ABOUT THE BOOK
The Jewel by Amy Ewing
young adult fantasy dystopia published by HarperTeen on September 2nd, 2014
first book in The Lone City series
The Jewel means wealth, the Jewel means beauty—but for Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Born and raised in the Marsh, Violet finds herself living in the Jewel as a servant at the estate of the Duchess of the Lake. Addressed only by her number—#197—Violet is quickly thrown into the royal way of life. But behind its opulent and glittering facade, the Jewel hides its cruel and brutal truth, filled with violence, manipulation, and death.
Violet must accept the ugly realities of her life . . . all while trying to stay alive. But before she can accept her fate, Violet meets a handsome boy who is also under the Duchess’s control, and a forbidden love erupts. But their illicit affair has consequences, which will cost them both more than they bargained for. And toeing the line between being calculating and rebellious, Violet must decide what, and who, she is willing to risk for her own freedom.
THE RATING
THE REVIEW
I went into The Jewel expecting the worst of the instaloves and the juiciest of the royal politics which really worked because man, I would’ve been extremely frustrated otherwise. Instead I’m just sorely disappointed because the plot is actually entertaining. The characters and the dreaded instalove? Not so much. Moreover, the fact that not much is told about the reasons is annoying because it’s like you gotta read the second book to know more which what if I don’t want to?
I was kind of more focused on the fantasy aspect of than the dystopian which is why a couple of parallels to The Hunger Games really made me roll my eyes like the character Lucien who’s basically Cinna. Also, how the Jewel is the centre of the Lone City where the royals and the richest reside surrounded by the Bank with all merchantry, the Smoke with all the industries, the Farm with all the well, farms, and the Marsh where the poorest lives. The city is set up in the shape of an enormous circle and is located on an island. Also, almost everyone in the book has weird names that refer to the part of the Lone City they are from which isn’t enough to justify the weirdness attached to names like Ochre.
Violet is bound by circumstances to serve the royals by being a surrogate. However, she’s of the sort who’d rather spend her life poor and happy with her family than in luxury among the royals. So there is much talk about how she misses her family and her best friend and how she doesn’t want to be a surrogate among moments where she’s entranced by the pretty dresses, the elegant balls, and the elaborate meals. That’s pretty much the extent of her personality.
The first half of The Jewel is actually pretty entertaining despite the obvious lack of worldbuilding beyond the structure of the Lone City and the puzzling surrogate situation. The shenanigans of the rich and a freak of the Duchess who buys Violet kept me glued to the story. And bam, instalove! Oh my, where do I even begin? It’s so cheesy and it was awfully painful to read about Violet’s train of thoughts regarding her extremely clichéd love interest. I wish there was a love triangle with Garnet involved who’s the only interesting character in The Jewel other than the Duchess.
The concept behind The Jewel is no doubt entertaining, but the glaring loopholes in its execution put a damper on everything else. In a way, I get that the instalove is sometimes part of the plot but using it to move the plot forward hardly ever works because it’s insta-freaking-love. How could I believe anything when it’s physically painful for Violet because Ash didn’t even look at her mere hours after meeting her? The rich and their dirty dealings bit is so very juicy and engaging and reminded me of Aimee Carter’s Pawn which, if you’ve read, you’ll know is pretty harsh and cruel. In all, I’d have enjoyed The Jewel way more if not for the cringeworthy romance which came in like a wrecking ball (sorry, I couldn’t resist). Oh, and that ending!
THE QUOTES
‘Hope is a precious thing, isn’t it,’ she says quietly. ‘And yet, we don’t really appreciate it until it’s gone.’
‘It’s hard to remember who who you were when you’re constantly pretending to be someone you’re not.’
I totally agree with you about the insta-love… otherwise I actually really loved this book. I find female dominated societies really fascinating and I'm thinking book 2 will hold big things!
I love the wrecking ball simile–it fit perfectly hahaha Plot holes…man that's rough. Especially in a dystopia!
"How could I believe anything when it's physically painful for Violet because Ash didn't even look at her mere hours after meeting her?" Oh man. I've just read a quite positive review of this one and I was willing to actually give this book a try until I read your review. I mean, how can I survive a book with an instalove and a character like Violet? I've heard about the similarities with other dystopian novels as well and that would really throw me off. Sigh. Anyway, fantastic review, Sana. I really appreciated your honesty! 🙂
Oh yes, I quite enjoyed how women held the true power in this book. Very interesting to read about.
I'm looking forward to reading book 2 (which I really hope blows The Jewel one out of the water).
Yeah, I really didn't get a few of the things that happened which could bedue to the lack of explanation about the whole plot? I really hope that the second book is much better (if I ever feel like reading it, that is). Ha ha.
Yes, some people managed to overlook the instalove but I just couldn't. I was actually enjoying the book but then bam, that happened. Sigh.
I have to admit, I'm looking forward to this one. I am sometimes but not always bugged by instalove, so I guess this one could go either way. I really like the concept so I'm glad to hear that the plot is decent.
I've read many mixed reviews for this one, and though it does sound interesting, I'm not a fan of instalove when it JUST happens randomly like that. I'm glad I didn't pick up this ARC! Thanks for the heads up!
I have been wanting to read this just because the cover is so beautiful… I really hope I am not going to be disappointed too.
I picked this up at BEA, but doubt I'll be reading it (unless the sequel somehow gets glowing reviews). Romance is make-or-break-it for me, and the insta-love in The Jewel sounds awful. 🙁
I saw this one just had so many people disliking it and I just shrugged it off. And then I saw that blurb, and it's a book I've never heard of meets The Selection. *cue all the no's*
And then eww, instalove, and weird names too. That pretty cover is too deceptive.
URFHFNMKDJVFHBGF your blog is just so PRETTY. Every time i come on here I just sigh with happiness. ALSO. would you mind if i set up a book cover/quote on my reviews like yours?
or nAh.
Even though all I've heard is meh and 'it was ok' I still REALLY want to read this, just, because I never really let reviews sway my opinion I always want to see for myself and then if I DNF then so be it. IS THAT WEIRD?
THIS IS SUCH A DISAPPOINTMENT.
I refrained from reading any reviews for The Jewel because it was one of my most highly anticipated books this year, and because a lot of them seemed to be negative. Disappointing books are something I could do without, please and thank you. I hate it when the first book turns out to be more of a huge cliffhanger kind of novel, especially when it isn't even that good at all. The Kiss of Deception was pretty much like that. I sludged through nearly 500 pages of boringness and what do I get at the end? A fucking cliffhanger.
I'd feel entirely different if I'd actually enjoyed the book, you know?
Oh my gosh, THG references. Someone, kill me now. I honestly thought we were past this stage with YA books. And if you think about it, the Capitol citizens have some pretty weird names as well — so there's one more similarity to THG that we could do without. At least the poor parts of the cities weren't called "sectors" or "districts," haha.
The instalove completely turns me off. I think I saw you tweet a couple of quotes about the instalove on Twitter while you were reading this too. xD The romance must have been really bad if you were pining for a love triangle. Romantic plot devices are just a huge no-no, in my opinion, including love triangles. (With the exception of the Grisha books, of course). Welp. I'm glad that at least the political aspect lived up to your expectations. I can't remember much of Pawn now, but I do remember enjoying that part of it.
Should I still read this book, Sana? HELP ME DECIDE. I have the galley in my Kindle, and I'd feel guilty if I didn't read it because I requested for it, but I don't know if I can take another mediocre book. Either way, fabulous review and I forgive you for using the wrecking ball reference. ;D