The higher the surrogates score the higher price they bring. The surrogates are graded on their Auguries abilities, which are Colour the easiest one to master, then Shape, and finally the hardest augury of Growth. The females from the Marsh have special powers which in this society are called 'Auguries'. It's quite ironic that those who have everything they could wish for materialistically need a poor member of the Marsh to give them what they need for their family lines to continue. All surrogates are taken from the females born in the Marsh. So when they want children they purchase a 'Surrogate' to fulfill that requirement for them.

Life inside The Jewel is, or would be perfect apart from one thing, non of the women in it can successfully carry a child. The four founding families are Lake, Scales, Stone and Rose, and at the head of everything is The Elecktor and his wife The Electress. In the very beginnings of the Lone City there were four founding houses that were in charge of building the wall that encircles Lone City.

The Royalty are the founding members of Lone City. The final inner most circle is called 'The Jewel' and as it's name suggests has the Royalty living within it. The next circle is called 'The Bank' and has merchants shops etc. The next circle is 'The Smoke' which contains all the industry and factories and their workers. So all those in The Farm work on the farms. Then the next circle is 'The Farm' where all the City's food is grown. Those from the marsh work in the inner circles as labourer's.

The Lone City is made up of five circles, the outer circle being 'The Marsh' and the home of the poorest. The book and it's dystopian society are set in The Lone City. I will further discuss and describe the covers in a separate section withing this post as I feel at this stage I could go on and on forever telling just enough but holding back major spoilers with this book. The alternative cover, the UK one (pictured below) also has the main character on it but from a different scene in the book. There are two covers for this book, the one US one above, with the main character as she is known as Lot 197 on the cover when she is living in The Jewel. I received an e-arc of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

The jewel amy ewing series