Thursday, June 27, 2013

Book Review: Ruby Red and Sapphire Blue (Ruby Red Trilogy #1 and #2) by Kerstin Gier


Author:  Kerstin Gier
Publisher:  Henry Holt, 322 pages
Publication Date (US):  May 10, 2011

From Goodreads:
Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

Author:  Kerstin Gier
Publisher:  Square Fish, 384 pages
Publication Date (US):  October 31, 2012

From Goodreads:
Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Review:
I read these two books back to back so I'm reviewing them together since I don't necessarily remember what happened in one book versus the other book.  
I absolutely love this series.  I love time travel books and this one is particularly interesting and unique, with Gwen learning she has a time-travel gene, even though it was always understood that it was her cousin Charlotte who had the gene.  So Charlotte has been training for this her whole life while Gwen is completely clueless, suddenly finding herself time traveling and having no idea how she is supposed to handle herself.  

Gwen is my favorite character.  She is fun and bubbly, and her snide comments and observations are hilarious.  She is such a likable heroine and the fact that she sort of bumbles around makes her that much more endearing.  She doesn't know how to act in the 18th century, which is where they spend a good part of the time, and the scene where Gwen goes to the party, expecting it be dull and stuffy while ending up having a blast and singing (she asks for a hairbrush) is hilarious.  Her best friend Lesley is the perfect side-kick.  She helps Gwen by researching and trying to figure out what's going on with the Circle, time-travel, the Baron, etc. 

Gwen is teamed up with Gideon, a another time-traveler who just happens to be gorgeous and of course Gwen falls for him.  It's pretty much insta-love on the part of Gwen, but how Gideon feels we're not sure.   One minute he acts all romantic and interested and then the next he's all cold.  There's some trust issues going on and Gwen and the reader are left unsure about his feelings and his motives.  But I absolutely love their interactions together.  At the end of Book 2 things become a bit more clear, but there are still some questions. 

While I thoroughly enjoyed both of these books, I have to admit that not a lot happens plot-wise.  It's really one book split up into three.  But they're so much fun I don't mind.  Love love love this series!  I can't wait until Emerald Green comes out in October!


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