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    Ruby Red
    Ruby Red
    Ruby Red
    Audiobook8 hours

    Ruby Red

    Written by Kerstin Gier

    Narrated by Marisa Calin

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.
    Kerstin Gier's Ruby Red is young adult novel full of fantasy and romance.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    TranslatorAnthea Bell
    Release dateNov 2, 2011
    ISBN9781427221124
    Author

    Kerstin Gier

    Kerstin Gier is the bestselling author of the Ruby Red trilogy, as well as several popular novels for adults. She lives in Germany.

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    Reviews for Ruby Red

    4/5

    841 ratings95 reviews

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    • 3/5
      Nachdem ich nun jahrelang dem Hype um diese Bücher entkommen bin, hat es mich letztlich doch wieder eingeholt. Das Thema Zeitreise hat mich neugierig gemacht und wegen der schönen Cover bin ich ohnehin immer wieder um die Edelsteintrilogie herum geschlichen, also habe ich mich geschlagen gegeben.Was mich gleich zu Anfang von Rubinrot irritiert und nachhaltig gestört hat war das Londoner Setting. Nicht, dass ich dieses Setting grundsätzlich nicht mögen würde, im Gegenteil! Nein, irritierend empfand ich die Tatsache, dass hier eine deutsche Autorin am Werk ist die mit englischen Namen, englischen Schuluniformen, englischem Allerlei um sich wirft und mir damit den Eindruck vermittelt hat auf die Erfolgsschiene anderer, tatsächlich englischsprachiger Autoren aufspringen zu wollen. Fragt mich nicht warum, aber ich empfand das als extrem störend und musste dann sogleich feststellen, dass ich das gesamte Buch weniger glaubhaft finden würde.Auf den folgenden Seiten hat sich daran leider auch nicht all zuviel verändert, denn man merkt der Handlung schnell an, dass sie auf ein recht junges Publikum abzielt und vieles kam mir von Erzählstil und Wortwahl her ›typisch deutsch‹ vor. Während viele Jugendbücher außerdem auch erwachsene LeserInnen noch zu begeistern vermögen, ist Rubinrot einfach ein bisschen zu schlicht und zu stark nach einer bestimmten Formel konstruiert worden. Wer aber Lust auf leichte Kost hat und sich nicht zu sehr konzentrieren will oder kann, der wird zumindest locker unterhalten.Gwen kommt als Protagonistin anfangs recht aufgeweckt daher und ist auch nicht gerade auf den Mund gefallen. Die Autorin lässt immer mal wieder das Problem der Geschlechterrollen auftauchen, was sich vor allem anhand des frauenfeindlichen Grafen zeigt. Während Gwen zunächst eine Figur zu sein scheint die dem alten Tattergreis mal erklären könnte wo der Hammer hängt, fügt sie sich dann aber doch sehr schnell in ihre ›dummes Frauchen‹ – Rolle und erschlägt damit sämtliche Hoffnungen auf eine selbstbewusste Protagonistin. In manchen Situationen mag man das mit viel gutem Willen noch als Taktik entschuldigen können, in anderen dagegen nicht. Gwen hat durchaus gute Ansätze, aber sie werden immer wieder durch widersprüchliches Verhalten untergraben sobald unser Graf oder auch der obligatorische heiße Draufgänger Gideon de Villiers ins Spiel kommen. Es gibt sicherlich schlimmere Beispiele für schwache Frauenfiguren, ein Vorbild wird dadurch aus Gwen trotzdem nicht. Denn wenn es darauf ankommt ihre Ansichten zu vertreten und für sie einzustehen zieht unser spitzzüngiges Mäuschen schnell den Kopf ein. Schade.Über ihren männlichen Mitstreiter kann man fast noch weniger sagen als über Gwendolyn. Gideon ist der überdurchschnittlich attraktive ältere Junge den eine ordentliche Portion Arroganz umgibt und der selbstverständlich alles kann. Selbstredend verbirgt sich in seinem Kern natürlich ein weiches Herz. Über die konsequent folgende Liebelei ist man entsprechend nicht verwundert und auch die übliche Eifersuchtsszene darf nicht fehlen, die dank Nebenbuhlerin Charlotte beigesteuert wird.Alle Figuren bleiben dabei relativ blass und entwickeln sich weniger, als dass einem ihre Persönlichkeit stichwortartig vorgesetzt wird.Die Handlung selbst ist immerhin recht solide, auch wenn die vermeintlichen Geheimnisse leicht vorhersehbar sind. Hier macht sich vermutlich wieder das Lesealter bemerkbar. Jüngere Leser dürften die gut ausgeschmückten Zeitreisen und das Mysterium um den Chronographen wesentlich spannender finden.Kurz und knapp: Rubinrot ist eher eine schnelle Mittagslektüre oder ein Buch für den Besuch am Strand. Zur seichten Unterhaltung gut geeignet, allerdings bleibt nach Zuklappen des Buches nicht sehr viel hängen. Zu empfehlen eher jungen Lesern oder jenen die nur alle Jubeljahre mal zu einem Buch greifen.
    • 4/5
      3.75 stars ✨
      A ya time-travelling novel that I wanted to read for ages!!! Time-travel is my favorite trope so I really had to... ? I will soon pick up the rest of the series as well, but as far as the first book is concerned, I enjoyed the plot a lot and the characters are lovable... Or most of them are! Haha
    • 3/5
      Sixteen-year-old Gwyneth has always been assured of a normal life, while her cousin has been thoroughly prepared for time-travel (everyone expects she has the gene). So Gwen is bewildered when she is catapulted back in time for the first time without any preparation. Thrust into a perilous situation, she must unravel the mysteries of a secret society and her own birth, deal with her abrupt trips back in time, and her attraction to the gorgeous-but-obnoxious Gideon.Though I love young adult novels, this one was a bit too clichéd. I’ve heard it all before: the afflicted girl, the dangerous circumstances, the hot guy. The plot was gripping, yet predictable. The characters weren’t too well developed, but they were definitely relatable. Language isn’t very natural either. It’s a beach read, something you forget after you close the book. Don’t get me wrong, I liked it enough to plan to read the sequel when it comes out. It just won’t go in my list of favorites.
    • 4/5
      I really ended up enjoying this one, although it took a few chapters for me to really settle into it. The story is fantastic, the twists are good, historical fashion galore (which I completely loved) and the pacing of the relationship that grew between Gwyneth and Gideon was perfect. I often wondered if they would ever even become friends!The few hitches here are these: the dialogue style took a little getting used to. At times, it seems a little awkward, seemed to run on---kind of like when you're watching subtitles in a foreign movie and the dialogue doesn't quite flow right in english. I was willing to overlook this, though. Once I got into the story, and kept in mind that it was, in fact, translated from German, it wasn't distracting. Secondly, there were some parts where Gwen and her friend, Lesley, seemed younger than their seventeen years of age. That may have been in part, because of the dialogue as well.Other than that, this was really fun read! Most of the characters are complex and interesting. It was easy to feel for Gwen, being thrust into this uncontrollable situation with no warning or training, all the training having been wasted on her spoiled, self-entitled cousin, Charlotte, secrets coming out the woodwork, and blame being thrown on her shoulders from her cruel aunt. The best friend, Lesley was smart and resourceful and a rock for Gwen to lean on. I loved Mr. George and the seamstress, Madam Rossini (she was brilliant and I wish there had been drawings of the wonderful fashions she was creating!). I hope there are no surprising twists further on the make a bad guy of Mr. George, he is such a sweet man---I think it would break my heart. :) I can't wait for the next books to hear more about Lucy and Paul's part in the story.The ending is a bit torturous...extreme cliffhanger warning!! The very last pages included the beginning of the next book, which helped a bit, but still. Pretty abrupt and left me dying for more. Sapphire Blue comes out Spring 2012!!
    • 3/5
      Time travel is inherited in this British fantasy. A secret society has grown up around the time travelling family members. Now Gwyneth is surprised to find that she is the lastest member of her family to have inherited the gene. Everyone thought it would be her cousin Charlotte - and Gwyneth hasn't been trained at all.
    • 5/5
      Rather good adolescent book, well read. A good trilogy start
    • 4/5
      Good teen time travel adventure story.
    • 5/5
      Sixteen-year-old Gwenneth is surprised to find that she had inherited the time travel gene in her family. Her cousin Charlotte has been groomed to be the next time traveler. When she starts traveling in time, she is confused and the group that controls time travelers doesn't help her confusion. Her mother tells her not to trust anybody. But she and Gideon de Villiers travel back in time to try to gather drops of blood from other time travelers to complete an ancient prophecy. Only it seems that someone knows when and where they will be going. Fascinating start to a new series. I want book 2 now!
    • 4/5
      I actually started this book last April, but didn't get far before putting it down. It came up in another challenge this month so I decided to give it another try. I started over and it was like reading a different book altogether. It just goes to show that giving a slow starting book a second chance can really pay off.

      This turned out to be a fun adventure with lots of mystery surrounding our main heroine, Gwyneth. She comes from a family with the ability to time travel...a family that has been keeping secrets...and now Gwyneth's life is about to change in ways she never imagined. I really enjoyed Gwyneth's personality. She was quirky, witty, and brightened the pages with her silly inner thoughts when she was nervous.

      There are unanswered questions, so I'll be moving to the next book very soon. I'm curious to see where the author takes the characters!


    • 4/5
      I have a love/hate relationship sci-fi/fantasy that centers on time travel. I love Connie Willis's stories enough that I'm willing to suspend my inner skeptic and just enjoy the time travel journeys with her characters.

      I enjoyed this story well enough, but I kept butting up against some time travel inconsistencies that kind of spoiled the plot for me a little bit. I'm going to try and explain them as vaguely as possible, to avoid spoilers.

      For example, if people from the present go into the past and tell the "past" people about some of the things coming up in their future, why don't they tell them about other things? For that matter, why hasn't someone from the future already gone as far back in the past as possible to tell the first of the "twelve" the names of all the others and who's going to rebel and so on? Why on earth would certain travelers need to be present at a person's birth to know her name, given that other travelers from a more recent time period could've just told them the name?

      I understand why these bits of info had to be revealed the way they were in terms of their storytelling purpose (of creating a mystery), but I got thrown out of the story and into "but wait a sec...." moments too often.

      That being said, I will likely listen to the next book in the series, esp. if I can get it through my Scribd subscription (rather than buying it on Audible).
    • 5/5
      Funny. Nice light read. Highly enjoyable. I'd highly recommend it.
    • 3/5
      There were times when I became a little confused with this book. This story tells of time-traveling families and at times the family relationships seemed a little tangled. The mystery is not solved within this book and requires reading the next installment of the trilogy to discover more.
    • 4/5
      Gwen unexpectedly turns out to have inherited her family's time traveling gene. As a result she is thrust into a secret society, called the Guardians, that is trying to solve the secret of the 12 travelers, including Gwen, who have appeared through out history. Gwen doesn't know whom she can trust, especially as she learns about her relative who has stolen an important machine from the Guardians and has been hiding in the past. Everyone, including her mother, has secrets and she has to rely on the arrogant, but cute, fellow time traveler, Gideon. The character is a bit exasperating, but then again I find most teens exasperating so it could just be me. While a bit slow to get started, it gets very exciting toward the ending cliffhanger.
    • 5/5
      While overall I loved it, uncritically, I found the abrupt ending odd - it didn't feel so much like a resolution of any of the plot threads as it did a chapter ending. Very much looking forward to reading book 2 and seeing if it seamlessly picks up the story. As to the story itself - time travel! Intrigue! Weird conspiracy theory! All of these are things I love.
    • 3/5
      I give this a 3.75. It was an enjoyable quick read. Only downside to it was that it felt like the story was only finally just getting started and then the book was over.
    • 1/5
      If you have even an inkling of what time travel is, you would be completely annoyed by the way time travel is portrayed here. Too many plot holes to count.
    • 3/5
      Lively YA involuntary time travel - but controllable with unique device - series introduction. The dangerous very limited family specific ability has alway been in the background of Gwyneth's life but when is strikes her everything changes. And she would be wise not to trust anyone, especially herself!
    • 3/5
      Honestly, I'm not quite sure why I liked Ruby Red so much. The plot is intriguing, anything with time travel would have to try really hard not to be, but the movement of the characters is predictable. Each one fits a nice trope, which isn't bad in itself, it just makes it easy to guess what they'll do next if one cares to guess about such things. There are moments of action, but the whole book is essentially introduction, build-up for the second book.

      However, despite all of this, it is fast-paced, colourful, and sometimes funny, too. Gwyneth might not be the most original heroine, but her common sense and occasional snarkiness are endearing. The incorporation of different time periods of history gives ample opportunity for description, which is provided in a good amount for this style of book. Obviously, Kerstin Gier doesn't go Dickens on us, but one does get a good glimpse of all the crystal chandeliers and velvet drapes or the dusty basements filled with mice.

