boone_bear's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
erinarkin20's review against another edition
4.0
Great story but holy major cliffhanger!
The Jewel by Amy Ewing was one of the books I knew I had to get at BEA and thankfully I got my hands on a copy. I love this cover and I know what you’re thinking…another girl in a dress. But in my opinion, it completely fits the tone of this book and for real, it is lovely!
The book opens with an introduction into Violet current situation. Violet has been living in a surrogate facility called Southgate and today is her last day there. Tomorrow she goes to auction and will be sold to the highest bidder. As a surrogate in training, she has been living in the facility for years learning how to use the auguries (more to come on this later) and how well she has done is reflected in her final auction lot number. The higher they are, the better they have scored on the testing and of 200 lots, Violet is ranked 197.
I was immediately pulled into Violet’s story and felt sad for her. Despite the care and training she has had available to her, we find out that as a child growing up in the Marsh, she didn’t really have a choice of where she ended up. Once a girl is tested, if she is found to be a surrogate, she is immediately taken away from her family and put into one of the facilities. As such, Violet was torn away from her little brother and sister as well as her mother. The day the book begins is the first time she is allowed to visit/see them since she was taken and will be the last time before she is auctioned off…basically her last chance ever.
It is clear Violet truly wishes she wasn’t a surrogate. She struggles with her lack of identity and the fact that she has to give up everything to make things better for the royalty that will purchase her…with no say in the matter. Of course, I don’t blame her at all and her smaller rebellions are the ones that make her stand out more as a character.
As Violet is prepped for the auction, she is assigned to Lucien. I mention him because he is the first person who is nice to her during the entire process and he comes back into the story later on. As Violet is auctioned off, it is obvious this is a form of slavery. She is bought by the Duchess of the Lake and referred to as “Surrogate” or 197. Violet’s maid isn’t allowed to say her name and her identity is basically erased as she isn’t supposed worry about anything but helping the Duchess have a perfect baby.
This leads me into the auguries. These are the things that make someone a candidate for surrogacy and as Violet has scored high on her testing, it shows she has strength. The auguries affect color, shape, and growth. It is up to Violet to use the auguries to help the Duchess have a healthy child and the Duchess has been waiting for someone as strong as her for a while. The Duchess has an ulterior motive here (other than having a healthy child) and with the help of her physician, Dr. Blythe, she expects Violet to use her auguries to not only make her child healthy and beautiful, but she also expects her to use the third augury to ensure the child is born faster than any of the others…specifically, she wants her to carry the child to term in 3 months instead of the normal 9 months.
As I mentioned, there are some underlying objectives that the Duchess has. As the story progresses, we find out quite a bit. First, the Electress and Exetor (who basically run the city) recently had a son and most royal families are trying to have the best daughter in order to have their child be betrothed to the young child. The Duchess is no different but we also find out things about her past that make this an even more important goal to her. As these royals compete to have the first and best daughter, Violet and other surrogates are constantly in danger and because of this as well as the fact that they are owned by the royals, they are kept under lock and key with very little freedom.
Ewing did a good job of building this world. She gives enough background on the structure of the rings (The Marsh, The Bank, The Jewel, etc.) which helped me picture this world. I do wish we had gotten more background on the auguries. There was some information on the royalty and the reason behind why they no longer had their own children but I didn’t really get what really happened that got everyone to this point. Also, what was different in Violet than other girls – what made her such a strong surrogate and gave her these abilities?? I need to know more!
The secondary characters add a lot to this story. Raven is Violet’s best friend at Southgate and as she is sold off, they are expecting to never see each other again but little did they know, they are actually living right next door to each other. As the story progresses, Raven’s situation has a huge impact on what happens to Violet. That is all I can say without giving anything away but I have hopes that we will see her again in the next book.
Lucien becomes Violet’s only hope. I won’t give anything away but he is the one person who gives her hope for a different life and one that will be on her terms. Garnet, who is the Duchess’ son, is interesting. Again, I won’t give anything away here but I am so excited to see what happens next with him.
This leads me to Ash. There is a bit of an instant attraction between Ash and Violet…that is my warning to you. With that said, I liked him. He gave Violet someone to connect to and be herself. Unfortunately he wasn’t really in charge of what he did himself as a companion and this definitely created a strain on their relationship. Despite that and the many other challenges they face, they are able to secretly form a relationship and ultimately this is what turns things horribly wrong for these two.
