The Jewel (Lone City#1) by Amy Ewing

The Jewel (Lone City#1) by Amy Ewing

Release Date: September 2, 2014

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary:  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.

My Thoughts:  I wasn’t sure what to think of this one at first. It reminded me a little bit of The Selection (which I loved).

We are introduced to Violet (aka #197) who is entered into the Surrogacy auction. Girls have been chosen to become surrogates. They don’t have too much choice in the matter. Royally can’t seem to reproduce the right way so Surrogates are bought and paid for to produce children for them. A little weird, right? And a little interesting too!

Well, Violet goes to a lady who's called the Duchess Of The Lake. She doesn’t seem so bad, compared to some of the other ones. But she still disgusted me at times. I did not like the use of the leash. I about puked when that scene happened. It really made me mad! I liked seeing Violet’s friends and I really liked her lady maid (not sure what to call her).  She is the one who helped her get ready for things. It seems as though Violet also became her friend. She was also a mute.

Violet meets a boy named Ash. Of course Ash isn’t supposed to be interested in Violet. He’s a companion. And not a companion for her! At times, I really liked Ash but at other times, he really annoyed me. I’m still debating if I really “loved” him. I also liked her other friend as well. But he was just that, a friend.

Well, Violet gets sucked into a plan to get out of the place, to run away and be safe from everything. That is where it started getting interesting!!! I want to know more!

I really liked this one but it was just a set up for things to come so I don’t feel like very much happened. Or at least fast enough. Things started getting interesting towards the end of the book of course.

I liked Violet and the other characters, I liked the plot, and I want to know what happens next.

And of course that ending, I was very surprised to see that person on the very last pages. I was like, WHAT!!!! Oh My!

Overall: I’ll be looking forward to reading the next one when it comes out! I have to know what happens next!

Cover:  Like it!! Love her pretty dress!!! And love how she is sitting!

What I’d Give It: