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adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was exactly what it was supposed to be, a young adult dystopian fiction. Enjoyed the fast paced writing.
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this one! For a young adult series it's a very original storyline with dark paths of the handmaid's tale, but not too problematic for younger audiences. I really like the main character Violet and also how easily the author gives depth to the other characters like Raven, Annabell and Violet's mother. The magic in the book is more of a subplot but I think it will get more important in the next book. The love story is a bit cheesy in a love at first sight kind of way, which is why I suspect that Ash will not be her only love interest throughout the series and it might become a love triangle. Great mini twist at the end, which I did not see coming, but makes me want to read the second book even more! Also I think that the Duchess actually has the potential to change her views and might help the revolution, maybe in the third book(?) jut a hope thought haha
Content Warnings
Graphic: Trafficking
Moderate: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Child death, Violence, Vomit
Actual Rating: 3.25 stars
I was going to give this at least a solid 4 stars but I brought it down after more thinking that this story could have been a lot better without the insta-love, and then even more after I thought about how naive Violet really is. I enjoyed it the story - like it says in a blurb I read, it is a bit like a crossover between the Selection and Wither series. But I definitely like those better. And I just hope that the next book will be better - and by that I mean no insta-love and a little more action. This book is going to be more of a guilty pleasure book....
I was going to give this at least a solid 4 stars but I brought it down after more thinking that this story could have been a lot better without the insta-love, and then even more after I thought about how naive Violet really is. I enjoyed it the story - like it says in a blurb I read, it is a bit like a crossover between the Selection and Wither series. But I definitely like those better. And I just hope that the next book will be better - and by that I mean no insta-love and a little more action. This book is going to be more of a guilty pleasure book....
I thought The Jewel was an interesting idea, and it reminded me of quite a few dystopias out there- The Hunger Games, the Chemical Garden trilogy by Lauren DeStefano, The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard, The Selection by Kiera Cass, and there was something about the book that made me think of Divergent too, and I think there's something about some of the events that happen in this book (and could potentially happen in the next one), that we could see elements of Divergent in the rest of the series. So basically, I was reminded of some of the more well-known dystopias out there, and it's why it ended being just okay.
I spent a lot of the book comparing to other books in the same genre, and that worked against the book, because it was similar enough to other books that I was bored and thought it to be a little bit predictable. I did finish it, and I did like it, because the overall idea was interesting enough to keep me reading and caught my interest just enough that I wanted to give it a try.
I thought Violet was lackluster. I think part of it is that she wants to tell people her name, instead of her lot number, but she's constantly referred to as 197 or the surrogate. That was one of the more interesting things about the book, because in a way, it makes her less human if she's nameless. I do wonder if that's partially why I felt disconnected, because everyone viewed her as someone who will produce a child, instead of an actual person.
The only thing I remember about her is that she plays the cello, but beyond that, I feel like there's nothing special about her. She's special but there seems to be no reason for why she's so special. At least, we don't find out what that is in this book. And if she's so special and can do things no one else can, why was she lot 197, and not lot 200? That makes no sense at all.
There was romance, but it didn't stand out, and there's not much to say about it, because it was boring, and didn't get my attention. It's undeveloped and sudden, and quite honestly, I'm not sure why it's even in the book.
I have a lot of unanswered questions about this world, and the little world-building we get doesn't explain much. It felt like it wouldn't hold up if you looked at it too closely, because we only get bits and pieces of why there are surrogates and not much else.
I'm honestly not sure if I'll be reading the next one. I don't necessarily have a problem continuing on with the series, and with how the last few pages went, I am curious about what's going on. It's definitely enough that I'm considering reading at least the next one, but I don't think it will be anytime soon.
I've never read The Handmaid's Tale so I'm not sure about that comparison, but I don't get the comparison to The Other Boleyn Girl. Granted, it's been quite a few years since I've read it, so maybe I'm missing something, but from what I do remember, I don't get the comparison at all.
My Rating: 2 stars. I wanted to give it a higher rating, because I do like the overall idea, but I was too reminded by the similarities to other books to really enjoy it.
I spent a lot of the book comparing to other books in the same genre, and that worked against the book, because it was similar enough to other books that I was bored and thought it to be a little bit predictable. I did finish it, and I did like it, because the overall idea was interesting enough to keep me reading and caught my interest just enough that I wanted to give it a try.
