Book Jacket:
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.
You can read an excerpt here.
Review:
Ruby Red is a cute, light, unabashedly bouncy adventure that revolves around much more than just a romantic pairing.
With plenty of action and a deft touch of mysteriousness, this book just has an old school sense of adventure about it. Overall Gier does a good job of teasing lots of bits and pieces, hinting at the big picture without being too alienating or obscure – and that is a hard line to walk. I did have a few moments, particularly in the beginning of this book, where I started to get annoyed with the obfuscation (it seemed a bit too contrived in places), but Gier rewarded my patience and slowly earned my trust. I do love this type of pure adventure story, but I was somewhat wary of this book, as adventure stories are so rarely handled well (why does pop wisdom believe adventure plots were made to be stupid?), yet as I went along, and as the shape of this story began to emerge from the fog, I was surprised by just how much I liked where Gier was going and how well she was building her overarching plot (Ruby Red is the first of three, and this trilogy is already a huge hit overseas). So while there were moments in this book I had to power through, in the end I was very glad I did – I really had quite a bit of fun reading it.
This is most definitely a light, frothy kind of book, but as a reader who has a limited tolerance for cutsey, believe me when I tell you that this story is more than just an excuse to flounce through period costume changes. For me, the best part of this book was the intrigue – the mystery of the families and their histories, their cult like society, with its layers of secrecy, and the shroud of mystery surrounding the grand plan. The whys and hows of the jumping back and forth in time are never really dealt with – this book is hardly a science fiction treatise, it’s too busy having fun – but there were very, very interesting overlaps, in terms of past and present and future, and some very, very fascinating clues that hint at the larger picture. There really is a story here, it’s not just a romance – though yes, for the shippers, there is an obvious romantic pairing – but if you’re at the point where the idea of a girl being “inexplicably drawn” to a dark, mysterious boy sends you running in the opposite direction, fear not this book.
Though I have to admit, yes, I did get a little irritated by the requisite love interest, Gideon. I enjoyed Gwyn’s inner snarking at his high handed behavior, and at least she did stand up to him, but in the end she basically falls for him despite the fact that he’s a complete jerk to her. Yes, he’s good looking and I get that he’s supposed to be charmingly irritating, Pride & Prejudice style, but I just wasn’t swooning. I actually found myself far more interested in the other romantic couple of this story – I won’t say who, for spoilers – and far and away my favorite relationship was Gwyn’s with her best friend, Leslie. Together they were just silly fun, in the best sense.
Ruby Red is a book that gallops forward in an entertaining style, and wow did I like the ending. It surprised me, with its abruptness and its substantial yet unexpected reveal, and does it ever work. Gier gives us just enough to tantalize without giving too much away, and it makes for a downright intriguing set up for book two, Sapphire Blue. I’m totally hooked, I admit it.
In the end, this story just has that fun Saturday afternoon flare, with plenty of witty banter, intrepid action, and gorgeous costuming. Yes, it’s light, and yes, it mostly certainly exists to entertain, but I found plenty to entice me further into this story. I really like the family mysteries, the questions about the larger picture and the doubts raised about who the good guys and bad guys really are. This may be pure brain candy, but it definitely is of the rich and chocolaty variety. If you like Ally Carter’s Gallagher Girls series, you should definitely check out Ruby Red.
Byrt Grade: A-/B+
As Levar Burton used to say – you don’t have to take my word for it…
Above all, Ruby Red is tons of fun. Action, adventure, ghosts, sword fights, time travel, and, my favorite, lots of really rad historical costumes and hairstyles. My concerns lie in the love story (I just don’t buy it. Gideon is irritating beyond belief)
Susan Burton for the New York Times says:
The storytelling is fluid, and Gier is both clever and funny: “There was always some horrible thing lurking” in the past — “war, smallpox, the plague.” It’s just that quantum physics isn’t the point. This is a story that builds to the kiss.
The plot, which kept me turning the pages rapidly, was one of most original I’ve come across in the YA genre. Now I know why it’s an international bestseller!
Hey! How cool that you did like this one. It is rare that a german author is successful in the US, so both thumbs up.
I am from Germany and I did read it a while ago when it came out here and I really loved the funny style of Kerstin Gier (who’s known for her chick lit-family books here in Germany). They even sold the movie rights to Ruby Red so I am looking forward to this as well.
However, if the titles get translated correctly, the second book should be called somewhat like SAPHIRE BLUE with EMERALD GREEN being the closing book of the trilogy.
Yes, Darkstar is right – next is Sapphire Blue followed by Emerald Green.
I enjoyed Ruby Red and am looking forward to the sequels, but be warned, this first novel feels more like an elaborate prologue than being a complete story in and of itself. Also it teeters on the edge of “secrets for secrets’ sake” and I’m not yet sure if the dark hints of complex plots will actually lead to interesting complex plots, or if the big reveals will turn out to be simple, boring meglomaniacs.
I’m less concerned with Gideon than some other reviewers. There are plenty of parallels in real life, with teens raised in a particular subculture thinking their status in that subculture makes them superior in all things. I find his arrogance quite believable; I agree it is not very appealing, but it’s very common in teenage boys. Girls’ attraction to the confidence exuded by such jerks is also common. It would be nice to see Gywneth realize that her attraction is based on looks and confidence, rather than on some kind of deep, meaningful ‘soul connection’, and that kissing someone you like for the first time is exciting, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be together forever. We’ll see if this series gives in to complete teen crush fantasy, or if we’re shown some substance along with the sugar.
Amo este libro es genial, tiene de todo =)
Just realized you reviewed this book here as well ^^
I was surprised that I liked it quite a lot, because I’m usually not that much into romance, but it’s true that Ruby Red also has a story to tell, it’s funny and it’s full of suspense. And Gideon is just too cool to be true ;)
I was also wondering why they changed the name of the main character. In German she is called Gwendolyn or Gwen for short. Any idea? Does that name sound weird for an US reader?
The editors must have thought so! Lol. It’s true, we really don’t have a lot of Gwendolyns running around – is that a common German name? – but we don’t have that many Gwenyths either! Six one, half dozen the other…
Actually no. It’s a well known name, but not much used. But since the character is supposed to be British or from London at least … I believe it might be a name the author considered fitting and maybe typical for someone from the UK ^^
You still have to wait a long time for Sapphire Blue o_o And this series is so full of evil cliffhangers ….
am citit cartea , este foarte frumoasa , as vrea sa stiu cand apare in romana si verde de smarald ! :D
can some one please please please tell me what the climax is in this book since its only book one is the climax supposed to be that she actually has the gene right? i need help this is for a report im not trying to cheat its just a little confusing since its only book one
iubesc cartile astea !!!! abea astept sa apara si in romana Verde de Smarald :D
Wait there will be amovie! When is this. I Need to know when the movie wll be out. I NEED TO SEE IT!!!!!
I thought her name was Gwendolyn….In the norwegian books it is…O.o
And the books are amazing, I red Ruby red in ONE day because it was so exiting.
And i almost died waiting for sapphire blue. I kinda liked that she had a crush on Gideon. I also liked that Gier described him as a big arrogant jerk. Or in norwegian, snørrhoven drittsekk :D
Loved the whole book, but I kinda understood the answer to some of the “mysteries”, but when you get to know who is the evil guy (in the present) I got really suprised.
Loved the books, they were AMAZING :D
what would you saw the theme is?