Series: The Lone City
Author: Amy Ewing
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genres: Dystopian, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: September 2, 2014 to October 4, 2016
Rating:
Series Rating:
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.
Series Review: The Lone City Trilogy by amy Ewing
The Lone City Trilogy by Amy Ewing is a series that impressed me. This series is very political, and there is so much action. I enjoyed the main character’s talents and the descriptions of the city. The Lone City is addictive and the perfect series to binge.
❀ Intriguing Concept
The concept of this series is very intriguing. It tells the story of a divided city with the poor around the edges and the rich in the middle, known as the Jewel. Violet, the main character, is one of the less fortunate and is taken to train to be a surrogate for the wealthy. I really enjoyed the mix of politics and suspense, and the surrogates’ abilities are so unique. The Lone City series is gripping, and I would recommend it to those in search of a dystopian about women’s rights.
❀ Compassionate Main Character
Violet has a lot of personality, and I enjoyed her voice. She is compassionate and determined, but also rebellious, as expected of a dystopian novel. Although Violet has no rights, she is not afraid to defend herself and her friends. I loved reading about her past, and I especially loved how she plays the cello. Violet can be pretty naïve, but overall, I found her to be likeable.
❀ Well-Developed World
The world of The Lone City is well-developed. Sure, a walled city isn’t super original, but the politics and the citizens’ views really make the reader think. What I really enjoyed is the fact that the main characters travel throughout the city over the course of the three books, so we get to see every district. I would have appreciated a bit more backstory about the city, but the story still makes sense.
The Lone City Trilogy by Amy Ewing is a dystopian series by Amy Ewing containing politics and special abilities. The main character is defiant, and the world is logical. I would definitely recommend this YA book series to anyone who loves books like The Hunger Games.
About Amy Ewing
Amy Ewing is the young adult author of The Jewel, the first in a trilogy from HarperTeen, coming out September 2014.
She grew up in a small town outside Boston, where her librarian mother instilled a deep love of reading at a young age. Amy moved to New York City in 2000 to study theater at New York University. Unfortunately, her acting career didn’t quite pan out. She worked in restaurants, as an administrative assistant, a nanny, and a sales representative for a wine distributor before the lack of creativity in her life drove her to begin writing.
Amy received her MFA in Creative Writing for Children from The New School, where she was lucky enough to meet a fabulous community of YA writers who keep her sane on a daily basis. She lives in Harlem, where she spends her days writing, eating cheese, and occasionally binge watching The Vampire Diaries.
Also Featured In:
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ Canadian YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, & professional bibliophile.