I thought Violet was lackluster. I think part of it is that she wants to tell people her name, instead of her lot number, but she's constantly referred to as 197 or the surrogate. That was one of the more interesting things about the book, because in a way, it makes her less human if she's nameless. I do wonder if that's partially why I felt disconnected, because everyone viewed her as someone who will produce a child, instead of an actual person.
The only thing I remember about her is that she plays the cello, but beyond that, I feel like there's nothing special about her. She's special but there seems to be no reason for why she's so special. At least, we don't find out what that is in this book. And if she's so special and can do things no one else can, why was she lot 197, and not lot 200? That makes no sense at all.
There was romance, but it didn't stand out, and there's not much to say about it, because it was boring, and didn't get my attention. It's undeveloped and sudden, and quite honestly, I'm not sure why it's even in the book.
I have a lot of unanswered questions about this world, and the little world-building we get doesn't explain much. It felt like it wouldn't hold up if you looked at it too closely, because we only get bits and pieces of why there are surrogates and not much else.
I'm honestly not sure if I'll be reading the next one. I don't necessarily have a problem continuing on with the series, and with how the last few pages went, I am curious about what's going on. It's definitely enough that I'm considering reading at least the next one, but I don't think it will be anytime soon.
I've never read The Handmaid's Tale so I'm not sure about that comparison, but I don't get the comparison to The Other Boleyn Girl. Granted, it's been quite a few years since I've read it, so maybe I'm missing something, but from what I do remember, I don't get the comparison at all.
My Rating: 2 stars. I wanted to give it a higher rating, because I do like the overall idea, but I was too reminded by the similarities to other books to really enjoy it.
The Jewel could have been so much better. I’m still in love with the premise and potential of this book, but let down by the final product. I was hoping for an interesting, complex look at a futuristic society with surrogates, inequality, and a focus on social issues. The Jewel manages a little bit of this, but it all feels pretty shallow. Slavery is bad,inequality strips people of their voice, etc. Not that I expected The Jewel to say the opposite of those things, but I was hoping it would explore it more, instead of keeping everything on the surface.
That’s not to say there were no redeeming qualities to The Jewel. There’s a quick pace and addicting storytelling in here. While the writing wasn’t stunning, I think Ewing has real potential as a storyteller, because man was I on the edge of my seat, even when I hated what was happening. It was addicting and I read it all quickly, desperate for more.
I’m torn on my feelings towards the characters. Violet had real potential to be a complex protagonist, but I don’t think she ever quite reached that point. Indeed, I was immediately turned off my her inner monologue at the beginning, though I came around eventually, especially when she was interacting with her family. I do find it a little ridicolous that she has actual violet eyes, because combine that with her high lot number(the higher the number, the more “desirable” the surrogate is seen as being. Out of 200 girls, Violet is 197), the fact that she’s a wonderful musician, and the fact that she’s the best at one of the three “powers” surrogates all have. . . well, it screams Mary-Sue. I think her characterization is deepened enough by the end that I wouldn’t consider her a complete Mary-Sue, but she definitely starts the book on the fast track to being one.
I found many of the secondary characters much more interesting, including the Duchess of the Lake, who buys Violet. At first, she appears to be a complete villain(and she does some pretty terrible things), but her motives and desires are really interesting–she was the character I wanted to know more about.
By far, though, the worst part of The Jewel was the instalove. Up until that point, I was enjoying the book. It wasn’t going as deep as I wanted and some things were irritating(Violet’s violet eyes, for instance), but I was addicted to the story, slightly horrified, and intrigued. Once Ash entered the picture, though, it was downhill from there. There are cases of instalove that are annoying for being instalove but you grow to like the couple anyway. . . and then there’s the other kind, the kind you want to burn with a great big bonfire. The instalove in The Jewel is the second kind. They have one conversation, Ash acts repulsed when he finds out Violet is a surrogate, and then somehow he gets over his prejudice by the second meeting. Violet is willing to throw away everything for Ash, even though she barely knows him.
On some level, I could understand instalove on Violet’s part. The fact is, Violet exist in her world to be used. Period. Once she was selected to be a surrogate, her entire life has been grooming her to be a tool for someone’s ambition. She has no control, no agency, no power. So when someone is kind to her, of course she’s going to take to that person. This could have been an interesting exploration–but that’s not how it’s treated. Instead, it’s reciprocated in equal measure and both Violet and Ash make dumb choices because of it.
