Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books 
 It's pretty easy to write a glowing review or a scathing review - but writing a "meh" review is truly tricky. No one wants to read a review that goes, "IDK, it was fine, whatever." However, my feelings about Newt's Emerald are basically, "IDK, it was fine, whatever." 
 My problem with the book came from the fact that the pacing is so messy that a lot of things don't make much sense. Truthful's hapless cousins are introduced as major characters, but they soon wander off the page. The climactic battle is nifty because it involves a masquerade ball, and personally I'm ALWAYS in favor of a masquerade ball scene - but it comes and goes so quickly that there's only one page of book left to wrap everything up. Does Truthful's father recover from his terrible illness? Are the rich people in the book going to notice that a lot of poor people have severe water damage to their houses due to a magical weather event and maybe they could use some help? What is going to happen to the Emerald now? There's some talk of removing it from the family and putting it in a safer location - does that mean the family will have bad luck, or are they fine as long as it's nominally theirs? And what on earth was the point of having the cousins wander in and out of the story? Are they really this useless? Signs point to yes. 
 This story was originally a story within a story, and it shows - it's rushed, the characterization is minimal, and the plot relies on everyone being very stupid. However, there is a cool old lady who kicks all the asses, there's a masquerade ball, and there's an enchanted mustache. If these things make your heart beat wildly, then go ahead and try out the book - it's mildly entertaining. It's not terrible and it's not great. IDK, it was fine, whatever. 
 - Carrie S.