Saturday, September 17, 2011

Review: River of Time Series


RIVER OF TIME SERIES (Waterfall, Cascade, Torrent)
Lisa T. Bergren
Paranormal Young Adult
David C. Cook (publisher)
Available Now
Bought and received for review from author

Warning: review contains minor spoilers

THE STORY
Gabriella Betarrini and her sister Lia are used to following their mother around on archaeological digs, spending their summers in beautiful Italy but ultimately stuck at the dig site unable to explore much themselves. When they stumble into their mother's latest find, an ancient tomb, and place their hands on painted hand prints on the wall that seem identical to their own, they find themselves sucked back in time.

Yanking her hand from the wall a few moments before her sister, Gabi finds herself still in the tomb, yet everything has changed. When she emerges, she sees the ruins she expects restored to all their medieval glory and watches as the battle taking place in front of her proves itself to be no mere reenactment.

This series follows Gabi, Lia and eventually their mother as they navigate their way through medieval Italy and all the beauty and horror of the time, picking up weapons in defense of those who have been wronged and finding unexpected love amidst the chaos of war.

MY THOUGHTS
The River of Time books transport us to an utterly enthralling medieval world, enchanting us with knights in shining armor and their chivalry, but also never letting us forget the difficulties of the time period. With the extravagant gowns and the propriety we also experience lives governed by the point of a sword–often lived fast and lost quickly–as accompanying the gallantry we find greed and a desire for power; just as with loyalty we also discover the brutal sting of betrayal. Ms. Bergren paints her world in hypnotic color, gloriously illustrating the joys and pains of the medieval era, dazzling us with rich historical details and intricacies, and thoroughly entertaining us with characters who win us over with their vibrant personalities. Gabi and Lia drag us through the tomb's portal with them, companions on a an epic adventure that has us keeping track of the page numbers with increasing dismay and grieving the speed with which they're flying by as we catapult toward an end we're simply not prepared to accept just yet.

Gabriella is a heroine virtually impossible to dislike, her quick mind coming to her aid again and again as she moves through a world she's only read about previously, never despairing of her circumstances but rather embracing the soft romanticism of a medieval lady's life with the hard-edged brutality of civilization at the time. While it would be shockingly easy for her to lose herself in the grandeur of living in a castle with the attentions of its handsome lord, she never forgets herself entirely or allows her mind to fall prey to the beautiful illusion, instead remaining cognizant of what's waiting for her in her life back home and the effect her decisions will have on her family. She swoons over Marcello and then mentally chastises herself for doing so, approaching her relationship with remarkable maturity and level-headedness–perhaps more so than we do as readers given that we find ourselves weak-kneed and foggy-minded when faced with Marcello, Luca, and Lord Greco.

In addition to an extraordinary leading lady, Ms. Bergren also increases our love for this series by steadily integrating the presence of Gabi's family, drawing us blissfully further into the story as the dynamic of a modern family traipsing through and forever altering an ancient world fully captivates us. We start with the brief presence of Lia in Waterfall, then progress to the addition of the girls' equally strong-willed and physically fearsome mother in Cascade, and finally see the completion of the Betarrini family in Torrent with their father. Each Betarrini member supports the others fully but also questions them, ensuring no decision is made lightly or without forethought, and we can't help but admire each of them for their individual strengths as we watch a jump in time save a family in so many different ways.

The River of Time series is an absolute pleasure to read, keeping our emotions constantly in flux as we discover both how wonderful and terrifying medieval Italy can be. All three books are incredibly action-packed with family feuds and political battles taking center stage while sweet romance is expertly interwoven to keep our hearts beating double time for hundreds of pages. These novels will appeal to a wide variety of readers as no single element overpowers the others, and we are left with a solid conclusion but also the potential for so much more. The possibility that this world is just waiting for us to return is a heady one, bringing a smile to our faces every time we think of it.

Overall series rating: 4.5/5

31 comments:

  1. I've just finished Waterfall and it was really awesome. I've started on Cascade awhile ago and I'm loving it so far too. Great review! :)

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  2. I think Lord Greco leaves me a little more than week kneed. It's more like a full body melt followed by some thoughts of putting that fruit and fruit bowl to better uses than conversational eating...if I know what I'm saying. I mean we are in sexy toga wear. Although, probably not Christian Fiction appropriate! ;) Yummy!!! I think my book boyfriends are starting to take over my head, Jenny. It kinda worries me. :)

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  3. Fantastic review Jenny! I agree that Gabi is an incredible heroine and impossible not to like :)

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  4. I've read only Waterfall, and it was awesome! I now added another town in Italy I want to see - it's Siena :) Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

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  5. This series sounds right up my street. I did download Waterfall when it was free on Kindle, but I haven't managed to get to it yet. Glad you enjoyed this series so much.

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  6. I've been following Waterfall Wednesdays and the whole series is on my wishlist. I love it when a character grabs you and pulls you into her world, making you never want to leave.
    Mary @ BookSwarm

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  7. Chel - I love this series, I think each book improves on the one before it and I need more from Lisa like I need air to breathe:)

    Jen - Greco would make such a great adult romance hero wouldn't he? Then we could have a few more, um, details:) Win.

    Nic - I adore her:) I'm so glad everyone seems to be loving this series so much, it's nice when books you love seem to be loved by everyone else as well.

    Kara-karina - I need to go to Siena in search of Lord Greco and Luca and Marcello. Italy here I come:)

    Slowest - SO GOOD! I hope you get a chance to try it soon:)

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  8. Mary - Yay! I'm glad you've been following on Weds:) I love these books, they're highly entertaining and emotionally intriguing.

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  9. I'm happy to see this review! I started reading this book a few months ago during a fit of book ADD, unfortunately. I got through the first three chapters before switching gears and starting a new book. Looks like a definitely need to revisit! I regret not doing it sooner.

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  10. I'm so, so glad you loved them!! This is just a FABULOUS series, I really fell in love with all the characters. I actually just bought them all in paperback with an Amazon giftcard I had, because I decided I needed to re-read them and pass them on to a couple of people. =)

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  11. I love this review, Jenny! You so clearly touched on everything I adore about this series. The history, the family, the girls, the guys! (And, yeah, Gabi is a lot more level-headed in the face of those guys than I would be!)

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  12. It seems like everyone that has read the River of time books are loving it. I did download the free e-book a while back so hopefully I will get to it soon.

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  13. This is cool--I like how you reviewed the whole series in one go! The River of Time books sound amazing; I definitely need to give them a try! I love fantasy, political intrigue, and great characters. :)

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  14. Is it okay if I come back later and read your thoughts once I read all three books!? I'm so happy I got sucked into the read-along!

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  15. Jackie - I've had my own case of ADD lately, so I completely understand. Hope you give it a try sometime!

    Ashley - I agree, I adored all three books and am sincerely hoping we get a book 4:)

    Small - Thanks! I would have been a drooling idiot if I were in Gabi's shoes I think. Coherent thoughts in the face of Greco? Don't think so:)

    Jenny - Yay! Can't wait to see what you think of it:)

    Lauren - Thank you, it was easier to do it this way so I didn't say the same thing about the characters 3 times:)

    Jacinda - Of course! So glad you're having fun with the read-along:)

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  16. You're making me even more excited to finish Waterfall and to move on to the other two books! :D

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  17. I loved this series so far and just have to read Torrent now. I love that Gabi takes her family into account before making life-changing decisions. It would be so easy for her to decide to stay in medieval Italy and make her entire family get stuck there as well.

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  18. I AM going to read these!!! I swear!!!! I cannot wait, they seriously sound AMAZING!!

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  19. I really want to read these. Yes I am shallow and fell for the covers but they sure sound good now too :D

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  20. Seriously looking forward to this series. I signed up for a book tour for these books and I really hope I get on it! The characters and the world sound fabulous and totally up my alley!

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  21. Lea - I love each one more than the last, so book 3 is my favorite. Can't wait for you to get to it:)

    Zahida - Torrent is amazing, I adored it. I love Lord Greco like you would not believe:)

    Ashley - YOU MUST! Super good:)

    Blodeuedd - They are really good. I wasn't sure they would be for me and I always hesitate whenever they get a lot of hype, but they deserve every good thing that's said about them:)

    Rummanah - I hope you get on the tour as well, I love this series!

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  22. Yes! Perfectly described, Jenny. This series is one that keeps your emotions constantly in flux. And really, I'm still marveling over how Gabi was able to keep herself level headed around all those hotties. I would have thrown myself on all them.

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  23. I had to skim this because I haven't finished the series but, bravo! Great review. You're right Gaby is impossible not to like.

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  24. I will continue on after Waterfall---the characters are beginning to grow on me but more than that I am really impressed with the authors ability to accurately transport us back in time!

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  25. I adore this series! I am begging the author for some novellas or at least another novel. I want Lia's story now!

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  26. I have heard SO many good things about this series! I have the first book on my Nook, and can't wait to start on it. :) Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book, I want to read it even more now!

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  27. Ok first off how did I miss this post????

    Second- Im so glad you loved the series....and glad you joined me in the WW event...:D

    And Third- that review glowed sparkles over that whole series...

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  28. Just finished Waterfall. It truly was an enjoyable book. Incredibly entertaining. Though Gabi annoyed me from time to time, I did come to like and appreciate her character very much, like you.

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  29. This sounds like a cool series, I especially like the setting. I've gotten so used to paranormal YA that medieval Italy was a surprise. I also like the fact that there's a level headed heroine and the entire family is along for the adventure, not something you normally see. I will definitely be looking into this series.

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  30. EVERYONE is loving this series!! I picked them up a little while back and I'm thinking I need to move them up in my TBR. Great multi-books review :)

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