONG, the second half was pretty exciting. There's no shortage of drama, thrills, and suspense, and a dash of bittersweet romance, as Gemma Doyle FINALLY is forced to deciding what to do with the magic of the Realms. Everyone and every thing wants it, and they are willing to lie, threaten, maim, and kill in order to get the magic and the power that comes with it. Gemma and her friends are still trying to figure out what will happen to the three of them when their Spence Academy days are over, but will they have much of a choice? Probably unrealistic ending for the Victorian time period, but satisfying none-the-less.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-03-04 10:59:45.
(Language: English)
I have to say I was disappointed. Number 3 in what Libba Bray has come to call as the "Gemma Doyle" trilogy. I remember when I read A Great And Terrible Beauty I couldn't get enough, I adored that book, and the 2nd-Rebel Angels- wasn't too bad, but The Sweet Far Thing was a disappointment. I lost a lot of steam reading it. I bought it the day it came out, and stopped halfway through. The writing just wasn't up to par, and I hated some things that happened,also full of a bunch of slightly lame fantasy garble, so much that I skipped a lot of this book, and I NEVER do that. It could have been a thousand times better.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-11-24 09:53:22.
(Language: English)
This one was much longer than the others in the series but I love the characters and so I didn't mind. It was more thought out than the other books and by about 3/4 of the way through I couldn't put it down. I hope Bray cheats and comes back with a 4th novel. I am glad she left it open in the end for that possibility without giving up closure.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-24 08:18:26.
(Language: English)
This book is a heartbreaking ending to my favorate fantasy series since Tamora Pierce's 'Song of the Lioness' quartet. Well written, sweet, emotional enough to make you cry like you did at the end of 'Order of the Phoenix' (And you all would be lying if you said you didn't cry atlest a tear.) Genma has a lot to deal with this time around, and it amazes me how she manages to survive without completely falling apart. It's been awhile since I've read this, but I'd love to reread it again and again, and I'd cry everytime.
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-02-02 08:01:01.
(Language: English)
Truly a masterpiece. From the start of this trilogy, I hung on Bray's every word. Her style is unlike any I've read and her words hold so much meaning even outside the context of the novels. When I started The Sweet Far Thing, I guessed at what would happen, wishing for things to work out. But somewhere along the way, I stopped wishing, knowing whatever was to happen must be the best resolution. I read simply to see what would happen and I was not disappointed in the least. Well done, Libba Bray, well done.
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-25 09:10:22.
(Language: English)
I would have given it 5 STARS, if only the ending turned out the way i wanted it too... SPOILER: if only, if only Kartik didnt become one w/ the tree. i wanted him and Gemma to be together forever!!! aaand Fee and Pip ended up lebians! wow, did not see that coming. Yes, and the Gorgon is my hero. i can just picture her kicking ass on the battle field! AWESOMeNESS! Drags aliittle in the middle but overall the stars were aligned wen Libba was writing this book =) except for the Kartik thing. Not cool man, not. cool.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-04-15 08:27:54.
(Language: English)
Don't read this if you have not read the last book. This is my least favorite book of the series. I really liked that it was so action packed and tense and that the love portrayed between friends and significant others was very real. I like that Libba Bray writes honestly about the difficulties of friendships and relationships and trusting others. However, I did not like the ending. I felt like Felicity and Gemma were too easily free of the unhappy burden of sadness when their lovers were left behind. It felt like the really intense relationships that were portrayed between Pippa and Felicity and Gemma and Kartik were sort of easily set aside for the dreams of the main characters to come true. I don't know if that was a necessary move (at least for Gemma and Kartik-Pippa was evil, so she kinda had to go). It seems like the girls get over both having to leave their friends to move on and having to move on with their love lives. I have lost someone close before and it takes years to be at the point of moving on normally....I also don't like how McCleethy dies...it seemed a little righteous of her where she normally was not a righteous person. I guess it was to show the chaos and goodness and complexity of her person, but I didn't really buy it. Otherwise, very well written and I still enjoyed it a lot.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-23 01:23:19.
