Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren review ( YA Outlander?)

Waterfall by Lisa Tawn Bergren (River of Time #1)

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Synopsis from Goodreads
Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.
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Absolutely gorgeous. I'm totally in love with the book!


Waterfall was nothing like I expected. I was prepared to read somewhat watered down, rosy, time-travel YA with a cutesy and clumsy main heroine.


Hah! I say, hah!


Down and dirty, gritty and atmospheric with a more than capable heroine. She can fence! She can heal! She scales the walls! Oh, man... I was in heaven.


This very much reminded me of The Outlander, and I truly can't wait to read more about Gabriella and her younger sister (who is an archer!), Lia.


Even the men in this book are interesting, Marcello and his learned but sickly older brother, Luca - Marcello's cheerful, cheeky second in command. The love line is a bit overdramatic and very troubadour-ish, and historically I had to suspend my disbelief in many places, however the writing itself outshines all the flaws.


I love Renaissance, and here is the story which I'm not very familiar with about two Italian city-states Florence and Siena, and their political battle against each other.


17 year-old Gabi and her 15 year old sister Lia came to Italy with their mother who is an archaeologist researching old Etruscan burial sites. Bored out of her mind Gabi sneaks into one of the tombs with Lia and they both touch certain stones on the wall at the same time, which transfers them back in time. Way back to the 14th century.


And that's where all the fun starts. Which I'm not telling you about.


Suffice to say there is plenty of excitement. And now because of this book I have another Italian town on my MUST SEE before I die list, - Siena.

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О, какая классная вышла книга! Для любителей путешествий во времени, YA версия Чужестраницы.


Вообще-то я не ожидала ничего хорошего от книги, от которой пищали в восторге все блоги YA. Однако вместо розового, слюнявого чтива я получила достаточно энергичную, в меру жёсткую и решительную главную героиню, которую заносит вместе с младшей с сестрой в Италию 14 века как раз посреди борьбы между Сьеной и Флоренцией.


Да, полно исторических огрехов и драматичных трубадурных любовных признаний, однако парнишки получились достаточно живописные и симпатичные, - и Марчелло и его старший брат и его задорный помощник Люка.


Есть и кровища, чуть ли не пытки и не изнасилования, но так как книга рекламируется как христианское чтиво, до этого не доходит.


Габриэлла и её младшая сестричка Лиа, благодаря своему необычному воспитанию (папа и мамы - сумасшедшие археологи, помешанные на этрусках) оказались личностями совершенно неординарными. Габи фехтует и знает основы лекарства, Лиа - прекрасный стрелок, и когда они вмешиваются по уши в интриги между воюющими замками, можно представить какой фурор они обе производят.


Тс-с. Больше ничего говорить не буду. Читайте и решайте сами. А в Сьену я влюбилась - какой красивый тосканский городок! (фото см.выше)

9/10