Series
Red Queen
Red Queen Trilogy: Book One
Written by Victoria Aveyard
Fantasy, Dystopian
Expected Publication February 10th 2014
400 Pages
Thank you to Hachette Australia
This is a world divided by blood. Red or silver.The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen year old Red girl from the poverty stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.Fearful of Mare's potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance. Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart...
Written by Vanessa Garden
Check out my review of Captivate
Fantasy, Romance
Published December 1st 2014
288 Pages
Thank you to Harlequin Teen Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★☆
★★★☆
When Miranda Sun returns to Marin on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, this time of her own free will, she quickly learns that her worst fears have been realised. The glittering underwater city is not as she had left it, nor too is Marko, the young king who has dominated her thoughts and heart for the last twelve months since leaving Marin.Miranda, however, has not made the journey to Marin alone, and now must contend with not only Marko’s evil brother Damir but more surprisingly her sister Lauren who has an agenda of her own. Marko’s power begins to wane and with cracks beginning to show in the domed Utopian city, and veiled danger lurking everywhere, she quickly learns that in this dazzling city full of beautiful people she can trust no one but herself.If Miranda wants to survive, she must decide between the hardened sensibilities in her head and the hungers of her heart. Will her decision cause more heartache or can she help to save Marko’s throne?
It's been twelve months since Miranda was taken from the surface and now she's back on dry land, living a life that no longer feels her own. But as her eighteenth birthday approaches, Miranda has a decision to make, stay with her grandparents and sister Lauren, or return to Marin. But when she returns with Marko to the underwater kingdom, she wasn't prepared for the emotional distance the young King has put between them. Tension within the castle is palpable, Damir is alive if only for the sake of Sylvia, Marko's sister and the woman the raised him as her own. Guard and Marko's most trusted friend Robbie has left the castle after the showdown with Sylvia and Marko will stop at nothing to protect his sister. But Miranda knows she can't be trusted.
But Marco refuses to listen, and has a secret of his own he seems desperate to hide. Loyalties will be tested the King tries to hold onto his reign. It's more than Miranda's life now at stake as the battle to lead Marin into a new future emerges.
But Marco refuses to listen, and has a secret of his own he seems desperate to hide. Loyalties will be tested the King tries to hold onto his reign. It's more than Miranda's life now at stake as the battle to lead Marin into a new future emerges.
My Thoughts
Impulse begins almost twelve months after Miranda has returned to the surface, and her thoughts soon return to her promise to Marko, to return to Marin on her eighteenth birthday. Torn between not wanting to leave her grandparents, now the only parents she knows and living with Marko, calling the underwater kingdom home. But with sister Lauren ensuring their safety, it's time for Miranda to take a chance on the king that was once her reluctant captor. In Marin, the women are unable to conceive, and the hope of the citizens rest upon Miranda and the King to carry Marin into the next generation.
Twin siblings Sylvia and Damir cannot be trusted, and Miranda knows all too well. But loyalty to Sylvia continues to cloud Marko's judgement and refuses to listen to Miranda's pleas, but allows her concerns to drive a wedge between them. Where I warmed to Marko in Captivate, in Impulse he was downright cold and unforgiving. Miranda has given up her life, her family and seeing the sun for a life underwater and it seems she isn't wanted. Rumours of other women entertaining Marko in Miranda's absence are rife throughout the palace, but Miranda's biggest issue is now Lauren, demanding to live within Marin as well. Lauren's character set me on edge. Her endless flirting with any male that moved, she demands to be the center of attention even though it's finally Miranda's time to shine.
Without a doubt my favourite character from both captivate and Impulse is Robbie. The former guard and most trusted friend of the King. He's incredibly lovely and a pleasure to read. The romance, or lack thereof was actually more engaging and realistic, no instant and awkward declarations of love but rather frustrating, slow burning and delicious. As indecisive as I find myself about Miranda, I admire her fire and ability to uphold morals, even at the sake of her own happiness. She's adamant that Sylvia is working against Marko and is willing to risk her tentative relationship to ensure Marko's safety.
