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elpidamelis's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
I kind of knew I was going to love Garnet after finishing The Jewel. But after reading this short story I'm even more eager to continue on with the series and see more of him!
courtofsmutandstuff's review
3.0
It's interesting seeing The Jewel from Garnet's perspective, however it doesn't add much to the series aside from humanizing Garnet. It's not a waste of time, however it's not essential reading. Really quick read too.
jeanz's review
5.0
INITIAL THOUGHTS
I totally adore this series and the characters within it. I will be fascinated to see events through the eyes of Garnet as he is considered to be in a good position within the class hierarchy in the book, but it is also obvious that he is really quite deeply affected by the events occurring around him.
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
Will I enjoy revisiting the Lone City and seeing events through the eyes of the rather selfish character of Garnet.
COVER COMMENTS
There are two covers for this novella, one is quite dark and what I can only describe as having rather dismal looking background. The main feature of the cover is a crown. . .perhaps a reference to the Jewel district. The cover I have chosen to share within this review is the one I prefer which is bright red, has gold opulent writing which fits perfectly with the House Of Lakes that someday Garnet will be in charge of. The byline fits this novella perfectly "It's time he looked beyond the glittering facades of the Jewel" and it is what happens to Garnet during this novella.
REVIEW
I purchased this novella from Amazon UK as I have read The Jewel, The House Of Stone and The White Rose, I was looking forward to reading this novella even though I knew it would be basically have some of the same story that took place in The Jewel but it is told my Garnet and contains his feelings on events.
In this novella we discover how Garnet is himself living in a type of cage, though he initially my not see the boundaries of his cage, by the end of this novella, he is feeling the constraints and expectations of his mother, the person in charge of his cage quite keenly.
Garnet is somewhat sheltered and seems to have never even spared a thought to where the surrogates come from, to what they go through to provide the royal families with children,so he is in for a large shock to his system when it is revealed what happens to the surrogates during the process of them being impregnated and what ultimately happens to them when they have given birth to the treasured offspring.
Lucien really opens Garnet's eyes to what is going on in plain sight all around him. For probably the first time in his life Garnet thinks of someone other than himself.
It is interesting to see Garnet's whole way of thinking gradually change within this novella. I loved seeing his weakness for simpler things, like Violet playing her cello. It was also great to experience Garnet's frustration when Lucien at first refuses to tell him the surrogate's name, as well as when Lucien is keeping him on a "need to know" only basis in the elaborate plan to smuggle Violet right out from under the nose of the formidable Duchess Of The Lake.
Did I enjoy the novella? Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novella, seeing a side of Garnet that you don't get the chance to see in The Jewel.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes, as I found it an interesting part of the series. You not only see another side to Garnet but even get a small glimpse to a sliver of a softer side to the Duchess Of the Lake too.
Would I want to read more of this series? Yes! I'd read it right now if I had it!
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I would certainly take a close look and interest in any books written by this author. I really enjoy her writing style, her characters and world building and the detailed descriptions enable you as a reader to visualise the scenes you are reading.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think I have seen a different, softer, more considerate of those around him side to Garnet.
To sum up my feelings about this book in just two words.....they would be . . . Loved It!! I enjoyed revisiting the Lone City and seeing how Garnet became involved with Lucien and his scheme to help Violet. It was fascinating learning how little Garnet knew about his own social circle....how little he knew of those people any lower than the banker class! This book does make you warm more to Garnet as you see the genuine love and affection he has for Cora and Annabelle. This book has made me even more desperate to read the next installment...The Black Key....I would be picking The Black Key right now to read it if I could!
I totally adore this series and the characters within it. I will be fascinated to see events through the eyes of Garnet as he is considered to be in a good position within the class hierarchy in the book, but it is also obvious that he is really quite deeply affected by the events occurring around him.
THOUGHTS WHILST READING
Will I enjoy revisiting the Lone City and seeing events through the eyes of the rather selfish character of Garnet.
COVER COMMENTS
There are two covers for this novella, one is quite dark and what I can only describe as having rather dismal looking background. The main feature of the cover is a crown. . .perhaps a reference to the Jewel district. The cover I have chosen to share within this review is the one I prefer which is bright red, has gold opulent writing which fits perfectly with the House Of Lakes that someday Garnet will be in charge of. The byline fits this novella perfectly "It's time he looked beyond the glittering facades of the Jewel" and it is what happens to Garnet during this novella.
REVIEW
I purchased this novella from Amazon UK as I have read The Jewel, The House Of Stone and The White Rose, I was looking forward to reading this novella even though I knew it would be basically have some of the same story that took place in The Jewel but it is told my Garnet and contains his feelings on events.
In this novella we discover how Garnet is himself living in a type of cage, though he initially my not see the boundaries of his cage, by the end of this novella, he is feeling the constraints and expectations of his mother, the person in charge of his cage quite keenly.
Garnet is somewhat sheltered and seems to have never even spared a thought to where the surrogates come from, to what they go through to provide the royal families with children,so he is in for a large shock to his system when it is revealed what happens to the surrogates during the process of them being impregnated and what ultimately happens to them when they have given birth to the treasured offspring.
Lucien really opens Garnet's eyes to what is going on in plain sight all around him. For probably the first time in his life Garnet thinks of someone other than himself.
It is interesting to see Garnet's whole way of thinking gradually change within this novella. I loved seeing his weakness for simpler things, like Violet playing her cello. It was also great to experience Garnet's frustration when Lucien at first refuses to tell him the surrogate's name, as well as when Lucien is keeping him on a "need to know" only basis in the elaborate plan to smuggle Violet right out from under the nose of the formidable Duchess Of The Lake.
