Waterfall by Lisa Bergren Series: River of Time #1
Publisher: David C Cook (2011)
Paperback (369 pages)
Via: Library
Rating:
Reading Challenges: 2016 Backlist Books, Read 2016
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 archaeologist 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.
Find the book: Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository
My Review
I really liked Waterfall more than I thought I would. Gabi accidentally travels back in time to fourteenth century Italy. Though Gabi’s sister traveled with her, Gabi ends up alone.
I liked how we saw Gabi grow up a little. In the beginning of the book, she is rather self-centered. She is focused on finding her sister and getting back to her own time no matter what she has to do to make that happen. As the book progresses, Gabi starts to realize that she isn’t the only one her actions impact.
I also loved the setting. I can’t speak much about the historical authenticity of the setting, but I can say that I loved the way it felt. The setting isn’t sterile. Things are happening and actions have consequences. It is a dynamic setting.
There were some issues I did have. First, when Gabi first sees Marcello it seems like they both have a bad case of insta-love. This isn’t really the case but it does deserve to be mentioned. Second, Gabi is oddly well-equipped for fourteenth century Italy. She knows an older form of Italian, she rides bareback, she fences, she rock climbs. See where I am going here? Gabi is too well-equipped for the time in which she finds herself.
However, I was so drawn into the story that the above didn’t really bother me too much. I guess I was able to overlook that. I really liked this novel and will have to see about getting Cascade from the library soon.
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