      The novel's end left me with more questions than which I began, but hopefully they'll be answered in the second book.

      Don't go into the book too seriously. If you're looking for a light diversion, that's what you'll get.

      Another impulse read turned good, I'd say.
    • 4/5
      I read this book in one sitting. I liked the premise, the time travel and the writing. I did feel like the author spent a lot of time building up the world and up to Gwen's introduction into the society and didn't give me enough actual time travel. I could tell that she was building up for a trilogy all along. I'm not particularly fond of that habit with authors but I'm willing to overlook it here because it was a really good book. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
    • 3/5
      I found that the whole book felt like a prologue, it started getting interesting just as it ended. I understand that it's a series and the author wanted to leave you desperate for the next book, it just felt too forced and sudden.
    • 4/5
      The Precious Stone Trilogy by Kirsten Gier starts off with Ruby Red, an intriguing novel filled with mystery, fantasy and traces of science fiction. We meet Gwen, a sixteen year old girl who's said to be mundane in every way, especially when compared to her self-righteous cousin. Fortunately for Gwen, she's special. Gwen can see ghosts and time travel - much to everyone's dismay - and that makes her the Ruby. She pushes her cousin out of the limelight and forces Gideon (the Diamond) to take notice of her, even though they kind of despise one another. Things quickly change from hatred to toleration - and then to love? - which isn't exactly how real life works, but somehow it didn't feel too out of this world.

      Now, yeah okay, I usually make fun of stuff like this because it's filled with tropes (and I do so enjoy making fun of tropes), but Ruby Red wasn't as bad as all that. It's a rather short novel, but it's fast-paced, and it sets up the story for the next book. I think some things did get lost in translation (Ruby Red is originally a German book), especially the characters' true voices. All in all though, I enjoyed the book. The movie (in German) isn't too shabby either.
    • 4/5
      If I read this when I was younger, I would have loved it. It has everything - an interesting leading lady, an ancient mystery, and time travel. Unfortunately, I'm not young anymore. Which means, the leading lady is annoying teenager, the story a bit simple, and the ending, well, is not an ending. There are two other stories that continue the series, but since nothing was resolved in the first book, it didn't feel like a complete story.As for the technical bits - writing was well done, the translator did an excellent job. It is a bit simple - but considering its a YA book, I won't hold it against it.I won't be continuing this series, but if I find the other books, I'll probably continue with it.
    • 5/5
      If I had to choose just a quick phrase to describe Ruby Red, I'd definitely go with utterly enchanting. Even if I hadn't received this book for review I would have likely bought it just based on the cover. (I admit it, yes.) The deep red, the gorgeously raised silver accents, it is too beautiful for words. Then I flipped the book over and read the synopsis that cemented my attachment to this book. I cannot express enough how much I was in love with this book before I even opened it to the first page.

      Of course, then I did open it, at which point I was swept away into a brand new world. Gwyneth Shepard is an amazing character. I loved her tenacity and her quick wit. The banter between her and the infuriating (albeit rather handsome) Gideon de Villiers is fantastic. I appreciated the fact that Kerstin Geir allowed her character to be so human and flawed. Gwyneth wasn't raised to be a time traveler, she isn't the "pretty" sister, and people are doubting her at every turn based on a past she can't remember. At the heart of it all, she's just a normal girl who can do extraordinary things. Coping with that isn't easy for her but, despite some slight negativity, she vows to do the best that she knows how. I loved her for that.

      If the characters themselves weren't enough though, the expertly woven story really brought it home for me. The time periods that Gwyneth and Gideon travel to are richly detailed, and accurate. The story behind the beginnings of these time travelers is well fleshed out, and it leaves just enough to the imagination to keep you wanting to read on to the next in the series. It was nice that, despite the numerous characters across time periods, there was always something to help me realign myself with the overall story. Add in a bit of intrigue, deception, and an ending that had my mouth hanging open, and you have a book that I fell so deeply in love with that I'm likely going to read it again. 2012 cannot come soon enough I tell you. I need to know what happens next!

