Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Title; Ruby Red
Author: Kerstin Gier
Format: Hardcover and EBook

Ruby Red, the first in a trilogy, is a fantastic introduction to the imagination of Kerstin Gier.  While this book is a YA offering, anyone who loves historical novels with some suspense and action thrown in would also love this book.  I can only hope the next two novels are as engaging!

Gwyneth is an ordinary 16 year old girl with an extraordinary family.  Her family has a gene that allows time travel.  Believing all her life that her cousin Charlotte is the "Chosen One", Gwen's life is focused on school, friends and all the other typical teenage things.  A shock comes when it is discovered because of a deception, Gwen is actually the time traveler.  She suddenly finds herself tossed into a world she has little knowledge of and discovers hidden secrets along the way.

Gwen is a great heroine for the story.  Her naivety and natural curiosity help her to embrace her family's gift and along with her best friend, Leslie, she works to uncover some of the untold details. The author did a great job in researching because the historical details are wonderful in this tale.  Gwen's travels back in time are historical accurate and the reader really notices the details of the times she visits. She also faces a chauvinistic secret society who help to monitor the time travelers and Gwen's modern feminist sensibilities are rankled as she begins to see how the men of the society regarded women.

The story was a delightful read.  I'm assuming because it's the first of a trilogy, the ending was rather open ended, setting the reader up for the next book.  I would highly recommend the series for the young reader and for even some older readers.  It's refreshing and I look forward to the others in the series.