REVIEW Ruby Road (Crossroad Chronicles Book #3) by BR Kingsolver

Ruby Road (Crossroad Chronicles Book 3) 

by B.R. Kingsolver
Rating: 3 Stars
Release Date: February 19, 2023
Format: eBook (Kindle Unlimited) 

Check out my review of book one in the series, Family Ties

Check out my review of book two in the series, Night Market

BR Kingsolver’s books have always been one of my favorite indie urban fantasy reads, and her Crossroad Chronicles books are no exception. However, the latest installment, Ruby Road, didn’t have quite the same impact as the first two books in the series. 

Diana Smith is a ‘Walker’ or a magical being with the ability to walk between worlds. By day, she’s a jeweler and a blacksmith working at the Crossroads, the largest marketplace in any of the known worlds. However, when adventure comes knocking in the form of her ex-lover promising the motherlode of all scores, Diana can’t resist the temptation and signs up for the ride. 

My favorite part about this series is worldbuilding. With Diana’s ‘Walker’ powers, readers get to explore different worlds through her eyes. They are also exposed to various different magical talents that exist throughout the various worlds (for example, Diana is earth magic that allows her to sense the presence of minerals and stones below the surface). We also get to meet a whole host of characters who possess said powers - my favorite characters in this book in particular were Diana’s mom and Lanya. 

While the characters and worldbuilding were definite highlights, I was very confused by the storyline and some of the actions that the characters took. For example, Diana is a complete badass but she seems to lack a basic sense of self preservation. She knows her ex is a douche bag with a penchant for getting those around him into trouble, but she doesn’t seem to take that into consideration when planning her trip with him. At the very least, one would think that she would want more information or would make more of an emergency escape plan. But, no, she doesn’t. 

Overall, Ruby Road was an entertaining read with some minor issues. I’m unsure whether or not this completes the series, but I do think the author tied up all the story threads nicely. I would recommend the book (and the larger series) to urban fantasy readers who like authors like Ilona Andrews, Patricia Briggs, or Lisa Shearin. 

About the Author

I made silver and turquoise jewelry for almost a decade, ended up in nursing school, then took a master’s in business. Along the way I worked in construction, as a newspaper editor, a teacher, and somehow found a career working with computers.

As to my other interests, I love the outdoors, especially the Rocky Mountains. I’ve skied since high school, with one broken leg and one torn ACL to show for it. I’ve hiked and camped all my life. I love to travel, though I haven’t done enough of it. I’ve seen a lot of Russia and Mexico, not enough of England. Amsterdam is amazing, and the Romanian Alps are breathtaking. Lake Tahoe is a favorite, and someday I’d like to see Banff.

Interested in other books by BR Kingsolver? Check out my reviews here!