“She walks out toward the Gypsy men, an apparition in white and blue velvet, her head held high as they stare in awe at her, the goddess. I don’t yet know what power feels like. But this is surely what it looks like, and I think I’m beginning to understand why those ancient women had to hide in caves. Why our parents and teachers and suitors want us to behave properly and predictably. It’s not that they want to protect us; it’s that they fear us” (p. 207) Power is the ability to impose your will on everyone else. Pippa has the power of beauty, the power to make men stare where they stand. But beauty is a power that men want to tame and take for themselves. Felicity has the power to manipulate everyone around her. Pippa may be perfect and lovely, but it is Felicity who gets the attention of everyone in the room. Ann has the power to take sides, to tilt the balance of power. Spence Academy, the finishing school where Ann, Felicity and Pippa live, has the power to turn independent, powerful young girls into proper, obedient English wives. Gemma Doyle is thrown into the middle all of this power and she wonders how she will ever survive. How will she survive these girls who are determined to humiliate her and to wield their power over her? How will she survive this dreadful school, learning to draw, dance and walk without slouching all to impress her future rich husband (whoever that may be). Fortunately, Gemma has power of her own, the power to see visions. She has the power to reach into the realms beyond this world, to see those who have past away beyond life and the power to see what will happen. But there are other powers at Spence. Circe is a dark power that wants to use Gemma for her own purpose, a dark power that is responsible for the death of Gemma’s mother. As Gemma learns to use her power to reach into the realms, she also learns that these abilities give her power over the other girls, as they are eager to enter these realms through Gemma. But it is a dangerous game, entering the realms without drawing the attention of Circe. Can these girls control their powers of beauty and manipulation? Or will Circe turn their powers against them and destroy them forever?