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A review by snideghoul
A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray
2.0
The first few chapters of this book were so promising. Our heroine was complex and interesting, the writing was layered and compelling. Her images of India and Victoriana had me excited and interested about exploring the world she was creating... and then we got trapped in a girls' school in a Victorian version of "The Craft" and she lost me. I finished because the action is rousing enough to keep my attention, but after such a promising start, the book was a sore disappointment.
As things develop, her descriptions become a little more like tricks and less like artful writing. The main character, who I felt had so much promise to be independent and compelling, is (somewhat appropriately) beaten down and simply follows. The ending I practically skimmed through because it felt slapped together. Those of you who are good at these things will know what's going to happen early on.
Honestly, this wouldn't be such a bad review if the first quarter of the book hadn't been so promising. I am not sure if I will bother to read the next book; one thing that has my interest piqued is the interview with the author in the back. It helped me appreciate the book in another way.
As things develop, her descriptions become a little more like tricks and less like artful writing. The main character, who I felt had so much promise to be independent and compelling, is (somewhat appropriately) beaten down and simply follows. The ending I practically skimmed through because it felt slapped together. Those of you who are good at these things will know what's going to happen early on.
Honestly, this wouldn't be such a bad review if the first quarter of the book hadn't been so promising. I am not sure if I will bother to read the next book; one thing that has my interest piqued is the interview with the author in the back. It helped me appreciate the book in another way.