Amaterasu Reads: ARC Review: Cascade (River of Time #2) by Lisa T. Bergren

I asked myself, "can the River of Time series get any better?". I was fumbling for an answer at that moment, but right after breezing through the first 100 pages of the second book I knew what the answer is.

Because Cascade surpassed Waterfall in many ways. If Waterfall made me fall in love with the series, Cascade just made the reading experience better, more worthwhile than the last. I was asking for more, and I got it in Cascade!

Title: Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
Pages: 399
Release Date: June 1st 2011
Published by: David C. Cook
Source: Publicist (thanks Jeanne!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

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.

The Bettarini sisters are back, and this time, they have their mother in tow. After convincing Lia and her mother to go back in time to see Marcello once more, they arrived to Castle Forelli a few weeks later. Gabi was forced to leave when a serious injury caused her to be on the verge of death, but now, her mother joins them. Siena is eagerly anticipating to see the She-Wolves who defended them and a new danger awaits both sisters.

Once more, we readers are re-acquainted with all the characters in Waterfall. This time, double the suspense, double the action, double the intrigue. Gabi and Lia only wanted to go back to their own time, and suddenly they find themselves exalted as heroes, fierce warriors who finds themselves thrust amidst danger and politics of an era a few hundred years before. More challenges were brought forth when the sisters realized they were at the brink of war with Firenze, and that they were weeks, maybe days away from the start of The Black Plague. A disease that wiped out thousands of people, not only Marcello and Luca were in danger of being infected, but both the sisters as well.

Just when I think the series couldn't get any better, Lisa Bergren has managed to raise the bar a little further. If anything, Gabi and Lia's adventures on this book cemented the fact that they are saviors, heroes of a land they have come to love. Lisa must love testing her characters for not only did The Bettarini sisters get to fight a powerful foe, but another one much more devastating, an invisible killer that threatens to wipe out everything they have learned to cherish. The maturity, strength of character and perseverance of both Gabi and Lia were once again showcased in stunning fashion in Cascade.

While this is Gabi and Lia's story, readers will get to see more of Marcello and Luca. And if you thought these boys who grew in the face of war couldn't get any more charming, you're wrong. The Forelli cousins will bewitch more readers in this lovely sequel. Marcello and Luca faced dire situations that gave them a more solid character, the hero of our heroes. They were men who were capable of enduring even the plague and the countless dangers and perils of war for their beloveds. My admiration for both Marcello and Luca grew in this book. Near death experience became the norm in this book and with the knowledge that they could die anytime, brings a whole new level of intensity in Marcello and Gabi's relationship. And finally, we get to see a great progress in Lia and Luca's side as well.

A few new characters were introduced in the story. Lia's mother, the scientist, settled comfortably into the plot that it became natural for her to be there. There was no doubt where the Bettarini sisters got their prowess, with such a remarkable woman as a mother. Gradually she came to understand what it was that endeared the 14th century to her children. And a key character, Rodolfo, came in a time of need for the Bettarinis. I'm not sure if his story arc will be pursued in the next book, but maybe he can give Marcello a challenge for Gabi's hand.

Waterfall had all the right ingredients that made it a great book, but Cascade easily topped that and gave us more than what we have asked for. Full of adrenaline pumping action scenes, daring escapes, breath taking plot twists, political intrigue, and dangers of a time long forgotten, time travel became a lot more entertaining through Gabi and Lia's adventures. Stellar writing, Lisa. Kudos for crafting another wonderful book!

Do not miss the chance to read one of the best series ever written this year. Grab a copy of both Waterfall and Cascade. If you have not loved the characters as you will your own friends and endeared them to your hearts, I'm sure Cascade will do it for you. I highly recommend this book!

Check out the trailer for this wonderful book: