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The Gem Universe #1
The Jewel and Her Lapidary
Buried beneath the layers of a traveler's guide is a hidden history: two kingdoms, powerful gems, and the even more powerful Lapidarys who bind them. Lin and Sima, caught in a web of intrigue and deceit, must find a way to escape the traps set by the past and save their kingdom.
An epic fantasy, in miniature.
An epic fantasy, in miniature.
92 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 3, 2016
41 people are currently reading
4400 people want to read
About the author
Fran Wilde
116 books524 followersTwo-time Nebula Award-winner Fran Wilde has (so far) published nine novels, a poetry collection, and over 70 short stories for adults, teens, and kids. Her stories have been finalists for six Nebula Awards, a World Fantasy Award, four Hugo Awards, four Locus Awards, and a Lodestar. They include her Nebula- and Compton Crook-winning debut novel Updraft, and her Nebula-winning, Best of NPR 2019, debut Middle Grade novel Riverland. Her short stories appear in Asimov’s Science Fiction, Tor.com, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Shimmer, Nature, Uncanny Magazine, and multiple years' best anthologies.
The Managing Editor for The Sunday Morning Transport, Fran teaches or has taught for schools including Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She writes nonfiction for publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and Tor.com. You can find her on Instagram, Bluesky, and at franwilde.net.
The Managing Editor for The Sunday Morning Transport, Fran teaches or has taught for schools including Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA and St. Mary’s College of Maryland. She writes nonfiction for publications including The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and Tor.com. You can find her on Instagram, Bluesky, and at franwilde.net.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
July 16, 2017
It’s an epic fantasy packed in a tiny novelette! I’m really impressed with how the author handled the world building. We jump straight into the action and everything is revealed bit by bit. And there is so much to reveal! The complex magic system, powerful gems, the Jewels (the royal family who rules over the valley,) and their Lapidaries, who can talk to the gems and reign in their power. The premise was also great – after a betrayal and a massacre of the entire royal court, two teenage girls are the only ones left to stop the invaders.
The Jewel, Lin, is the youngest of the royal family. She has been raised to be a polite princess and to marry, and never received any instructions in politics or diplomacy. But she was curious and sneaked in, eavesdropping to important conversations and learning what she can.
Her Lapidary, Sima, has been raised to serve a princess. She never learned how to manipulate gems for fighting, or for control. She only learned how to use gems to bring calm and peace.
And now, they must use whatever limited skills they have and adapt quickly, or their kingdom is lost.
The story was intercepted with excerpts from a travel guide about this enchanted valley, written long after. And this was a cool concept – what hidden stories lie behind all the places we visit? And all the places we see every day? Who lived there before? What dramatic tales unfolded?
I felt the book was quite rushed. Always something happening, and we never have the chance to properly get to know the characters or feel for them. And the characters never have a moment’s break! Their entire families die painfully, and they don’t spend a second grieving. Then Lin, the sheltered princess, is thrown in a dungeon with rotting corpses and rats, and she adapts right away without giving it a second thought. The things that happen to these girls are absolutely horrific, and we never get to feel this horror. I think we should have taken the time to experience it all properly; then the tragedies would have had a much bigger impact.
The point of a novelette is to pack a punchy story within the small page count. But here we have this huge, epic tale, in a vast world. I think this wasn’t the best format for it – it should have been a full novel. Still, a pleasant read.
The Jewel, Lin, is the youngest of the royal family. She has been raised to be a polite princess and to marry, and never received any instructions in politics or diplomacy. But she was curious and sneaked in, eavesdropping to important conversations and learning what she can.
Her Lapidary, Sima, has been raised to serve a princess. She never learned how to manipulate gems for fighting, or for control. She only learned how to use gems to bring calm and peace.
And now, they must use whatever limited skills they have and adapt quickly, or their kingdom is lost.
The story was intercepted with excerpts from a travel guide about this enchanted valley, written long after. And this was a cool concept – what hidden stories lie behind all the places we visit? And all the places we see every day? Who lived there before? What dramatic tales unfolded?
I felt the book was quite rushed. Always something happening, and we never have the chance to properly get to know the characters or feel for them. And the characters never have a moment’s break! Their entire families die painfully, and they don’t spend a second grieving. Then Lin, the sheltered princess, is thrown in a dungeon with rotting corpses and rats, and she adapts right away without giving it a second thought. The things that happen to these girls are absolutely horrific, and we never get to feel this horror. I think we should have taken the time to experience it all properly; then the tragedies would have had a much bigger impact.
The point of a novelette is to pack a punchy story within the small page count. But here we have this huge, epic tale, in a vast world. I think this wasn’t the best format for it – it should have been a full novel. Still, a pleasant read.
June 8, 2017
I know I've only read two of Fran Wilde's tales, but I'm getting the impression that I'm just not her audience at all.
I was reading this for her Hugo nomination this year and I had high hopes because some authors can really kick butt with the shorter stuff even if their longer works fall short for some readers. (Read: me).
Unfortunately, the whole concept of jewels of power is a very, very old one, and while she tries to make it fresh by doing the whole linking them to their wearers and then having the added dimension of social caste rebalancing going on... well... it was kinda dull for me. I'd rather have the jewel action be a MacGuffin or something far-off rather than this. It's hard not to compare it to some really big classics, either, and in that comparison, this will always fall short. Alas.
Maybe this is fine for a younger YA reader who's never read anything else. I don't know. I just know that it didn't really do the job for me.
I was reading this for her Hugo nomination this year and I had high hopes because some authors can really kick butt with the shorter stuff even if their longer works fall short for some readers. (Read: me).
Unfortunately, the whole concept of jewels of power is a very, very old one, and while she tries to make it fresh by doing the whole linking them to their wearers and then having the added dimension of social caste rebalancing going on... well... it was kinda dull for me. I'd rather have the jewel action be a MacGuffin or something far-off rather than this. It's hard not to compare it to some really big classics, either, and in that comparison, this will always fall short. Alas.
Maybe this is fine for a younger YA reader who's never read anything else. I don't know. I just know that it didn't really do the job for me.
August 24, 2016
I enjoyed Wilde's 'Updraft,' although I thought it was a bit too similar to Zilpha Keatley Snyder's 'Greensky' trilogy. When I saw this at the library, I thought I'd give the author a second try.
The concept of jewels that are invested with magical powers isn't a new one, but this slim novella gives the idea a fresh-feeling twist. In this fantasy world, a kingdom has been based on the harnessing of jewels' power. Only certain people can 'hear' these magical jewels, and those people end up being either ruling royalty - or bondservants sworn to those royals. This society has a long tradition - but as our story opens, we're in the midst of a bloody palace coup/invasion. Everything has been thrown into chaos, and the only two survivors of the palace massacre may be a young princess (the "Jewel") and her bondsmaid (the "Lapidary.")
Of course, the usurpers have dastardly plans for these two - and the girls will have to overcome their traditional roles and what was always expected of them, and use all their ingenuity to try to extricate themselves from what may be a no-win situation.
The concept of jewels that are invested with magical powers isn't a new one, but this slim novella gives the idea a fresh-feeling twist. In this fantasy world, a kingdom has been based on the harnessing of jewels' power. Only certain people can 'hear' these magical jewels, and those people end up being either ruling royalty - or bondservants sworn to those royals. This society has a long tradition - but as our story opens, we're in the midst of a bloody palace coup/invasion. Everything has been thrown into chaos, and the only two survivors of the palace massacre may be a young princess (the "Jewel") and her bondsmaid (the "Lapidary.")
Of course, the usurpers have dastardly plans for these two - and the girls will have to overcome their traditional roles and what was always expected of them, and use all their ingenuity to try to extricate themselves from what may be a no-win situation.
Read
May 5, 2016After reading Updraft, which I loved, I put Fran Wilde on my auto buy list.
So I was excited to read this novella, and indeed here were the nifty world building and lovely characters that I expected. This is more of an elegiac tale that feels like a novel boiled down to novella length.
