There's not a whole lot to say about The Jewel that hasn't already been covered in the many reviews that have already been written, so I'll keep this short and sweet. The story is set in a borderline dystopian world in which a rich ruling class living in an opulent city called The Jewel have lost the ability to reproduce naturally. As a consequence, poor girls living in what can be comparatively described as the slums outside the city are chosen to become surrogates. This book weaves a number of fantasy elements into the plot as only those girls that are tested and exhibit certain powers (termed 'auguries') are suitable surrogates. While these girls live in relative luxury until such time as they are auctioned off to the highest bidder they have no freedom and no choice in their future. 
 I enjoyed this book, it was entertaining and fairly easy to read. I thought the premise was really promising and I'm interested to see where the author is planning to go with the story in the next book. However, while it does try to raise a number of important issues and explore some fairly large themes it fell a bit flat to me on this account. I think perhaps because having already read works like The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (an infinitely superior story although definitely not young adult) I tend to expect a lot from this sort of fiction. The Handmaid's Tale is complex and gritty and dark and introspective and this book has none of that, despite wanting to deal with similar topics. You really can't half-ass those themes, you have to do it right or don't try and pull it off at all. 
 There was also a lack of depth to the world building. There are massive aspects of the world and the society that are just glossed over or never mentioned despite their relative importance to the actual plot (ie. the auguries). Hopefully we will get more information in the sequel I guess. The characterisation on the whole was alright, but if you're not a fan of insta-love then I'd avoid this particular book because it was heavy handed and is clearly a set up for a sequel. And on that note there is really no climax or individual story arc in this story, which is frustrating. The entire plot is basically to be continued in the sequel. I feel like if you are writing a series each book in the series needs to have some individual pay-off or climax. It's just bad writing not to be able to develop an individual story arc in the context of an overall series arc and is frustrating for the reader. 
 On the whole this book was alright but really could have been better developed. I liked it enough to want to read the sequel, but it won't be on my favourites list any time soon.