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Torrent (River of Time #3)

by Lisa Tawn Bergren (Goodreads Author)

4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 · rating details · 3,024 ratings · 441 reviews

“Hold tight,” I said. “No matter what happens, do not let us go.”

“We won’t,” my dad said.

“Never,” Mom added.

And with a look at Lia, we laid our hands upon the prints.

Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they’ve lived in castles they’ve seen as crumbl

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Published (first published September 1st 2011)

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Aug 25, 2011 Nic rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, time-travel, romance-awww, favourite-of-2011, historical-fiction, favourites, swoon-worthy-read, read-in-2011

Favourite Quote: "And yet, this is part of it too. This deep, dark grief - it kind of shakes you up, makes you appreciate life, love more. It opens your heart."

The River of Time is one of my favourite series so I was super excited to get my hands on an early copy of the final installment Torrent. And what an incredible read! It was everything I hope for and so much more.

Again Lisa Tawn Bergren has written another exciting and suspense filled plot. There are so many pulse pounding moments as Ga...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Lucia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read the review at iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books.

Wow. I'm sad. Because this series is over. Do you know how fast I devoured it? I read Waterfall one night, Cascade the next... was pining for Torrent's ARC release... Which I finished within one night, too, when I finally got it.

**Spoiler alert: Do not read this review if you have not read this series and are afraid of reading any spoilers. I highly recommend you simply close this page, and open those of Waterfall, Book 1.

And that's partly why this i...more Read the review at iLive, iLaugh, iLove Books.

Wow. I'm sad. Because this series is over. Do you know how fast I devoured it? I read Waterfall one night, Cascade the next... was pining for Torrent's ARC release... Which I finished within one night, too, when I finally got it.

**Spoiler alert: Do not read this review if you have not read this series and are afraid of reading any spoilers. I highly recommend you simply close this page, and open those of Waterfall, Book 1.

And that's partly why this installment of the series appealed less to me. It seemed too fast. In fact, the whole series seemed a little rushed. The ending was very predictable, but really, I wanted no other ending, so I was happy with it. But other than the immediate issues of life and death when there were bad guys attacking, the Betarrini girls didn't really have many problems. Marcello seemed to always be conveniently up for rescuing his lady love whenever needed. Not that the She-Wolves of Siena didn't have trouble. Boy, it seemed like they were attacked everywhere they went. There was no lack of action in this novel, in this entire series, and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Clean, and perfect for all ages. Almost a little too clean. For instance, their dad. He died. He was gone. And then they just went back in time and got him. That feels a little... intrusive. On the whole world. And without even knowing the consequences of their actions, they jump back into their little paradise in 14th century Italy. Too easy.

There were a few issues that I felt were not addressed. For one, Rodolfo. Frankly, I kind of fell in love with him a bit, too. But he just kind of appeared out of no where, proclaiming his love for Gabi. I wish we got to know him a bit more, before he just disappeared altogether.

Also, the plague. The fearsome Black Plague seems to be a major conflict in novel. At least, according to the blurb. But then you read the book, and it's barely addressed. There's more of it in the second book than this one. It seems that the Betarrinis were, once again, let off a bit easy.

I ate up this book, and finished it so quickly I had to flip back and forth with the last page to make sure it was all done. I felt... nothing. It was just gone. I'm really sad that this series has come to an end, because I want more. Everything was tied up nicely, but there's nothing stopping Ms. Bergren from untying the wrappings.

Since it's the final book, I have to give a final tribute to Luca. He's great, guys. Hilarious and charming, with the blond-haired good looks. I loved Marcello, too. Oh, heck, I loved all the guys in this series. It's a must read for fans of fantasy. I couldn't put down the books at all, and I'm sure you won't be able to, either. Thank you, Ms. Bergren, for this amazing historical adventure. I absolutely can't wait for more from you.(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: time-travel, favorites, medieval, read-2012, buy-hardcopy, romance-green

March 2012: so good, probably my favorite series of 2011, and definitely a top favorite of mine. I can't wait for more, I'm hoping the next book will be from Lia's POV!!

September 2011: Have I mentioned how much I love this series? It is so good. I can’t remember the last time I read a series where each book was equally awesome. I love all the characters in this book. Gabi is a great leading lady and you can see why everyone around her loves her as well. Marcello is dreamy and you can’t help but...more

7 likes · like · see review

Nov 19, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contentment-reading-challenge

Just as rockin' awesome as the first time through. Lord Greco was(OH MY WORD!!!) awesome!!!! Loved falling for him all over again.

I can't wait till Tributary comes out!! More Lord Greco. Yay!!!

8 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2011 Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

What a rush.

A rush of excitement. A rush of intensity. A rush of exhilaration. Torrent, the third book in the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren, was the perfect ending to a story that has captured our hearts and minds, eliciting a fervor from us that we never expected when we picked up Waterfall, the first in the series. The final book in a series is always the most delicate. It must be well crafted and live up to those beginning books that so captured our interest, while closing out the s...more What a rush.

