Emerald Green

Emerald Green by Kerstin Gier is the last installment of The Precious Stones Trilogy 

 "Gwen has a destiny to fulfill, but no one will tell her what it is. She only recently learned that she is the Ruby, the final member of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve, and since then nothing has been going right. Sue suspects the founder of the Circle, Count Saint-German, is up to something nefarious, but nobody will believe her. And she's just learned that her charming time-traveling partner, Gideon, has probably being using her all along. Emerald Green picks up where Sapphire Blue left off, reaching new heights of intrigue and romance as Gwen finally uncovers the secrets of the time-traveling society and learns her fate."

General Thoughts: This is another book that sticks with me. I don't read many time traveling books, but this one was well done indeed. 

Plot: Gwen is finding that there are more schemes in her family that she really wants to and what is worse is no one is listening to her and no one is telling her anything. She is frustratingly alone except for a very few people who can help. I love the fact that she gets her deceased family to help her out. Her grandpa reminds me of my own grandpa who I miss dearly. Being able to pop in and out of time to see him as he grows and gets older, himself is really neat. I will also say that the final resolution was unexpected and well done. I'd love to go back and read it again to see if I can pick up on any of the hints that I probably should have gotten along the way. 

Setting: Much of the setting is the same as the previous books. Only about two weeks, at most, goes by in the "modern present" and so although there are lots of balls and we jump around the London Bridges and streets from different eras, we don't move around a lot. From what I recall, having read this a year and a half ago, I do believe the descriptions that were given were well done. In listening to the book, I don't think I was ever taken out of the story because I got lost at where we were. Often it was in the same hallways or rooms so then not much needed to change, but we were given enough information to not be floating in a blank space. 

Characters: I think the characters really pull the story along. While the plot is intriguing, the characters really bring it to live. As I said, I love Gwen's grandpa and her best friend. I think I remember them the best. I don't remember why, but I was never really hung up on Gideon. He's not the best love interest I've read about. Other side characters were perhaps even more memorable and enjoyable that him. As for Gwen herself... I don't know. It's been a minute since I've read it, but I also wouldn't consider her as memorable either. I remember things she did, but not so much her personality. I do remember Count Saint-German being a creepizoid and their altercations were engaging and fun to listen to. Maybe Gwen and Gideon really do belong together. 

Spice: 1/5 Spicy Chilis. It is a romance book, but it's a legitimate young adult book so nothing happens. I believe the most they did was kiss and maybe it was a little passionate in the first book, but she's angry and upset at Gideon for the a chunk of this book until he makes things better. 

Overview: I really enjoyed this series. It is kind of strange how it happens so quickly. You could literally have it be one large book and everything would slide in perfectly because no time passes. I think the time traveling here was well done and didn't jar me when she jumped in the timeline. It would be interesting to see what was going on from Gideon's point of view, but not that we'd need a new book for it. I'd be very interested to see what else Kerstin Gier makes and I'd be delighted read them. 

I'd Tell You That I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You

I just couldn't do it. I couldn't finish it, because... ya know... junior high was bad enough. I don't wanna go back. 

Cammie is the daughter of the head master for Galligher Girl's School. What everyone else in the world doesn't know is that it's not just some prestigious girls school for the smart and rich, instead it's a school that teaches those smart girls how to be spies. Cammie has become an expert at not being seen and blending in due to her upbringing, so much so that it's become a detriment to any social life that she could possibly have, not that the girls get out much to socialize in public spaces much in the first place. But on Cammie's first "mission" out at the nearby town carnival, she's actually seen by someone. And not just anyone. A boy. With the "help" of her friends, she now has to figure out if he's just some small town boy who just thinks she's cute and wants to get to know her, or if there are ulterior motives that could put their national security at risk. 

I'm sure the story is fine, that's why I would have given it three stars. It probably has a great story, I just couldn't finish it. I don't think this aged well as the slang in particular is so heavy. I know I talked that way and heard may kids talk similarly to the way they do in the book, but ya know I don't need flash backs to the acne, boys, and hard time junior high school actually was. 

Ally Carter, you did a great job at your research, possibly too well for me. I'm sorry. 

I also think the characters were a bit stereotypical. Goth girl rebelling against her rich, snobby parents. Poor but brilliantly book-smart girl who gets on by scholarship. Amazing at everything and anything girl who still is super awesome and best friend to main character. Everyone has everything except stealth and blending in, which our MC has. They all seem fairly like Mary Sue's to me and it makes it hard to relate in the first place. This is why I dropped it to two stars. 

Sapphire Blue

 The continuation of Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier happens two seconds after the conclusion of the first one. 

Gwen and Gideon get themselves and their fancy clothes back to the House of the Guardians, but Gwen's head is still spinning because he kissed her! and there is a new gargoyle hanging around who won't leave her alone. Maybe he can be of some use, though, when he's not making fun of her. Things are becoming more chaotic and confusing as her world shifts and sways with the new information Gwen keeps getting. Lucy and Paul are trying to get in contact with her, but she's constantly being told that they are dangerous, but are they or are the Guardians or the Count hiding things they don't want her to understand? Then there is Gideon who keeping flip flopping on if he's going to kiss her or scorn her and look the other way. Gwen is only 16, how is she supposed to deal with all of this? 