A great deal of attention is paid to the rules of the lapidary that I thought might have gone to more character development, and to the sense of living in the world. But that might just be my taste for elaborate tales that take several books to unfold.
It's a swift read, full of vivid image, that will tug at the heartstrings.
So I was excited to read this novella, and indeed here were the nifty world building and lovely characters that I expected. This is more of an elegiac tale that feels like a novel boiled down to novella length.
A great deal of attention is paid to the rules of the lapidary that I thought might have gone to more character development, and to the sense of living in the world. But that might just be my taste for elaborate tales that take several books to unfold.
It's a swift read, full of vivid image, that will tug at the heartstrings.
September 19, 2016
I was pretty excited to read this Tor.com novella, particularly because of all the good things I’ve heard about Wilde’s debut novel. I found it a little too compressed, though, and confusing because of it; there’s a lot going on, with a whole new fantasy world, a magic system without a proper tutorial so that you’re never quite sure of the rules and limits, and a lot of characters who are sometimes referred to in different ways depending on the POV characters’ relationships to them — and that’s not to even mention the clearly-much-later-than-the-story tour guide extracts, which add another layer.
It all makes for a pretty fascinating world; that’s not the problem. The problem is that it doesn’t feel novella-sized. I feel like we needed to know Lin before the disaster, know something of the magic, before we could really appreciate what happened and how Lin dealt with it. Her actions clearly have enormous meaning to her, but to us they’re confusing — is it symbolic, or is there something magic going on? Or both?
I would’ve enjoyed seeing this as a full-length novel, I think; it just felt too rushed as a novella. There’s some lovely imagery and fascinating ideas, but it’s so breathless. I’m still interested in reading Wilde’s debut novel, though: maybe with more space, her ideas will be expanded on. And the ideas definitely aren’t the problem.
Originally posted here.
It all makes for a pretty fascinating world; that’s not the problem. The problem is that it doesn’t feel novella-sized. I feel like we needed to know Lin before the disaster, know something of the magic, before we could really appreciate what happened and how Lin dealt with it. Her actions clearly have enormous meaning to her, but to us they’re confusing — is it symbolic, or is there something magic going on? Or both?
I would’ve enjoyed seeing this as a full-length novel, I think; it just felt too rushed as a novella. There’s some lovely imagery and fascinating ideas, but it’s so breathless. I’m still interested in reading Wilde’s debut novel, though: maybe with more space, her ideas will be expanded on. And the ideas definitely aren’t the problem.
Originally posted here.
September 26, 2023
This novella had a cool premise (if not entirely unique) presented in a format that didn’t serve it. The very short page count was a disservice, forcing the author to rely on rapid world building, insufficient character development, and rushed pacing. I found I didn’t care about the characters and their plight, and was confused by the political and magic systems.
I would be curious to read a full length novel version of this story.
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of parents, loss of siblings
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I would be curious to read a full length novel version of this story.
Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, loss of parents, loss of siblings
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June 6, 2023
3 Stars
Credit given for creating an interesting world.
I’m glad to see there’s subsequent stories in this universe because just a warning - this novella was full of tragedy and sacrifice with a terribly awful but with a barely there hopeful ending.
Proceed with caution.
Credit given for creating an interesting world.
I’m glad to see there’s subsequent stories in this universe because just a warning - this novella was full of tragedy and sacrifice with a terribly awful but with a barely there hopeful ending.
Proceed with caution.
April 25, 2017
Alrighty. A new low, for me. I actually called Audible and returned it. THAT'S how bad this was.
And maybe it would have been a 3 star story. However, I really don't know what the point is. What's the author trying to achieve?? Yes, it's an interesting world idea. But NOTHING HAPPENS!