A rush of excitement. A rush of intensity. A rush of exhilaration. Torrent, the third book in the River of Time series by Lisa T. Bergren, was the perfect ending to a story that has captured our hearts and minds, eliciting a fervor from us that we never expected when we picked up Waterfall, the first in the series. The final book in a series is always the most delicate. It must be well crafted and live up to those beginning books that so captured our interest, while closing out the story and giving us any missing pieces of the puzzle. The development and pacing must be sure footed, making us glad that we followed along for as long as we have.

Ms.Bergren hits it center-faced with Torrent, and after the electrifying words of Cascade, it was all I could hope for from the third installment. Each book begins where the previous left off and we can't help but be grateful to Ms. Bergren for leaving nothing out in this regard, allowing us as readers to take in the full, tempestuous feelings flowing through each of the characters.

Torrent holds surprise after surprise, with Gabi at the lead, growing and developing in ways we weren't sure she would ever be able to reach. She has a strength we would like to see in ourselves and her ability to move and develop in spite of her weaknesses gives us hope to, one day, do the same. The endearing nature of Gabi toward her family gives us the impression of solidarity and is a refreshing change from the bad parental/broken sibling stories we see more often than not.

Through to this point, we've seen the story progress through trials and heartache, seeing and feeling the pain and deaths of those we had grown to care for. Each of our amazing characters has had to push their way through these hardships, all the while growing and feeling. With the added development of the relationship between Marcello and Gabi and Luca and Lia, Ms. Bergren plays on our heartstrings in Torrent and we commend her for making us feel so attached to these characters. Furthermore, Marcello who we have loved for so long has felt the most loss of all, with most of his family gone and his people suffering we can't help but want to hold his hand and wrap our arms around his beautiful neck and comfort him in anyway possible.

However, Ms. Bergren, the amazing sneaky author that she is has given us something else to think about and while we want nothing more than to hold and comfort Marcello and see him succeed in all his wants and loves, we also want to molest Lord Rodolfo Greco. I spoke of him in my review of Cascade and the feelings of not quite knowing who he is or what his purpose is. Only knowing that he was important in some way. In Torrent, we finally deduce the meaning of Lord Greco and while we still ascertain deep feelings for all the characters, we cannot help but love and adore Lord Greco for all he is and all he presents to us. The conflicting emotions surrounding his character and his feelings only serves to further our feelings toward him and we want nothing more than to take him for our own and never let him go. {I'd definitely throw him up against a wall *licks lips}

Overall, the torrential downpour of feverish emotions and the awe-inspiring characters who have grown from something small to something bigger than time, makes Torrent a read that will warm the soul and brighten the heart. I give the River of Time series a strong 5 out of 5 and highly recommend the River of Time series to all those who enjoy Young Adult Fiction, Adult Fiction, Time Travel and books about Italy.

**Now, for all those who haven't jumped into this series, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! It really is amazing. For all those who have jumped into this series, you know what I'm talking about. Lisa T. Bergren has started on book 4, but hasn't signed on for it yet. They need to see how her other 3 books do, so GO buy the books, read them, they are amazing.

And for you curious readers, here is A LINK TO SNIPPET OF BOOK 4, Tributary.. *squee* It's epically exciting!
(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Melanie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone!

Shelves: favorites

'Torrent' the third (and final) book in 'The River of Time' series and the fourth book that I've read by Lisa T. Bergren.

'Torrent' picks up right where 'Cascade' left off. After traveling through time to save their dad - Gabi, Lia, Adri (their mom), and Ben (their dad), travel back in time to 14th Century Italy.

Even though there is the threat of the 'Black Plague' arriving, getting killed, and/or tortured, Gabi and Lia still want to return and remain in Medieval Italy for as long as possible.

The...more

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Jun 16, 2013 Bethany rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-books-i-own

I really enjoyed this third book in the wonderful series, The River of Time! In this story, we are introduced to a new character, Gabi and Lia's father as they go back in time to try and save him from the car accident that killed him, a few years before the first book in the series, Waterfall starts. This story is a lot like to first two books in the series in the sense there is plenty of action, suspense, and romance.

In this book you also read of Gabi and Marchello's relationship as they take...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Katie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

Oh. My. Word!!!! The She-Wolves of Siena are BACK!

If you've heard me talk about the River of Time series before, you know I thought Waterfall was awesome and Cascade was awesome-er…but I think Torrent was awesome-est!! Each book just kept getting better, and better, and better! Starting Torrent sometime in the afternoon, I did not stop reading till I finished it. Clinging to the pages in breathless suspense, I devoured the new adventures that Gabi and Lia go through with their guys, Marcello an...more Oh. My. Word!!!! The She-Wolves of Siena are BACK!

