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jsc55's review against another edition
2.0
i really loved the first 2 in the series, but this last book just dragged. 800 pages and i hated the ending!
lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
First I will start out by saying I had to rush through the end of this book because my library loan was about to end... so that might have contributed to some of my feelings on the book feeling overly long. I do feel like some of the chapters were unnecessary and even tiresome, but I must say that I had no idea who was "good" or "bad" until the end.
I was surprised by the amount of people who were put off by the "feminist" aspect of the book. All I can think is god forbid there be a strong female character who touts more modern beliefs and whose whole story isn't enmeshed with the destiny of what a guy is doing.
People were upset Kartik died... I was too. But that added realism to it. It wasn't just a "happily ever after" book, which is maybe what some wanted. It is life, and sometimes life sucks.
Also I liked Felicity, Anne, Cersi, and all the characters. Yes they were complicated, but people are complicated and they aren't strictly good or strictly bad, so again I think it added realism to it. I felt that all the characters in the end came into their own which was great to see.
I will admit that as I read it and realized the girls were supposed to ge going on 18 I was shocked. They do seem way more immature, preteen, girls but perhaps that is just me getting older.
The Pippa/Felicity story line I was actually really happy to see. I want to live in a world where we don't have to comments on it being in there because it is just so commonplace, but I have already seen other reviews that were annoyed by this relationship being included. That saddens me. I did pick up on hints of the relationship throughout the story and I wondered if she was going to try and hint at relationship without actually saying it, but I am so glad that she just went there. It is refreshing to see a young adult novel that has so much diversity of characters and that doesn't skim around the issues.
All and all, I enjoyed this book and this series.
I was surprised by the amount of people who were put off by the "feminist" aspect of the book. All I can think is god forbid there be a strong female character who touts more modern beliefs and whose whole story isn't enmeshed with the destiny of what a guy is doing.
People were upset Kartik died... I was too. But that added realism to it. It wasn't just a "happily ever after" book, which is maybe what some wanted. It is life, and sometimes life sucks.
Also I liked Felicity, Anne, Cersi, and all the characters. Yes they were complicated, but people are complicated and they aren't strictly good or strictly bad, so again I think it added realism to it. I felt that all the characters in the end came into their own which was great to see.
I will admit that as I read it and realized the girls were supposed to ge going on 18 I was shocked. They do seem way more immature, preteen, girls but perhaps that is just me getting older.
The Pippa/Felicity story line I was actually really happy to see. I want to live in a world where we don't have to comments on it being in there because it is just so commonplace, but I have already seen other reviews that were annoyed by this relationship being included. That saddens me. I did pick up on hints of the relationship throughout the story and I wondered if she was going to try and hint at relationship without actually saying it, but I am so glad that she just went there. It is refreshing to see a young adult novel that has so much diversity of characters and that doesn't skim around the issues.
All and all, I enjoyed this book and this series.
chelford's review against another edition
4.25
This doesn't live up to my memory of it, and it's heartbreaking. Don't get me wrong: it is wonderful. It just isn't everything I remembered. Specifically, the queer storyline isn't as pronounced as I remember it, though those stories were fewer and farther between when I first read this series. I think this might be the first book I ever read with lesbians in it, and for that I definitely put and kept it on a pedestal. However, it's definitely a YA book, and it shows some signs of its time. Having read The Diviners, I can't help but compare the two and see seeds for the sequel-ish series in this one. I just wasn't expecting to come away liking The Diviners more in the end.
xrider's review against another edition
4.5
4.5 stars
I reread the whole series recently because I was having a minor identity crisis since I had taken a break from reading and everything that was coming to me ‘highly recommended’ felt more like badly written Wattpad stories so I opted to go back and see if my old favorites were as horrible as the new trends and I just never saw it when I was younger.
No it was just as well written and structured as I remembered. The writing style is just a favorite. It really pulls you in like you’re right there and can touch and smell everything around you. THERE IS A PLOT which is something so many new stuff is missing these days. At the very least a well constructed one. Still not overly a fan of one bits of the ending but I think most of us were heartbroken over that choice. Which reminds me my original comment on the first book, the slight forced/rush hint of romance lurking there. Over the other two books it’s more properly spread out actually making it more of a respectable possibility. Also makes what happens a bit more heartbreaking.
There are still some characters I wish would have been a bit more changed as time went on. Simply character growth that they never got that I think the reader would have enjoyed to see but at least others got some.
Overall if Libba Bray would like to resurrect this series in a fast forward to what the Order would be like today I’m sure it would be heavily loved
I reread the whole series recently because I was having a minor identity crisis since I had taken a break from reading and everything that was coming to me ‘highly recommended’ felt more like badly written Wattpad stories so I opted to go back and see if my old favorites were as horrible as the new trends and I just never saw it when I was younger.