I absolutely adore the world Vanessa Garden has created, a complex underwater world that breathes life into the characters. Not as strong as Captivate, but Impulse is a worthy sequel that focuses on character development, surprising revelations and the politics of a brewing revolution. Looking forward to the series finale and seeing what becomes of Marin and the two young lovers.
Contains mild spoilers for Pawn
Captive
The Blackcoat Rebellion: Book Two
Written by Aimée Carter
Check out my review for Pawn
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Published December 2014
Thank you to Harlequin Teen Australia
For the past two months, Kitty Doe’s life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister’s niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she’s accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear. Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she’ll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in, but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?
The Sea of Monsters
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: Book Two
Check out my review of The Lightning Thief
Written by Rick Riordan
Fantasy, Mythology
Published January 1st 2006
265 Pages
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After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson finds his seventh grade school year unnervingly quiet. But things don't stay quiet for long. Percy soon discovers that the magical borders which protect Half Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters.
To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. But rescuing Grover isn't the only only monumental task that Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson must tackle. If they don't retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes by the end of the summer, Camp Half Blood will be destroyed.
Slip
Slip: Book One
Slip: Book One
Written by David Estes
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Published June 16th 2014
Thank you to David Estes and Lola's Blog Tours
Someone must die before another can be born...
As sea levels rise and livable landmasses shrink, the Reorganized United States of America has instituted population control measures to ensure there are sufficient resources and food to sustain the growing population. Birth authorization must be paid for and obtained prior to having a child. Someone must die before another can be born, keeping the country in a population neutral position at what experts consider to be the optimal population. The new laws are enforced by a ruthless government organization known as Pop Con, responsible for terminating any children resulting from unauthorized births, and any illegals who manage to survive past their second birthday, at which point they are designated a national security threat and given the name Slip.
But what if one child slipped through the cracks? What if someone knew all the loopholes and how to exploit them? Would it change anything? Would the delicate resource balance be thrown into a tailspin, threatening the lives of everyone?
And how far would the government go to find and terminate the Slip?
In a gripping story of a family torn apart by a single choice, Slip is a reminder of the sanctity of a single life and the value of the lives we so often take for granted.
Contains mild spoilers for The Winner's Curse
The Winner's Crime
The Winner's Trilogy: Book Two
The Winner's Curse Review
The Winner's Curse Review
Written by Marie Rutkoski
Fantasy, Dystopian
Expected Publication March 1st 2015
368 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
Add to Goodreads
Cover not final
Cover not final
Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration, balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust...While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.
Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's trilogy.
Science Fiction, Romance
Published November 19th 2014
400 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin
Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. Terraforming corporations make their fortune by recruiting colonists to make the inhospitable planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.Desperate for any advantage in a bloody and unrelentingly war, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths. He returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape the rebel base together, caught between two
Eighteen year old Jubilee Chase is an urban warrior amongst the soldiers stationed on Avon, when Flynn Cormas, leader of the Fianna takes her hostage after crossing paths. Flynn is the reluctant leader of the rebels, a group fighting for independence against the forces stationed on their colony. The rebels are fighting for their planet, and the promise of a better existence for generations to come. A promise Terra Dyn has yet to deliver. Avon should have been a living, thriving destination for families, and Flynn is determined to discover why it's not.
Lee and Flynn are both now on the run, he is unfit to lead the rebels who are now seeking retribution, and she now deemed a rebel sympathiser. Separately, they are just two fighting for what they've always been taught to believe in, but together they will change the world.
Accepting that her life is now in the hands of a rebel, it's only a matter of time before Lee is just another causality of war. But Flynn isn't the savage rebel Lee assumed him to be. In the caves of their community, Flynn is waging his own battle against one of their own for leadership. The ceasefire between both parties relies on Flynn seeking the truth. Why do soldiers seemingly become suicidal, why the lights and whispers guide them through uncharted terrain and why he finds himself in an alliance with a soldier and turning his back on the Fianna.'Clear skies, cousin.' Good luck, he means. There are never clear skies on Avon, no blue, no stars. But we don't give up hope, and we use those words to remind ourselves. Clear skies will come, one day.
