Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Publication Date:  May 10, 2011 
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co.
Pages:  354
Series:  The Ruby Red Trilogy #2
Genre:  Fantasy
Synopsis:  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.

Review:  When glancing back over my old review of the first book in this trilogy, I noticed that I had mentioned I would be reading the sequel as soon as could be.  Well, here we are, more than a year later.  Better late than never, I suppose.  

Sapphire Blue, or Saphirblau, is as engaging as its predecessor.  It is, without a doubt, entirely amusing, frustrating, and captivating.  The writing, still, seems a bit simplified, although I do wonder if this can be attributed to the fact that it is translated.  

The lion--as proud as the diamond bright,

Though the spell may be clouding that radiant light--in the death of the sun what's amiss will then mend, while the raven in dying discloses the end.

The plot, while quite predictable, flows quickly and never dulls.  There's fencing, drunken singing, ghosts--you name it.  However, there does seem to be a handful of inconsistencies and story-lines from the first book that have dropped off into nonexistence and another handful that appear out of thin air in this installment.

You are met with more questions than answers;  I talked back to the characters so often I must have seemed deranged.  Mostly, it was 'why,' 'she's known him a week,' and 'what are you doing?'  

Gwenyth, our dear protagonist, and her time travelling companion Gideon are such teenagers.  Mood swings included.  Even so, they are rather likable.  Their romance, while not sickening, is baffling.  As aforementioned above, these two have known each other a week and there is already declarations of love and them falling about snogging one another in different time periods.

Unfortunately it's an incontrovertible fact that sound common sense flies out of the window as soon as love comes in through the door.

Sapphire Blue is not profound, nor thought-provoking, nor does it check off on my usual list of 'what makes a fantastic novel,' but it is pure enjoyment bottled in book form.  It is addictive fun and I don't mind being distracted.  This time, I really do mean that I will be reading the next one very soon, and I have adjusted my definition of 'soon' accordingly.