      So yes, I loved this book with all my heart. Ruby Red is a beautifully executed mix of historical fiction and science fiction that is sure to delight. To all my readers who enjoy books of this nature, you need to pick this up. The story that Kerstin Gier has woven for us is not to be missed!
    • 3/5
      I love Gwyneth. I love Lesley. And I trust no one. This book was filled with mystery and mythology from the beginning. Gwen is a part of an aristocratic family with a time-traveling gene. Charlotte, Gwen's snobby, know-it-all, thinks she's better than everyone cousin, was supposed to have the time-travelling gene (if you can't tell I don't like Charlotte). Gwen is thrown into the world of the past from the 1700s to the 1900s. With little to no training. Her time-traveling partner, Gideon, goes back and forth of treating Gwen nice to hating her. And with the Guardians of the Secret Lodge telling Gwen nothing about the mysteries, Gwen is not sure who to trust.

      The writing was beautiful and enchanting, filled with interesting characters, from the past to the present. I did get annoyed with how Charlotte was acting and how the Guardians were treating Gwen like a traitor, but it did make the book more believable.

      The book pulls you in from the beginning and doesn't let you go. As soon as you finish the first you will want to read the second. With so many twists and turns, and filled with believable characters you will want to read the book in one sitting, just like I did.

      4/5
    • 5/5
      Ruby Red follows a young girl named Gwyneth who soon discovers that it’s her ,and not her cousin Charlotte, that inherits the family time travel gene. It follows Gwen and her path of trying to handle this new life that literally happened over night. She has to deal with the know-it-all Gideon who is her time traveling partner. This book makes you laugh,cry, get angry, and just so much more. I’m so happy I decided to enter Gwen’s world and I want to thank Kerstin Gier for making a fantasy book that I can actually get in to.
    • 3/5
      This was a really easy read book. It was build around a very fascinating idea and had a couple of interesting characters, and I guess this is the first book where I almost sympathized more with the bad guy than the main character. He is clever and good looking, right? I wish the author had worked more on the history part, because I am sorry to say that this book comes with a lot of drama, plot holes and missing logic. I had understood the plot line from page 60, and still the main character's questions are put on repeat though out the book, just in case you didn't get it the first time. And no, there's no way you're going though a cab window with a 18th century dress... The ending add up for some of irritation that build up in me from the first 100 pages, adding a extra star here at the review, but with a easy language this was for me nothing els than an other page turner.
    • 4/5
      4.5 A little bit slow at the beginning but once the plot picked up, it was great! can't wait to read the next one.
    • 4/5
      Didn't really start to get into this until about 60% through the book, however, once everything clicked for me I really enjoyed.
    • 4/5
      nicely written. good entertainment.although he character of Gweneth does seem like a nice girl, but her giggly attribute seems out of the package.
    • 4/5
      Kerstin Gier is a German author who wrote Ruby Red and sequels Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green in 2009/2010, which are now being released in the U.S.

      Gwyneth comes from a family of time travelers. Certain females in her family are born with a time travel gene that allows them, with the help of a chronograph, to travel to specific places in time. Without the chronograph, they experience uncontrolled travel which could cause some risks - imagine being on the third floor of a building that didn’t exist 50 years ago. Gwyneth’s cousin, Charlotte, has this gene and has been preparing for her first travel for many years. However, Gwyneth is the one who travels through time and this causes a lot of issues for all parties involved - most notably, Gideon, the male time-traveler of her generation.

      Ruby Red is a complex time-travel novel with a big appeal. It has a slow start where the reader waits for Gwen to travel the first time, and then waits for her to reveal her time travel to her family. Even though this part is a bit slow in pacing there are a number of humorous experiences that Gwen finds herself in that kept me enteretained. Once the story picks up it is fast (though not overwhelming) paced. We’re introduced to different time travelers, different times and a mysterious Count who seems very shady.

      Gwen is a likeable character whose witty commentary allowed for much amusement. Gwen’s best friend - Leslie - is a clever girl who helps Gwen along the way, researching different aspects of time-travel. I found Gwen confiding in Leslie to be refreshing especially when many protagonists seem to distant themselves from their best friends when they are faced with a crisis, creating unnecessary angst. However, Gwen’s attitute towards Leslie seems more genuine and organic. They are best friends who are there for each other when they are in need. Of course, this could cause issues in the future, but I digress.

      This book is not for the faint of heart, sure, it’s about time travel but it’s very layered. On top of the mystery of the missing chronograph, Gwen can also see ghosts - which I’m assuming will be used in the future books - and it seems as though someone doesn’t want Gwen and Gideon traveling back time. I loved the different aspects that were presented and am very curious to see how they will be resolved.

      With a healthy balance of action, intrigue and romance, Ruby Red quickly became a new favourite.

      [This is an ARC review]