The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray

May 27th, 2008 at 9:02am |

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Audience: Young Adult (some mature content)

Rating: A

Synopsis:

Since she bound all the magic in the Realm to herself, Gemma’s been left with so much power and so little guidance. Who can she trust? Not the Order that tried to trick her, nor the Rakshana who are power-hungry. Even Gemma’s friends want a taste of the magic for themselves in order to smooth their debuts and secure their futures. While Gemma tries to decide how to share the magic, the situation in the Winterlands grows worse, forcing her to make decisions before she is ready and before she considers the consequences.

Chatter:

(Spoiler Alerts! ) The best part about the third book in a trilogy is that it’s usually a long book – especially if there are lots of loose ends to tie up like there were in this series. It’s also great to have resolution for the characters and have answers to your wonderings. The worst part of the third book in a trilogy is that it means the story is over and that there won’t be anymore updates about characters you’ve come to care about. This is only true, of course, about a good trilogy. But if you’ve read Bray’s books, you’ll agree that The Sweet Far Thing is an excellent addition to the two wonderful books she’d already written.

It was great to see Fee become less self-serving in this book. And I’m glad to see some alternative lifestyles represented in YA books, but I felt like this was a bit of a plot stretch. I wonder if Bray planned this all along. Two things make me doubt this : 1)Pip as a lesbian? All she’s ever wanted was a prince… what does this signify? 2) The thing that first drew Felicity and Gemma together was when Gemma stumbled upon Fee’s affair with Ithal. Having Pippa and Fee be more than friends worked well for the purpose of this book, but not with the overall trilogy. It would have been better if the two of them clearly only just discovered their affection in the third book instead of trying to re-write the past two.

I came to really respect and like Kartik in this book. I admit I had my doubts about him versus Simon, but Kartik is the first person who sees Gemma’s power and doesn’t want it for himself. In fact, when she does gift him some, all he seeks is kisses. But more than that, Kartik realizes what Gemma can accomplish with her magic telling her “you could change the world” (465), he echoes this sentiment as he dies for her, saying: “you are needed in the world” (778).

Kartik’s sacrifice was foreshadowed in the middle of the book the first time Gemma goes to see the tree and it shows her what she desires: him. As she begins to realize that the kisses are just a dream and struggle against the tree, he’s pulled away from her, just like when he trades places and offers his life for hers.

I was glad that Bray ended with the hopeful note about Gemma still being able to visit him in her dreams, but I don’t really feel that Gemma ended in all that positive of a place. Gemma’s greatest fear was always being along and unloved, but now she is the most isolated of all. She’s lost Kartik, Felicity, Ann, and her family.

It was surprising Gemma didn’t return to India – it is where she was happiest and where she could feel a strong connection to Kartik. But I can also accept her decision to go to university in America and to campaign for women’s rights – this gives her a sense of purpose that she’s been looking for.

Overall, it wasn’t the happily ever after that I was hoping for, but it did conclude the series in a much more satisfying way. I would have been disappointed if Kartik and Gemma had rode off into the sunset, sentimentally smiling, but disappointed. It was great to see Gemma, Fee and Ann emerge as three independent women who all refused to conform to society’s wishes and who each chose to take control of their own future- regardless of what others would say.