Sapphire Blue

The Ruby Red Trilogy, Book 2

By: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell - translator

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2012 Kerstin Gier (P)2012 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator Marisa Calin dives enthusiastically into Book 2 of Gier's time-travel trilogy.” —AudioFile Magazine

Nice story, different and entertaining

Originally posted at: A Girl that Likes Books

Time ain’t nothing, but time. It’s a verse with no rhyme, And it all come down to you

Why I read this book

During an Audible sale I acquired the firt book in this series, Ruby Red. I was pleasantly surprised with the story and hence I decided to continue with the trilogy.

What the book is about

After we left Gwen and Gideon in the last book learning to deal with each other and, in her case, learning about time travelling and its perils, Sapphire Blue opens with a bit more information about Paul and Lucy. While trying to learn more about the cronograph, learn the steps for dancing the minuet and trying to figure Guideon out, Gwen will find herself in the middle of an intrigue that has taken centuries to fully develop. What is it exactly that the Count of Saint Germain did and wants to do with the closing of the circle?

First impressions

While the prologue was quite a surprise, the first chapters of the book were a bit predictable. I enjoyed the adding of Xemerus, the ghost gargoyle, he was a funny and endearing character. As the book advanced however, I started having tiny surprises, actions and actors I did not expect to be put in place and so once again in the series it started slow to pick up by the end.

Final thoughts

This is by no means the best YA series I had ever read, but it is pretty good nonetheless. First we have the fact that it works with time travelling without recurring to forced science (sometimes admitting that you don't know how something works is way better than inventing some ludicrous theory). Second, while there is the token YA relationship it hasn't been (so far) pressed into the "triangle". This second book in the trilogy had a bit more of pop culture references, that sometimes felt a bit forced; however I will say that it was nice that the Gwen didn't t only like songs from High School Musical, but could sing Memories from Cats.

The more I advance in the trilogy the more intrigued I am by the count itself. There is something very dark in all this, and I would really like to know what it is. Another thing that gives extra point is the fashion description, particularly Gwen's dresses.

There are things that annoyed me, particularly the fact that the whole "relationship" between Gwen and Gideon develops in less than a week. Sure, they are spending a lot of time together and sure, they are 16/19 but still. I am not very fond of the way Charlotte treats him, or the way she behaves in general, but I can really blame her seeing the way her mother acts.

While the end tries to finish in a cliff-hanger, is a very subtitle one, at least it was for me. I do want to know how it all develops and finalizes but I didn't get this urgent feeling to go and the Emerald Green immediately.

Marissa Calin continues to do a good job as a narrator.

Ex hoc momento pendet aeternites. (Eternity hangs from this moment)

Had to get it immediately after the first

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, I got hooked on the series and bought this and the third book as soon as I finished the first one.

Better paced than the first.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I love Leslie and Aunt Maggie. My Favorite is always the lead, as they give you so much insight on them

Which scene was your favorite?

When Gideon declared his love

Any additional comments?

I like how this book is paced. Its crazy to think that all of this happens in a weeks time. I love the developement of their love story and the characters

Great series!

Narrator has a very nice voice. I really enjoyed this story. I listened all three books straight through.

Fantastic!

I loved the original book series, and the audio is just delightfully well done. Highly recommend.

Love this!!!!!

I red this the first time when I was 13 and am still reading it at the age of 24. I love the story so much and the narrator did just splendid wonderful with the story telling. My favorite characters are gwinith and Leslie. I mean I love Gideon but like…….yea. Anyways great story for all ages with fantasy, history and a bit of romance.

One of my favorite series for sure!!!

I recently reread this again for like the 5th or more times, but this time with my three teenagers (17m,15f,13m) and I'm happy to report that amazingly all three of them are hooked and loving them too! Even my boys - there's plenty to keep them interested and not too much romance to drive them away. Fantastic real world story with a fantasy time travel mystery to solve. Highly recommend, but they absolutely need to be read in order or you'll be completely lost... it'd be a bit like watching Back to the Future out of order.

As for the narration - 5 stars - It's really top notch! Definitely better to listen to than to read on your own.

Good Story but bad reader.

What did you like best about Sapphire Blue? What did you like least?

I like the story it is fun and interesting.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Gweneth, because it is her story.

How could the performance have been better?

The reader is very sing songy and I hate that! I like readers that read naturally and do not have such a false cadence to there performance.

Could you see Sapphire Blue being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

I am sure the Disney Chanel will pick it up.

Not much better than Ruby Red

I was hoping this series would get better. It had it's good moments, but otherwise I was not impressed. I kept thinking it was going to pick up and then it was over. Disappointed.

Waiting to see what happen next

3.5/5...
I loveeee the beginning and the end of this book, just like in Ruby Red. There were a lot of questions to be answered in the first book, giving it a lot of potential in this one, but then nothing really happened in this book all that much. This book kind of just layout the basic of time travelling and adding up on the complication that the characters have to go through figuring out the future and past, which is awesomely interesting. But all in all, I do wish there were more going on.
The trilogy is still going in a strong interesting path that I'm really looking forward to Emerald Green when everything clears out and I get to find out what happen!!