What I didn’t like was how this book so quickly turned into all about the romance. I’d definitely be interested in reading more about her and the other Duchesses in the rest of the series! Everyone’s motivations were so intriguing and I loved that Violet’s Duchess in particular was such a great not-black-and-white character. I love stories involving convoluted friendships and people trying to backstab their way to the top. I was also really sucked in by the aristocratic politics involved and the characters of the Duchesses (particularly Violet’s Duchess). Although I did particularly enjoy the scenes in which she played the cello. I wish that she’d been developed a little bit more…she seemed to have no other traits besides “misses her family” and “worries about her friend Raven.” Maybe if we’d had more time to get to know her before the Auction, I would’ve felt more of a connection to her. She wasn’t a great main character, but she wasn’t too objectionable. I thought that Violet’s character was fine. Even though the plot was a little familiar, I was still hooked on the story and was wildly flipping the pages to find out how it was all going to end. I was horrified by everything that was happening to Violet while at the same thing being totally fascinated by it all. Right from the first page, I was really engrossed in the story. I have to admit that something about the whole surrogacy slavery thing is intriguing and made me want to read more.

To me, The Jewel reminded me a lot specifically of The Selection series in that it has little-to-no world building and focuses entirely too much on romance, but is actually quite entertaining to read.

This book wasn’t horrible, it just wasn’t much different from other books in this genre already out there. It’s another YA dystopian that recycles the same The Selection/Chemical Garden/Delirium-type plot where girls are basically being forced into something to do with marriage and/or childbirth. *sigh* This book was unsurprisingly disappointing.

The jewel amy ewing series