No it was just as well written and structured as I remembered. The writing style is just a favorite. It really pulls you in like you’re right there and can touch and smell everything around you. THERE IS A PLOT which is something so many new stuff is missing these days. At the very least a well constructed one. Still not overly a fan of one bits of the ending but I think most of us were heartbroken over that choice. Which reminds me my original comment on the first book, the slight forced/rush hint of romance lurking there. Over the other two books it’s more properly spread out actually making it more of a respectable possibility. Also makes what happens a bit more heartbreaking.
There are still some characters I wish would have been a bit more changed as time went on. Simply character growth that they never got that I think the reader would have enjoyed to see but at least others got some.
Overall if Libba Bray would like to resurrect this series in a fast forward to what the Order would be like today I’m sure it would be heavily loved
eggjen's review against another edition
5.0
This book broke my heart - which is not to say I didn't like it, I loved it - I loved being wrong over and over and right over and over, I loved the small details thrown in to make me say, "Ah ha. I never thought of that." A small part of me hates, hates, hates the ending and you will know what I mean, but I'll accept it. It was brilliantly written.
tashaseegmiller's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be a fitting conclusion to the series. There were many surprises, additional twists to keep the plot going - all in all I was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this trilogy.
nlwclark's review against another edition
4.0
A nice ending to the trilogy. I definitely felt satisfied with the series.
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first real book review I've ever done. So I apologize for the roughness of it.
The Sweet Far Thing was a good conclusion to the Great and Terrible Beauty series. Libba Bray wrapped up the story nicely. Her writing style was beautiful and the detail she put into her research of this time period is evident. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.
I did have a few complaints though. Sometimes, the careless Gemma and the others used the magic really bothered me. Gemma would get flashes of how important it was to use the magic wisely, but then let her friends convince her of keeping it for their own, selfish use. It got repetitive after awhile and almost made me put down the book.
I'm glad I stuck with it though because Gemma's character really redeemed herself in the end. She came into who she was, and not just as a carrier of the magic of the realms but as a woman. She did the right thing, for herself and for the others.
The ending made this book a four star read for me. It was exciting, full of action, and heartbreaking. Yet it left you feeling hopeful.
And can I mention how much I love Kartick? His character was so well done. You could see how torn he was between what he wanted and what he thought was right. He was a great love interest.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong female main character. Though Gemma didn't always make the right decisions, she learned to accept herself and want she wanted and didn't make excuses for either. It was a great series I really enjoyed.
The Sweet Far Thing was a good conclusion to the Great and Terrible Beauty series. Libba Bray wrapped up the story nicely. Her writing style was beautiful and the detail she put into her research of this time period is evident. The descriptions made you feel like you were there.
I did have a few complaints though. Sometimes, the careless Gemma and the others used the magic really bothered me. Gemma would get flashes of how important it was to use the magic wisely, but then let her friends convince her of keeping it for their own, selfish use. It got repetitive after awhile and almost made me put down the book.
I'm glad I stuck with it though because Gemma's character really redeemed herself in the end. She came into who she was, and not just as a carrier of the magic of the realms but as a woman. She did the right thing, for herself and for the others.
The ending made this book a four star read for me. It was exciting, full of action, and heartbreaking. Yet it left you feeling hopeful.
And can I mention how much I love Kartick? His character was so well done. You could see how torn he was between what he wanted and what he thought was right. He was a great love interest.
I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a strong female main character. Though Gemma didn't always make the right decisions, she learned to accept herself and want she wanted and didn't make excuses for either. It was a great series I really enjoyed.
protoman21's review against another edition
4.0
I got the feeling that the author was having a bit of trouble letting go of the characters and thus decided to stretch out the final book in the trilogy as long as possible. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy the book, but I think the extreme length did take away from the overall strength of the story.
Gemma is certainly strong, but flawed in many ways and I can only imagine she will continue stumbling through life doing the wrong thing 50% of the time. I fear that in an effort to assert her independence, she ends up being a bit selfish with the "do whatever you want" mentality. I think it is possible to empower women without making them quite so self serving.
Gemma is certainly strong, but flawed in many ways and I can only imagine she will continue stumbling through life doing the wrong thing 50% of the time. I fear that in an effort to assert her independence, she ends up being a bit selfish with the "do whatever you want" mentality. I think it is possible to empower women without making them quite so self serving.
iceangel32's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know if it was the size that was intimidating...but I have to say that I had a hard time getting into the book. I feel that in the end there was many questions and no real answers and for the last book in the series i feel that it could have ended things a little better. It leaves you feeling like there should have been another book. but I guess that happens in the end of a series...there is only so much you can write. I am sure it Ms Bray wanted she could have gone on and on with this story. However I enjoyed it. I feel that the strong Gemma in the first two books becomes a little soft and shows you a different side of herself. Pippa was great character in this book. And I like the way that alot of the characters secrets come out and how they were all able to make their own decisions and start to shape their own lives in the end, even the creatures in the realms.