The Jewel (The Lone City #1) by Amy Ewing
Author: Amy Ewing
Pages: 304
Genre: YA
Publisher: HarperTeen/HarperCollins Canada
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Buy: Amazon| Kobo| Chapters Indigo| B&N
*Received for review via Edelweiss + HCCFrenzy
Summary: (Goodreads)
The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.
Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.
Review:
I need the sequel! Amy Ewing sure does know how to hook you in with her debut The Jewel. Its such an interesting concept that I knew I would love. The cover is so gorgeous. This is a must read for those who loved The Selection because it has the same kind of effect and I think so far the romance. The writing was addicting. If I put down the book for one moment or try to do homework I was thinking of reading it! It was a definitely a great book hangover!
Violet is a relatable character who is kind, and was tested for a genetic mutation that would take her away from her family to be trained as a surrogate for a royal family. The Jewel is where the richest families live in the Lone City. When Violet is brought to the auction she is bought by the Duchess of the Lake to live in her palace. We get to see a different side of Violet when she stays in the city and she also finds love while there. There is romance, and a plot that was very interesting. Violet is definitely smart and determined to stay alive through this process, but there are many things that happen that changes her mind and her future as a surrogate. She does mature a lot in the book that made her more realistic as a character. She has personality.
The romance was through the roof! Full of tension, stolen kisses that I need more Garnet!! He was a very interesting character that is similar to what Violet is going through and she develops they connection with him despite his supposed interest in the Duchesses niece (who I hated) It will be interesting to see what will happen in book 2!
The world that Ewing created was definitely capturing because it was detailed and you can imagine what the palace would look like through Violet's view. The secondary characters were also very well developed as you got to see how they will play an important key role in what will happen in the next book. I was definitely hooked if I did finish it in 1-2 days. It is definitely a great fantasy, dystopian novel that will instantly suck you into the story. It was fast-paced and was written beautifully. Get this book!
4/5
Oooh. I really want to read this one, and I'm excited to see a great review for it! I've read a few not so great reviews lately and I was getting worried, but this concept just really appeals to me.
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