The Sweet Far Thing is the third in Libba Bray's trilogy, which, as the back cover informs me, is called the Gemma Doyle Trilogy.*
And it's really, really good. It gave me shivers. And it made me cry. No, really. Libba Bray, you made me cry. I shall never forgive you.**
Now, if you haven't read the first two books (A Great and Terrible Beauty and Rebel Angels) I suggest that instead of reading the rest of this post, which will likely contain spoilers for both of those books, you instead go and read the books themselves. You will like them, I promise.***
Gemma Doyle, at the end of Rebel Angels, bound the magic of the realms to herself, promising to share it with the tribes. Now, she must contend with the creatures of the Winterlands, the plotting of the Order and the Rakshana, the discontent of those who live in the Realms, and her feelings for a certain extremely hot Indian guy.****
Gemma must figure out who to trust and what to do, all while keeping up the pretense of a nomal, stifled, Victorian-schoolgirl life.
She does, of course, have friends to help her along-- sort of. Felicity is as scathing and power-hungry as always, and Ann wilts, if possible, even more than before-- though she does have breif moments of confidence and even triumph. Pippa is... not really Pippa anymore, though you'll have to read the book to find out what happens on that front. Kartik, is a friend, perhaps more than a friend, but again, you'll have to read the book. Libba Bray has said that there is Kartik/Gemma action, and there most definitley is.*****
The Sweet Far Thing is beautifully written, and, though it is over 800 pages long, manages not to drag on in the least. The ending, is, I thing, fitting-- but don't worry, I won't tell you what it is.
I award The Sweet Far Thing with four and one-half daggers.
*A name which, in my opinion, is entirly unfitting for the trilogy. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy? Yawn. Unfortunately, no one consulted me when they made this decision, so what can I do?
**The chances that she will ever read this are, of course, exceedingly slim. Ah, well. Such is life.
***And if you don't, YOU SHALL FEEL THE WRATH OF MY SPORK OF DOOM!!!
****Need I say it? MINE.
*****Insert evil cackle here.
Cackling, shivering, wishing Kartik were real, and yours,
PS This is the best YA cover of 2007, in my opinion. Possibly the best title. What do you think?
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Wow, actually some really great titles in there. I'm stunned.
Very glad to see that Clementine is making it out into the public eye.
That's a MUCH better crop than they usually pick for the Quills. It'll be interesting to see what happens with it.
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Seriously people if you haven't read Diary of a Wimpy Kid yet...stop what you are doing and go pick your self up a copy.
I second that. Second, third, and fourth it.