Scan barcode
stephbrittoleal's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.25
This book is just some pretty dystopia ripoff of so many of other dystopian YAs, except it's so dumb it's insulting. It's dumb and it would burn The Handmaid's tale with one look with all "oh, he owns me but we are in love so it's okay! Our love will revolutionize the world".... No. It won't. I wish you were sold to some gross older man who would abuse you without romance. This.... This is such an insult, I can't. If you could give negative stars, I would.
oldcrow1111's review against another edition
5.0
This series was such a delightful surprise. I picked it up on a whim, a bit disconcerted by the princess story style covers but intrigued by the connections to Handmaid’s Tale. The Jewel kept me interested and engaged, and while it is no great work of literature, it dealt with some important issues and stuck with me.
roxnn2000's review against another edition
2.0
Perhaps reading this right after finishing the Hunger Games series was not the right choice as several similarities between the two seem to show up, as well as between this and The Selection series.
Violet is marked to be a surrogate, taken from her family and has been separated from them for 4 years. Trained to work for royalty in the Jewel, the heart of the Lone City, where Violet will be forced to carry and give birth to a child for the royal that will purchase her at auction and where she will never see her family again. Once in the Jewel, Violet finds that things are much more dangerous for her than she ever thought.
The similarities to the Hunger Games is obvious. Panem is broken into 12 districts that each do a specific task for the country, the Lone City is broken into 5 circles, each labeled by what their industry is. Katniss and Violet are both from the farthest area from the heart of the country, both have specific skill sets that make them extraordinary in the eyes of others (Katniss is proficient in archery and Violet has a perfect score in Growth Augury and high scores in Color and Shape). Both become friends with a male who makes them up for their individual needs (Katniss had Cinna for the Hunger Games build-up and events and Violet had Lucien for the Auction). There is even a planned rebellion of sorts that it seems Violet will play a role in and both Katniss and Violet have a habit of keeping secrets from their love interests.
The similarities to The Selection are also obvious. The cover is very similar to the The Selection with a pretty girl in a very pretty dress. Both America and Violet are separated by their families by a royal intervention and both become very close to the people that they go through the experience with and who work with them. America and Violet also have a unique physical aspect with America's red hair and Violet's violet eyes. We also have a romance that is considered dangerous to both involved, America and Aspen and Violet and Ash. We even have the love interest playing romance with another woman, Maxon with the other girls in the Selection and Ash with Carnelian.
I'm not saying that these similarities are bad or that they take away from the overall story. The idea that royalty is forced to use surrogates because years of inbreeding have made it impossible for them to have their own children without mental or physical deformities is something different. The fact that the main character is worried and terrified of being pregnant with another woman's child is also something that we don't really see a lot of in other similar stories. Rebellions and children forced to grow up faster because of wartime we do see a lot of, but this particular worry about going through pregnancy and never having children of your own is not. It adds a new level to the story that I enjoy.
The same with the character of Ash and his role in the Jewel. Ash is a companion, someone who is bought and sold to basically be arm candy for young rich girls who aren't engaged yet which also has it's darker undertones. Like the Hunger Games, we are seeing teenagers placed in situations that we wouldn't expect. Although they aren't being forced to killing each other in this story, their stakes are just as high.
As a surrogate, Violet is considered important but given no more consideration than one would a piece of furniture in the room. They are treated as pets and are forced to conform to what their mistresses want. Her importance is only what she can give her mistress and who she is and what she feels isn't as important. Even what she can do in terms of special skills is considered to be the mistress' achievements and not Violet's. Most of the time, the other characters refuse to learn her name because they aren't allowed to know.
That isn't to say that this story isn't without it's flaws. Taking the similarities that I've already mentioned and put them aside, we also have the the slow start at the beginning of the story. We aren't pulled into that world with the first chapter as many of the other stories similar to this one are able to do. It's only after we get going to the Auction and the Jewel that things start to pick up a bit more.
Another problem I had was the fact that the surrogates don't fight back. Granted it is mentioned that to avoid being a surrogate can lead to death, but once they enter the holding facilities, the surrogates are trained in the art of Auguries, the abilities to change things around them. They can change the color of things, their shape and can make things grow. These are what make them so interesting and desirable to the royals because they can assure that the children they bear will be free of issues. What surprised me was that never do we hear about surrogates trying to use these abilities to fight back. Granted that could be because of the physical and mental strain that it takes to use these abilities, but it's like it's never considered. Surprising.
