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america_maxon1096's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
theshellbell14's review
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
hollypeckitt's review
4.0
3.5 Stars
This novella made me feel even more angry at the Lone City World.
My admiration for Raven is through the roof right now, she is so strong and shows no fear of the world she has fallen into, no matter how terrified she is.
If you've read The Jewel and the synopsis for The White Rose, you know that
Things aren't going to end well, and this novella is a painful reminder of that.
This novella made me feel even more angry at the Lone City World.
My admiration for Raven is through the roof right now, she is so strong and shows no fear of the world she has fallen into, no matter how terrified she is.
If you've read The Jewel and the synopsis for The White Rose, you know that
Spoiler
Raven is probably going to dieThings aren't going to end well, and this novella is a painful reminder of that.
elpidamelis's review
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved seeing the story through Raven's point of view. It would have definitely been so good if the story was also told through her perspective since we get to see a different side of the Jewel.
bhav's review
2.0
This novella was really short and showed us Raven's story during the time of [b:The Jewel|16068780|The Jewel (The Lone City, #1)|Amy Ewing|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1392220609s/16068780.jpg|21861160] and to be honest, it felt pretty irrelevant. The book starts of with the main character being chosen as a surrogate and arriving at her new home. She then proceeds to disobey every, single thing her new Mistress tells her to do. And, I get why, the whole "rebelling against the system" thing, but it just caused a torturous continuation for her.
We then see a scene we already read where she finally sees Violet (the main character of the series) again, and I did a double-take at this part:
"A woman walks in. She wears a beautiful blue silk dress and has skin and eyes and hair like mine. I could care less about her because Violet is walking into the room behind her."
First, where are the commas in the second sentence and second,
"I could care less"
Seriously, shouldn't an editor be checking this and making sure mistakes like this don't get through?
Anyway, I'll still read the second book in the series but I definitely hope it's better than this story was.
We then see a scene we already read where she finally sees Violet (the main character of the series) again, and I did a double-take at this part:
"A woman walks in. She wears a beautiful blue silk dress and has skin and eyes and hair like mine. I could care less about her because Violet is walking into the room behind her."
First, where are the commas in the second sentence and second,
"I could care less"
Seriously, shouldn't an editor be checking this and making sure mistakes like this don't get through?
Anyway, I'll still read the second book in the series but I definitely hope it's better than this story was.
restyourbones's review
3.0
Poor Raven :(
I wish we would've been able to see past the mourning for the other surrogate though. A lot happens after that.
I wish we would've been able to see past the mourning for the other surrogate though. A lot happens after that.
beckylej's review
5.0
We got a taste of Raven's plight in The Jewel thanks to Violet's very limited observations, but none of us really had a clue what was going on in the House of the Stone. Until now.
Lot 192: Raven Stirling. The Surrogates aren't really told what to expect when they're trained. They know they are to be sold as Surrogates for wealthy families who can't bear their own children. They know they'll be cared for, clothed, fed, and provided with medical services. But they don't know how bad their new owners can be. And Raven finds herself in the grips of one of the worst.
From the beginning, the Countess of the Stone aims to tear Raven down and to push her to the absolute brink. She aims to see what Raven is made of and to mold suit her own goals. And it's all Raven can do to hold onto her self and her name.
Again, we knew Raven had it rough. Violet sees how her friend has shrunk into herself, becoming smaller both physically and mentally.
The Raven we meet in The House of the Stone starts off strong and stubborn, unbreakable and unbendable. We see, even as early as the Auction, that she is insistent about keeping her name and not being reduced to a simple lot number; Raven is more than an item to be sold to the highest bidder.
Unfortunately for Raven it's exactly this strength and stubbornness that catches the attention of the Countess of the Stone. She's a dark creature indeed, a woman with unimaginable goals and a taste for torture. Even by the end, we still don't know exactly what the Countess of the Stone is trying to do. It seems having a child is the least of her goals, something that's reinforced by Raven in The White Rose. I guess we'll have to wait and see if her motives are eventually revealed.
The House of the Stone can be read at pretty much any time right now - before or after The Jewel or even after The White Rose. It's an add on, not totally necessary to the overall arc of the trilogy (at least at this stage) but a further exploration of Raven's character and story.
I do recommend it, though, considering how great of a character Raven is even with the little bit we see of her in The Jewel. She plays a strong part in Violet's development and becomes a bigger character in The White Rose, so getting her background is definitely a nice addition to the series.
Lot 192: Raven Stirling. The Surrogates aren't really told what to expect when they're trained. They know they are to be sold as Surrogates for wealthy families who can't bear their own children. They know they'll be cared for, clothed, fed, and provided with medical services. But they don't know how bad their new owners can be. And Raven finds herself in the grips of one of the worst.
From the beginning, the Countess of the Stone aims to tear Raven down and to push her to the absolute brink. She aims to see what Raven is made of and to mold suit her own goals. And it's all Raven can do to hold onto her self and her name.
Again, we knew Raven had it rough. Violet sees how her friend has shrunk into herself, becoming smaller both physically and mentally.
The Raven we meet in The House of the Stone starts off strong and stubborn, unbreakable and unbendable. We see, even as early as the Auction, that she is insistent about keeping her name and not being reduced to a simple lot number; Raven is more than an item to be sold to the highest bidder.
Unfortunately for Raven it's exactly this strength and stubbornness that catches the attention of the Countess of the Stone. She's a dark creature indeed, a woman with unimaginable goals and a taste for torture. Even by the end, we still don't know exactly what the Countess of the Stone is trying to do. It seems having a child is the least of her goals, something that's reinforced by Raven in The White Rose. I guess we'll have to wait and see if her motives are eventually revealed.
The House of the Stone can be read at pretty much any time right now - before or after The Jewel or even after The White Rose. It's an add on, not totally necessary to the overall arc of the trilogy (at least at this stage) but a further exploration of Raven's character and story.
I do recommend it, though, considering how great of a character Raven is even with the little bit we see of her in The Jewel. She plays a strong part in Violet's development and becomes a bigger character in The White Rose, so getting her background is definitely a nice addition to the series.