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shapeoflobster's review
3.0
The audiobook could have been better, there were many repeated lines as if it hadn't passed all the way through the editing process.
sherwoodreads's review against another edition
After reading Updraft, which I loved, I put Fran Wilde on my auto buy list.
So I was excited to read this novella, and indeed here were the nifty world building and lovely characters that I expected. This is more of an elegiac tale that feels like a novel boiled down to novella length.
A great deal of attention is paid to the rules of the lapidary that I thought might have gone to more character development, and to the sense of living in the world. But that might just be my taste for elaborate tales that take several books to unfold.
It's a swift read, full of vivid image, that will tug at the heartstrings.
So I was excited to read this novella, and indeed here were the nifty world building and lovely characters that I expected. This is more of an elegiac tale that feels like a novel boiled down to novella length.
A great deal of attention is paid to the rules of the lapidary that I thought might have gone to more character development, and to the sense of living in the world. But that might just be my taste for elaborate tales that take several books to unfold.
It's a swift read, full of vivid image, that will tug at the heartstrings.
jlynnelseauthor's review against another edition
4.0
A very short novella about sacrifice and clashing kingdoms. It packs a lot into the short 89-page storyline. At times, things were hard to picture (like the chain veil and how that worked), so a bit more fleshing out would have helped. However, I was pulled into the story, and it kept my attention. A quick and intriguing fantasy read .
Spoiler
about the end of a kingdom and the final sacrifices, made by two people who were never expected to make such choices, in order to save the people within it. The last few pages were touching.booksarebetter's review against another edition
3.0
This was an interesting little story about betrayal, love, and power. LGBT rep and barely 90 pages. I flipped through this in less than an hour. 3.5 ⭐
alexandriam_rose's review against another edition
4.0
a very very short epic fantasy that sets up an interesting prologue to a larger story and world
smthuriot's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
See my full review here:
https://sarahoverbooked.wordpress.com/2024/05/30/the-jewel-and-her-lapidary/
https://sarahoverbooked.wordpress.com/2024/05/30/the-jewel-and-her-lapidary/
tregina's review
4.0
While I would have gladly read more about this world, the novella is everything it needs to be and says everything it needs to say. Beautiful and strong and tragic--those are the three words I would use to describe both the novella and its protagonists. It broke my heart a little, but was only able to because it made me feel so intensely to begin with.
abla933's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
3.0
3 Stars
Credit given for creating an interesting world.
I’m glad to see there’s subsequent stories in this universe because just a warning - this novella was full of tragedy and sacrifice with a terribly awful but with a barely there hopeful ending.
Proceed with caution.
Credit given for creating an interesting world.
I’m glad to see there’s subsequent stories in this universe because just a warning - this novella was full of tragedy and sacrifice with a terribly awful but with a barely there hopeful ending.
Proceed with caution.