Emerald Green (Precious Stone Trilogy #3) by Kerstin Gier

First impressions

I started reading this series mostly because Audible was having a sale on first of a series books. The premise of time travelling seemed appealing and so I went for it. The first installment, Ruby Red, was good enough, I liked the fact that Gwendolyn wasn't just a boy driven character, even though it was obvious that they were going to get together and hence I went for the second one.

The second one, Sapphire Blue, was ok, but I think I fell more for Xemerus than the other characters. I did want to know what the whole mystery was, but the love part felt a bit forced, sadly enough.

So here we are, at the end of the series, and I am giving it a round and final 4, even though I was a bit disappointed at certain points.

Final thoughts

Let us start with the things I liked, both in general and in the series.

As I mentioned the premise of time travelling was appealing to me. The whole building of it around a secret society as well as the workings of the chronograph was nice additions, and I would've liked a bit more of background there. We didn't have it, the whole references to the "gene" and the need of blood for the chronograph to work are not explained, but maybe this is a better option than bad science.

The descriptions of the dresses, and hence Madame Rossini, were delightful. If you follow my blog or my reviews, you probably know that I am a sucker for period dressing. If you didn't know that...well now you do.

There were a couple of twists at the end of the series, a couple as in two major ones, at least from my point of view. I will not extend on this point since I do not want to give spoilers, but one of them was pretty obvious, and the other not so much, so I will give it a "meh" on plot twisting. Some people have complained about the ending, and it does feel like suddenly this was more than a trilogy, but then again it could just be that Gier likes her cliff-hangers, no?

Now, the things I didn't like. It is a bit sad when you like the secondary characters more than you do the primary ones, or at least it seems like a lot of energy is invested in characters you never got to care for, and this was the case for me. Give me more Leslie! More Xemerus...Gwendolyn and Gideon felt flat a lot of times and I felt like the story could've been carried almost without them.

As I mentioned their relationship suddenly happened and while this is a bit typical (not that is a good thing) when portraying teen love situations, it makes it even more "blah" since it has been overdone. But it gets point for not pushing on a love triangle.

So I gave it a 4, mostly because as predictable as it was at times, it was enjoyable, it gave me exactly what I was expecting from it, no more and just a little bit less. I would recommend to someone looking for light series with fun secondary characters.

Good job by Marisa Calin!

 

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Time ain’t nothing, but time. It’s a verse with no rhyme, And it all come down to you

Why I read this book

During an Audible sale I acquired the firt book in this series, Ruby Red. I was pleasantly surprised with the story and hence I decided to continue with the trilogy.

What the book is about

After we left Gwen and Gideon in the last book learning to deal with each other and, in her case, learning about time travelling and its perils, Sapphire Blue opens with a bit more information about Paul and Lucy. While trying to learn more about the cronograph, learn the steps for dancing the minuet and trying to figure Guideon out, Gwen will find herself in the middle of an intrigue that has taken centuries to fully develop. What is it exactly that the Count of Saint Germain did and wants to do with the closing of the circle?

First impressions

While the prologue was quite a surprise, the first chapters of the book were a bit predictable. I enjoyed the adding of Xemerus, the ghost gargoyle, he was a funny and endearing character. As the book advanced however, I started having tiny surprises, actions and actors I did not expect to be put in place and so once again in the series it started slow to pick up by the end.

Final thoughts

This is by no means the best YA series I had ever read, but it is pretty good nonetheless. First we have the fact that it works with time travelling without recurring to forced science (sometimes admitting that you don't know how something works is way better than inventing some ludicrous theory). Second, while there is the token YA relationship it hasn't been (so far) pressed into the "triangle". This second book in the trilogy had a bit more of pop culture references, that sometimes felt a bit forced; however I will say that it was nice that the Gwen didn't t only like songs from High School Musical, but could sing Memories from Cats.

The more I advance in the trilogy the more intrigued I am by the count itself. There is something very dark in all this, and I would really like to know what it is. Another thing that gives extra point is the fashion description, particularly Gwen's dresses.

There are things that annoyed me, particularly the fact that the whole "relationship" between Gwen and Gideon develops in less than a week. Sure, they are spending a lot of time together and sure, they are 16/19 but still. I am not very fond of the way Charlotte treats him, or the way she behaves in general, but I can really blame her seeing the way her mother acts.

While the end tries to finish in a cliff-hanger, is a very subtitle one, at least it was for me. I do want to know how it all develops and finalizes but I didn't get this urgent feeling to go and the Emerald Green immediately.

Marissa Calin continues to do a good job as a narrator.

Ex hoc momento pendet aeternites. (Eternity hangs from this moment) 

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Eternity hangs from this moment

Why I read this book

Audible has been most gracious to me this year ;) That to say that I keep seeing deals on books that were already on my wish list! In this case, the premise of time traveling was appealing to me, and so when I could get the book for a great price I got myself a copy.

What the book is about

Gwyneth Shepherd is a 16 year old that happens to be able to travel in time. In this "world" some people have the ability to travel in time, and this traveling can be controlled using a device known as the chronograph. This control turns to be essential, for otherwise, the jumps are unpredictable and can put the traveler in a very perilous situation. Similar idea than the Time Traveler's wife, with some exceptions such as the fact that person cannot travel into the future

First impressions

I fell in love with the protagonist quite fast, she is clumpsy and sharp tongued. He sounded like an actual teenager, which is nice on YA, not when the author tries too hard to make the character sound young. She was genuinely likeable. The story was a bit predictable at times, but it was quite entertaining, and at least for me it was the first YA I read with time traveling.

Final thoughts

We go back to it being a nice YA in which the story arc does not depend on the romantic ideas the main character has. There is a mystery and the story evolves around it, instead of it being around Gwyneth and a boy. Oh, there is a boy yes, and there are hints as to something forming there, but is not the main aspect of the story.

The time traveling was interesting and I didn't see a flow flaw in the premises of the travelling itself. I really liked the description of costumes, but you guys know I am a sucker for these types of descriptions. The author plants her seeds well, in which now I really want to get Sapphire Blue to continue the story. Not only for the romantic development, but mostly for the explanations that are missing, yet hinted.

The whole secret society part was interesting too, if sometimes a bit annoying with the male characters being so condescending, but considering this group was formed at a certain period, I guess is to be expected.

It is the first time I hear Marisa Calin as a narrator, but I quite like her voices. The pace was well marked and differentiation between characters if not in tone was made clear in attitude.