‘Newt’s Emerald’ is a guilty pleasure wrapped up in the guise of a regency romantic adventure with sorcery and deception – but it had me at ‘Garth Nix’. I have been a long-time fan of Nix ever since I discovered the world of Sabriel, and I have read all of his books I could get my hands on.  I was not disappointed in this short and sweet tale of Truthful Newtington and her chase after the powerful Newtington Emerald.

Great Cover illustration by Kali Ciesemier

The heroine, Truthful, is surrounded by her three cousins and cantankerous father when the family heirloom is stolen amid the damages of a magically conjured storm. The father falls into his sick bed, the cousins into absurd plans hatched whilst they were ‘in their cups’ and it is left up to Truthful to investigate the matter from her Great-Aunt’s house in London. A minor hitch in her desire to enter society, but her eccentric, fez-wearing, power glamouress of a Great-Aunt is ready to help her search for the famed Emerald, albeit in a way that will not compromise Truthful’s reputation. So she becomes her pious, shy and effeminate distant French cousin, Henri (the disguise held together with a magic mustache – which made with chuckle every time), and undertakes her search through London for the Emerald.

The primary object of the novella must be to entertain, because it is a fun, light read that has more of a focus on the magic adventure and leaves the romance to blossom in the background. The love interest was the irascible, direct, secretive Major Harnett (aka Charles), which at first met Truthful in her male disguise and aided her in the search for the gem. He was all chummy to her in a male disguise but was distant and abrasive with her ‘revealed’ true identity. He does act like a douche to her and she responds with anger and defiance, and such strong emotions were silently coupled with concern for each other (even though they would deny it). I was a little surprised how quickly they came together, and how his earlier behaviour was easily explained away – he needed to apologise at least.

It is a well-written novella that would be enjoyed by anyone with a penchant for regency era, adventure, magic, mystery, and romance – not to forget the pirate fighting.

Cover concepts