Lee and Flynn are both now on the run, he is unfit to lead the rebels who are now seeking retribution, and she now deemed a rebel sympathiser. Separately, they are just two fighting for what they've always been taught to believe in, but together they will change the world.
Kelly's Thoughts
Without a doubt, These Broken Stars was one of my favourite reads of last year, and This Shattered World by far exceeded it's predecessor. Told in dual points of view, eighteen year old Jubilee Chase is a prodigy and a female leader among men. She's seen squadrons come and go on Avon, to avoid The Fury, a condition that ultimately sends soldiers to an early death. While the planet undergoes the lengthy transformation, Lee and her barracks are employed to maintain the peace, often with a heavy hand. Flynn leads a peaceful rebellion, known simply as the Fianna, playing homage to Celtic warriors throughout history.
Jubilee is feisty, stoic and an incredible heroine. She's the ultimate soldier, but fueled by revenge against those who took her parents lives. Unbeknownst to Lee, Flynn also shares a similar fate. His sister lead the rebellion and fell at the hands of the soldiers, or Trodaire as they're known. So what seemingly begins as an attraction and suspicious curiosity across a crowded bar, soon becomes a personal battle of survival. Both Lee and Flynn are more similar than either would care to admit. But when they both begin to question the whispers and secrets that surround Avon, a tentative relationship blooms amidst the volatile world they both share.
Both Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are incredible authors, their character development and world building is immaculate and understand how to construct a well developed and phenomenal storyline. From the very first chapter, I was utterly hooked. The elements of purple prose scattered through is breathtaking. Once again, they've created another fast paced, action packed and passionate storyline that readers will completely immerse themselves in. This is simply a case of book love and these girls can do no wrong. One of the best modern day young adult series. Ever.
But Lee and Flynn are not without allies, and fans of the series will enjoy when These Broken Stars, This Night So Dark and This Shattered World collide.This boy, the one who believes I'm not what they say I am, what I believed I was. A Soldier without a soul, a girl with no heart to break. He's the only one who's proved me wrong.
Both Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner are incredible authors, their character development and world building is immaculate and understand how to construct a well developed and phenomenal storyline. From the very first chapter, I was utterly hooked. The elements of purple prose scattered through is breathtaking. Once again, they've created another fast paced, action packed and passionate storyline that readers will completely immerse themselves in. This is simply a case of book love and these girls can do no wrong. One of the best modern day young adult series. Ever.
Contains spoilers for book one
Crash Twinmaker Book Two
Written by Sean Williams
Science Fiction, Dystopian
Published November 2014
400 Pages
Thanks to Allen and Unwin
Add to Goodreads
★★★
Published November 2014
400 Pages
Thanks to Allen and Unwin
Add to Goodreads
★★★
Where is Q?
Clair and Jesse have barely been reunited when the world is plunged into its biggest crisis since the Water Wars. The D Mat network is broken. The world has ground to a halt. People are trapped, injured, dying. It’s the end of the world as Clair knows it, and it’s partly her fault. 'The girl who killed D Mat' is enlisted to track down her missing friend Q, the rogue AI who repeatedly saved Clair’s life. Q is the key to fixing the system, but she isn’t responding to calls for help, and even if she did... Can she be trusted?
Targeted by dupes, abandoned by her friends, caught in a web of lies that strike at the very essence of who she is, Clair finds powerful allies in RADICAL, secretive activists who are the polar opposite of anti D Mat terrorist group WHOLE. However, if she helps them find Q, will she be inadvertently trapping her friend in a life of servitude, or worse, sending her to an early death by erasure?
Caught between pro and anti D Mat philosophies, in a world on the brink of all out war, Clair must decide where she stands, and who she stands with, at the end.