(Language: English)
I had to give myself a day to recover from the ending of this book before I really knew how I felt. Initially I was saddened and angry by the ending but I see now that it was necessary and the closest thing to a "happy ending" that Bray could find. The book is long but doesn't feel long at all, it moves quickly and is fun to read. As it is the third installment and final act within the series, it brings about few new plot lines and characters but deeply grows upon the new ones. My favorite book in the series is still Rebel Angels and while I will continue to recommend this series to others, I felt that Bray went a little too far in conveniently pushing her fiction into true history in this book. We see that women all around the world in the late Victorian era are grasping for rights and trying to find their place in this world. I love how the novels fit into this era, like a fictional piece of a giant world puzzle, but here it was like she was weaving the storyline into the worlds events so much that it feel forced at times. I felt as if I'd gone from reading an exciting fantasy, to a history on women's rights. The book is a fun ride, don't get me wrong. I just felt like the storylines seemed less thought out and more "oh, lets just have this happen next" when the girls were outside of the realms. It seems Bray knew exactly where she wanted to go within the realms but was a little lost in the "real world" (ironic, I know). I thought Ann's character development was weak when she went away, suddenly came back (with Gemma's help) and then made it on Broadway. Then Felicity turning out to be a lesbian and Gemma wanting to use the magic and not wanting to but doing it anyway...it seemed at some points that there was a lack of building toward an event and instead events just took place. I wonder if a great deal of this was due to editing as the last novel is so long and probably could have been longer. Now about Katrik, hmm, I've been worrying over this aspect of the story for 24 hours now and I'm so frustrated. I know why Katrik had to become the new tree but I'm angry at the same time. Of course he and Gemma couldn't live "happily ever after," the book takes place in a time where Gemma could barely escape her "season" in the book, let alone marry an Indian. In some ways I feel like Libba Bray was being true to the time period in which she writes to give us an ending where Katrik could save Gemma and live on in some way but in others I feel like she's hypocritical to write a novel about women who stand up against the ways of their world and not allow Gemma to fully embrace this. Yes, she goes onto a university in the new world of America. Yes, she probably will love again. But how sad to think that they worked so hard and still have so far to come. I guess that's the point though. (sigh). Still, if I were to finish the book I would have some way for Katrik to live on in the realms, in his own form, so that at least he and Gemma could have some sort of true happiness together. Overall, I think its a brilliant series
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Autumn posted a review at 2011-11-10 08:26:18.
(Language: English)
A great ending to a great series.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-01-31 11:44:14.
(Language: English)
I love this series of books. Bray does such a great job of interweaving Victorian socio-political norms with an almost Narnia-esque fantasy. I was so excited to finally have the third book (not that I wanted the series to end!) But just so that we could finally see what would become of our beloved Gemma. What I also loved about this book was the strength in spite of fear that the lead character played. In a genre that's bombarded with Gossip Girls, A-list and Au Pairs, it so refeshing to have an intelligent and powerful female character. Readers that enjoy this series should check out the Alanna series by Tamora Pierce. It is also an excellent series about a female character
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A Reader posted a review at 2009-02-21 10:44:31.
(Language: English)
I both loved and loathed this book. I love the time period these books were set in. However I found myself screaming at the book every other page or so! The characters made such stupid decisions!!! I also think this book was waaaaay too long. There was no sense in it being as long as it was. And Gemma's stupid for not seeing Fee and Pip's relationship. I figured that out in the second book!!! I'm kind of mad that Kartik died. However I do see why he wanted/needed to, but it still makes me sad... *sigh*
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A Reader posted a review at 2010-08-08 09:46:09.
(Language: English)
more than loving all the fantasy about the realms, and the magic, etc, there's a whole series of other huge topics addressed in this series... about love, in all its expressions, to family, to a lover, a first love, there's even other underlined sexuality issues raised in these books. i loved the fact that it talks directly to young girls, making them think about future and make plans, to have dreams, to think outside the box, be themselves, love, friendship... my stepdaughter introduced me to this books and absolutely loved them.
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A Reader posted a review at 2008-12-02 08:15:15.
(Language: English)
I thought The Sweet Far Thing was a wonderful conclusion to the series, even if there are some things to nitpick (most specifically, for me, what happened with Pippa). But I thought Gemma's journey (along with Felicity and Ann's) was brilliant and you could see her grow throughout the entire novel. These are the kind of characters you miss after you close the cover and put the book away - so much so that the 800+ pages were completely worth it and had me engrossed the entire time.
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