The story opens with the celebration of Lady Truthful Newington’s eighteenth birthday. It’s a small family affair with just her father, a retired Admiral, and three cousins. While a storm rages outside, the Admiral displays the heirloom Newington Emerald. Unfortunately the emerald disappears amidst the storm, and the Admiral is struck down with a mysterious, or perhaps not so mysterious, illness.
Truthful, known as Newt to her cousins, travels to London in search of the emerald, and to begin her ‘coming out’ in society, with the help of her eccentric great aunt, Lady Badgery. There is much mystery and magic along the way.
Truthful, who must disguise herself as a man to explore the city and stave off evil sorcery, is aided in her search by the enigmatic Major Harnett. They find that a lot more than Truthful’s inheritance could be at stake if the emerald isn’t safely retrieved, and that includes their lives.
Newt’s Emerald is, says Garth Nix, inspired by the work of three of his favourite authors: Georgette Heyer, Jane Austen and Patrick O’Brian. The combination makes for an enjoyable and easy to read to story, filled with colourful characters.
Title: Newt’s Emerald
Author: Garth Nix
Publisher: Allen & Unwin, $18.99 RRP
Publication Date: October 2015
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781760112653
For ages: 13+
Type: Young Adult Fiction