But that's not the worst part, not for me. I've NEVER listened to a worse narration. Truly. I think I can read my grocery shopping list with more drama and life. 95% of the lines ended on a downnote. It was like listening to a staccato recitation of a meandering, uncentered tale. However, occasionally--often, even--the narrator inserted these strange, lengthy silences. No rhyme or reason to it that I could identify. Plus it was impossible to tell when someone was speaking versus when we were hearing other portions of the story. Worst of all, perhaps, were these weird repetitions of lines from the story. For instance, about 3 times at least, in both chapters 12 and 13, the same line would be read twice. It wasn't something done for emphasis (at least I'm HOPING that's not what this was about!). It was like a stutter. Bizarre.
Anyway, awful. All around. And it could have been so much better!!! Too bad.
Well, at least I obtained a refund.
Recommended to: people learning to narrate (inflect!! sound severe if you're reading for an army commander or soldier, upset if it's a character in crisis!! Sheesh. Doesn't seem like it's asking for much.)
Ok. One positive note: I did like the narrator's accent. She sounded like she was Middle-eastern, and British, and there was a trace of French there too. She has potential. But even the RECORDING here was subpar. Like an echo chamber ... or 1 of those phone conversations where you hear your comments bouncing around. No fun at all.
Oh. And the cover art is pretty, but it doesn't really reflect what we read in the tale. No clue what went wrong here.
And maybe it would have been a 3 star story. However, I really don't know what the point is. What's the author trying to achieve?? Yes, it's an interesting world idea. But NOTHING HAPPENS!
But that's not the worst part, not for me. I've NEVER listened to a worse narration. Truly. I think I can read my grocery shopping list with more drama and life. 95% of the lines ended on a downnote. It was like listening to a staccato recitation of a meandering, uncentered tale. However, occasionally--often, even--the narrator inserted these strange, lengthy silences. No rhyme or reason to it that I could identify. Plus it was impossible to tell when someone was speaking versus when we were hearing other portions of the story. Worst of all, perhaps, were these weird repetitions of lines from the story. For instance, about 3 times at least, in both chapters 12 and 13, the same line would be read twice. It wasn't something done for emphasis (at least I'm HOPING that's not what this was about!). It was like a stutter. Bizarre.
Anyway, awful. All around. And it could have been so much better!!! Too bad.
Well, at least I obtained a refund.
Recommended to: people learning to narrate (inflect!! sound severe if you're reading for an army commander or soldier, upset if it's a character in crisis!! Sheesh. Doesn't seem like it's asking for much.)
Ok. One positive note: I did like the narrator's accent. She sounded like she was Middle-eastern, and British, and there was a trace of French there too. She has potential. But even the RECORDING here was subpar. Like an echo chamber ... or 1 of those phone conversations where you hear your comments bouncing around. No fun at all.
Oh. And the cover art is pretty, but it doesn't really reflect what we read in the tale. No clue what went wrong here.
December 14, 2021
Cool concept, but I didn't love the execution.
May 29, 2019
I liked the use of the tourist brochure recounting a little of the history that we then get to see. I liked the relationship between Lin and Sima (friendship and servitude together). I was a little confused as I listened to this story, as the author drops you into what are long ago events with Sima and Lin.
April 11, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
While this could certainly stand to be longer, it's a compelling little novelette with a lot going on. The Jewel and Her Lapidary throws us into the action with little to no lead-in as a violent coup is beginning. The only people to survive are one of the royal Jewels and her lapidary (basically a sworn servant with magic abilities involving gems). They are left to deal with invading forces and the stakes are life and death. For how short the story is, it achieves quite a lot of character development and world-building that had me invested and intrigued. As a lead-in to a longer series I think it's fairly effective, but I wish it was longer and offered a bit more context. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
While this could certainly stand to be longer, it's a compelling little novelette with a lot going on. The Jewel and Her Lapidary throws us into the action with little to no lead-in as a violent coup is beginning. The only people to survive are one of the royal Jewels and her lapidary (basically a sworn servant with magic abilities involving gems). They are left to deal with invading forces and the stakes are life and death. For how short the story is, it achieves quite a lot of character development and world-building that had me invested and intrigued. As a lead-in to a longer series I think it's fairly effective, but I wish it was longer and offered a bit more context. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
March 8, 2017
I feel rather meh about this.
Being the sucker for cover art that I am, I had been looking forward to it for a while. I knew ahead of time it was a novella, but finding such a slim volume after paying full paperback price was letdown #1.
In such condensed form, there's really only room for "Look at my cool magic system!" as opposed to space to flesh out the plot or characters' personalities. The travel guide part also felt like filler.
On the plus side, :D :D :D
Being the sucker for cover art that I am, I had been looking forward to it for a while. I knew ahead of time it was a novella, but finding such a slim volume after paying full paperback price was letdown #1.
In such condensed form, there's really only room for "Look at my cool magic system!" as opposed to space to flesh out the plot or characters' personalities. The travel guide part also felt like filler.
On the plus side, :D :D :D
May 7, 2023
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
TW: death, loss of parents, attempted forced marriage
I found this book by reading through one of the Orbit Books newsletters. So naturally I checked Libby, my favorite library app, and saw they had the audiobook, which was a little less than two hours. Personally, this one might have been better for me as a ebook or physical book, as I found a few parts a little confusing. It felt like the narrator was reading a map or a footnote, but her deviations were never prefaced so I would be yanked out unexpectedly and then ungraciously dropped back in.
This book has a very abrupt approach, the story starts in the middle of a conflict and you have to parse information together, while the author doles out information. The story was clearly well researched and the magic and mysticism was interesting and a refreshing take. Gems have power, which can corrupt and control and lapidaries have the power to listen, structure, and direct the gems. Each lapidary is assigned to a Jewel, and I believe most Jewels are royalty or noble. In our story, we follow Lin, the Jewel, and her lapidary Sima. A lot happens in this less than 100 page novella, but it definitely had room to be expanded. The story felt rushed and too condensed for what was occurring.
I put in a request for the sequel, which, after reading the synopsis, shows that this book serves as a prequel of sorts. I'm going to read a physical copy of the sequel, so hopefully that alleviates a few of the struggles for me, and it appears to be a smidge longer. This is unique, quick read for anyone looking for something refreshed. This story was published in 2016, so it's nice to read something that is not plagued by current market trends.
TW: death, loss of parents, attempted forced marriage
I found this book by reading through one of the Orbit Books newsletters. So naturally I checked Libby, my favorite library app, and saw they had the audiobook, which was a little less than two hours. Personally, this one might have been better for me as a ebook or physical book, as I found a few parts a little confusing. It felt like the narrator was reading a map or a footnote, but her deviations were never prefaced so I would be yanked out unexpectedly and then ungraciously dropped back in.
This book has a very abrupt approach, the story starts in the middle of a conflict and you have to parse information together, while the author doles out information. The story was clearly well researched and the magic and mysticism was interesting and a refreshing take. Gems have power, which can corrupt and control and lapidaries have the power to listen, structure, and direct the gems. Each lapidary is assigned to a Jewel, and I believe most Jewels are royalty or noble. In our story, we follow Lin, the Jewel, and her lapidary Sima. A lot happens in this less than 100 page novella, but it definitely had room to be expanded. The story felt rushed and too condensed for what was occurring.
I put in a request for the sequel, which, after reading the synopsis, shows that this book serves as a prequel of sorts. I'm going to read a physical copy of the sequel, so hopefully that alleviates a few of the struggles for me, and it appears to be a smidge longer. This is unique, quick read for anyone looking for something refreshed. This story was published in 2016, so it's nice to read something that is not plagued by current market trends.
May 20, 2016
A little confusing at first as you jump in, but a nice little tale full of creativity and a world I wouldn't mind seeing more of in the future.
June 8, 2016
Fran Wilde is a fantastic writer, and this novella showcases her intricate, innovative worldbuilding. This is a fantasy world of royal Jewels and their bonded Lapidaries, who can speak with stones to empower their comrade or those around them. It reminded me of how some video games handle bonuses via magic-embodied stones like magicite or materia. The central characters here are teenage girls, Jewel Lin and her lapidary, Sima, who awaken to find the royal court under attack. It's really Sima's story--she may be second to Lin in status, but she is the one endowed with real power. This is a fast read, and not just because of the page count; the action is tense, and there's a brilliant twist at the end that caused my jaw to drop.
There is a negative aspect, though. This works as a novella, but it feels like it teases readers about a much greater world. I really wanted to know more about the jewels, more about the magic, more about the political climate that drives the villains to do what they do. I really hope Wilde continues to expand on this world.
There is a negative aspect, though. This works as a novella, but it feels like it teases readers about a much greater world. I really wanted to know more about the jewels, more about the magic, more about the political climate that drives the villains to do what they do. I really hope Wilde continues to expand on this world.
June 12, 2017
This seemed so promising on the surface -- female friendship! displaced royal trying to save her kingdom! -- but cripes, I hated it and could not wait for it to be over. The worldbuilding was too unclear and disorienting, to the extent that I had barely any idea what was going on -- and even when I did, I didn't care about the characters, history, or system of magic on display. To fully appreciate a bloody revolution overturning and destroying all the society's old ways of doing things, we need to understand the 'normal' way first... and have reasons to care about the two main characters before they're plunged into grief for people we've never met and don't give a damn about. I never experienced the emotions/feelings associated with the characters or their losses. Probably more objectively 2 stars, but judging by how I just desperately wanted this to end, dropping it to 1.
February 7, 2017
Not my favorite of the Tor.com novellas, but not a bad one either.
Two teenage girls survive a palace massacre and coup; one is a bound servant to the other. They need to keep a magical gem out of the hands of the usurper.
There was very little to the story, and a lot of time was spent agonizingly repeating the rules of being a Lapidary. As far as I can tell, Lapidaries are slaves to Jewels, and bound by these repetitious axioms like "a lapidary must always obey their jewel, or their mind will shatter", which made the story uncomfortable for me.
I received an egalley of this novella from Tor.com for free in exchange for an honest review.
Two teenage girls survive a palace massacre and coup; one is a bound servant to the other. They need to keep a magical gem out of the hands of the usurper.
There was very little to the story, and a lot of time was spent agonizingly repeating the rules of being a Lapidary. As far as I can tell, Lapidaries are slaves to Jewels, and bound by these repetitious axioms like "a lapidary must always obey their jewel, or their mind will shatter", which made the story uncomfortable for me.
I received an egalley of this novella from Tor.com for free in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2016
I adored Fran Wilde’s debut novel, Updraft, so I was thrilled when I learned she had written one of Tor.com’s novellas. The Jewel and Her Lapidary was one of my most anticipated books for the first half of 2016, so imagine my surprise and dismay when I turned out to just not care for it very much.
Read the full review at SF Bluestocking.
Read the full review at SF Bluestocking.
January 16, 2020
2.5/5
A quick (90 pages) read with great prose and nice characters. The only reason for such a low rating is that it's basically a world-building novella. Gems and their magic are cool but, ultimately, not enough to immerse me in the story.
It was ok.
A quick (90 pages) read with great prose and nice characters. The only reason for such a low rating is that it's basically a world-building novella. Gems and their magic are cool but, ultimately, not enough to immerse me in the story.
It was ok.
June 13, 2017
Will review soon at www.fantasyliterature.com.
September 15, 2022
This was an interesting little story about betrayal, love, and power. LGBT rep and barely 90 pages. I flipped through this in less than an hour. 3.5 ⭐
June 1, 2020
Decently enjoyable with an interesting delivery.
You have the main narrative circling around Lin and Sima, the Jewel and her Lapidary respectively. (Think royalty for Lin and a mixed role of jeweler/advisor/bodyguard for Sima.) We see our protagonists during a time when Lin's kingdom is falling and what challenges these two have to face together completely alone without the guidance of others.