Did I enjoy the novella? Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novella, seeing a side of Garnet that you don't get the chance to see in The Jewel.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes, as I found it an interesting part of the series. You not only see another side to Garnet but even get a small glimpse to a sliver of a softer side to the Duchess Of the Lake too.
Would I want to read more of this series? Yes! I'd read it right now if I had it!
Would I want to read other titles by this author? I would certainly take a close look and interest in any books written by this author. I really enjoy her writing style, her characters and world building and the detailed descriptions enable you as a reader to visualise the scenes you are reading.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I think I have seen a different, softer, more considerate of those around him side to Garnet.
To sum up my feelings about this book in just two words.....they would be . . . Loved It!! I enjoyed revisiting the Lone City and seeing how Garnet became involved with Lucien and his scheme to help Violet. It was fascinating learning how little Garnet knew about his own social circle....how little he knew of those people any lower than the banker class! This book does make you warm more to Garnet as you see the genuine love and affection he has for Cora and Annabelle. This book has made me even more desperate to read the next installment...The Black Key....I would be picking The Black Key right now to read it if I could!
lpcoolgirl's review
5.0
This short story was so great, I loved seeing things from Garnet's view from the first story! Can't wait to finish this series!!
veganecurrywurst's review against another edition
fast-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Torture
thirty37seven's review
2.0
This just made me sadder about Annabelle. I kind of wish this had been longer just to see Garnet's reaction to Annabelle's death but that would've been really depressing.
melhunt182's review
4.0
*3.5 stars*
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Nothing amazing, of course, butThis was a great recap of book 1, told from Garnet's point of view, and it really helped jog my memory. It's been almost 2 months since I read The Jewel, and I don't know when I'll get the chance to pick up The White Rose, hopefully soon, but I'm glad I picked this up as it cleared up a lot of confusion about Garnet, and affirmed my thoughts that I much prefer him to Ash. Excited for the rest of this series now.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this. Nothing amazing, of course, butThis was a great recap of book 1, told from Garnet's point of view, and it really helped jog my memory. It's been almost 2 months since I read The Jewel, and I don't know when I'll get the chance to pick up The White Rose, hopefully soon, but I'm glad I picked this up as it cleared up a lot of confusion about Garnet, and affirmed my thoughts that I much prefer him to Ash. Excited for the rest of this series now.
haunted_by_humans's review
4.0
4.5/5 as one of my favorite characters in the series, I was super pumped to read this. loved seeing his side of the story, my only complaint is how short it was (but I guess that's the point of a novella..)
ladylu's review
2.0
En esta ocasión, conocemos detalles de la Joya pero desde el punto de vista de Garnet.
Personalmente, esperaba encontrarme con algo diferente, tal vez que se adentrara aún más en las cosas que no conocemos, pero en realidad han sido pocas cosas. Aún así, me ha gustado muchísimo conocer ciertos momentos desde su perspectiva, saber cómo se sentía y entender sus reacciones.
Garnet se nos muestra desde el primer momento como un muchacho de diecinueve años que es desinteresado, vulgar y un poco descarriado. Así que, ¿para qué enfocarse en ser algo más?
El problema comienza cuando su madre, la Duquesa del Lado, decide que es el momento de casarle, y todo su mundo se ve patas arriba al tener que conocer a las jóvenes de las diferentes Casas para decidir cuál será la mejor así como cuando Lucien se presenta en su casa y le ofrece un gran trato al que, a su pesar, Garnet no puede negarse siendo que su familia podría quedar arruinada. Y es que el trato no es nada más y nada menos que vigilar a la sustituta que su madre ha comprado en la Subasta.
Desde aquí conocemos más los sentimientos de Garnet, cómo se enfrenta a los problemas, su relación con su madre y padre, se profundiza un poco más en lo que piensa sobre Carnelian y el lazo que surge entre ella y su acompañante, Ash.
Se me ha hecho muy interesante ver los momentos en que Garnet se replantea todo su sistema cuando al principio estaba tan regio sobre aquel que ya conocía, ver el momento en que la realidad cae sobre él de golpe es algo que me ha gustado leer.
Cierto es que no aporta realmente mucho a la trama, pero sí es lindo para poder adentrarse más en el mundo que, al menos para mí, es tan fascinante.
Personalmente, esperaba encontrarme con algo diferente, tal vez que se adentrara aún más en las cosas que no conocemos, pero en realidad han sido pocas cosas. Aún así, me ha gustado muchísimo conocer ciertos momentos desde su perspectiva, saber cómo se sentía y entender sus reacciones.
Garnet se nos muestra desde el primer momento como un muchacho de diecinueve años que es desinteresado, vulgar y un poco descarriado. Así que, ¿para qué enfocarse en ser algo más?
El problema comienza cuando su madre, la Duquesa del Lado, decide que es el momento de casarle, y todo su mundo se ve patas arriba al tener que conocer a las jóvenes de las diferentes Casas para decidir cuál será la mejor así como cuando Lucien se presenta en su casa y le ofrece un gran trato al que, a su pesar, Garnet no puede negarse siendo que su familia podría quedar arruinada. Y es que el trato no es nada más y nada menos que vigilar a la sustituta que su madre ha comprado en la Subasta.
Desde aquí conocemos más los sentimientos de Garnet, cómo se enfrenta a los problemas, su relación con su madre y padre, se profundiza un poco más en lo que piensa sobre Carnelian y el lazo que surge entre ella y su acompañante, Ash.
Se me ha hecho muy interesante ver los momentos en que Garnet se replantea todo su sistema cuando al principio estaba tan regio sobre aquel que ya conocía, ver el momento en que la realidad cae sobre él de golpe es algo que me ha gustado leer.
Cierto es que no aporta realmente mucho a la trama, pero sí es lindo para poder adentrarse más en el mundo que, al menos para mí, es tan fascinante.