The world has come to a halt. After Clair had been captured by Wallace and destroyed the D Mat system, in which travel was painless and instantaneous, the world is demanding justice. But the D Mat technology was used to map our minds, our physique in order to create another, less animated version of ourselves. Simply known as Dupes, they are gathering en masse and have Clair in their sights. Ant Wallace who created the breakthrough technology is dead, but the Dupes continue to thrive and multiply. Clair's mission was to put an end to the atrocities of Improvement, a system created to heal the wounded, ill and dying, instead was used to change your appearance but also to allow the takeover of unwilling bodies, original and Dupes alike. When an entire world is reliant on technology to fabricate their food, clothing and all remain connected to the Air network, the population is in a panic and all fingers are pointed firmly at Clair.
With the technology Abstainer Jesse as her only ally, she has no choice but to seek refuge alongside the Peacekeepers, a non violent policing organisation. They too demand answers, but it seems the authorities and gathering Dupes all want to find Q, the newly formed girl that has brought the world to it's knees. But Q has gone to ground, the genius hacker AI and programmer feeling betrayed by Clair, and rightly so. But the Dupes are determined to follow orders, they will stop the impending war on the condition that Clair surrenders, a notion her new team of 'Clair Bears' won't entertain.
The Dupes are aggressive, strategic and hungry for blood. After their location discovered, the group have no option but to seek refuge with RADICAL, an independent group that segregate themselves in a bid to maintain their freedom. But when the Dupes track Clair down on an isolated base in Antarctica, it soon becomes apparent that they have a traitor in their ranks... This isn't a fight for supremacy, it's a battle to save the world.
The Twinmaker series is a intricate science fiction future, with a rebellion against technology and a strong social message. Crash begins moments after Jump, with Clair now in the custody of the Peacekeepers and the world is in turmoil. Clair is beginning to realise the full extent of her actions, and sees the need to make rational decisions, the fate of the world may just depend on what path Clair chooses next. In Crash, I felt a compassion for Clair that I couldn't connect with in the previous novel, waking up knowing that each day may be her last. She isn't quite sure who to trust and her every move is being watched by millions around the world who are flooding the Air network with stories, gossip and lies. Her only ally is Jesse, who is a proud Abstainer. He refuses to use any form of technology or modern day conveniences, rather opting for an organic lifestyle. Clair needs to restore the technological dependent society. while Jesse believes that the world will adapt.Kelly's Thoughts
Once again, romance isn't the focal point of the storyline. Where character development and world building were at the forefront in Jump, Crash needed to more than the deliberating and devising by characters to lift the storyline and progress in Jesse and Clair's relationship. It wasn't until after the first few chapters, where I was able to understand where Crash was headed. In the beginning, I felt disconnected to both the characters and storyline and only minor segments of book one were scattered throughout. With a lengthy wait between each book in the series, I needed a little more to be able to immerse myself from the first few pages, perhaps a prologue would have sufficed.
More science fiction than dystopian, I really enjoyed the inclusion of the Dupes, where characters were artificially brought back to life and in mass. The only way to stop the production of their creation, is to destroy the patterns stolen from the use of the D Mat technology. But the majority of the storyline was spent speculating about the mysterious AI dubbed Q, and deliberating how to destroy the Dupes while fleeing to their next relatively safe location. Sadly it became a little too repetitive.
The most stunning aspect of the Twinmaker series is the social and moral questions it raises. How Improvement was used to alter your physical appearance, being able to fabricate not just inanimate objects but also another version of yourself. The Air is a widely used social media superhighway, that isn't just a modern convenience but a way of life. Anyone doubting it's application, such as the Abstainers or RADICAL are publicly mocked for their simple beliefs. Society has already proven that cloning is already possible, but as a whole, we've already reached the point where we rely heavily on technology and the Twinmaker series emphasises how dependent we all are.