While the instalove was the worst part, the world-building also left me wanting. It’s clear that there’s a lot about the world of high society that Violet doesn’t know about–which I expect. What I don’t understand is how she seemed to know so little of her world beyond that, and how gullible about her world she could be. It also drove me insane that the different circles where people lived/worked had such standard names–like how the place where merchants lived and worked as called “The Bank”, and then there’s “The Farm”. It’s like naming places “City 1″, “City 2″, “City 3″. A relatively minor complaint overall but it bugged me while reading.
Overall, The Jewel had a lot of promise but went downhill quickly once the love interest showed up. I’m interested in the next book of the series because I want to believe it could get better, but this one was just okay.
That’s not to say there were no redeeming qualities to The Jewel. There’s a quick pace and addicting storytelling in here. While the writing wasn’t stunning, I think Ewing has real potential as a storyteller, because man was I on the edge of my seat, even when I hated what was happening. It was addicting and I read it all quickly, desperate for more.
I’m torn on my feelings towards the characters. Violet had real potential to be a complex protagonist, but I don’t think she ever quite reached that point. Indeed, I was immediately turned off my her inner monologue at the beginning, though I came around eventually, especially when she was interacting with her family. I do find it a little ridicolous that she has actual violet eyes, because combine that with her high lot number(the higher the number, the more “desirable” the surrogate is seen as being. Out of 200 girls, Violet is 197), the fact that she’s a wonderful musician, and the fact that she’s the best at one of the three “powers” surrogates all have. . . well, it screams Mary-Sue. I think her characterization is deepened enough by the end that I wouldn’t consider her a complete Mary-Sue, but she definitely starts the book on the fast track to being one.
I found many of the secondary characters much more interesting, including the Duchess of the Lake, who buys Violet. At first, she appears to be a complete villain(and she does some pretty terrible things), but her motives and desires are really interesting–she was the character I wanted to know more about.
By far, though, the worst part of The Jewel was the instalove. Up until that point, I was enjoying the book. It wasn’t going as deep as I wanted and some things were irritating(Violet’s violet eyes, for instance), but I was addicted to the story, slightly horrified, and intrigued. Once Ash entered the picture, though, it was downhill from there. There are cases of instalove that are annoying for being instalove but you grow to like the couple anyway. . . and then there’s the other kind, the kind you want to burn with a great big bonfire. The instalove in The Jewel is the second kind. They have one conversation, Ash acts repulsed when he finds out Violet is a surrogate, and then somehow he gets over his prejudice by the second meeting. Violet is willing to throw away everything for Ash, even though she barely knows him.
On some level, I could understand instalove on Violet’s part. The fact is, Violet exist in her world to be used. Period. Once she was selected to be a surrogate, her entire life has been grooming her to be a tool for someone’s ambition. She has no control, no agency, no power. So when someone is kind to her, of course she’s going to take to that person. This could have been an interesting exploration–but that’s not how it’s treated. Instead, it’s reciprocated in equal measure and both Violet and Ash make dumb choices because of it.
While the instalove was the worst part, the world-building also left me wanting. It’s clear that there’s a lot about the world of high society that Violet doesn’t know about–which I expect. What I don’t understand is how she seemed to know so little of her world beyond that, and how gullible about her world she could be. It also drove me insane that the different circles where people lived/worked had such standard names–like how the place where merchants lived and worked as called “The Bank”, and then there’s “The Farm”. It’s like naming places “City 1″, “City 2″, “City 3″. A relatively minor complaint overall but it bugged me while reading.
Overall, The Jewel had a lot of promise but went downhill quickly once the love interest showed up. I’m interested in the next book of the series because I want to believe it could get better, but this one was just okay.
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It is described as The Selection meets The Handmaid's Tale. I would say that is a fair assessment. I enjoyed it and want to find out what happens. The world building is pretty good.
Fans of Kiera Cass's The Selection series (like myself) will eat up The Jewel . It's a similar construct and writing style, though Amy Ewing has vividly imagined her own cruel world for this page turner. Violet Lasting is promise a life of privilege and luxury in The Jewel—at the cost of giving up her freedom to serve as a surrogate for a member of the royal family. Ewing's vision for the dark world of The Lone City (at whose center lies The Jewel) is creative and enticing. The story is fast-paced, and readers will readily identify with stubborn protagonist Violet. Though some of the plot twists and narrative tropes may seem a touch familiar or predictable, The Jewel is a quick and enjoyable read. I'm eager to read the next two installments in the trilogy!