In This Article
SOMEWHAT GOOD based on 5 reviews
Book 1: Ruby Red review summary
Packed with historical intrigue, time-travel twists and witty character banter, readers of the Ruby Red series can expect a great time with the first book.
| Superb | 3 |
| Good | 1 |
| Somewhat OK | 1 |
| Mixed | – |
| Unfavourable | – |
Ruby Red novel synopsis
Sixteen-year-old Gwyneth Shepherd discovers she can travel through time in the first book of the Red Ruby trilogy. She has unexpectedly inherited the ability from her mother’s side of the family. Now equipped with sometimes-uncontrollable time-travelling powers, Gwyneth is suddenly caught up in the intrigues of 19th-century London, secret time-travel societies and fellow time travellers with mysterious agendas.
Written by Kerstin Gier, the first book in this Ruby Red series is translated from German by Anthea Bell.
Publication date: May 22, 2012 (Macmillan Publishers)
Ruby Red book reviews by bloggers
 SOMEWHAT OK | Despite sharing some reservations about the writing quality, the reviewer found this first entry in the Ruby Red trilogy an entertaining, breezy read that should appeal to fans of “fluffy YA”. The book’s ending sets up enough intriguing twists and cliffhangers to make the reviewer want to read its sequel, Sapphire Blue, as soon as possible. Everyday Reading |
 SUPERB | A brisk-paced saga filled with fascinating worldbuilding and relatable characters, Ruby Red turned out to be an irresistible page-turner for this reader. Noting that the story has a similar vibe to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instrument series, the Heart Full of Books site would recommend this novel to enthusiasts of historical fiction with a dash of fantasy. Heart Full of Books |
SUPERB | The book received high accolades from the reviewer, who summed Ruby Red up as a time travel tale featuring a likeable female protagonist and a smouldering love interest. While the fan believes that the 2013 movie adaptation is a pale shadow of the novel’s funny and charming time-travel high jinks, they are nevertheless delighted that Gwyneth’s adventures live on in the rest of the Ruby Red book series. Calloway Books |
SUPERB | YA Bookish News hails the first novel in the Ruby Red trilogy as one of the best historical fiction reads ever, ranking it highly alongside Susan Dennard’s Something Strange and Deadly novel. They appreciated the morally complex characters, where the lines between antagonists and protagonists are blurred. This adds suspense and keeps readers hooked, as they follow the journey of the main character, Gwyneth, while never being sure who she can trust, including her family. YA Bookish News |
 GOOD | The reviewer praised author Kerstin Gier and translator Anthea Bell for ensuring that the Ruby Red characters’ witty dialogue did not get lost in translation. Real historical figures are also deftly incorporated into the story, adding just as much drama as the fictional ones. This is a prime example of why legions of readers enjoy historical fiction. With a cast of lovable characters and a fresh approach to time travel, the novel will leave fans eager to dive into the next book in the Ruby Red series. That Artsy Reader Girl |
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