Ruby Red
Ruby Red trilogy #1
by Kerstin Gier
Mystery
Science Fiction
* * * * Stars (Great!)

Gwyneth Shepherd is a pretty normal British teenager, except that her family carries a gene for time travel. Her cousin Charlotte is supposed to be the next in line to wink out of the present and into the past – a fate she’s been preparing for since she was born. But that’s now how things work out. Instead, it’s Gwyneth who inherits the gift (or curse, depending on how you look at it), and she’s woefully undereducated in the mysteries of time travel. Her family and a secret society for time travelers quickly try to bring her up to speed, but Gwen is the last, the 12th, the Ruby, whose coming has been foretold, and her blood (when added to the chronograph – a device that can be used to control time travel) is supposed to unlock a great secret. Before she knows it, she’s being sent on missions with Gideon (just about the most charming and gorgeous guy companion a girl could desire) into a dangerous past, with too many questions unanswered. Gwen must rely on her instincts because she can’t trust anyone else.

An excellent beginning. Gwen is a likable character – girly, but witty and smart - who is doomed to endure unexpected embarrassment, danger, and excitement in the service of the society (which hasn’t been forthcoming about their intents and purposes). Without their assistance, however, Gwen would be doomed to hurtle through time without any control, so it would appear to be in her best interests to play along for the time being. Satisfying, and suspenseful but leaves plenty of unanswered questions for the next two books to explore.

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12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn
by James Proimos
Realistic Fiction
* * * * * Stars (Amazing!)

One can devour this tasty tidbit of a novella in about an hour – it’s a quick read with very little baggage (and no excess verbiage) to weigh it down. Hercules Martino is sent to Baltimore to visit his uncle after his very famous father passes away. The only thing they have in common is a dead relative whom they both think was a jerk. Since their last visit went not so well, Uncle Anthony comes up with a list of 12 tasks (one for each day he’s in Baltimore) for his nephew to accomplish. Part scavenger hunt, part adventure, part romance (so!many!parts!), follow Hercules as he opens himself up to a new city and new experiences, and lets go of the anger he has for his dead dad.

I raced through this – it was short and sweet and perfectly paced. Hercules is a funny, angsty kid and he gets himself into (and out of) lots of scrapes. I love that he was willing to put himself at the mercy of his uncle’s list and let whimsy take him – like he had nothing left to lose and everything to gain. Friends of mine once created a scavenger hunt for me to complete while I was visiting (I wanted to go for a walk, they needed to go grocery shopping; we compromised) and I had the same sort of delightful discovery (except that I didn’t have a Beautiful and Unattainable Woman to track down) adventure as Hercules. I appreciate his openness. Very satisfying.

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone
by Laini Taylor
Supernatural
Fantasy
* * * * Stars (Great!)

Karou is a seventeen year old art student, living on her own. She has a part-time “job” running errands (collecting teeth) for Brimstone, who heads up a group of chimera (the only real family Karou has known). Brimstone gives Karou wishes, which she uses to perform small acts of magic, like changing her hair color. Karou’s world is turned upside down when she has a run-in with Akiva – a seraph (angel). Akiva sunders the connection between their worlds, and Karou searches in vain for a way to reconnect with her family. When she and Akiva meet again they find themselves drawn to one another in a familiar way. It is Akiva who discovers the secrets of Karou’s past and helps her remember who she is – returning memories both painful and pleasurable to her. His final revelation, however, drives a wedge between them, which Karou may not be able to overcome.

This is a beautiful story with its best moments spent in Karou/Madrigal’s memories of the time she spent with Akiva when their love was both new and forbidden. He’s done a terrible thing and neither Karou nor the chimera may be able to recover from it. Even though the ending leaves readers hanging, the satisfaction of learning who Karou is/was will have them panting for a sequel. Fans of supernatural romance should appreciate this one.

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Leviathan
Leviathan trilogy #1
by Scott Westerfeld
Alternative History
Science Fiction
Steampunk
* * * * Stars (Great!)

The world finds itself on the brink of war after the Austrian Archduke and his wife are assassinated. Their teenage son, Alek, must flee his home and make his way to a safe house in the mountains in Switzerland. With only a few retainers to aid him, he escapes in a walker (a giant steam-powered mechanical conveyance). Meanwhile, in Britain, Deryn “Dylan” has become a midshipman on the Leviathan (a genetically engineered airship that’s part whale, part eco-system to support said whale). The Leviathan is on a mission to deliver some VIP cargo – a scientist and her experimental eggs – to Constantinople. The Leviathan crash lands in Switzerland (right outside Alek’s castle) after being shot down by German soldiers. Alek, wanting to do the right thing, goes to their aid, and is taken hostage. The Clankers and the Darwinists (machines vs creatures) manage to work out their differences in time to repair the Leviathan and escape from their German pursuers. Whether they will make it to Constantinople in time (or at all) remains to be seen.

This is a thrilling first installment in Scott Westerfield’s new series. It combines steampunk and alternative history (assassination of Archduke Ferdinand) in an exciting way. Took a little while to warm up to it, but as soon as Deryn described free-ballooning in a Huxley (genetically modified floating jellyfish), I was sold. Deryn and Alek both have secrets that they must protect – Deryn’s a girl masquerading as a boy, and Alek is a prince in exile. If either is found out, the consequences could be dire! Love the characters and the setting and all of the “technology.” Will be starting Behemoth ASAP. Fast read (despite the page count), with lots of white space and fantastic illustrations (in the steampunk style).

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