The setting (London) is lovely (I find fiction is too often set inside the familiarity of the US) inspiring an armchair adventure unlike any other because of the time travelling connection. It sets up the primary players and begins the slow unravel that is Gwen’s past, present and future destiny. Ruby Red does a nice job as an introduction novel.

I often visualized the family and some instances of the settings of the film adaptation of Beautiful Creatures. In fact, in Ruby Red, the trips into the past are far too infrequent although I suspect we’ll see more in subsequent novels ( Sapphire Blue, Emerald Green), which are already translated and available in the US. The costumes are described beautifully, and I liked seeing the eras through Gwen’s first-person narrative. It’s fast-paced which is sure to keep reader’s attention, and the lavish trips into the past will appeal to any period drama or history lover. Originally written in German, I think there were a few things that were lost in translation or maybe the story is more about the “overall” premise rather than specifics since this trilogy follows the same heroine.īeyond this minor criticism, I can honestly say I enjoyed this novel. Even the leading hero, Gideon (who is described as an “obnoxious know-it-all” in a Goodreads description) is considerate and a gentleman. The concept is really good and the line-up of characters full of surprises and in many instances, depth. That said I found it endlessly fascinating. With sparks flying between the two, Gwen must navigate the secrets of her own ancestry as she discovers Gideon has secrets of his own.Īs someone who hasn’t read many time-travelling books, this genre was outside the box reading. A time traveler too, Gideon is Gwen’s travelling companion. Not only does she travel to the past three times in the same of hours, she is thrust into the secret society that is her family’s legacy and meets the arrogant Gideon. In an instant, Gwen’s life turns upside down. But Gwen’s mother has kept a secret for many years, a secret that soon reveals Gwen is the carrier of the time travelling gene.

This is not so for Charlotte who must take part in one series of training exercises after another. As her eccentric family is wrapped up in her cousin, Charlotte’s rite of passage as a time traveler, Gwen is free to come and go with few restrictions.

Gwyneth Shepherd’s normal high school life which she enjoys with her best friend, Lesley (whom she keeps no secrets from) is about to forever change. RELATED | The Orphan Queen – A YA Fantasy Lover’s Dream With a fun and creative storyline to its name, the adventures of heroine Gwyneth Shepherd are great fun to tag along with.

Originally written in the authors’ native German language, Ruby Red has since been adapted into English text and continues to be a popular YA novel.

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier