Tributary, Lisa T. Bergren

I'm submitting this book to the 2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

Description

My thoughts: It has been a year since Bourne, and Siena and Firenze are stalled in an uneasy truce. Castello Forelli is flourishing and rebuilding, but the Fiorentini will stop at nothing to reignite the hostilities, even if they have to destroy innocents to accomplish their goal.

I think it's pretty meaningful of how much I enjoy this series, that I am still buying the novella e-books even if I much prefer reading print books. I love spending a little more time with these beloved characters.

This time around, Gabi and Marcello take a bit of a step back, building their happy married life, while Lia, Luca and a new character, Alessandra, take over the narrator's place. It's nice to see things through Lia's eyes, and I liked to read about what she was going through this time around. Besides, she and Luca are terribly cute together, and I enjoy their scenes together.

I liked the new character, Alessandra, because she has some promise, but I wish she hadn't run away and get caught by the Fiorentini. At least she realized their true nature (of some of them, actually), but I'd like that some of that Betarrini's feistiness rubs on her. I'm not sure she and Rodolfo are worthy of each other yet, but I fancy the ideia that they have something in common.

Speaking of Rodolfo (I'm sorry, Lord Rodolfo Greco), I figured out that he reminds me of Faolan, from Juliet Marillier's Bridei's Chronicles. I mean, one is Irish and the other Italian, but they fit that "tall, dark and handsome" bill, and also, they both end up loyal to the side of war they weren't born into, and (I can't believe I almost forgot that) they both fall for girls they shouldn't have. AT ALL. Alessandra went through a bit of what Eile endured her whole life, so I hope Eile's awesomeness rubs on her.

I'm sorry, I got carried away. Anything that gets me talking about my favourite author and some of my favourite books ever is pretty damn good on its own right. So... I wonder what comes next for Castello Forelli.

Pages: I'm not sure, the .pdf version has 114 pages, but this would be longer in print format, I think.

Publisher: self-published

Bourne, Lisa T. Bergren

I'm submitting this book to the 2012 YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

Description

Review: Even with a shorter story (this is a novella), Lisa T. Bergren still manages to capture me into her story and exist in medieval times with her characters. Bourne was enticing and completely satisfying, yet I was left begging for more!

I loved to get to see Gabi and Marcello together in a new period of their lives, and that it didn't change Gabi's "She-wolfness". I enjoyed to read some parts in Lia's POV. The two sisters are quite different, and it shows. Gabi is so brave and ready to act, while Lia asks questions first, and thinks a lot more before doing anything. But when she does, yay! Things between her and Luca finally move forward, and aren't they so adorable...

More is revealed about the mysterious brotherhood, and things take a turn for the worse for them... I wonder how things are going to work out. As for the elusive Rodolfo Grego, I really felt bad for him this time, because he's hurting (hopefully all will be better soon), and everyone is ready to think the worse of him. (Especially Luca, who was being a bit of a drama queen about it...) Speaking of Luca, I'm really curious about his sister.

Oh, why do I have to wait for more of these books/novellas? It's pure torture!

Pages: I have no idea, the .pdf version has 88 pages, but in book format this would be longer, I think.

Publisher: self-published

Torrent, Lisa T. Bergren

I'm submitting this book to the YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

Description

Review: And I thought these books couldn't get anymore exciting. While reading this one, I felt like sprinting just to keep up with Gabi and Lia. Only the ending threw me off a bit, as it was sorta cliffhanger-ish, and were this the last book, as I thought it was in the beginning, I'd be having something of a fit right now.

Thankfully, Lisa was dropping some hints on the Facebook page that she was preparing a fourth book. And while searching her blog, I read that she has plans to write as much as 7 books total. But this would depend on sales and her publisher (those pesky things), and she may publish the fourth book only as an e-book... I'm not too happy about it, since I have no e-reader and don't like much reading on the computer... but I guess I may do an excepton for this exceptional and awesome series.

As for the story... have I mentioned exciting and awesome? With every book in the series it seems like the stakes are higher, and this is medieval times, so deaths and near-deaths abound. I just felt so sad for a certain departure. And other parts of this book were so emotional that it was almost like a tearfest.

I really enjoyed the developments around Gabi and Marcello... they had their happy ending, albeit it was interrupted by that pesky war with the Fiorentini. And Gabi really had time for a little soul searching in this book, to understand if this was really what she wanted.

In the middle of all this drama I actually felt bad for poor Lord Rodolfo Greco. I never root for the third wheel on a love triangle once I established my "team", but Lord "Tall, Dark and Handsome" (as Gabi describes him once) kinda deserves a happy ending for him as well. The scenes with him and Gabi were great.

I am becoming more of a Lia's fan, she is growing on me. I'm rooting as well for her and Luca, I'm not sure what's in store for them, but I'm hoping all good things. I also enjoyed to be able to see the Betarrinis reunited, it was very interesting to see their family dynamics, especially now that Gabi and Lia are becoming more adults than teens.

I am pining for this book. A good pining, but I am just sad that it may be the last book, or at least the last book for a while. These characters really have grown on me and I just can't wait to read more of their adventures, and to have eventually some closure on their story. I am also extremely happy that I heard of these books, as I woundn't be the same without them. For example, I woundn't have discovered a love of YA historicals!

Pages: 400

Publisher: David C. Cook

Cascade, Lisa T. Bergren

I'm submitting this book to the YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

Description

Review: And again this author captivated me into medieval times, with this tale of two sisters, Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini. In this installment, Gabi and Lia go back to Italy, taking their mother, to prove her they are not lying about the time portal they found. But given their role in the conflict between Siena and Firenze in the previous book, they soon get wrapped on a full-bloomed war, in which they risk their lives over and over.

