Young AdultPages: 384
Publisher: David C. Cook
Release Date: February 1, 2011
Gabriella has never spent a summer in Italy like this one.
Remaining means giving up all she’s known and loved…and leaving means forfeiting what she’s come to know…and love itself.Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Bentarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives with their parents, famed Etruscan scholars, among the romantic hills. Stuck among the rubble of medieval castles in rural Tuscany on yet another hot, dusty archeological 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.And thus does she come to be rescued by the knight-prince Marcello Falassi, who takes her back to his father’s castle—a castle Gabi has seen in ruins in another life. Suddenly Gabi’s summer in Italy is much, much more interesting. But what do you do when your knight in shining armor lives, literally, in a different world?
Every so often there comes a book that surprises you in a way few books have ever done. Indeed I expected it to be good, but... I'm at a loss for words here. This was beyond any expectations. It is absolutely fantastic. There's not a single word I would change and if I could I would force everyone to read it. Everything you might want in a book, you'll find it here. Sword fights, a swoon-worthy knight, humor, friendship, royalty, betrayal, time-travel... This book has serious 'classic' potential. When you give me heart-racing adventure with strong female leader, and you mix it with some delicious romance, you're bound to have a very fan-girly me.
It doesn't even feel like historical at all because the author weaves it in so seamlessly you barely notice. Since Gabi is the narrator and she remembers little of her history, you get to explore and learn with her. Which was really fitting since my knowledge of Italian history is completely null. Gabi's voice was fresh and so easy to relate.
The story captured me from beginning to end and I'm quite certain Waterfall
has quickly become one of my favorite books ever. I'm still a bit puzzled as to why it's titled Waterfall though, but I'll let that detail go for now. If you love historical fiction this is a MUST READ for you, and if you don't like historical or have never been able to get into it, or maybe you have just never tried it, I dare you to read this and NOT love it. 
Oh man. This book has been on my 'to-read' list for a while, but this review makes me tempted to bump it to the top of my list. Sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteI am now wondering about the title as well; I know the series as a whole is called The River of Time so perhaps Waterfall, Cascade, and Torrent all connect with that watery part.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading and reviewing, S! I really appreciate your kind words. Titles are subtle, and relate to the series title as Bookworm1858 suggested. They also get a tad more explained in TORRENT (book 3). Hope you can get to CASCADE (book 2) soon--eager to see what you think!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book, too!! Cannot say it enough!
ReplyDeleteHadn't heard much about this one, now I want to read this really bad. :)
ReplyDeleteI loved this book too! Read it a few weeks ago... Definitely want to read #2 now! Loved Gabi!
ReplyDeleteI can not wait to read this book. I keep hearing so many fantastic things about it. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI love this book and the entire series! Glad you loved it too!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds ace! I hadn't heard of it until now either - glad I saw this post. You got me at the mention of castles ;)
ReplyDeleteWaterfall was the beginning of a beautiful personal adventure for me. After sharing the series with our daughter and surviving all my breast cancer treatments my husband and I finally planned the trip of a lifetime to Italy! My husband even read Waterfall to understand our new fascination. We were inspired to choose Sienna in Tuscany and she did not disappoint! You will love Waterfall but heed this warning....be ready to address your hunger for a romantic visit to this breathtaking area of the world. Waterfall is molto bene...arriverderci!
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