Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesly. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any centrury...

Ruby Red was very different from what I imagined it would be like, in a negative way. Gwen is supposedly 16/17 years old but she had a very childish voice. Turns out Gwen has the time-travelling gene when her extended family is expecting her cousin Charlotte to leap into the past at any moment and reveal her ability. I felt the whole book lacked a serious tone. The adults in the book acted very immaturely especially Charlotte's Mother (Aunt Glenda) who had numerous hissy fits when Gwen's Mother claimed Gwen had inherited the gene.

The development between Gwen and her time-travelling partner Gideon left so much to be desired. Apparently first impression and the way Gideon upheld the image of being arrogant and condescending meant nothing to Gwen. She can't get past his good looks and even considers him her type(= one who calls her a child who knows nothing)! Yeah right! So unrealistic.

The plot was mildly interesting with the mystery of the original chronograph being stolen and a second chronograph being created. Gwen and Gideon's task involves travelling back in time and collecting blood samples of the previous time travellers in order to work the second chronograph.

I don't think I can handle more of Gwen's narration so it looks like I'll pass on continuing the series.