Then you have second, modern-day narrative being delivered as excerpts from a travel guide that provides some environmental and additional information on the now-ruined city. It threw me for a loop at first, I wasn't sure what I was expecting. However, after thinking about it for a while the two narratives reminds me of historical documentaries. In particular the type of documentary that reify past events in CG, and in-between CG scenes are scientists, archaeologists, or other subject matter experts weighing in with facts and intrigue to support the CG backstory. It's a very interesting format and I would recommend it for the experience alone.
That said, I would have liked to see more of it and wished the novella was longer but I understand if that wasn't the intent. I have not read anything from Fran Wilde before so I am unfamiliar with her style but this novella seems experimental and not intended to be fully fleshed out. Though one can wish, right? I might check out the the sequel.
You have the main narrative circling around Lin and Sima, the Jewel and her Lapidary respectively. (Think royalty for Lin and a mixed role of jeweler/advisor/bodyguard for Sima.) We see our protagonists during a time when Lin's kingdom is falling and what challenges these two have to face together completely alone without the guidance of others.
Then you have second, modern-day narrative being delivered as excerpts from a travel guide that provides some environmental and additional information on the now-ruined city. It threw me for a loop at first, I wasn't sure what I was expecting. However, after thinking about it for a while the two narratives reminds me of historical documentaries. In particular the type of documentary that reify past events in CG, and in-between CG scenes are scientists, archaeologists, or other subject matter experts weighing in with facts and intrigue to support the CG backstory. It's a very interesting format and I would recommend it for the experience alone.
That said, I would have liked to see more of it and wished the novella was longer but I understand if that wasn't the intent. I have not read anything from Fran Wilde before so I am unfamiliar with her style but this novella seems experimental and not intended to be fully fleshed out. Though one can wish, right? I might check out the the sequel.
July 22, 2018
This was a painful and disappointing listen. There is too much to cram into this short novella and yet the time is not spent well...it gets very repetitive. Sort of actual setup would be required for me to actually care about the crisis event that starts the story...it's just the sketch of an Oh Wow Terrible Thing. The setting of the story is likewise a sketch that got loose from a zero order outline: the geography consists of the (Jeweled) Valley (at least it has a name), the Western Mountains, and the Eastern Seas. Perhaps the intention was to try to write some sort of meta-generic ur-story?
On the "too little" front, the characters are flat entities that basically go around willing themselves to be emotionless and do what they randomly (i.e. without thought, deliberation, decision between options) decide to be their duty. Line in, line out, this is probably the most painful aspect of the story. The suicide at the beginning seems to be entirely imposed by plot considerations without any hint of character motivation, and the lapidary's decision to cut off all her "vows" so as not to make noise while running away strains my suspension of disbelief way past the breaking point; it is likewise a heavy-handed necessity for where the character arc, such as it is, is intended to go. Kind of. I guess. Really, this story doesn't make a whole lot of sense, so it's hard to say anything in particular is "necessary" to the plot. Then there's the "teenage girls with absolutely no competence at anything related to the plot linearly move forward without making anything that turns out to be a mistake" aspect.
On the "too little" front, the characters are flat entities that basically go around willing themselves to be emotionless and do what they randomly (i.e. without thought, deliberation, decision between options) decide to be their duty. Line in, line out, this is probably the most painful aspect of the story. The suicide at the beginning seems to be entirely imposed by plot considerations without any hint of character motivation, and the lapidary's decision to cut off all her "vows" so as not to make noise while running away strains my suspension of disbelief way past the breaking point; it is likewise a heavy-handed necessity for where the character arc, such as it is, is intended to go. Kind of. I guess. Really, this story doesn't make a whole lot of sense, so it's hard to say anything in particular is "necessary" to the plot. Then there's the "teenage girls with absolutely no competence at anything related to the plot linearly move forward without making anything that turns out to be a mistake" aspect.
May 5, 2016
Fran Wilde builds her world skilfully and quickly, fitting a lot of world-building (with magic and a complex society), and invented history into a taut novella, keeping the tension high and the action moving. There’s a profound sense of loss and grief throughout the story that amplifies the tension: this is not a safe, comforting fantasy read, but it is extremely compelling.
