The first thing that I did when I finished reading the third section of the novel was to go into my room, scour through my dresser drawers, and find the sequels that have been collecting dust for years. This novel is so amazing: it is mysterious but relatable, and deeply dark. Now that the novel has finished, the four main characters Gemma, Ann, Felicity and Pippa have grown so close that their friendship actually managed to touch me. The magic of the realms that Gemma has introduced to all her friends reveals itself as we end the book: it is no longer just this wonderful escape from the harsh realities that greet these girls as they journey through the “door” Gemma can create, but it is a living, breathing thing that hosts evil as much as good.
The temptation of the magical realm in this novel was so strong, I wanted to delve into it myself. When Pippa relinquishes herself to the unknowns of this world, my heart physically ached because although some mysteries involving the land have been solved, more mysteries are yet to be unveiled. However, I think this plot twist was necessary: nothing was left for Pippa in her life in London. Her illness no longer plagued her when she was in the realms, and she was not faced with the idea of living life with a man much older than her, a life where her wildness would be beaten out of her by her social responsibilites.
The book managed to transform all these characters in different ways: Gemma became more powerful and self aware; Ann found a place for herself, and with that, discovered self-worth; Felicity became more caring and loving; and Pippa’s growth, while it led her to her grave, was able to save her from everything she was living for. A Great and Terrible Beauty is so untouchable, so mysterious and tempting. It is everything that a great novel should be, and that in itself is enough to make me delve into those sequels.
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