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A chilling dystopian fantasy novel in a fairy tale-like setting (and the start of a new series) for teens/YA about a girl who is sold to a royal family to be their surrogate. Read my full review at:
http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2014/12/teenya-review-jewel.html
http://bookbybook.blogspot.com/2014/12/teenya-review-jewel.html
Despite reading more than a few negative reviews of THE JEWEL, I was somehow convinced that I would love it so I had to try it for myself. I probably should have listened because they were obviously on to something. That doesn’t mean my feelings about the book were all negative though, as I enjoyed some aspects.
If I had to summarize this novel I would say it’s an obvious mix of WITHER and THE SELECTION. Although the plot is somewhat unique on its own, it combines elements from the two books that easily reminded me of them, especially WITHER because of the surrogate/reproduction focus.
“Hope is a precious thing, isn’t it,” she says. “And yet, we don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone.”
Very similar to how I get hooked on reality TV shows, this book really caught my attention and hooked me in at the beginning. I couldn’t help but be swept up in the drama and glitz and glam. Plus the writing flows really well. I also wanted to know more about this world and the surrogacy system that was never fully explained but no resentment or anything *eye twitch*. However, things went quickly downhill towards the middle of the book.
As soon as the first hint of romance showed up (not even a hint because it’s like BAM! Romance time NOW) I was like:
Except it was more like “please noooooo,” because the romance really brought the book down for me. If you ever needed a true definition of YA Insta-Love, look no further, this it it. The ANGST, I swear. Not to mention the introduction of a love interest makes the main character’s personality totally flip-she begins to make the absolute worst decisions. Aimee’s awesome review on The Social Potato goes into detail about this and I definitely recommend her review if you want to know more about the romance.
Despite all this, I will be checking out the sequel-partly because of a HUGE cliffhanger again, no resentment or anything *nervous laughter* and partly because I think the plot has potential and room for future development.
If I had to summarize this novel I would say it’s an obvious mix of WITHER and THE SELECTION. Although the plot is somewhat unique on its own, it combines elements from the two books that easily reminded me of them, especially WITHER because of the surrogate/reproduction focus.
“Hope is a precious thing, isn’t it,” she says. “And yet, we don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone.”
Very similar to how I get hooked on reality TV shows, this book really caught my attention and hooked me in at the beginning. I couldn’t help but be swept up in the drama and glitz and glam. Plus the writing flows really well. I also wanted to know more about this world and the surrogacy system that was never fully explained but no resentment or anything *eye twitch*. However, things went quickly downhill towards the middle of the book.
As soon as the first hint of romance showed up (not even a hint because it’s like BAM! Romance time NOW) I was like:
Except it was more like “please noooooo,” because the romance really brought the book down for me. If you ever needed a true definition of YA Insta-Love, look no further, this it it. The ANGST, I swear. Not to mention the introduction of a love interest makes the main character’s personality totally flip-she begins to make the absolute worst decisions. Aimee’s awesome review on The Social Potato goes into detail about this and I definitely recommend her review if you want to know more about the romance.
Despite all this, I will be checking out the sequel-partly because of a HUGE cliffhanger again, no resentment or anything *nervous laughter* and partly because I think the plot has potential and room for future development.
This is definitely a disturbing book. The whole concept of surrogates is shocking and each new thing that we discover about them has me gasping in shock. The whole love thing between Ash and Violet is a bit predictable but there is a few shocking moments in the final few pages of the book. It all leads up to one hell of a cliffhanger! Though I have to say that the book fell a bit short at points and some of the characters seemed to be not very well developed. But it is a very good book and I can't wait to read the sequel!
I normally don't read this genre, but I'm trying to read new things. I'm so glad I did. This book was great. The writing is excellent and the story line moves quickly. I only wish it would have ended on less of a cliff hanger. Waiting 10 months for the next book is going to be torture.
Left me on the edge of my seat. This follows Violet, a surrogate front the Marsh, for one of royalty of the Jewel. The Jewel is cut-throat, ruthless and a place that is not quite what it seems from outsiders. In this world, the royalty cannot have their own children, and require the usage of girls from the marsh that are capable of performing amazing feats in what is like magic.
