Ruby Red (The Ruby Red Trilogy, #1)

by Kerstin Gier

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

When Second Run Reviews first started I had devoured this series and I was delighted when I saw my library had it available on audiobook. And after finishing a re-read of Ruby Red via audio, I wish I wouldn’t have been distracted by other shiny books becoming available on my library wish list as I probably would have continued the series.

This time travel series for young adults is wrapped up in a mysterious society connected with the Count of Saint Germain (fan of Outlander will recognize the name). The main character Gwen has a wonderful, vivacious friend, Lesley, who plays Gwen’s Girl Friday. Lesley’s enthusiasm pours off the page when you read the book and Marisa Calin, the audiobook’s narrator, did an excellent job conveying it. There is at least one scene where Lesley and Gwen sneak off to the girls restroom to look at Lesley’s research and I felt like I was in the stall with them paging through papers and listening to Lesley chatter on. It was great fun!

As a word of warning, little is revealed about the purpose of the secret society that Gwen’s family is involved with, but the novel is a quick read and a quick listen—it clocks in at just under 9 hours. It’s one of the shorter books I’ve listened to. So moving from this book to the following two books in the trilogy is a great idea especially if you want to know what happens to Gwen and Gideon. In fact, if this wasn’t a re-read, I probably would have jumped into book two because I wanted to experience the revelation of the secrets that happen as the series progresses all over again.

Re-reading time travel novels that involve changing or manipulating the time stream has proven to be an enjoyable read for me. You start to pick up on the mysteries, the secrets and the motivations of the characters on the second read through. Once I finish up this wish list of new audiobooks that suddenly became available at my library, I do see myself returning to this series and finishing it out provided the audiobook is available at the library. Or maybe I’ll just dust off my copies of the physical books. Can’t wait!


This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews