Title: The Jewel
Author: Amy Ewing
Series: The Lone City #1
Genre: YA Dystopian
Format: Hardcover, 358 pages
Release Date: September 2nd 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: eARC received from publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review

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The Jewel means wealth. The Jewel means beauty. The Jewel means royalty. But for girls like Violet, the Jewel means servitude. Not just any kind of servitude. Violet, born and raised in the Marsh, has been trained as a surrogate for the royalty—because in the Jewel the only thing more important than opulence is offspring.

Purchased at the surrogacy auction by the Duchess of the Lake and greeted with a slap to the face, Violet (now known only as #197) quickly learns of the brutal truths that lie beneath the Jewel’s glittering facade: the cruelty, backstabbing, and hidden violence that have become the royal way of life.

Violet must accept the ugly realities of her existence... and try to stay alive. But then a forbidden romance erupts between Violet and a handsome gentleman hired as a companion to the Duchess’s petulant niece. Though his presence makes life in the Jewel a bit brighter, the consequences of their illicit relationship will cost them both more than they bargained for.


I was very hesitant because reading this book because many people were comparing it to The Selection, and even though i had ever read those books, I had not heard that many good things. But I decided to pick it up anyway and let my own opinions fly, and I am so glad i did because this book was a great read!

The characters in this book are extremely full of life and you cannot help full root for them and what they are fighting for. Most books like these focus on a love story and although it is forbidden (which made it all the better for me)I still loved that the author focused most of her attentions to friendships and what that meant for the characters. That was a breath of fresh air for me and I loved that aspect of the story.

There are some serious subjects disguised in this book, like human trafficking, slavery, and others that are hidden throughout the book. I loved the way that the author disguised them throughout the book and I seriously cannot wait for more books to see where the author takes them.  I really hope that when people read this book they don't just overlook these aspects of the story a fiction and realize that this happens i our society as well and what that means.

There is a magical element to this story and its characters and I rally thought it was interesting. I just wish that they had gone a little more in depth on the origin of these powers and what they mean for the characters. We see their effects on certain characters and how dangerous they are, but I am really looking forward to seeing more if it and seeing how it effects not only the characters but The Jewel world as well.

I am nor one for cliffhanger because I just hate that they make you want the next book right away and don't answer any questions. But in The Jewel I loved the end because it not only answered some of my questions but the end was a shocker. And I loved that. Was not expecting that reveal and I have to say it makes me really want to continue with this series! If you love great writing, masterful characters and a world that i so well done that you cannot question that it could happen here, then this book is for you!