Review: Torrent (River of Time #3)

Torrent (River of Time #3)

by Lisa T. Bergren

Genre: YA Time travel, historical fiction

- See review of Waterfall (River of Time #1) - 

- See review of Cascade (River of Time #2) -

SYNOPSIS:

When Gabi and Lia finally learn to surf the river of time, they realize they must make hard choices about life and love in the third and final book in the River of Time series.

 

Gabi and Lia Betarrini have learned to control their time travel, and they return from medieval Italy to save their father from his tragic death in modern times.

 

But love calls across the centuries, and the girls are determined to return forever—even though they know the Black Plague is advancing across Europe, claiming the lives of one-third of the population. In the suspenseful conclusion of the River of Time series, every decision is about life … and death.

MY THOUGHTS:

5 stars/birds

CAREFUL! THERE MIGHT BE SPOILERS FROM THE PREVIOUS BOOKS!

I loved loved loved the beginning!

I'm so glad Ben is back with them. At first, I thought it was going to be more of the same but the story traps you instantly.

I love the plan they device to free Fortino. 

Of course, what happened was unexpected but naturally it couldn't have been that easy.

About characters: 

- Lord Zinicola! He is so cool :D I want a neighbour like him.

- Tomas, amazing and brave! One of the best characters of the trilogy.

- I admit I was intrigued with Rodolfo Greco since book 2, and I was very interested to see where his quest was going, and where his heart was heading... Certainly, I would have enjoyed more depth in his relationship with Gabi. I wanted to see more of them.

The turn of events involving him was shocking.

- I confess: I never fell for Marcello. But nonetheless, I couldn't think for a better outcome than the one Lisa T. Bergren wrote. 

- Lia and Luca, how cute! and corageous!

- The girls' parents are also incredible, I liked how well they adjusted to the time.

About plot and pace:

This installment was fast paced and even more action packed than the previous one but with a bit more romance.

Overall I can say this is an amazing series, with well built and fascinating scenarios. 

I absolutely felt in medieval Tuscany, the author really caught the essence of those times and the place and managed to make it entertaining.

Super recommended series!

Review: Cascade (River of time #2)

Cascade (River of Time #2)

by Lisa T. Bergren

Genre: YA Time travel, historical fiction

- See review of Waterfall (River of Time #1) - 

SYNOPSIS:

Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”

Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

MY THOUGHTS:

4 stars/birds

"There is always one unexpected moment in life when a door opens to let the future in"

Lisa T. Bergren has a great ability to pull you in easily. At the second page I was sucked in the story again.

I totally dived in the 14th Century. I loved the descriptions, not only the places  but the habits, I could totally picture myself walking the streets and palazzos of Siena. And at the same time, I felt related to Gabi and Lia.

It's hard for a 21st century's mind to jump into such a different time.

Love the politics and how alliances and treason unfold through the book.

The plague part, well... it's a historical event I've read about before, but this time I connected truthfully with the facts.

I loved how Lia and Gabi reunite their forces again and that ends in plot with a lot more action. Though their suffering and torture was endless.

About the characters:

Gabi is very suspicious all the time... relax a bit sweety! , on the other hand Marcello is so naive. Mhmmm... that bothered me a little.

Signora Regello is great: so sweet and selfless. 

Greco... oh my! he intrigues me, I can see something building up in his mind and maybe his heart, I definitely like him. The brotherhood secret was an interesting turn of events.

I also enjoyed how Lia and Luca's love grew and it was nice to read more about them in this installment.

Lord Paratore is back and worse than ever. If you though he couldn't be more evil... you were wrong.

To sum up: More action, less romance (though, enough), and a surprising twist at the end.

Review: Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

Waterfall (River of Time #1)
by Lisa T. Bergren

Synopsis:

What do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?

Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

 

MY THOUGHTS:

I'm a sucker for well written time travel stories, and this is one of them!


Waterfall has a nice start in today's Tuscany area. Gaby's mom is an archaeologist.
One afternoon, Gaby and Lia start investigating one of her mom's discoveries and well... you can imagine where that took them: to an incredible world a few years back... and when I say a few years I mean like 700 years back!

I liked that the author knows her history and it shows. The setting details are totally accurate. But of course, I'm a little biased because I have the majority of my relatives in Tuscany, so I absolutely adored the location. But who wouldn't?

This would be today. If you remove the road,
it looks the same as 600 years ago!

Gaby and Lia get separated after her little journey and this book is mainly about Gaby's story. I would have liked a bit more of Lia but anyway, I really enjoyed it.

The surroundings and supporting characters are so perfectly created that I could picture how clueless and, at the same time, amazed everyone would be around Gaby because she was so strong, independent, and brave in opposition to most of the women of that time.

“I finally meet a guy who's interesting and who seems to have a half-interest in me and it is TOTALLY the wrong time and place.” 

What I didn't like about the protagonist is that somehow she kept making the wrong choices. Of course, if she did everything right we wouldn't have story at all, but no need to make all the wrong decisions!!!

Marcelo our male lead is a nice guy that feels an undeniable attraction towards Gaby but he is engaged to another woman. So it's interesting to read about the road he took and his actions to get closer to Gaby.

The only reason why I didn't give this book 5 stars, was that everything happened in just a week so it seemed rushed. You can't fall in love with someone in one week and she claimed to know him that much, which is impossible.

Besides the romance, there is an entertaining subplot involving Lia. I loved the carefully devised plan. So that added some points.

The end was predictable but good. No doubts I want to know more about Gaby and Marcelo, and see what happens with Lia, Luca, Fortino and Romana. (that's why Cascade, the sequel's already on my bookcase!)



I hope you enjoyed my review!