Publication Date: October 30, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Source: My bookshelf
Rating: 5 of 5 gargoyles
Finding a book written about other cultures isn't too difficult to come by these days. Let's face it: A lot of our favourite main characters are jetting from one country to another at the drop of a hat. Finding a young adult book directly translated from another language, however, seems rather rare to me. Not only is the translation seamless, but the story is absolutely fabulous, with dashing young men, remarkable adventures and a somewhat naive main character.
Gwen's life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she's been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean. At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he's very warm indeed; the next he's freezing cold. Gwen's not sure what's going on there, but she's pretty much destined to find out. (from Google Books)Time-travellers? Seriously? No vampires, or zombies, or werewolves? This... this is WONDERFUL! Don't get me wrong, I adore a good vamp book, but this book is like a breath of fresh air! Set in England, this book from German author Kerstin Gier takes you all over the place and back, literally. Gwen and her gorgeous kind-of boyfriend/love interest, Gideon (swoon!) travel into the past daily. This makes for excellent interactions between the two characters, and gives you insight into who the characters really are.
As for the characters... Oh my goodness, they are perfect! Gwen is one of the best main characters OF ALL TIME, what with her witty comebacks, slightly dumb persona and a completely innocent outlook on life. For those of you that have read "Confessions of a Shopaholic", Gwen can be likened to a non-shopaholic Becky Bloomwood. And Gideon, well, he's just a slightly crazy but nonetheless perfect love interest. Is he stable, is he insane, does he love her, will he shut up? He's as far from normal as it gets, and that's what makes him such a lovable character. Also, who can forget Lesley? She's slightly nerdy, but very cool, and plays her role as a best friend/sidekick well.
I will tell you this book isn't completely serious. There are certainly some somber parts, but the majority of the book is very playful and full of life. Before reading this book, I actually looked at the cover and said "Yeah, this looks like a fun read..." but clearly I got my just dessert. It really is a lighthearted book, and it really is deliciously good.
All in all, Kerstin Gier has created perfection with Sapphire Blue. Bear in mind this is the second book in the series, which all started with Ruby Red a year or two ago. The follow through between the two books is superb as well, so be sure to pick up both if you decide to read them, which you should. I love this series, and I'm going to be eagerly awaiting the third book which comes out in the summer, I believe. Let me know what you think if you do decide to read them!
Happy Reading!
Liz
