Review of "The Jewel"

"Today is my last day as Violet Lasting."

     For a few special girls in Amy Ewing's The Jewel, free will is little more than a memory. Violet Lasting hasn't seen her reflection in four years, since the day she tested positive for the Auguries and was drafted as a royal surrogate. Tomorrow, she will be auctioned off to a sterile Duchess. She'll carry her lady's child. Then, her task complete, she'll retire in style with the rest of the cast-off surrogates. But her mistress has bigger plans than motherhood, plans that include the magical Auguries Violet is so good at. Plans that will destroy what's left of Violet's life and those of the people she loves. When a chance to escape lands in her lap, Violet will have to choose: save her friends and secret boyfriend, or make a break for freedom and learn to fight back? Each option will have consequences. And no matter what she decides, someone is going to lose.

     The Lone City in which this tale plays out is fascinating in its scope. Rings upon rings of walled-in sectors divide the island kingdom into class-based neighborhoods with various production specialties, though workers often commute between them. In the center of it all is the Jewel, where the Exetor, Electress, and the Royal Houses live in elaborate palaces and engage in subtle political wars. Unfortunately, royals cannot bear children, so they purchase surrogates to do that for them. The twist? Surrogates are skilled in the Auguries, which give them the ability to manipulate the Color, Shape, and Growth of anything they choose. Every aspect of this world, from its political system to its magic, is well thought out and firmly constructed, breathing life into what would otherwise be just another dystopia.

     Even though the story is centered around Violet, she is not alone in the world of the surrogates. Her lady-in-waiting, Annabelle, is a kind, supportive friend who isn't supposed to know Violet's name. Raven, a surrogate from the training compound who happens to be Violet's best friend, is a spirited girl with a will of iron and a heart of gold. Then there's Ash, the handsome companion hired to straighten out the Duchess's wayward niece. While their relationship falls squarely under the insta-love category, the bond between Violet and Ash is a strong one that plays a pivotal role in the plot. On the flip side is the Duchess herself, a fearsome woman whose mood is as unpredictable as royal politics. Even as hints at a larger conflict begin to reveal themselves, she possesses an aura of menace that pins the plot down and snarls, no, you may not steer off track. It's impressive.

     Over the course of the novel, very few things show up that justify forewarning. Foul language is nonexistent. Violet and her fellow surrogates are auctioned off to the wealthiest people in the Lone City, who treat them as property and take them out and about to show them off. The Duchess who buys Violet deprives her of her name and doles out physical punishments for disobedience. None of this is graphic; however, every once in a while surrogates are attached to leashes. Violet falls in love with a hired companion soon after they meet, and eagerly steps up their relationship as quickly as she can--though that last bit is skimmed over and far from detailed. At one point, a surrogate is killed to send a message. The tension is low and the pacing slow, so readers who dislike edge-of-one's-seat thrillers should find this story more appealing.

     I would recommend this book to teens looking for a story of quiet rebellion set in a beautifully textured world where forced surrogacy is just as everyday as magic. Violet and her friends are scattered across the Lone City, a land woven in equal parts from wonder and horror, and will have to make sacrifices simply to survive. The antagonist is vicious and wonderfully wicked, with a commanding presence that sends chills up one's spine. Unfortunately, the insta-love between Ash and Violet brings the greatness down a couple of notches, because while it contributes to the story it is simply not believable. There's also the slow pacing and relatively low tension to consider, although this is the start of a series that may end up with plenty to spare. Overall, Amy Ewing did a great job with The Jewel, which deserves three stars.