A dazzling heart-shaped gem, the Emerald also bestows its wearer with magical powers.
When the Emerald disappears one stormy night, Newt sets off to recover it. Her plan entails dressing up as a man, mustache included, as no well-bred young lady should be seen out and about on her own.
When the Emerald disappears one stormy night, Newt sets off to recover it. Her plan entails dressing up as a man, mustache included, as no well-bred young lady should be seen out and about on her own.
While in disguise, Newt encounters the handsome but shrewd Major Harnett, who volunteers to help find the missing Emerald under the assumption that she is a man. Once she and her unsuspecting ally are caught up in a dangerous adventure that includes an evil sorceress, Newt realizes that something else is afoot: the beating of her heart.
In Newt’s Emerald, the bestselling author of Sabriel, Garth Nix, takes a waggish approach to the forever popular Regency romance and presents a charmed world where everyone has something to hide.
Garth Nix was born in 1963 in Melbourne, Australia, to the sound of the Salvation Army band outside playing 'Hail the Conquering Hero Comes' or possibly 'Roll Out the Barrel'. Garth left Melbourne at an early age for Canberra (the federal capital) and stayed there till he was nineteen, when he left to drive around the UK in a beat-up Austin with a boot full of books and a Silver-Reed typewriter.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
In Newt’s Emerald, the bestselling author of Sabriel, Garth Nix, takes a waggish approach to the forever popular Regency romance and presents a charmed world where everyone has something to hide.
My Thoughts About This Book:
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Fair warning if you enjoyed this book.. skip this review.
This is not my favorite book. To be frank I am really glad I picked this up at the library. I have never read anything before by Garth Nix, I have heard all the hype about him so I was excited. I am sure he is an awesome author. I just am unsure if he is an author for me.
The romance is quite awkward and forced in this book. Which is sort of my biggest pet peeves. It never gets better throughout the book. In fact, at times I thought, "Can this actually get any worse?" The love just feels lame and quickly created. There doesn't feel like there is any real feelings there.
The main characters have odd habits. They have barely completed a single conversation throughout the entire story, so explain to me how they can be in love? They don't even explain or give reasons to their love. I mean she never lists any quality she finds so attractive in him. Is this another case of "he's male, so therefore I must love him"?
She is incredibly irritating during the book, even he feels irritated by her. She is immature and childish. He tells her this but then randomly declares his love for her. It made me take a double take. She is ditzy. The heroine isn't exactly a heroine in my opinion.
The fact the author gave her a ridiculously silly name like Truthful. It caused me to really get into the story. I know this is a matter of taste and opinion. I feel like many people would agree that this would throw you a little or jarring. Even her nicknames bothered me. Can't we just use normal names in books, please?
Also like any magic or adventure story, they go out on a quest. This quest is the lamest thing I have read. It is absolutely ridiculous, as well as completely without direction. I don't understand how someone goes on a quest with no clues or how random clues appear out of thin air. I won't even begin to explain the masquerade. *eye roll*
There is no one that cares about these kids, no adult even puts children or teens in risks like these adults do. They send them wandering around. I just couldn't get past that. I guess it means I am getting old.
I think I have complained enough about this book. You get the picture, I disliked it.
Not sure I will be reading anything else by Garth Nix. But as always check the book out for yourself. It just might be your favorite read.
Despite a wheel literally falling off the Austin, Garth survived to return to Australia and study at the University of Canberra. After finishing his degree in 1986 he worked in a bookshop, then as a book publicist, a publisher's sales representative, and editor. Along the way he was also a part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve, serving in an Assault Pioneer platoon for four years. Garth left publishing to work as a public relations and marketing consultant from 1994-1997, till he became a full-time writer in 1998. He did that for a year before joining Curtis Brown Australia as a part-time literary agent in 1999. In January 2002 Garth went back to dedicated writer again, despite his belief that full-time writing explains the strange behaviour of many authors.
He now lives in Sydney with his wife, two sons and lots of books.
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