I enjoyed this one more than the first. Probably because we were more into the story and got a few more answers. I also enjoyed meeting Gwen's grandpa--makes me miss mine. 

I'm intrigued by the bad guy of the series. His motives are understandable and he seems cunning enough to almost get it done. Obviously he won't succeed, at least for long, but I want to know more about this ingenious, charismatic, narsisistic man. 

I can also understand why some people in their reviews give this series a bad time. Gwen, being sixteen, doesn't know what she's feeling and does get led on. She's not the "eat my dust," "all boys suck," "I can do everything myself" kinda girl which is getting shoved down everyone's throat. The "girl power" here is lacking and I think that makes it more believable. I remember being sixteen and seventeen and how windswept you can feel when you find out a boy loves you and kisses you. I remember needing "blowy-upy movies" for a bit after the first break up. It's hard and it's confusing and I think it's portrayed realistically here.

One reviewer in particular hated how Gwen forgave so easily and how she still fauns over Gideon, but didn't we all back then? We want that first love to be real so much that we do stupid things? The fact that everyone keeps commenting that they can see her affection for Gideon so boldly on her face is proof that she doesn't quite know what she's doing, because she has no idea how to hide it! I do believe *SPOILER* Gideon is being manipulative at the start, but I think this is more the romantic troupe of "it started out that way, but then I actually fell in love with you and it's real" like in How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days or other ones like that *end of spoiler.* 

I can't give this one a perfect 5 stars because it's ending was so abrupt again. I think it would have worked better as a single volume instead of three separate books. It would flow better I think. 

Dance of Thieves

The sequel series to The Remnant Chronicles  by Mary E. Pearson  and it was done very well. There were many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, which I think is a marvelous point in all of Mary E. Pearson's books. 

With a new Queen on the thrown of Venda, Kazi is sent with her Ratan crew to find a certain traitor who has escaped Vendin justice. The small clan city where they believe he is hiding out has also come under new leadership with the death of their Patre. Jace (the new Patre) and Kazi have a confrontation right before they both get knocked out and shackled by slave runners. Chained together and finally escaping, they must find their way back to civilization and not kill each other on the way. Between political interreges and secrets they won't tell each other, complications arise and they must skirt around each other while falling in love. 

The best thing about this series are the two main character and the natural development of their own individual character growth. The supporting characters are fantastic as well and do so much to build each other up to make it feel like a naturally functioning people. The Ratan and Jace's family are fantastic. Sometimes, because there are so many, I did get a bit confused, but many of them have such stark attributes that it's easy to tell what each character is like. I also listened to the audiobook and it helps a lot as well because the readers for this series did such a good job with characterization as well. My favorite is particularly toward the end when Synove fires her blunted arrow at a traitors back. That was perfect. That was amazing and so well set up. 

There are misunderstandings, but not in the cliché "it's going to run the plot" kind of way. They intentionally keep secrets from each other because "national security." With it being intentional instead of happenstance, it makes the story and the dance that happens real and much less the cliché. 

The world building that Mary did for The Remnant Chronicles and this series is amazing. It is top notch, even through it is in a basic "fantasy setting." There is so much time taken into the history of both series that makes it seem alive, seem real. No good story has no history. The histories, the ruins, the monuments, the rivalries all stem off how important history is to many of the cultures in this world. World building is my favorite thing in stories next to good characters. And this book is no exception to that. 

I'm loving it and am listening to the second one animatedly. The cliffhanger at the end of this book, demands that the second book is picked up quickly. So, on we read. 

The Heart of Betrayal

Wow. This is a great book. 

Lea, Princess of Morrighan, finds herself in enemy territory. After being kidnapped by the Assassin and carted across country to Venda, she must find a way out of this inescapable city. The Prince has lies and says he's an emissary of the Prince wanting to make a treaty with Venda. With her precarious position, lies and secrets deep in the Sanctum, and her world view shifting from seeing everyone here as barbarians to survivors, Lea has quite a path ahead of her. Their plans for escaping seem ludicrous with four, not four thousand or even four hundred, soldiers to help. How do they get out? How is this woman that Lea keeps seeing that seems invisible to everyone else? 

This was a very well written book. Had me sucked in the whole time and I can't wait to get into the third book. SUCH A CLIFFHANGER!!! 

Lea, I think, grows quite a bit in this book as her understanding of the people she once saw as her enemy are now seen through new eyes. I wish Kaden and Rafe had more growth, though Kaden by the end of the story does take a big step forward we only hope he isn't dead because of it. 

I also really like the world that this is in. Venda, where we spend most of the book, is a city built upon ruins. Ruins with libraries beneath it. Libraries of knowledge that only very few people can read. I liked how we got to see a bit of the ruins as she was toured around the city. It would make for a great graphic novel, that I would love to read. 

I think it was also fun how we know there is a prophecy and she's "the chosen one" kinda thing, but that so many people don't know about it or don't believe it is real. But that there are many people who know the old stories and give shifty eyed glances to one another because "they know" more than what the bad guys do. It made the little things they did that much more precious and important. 

The ending was very well done and I can't wait to get into book 3.