Although I was a little disappointed at the lack of development in Crash, the stunning and surprising climax has me needing to know where Sean Williams will end the series. I'm looking forward to Fall, the final installment in the Twinmaker series.The Final Verdict
Check out my review for Book One
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Published October 1st 2014
288 Pages
Thank you to Allen and Unwin Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★★☆
★★★★☆
It was difficult to know when nightmares ended and the waking world began.
Pan is still struggling to distinguish between her dreams and reality. When she wakes in the Infirmary her mind replays the sight of Nate running along the shoreline and the way his body froze and then flopped after he was shot. But her memories hold more questions than answers and she doesn't know who to trust.
When she forms an unlikely alliance with Jen to try to make sense of everyone's haunting similar memories and the conflicting information about The School, she finds herself with unexpected enemies.
Pan and Jen are determined to seek the truth, no matter what rules they must break or how terrible the danger they face. But can they even trust each other?
Intuition. Secrets. Truth. Courage. Action. Survival.
Pandora Jones now finds herself back at The School, the teen community where they are prepared to ensure humanity survives in the new world. A virus spread across the globe, humanity falling victim to the flu like symptoms. Bodies lined the streets as the virus spread throughout communities, with teen survivors taken to a former military barracks now housing The School. But Pandora has seen outside the walled compound and knows that The School isn't what it seems.
Pandora needs proof and enlists the help of her hardened and snarky team mate Jen. The two girls devise a plan to explore the village on the other side of the compound. What the girls discover could change their lives forever. When they return to The School, the rumours are rife. Pandora is painted as a delusional teen, with her new sidekick supposedly along for the thrill ride. Their team is in ruins, and the two girls find that sneaking around and keeping secrets has only segregated them from the group. They need to escape, but with the compound on lock down and the girls being watched, will they make it past the wall to see what's left of the world? Their lives might just depend on it.
Unlike Admission, Deception doesn't focus on romance but rather exploring new friendships and alliances. There is also the inclusion of a new character, who is bound to spark a few interests, quite literally. After the group returned from their deadly expedition, I assumed that the experience would have strengthened the group, but I was surprised that it seemed to divide the alliance and the girls keeping their reconnaissance mission a secret from the others certainly didn't help. I thoroughly enjoyed Admission, but was able to completely immerse myself in Deception and it kept me enthralled throughout.
I'm so excited seeing the direction Australian Young Adult is headed, no longer is it subjected to contemporaries but now we have incredible post apocalyptic and dystopians with Barry Jonsberg leading the charge. His style of writing is incredibly laid back, simplistic and allows reader to fully immerse themselves in the storyline without large blocks of mindless information or purple prose. I loved Deception, it was an intelligent read and once again Jonsberg leaves the reader on a tenterhooks with another cliffhanger, even more explosive that the last. Book three in the Pandora Jones series, Reckoning, is no doubt going to be epic.
Pandora Jones: Deception completely surprised me, it was engaging, enthralling and took me on a thrill ride while exploring new friendships and alliances. It focuses on Pandora and Jen, two girls who formally held a strong dislike for one another and now a friendship is on the verge of blooming. Jennifer has quickly become my favourite character, she's incredibly tough, sassy and sarcastic. In Deception, we see her befriend Pandora for the sake of the adventure of exploring outside the compound, but she begins to allow Pandora to see her softer side, that is just as resilient. I really enjoyed reading the banter between both characters and their friendship blossoming.Kelly's Thoughts
Unlike Admission, Deception doesn't focus on romance but rather exploring new friendships and alliances. There is also the inclusion of a new character, who is bound to spark a few interests, quite literally. After the group returned from their deadly expedition, I assumed that the experience would have strengthened the group, but I was surprised that it seemed to divide the alliance and the girls keeping their reconnaissance mission a secret from the others certainly didn't help. I thoroughly enjoyed Admission, but was able to completely immerse myself in Deception and it kept me enthralled throughout.