One thing to note is that this book ends up on a major cliffhanger so if that isn’t your thing, go into this being warned. If you enjoy the dystopian genre you will definitely want to check this one out. The surrogacy piece is a new spin in this type of novel and although it is pretty horrific, it is what I think makes this book stand out amongst the sea of dystopians out there today. I am absolutely looking forward to book two of this series as I need to know what happens next for these characters.
Thank you to HarperTeen for the review copy!
The Jewel by Amy Ewing was one of the books I knew I had to get at BEA and thankfully I got my hands on a copy. I love this cover and I know what you’re thinking…another girl in a dress. But in my opinion, it completely fits the tone of this book and for real, it is lovely!
The book opens with an introduction into Violet current situation. Violet has been living in a surrogate facility called Southgate and today is her last day there. Tomorrow she goes to auction and will be sold to the highest bidder. As a surrogate in training, she has been living in the facility for years learning how to use the auguries (more to come on this later) and how well she has done is reflected in her final auction lot number. The higher they are, the better they have scored on the testing and of 200 lots, Violet is ranked 197.
I was immediately pulled into Violet’s story and felt sad for her. Despite the care and training she has had available to her, we find out that as a child growing up in the Marsh, she didn’t really have a choice of where she ended up. Once a girl is tested, if she is found to be a surrogate, she is immediately taken away from her family and put into one of the facilities. As such, Violet was torn away from her little brother and sister as well as her mother. The day the book begins is the first time she is allowed to visit/see them since she was taken and will be the last time before she is auctioned off…basically her last chance ever.
It is clear Violet truly wishes she wasn’t a surrogate. She struggles with her lack of identity and the fact that she has to give up everything to make things better for the royalty that will purchase her…with no say in the matter. Of course, I don’t blame her at all and her smaller rebellions are the ones that make her stand out more as a character.
As Violet is prepped for the auction, she is assigned to Lucien. I mention him because he is the first person who is nice to her during the entire process and he comes back into the story later on. As Violet is auctioned off, it is obvious this is a form of slavery. She is bought by the Duchess of the Lake and referred to as “Surrogate” or 197. Violet’s maid isn’t allowed to say her name and her identity is basically erased as she isn’t supposed worry about anything but helping the Duchess have a perfect baby.
This leads me into the auguries. These are the things that make someone a candidate for surrogacy and as Violet has scored high on her testing, it shows she has strength. The auguries affect color, shape, and growth. It is up to Violet to use the auguries to help the Duchess have a healthy child and the Duchess has been waiting for someone as strong as her for a while. The Duchess has an ulterior motive here (other than having a healthy child) and with the help of her physician, Dr. Blythe, she expects Violet to use her auguries to not only make her child healthy and beautiful, but she also expects her to use the third augury to ensure the child is born faster than any of the others…specifically, she wants her to carry the child to term in 3 months instead of the normal 9 months.
As I mentioned, there are some underlying objectives that the Duchess has. As the story progresses, we find out quite a bit. First, the Electress and Exetor (who basically run the city) recently had a son and most royal families are trying to have the best daughter in order to have their child be betrothed to the young child. The Duchess is no different but we also find out things about her past that make this an even more important goal to her. As these royals compete to have the first and best daughter, Violet and other surrogates are constantly in danger and because of this as well as the fact that they are owned by the royals, they are kept under lock and key with very little freedom.
Ewing did a good job of building this world. She gives enough background on the structure of the rings (The Marsh, The Bank, The Jewel, etc.) which helped me picture this world. I do wish we had gotten more background on the auguries. There was some information on the royalty and the reason behind why they no longer had their own children but I didn’t really get what really happened that got everyone to this point. Also, what was different in Violet than other girls – what made her such a strong surrogate and gave her these abilities?? I need to know more!
The secondary characters add a lot to this story. Raven is Violet’s best friend at Southgate and as she is sold off, they are expecting to never see each other again but little did they know, they are actually living right next door to each other. As the story progresses, Raven’s situation has a huge impact on what happens to Violet. That is all I can say without giving anything away but I have hopes that we will see her again in the next book.
