I was excited to read this book when I saw it was a fusion of Regency romance and the fantasy genre. Newt is a young lady about to start her first season in London society, but she also happens to be able to use magic. This helps her to disguise as a male in order to get back the gem that was taken from her. The plot sounds promising, and the story is indeed fun, but it is also a bit disappointing.

Reviewers on Good Reads commented that the novel was ‘just like a Georgette Heyer novel’, and it was even noted that Nix read Heyer's novels before writing Newt's Emerald. Since Heyer is one of my favourite authors, this probably raised my expectations too much. Newt's Emerald has its own charm, but it is lacking the wit and finesse of a Georgette Heyer Regency romance novel. The magic element is certainly interesting, but not exactly developed. The same can be said for the Regency setting. The words, places, and attire is there, but it mostly is just a pretty backdrop. In short, don't go into this book expecting some kind of literary masterpiece. It is not that kind of book.

That said, the story itself is a fun read with lots of adventure. I felt the characters were a little lacking in development, but they were still likable and interesting. If anything, I'd say this story had a lot of promise but suffered because of its length, which did not allow much room for development. It is an enjoyable read, though, and would be great for some light reading while at the beach or on holiday.