Overall, this story was slow to start but grew much more entertaining as we get into Violet's life as a surrogate. There are moments when there isn't much going on, but we are allowed to slowly get drawn into this world where these girls are treated as little more than glorified home entertainment and birthing machines. The ending, with one of the most interesting cliff-hanger endings I've read in quite some time, left me with some more questions than answers leading me to have to read the next book in the series.
I'm curious to know what will come next and want to read the next book. This isn't a bad read and is still pretty interesting once you get into it.
Violet is marked to be a surrogate, taken from her family and has been separated from them for 4 years. Trained to work for royalty in the Jewel, the heart of the Lone City, where Violet will be forced to carry and give birth to a child for the royal that will purchase her at auction and where she will never see her family again. Once in the Jewel, Violet finds that things are much more dangerous for her than she ever thought.
The similarities to the Hunger Games is obvious. Panem is broken into 12 districts that each do a specific task for the country, the Lone City is broken into 5 circles, each labeled by what their industry is. Katniss and Violet are both from the farthest area from the heart of the country, both have specific skill sets that make them extraordinary in the eyes of others (Katniss is proficient in archery and Violet has a perfect score in Growth Augury and high scores in Color and Shape). Both become friends with a male who makes them up for their individual needs (Katniss had Cinna for the Hunger Games build-up and events and Violet had Lucien for the Auction). There is even a planned rebellion of sorts that it seems Violet will play a role in and both Katniss and Violet have a habit of keeping secrets from their love interests.
The similarities to The Selection are also obvious. The cover is very similar to the The Selection with a pretty girl in a very pretty dress. Both America and Violet are separated by their families by a royal intervention and both become very close to the people that they go through the experience with and who work with them. America and Violet also have a unique physical aspect with America's red hair and Violet's violet eyes. We also have a romance that is considered dangerous to both involved, America and Aspen and Violet and Ash. We even have the love interest playing romance with another woman, Maxon with the other girls in the Selection and Ash with Carnelian.
I'm not saying that these similarities are bad or that they take away from the overall story. The idea that royalty is forced to use surrogates because years of inbreeding have made it impossible for them to have their own children without mental or physical deformities is something different. The fact that the main character is worried and terrified of being pregnant with another woman's child is also something that we don't really see a lot of in other similar stories. Rebellions and children forced to grow up faster because of wartime we do see a lot of, but this particular worry about going through pregnancy and never having children of your own is not. It adds a new level to the story that I enjoy.
The same with the character of Ash and his role in the Jewel. Ash is a companion, someone who is bought and sold to basically be arm candy for young rich girls who aren't engaged yet which also has it's darker undertones. Like the Hunger Games, we are seeing teenagers placed in situations that we wouldn't expect. Although they aren't being forced to killing each other in this story, their stakes are just as high.
As a surrogate, Violet is considered important but given no more consideration than one would a piece of furniture in the room. They are treated as pets and are forced to conform to what their mistresses want. Her importance is only what she can give her mistress and who she is and what she feels isn't as important. Even what she can do in terms of special skills is considered to be the mistress' achievements and not Violet's. Most of the time, the other characters refuse to learn her name because they aren't allowed to know.
That isn't to say that this story isn't without it's flaws. Taking the similarities that I've already mentioned and put them aside, we also have the the slow start at the beginning of the story. We aren't pulled into that world with the first chapter as many of the other stories similar to this one are able to do. It's only after we get going to the Auction and the Jewel that things start to pick up a bit more.
Another problem I had was the fact that the surrogates don't fight back. Granted it is mentioned that to avoid being a surrogate can lead to death, but once they enter the holding facilities, the surrogates are trained in the art of Auguries, the abilities to change things around them. They can change the color of things, their shape and can make things grow. These are what make them so interesting and desirable to the royals because they can assure that the children they bear will be free of issues. What surprised me was that never do we hear about surrogates trying to use these abilities to fight back. Granted that could be because of the physical and mental strain that it takes to use these abilities, but it's like it's never considered. Surprising.