Lucien becomes Violet’s only hope. I won’t give anything away but he is the one person who gives her hope for a different life and one that will be on her terms. Garnet, who is the Duchess’ son, is interesting. Again, I won’t give anything away here but I am so excited to see what happens next with him.
This leads me to Ash. There is a bit of an instant attraction between Ash and Violet…that is my warning to you. With that said, I liked him. He gave Violet someone to connect to and be herself. Unfortunately he wasn’t really in charge of what he did himself as a companion and this definitely created a strain on their relationship. Despite that and the many other challenges they face, they are able to secretly form a relationship and ultimately this is what turns things horribly wrong for these two.
One thing to note is that this book ends up on a major cliffhanger so if that isn’t your thing, go into this being warned. If you enjoy the dystopian genre you will definitely want to check this one out. The surrogacy piece is a new spin in this type of novel and although it is pretty horrific, it is what I think makes this book stand out amongst the sea of dystopians out there today. I am absolutely looking forward to book two of this series as I need to know what happens next for these characters.
Thank you to HarperTeen for the review copy!
erinarkin20's review against another edition
5.0
I forgot what a cliffhanger this book was. I will have to go get the next one now so I can finally read the last book. Also, the narrator does a great job with this story - definitely go check it out.
diaryofthebookdragon's review against another edition
3.0
All it took was one glance to get me existed about The Jewel. I mean, look at that cover! Is there a girl who would not dream to have a dress like that in her fictional wardrobe? But because real life does not offer a lot of opportunities to wear glamorous dresses, we settle for collecting books that feature them on covers.
The Jewel is obviously targeting weak brains like mine who are easily bought with shiny covers. So imagine my surprise when the interior of a book offered me cruel, dark society with corrupted nobility and poor girls used as surrogates. Sure, there is some dressing up and descriptions of fabulous outfits Violet wears, but it’s cast in a shadow by the story about The Lone City.
The Lone City is on an island surrounded by the ocean and protected by huge wall. It’s divided into five concentric circles. Everyone, of course, dream to live in the central circle called The Jewel, where the nobility lives.
Together with Violet, girl sold at auction to be used as surrogate, we get a glimpse behind the walls of noble houses. Where intrigue, jealousy, malice and murder make the daily life. Where surrogates are not cherished (as advertised) but chained, bound, treated like a property and abused.
I was glued to the pages. I was waiting for the story to get even deeper. I was waiting for Amy Ewing to really hit me in the feelz.
Well the big surprise happened at about 60% and the feelz were hit. Just not the one I expected. Because my deep, dark, almost-dystopian story got romance. And it was insta-love kind. With hints of love triangle. Yeah, I know, what a shame.
Don’t get me wrong. The romance was good. There are a lot of swoony moments if you don’t mind that the couple seems to fall deeply in real-true-love as soon as they see each other.
So instead of recommending The Jewel to all my friends who love a good dystopia story, I will only recommend it to those who won’t be dissapointed by huge amount of romance in the second part of the book. It really spoiled the world for me and made it all seem fluffy and not very serious. It downplayed the message of the book. I will still probably buy a sequel since it’s easy to read (I devoured it in a day) and, as eternal optimist, I hope that the story will go back on a right track.
Recommended for lovers of books where there is a lot of dressing ups, small amount of magic, insta-love type of romance and interesting if not a very original setting.
Looking for something similar? World divided in sections, heroine gets to be in the richest one: [b:Extraction|16210411|Extraction (Extraction, #1)|Stephanie Diaz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389722280s/16210411.jpg|22171353] or [b:Pawn|10838787|Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1)|Aimee Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374097236s/10838787.jpg|15753006].
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
The Jewel is obviously targeting weak brains like mine who are easily bought with shiny covers. So imagine my surprise when the interior of a book offered me cruel, dark society with corrupted nobility and poor girls used as surrogates. Sure, there is some dressing up and descriptions of fabulous outfits Violet wears, but it’s cast in a shadow by the story about The Lone City.
The Lone City is on an island surrounded by the ocean and protected by huge wall. It’s divided into five concentric circles. Everyone, of course, dream to live in the central circle called The Jewel, where the nobility lives.
