Sapphire Blue (The Ruby Red Trilogy #2)

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Author(s)

Kerstin Gier

Publisher

Henry Holt & Co. (BYR)

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

October 30, 2012

ISBN

0805092668

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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.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Just as Fun as Ruby Red

October 08, 2013

Overall rating

3.7

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What I Liked:
So far as series go, Sapphire Blue is really consistent with the quality of the first book. Of course, the fact that, if you removed the framing narrative, this is essentially just one book may help with that. Seriously, the first chapter picks up right where the scene left off in Ruby Red, which makes me glad that I am binge-reading this series. There is NO way I would have remembered what was going on a year later. Well, also, this is a really great series to read all in a row, because it goes so fast and is totally addictive.

In volume two, Gier really ramps up the important stuff: the kissing. Okay, I know there’s some super fun time traveling stuff happening, and I’ll get to that, but COME ON I would be lying if I said that was the part that I liked best. Anyway, I’m still not really shipping Gideon and Gwyneth exactly, but, at the same time, I really just want them to kiss all the time, because Gier is really good at writing adorable kissing scenes. Even better, most of the time when I am going NOW KISS at the book, they DO. If only all fictional characters were so sensitive to my reading needs.

The one detractor from the cuteness that is Gideon and Gwyneth is that they’re totally instaloving all over each other, and I think this is a big part of why I can’t ship it. However, Gier through a wrench in there that could explain so much. There’s a chance she could maybe redeem the instalove, though I suspect it will just revive in a new form, though the book’s so funny I might not care…much. Plus, they have this super young Darcy and Elizabeth vibe that makes them getting together super satisfying.

So, right, I promised you time travel. The whole plot of the good guys and the bad guys and what they’re trying to do is still a little fuzzy to me to be honest. However, the journeys into the past in Sapphire Blue are much more fun than in the first book. This time, she gets to dress up in pretty clothes and go to parties. Holla! Seriously, this appeals to me so much it is kind of ridiculous.

Anyway, I love how much Sapphire Blue does not take itself seriously. Like, it could have been this intense time travel adventure, but instead it’s highly comedic. My absolute favorite part, aside from the kissing, is when they go back in time to a soiree. Gwyneth gets drunk on the punch, at the behest of the other ladies, all quite smashed themselves. Then they ask her to sing, so she treats them all to an early preview of a song from Cats. Basically all of this was the best.

What Left Me Wanting More:
There's not been much plot yet, because this really reads like a single novel that's been expanded into a series. However, if you can ignore that, this is fantastic.

The Final Verdict:
Sapphire Blue is just as fun and full of romance and adventure as Ruby Red. Most of the plot seems to be left for the final volume, but these are still a fluffy delight.

Christina Franke, Staff Top 10 Reviewer 677 reviews

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A Fun Time Travel Read

July 11, 2014

Overall rating

4.7

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Wow, just wow. Aside from a few character points, these books could not have been better. I read Ruby Red at the prompting of a friend soon after it came out. The books are nothing but awesomesauce and let's leave it at that. No tears are allowed nor needed-which was a nice break. I'll try not to spoil anything, but if you haven't read the books, there may be minor spoilers ahead!

The main character is Gwyneth Shepard. She's a pretty cool chick. Gwen is a normal girl, except for the fact that she suddenly starts uncontrollably jumping back in time. One nice thing is that, while Gwen doesn't know the full extent of her world (and honestly, who does?), she knows about time travel and has had gifts her entire. On a side note, her gifts are never fully explained nor accepted, I demand an explanation Kerstin Gier! Anyway, Gwen thought that her cousin was the one with the time-travel gene and it turned out to be her instead. And the revelations don't stop there. Chapter after chapter, new information is piled on top of Gwen. The only problem, most of it is useless. People keep very important secrets from her. One of them, I won't say which due to spoilers, I figured out in the first book, possibly with the help of my mother, but Gwen didn't find out until Emerald Green. Dang you foreshadowing!

The other main character is Gideon. Honestly, I had some issues with him. He goes back and forth between acting ignorant, selfish, like a pig, and totally in love. It's enough to turn any girl off. He's nice looking, according to Gwen anyway, but that's one of his few appealing factors. He turns himself around and even has some really sweet moments, but dang, it takes a while to get there. My one large complaint with him though is his and Gwen's "insta-love". Along with love at first sight, which I actually only care for so-so, the two of them manage to be head-over-heals for each-other in a matter of days to a couple weeks. Christine over at PolandBananasBooks actually first pointed that aspect out here. It's a nice love story, but not particularly believable.

Ms. Gier definitely has the confusing aspect down. Time travel, like many subjects in science, makes very little sense. We don't know much about it, and so the questions are limitless. Multiple times, I've tried to think about the logistics of Gwen and Gideon's time traveling adventures, and all I get out of it is a massive headache. Seriously, time travel hurts, whether you actually travel or not. Though the time travel itself, while having it's own twist, matched facts as well. I found the story accurate and fun. It's like a cross between Doctor Who and the Hourglass trilogy and fans of either would enjoy it. So pick up the books today and I'd love to here what you think!