Waterfall: A Novel (River of Time Series) Review

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(More customer reviews)The book begins in the present day as two sisters wander, bored, around an archeological dig their mother is working on in Italy. Gabi, the eldest sister, is annoyed to be spending yet another summer at an Italian dig site, and is eager for a normal teenage experience. When she and her sister, Lia, discover a set of ancient handprints in an old tomb that are the exact dimensions of their own hands, however, the two are sucked into a time-warp adventure that is anything but normal.
Gabi and Lia are separated during the shocking jerk back through time, and Gabi emerges from the tomb into the middle of a fierce battle between two Italian houses, the Castellos Forelli and Paratore, in medieval Italy. When the Castello Forelli takes her under their protection, she not only meets the handsome--and spoken for--Marcello Forelli, she also becomes the main target of the dangerous Castello Paratore.
Gabi's shock at finding herself in another era must be pushed aside quickly in order to ensure her survival; and she soon finds herself giving medical advice to save a Lord's son, sword fighting, and actively participating in war schemes (all while wishing she had access to Wikipedia or Google to get some answers to her historical questions). When it is discovered that the cruel Lord Paratore is holding Lia captive, however, Gabi's somewhat good-natured romp through medieval Italy suddenly becomes a nightmare.
When I first picked up Waterfall, I was a bit skeptical. Unfortunately, a lot of Christian fiction for teens is--in my opinion--poorly written, too preachy, or heavily coated in sugar. I was dubious that Waterfall, a book that fell into my lap unexpectedly, would be any different.
Thankfully, however, Waterfall not only exceeded my expectations, it actually sucked me into the adventure to the point where I couldn't put it down. I was thrilled to discover realistic, three-dimensional characters in this story, and thoroughly enjoyed the tension of the romantic thread. Bergren takes the reader on an adventure that is not sparing in the harsh realities of the time, and yet the author skillfully keeps the story from becoming overtly graphic or inappropriate. I appreciated the characters' honest struggles throughout the novel, from the moral vs. survival issues of war and torture, to the yearning to experience life fully, and the deep uncertainty that so often plagues our faith. Bergren's work is honest without being overly preachy or despairing, and allows the reader to engage fully in a story that is both wonderfully exciting and thoroughly relatable.
Waterfall is an excellent read for teens and adults alike. I am eager for the rest of the series!


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Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one.

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