Book Review - The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

Rating: 10/10

The Sweet Far Thing is the last book in New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray's trilogy. Gemma Doyle successfully bound the magic to herself but soon she has to let go of it and share it with the others. But who will these be? The Order? The Rakshana? Or her new alliance? Plus, her debut is near and she will have to make a decision: the society's "corset" or her freedom?

Oh, I love love love this book (and the whole trilogy)! It's bursting with more illusions, lies, betrayals, doubts, magic, and, most of all, love. Libba Bray weaves a lovely tale. I appreciated every chapter, every paragraph, every word. The things she's written in it are real jewels, no illusions. She has successfully made the reader feel what the characters feel. I mean, it's fantastic! I so love this woman and her craft!

For the first time ever, Libba Bray made me hate centaurs. I've always loved centaurs. But, in this novel I hate them. Haha! And also that Neela. Argh. Gorgon is amazing! I love her! Brigid is also a nice character. I didn't like Ms. McCleethy before but when she did that, I think I liked her character. Cecily, Martha, and Elizabeth are still as hateful as they bloody were before.

The dark scenes in the novel are written out so well that I was continuously afraid of a pixie's hand grabbing my foot. Haha! It was that effective, readers.

The [forbidden] romance between Kartik and Gemma is true and sadly bittersweet. I could swear that I didn't like it when Kartik died, but it just showed how truly he felt for Gemma when he gave his life to the Tree of All Souls. It's also lovely to note that he constantly appears in her dreams, waving to her from the other side. Their love story is one of the best I've read. (Really, I was heartbroken when he died.)

Libba Bray's trilogy is not only a tale of fantasy and love, it also serves as a book that will empower women anywhere. This quote from page 811 says it all:

"Why should we girls not have the same privileges as men? Why do we police ourselves so stringently - whittling each other down with cutting remarks or holding ourselves back from the greatness with a harness woven of fear and shame and longing? If we do not deem ourselves worthy first, how shall we ever ask for more?"

I'm really glad I got to read this treasure of a book.

(This is where it ends, eh? I'm severely heartbroken because the beloved trilogy is finished; I desperately want more. Libba Bray, this bloody novel captivated me. XD)