Haven't you?

Haven't you? by noelle1596 featuring a drawstring backpack

Bookreview: A Great and Terrible Beauty

In the past few weeks I have become ridiculously obsessed with stories that take place in the late nineteenth century. For example, I have bingewatched the first season of 'Penny Dreadful' in two days! So, of course, my reading is influenced by this obsession as well. The first book on my list? 'A Great and Terrible Beauty' by Libba Bray! 

 

Summary

Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. 

Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order.

Review

I had pretty low expectations for this book. From the summary and the little snippets I'd read on the internet, I thought this was not going to be the book for me. But my prejudice has been proven wrong once again, I actually really liked this book. Sure, there were bits that I could've lived without (the gossipy cliques at the academy) and things I would've liked to see that weren't there (more Kartik please!), but you can't always get what you want. Thankfully, there are two more books in this lovely trilogy, so there is plenty of room to bring all those parts to life. I'm excited to find out what the next book has in store for us: Rebel Angels!

Rating: **** 

Tell me it's okay

Tell me it's okay by noelle1596 featuring a spaghetti strap dress

May Playlist 2016

I'm on the last day of my vacation, before I start school again tomorrow! Only a few weeks left until summer vacation! To get me through those weeks I've made another playlist. Keep reading to see what I've been listening to lately.

The chain - Hazel Hayes & Dodie Clark (cover)

Ex's and Oh's - Elle King

America's Sweetheart - Elle King

I told you I was mean - Elle King

High - The young rising sons

Misguided ghosts - Paramore

Grow up - Paramore

I forget where we were - Ben Howard

Ophelia - The Lumineers

Learn to trust - Bad Suns

3AM - Meghan Trainor 

As per usual, a lovely mismatch of songs that I will be blasting throughout May. Wanna join me?