This book is a romantic fantasy novel written in the Victorian era. Gemma Doyle, the main character, is sent off to a boarding school, Spence Academy, at the age of 16. All the females in her family have attended this school. The curriculum focuses on learning basic skills like manners and how to be come a lady. All girls attend this school until they are picked up by a suitor and ready to be married off. At first, Gemma despises the school and everyone attending, however, Gemma finds out many things about her family history that change her life forever and forces her to not want to leave. These secrets have been kept and protected for many years by her mother who died trying to protect her. Gemma soon realizes that she has a strong connection to another group of girls in the school and later finds out why.

I have provided a link that will give you a little bit more information about this exciting trilogy. This book will make you want to lock yourself in your room and read for days.
Here's part of an except from the book which can be found on the link I provided:
Chapter One
June 21, 1895
Bombay, India
"Please tell me that's not going to be part of my birthday dinner this
evening."
I am staring into the hissing face of a cobra. A surprise-ingly pink tongue slithers in and out of a cruel mouth while an Indian man whose eyes are the blue of blindness inclines his head toward my mother and explains in Hindi that cobras make very good eating.
My mother reaches out a white-gloved finger to stroke the snake's back. "What do you think, Gemma? Now that you're sixteen, will you be dining on cobra?"
The slithery thing makes me shudder. "I think not, thank you."
The old, blind Indian man smiles toothlessly and brings the cobra closer. It's enough to send me reeling back where I bump into a wooden stand filled with little statues of Indian deities. One of the statues, a woman who is all arms with a face bent on terror, falls to the ground. Kali, the destroyer. Lately, Mother has accused me of keeping her as my unofficial patron saint. Lately, Mother and I haven't been getting on very well. She claims it's because I've reached an impossible age. I state emphatically to anyone who will listen that it's all because she refuses to take me to London.
I love the way Libba Bray writes. She is so descriptive in a way that paints a picture in your mind. Her writing style works very well with this fantasy novel because it makes all unrealistic things come to life.
This book actually seems really interesting! I will have to check up on your next reading response to see how the book continues!
ReplyDeleteI will probably read this because you mentioned it's a trilogy. I can't stay away from good books that are part of a series. Your summary is really good and I'll probably end up reading this.
ReplyDeleteYou wrote this response really well. The way you wrote it makes me want to read it.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the excerpt you chose to put in this response! this sounds like a good book and I'll probably read it.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this book from somewhere and I have yet to read it! I think this would be so different than a lot of other books because of the time period.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I would loooove. I can already tell that the way she writes is beautiful and intriguing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JT, it was written very well.
ReplyDeleteI think girls should still attend those schools. The "ratchet girl" to "normal girl" ratio would be significantly reduced. Just imagine how much different Parkview would be! Seriously
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds kind of mysterious. I want to know more. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteNot my kind of book, but I definitely agree that the authors word choice and use of language is very compelling.
ReplyDeleteI like the way she writes, it looks like a really good book.
ReplyDelete