Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (Precious Stone Trilogy #1)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical, Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: January 6th 2009
POV: Female - First-person, Past tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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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.

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This book was a lot of fun. It was very exciting with an original idea. The only other time I have heard of people time traveling without the help of a device was in The Time Traveler's Wife, which was an excellent book but it was pretty contemporary. More magical realism than fantasy. Ruby Red is thoroughly a fantasy, with time traveling to spectacular historical settings using their own innate abilities or with the help of a mysterious magical clock, secret societies and conspiracies, ghost, gargoyles, and mind powers. It had everything, action, mystery, humour, beautiful dresses, and a little romance with a thoroughly swoon-worthy guy.

 

I really like Gwenyth a lot. She is very spunky, like a lot of heroines who don't know there is anything special about them, but then are suddenly thrust into a strange new world. I also really like Gideon's calm, cool exterior and how he so very occasionally cracks a joke. You can tell there is much more to him underneath. But what? I am still a little suspicious about him. We didn't really get to know him very well or discover his real intentions.

The book felt extremely short. Goodreads says it was 324 pages, but I read it on my reader and it felt so much shorter than that. It is hard to believe it was 324 pages. It felt like just the intro to the story, like the book should not have finished yet. The series would probably best be read as one long book.

Since the story and the characters were still in the development stage, I hadn't yet gotten a clear picture of Gideon, but I really hope he is good and can be trusted. I would also love to believe that what happened between them at the end was real, but it seemed too fast. He might be up to something. I cant wait to read Sapphire Blue. I would read it immediately if it weren't for the fact that the English translation hasn't been published yet. I can foresee a lot of adventure and danger in their future and it is going to be thoroughly exciting.

“The first pair Opal and Amber are, 

Agate sings in B flat, the wolf avatar, 

A duet-solutio! - with Aquamarine. 

Mighty Emerald next, with the lovely Citrine. 

Number Eight is digestio, her stand is Jade fine. 

E major's the key of the Black Tourmaline, 

Sapphire sings in F major, and bright is her sheen. 

Then almost at once comes Diamond alone, 

Whose sign of the lion as Leo is known. 

Projectio! Time flows on, both present and past. 

Ruby red is the first and is also the last.”