Newt's Emerald

by Garth Nix

Overview

Romance crackles in magical Regency London in this dazzling tale of a stolen jewel, the heroine determined to retrieve it, and a high-handed-but-attractive stranger who is not what he seems. From New York Times bestseller Garth Nix, praised as “one of the greatest living fantasy writers” by bestselling author Sarah J. Maas! 

It’s her eighteenth birthday, and Lady Truthful Newington—nicknamed “Newt”—is dreaming of her debut in London, where the streets are filled with eligible young men and magic. Coming of age, she is also to inherit the Newington Emerald, a dazzling gem of mysterious power, last worn by her late mother. 

When the Emerald is stolen in a magic-infused storm, Truthful will do anything to recover it—even disguise herself as a man and ally with the handsome-but-insufferable Major Harnett, who professes to despise womankind and harbors secrets of his own. The two are quickly swept into a perilous adventure, filled with sinister fey and shocking reveals, and in which grand balls and witty banter mix with daring escapes and deadly curses—for they discover the Emerald is at the heart of a nefarious plot that threatens everyone from Truthful, herself, to the Prince Regent! And as Truthful and Harnett battle enemies of the realm, each realizes there is more to the other than meets the eye: despite mutual disdain and mortal danger, could they actually be falling in love?    

In Newt’s Emerald, the bestselling author of Sabriel, Garth Nix, shares his own love for the Regency romantasy genre in a charmed world where everyone has something to hide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062360045
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	10/13/2015
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.20(d)
Lexile:	980L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Garth Nix is a New York Times bestselling novelist and has been a full-time writer since 2001 but has also worked as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative, bookseller, and part-time soldier in the Australian Army Reserve.

Garth’s many books include the Old Kingdom fantasy series, beginning with Sabriel and continuing to Goldenhand; the sci-fi novels Shade’s Children and A Confusion of Princes; the Regency romantasy Newt’s Emerald; and novels for children including The Ragwitch, the Seventh Tower series, the Keys to the Kingdom series, and Frogkisser! Garth has written numerous short stories, some of which are collected in Across the Wall and To Hold the Bridge. He has also cowritten several children’s book series with Sean Williams, including TroubleTwisters and Have Sword, Will Travel.

More than six million copies of his books have been sold around the world and his work has been translated into forty-two languages.

Editorial Reviews

07/20/2015
At her 18th birthday party, Lady Truthful, daughter of Admiral the Viscount Newington, is presented with the fabulous Newington Emerald, an heirloom of great magical power—which is immediately stolen by persons unknown. The Admiral is rendered insensible by the loss, and Truthful takes it upon herself to leave for London in pursuit. There she is swept up in the social scene and meets a dashing and mysterious soldier, Major Hartnett. The two take part in magical variations on familiar Regency elements—having adventures, going to balls, quarreling constantly—before recovering the emerald and, of course, falling in love. Nix describes meals and clothing in delicious detail; Truthful’s birthday dinner, for example, consists of “turbot with lobster sauce, several boiled fowls, a turtle, a ham, and a quarter of a lamb with cauliflowers... followed by a gooseberry and currant pie, a soft pudding, and five different sorts of fruit.” Although less memorable than Nix’s Old Kingdom tales, this romance should please the author’s regular readers and Georgette Heyer fans alike. Ages 13–up. Agent: Jill Grinberg, Jill Grinberg Literary Management. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

[Nix is] one of the greatest living fantasy writers.” — Sarah J. Maas, New York Times bestselling author of A Court of Thorns and Roses

“Nix sets the standard for fantasy.” — Leigh Bardugo, New York Times bestselling author of The Shadow and Bone trilogy

“A Regency romance with magic. Charming; quite, quite charming.” — Gail Carriger, New York Times bestselling author

“Part comedy of manners, part fantasy adventure, this lighthearted romp is ridiculous fun.” — Booklist (starred review)

“A delightful romp with dastardly plots and romantic confusions that would do Jane Austen proud. Fans of the author and of fantasy or Regency romance will enjoy this tale immensely." — School Library Journal

“Entertaining.” — Kirkus Reviews

“This romance should please the author’s regular readers and Georgette Heyer fans alike.” — Publishers Weekly

“Austen fans will be drawn to the familiar era and strong, stubborn heroine, and the touch of magic. ” — Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

“It’s clear that this was as much a pleasure for Nix to write as it is for readers to read, and there’s reveling in arcane language that will delight wannabe Austen-esque teens. Hand this to fans of period Masterpiece Theater sagas.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

From the Publisher

A surprise from Garth Nix: A Regency romance with magic. Charming; quite, quite charming.

Gail Carriger

Part comedy of manners, part fantasy adventure, this lighthearted romp is ridiculous fun.

Booklist (starred review)

It’s clear that this was as much a pleasure for Nix to write as it is for readers to read, and there’s reveling in arcane language that will delight wannabe Austen-esque teens. Hand this to fans of period Masterpiece Theater sagas and Burgis’ Kat, Incorrigible.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Austen fans will be drawn to the familiar era and strong, stubborn heroine, and the touch of magic.

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)

It’s clear that this was as much a pleasure for Nix to write as it is for readers to read, and there’s reveling in arcane language that will delight wannabe Austen-esque teens. Hand this to fans of period Masterpiece Theater sagas and Burgis’ Kat, Incorrigible.

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

2015-06-29
An author known for his imaginative worldbuilding tackles fantasy Regency romance. Lady Truthful Newington—"Newt" to friends and family—has never seen the family heirloom, a powerful emerald, she'll inherit when she's 25. When her widowed father brings it out to show guests on her 18th birthday, it's stolen. Headstrong and spirited, Truthful (as she is called in the third-person narration) heads to London to get it back. Strict rules govern aristocratic female behavior, so to facilitate her search she poses as a French male cousin, with the help of her great aunt, Lady Badgery, and a little glamour. Truthful's disguise brings her under suspicion as one of Napoleon Bonaparte's secret supporters, who are plotting to free him from imprisonment in Gibraltar. Her ruse also frees her to join forces with the handsome, mysterious Maj. Harnett. Pursuing the powerful, wily enchantress behind the theft, the two are captured and, mostly thanks to Truthful, barely escape drowning. Harnett holds women in low regard but after her true gender's discovered, concerned for her damaged reputation, reluctantly proposes marriage and is indignantly rejected. After a meandering start, the novel, first published as an e-book in 2013, follows genre conventions dutifully, in characterization (plucky Truthful especially), plot, and setting, its aristocratic milieu bolstered by details of food, entertainment, and female dress. Slight but entertaining; even hobbled by cautious storytelling, it should satisfy genre fans. (Regency fantasy. 12-15)

Kirkus Reviews