The Sweet Far Thing (Gemma Doyle, Book 3)

By Libba Bray

The gripping conclusion to the critically acclaimed New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Gemma Doyle trilogy, an exhilarating and haunting saga from the author of The Diviners series and Going Bovine.

It has been a year of change since Gemma Doyle arrived at the foreboding Spence Academy. Her mother murdered, her father alaudanum addict, Gemma has relied on an unsuspected strength and has discovered an ability to travel to an enchanted world called the realms, where dark magic runs wild. Despite certain peril, Gemma has bound the magic to herself and forged unlikely new alliances. Now, as Gemma approaches her London debut, the time has come to test these bonds.

The Order--the mysterious group her mother was once part of--is grappling for control of the realms, as is the Rakshana. Spence's burned East Wing is being rebuilt, but why now? Gemma and her friends see Pippa, but she is not the same. And their friendship faces its gravest trial as Gemma must decide once and for all what role she is meant for.

"A rare treat . . . beautifully crafted" --People

"A huge work of massive ambition." --Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A #1 Book Sense Bestseller
A New York Times Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
A 2008 New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age
CCBC Choice (Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison)

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Published Dec 26, 2007

848 pages

Average rating: 8.15

40 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say, opinions on 'The Sweet Far Thing' vary. They agree it’s the darkest and most complex of the trilogy, with rich world-building and satisfy...

Stamp My Art
Stamp My Art
6/10 stars
Very long ... not as good as the first

Disappointing and expected sacrifices made by the expected people in the expected manner... Too much content in comparison to the first two in the series. This was a story unto itself and a wrap up of this plus the entire series. It had some great quotes and some excellent insight, but the bulk of some of the less important details bogged down the flow at times. Overall, a good historical fiction, but the first was the best of the three.
abookwanderer
abookwanderer
8/10 stars
After finishing this mammoth book I still stand by my review of the first one in the series. I enjoyed it but I have no desire to read it again. For me the book was too much about the magic and not enough about the characters. Without getting into spoilers, it left me unsatisfied. However, if the author decided to write a fourth book, I would read it.
NinjaNeo
NinjaNeo
9/10 stars
Once again Libba Bray comes through with such creative world building! I did think the book slowed down halfway through, but the plot itself was complex enough to need more time to build upon. I loved getting Felicity's reveal and was satisfied with everyone's individual endings.
margardenlady
margardenlady
8/10 stars
Finishes this chapter in the story of the realms nicely, leaving an opening for later adventures...
Amanda Brown
Amanda Brown
10/10 stars
The 3rd and final book in the Realms trilogy. It's been so long since I read Rebel Angels that I'd forgotten what was going on. I quickly remembered and sped through this book. So good. A clean wrap up, although sad in some spots.

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