Ruby Red (The Ruby Red Trilogy #1) by Kerstin Gier, Young Adult BOM, Start Date December 02, 2014

[Kelly]

Karla wrote: "4. Do you like the writing style / the humor and the little newspaper clippings or book excerpts before each chapter? I like the writing. The things between the chapters add to the mystery of the story.

I thought it was a nice way to give background and context outside of the narrator's point of view.

[Karen ⊰✿, Fiction Aficionado]

Yes I agree. Shusterman did that really well with the Unwind books too

[Karla]

Kelly wrote: "Karla wrote: "4. Do you like the writing style / the humor and the little newspaper clippings or book excerpts before each chapter? I like the writing. The things between the chapters add to the my..."

I agree.

[Karla]

Up through chapter six (view spoiler)[I don't like Aunt Glenda! Accusing Grace of manipulating her pregnancy to have Gwyneth early was a disgusting, hateful thing to say. (hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

Up through chapter seven (view spoiler)[If I was Grace's mom, I would have told those people that she is a minor and NOTHING happens without my permission! The nerve they have with treating Grace that way!

The key that Gwyneth stole is going to come in to play later, I'm almost certain of that.

Gideon is a jerk. (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

Karla wrote: "Up through chapter six [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[
I found the whole thing odd. What a strange thing to think that a gene would be added to someone just because their mother forced them to be born early. Plus, why manipulate it then hide the fact from others.
(hide spoiler)]

[Karla]

Kelly wrote: "spoiler"

I know!
Thanks for responding to me so I can count the points!

I finished the book. (view spoiler)[I knew it! I knew Lucy was Gwyneth's mom! I started wondering if she could be when Grace sort have shrugged it off when they asked why she wasn't check out at the hospital after having Gwyneth. But, that opens up more questions for me. I'm picking up the next book as soon as I can (hide spoiler)]

[Ally]

So, I'm late to the discussion, but I read the entire series this week. Ruby Red was good, the writing style pulled me in, and I liked the characters. I think it got off to a slow start, though. For the first half of the book no questions were really answered, except that Gwen had the gene. And that was evident from the beginning!

It was nice, but I wish the author would have plunged right into the action instead of expecting Gwen's random episodes of time travel to satisfy us in the beginning.

I liked the next two better. If you liked this one, you should definitely read Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green!

[Karla]

Ally wrote: "So, I'm late to the discussion, but I read the entire series this week. Ruby Red was good, the writing style pulled me in, and I liked the characters. I think it got off to a slow start, though. Fo..."

I agree with you about the action, I wanted it to get started sooner. As soon as I finished the book, I went and put holds on the other two. I'll squeeze them in somewhere!

[Lisa :)]

So fun to read all your thoughts on this one.
I read the series last year in 2 days and reread the books a couple of times already. They are just really addicting!
Ruby Red starts a little slow but the other two more than make up for it.
But don't bother watching the movie (2/3 are out so far). They can't compare and left me unsatisfied. But that's just a personal opinion, you might like them (and that Gideon actor sure is nice to look at).

Anyway, start reading the other two. You won't regret it :)

[Heather]

Rebecca NJ wrote: "Heather wrote: "I continued on with Sapphire Blue and Emerald Green. I just couldn't not know how it all ended. They are quick reads and I think I had them all done in a week. I really enjoyed t..."

How did you like the next two books?

[Rebecca NJ]

@Heather - the holidays messed up my reading schedule. I'm only 20 pages into Sapphire Blue.

[Cynthia]

Is there a BR for Sapphire Blue? I checked it out a couple of days ago and would BR it with you Rebecca.

[Rebecca NJ]

I don't think there is a thread - but I would love to buddy read it with someone. Do you have a start date in mind?

[Cynthia]

I think I have the book for 2 more weeks. I'm reading Rooms tonight because it's due tomorrow, but I can read Sapphire Blue anytime in the next couple of weeks.

[Rebecca NJ]

Do you want to start on January 4th? I can ask the mods to set up a thread in the BR request thread.

[Cynthia]

Sounds great!!

[Rebecca NJ]

Cynthia (and anyone else who wants to join us!), a thread for Sapphire Blue has been set up here: Sapphire Blue Buddy Read.

We'll start this on January 4th! See you there!

[Laura]

jumping in really late, inter-library loans take forever to come in!
chapters 1-3
(view spoiler)[
I believe I have figured out before Gwen( and her family) that she has the gene.
The prologue was interesting, looking forward to reading more and figuring out what's up with the ghost that only Gwen can see.
Charlotte & Lady Arista are coming off as snobs. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

4-6
(view spoiler)[
ugh, I really dislike Glenda. The time traveling is pretty cool. I want more time traveling scenes. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

chapter 12
(view spoiler)[
I guess Gideon can't say she isn't good for something. hahah Gwen just saved his life!
I'm not sure why someone is trying to kill them though. Perhaps it has something to do with closing the circle. (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Karla wrote: "Up through chapter six [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I don't like Glenda either! (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[
I think that Lucy is the girl in the prologue (hide spoiler)]
I have no idea how this is all going to end, but I am curious enough to read the next two books!!

[Kelly]

I felt the whole book that the characters were really polarized to either likable or not likable. I have the second and third books sitting on the table next to me if I could ever get to starting them.

How do you think the time travelling aspect worked out? Do you think it logically made sense or did you just go with it?

[Laura]

I just went with it. I think that if there was a gene that let you time travel then wouldn't more people have that gene. I did like the time travel scenes though.
I gave it a 3*.I do want to see what happens. I agree that the characters were definitely polarized to either likable or not likable. I really disliked Charlotte's mother. (view spoiler)[
I think that Gwen needs to listen to Lucy rather then them listening to the Count and completing circle. I think that something bad will happen if the circle is complete.
I did not see that Lucy is Gwen's mom. Although there were a few signs that I missed. The hair, the midwife forging the papers, not going into the hospital right away.


Thinking a bit more about it.. Grace obviously knew that Gwen is Lucy's so why didn't she prepare her for time travelling? (hide spoiler)]

[Kelly]

I was very confused about the gene thing. It seems like if it was actually a gene then you would have been able to test for it.

I wish she had used some other non scientific term like "spark" or "essence" or something that conveyed magic but I think she was trying to make it scientific without it actually being scientific.

And it did seem a bit like sticking her head in the sand as far as not preparing her. I'm actually watching this Witches of East End show and they did the same thing. I guess the daughters keep dying and are reborn so this time the mother didn't tell them they were witches which backfired horribly of course. Seems like a bad plan to not let people prepare.

[Laura]

Kelly wrote: "I was very confused about the gene thing. It seems like if it was actually a gene then you would have been able to test for it.

I wish she had used some other non scientific term like "spark" or "..."

Good point about being able to test for the gene.
I think that for those who are in the "inner circle" there is a lot left that they have not told Gwen. I think that Grace and Lady Arista know a lot more than they are letting on.

[[deleted user]]

I know that this group read Ruby Red a long time ago, but I'm currently reading this, and I love it so far!

[Sonia]

It was a nice reading. Just be careful with reading comments that may spoil you :D

But if you want to comment about it, we usually answer back :)

[[deleted user]]

Cool! I didn't expect Ruby Red to be funny, but it really is!

[Mary]

I loved this book and this trilogy. All the books are very well written! :)