Kartik (Gemma Doyle Trilogy)

Kartik is one of the antagonists of A Great and Terrible Beauty and is a protagonist of The Sweet Far Thing, he is also in second novel, Rebel Angels. He is the brother of Virginia Doyle's protector, Amar.

In "A Great and Terrible Beauty", he is initially a member of the Rakshana and is given the task of watching Gemma Doyle and preventing her from entering the Realms. He lives with the Gypsies who camp on Spence's grounds. He also shows an interest in Pippa Cross, but later shows a slight interest in Gemma. They share a kiss later in the novel, to let Gemma, Ann and Felicity through to see mother Elena and the gypsies. When Pippa dies, he visits Gemma at Pippa's funeral. Having failed his mission, Kartik is called back to London to be reviewed by the Rakshana.

In the second novel, "Rebel Angels", Kartik is once again given a task by the Rakshana. He must convince Gemma to find the Temple of the Realms, and bind the magic to the name of the Eastern Star, which is the Rakshana. In order to keep an eye on her, Kartik becomes a driver to the Doyle family, and begins to fall in love with Gemma. His advances are rejected however, and being hurt, he leaves. Later on, Gemma is kidnapped, and he comes to her rescue, and leaves the brotherhood of the Rakshana. He decides to form an alliance with Gemma and her friends.

Kartik's absence at the beginning of "The Sweet Far Thing" does not go unnoticed by Gemma. His return brings about bad news for Gemma, and he says that he does not wish for their lives to cross again. He reveals that he will go sailing, and Gemma is hurt by this. However, Gemma sees his brother Amar in the realms, which makes him stay, and convinces him to arrange a meeting between them and the Rakshana. They are caught in a brief battle with Fowlson, but escape. Gemma finds out later that he is working for Miss McCleethy and Fowlson, however, Kartik denies the fact that he has passed on any information about her to them. Kartik accompanies Gemma to the realms, where they perform a union ceremony which is a legend of the Order and the Rakshana. He is upset at the sight of his brother's corrupted soul, and later returns to kill him once and for all. In an attempt to save Gemma's life while the power of the Tree of All Souls has taken over her, Kartik kisses her for the last time to absorb the power into his own body. He is absorbed into the tree, thus killing him. His final appearance in the novel is in Gemma's dreams, and is waving to her from the other side of the river (presumably the afterlife), waiting for her.

Character description

Kartik is first described by Gemma as being not much older than she is, with brown skin, dark eyes, dark, curly hair, and the longest eyelashes she'd ever seen, and later one describing him to look like a Roman sculpture.

Romantic life

When Kartik is first introduced, he expresses an interest in Pippa. After Gemma kisses him however, he begins to show a romantic interest in her. His visit to Gemma at Pippa's funeral shows that he does care for her, and his reluctance to kill her is also a sign of his love. He is genuinely hurt when Gemma rejects his advances due to the difference of their worlds, and leaves. The final installment in the trilogy shows more of their relationship. He was planning to leave her forever because, in his words, he is a danger to her*. He doesn't though. They share many intimate moments throughout the novel. When Gemma takes Kartik into the realms, she shows him the Cave of Sighs. In the past, the members of the Order and the Rakshana came there as lovers. There is a symbol in the cave where if two people hold hands within the circle, they will fall asleep. If they see each other walking in their dreams, then they are meant to be together forever. Gemma and Kartik perform this ritual, and see each other in their dreams. In the dream, it is implied that they have sex for the first time in the novel. Kartik sacrifices himself for Gemma, kissing her in order to absorb the power of the Tree of All Souls into his own body, thus killing him. He is later seen in Gemma's dreams, waiting for her on the other side of the river. It is believed, that at the end of Gemma's life, he will be waiting for her still, and they will have the life together that would have been forbidden in their worlds. At times in the first novel Gemma dreams of making love to Kartik.

*A Sweet Far Thing, page 285.