Friday, September 23, 2011

Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS.
DO NOT READ (YET) IF YOU HAVE NOT READ
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren.
THANKS!

Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”

Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever.

As you know, all week I have been seriously struggling. It's not for lack of good reading material. I've just been in a kind of funk. Apparently book club was what I needed to get me back on the wagon. Last night was our monthly book club meeting and talking about the book we read and books to come, something clicked and I got excited about reading again. So, yay for me.

I read the first book in this series, Waterfall, last month and really enjoyed it. It seems like there's not enough YA books set in the time period of knights and chivalry. I fell in love with Gabi and Marcello and even Luca in book one, but I really didn't like Gabi's sister, Lia. That changed in this book for me. She makes much more of an appearance in this book and I got to know (and like) her character more. She's just as fierce and lovable as Gabi--you just don't see much of that side of her in Waterfall.

I really enjoyed the storyline, again. I've been really impressed with Lisa T. Bergren's books so far. I think she's a fabulous storyteller with a particular talent for writing without a lot of fluff or unnecessary description. I was thinking about this last night while discussing our book club pick, The False Princess by Eilis O'Neal and I couldn't help but compare the two books. Lisa T. Bergren does a fantastic job of giving great descriptions without getting wordy, very unlike the writing style in The False Princess. But we'll cross that bridge when we get to it on Tuesday.

If you haven't started this series yet, I recommend you get on it quick. I love this series. My snooze-fest all week was in no way related to my reading material, but more due to my hectic schedule I've been precariously trying to balance. So don't be scared that these books will put you to sleep. They most definitely will not! They'll leave you dying to read the next one....like I am now.

Happy Reading!

9 comments:

Stacy said...

OOH can't wait to read this one! I should have known there would be another book. No one has just one book anymore! I guess I will jump on this one as soon as I finish the one I am currently reading!

Unknown said...

I love medieval themed books, I still have camelot hangover so this is a good way to sate that craving.

Katie Dodge said...

I can't wait to get this one! I loved the first one, alot! It was so nice meeting you the other day! Can't wait for our next meeting. :D

Chantele Sedgwick said...

YAY!! I'm reading this now! :D And book club was awesome. :)

Megan @ Reading for Refuge said...

Stacy, Katie, and Chantele:

You'll love this. I liked it even better than the first!

P.S. Katie--it was nice to finally meet you! I'm excited for book club. Just got Divergent this weekend, and I plan to start it soon.


Braine: Welcome! These are awesome books, so I hope they fulfill your craving for hot knights and lots of swordfighting. :)

Lisa Tawn Bergren said...

Hurrah! Thanks for continuing on with the River of Time...so glad you're falling in love with Lia, too, because now I want to write HER story...oh, and more on the intriguing Lord Greco, whom you'll meet in CASCADE (and bursts forward in TORRENT). Happy reading!

Megan @ Reading for Refuge said...

Lisa:

I think it would be interesting to read the story from Lia's point of view since she kind of got dragged into all this without much say in the matter. And I was wondering if that was the last we'd hear of Lord Greco. I was intrigued by him and I wanted more of his story. Can't wait to read Torrent! Thanks for stopping by. :)

Chaleese said...

I loved these books SOOOO much! I told you that you would love Lia too Meg. :) I NEED to know what happens between Lia and Luca. They have their own love story and it needs to be told- the rest of it! I'm dying here! Ha ha! :)

Chaleese said...

Oh, and I would not mind reading more about Gabbi and Marcello too. Mmmm :)I miss those two already....