Even more than the deep story and the intriguing world, what makes this story so great are the two main characters: Lin and Sima, royal Jewel and her Lapidary, two girls, bound by vows and magic, but also by something deeper than friendship. The way their relationship is revealed and explored, challenged and changed, is the true heart of this story for me.
In short: it’s so, so good.
Even more than the deep story and the intriguing world, what makes this story so great are the two main characters: Lin and Sima, royal Jewel and her Lapidary, two girls, bound by vows and magic, but also by something deeper than friendship. The way their relationship is revealed and explored, challenged and changed, is the true heart of this story for me.
In short: it’s so, so good.
May 8, 2016
A short book, but one that manages to mine (sorry, I had to get one jewel related pun in) epic themes: how to grow beyond expectations, making hard choices for a greater good, the power of friendship and duty. It's all here along with a framing device that makes it clear that Fran has more stories to come set in this world which I will definitely read.
June 16, 2016
A nice quick read with an interesting bit of world building. However, the story itself is a bit manic and I found myself wondering what was going on throughout.
Also, unsure if wonky writing, wonky editing, or wonky audio narration, but lines were repeated several times. As in line said, line said. Back to back. Weird.
Also, unsure if wonky writing, wonky editing, or wonky audio narration, but lines were repeated several times. As in line said, line said. Back to back. Weird.
February 6, 2017
This is a beautiful, beautiful novella that manages -- in very few pages -- to create a kingdom, a world, a war, vows broken and kept, sorrow and redemption. The characters are compelling and the prose exquisite. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading Fran Wilde, then give yourself this gift.
June 7, 2017
I'm a huge fan of novellas. This story is a shining example why.
This is a story of courage and sacrifice, love and loyalty. The highest praise I can give a story is that it made me cry. This story made me cry.
Go buy it. You won't be sorry.
This is a story of courage and sacrifice, love and loyalty. The highest praise I can give a story is that it made me cry. This story made me cry.
Go buy it. You won't be sorry.
December 6, 2016
I'm pretty sure the first thing I ever read by Fran Wilde was a lovely short story set in the same world as this novella, so it was a welcome return. As always, her world building is intricate and impeccable, her language rich.
February 5, 2018
The Jewel and Her Lapidary is an intriguing fantasy novella about a kingdom betrayed by those meant to protect it and two teenage girls are left to deal with an invading army and its demands. Lin is the last princess, or "Jewel", left in the kingdom of the Valley as an invading army from the mountains, with the help of a traitor in the palace, has come to bend the powerful, magic gems of the Valley to their will. In order to do that, they need a Lapidary, one of the Valley people who can speak to and control the gems. With all others in the palace gone or dead, it's up to Lin and Sima, the Lapidary bound to her since birth, to find a way to save their people.
The Jewel and Her Lapidary is a relatively short story (as you might guess from the novella category) but has a clever premise that I very much enjoyed. The story is interspersed with tidbits from a travel guide to the valley written years after the events in which Lin and Sima take part. This outside perspective lends weight to the story and makes for an interesting contrast. It's a little unfortunate that this was a novella rather than a full length novel as there's a lot of world-building set up in the first 30-40 pages, which kind of overwhelms the story in parts. I liked Lin and Sima but wanted much more than I got in the novella. I'd still recommend it as an interesting and heartfelt fantasy that felt more original than most but I can't help but hope that Wilde comes backs to the Valley someday for more.
The Jewel and Her Lapidary is a relatively short story (as you might guess from the novella category) but has a clever premise that I very much enjoyed. The story is interspersed with tidbits from a travel guide to the valley written years after the events in which Lin and Sima take part. This outside perspective lends weight to the story and makes for an interesting contrast. It's a little unfortunate that this was a novella rather than a full length novel as there's a lot of world-building set up in the first 30-40 pages, which kind of overwhelms the story in parts. I liked Lin and Sima but wanted much more than I got in the novella. I'd still recommend it as an interesting and heartfelt fantasy that felt more original than most but I can't help but hope that Wilde comes backs to the Valley someday for more.
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