Really good read, want to move on to the next one.
Really good read, want to move on to the next one.
I want to start by saying this book was good. I mean it, it really was. The storyline was good, the characters were good and the writing quality was good. But thats all it was.... Good.
I really enjoyed the storyline but I felt like I was in a car with my grandmother. Sometimes it it went really fast and other times it dragged. I think it was the romance aspect of the book that needed to be padded out more as they only seemed to last a few pages at a time, but it's hard to tell. I wanted to know more about Ash and how she felt about him not just 'I can't stop thinking about him' or 'I love him' because that's what they all seem to say.
However, I still gave this book 4 stars because overall I enjoyed reading it and I could tell that the writer had put a lot of effort into the planning and ideas surrounding this book.
I really enjoyed the storyline but I felt like I was in a car with my grandmother. Sometimes it it went really fast and other times it dragged. I think it was the romance aspect of the book that needed to be padded out more as they only seemed to last a few pages at a time, but it's hard to tell. I wanted to know more about Ash and how she felt about him not just 'I can't stop thinking about him' or 'I love him' because that's what they all seem to say.
However, I still gave this book 4 stars because overall I enjoyed reading it and I could tell that the writer had put a lot of effort into the planning and ideas surrounding this book.
This book was amazing! It made me think of The Handmaid’s Tale but with magic and romance so it was wayyyy better. Glad to start 2023 with this series, can’t wait to see what happens to Violet and Ash. Also, can we please talk about Ash? I’m soooo in love
Okay so I just finished this book and wow just wow. I have not read a lot of books so I am not going to comment on the writing just my enjoyment of the story. I need the second book like yesterday.
Okay so honestly I could have done without the romance parts and think it would have been WAY more powerful if they became super close friends and bonded over their similar lives and struggles. But can we all talk about the ending!!! The amount of things that were dropped on us at the end were just wow. I am so confused and want to know more and I just have no thoughts just wow.
Okay so honestly I could have done without the romance parts and think it would have been WAY more powerful if they became super close friends and bonded over their similar lives and struggles. But can we all talk about the ending!!! The amount of things that were dropped on us at the end were just wow. I am so confused and want to know more and I just have no thoughts just wow.
another selection reference in the book. that's my brand
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I really enjoyed this book. It really could have gotten five stars, but I hate Ash. Like he reminds me of Aspen, so he is trash. Violet was a good character, and I really hope there is more Garnet in the second book. He seems to have more character than annoying Ash. The Ash-Violet relationship seemed really insta-lovey and that really bothered me. I was basically cringing during the entire book because the concept of being a surrogate was nauseating. Like having this expectation to have kids for the rich was not only gross, but I couldn't stand doing that. Anyways, I will totally be reading the next book because I really want to see where Raven and Lucien go from here and pick up from this terrible cliff-hanger.
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I really enjoyed this book. It really could have gotten five stars, but I hate Ash. Like he reminds me of Aspen, so he is trash. Violet was a good character, and I really hope there is more Garnet in the second book. He seems to have more character than annoying Ash. The Ash-Violet relationship seemed really insta-lovey and that really bothered me. I was basically cringing during the entire book because the concept of being a surrogate was nauseating. Like having this expectation to have kids for the rich was not only gross, but I couldn't stand doing that. Anyways, I will totally be reading the next book because I really want to see where Raven and Lucien go from here and pick up from this terrible cliff-hanger.
With the cover similarities between this and The Selection series, I'm not sure what I expected. They both are roughly based on the same dystopian premise.
It was quite intriguing actually, and I wish I could've seen more of the world or gotten a better understanding on the background. Instead the reader is spoon-fed information to the point of annoyance. I don't know if it just isn't fleshed out or if the author is waiting for a better time to reveal all. I wait patiently.
It was quite intriguing actually, and I wish I could've seen more of the world or gotten a better understanding on the background. Instead the reader is spoon-fed information to the point of annoyance. I don't know if it just isn't fleshed out or if the author is waiting for a better time to reveal all. I wait patiently.