Overall, this story was slow to start but grew much more entertaining as we get into Violet's life as a surrogate. There are moments when there isn't much going on, but we are allowed to slowly get drawn into this world where these girls are treated as little more than glorified home entertainment and birthing machines. The ending, with one of the most interesting cliff-hanger endings I've read in quite some time, left me with some more questions than answers leading me to have to read the next book in the series.
I'm curious to know what will come next and want to read the next book. This isn't a bad read and is still pretty interesting once you get into it.
hrose95's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
katy10's review against another edition
4.0
The starting did get the most of me- it was slow. But seven chapters into the book, the pace started to pick up. I just lobe the entire forbidden romance trope so this book was no exception! For someone who’s never read this book , they might assume that Violet will have an affair with Garret, The Duchess’s son but no , it’s a companion, kind of like a make escort. Ash was such a charming and swoon-worthy man! The cliffhanger !!! Immediately starting on with the next book. I must say I’m starting to like Garret, not that he was despiteful throughout the book, in fact it was the contrary. He was such a laid back young irresponsible and aloof guy who could care less about family politics ans gossips. He will definitely play a vital role in the next 2 books. Also, loved the friendship between Violet and Raven.
cookieprincess's review
5.0
Ein gutes 4,5 Sterne Buch.
Ich hatte es vor einiger Zeit angefangen und neulich weitergelesen. Hat zwar eine Zeit lang gedauert bis ich wieder reingekommen bin aber relativ schnell hab ich die letzten 200 Seiten gelesen. Ich fand das Ende sehr überraschend und freu mich deshalb den 2 Band balt zu lesen. (Allerdings nervt mich die Herzogin von See etwas aber ich denke das ich auch so gewollt
Ich hatte es vor einiger Zeit angefangen und neulich weitergelesen. Hat zwar eine Zeit lang gedauert bis ich wieder reingekommen bin aber relativ schnell hab ich die letzten 200 Seiten gelesen. Ich fand das Ende sehr überraschend und freu mich deshalb den 2 Band balt zu lesen. (Allerdings nervt mich die Herzogin von See etwas aber ich denke das ich auch so gewollt
stephbrittoleal's review against another edition
1.0
Just. If Amy wanted to spit on The Handmaid's Tale, she should have bought a copy and spit on it and spared us from this bizarre, badly written ode to being in love with a stranger and then being ok w the idea of being an incubator to them, and willing to sacrifice daily raped girls or mutilated people working as servants or the entire oppressed class you came out from just because True Love.
I thought The selection was the bottom of the dystopia subgenre, the silly glamourization of women being just pretty pieces of meat. It was at least sympathetic as I actually buy into America liking the prince. But this?
This is about underage girls being raped to give daughters to old cruel women. Don't get me started on the men. It's about people being castrated or mutilated to serve those rich freaks. It's about an entire city being stomped so rich women can buy sex dolls of flesh and blood to their husbands and sons. Everything coated in sugar, glitter and naturally beautiful girl with exquisite violet eyes. Rolled my eyes so hard I don't think they coming back to the right place ever again.
It's some narcisistic white women neurosis: it's all good if I can place it inside a monarchy that is pure glamour and aesthetics and Superpowers.... And true love, of course.
I'm never again reading this author. There are way too many good women writing and not getting attention so this kind of bizarre shit can fill the pockets of mediocre white women.
I thought The selection was the bottom of the dystopia subgenre, the silly glamourization of women being just pretty pieces of meat. It was at least sympathetic as I actually buy into America liking the prince. But this?
This is about underage girls being raped to give daughters to old cruel women. Don't get me started on the men. It's about people being castrated or mutilated to serve those rich freaks. It's about an entire city being stomped so rich women can buy sex dolls of flesh and blood to their husbands and sons. Everything coated in sugar, glitter and naturally beautiful girl with exquisite violet eyes. Rolled my eyes so hard I don't think they coming back to the right place ever again.
It's some narcisistic white women neurosis: it's all good if I can place it inside a monarchy that is pure glamour and aesthetics and Superpowers.... And true love, of course.
I'm never again reading this author. There are way too many good women writing and not getting attention so this kind of bizarre shit can fill the pockets of mediocre white women.
illusie's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't like the word and how the surrogates were treated.