Review: The Jewel

I received this book for free from FTC: Exchange for honest opinion, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

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.

This is another book that I devoured in one sitting because it has such an interesting premise/storyline, I literally fell in the story.

Plot: This is about a world that takes girls when they are young and grooms them to be surrogate. They must have children for the rich and serve them. I think the idea of just doing that is not only catchy but interesting. I wanted to know what kind of lives that they lead but also what is the drama behind it all. The Jewel call it a privilege but when people are doing that to young women, there is much more to the story. And you know what, I was right. The plot moved at a good pace keeping the reader entertained with the way that the girls are raised, auction off and life in the jewel.

The Jewel: Once the author took me into the Jewel life is not what it seems. The royalty treat their surrogates horribly but well. The give them what they want (big fancy rooms, food, clothes, etc) yet if they put one foot out of line, BAM, punishment. I’m not sure if I’m wording this correctly but the vibe that I got off these royalty really felt wrong. But the jewel is as suspected filled with hypocrisy as well as drama. Much goes own within the royalty that they should have their own tv show called Real Housewives of The Jewel. These royalty do dark and dangerous things to get their way…even kill.

Ending: I think the corruption within the Jewel and the surrogates wanting their freedom, leads to a very good ending. Every chapter has a nice build up to a very dramatic ending that makes me want more. I can’t wait to read the next book and see the development of the surrogates/royalty.

A successful start in a trilogy, I look forward to read more of The Jewel. With plenty of surprise twists and great development of characters, The Jewel is favorable.

I give it 5 BITES!

Happy Reading!