I'm so excited seeing the direction Australian Young Adult is headed, no longer is it subjected to contemporaries but now we have incredible post apocalyptic and dystopians with Barry Jonsberg leading the charge. His style of writing is incredibly laid back, simplistic and allows reader to fully immerse themselves in the storyline without large blocks of mindless information or purple prose. I loved Deception, it was an intelligent read and once again Jonsberg leaves the reader on a tenterhooks with another cliffhanger, even more explosive that the last. Book three in the Pandora Jones series, Reckoning, is no doubt going to be epic.
A Jack Mason Adventure Book Two
Written by Darrell Pitt
Middle Grade, Steam Punk
Published June 25th 2014
256 Pages
Thank you to Text Publishing
Add to Goodreads
★★★☆
★★★☆
Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle return for their next action-packed adventure.
When the world's deadliest assassin, the Chameleon, escapes from prison, Jack begins his most dangerous investigation yet.
With only the scantest of clues, the team travels from London to New York, a bustling metropolis filled with airships, steam cars and exciting new ideas.
Here they uncover a terrible plot that threatens the president's life and brings the nation to the brink of civil war. Can Jack track down the Chameleon in time? And just what is the mysterious whip of fire that has the power to wreak destruction across the world?
The Infinite Sea (The Fifth Wave: Book Two)
Written by Rick Yancey
Post Apocalyptic, Science Fiction
Published September 16th 2014
480 Pages
Thank you to Penguin Teen Australia
Add to Goodreads
How do you rid the Earth of seven billion humans? Rid the humans of their humanity.
Surviving the first four waves was nearly impossible. Now Cassie Sullivan finds herself in a new world, a world in which the fundamental trust that binds us together is gone. As the 5th Wave rolls across the landscape, Cassie, Ben, and Ringer are forced to confront the Others' ultimate goal: The extermination of the human race.
Cassie and her friends haven’t seen the depths to which the Others will sink, nor have the Others seen the heights to which humanity will rise, in the ultimate battle between life and death, hope and despair, love and hate.
The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner: Book One)
Written by James Dashner
Dystopian, Science Fiction
Movie Edition published September 2014
371 Pages
Thank you to Scholastic Australia
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade, a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up, the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Written by Amy Ewing
Fantasy, Dystopian, Romance
Published September 4th 2014
368 Pages
Thank you to Walker Books Australia
Add to Goodreads
★★★☆
Violet Lasting is no longer a human being. Tomorrow she becomes Lot 197, auctioned to the highest royal bidder in the Jewel of the Lone City. Tomorrow she becomes the Surrogate of the House of the Lake, her sole purpose to produce a healthy heir for the Duchess. Imprisoned in the opulent cage of the palace, Violet learns the brutal ways of the Jewel, where the royal women compete to secure their bloodline and the surrogates are treated as disposable commodities.As the auction is set to begin, this will be her last day known as Violet, sixteen years old and being sold as a surrogate into the Jewel, the heart of the city where the royalty and wealthy call home. She will simply be known as lot 197 where no one will know her name, or care enough to ask. She's bought at auction, never to see her family or best friend Raven again. Plucked from near poverty in the Marsh, surrogates are promised a life of luxury, an education, an abundance of material possessions and never needing to lift a finger. But what the girls will never have is freedom. They are simply there to carry and birth a child for their owner, then discarded to a holding center to live out their days.
Destined to carry the child of a woman she despises, Violet enters a living death of captivity, until she sets eyes on Ash Lockwood, the royal Companion. Compelled towards each other by a reckless, clandestine passion, Violet and Ash dance like puppets in a deadly game of court politics, until they become each other’s jeopardy, and salvation.
Violet is one of the drawcards of this years auction, not only for her unusual eyes in which she was named after, but her ability to manipulate objects through the use of her Augury, a magical ability, sees her sold for an impressive six million diamantes to the Duchess of The Lake. Falling more on the side of cruelty, the Duchess has plans for her new surrogate and yearns for a daughter of her own. All Violet needs to do is comply and with her own chamber maid, it isn't long until she begins to see her position is of a prisoner in a lavish palace.