Together with Violet, girl sold at auction to be used as surrogate, we get a glimpse behind the walls of noble houses. Where intrigue, jealousy, malice and murder make the daily life. Where surrogates are not cherished (as advertised) but chained, bound, treated like a property and abused.
I was glued to the pages. I was waiting for the story to get even deeper. I was waiting for Amy Ewing to really hit me in the feelz.
Well the big surprise happened at about 60% and the feelz were hit. Just not the one I expected. Because my deep, dark, almost-dystopian story got romance. And it was insta-love kind. With hints of love triangle. Yeah, I know, what a shame.
Don’t get me wrong. The romance was good. There are a lot of swoony moments if you don’t mind that the couple seems to fall deeply in real-true-love as soon as they see each other.
“May I ask you something?”
My heart is so swollen I think it might burst. I inhale his scent of soap and clean linen and something that must be boy. “Anything.”
“What is your name?”
My heart explodes into a million glittering fragments that rain down like fireworks through my chest.
“Violet,” I whisper.
So instead of recommending The Jewel to all my friends who love a good dystopia story, I will only recommend it to those who won’t be dissapointed by huge amount of romance in the second part of the book. It really spoiled the world for me and made it all seem fluffy and not very serious. It downplayed the message of the book. I will still probably buy a sequel since it’s easy to read (I devoured it in a day) and, as eternal optimist, I hope that the story will go back on a right track.
Recommended for lovers of books where there is a lot of dressing ups, small amount of magic, insta-love type of romance and interesting if not a very original setting.
Looking for something similar? World divided in sections, heroine gets to be in the richest one: [b:Extraction|16210411|Extraction (Extraction, #1)|Stephanie Diaz|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1389722280s/16210411.jpg|22171353] or [b:Pawn|10838787|Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion, #1)|Aimee Carter|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1374097236s/10838787.jpg|15753006].
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review. This text is also posted on my blog Bookworm Dreams in a little bit more styled edition.
booksforlosers's review against another edition
5.0
ok so I’ve probably had this book for like , three or four years ...
anyways i didn’t know if i would like it or not but it was SO GOOD
i haven’t read a book like that in so long
it was like the selection kind of or even hunger games
Ughhh i need the rest but i want them in hardback
anyways i didn’t know if i would like it or not but it was SO GOOD
i haven’t read a book like that in so long
it was like the selection kind of or even hunger games
Ughhh i need the rest but i want them in hardback
nicolevenners's review against another edition
5.0
amazing!! loved this book soo much. great story and characters cannot wait for the next book.
snwsandy's review against another edition
4.0
I came across this book as an Amazon recommended based on my YA purchases so I said why not for $1.99. Super easy read since I completed it in 2 days. YA trilogy but with some very adult aspects and words that I would be surprised if a YA would know. I mean the book is about rich upper class needing surrogates for their heirs that come from the lowest class. A bit odd for a YA topic, but good enough storyline to perk my interest. Much like any of the YA books involving an utopia society, it's rich versus poor so you know how its going to flow. However, as I read it, I got more intrigued with the story and the characters, with enough drama and surprises around the typical story line to keep me intrigued. The build up is slow, but really hooked me after a quarter into the story and then I could not put it down. It does end with an abrupt surprise that requires the purchase of the second bookto know more...which I bought along with the third series ending book that just got released. Sucker...probably but I liked it enough to continue on.
waywardskyril's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
A great dystopian!
This book really captures you from the beginning with an intriguing plot.
It's funny, but one thing I loved about this book were the names! Many are associated with color: Raven, Lily, Violet, Ochre, Hazel, Garnet. Some are associated with character traits, and some are just good names: Mercy, Annabelle, Ash, Cinder, and my personal favorite, Charity.
What was especially impressive was the writing style. Clear and smooth, it draws you in and doesn't want to let you go. Something I extremely admired and appreciated was the fact that there was no swearing at all. It's very rare to find a book without it, and I welcome it when I do.
Some of the characters I liked such as Raven, but others seemed... lacking somehow, Ash, for instance. I didn't really feel like I knew him, and he seemed... -hm, how do I put this in words?- needy? I couldn't get attached to his character at all. It didn't help that this story contained insta-love.
The story was interesting. It was a different kind of plot then I've read before, totally new. Sometimes it reminded me of Hunger Games, like with the city and Violet's family, but there was no... thrilling, what's going to happen next feeling to go with it.
Overall, this story was worth the read, and I enjoyed it. When the sequel comes out, I will definitely read it, and in the meantime, I will recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dystopian and doesn't mind insta-love.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
A great dystopian!
This book really captures you from the beginning with an intriguing plot.
It's funny, but one thing I loved about this book were the names! Many are associated with color: Raven, Lily, Violet, Ochre, Hazel, Garnet. Some are associated with character traits, and some are just good names: Mercy, Annabelle, Ash, Cinder, and my personal favorite, Charity.
What was especially impressive was the writing style. Clear and smooth, it draws you in and doesn't want to let you go. Something I extremely admired and appreciated was the fact that there was no swearing at all. It's very rare to find a book without it, and I welcome it when I do.
Some of the characters I liked such as Raven, but others seemed... lacking somehow, Ash, for instance. I didn't really feel like I knew him, and he seemed... -hm, how do I put this in words?- needy? I couldn't get attached to his character at all. It didn't help that this story contained insta-love.
The story was interesting. It was a different kind of plot then I've read before, totally new. Sometimes it reminded me of Hunger Games, like with the city and Violet's family, but there was no... thrilling, what's going to happen next feeling to go with it.
Overall, this story was worth the read, and I enjoyed it. When the sequel comes out, I will definitely read it, and in the meantime, I will recommend it to anyone who enjoys a dystopian and doesn't mind insta-love.
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
emilyusuallyreading's review against another edition
3.0
What I Liked
I kind of consider this book equivalent to Reign on Netflix... not as good or as real-feeling as the Tudors or the Crown, for example, but mindless fun.
Very similar to The Handmaid's Tail by Margaret Atwood, I was intrigued by the premise of this story, which is why I opened this book in the first place.
The gender-bending in The Jewel is interesting to me. The female surrogates are kept chaste, because heaven forbid they mess up the royal surrogacies. The companions are young men who are essentially forced into sex trafficking. The sexual abuse causes all sorts of trauma to them. It's not a typical look at sexual abuse and sex trafficking, so I appreciate this less-read perspective.
What I Didn't Like
The names. The names are very teenage dystopian, if this was a teenage dystopian parody. Violet Lasting, Pearl the Duchess of the Lake and her children Garnet and Carnelian, Raven Starling, Ash Lockwood, and so on. With each new name, I found myself cringing a little more.
Violet's appearance. My pet peeve in YA literature is when the protagonist has eyes that are the color violet. Which Violet's are (of course). Violet eyes aren't a thing, or at least I've never heard of them actually being a thing, so why do all of these YA Chosen One heroes happen to have purple eyes? Really, really, not a thing.
Insta-love isn't my favorite thing. In fact, I kind of hate it. And there is a lot of insta-love here... and a lot of risking your entire families and an entire country's mission based on your insta-love.
I kind of consider this book equivalent to Reign on Netflix... not as good or as real-feeling as the Tudors or the Crown, for example, but mindless fun.
Very similar to The Handmaid's Tail by Margaret Atwood, I was intrigued by the premise of this story, which is why I opened this book in the first place.
The gender-bending in The Jewel is interesting to me. The female surrogates are kept chaste, because heaven forbid they mess up the royal surrogacies. The companions are young men who are essentially forced into sex trafficking. The sexual abuse causes all sorts of trauma to them. It's not a typical look at sexual abuse and sex trafficking, so I appreciate this less-read perspective.
What I Didn't Like
The names. The names are very teenage dystopian, if this was a teenage dystopian parody. Violet Lasting, Pearl the Duchess of the Lake and her children Garnet and Carnelian, Raven Starling, Ash Lockwood, and so on. With each new name, I found myself cringing a little more.
Violet's appearance. My pet peeve in YA literature is when the protagonist has eyes that are the color violet. Which Violet's are (of course). Violet eyes aren't a thing, or at least I've never heard of them actually being a thing, so why do all of these YA Chosen One heroes happen to have purple eyes? Really, really, not a thing.
Insta-love isn't my favorite thing. In fact, I kind of hate it. And there is a lot of insta-love here... and a lot of risking your entire families and an entire country's mission based on your insta-love.