Sapphire Blue * Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (Translator)* Ruby Red Trilogy * Edelstein-Trilogie #2

A modern London teenager thrown into a centuries-old secret society must learn to navigate eighteenth-century court etiquette and unpredictable history leaps while trying to figure out if her charming time-traveling partner is genuinely falling for her or just playing a part.

The Story: Written by prominent German urban fantasy author Kerstin Gier and smoothly translated by Anthea Bell, this high-stakes second installment in the internationally bestselling Edelstein-Trilogie deepens the mystery of the time-traveling Circle of Twelve. The plot follows sixteen-year-old Gwyneth Shepherd, who recently discovered she inherited her family's rare time-travel gene instead of her arrogant cousin. Gwen now carries the mantle of "the Sapphire," forcing her into a world of hidden tracking lines, historical costumes, and tight security protocols overseen by the enigmatic Guardians.

Gwen operates under heavy scrutiny as she is forced to jump back into past centuries to collect blood samples from historical time-travelers. Her routine permanently fractures due to her growing, confusing attraction to Gideon de Villiers, her handsome and much more experienced time-travel partner. Gwen finds herself in a world of upscale eighteenth-century ballrooms, secret rendezvous, and sudden sword fights. She must balance her intense school life with the demands of the sinister Count Saint-Germain, whose true agenda remains hidden behind a wall of ancient prophecies. The narrative takes fantasy and romance lovers through a fast-paced landscape of historical London eras, from the glitz of the Georgian elite to dark ancestral vaults. Gwen utilizes her sharp wit and her unique ability to see ghosts, including a hilarious new gargoyle ghost companion named Xemerius, to sift through a suspect pool of secret society members and gather hidden pieces of evidence. To unmask the deceptions surrounding her bloodline and protect her family, Gwen must learn to trust her instincts when history itself keeps shifting. Published as an addictive trade paperback by Square Fish or Henry Holt, this defining middle volume stands as a stellar showpiece for modern fantasy shelves.

Perfect For: Devotees of traditional, fast-reading young adult romantasy and time-bending historical adventures like Alexandra Bracken’s Passenger, Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices, or Victoria Aveyard's Red Queen; readers who love witty dialogue, period costumes, and slow-burn romantic tension; and dedicated book collectors maintaining a complete shelf of the globally bestselling Ruby Red Trilogy library.

First Published 2010. This Edition 2012 by Square Fish.

Young Adult Romantasy / Time-Travel Mysteries / Historical Intrigue / Secret Societies