How much can I praise this book? I'm already a huge fan of The River of Time Series, and I can hardly think there's only one book left for me to read. I really like the way Lisa T. Bergren writes, combining the more archaic (it's medieval times, after all) way of speaking between the characters, with the thoughts of a very 21^st century girl, when we are reading Gabi's narration.

There's also the small detail that Lisa manages to put their main characters into all kinds of dire situations, creating two very brave girls. Gabi, especially, goes though all sorts of drama, and just keeps going. She's plain awesome, and probably my favourite character.

The guys are just drool-worthy. The tension and love between Gabi and Marcello is heart-melting, and I expect that they get their well-deserved happy ending in the third book. No less is acceptable. Lia starts to fall for her knight in shining armor too, Luca Forelli, and I'm rooting for him to get the girl as well. A guy that manages to survive the plague while running from a battle, through a forest, and with a dive or two in between, has to have my respect. And all that while still cracking jokes.

In the end, it seems the girls are starting to convince their mother of the charms (and perils) of medieval Italy, but then Lisa throws us the classic "let's just screw with the time continuum and see how it turns out" as a cliffhanger. I can see a way of making it work without ruining the timeline, but it would be quite interesting to see if there are actually any consequences of what the Betarrinis did.

I'm looking forward to reading the third book, Torrent, but also dread it a bit, as the description makes it seem like the plague is spreading through Europe and I just *know* someone's going to die. But I can´t stay away from the Betarrinis and this medieval tale, so... bring it on.

Pages: 416

Publisher: David C. Cook

Waterfall, Lisa T. Bergren

I'm submitting this book to the 2011 Debut Author Challenge, hosted by The Story Siren. I'm also submitting this to the YA Historical Fiction Challenge hosted by YA Bliss.

Description/Sinopse

Review: I enjoyed this book a lot. The main character, Gabriella Betarrini, lands herself in the medieval period in Italy, finding herself right away in a fight between two rival groups of knights - the Forelli and the Paratore. She's helped by the Forelli and strangely manages to pass herself as a lady, even though her 21st century ways.

I liked Gabi; she's a stubborn girl, who although sells herself as a medieval lady, insists in sneaking away from the castle at night in search of her sister (from whom she has gotten separated). Happily we are in the medieval period, and cute, gentlemanly knights abound, like Luca and Marcello Forelli - who will be the castle's heir and is pledged to an Italian lady. Of course he and Gabi fall head over heels for each other.

The fact this story happens in Italy is a bonus, and in the medieval period another bonus, as Lisa T. Bergren shows us the less pleasant parts of this time - you use a potty instead of a bathroom, there's no hair conditioner and sickness and death are ever present. The Betarrini sisters themselves will have a active part in all the fighting in the final confrontation, which I though the author wouldn't write in a YA book.

I'm a bit sorry we only see the Betarrini sisters together later in the book, as I'd like to see their sibling dinamics - I though Gabi was the older, but you never know. I also enjoyed to see Gabi grow up, becoming a brave, passionate, self-sacrificing girl.

As for the ending, I wish something else forced the girls to return to the present time, but it was exciting nonetheless, e left many things open to assure they return. Thankfully the second book is almost upon us, but I'm rooting to get a discount (the paperback is a bit expensive, due to the cover's unusual quality).

Opinião: Gostei bastante deste livro. A personagem principal, Gabriella Betarrini, aterra no meio do período medieval em Itália, dando logo com uma escaramuça entre dois grupos de cavaleiros rivais, os Forelli e os Paratore. É acolhida pelos Forelii e estranhamente até consegue passar por uma dama, apesar dos seus modos à século XXI.

Gostei da Gabi. É uma rapariga teimosa, que apesar de tentar passar por uma dama medieval insiste em escapulir-se do castelo Forelli à noite à procura da irmã (de quem se perdeu). Felizmente estamos no período medieval, e parece que os cavaleiros cavalheirescos e giros abundam, personificados nas pessoas de Luca e Marcello Forelli, o último dos quais vai ser herdeiro do castelo e está comprometido. É claro que ele e a Gabi se vão embeiçar um pelo outro.

O facto de isto se passar em Itália é um bónus, e na época medieval outro ainda, especialmente porque a autora nos mostra a parte chata desta época - ir à casa de banho em bacios, nada de amaciador para o cabelo e doenças e morte estão presentes. As próprias irmãs Betarrini vão ter uma mão em toda a luta do confronto final, o que achei que a autora não teria coragem de fazer num livro YA.

Tenho pena que só tenhamos visto as irmãs Betarrini juntas no final, porque gostaria de ver a dinâmica de irmãs delas - deu-me a sensação que a Gabi era a mais velha, mas nunca se sabe. Por outro lado, gostei de ver como a Gabi cresce com a experiência, mostrando-se uma jovem corajosa, apaixonada e com capacidade de sacrifício.

Quanto ao final, preferia que outra coisa tivesse forçado o regresso das irmãs ao presente, mas foi na mesma bastante emocionante, e deixou bastantes coisas em aberto para o regresso das Betarrini. Felizmente o segundo livro está aí à porta, mas estou a torcer para apanhar um promoção (o paperback é um pouco caro devido à qualidade invulgar da capa).

Pages/Páginas: 384

Publisher/Editora: David C. Cook