With the cruel Duchess and Doctor tending her, the Duchess' drunken son and malicious niece in residence, Violet meets Ash, a companion to the Duchess' niece, and an instant attraction forms. Both she and Ash have both been born into a life of servitude and understand one another. But as a dangerous relationship begins to bloom, Violet realises her life is in danger and her only chance at survival is to escape. The royal families are feuding, surrogates are mysteriously dying and Violet will be damned if she's next.
The Jewel was a mixture of the lavish lifestyle of The Hunger Games and the forbidden romance of The Selection. It blended a dystopian world of oppression and mixed in a touch of fantasy, where the surrogate girls displayed powers known as Auguries.Kelly's thoughts
The girls are ranked at auction depending on their results during the Augury testing. The Duchess has purchased Violet for a very specific purpose, the first Augury can influence skin, hair and eye colour. The second, physical shape, and the third being growth. She wants a perfect daughter, and quickly. Reminicent of The Selection, Violet's only friend within the Jewel is her lady in waiting, the mute Annabelle and Lucien, who is eerily similar to Cinna in The Hunger Games. Her life is seemingly simply, obey the Duchess and she shall be rewarded, otherwise face the consequences. Although Violet and best friend Raven begin as scared but somewhat defiant young women, being owned wears their rebellion down. While Violet is treated to new dresses, lavish balls and the freedom to explore her new home, Raven is being mistreated by her new owner and Violet is helpless as she watches the light fade from her Raven's eyes.Once to see it as it is. Twice to see it in your mind. Thrice to bend it to your will.
The appearance of instant love wasn't unexpected, but Violet's choice of love interest was. It seems that the trend in young adult is the main character gravitating towards the rich and handsome potential suitor and was pleased to see that this wasn't the case. The instant love is more of a tentative friendship and physical companionship, and declarations of feelings are made a little too prematurely for my liking. Regardless, the romance wasn't overpowering and felt more like two teens navigating awkwardly around one another for the fear of being discovered.
One aspect that struck me was the men. They all take a back seat to strong, although malicious women. They create the laws, challenge and scheme to destroy one another, while husbands retreat to nurse their drinks and I enjoyed the role reversal. The fantasy element comes in the form of the Auguries, which are powers that only surrogates hold. An explanation of what the Auguries are isn't until almost half way through the book, but with no explanation of how they were obtained and whether or not that's how potential surrogates are selected, which I'm hoping will be rectified in the next book in the series.
Overall, it was incredibly entertaining and almost impossible to put down. It ends in an enormous cliffhanger, where the storyline takes a stunning turn that I didn't see coming. It was beautifully written, the storyline flowing effortlessly, and I devoured The Jewel in a matter of a few short hours. If you enjoyed The Selection, you'll fall in love with The Jewel. I'm excited to see where debut author Amy Ewing takes this series next.
Interview with Amy Ewing
The Jewel is your debut novel, how did you find the experience overall from the storyline taking shape to being published?
It was a very long, very crazy ride. I sold The Jewel in May 2012. It went through about four major revisions, and there were definitely moments of despair, but in the end I am just so proud of the final result. It’s strange to live with something in private for so long and then suddenly, it’s out there in the world for anyone to read. I think this experience has taught me to have patience, or at least, made me understand I need to find some. Publishing is full of long lulls of nothing happening and then intense periods of revising. But I have an amazing editor and agent who helped guide me through this process, both the business side and the creative side. And I have a terrific group of author friends who serve as beta readers and also keep me sane on a daily basis.
With being likened to such well loved novels as The Hunger Games and The selection, what was the inspiration behind the idea of The Jewel, and do you see the comparisons as a positive reinforcement of your work?
Well, I am certainly flattered by those comparisons! I try not to think about comp titles when I’m working because at the end of the day it’s my story, and I have to love it and tell it as best I can. But obviously I would be thrilled if The Jewel appealed to readers of both those titles!I got the idea for The Jewel while watching the movie Taken, weird, I know. There’s a scene where Liam Neeson’s daughter (the one who gets taken) is paraded onto a stage and bid on by wealthy men. And I thought to myself, "What if it was women buying this girl, instead of men?" And that’s how the Auction came to life.
