Saphire Blue

Series: Edelstein Trilogie or the Precious Stone Trilogy 

Author: Kerstin Gier

Translator: Anthea Bell

Genre: Fantasy Romance (big focus on Romance)

Original publication date: January 5, 2010

Book description: 

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.

Thoughts:

It should have been obvious this had a huge focus on the romance, which normally I have no problem with. It all comes down to the fact that I do not like the romantic interest and the relationship between them at all. 

I am not the target audience, this is a young adult book, it features teenagers and the classic troupes popular in YA. I came very close to DNF this book in the first fourth, then decided to push through and it was a constant battle between DNF or not?

It is not a horrible book. It has a medium pace, is always veiled in mystery as the Ruby and the newest member of the secret society Gwen is constantly in the dark. People know things they do not get explanations for. We have an overall mission, we have the traitors who do not seem like such bad people as the rest of the society view them as. The whole once the chronograph is complete the secret is revealed but the secret is something good or not?

Gwen is a very confused young woman. She is facing dangerous time-traveling adventures. People are trying to kill her and her companion, Gideon. The society as a whole including Gideon thinks she is the traitor among their ranks as she is the person they know nothing about and her presence there was already unplanned for. In several occasions, they get ambushed in their travels back in time. But no one should have known to when and where they would be sent.

As the possible traitor, she is not allowed in the important meeting and discussions and so she must try to find out what is going on on her own. She has her cousin Charlotte, the original person trained to be the Ruby but they have a very childish rivalry. It could be discussed, maybe a nice sincere dialog and Charlotte could start to turn around. In some instances, it seems like Charlotte is mean and petty but then on other occasions, she talks as if she is trying to help Gwen and is frustrated when Gwen is not very interested in receiving such help. 

So we have miscommunication, between the love interest and Gwen, between Gwen and her cousin, between Gwen and the rest of the members of the society- Do you see where I am going with this? The issue is Gwen in many cases. Also, Gideon is the classic cold exterior guy who is throwing mixed signals and you don't know what he feels because he is too tough to share it and worse he doesn't trust her but still they make out here and there for no reason and with no explanation of their feelings.

So overall this is heavily focused on the romance, it is told from the perspective of Gwen, not in the first person but almost as if it was. We do not get to see much from other places where Gwen is located and are limited to what she knows with a few hints thrown here and there of what happens in other locations.

This book was a battle for me. Until the epilogue, I was like maybe I should give it up and officially DNF the book. But the plot, the background story is what I was interested in and the epilogue, that last chapter, and the epilogue. It knows how to pike my interest. 

This is full of nothing in itself, as it's the middle book of a trilogy, saying anything is spoilers for the first book. But just be warned about the heavy use of troupes, also there is insta-love, Gwen and Gideon meet for one day before they are both infatuated and then while thinking the other is a horrid human being and a possible traitor they still fall in love with one another. There is really no base for their feelings. I like the plot the idea behind it but the romance is what brings the book down for me. If people like common YA troupes in their romance I think you would love this book.

I gave it

As I mentioned before this is a meh book for the most part, I see why others might enjoy it or even love it. It was just a-me-thing. But I am interested in knowing how it ends. The whole chronograph mystery the obvious pull of wanting to know how it plays out. So I will try to get to the continuation of this book in the near future.