Review: Ruby Red

Ruby Red (Edelstein-Trilogie #1) by Kerstin Gier (translated by Anthea Bell)
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. 
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 324
Source: Zeitghost Media/Publisher 
Amazon | 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.

Ruby Red is absolutely fantastic!! I kept putting it off because, usually, I’m not a fan of books involving time travel. I. WAS. SO. WRONG! I devoured this book. Ruby Red alone has changed how I view the time travel genre!

What really surprised me is that there is so little romance, but this book still demanded my attention. I feel that sometimes I rely on the romantic side of a book to get me through a mediocre plot; but definitely not in this case!  In my mind, that is the sign of a truly special book. I definitely foresee a budding romance in Sapphire Blue, the next in the series. I’m super excited to see how that plays out!

Kerstin Gier manages to weave history, time travel, and secret societies together seamlessly. Ruby Red felt so authentic! She included excerpts of secret writings, letters, and maps that give readers a deeper look into the secret society that plays such a large role in this book. Throughout the Ruby Red I couldn’t help but feel that there was much more going on behind the scenes with that society. The air of mystery was ever-present. Not much of the mystery is actually revealed in this book. Ruby Red left me craving for more!

On another note: I’m amazed at how beautifully this book flows. Anthea bell did a really great job with this one; the translation was perfect! With consistent characters and a wonderful, gripping, and mysterious plot, Ruby Red delivers!!  My only problem now is that I have to wait to get Sapphire Blue! I NEED it!

Review: The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale

The Twisted Tale of Stormy Gale
by Christine Bell
Carina Press
Advance uncorrected proof received from NetGalley
Genre: Historical Romance, Time Travel
★★★☆☆


 
I'm a time pirate-born in 1810, now a 21st-century woman. I travel through time trying to right wrongs without disrupting the fragile balance between what is and what can never be.

That's why it's vital that I go to 1836 and find the man who conned my brother out of his Time Travel Mechanism as quickly as possible. If the technology falls into the wrong hands, it could change the world as we know it. The notorious Duke of Leister definitely qualifies as the wrong hands. An amateur scientist of the slightly mad variety, he's bound to figure out how to use the TTM sooner rather than later.

I knew this wouldn't be easy. But I wasn't counting on him being as sexy as hell. Or winding up chained to his bed...

via goodreads

What I Loved

• Original plot
• Saucy and tough female protagonist
• Quick and mildly entertaining read
• Time travel elements

What I Didn't Like

• This book was quite short, and a bit too slow for my liking. There was always something going on, but I just couldn't get into it.
• The characters just seemed very shallow to me. Perhaps this is because there was not enough time to really get to know them.

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Review

I think this story would be best for someone looking for a quick read. I was looking for something with a bit more substance. I personally felt that the plot was rather simple and shallow, though it does get a bit more interesting later in the book. Characters could have been somewhat more developed as well. I finished this book feeling as if I had not really accomplished anything by reading it. It always felt like it was missing something. As I said earlier, I recommend this for someone who is looking for a quick, mildly entertaining read (airplane ride perhaps?).