In 'A Great and Terrible Beauty,' set in 1895, 16-year-old Gemma Doyle is sent from India to Spence, a boarding school in England, after her mother's suicide. At Spence, she is isolated and haunted by visions of the future. Despite a cold welcome, Gemma becomes involved with a powerful group of girls and explores the spiritual world, all while being watched by a mysterious young Indian man. The story delves into themes of destiny and the supernatural.