The surrogates could be seen as glorified slaves, being sold into a life only to birth a child. How did the idea come about?
I think once the Auction was formed in my head, it just flowed naturally. I wanted to use the surrogates to explore the concept of having ownership over your own body and how important that is. These girls are treated as property, as walking wombs. I hope the readers will find this idea as offensive as I do.
Violet begins her story as a meek and scared girl, in her shoes, what do you see as the turning point behind her rebellion?
I think it’s a combination of factors. Lucien, obviously, is the one who puts the idea in her head of escape. Meeting Ash gives Violet the opportunity to make a choice for herself, for pretty much the first time in her life. I think that shapes her outlook considerably. And then she sees Raven, her best friend, losing her mind at the hands of an evil woman. Violet always looked to Raven as the strong one, so I think seeing her weakened makes Violet step up and find courage she never knew she had.
Could you explain to us a little how the unique concept of the Auguries came about, and what each Augury represents?
There are three Auguries, Color, Shape, and Growth. Each one can affect different aspects of the child these girls are meant to carry. The surrogates can also affect the environment around them, changing the color or shape of an object, or making plants grow at will.I knew I wanted there to be magic in this world, but I hadn’t nailed down the Auguries until my thesis semester of graduate school. My advisor and I talked a lot about what the magic should be, and eventually we came up with the idea of the Auguries. The word augury means omen, so it felt fitting to use, as these girl can foreshadow a child’s hair color or eye color, etc.
The Jewel is incredibly entertaining, with the storyline peaking just before leaving readers with the ultimate cliffhanger. How have readers received the ending thus far?
Oh, I have made so many people mad at me! Particularly on Twitter. I get a lot of tweets that are essentially saying, "How could you do this to me?" I love the ending, and I love that I was able to keep it as the cliffhanger it is. And hopefully it will keep people wanting more of Violet’s story!
What can readers expect from the next in the series, which is currently untitled?
At this point, all I can say is that readers will get to explore more of the Lone City and meet some fun new characters. The second book actually does have a title, but my lips are sealed on that until further notice!
Both released covers for The Jewel are absolutely stunning. Did you have a hand in the design process?
I love my covers. I feel so lucky because as an author, you have zero say in what goes on the cover of your book. It’s another one of those publishing things that you learn during the process. But I am just over the moon with both designs, and feel they both express the book so well.
When you're not writing, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I love to cook. And I play guitar and write my own songs. But probably my favourite thing to do is watch old episodes of The Vampire Diaries with my best friend over a glass of wine.
And lastly, what can we expect next from Amy Ewing?
I am currently in revisions on the second book, and then I imagine it will be straight into book three! But I’m also working on a collaboration with a fellow author (my first ever attempt at collaborating), so hopefully there will be something brand new on the horizon as well.
Follow the tour
Thursday, September 18th Diva Book Nerd
Friday, September 19th Inside My Worlds
Saturday, September 20th Books for a Delicate Eternity
Sunday, September 21st Thoughts by J
Monday, September 22nd Kids Book Review
Tuesday, September 23rd Striking Keys
Wednesday, September 24th Genie in a Book
Thursday, September 25th Fictional Thoughts
Friday, September 26th Book Much
Friday, September 19th Inside My Worlds
Saturday, September 20th Books for a Delicate Eternity
Sunday, September 21st Thoughts by J
Monday, September 22nd Kids Book Review
Tuesday, September 23rd Striking Keys
Wednesday, September 24th Genie in a Book
Thursday, September 25th Fictional Thoughts
Friday, September 26th Book Much
Isla and the Happily Ever After
(Anna and the French Kiss: Book Three)
Written by Stephanie Perkins
Contemporary, Romance
Published August 14th 2014
352 Pages
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily ever afters aren’t always forever.Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
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