Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #3)

Original Title: Smaragdgrün

Year Published: 2014

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 480

First Sentence: "'That's going to leave a nasty scar', said the doctor, without looking up."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is.

She’s only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. She suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she’s just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably been using her all along.

My thoughts:

I loved this book, and I thought it was an excellent conclusion to the trilogy. All the loose ends are tied up in a very good and satisfying way, and I put the book down with a happy little sigh. No really, I did. I even squealed happily and did a little mini-dance. Like I said, I loved it.

The mystery deepens but secrets are starting to be revealed, slowly but surely. We get to learn more about the history of the guardians, and also a little bit more about the other time-travelers. Lucy and Paul's history finally gets revealed and it is both beautiful and heartbreaking. Gwen starts to get a grip on the whole time-travelling business but struggles with her feelings towards Gideon, especially since she has found out that he has played her on the Count's instructions. Gideon himself also comes to some conclusions that change things drastically.

Sadly enough, I don't feel like I can do a proper review of it, because I don't want to spoil it. However, it is a fantastic ending to the trilogy like I said before, and the whole trilogy is just magical.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I really do. Like I've said, many times now, this is a great trilogy and I would recommend it to anyone. 

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #2)

Original Title: Saphirblau

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 354

First Sentence: "The streets of Southwark were dark and deserted."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

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.

 

My thoughts:

Book number two is just as good as book number one. It picks up immediately after the first book.

 

Gwen is slowly getting used to her new powers as a time traveler, but it is not easy. There is so much she needs to know about how to behave, what to say and how to navigate society in the past, so she does not get caught and their secret revealed. It also becomes more and more obvious that the Guardians are keeping secrets from her, even information that she should probably know.

 

Gideon is not helping matter much either and confuses poor Gwen by being hot and cold (just like the Katy Perry song). It doesn't help that he is also very open about his distrust in her loyalties which only angers Gwen.

 

The rest of the book is just as good as the first one. It keeps you engaged and interested in what will happen next.

 

My thoughts:

I loved it and if you've read the first book then you should definitely read this one as well.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier (The Ruby Red Trilogy #1)

Original Title: Rubinrot

Year Published: 2012

Published by: Square Fish

Number of Pages: 322

First Sentence: "As she fell to her knees and burst into tears, he looked all around the park."

Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:

Although I had never seen him before, I recognized him immediately. I'd have known his voice anywhere. This was the guy I'd seen on my last journey back in time.

Or more precisely, the one who'd kissed my doppelganger while I was hiding behind the curtain in disbelief.

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesly. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century . . .

My thoughts:

I loved this book! It was so good. I really loved the idea of time travel and the way it was used in this book. The fact that there is a whole secret society dedicated to the time-travelers and the accuracy of the times they could travel to. It's just brilliant. I loved the writing as well, it was fast paced, funny and overall entertaining. 

Gwen is a great main character. She is put in a situation she is totally unprepared for but braves it anyway. She is funny and compassionate and I just really loved her. 

The rest of the characters are just as intriguing as the book itself, and help create the amazingness that is this book. There are so many secrets and so much mystery, but not too much, that it will have you itching to read the next two books (as I am writing this I am reading the third and final book). 

Do I recommend it?

YES! If you want to get away from vampires and werewolves and the rest of mythology that young adult fiction has honestly bled dry (although there are many good books with these themes) then this book is definitely for you. Actually, you should read it anyway. Just go... read... now!