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trashleypander's review against another edition
2.0
The story was interesting and a different take on high fantasy, but the audio narration was horrible - the editing left much to be desired. 2 stars for poor audio. Story itself is a 3.5 star.
bookwyrmed's review against another edition
3.0
Somehow I did NOT know this was a short story when I started reading it and was very disappointed about that. The perils of ebooks. I really enjoyed the world, and the characters, and the magic system, but deducted stars because I am very tired of 'madness' as the drive for very bad actions in fantasy (and, like... every other genre tbh). I am a simple crazy person and would like to read a book where people kill other people because some or all of the people in this equation are dicks, not because 'oooh they were driven to/had a proclivity for madness oooh a mad person will just do whatever.'
beththebookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent teen-friendly fantasy with a new type of magic and wonderfully well-rounded characters especially for such a short book.
suncani's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first work by Fran Wilde that I've read and it makes me want to pick up more. This does have the feel of epic fantasy but condensed into a small novella. The world is painted in broad brush-strokes so you get the gist of how everything works without getting too caught up in the detail. Lin and Sima are good characters and the end is satisfying.
rara2018's review against another edition
1.0
This was a very disappointing read. I'd wanted to like it, or at least enjoy the read, but I could manage neither of those things. The characters were both exceedingly flat with Sima repeating the same phrase for 90% of her part, and Lin barely feeling like a character at all. The idea was really interesting but the story was just a whole lot of nothing. I might try and read its sequels because I'm marginally curious about its outcome, but we'll see if I even manage that.
barb4ry1's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5
A quick (90 pages) read with great prose and nice characters. The only reason for such a low rating is that it's basically a world-building novella. Gems and their magic are cool but, ultimately, not enough to immerse me in the story.
It was ok.
A quick (90 pages) read with great prose and nice characters. The only reason for such a low rating is that it's basically a world-building novella. Gems and their magic are cool but, ultimately, not enough to immerse me in the story.
It was ok.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
4.0
The Jewel and Her Lapidary is the first novella in a fascinating new series written by Fran Wilde. The series is known as Gemworld, and it lives up to that description – though maybe not in the way you might expect.
This novella follows Lin, the Jewel Princess, and Sima, her Lapidary. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking journey these two take, and one that is without a doubt worth reading. Together these two young women resist an opposition seeking to take over their kingdom. And along the way create a powerful story.
This was the first novella I’ve read by Fran Wilde, but I have to say; I’m sold. I loved everything about this, and then some. I’m so looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the long run. Because it’s clear to me that Fran Wilde isn’t done with this world (okay, the series title sort of gives that away).
Warnings: The Jewel and Her Lapidary is a beautiful story, but it also has some harsh notes inside. It covers imprisonment/kidnapping, torture, gore, and graphic descriptions of both death and bodies. So consider yourself warned.
The Jewel and Her Lapidary has to be one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking novellas I’ve read this year. I absolutely adored it, and everything about it. From the core concept to the character development, all the way to how these girls bravely handled their situation. It was perfection.
This Gemworld is so fascinating. At first it reminded me of this gem princess series I read when I was younger (I couldn’t for the life of me tell you the series name now though, so forgive me), but it quickly became apparent that there was so much more to this world than I originally thought. It was rich with culture, tradition, and character.
Speaking of the characters, while the world itself was interesting, the characters sold this series to me. Lin and Sima are amazingly written – two sides of the same coin. Both loyal to each other and to their kingdom. And both understanding the different roles they had to play, and why it needed to be done.
Their love for each other was a beautiful thing to witness. To have it surrounded by the reality of their situation just turned it into such an emotional telling. It was wonderfully done. And I can honestly tell you that I can’t wait to see the next novel in this amazing series. I’m so curious to see what Fran Wilde does next with it.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
This novella follows Lin, the Jewel Princess, and Sima, her Lapidary. It’s a beautiful and heartbreaking journey these two take, and one that is without a doubt worth reading. Together these two young women resist an opposition seeking to take over their kingdom. And along the way create a powerful story.
This was the first novella I’ve read by Fran Wilde, but I have to say; I’m sold. I loved everything about this, and then some. I’m so looking forward to seeing where this series goes in the long run. Because it’s clear to me that Fran Wilde isn’t done with this world (okay, the series title sort of gives that away).
Warnings: The Jewel and Her Lapidary is a beautiful story, but it also has some harsh notes inside. It covers imprisonment/kidnapping, torture, gore, and graphic descriptions of both death and bodies. So consider yourself warned.
The Jewel and Her Lapidary has to be one of the most beautiful and heartbreaking novellas I’ve read this year. I absolutely adored it, and everything about it. From the core concept to the character development, all the way to how these girls bravely handled their situation. It was perfection.
This Gemworld is so fascinating. At first it reminded me of this gem princess series I read when I was younger (I couldn’t for the life of me tell you the series name now though, so forgive me), but it quickly became apparent that there was so much more to this world than I originally thought. It was rich with culture, tradition, and character.
Speaking of the characters, while the world itself was interesting, the characters sold this series to me. Lin and Sima are amazingly written – two sides of the same coin. Both loyal to each other and to their kingdom. And both understanding the different roles they had to play, and why it needed to be done.
Their love for each other was a beautiful thing to witness. To have it surrounded by the reality of their situation just turned it into such an emotional telling. It was wonderfully done. And I can honestly tell you that I can’t wait to see the next novel in this amazing series. I’m so curious to see what Fran Wilde does next with it.
For more reviews check out Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks
justasking27's review against another edition
3.0
Heart-rending novella with a lovely conceit of telling the history of a place that is being described in a guidebook.
blackmetalblackheart's review against another edition
2.0
I struggled through the entirety of this novella to picture what was being presented. I got the basic gist of the world, but never felt like I understood the setting and rules fully. It detracted from my enjoyment of the story.
all_hail_grimlock's review against another edition
4.0
So I was at Readercon and getting something signed; I always feel guilty, as silly as it sounds, when I go to see one author and the one next to them has nothing to do. I tend to apologize, so I leaned over to Fran Wilde, and said 'I'm so sorry, I haven't picked up anything by you yet.'
She kindly said she had one more novella to give away and signed The Jewel and her Lapidary for me. I sadly was impatient for the next novella after reading it during rests and pauses at the convention, and didn't keep up; I've gladly ordered it now and own at least the first two in the Bone Universe signed - so at least, I think, the freebie got her some traction.
I partly mention this because I know it can be seen as influencing the review. I suspect, however, that not being a huge fantasy reader has as much to do with my feeling more positive than other reviewers do toward this. I don't know what, particularly, the conventions of fantasy are, I suppose, including world building and that seems to be the main complaint.
She kindly said she had one more novella to give away and signed The Jewel and her Lapidary for me. I sadly was impatient for the next novella after reading it during rests and pauses at the convention, and didn't keep up; I've gladly ordered it now and own at least the first two in the Bone Universe signed - so at least, I think, the freebie got her some traction.
I partly mention this because I know it can be seen as influencing the review. I suspect, however, that not being a huge fantasy reader has as much to do with my feeling more positive than other reviewers do toward this. I don't know what, particularly, the conventions of fantasy are, I suppose, including world building and that seems to be the main complaint.