Ruby Red 
by Kerstin Gier

Reviewed by 
Elizabeth Mosolovich

         Ruby Red, by Kerstin Gier, is the first in the Ruby Red Trilogy,
and is actually first and foremost a German book, the original
title being Rubinrot. As per usual in a trilogy, there are two other
 books after Ruby Red: Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green.

         The story takes place in London, England (so be prepared for

a few English phrases). The protagonist and narrator is 16-year-old
Gwyneth Shepherd, who lives with her mother, younger siblings
Nick and Caroline, Aunt Glenda and her daughter Charlotte,
Great-aunt Maddie, and the matriarch of their extended family,
Gwyneth's grandmother, Lady Arista Montrose. Everyone in the
 household knows that cousin Charlotte is meant for great things
— being born on the calculated date, October 7, she is expected to
have inherited the Montrose time-traveling gene. Charlotte has been

prepared her whole life, waiting for the moment when she'll travel

back in time, while her cousins (including Gwen) lead fairly normal lives.

        However, Gwen winds up being the one to take a couple unexpected trips

back to the past. After doubting herself, she eventually tells her mother,
who takes her to a group of time travelers who, at first, disbelieve Gwen's
and her mother's claims until Gwen takes another trip under their
surveillance. Now Gwen discovers she is one of the twelve time travelers
 whose blood is needed to unlock the secrets of their founder and

time travel itself. She is thrust among people who do not trust her, paired up

with thegorgeous but annoying Gideon de Villiers, subjected to her aunt and
cousin's jealousy, and must somehow absorb a lifetime of learning in weeks
if she doesn't want to be embarrassed or, worse, killed, in various time periods.
Gwen must also try to figure out not only her mother's secrets, but those of the
order's founder, Count Saint-German, as well, because something about a
man who can speak to someone telepathically and also choke a person by smiling
just isn't right.

           So, if you are looking for or like historical fiction, humor, romance,
mystery, and time-traveling, this series is definitely for you. It's even-paced,
detailed, and immediately hooks you. The second book picks up immediately
from where the last one ends, so it's best to read them right after each other.

There are also various letters, notes, and family trees inserted between the finish
 and start of chapters which sometimes mess up the flow, but not too much.

I hope this review helped you, and that you'll look up Ruby Red and its sequels

right away!