Ruby Red

By: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (translator)

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

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.

©2011 Kerstin Gier, with a translation copyright of 2011 by Anthea Bell (P)2011 Macmillan Audio

Critic Reviews

"Humorous, romantic and suspenseful, the plot is fast-paced and impossible to put down.... The final romantic cliffhanger will leave you thirsty for the next book in this ‘jewel’ of a series." ( Justine magazine)

A suspenseful, funny YA with stellar narration!

This YA novel is the first in a trilogy about teenagers who time-travel. The audio is nicely paced and engaging and was easy for the whole family (young teens) to listen to. The story itself has a great mix of suspense and humor. The ending is a bit up in the air and therefore a bit disappointing, but oh well, it just makes us want the next one. And the narrator is perfect. She made the characters come alive and her accents were flawless. We loved it!

Not really a stand alone book

I'll start by saying I didn't know this was a young adult book until after I started listening to it. I didn't really mind, but thought perhaps the blurb for the book could have been more specific about this. The book had a good premise, was fast paced and interesting, but it was not a stand alone novel. It didn't have an ending, just a stopping point that prepares you for the next book in the series. I always find this an annoying quality in a book, and for that reason I only gave the story 3 stars. I love a good series, but for me, a good series is a series of stand alone novels that all tie together in the end. Marissa Calin's narration was the high point of the book for me. She did a marvelous job with character voices, her accents sounded authentic and she added greatly to building suspense and keeping you engaged in the narrative.

Where's the rest?

What other reviewers said is true; Ruby Red is not a novel, just the beginning of one. It's not that it ends in a cliffhanger--it doesn't--or that it sets up a sequel too obviously. It's that nothing happens, there's no arc, just a slow build-up and then a prologue. Imagine the Hunger Games ending before Katniss stepped in the arena or when she's in but only just begun. Imagine Pride and Prejudice ending with Jane's sickness.

The time travel mystery seems overwrought so far. Gwyneth, a 16-year old time traveler, somes some spirit and intelligence, but needs the assistance and is therefore apparently bound to an organization of a bunch of sinister old men, a few women, and her fellow time-traveller, an older boy. At this point it doesn't seem like she's making many choices. This is not pure time travel. Visions, ghosts, telepathy, and apparently alchemy and magic all play parts in this world.

The reader's voice and style were metallic and mechanical to my ears, a little grating and not a great choice for a dramatic narration in the voice of a teenaged girl.

Needs Much More

I have to admit, I was so swept away with the great narrator of the audible version that it was only half way through the book that I realized it was rather stupid. What I thought would be more like Gail Carrigers' clever worldbuilding ended up being almost sexist, despite a modern setting.

Gwynneth (Gwynnie) and her vacuous but eager friend Leslie are drawn into Gwynneth's family's time traveller mysery. Though how it is a myster with everyone and their brother talking about it throughout the book, I don't know.

In the meanwhile, young Gideon,an experienced time traveller, spends most of the book looking down at the twit...er Gwynnie... and made her mad when he suggested she was one of *those* girls who go to movies, talk bad about others, and go to the bathroom in pairs. And guess what, by the time the book ended, she lived up to all those accusations. Yet we are supposed to believe an intelligent, driven, and dedicated person would fall for an airhead just because he considers her unpredictable. Unpredictable meaning she's so stupid that she just stammers dumb things instead of being 'seen and not heard' docile. Ugh.

All the female characters were either idiots or mean. There was nothing in-between. None of the women had any backbone. Gwynnie's 'surprising act of bravery' was so implausible and lame that it made me roll my eyes.

And then the book suddenly ends without anything resolving. As if the author got bored and just stuck an epilogue in there randomly so she could say she completed a book.

That said, the narrator was awesome and could almost make me have liked the book, if it wasn't so inane and sexist.

Just, "Meh"

What disappointed you about Ruby Red?

Over simple

What was most disappointing about Kerstin Gier and Anthea Bell (translator) ’s story?

The concept was interesting, but the execution ...

Any additional comments?

I’ll admit that the first thing that popped into my head when I read the title was a very delicious (my all time favorite) vodka called, Deep Eddy Ruby Red. She’s a cruel mistress, this ruby. Alas, though, it might have had a bearing on me deciding to start this trilogy.While I was gathering my thoughts on this one, I began to wonder if it was a “young adult” type book because the whole thing was a bit unsophisticated and the characters clearly innocent. Mind you, if the story’s good enough you don’t always care, but upon further investigation, I realized that I nailed it. Interesting concept about a family who has the time travel gene, but frankly, it’s just not that great. The end is a big cliff hanging screamer, “you’ll find out in the next book!” This one made me shrug and say, “Meh” I’m not sure I care enough to read the next one, “Emerald Green.” Though, well, I love the color green. Maybe picking books based on Vodka and colors isn’t the best choice?

Childish

An amusing enough, but very childish, story with the worst romantic plot I've ever encountered in YA.

premise undone by convenient, implausible plot

I know that a lot of young adult (especially supernatural young adult - is there any other kind these days?) has questionable logic and behavior, presumably because teens don't think all that much of the motivations and reasoning of grown ups, but this book is extra absurd. Not only the behavior of the protagonist's mother, who irresponsibly endangers the girl, and the lack of sympathy for the poor cousin, who (as it is mentioned before she is mocked) is a real victim of the situation, but the inexplicable actions at the end of the Really Hot Guy. It's like the author didn't want to end the book without checking all the boxes. Disappointing, because this could have been an interesting blend of historical fiction and sci fi/fantasy.

Just the start

What did you like best about Ruby Red? What did you like least?

This is just the beginning... it should have been released as a part of a book rather than a stand alone book. To avoid frustration, wait until you can have all 3 parts.

Has Ruby Red turned you off from other books in this genre?

No

Would you listen to another book narrated by Marisa Calin?

Yes

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Fun and entertaining!

I really enjoyed this story. I didn't notice any of the problems that others found with the narration. The ending did seem a bit rushed, almost like the author forced a segue for the next book. Some parts made me laugh out loud. Overall, I recommend this book for anyone who is a fan of the current, popular youth fiction choices out today.

Great story

Great reader. Fun story. Very imaginative. Teen and up would enjoy.
There are two more books in the series.