If you've heard me talk about the River of Time series before, you know I thought Waterfall was awesome and Cascade was awesome-er…but I think Torrent was awesome-est!! Each book just kept getting better, and better, and better! Starting Torrent sometime in the afternoon, I did not stop reading till I finished it. Clinging to the pages in breathless suspense, I devoured the new adventures that Gabi and Lia go through with their guys, Marcello and Luca. I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again—this is a series you do NOT want to miss!

All the characters were just as amazing as in the previous books. I loved the twist of Gabi being forced to marry one of Marcello’s enemies. (I kept willing her not to give up on her man!) All the adventures were new and had twists in the plot nearly every way they turned. No one can accuse Lisa Bergren’s plots of getting monotonous, boring, or cliché! When you pick up Waterfall, Cascade, or Torrent, you just have to hold onto your seat and prepare for a wild ride!

All the tension and suspense wrapped up in Torrent would be enough to break the weak of heart. But, as all River of Time fans know, none of the Betarrini's are weak. Each one bears up under all odds! In a very hedge-sort of way, Gabi is told that not only will she be forced to marry the enemy of Marcello, but that several prominent men would watch the consummation to ensure the plan was carried all the way out. Awful thought, if you ask me! But, then again, that was the way it was back then. Marriage was important, and to successfully marry Gabi away from Marcello would've aided the Firenze's plans. While it might seem crude/TMI to include, I'm thankful Lisa doesn't ignore the gritty facts of the medieval period.

There was more sensual tension in Torrent then the others, as both Marcello and Gabi are itching to get married. There are several heated kisses and Gabi even raises the question why they have to wait for their wedding night, but Marcello instantly rejects the idea. (My respect for them went up! ;-) There's also a scene where the husband is helping his wife undress for the night. They begin kissing and the scene cuts off as they fall into bed.

Lord Rodolfo Greco was introduced in the last half of Cascade and I really liked how, while he was on Firenze's side, he was really trying to help Marcello and Siena. A double agent! (Yes, I admit it, there’s just something about the “slightly bad-boys” that I love!) I was so excited to see Lord Greco back in Torrent! I fell in love with him all over again. I know Gabi was in love with Marcello; but, man, Rodolfo sure can be tempting! While I always liked Marcello and Luca, I never felt head-over-heels for them. But I sure do with Rodolfo! He was totally awesome!!!

While I was so sad to see this series come to an end, I couldn’t have been more pleased with how Lisa left the She-Wolves of Siena. It made me want to find my own time-capsule-transportation and go back in time with them (and find Lord Greco, of course!). I know the River of Time series will forever be a favorite of mine and one that I will read over, and over, and over again! Lisa Bergren has written a winner with this series! An enchanting time period, a complex and unique plot, and in-depth characters that leap from the pages all come together to make an AMAZING and award-worthy book! Don’t miss out! Seriously! They need to be read in order to get the whole effect, but all are totally awesome and Torrent is sure to sweep you off your feet! Words just can't do this series justice!(less)

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Aug 17, 2011 TinasBookReviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: inspy, young-adult

Spoil-Free-Review

After Cascades emotional and fantastic ending, Gabi and Lia find themselves racing back to 14th-Century Italy. For Gabi she is racing back to her true love, for Lia she races back to save her family and an unspoken romance that has risen in her own heart. Coming back this time however will have its consequences, getting back home will be almost impossible and perhaps out of the question now that a life hangs in the balance.

Gabi knows her family will be making a huge sacrifice to...more Spoil-Free-Review

After Cascades emotional and fantastic ending, Gabi and Lia find themselves racing back to 14th-Century Italy. For Gabi she is racing back to her true love, for Lia she races back to save her family and an unspoken romance that has risen in her own heart. Coming back this time however will have its consequences, getting back home will be almost impossible and perhaps out of the question now that a life hangs in the balance.

Gabi knows her family will be making a huge sacrifice to stay in ancient Italy but also knows she tied to Marcello in a way that cant be broken, that is until events change the political atmosphere surrounding Marcello and the nation of Sienna. With a shocking wrench thrown into the plotting, Gabi's life may take a completely new direction than she ever imagined. While those who love her fight back and Gabi risks everything, the torrent that threatens to devour them all rears it ugly head.

My favorite of three, Torrent was a fast rollercoaster of emotion, shocking plot twists and a gorgeous well-done end. I cant review any of the stuff that made Torrent what it was due to not spoiling it for readers, is all I can say is that things happened that I wanted to happen and things happened that shocked me. Lisa threw in some added drama for Gabi that she needed in order to truly see what being with Marcello would mean, she also by the end grew Gabi into a fully developed character that shreds the last lingering thoughts of a 21st century teenager yet still maintains her spunk, bravery and courage.

Now that Ive finally docked the boat after being on a river that turns, spins, crashes, rips you under with its current and then gently calms you with its tranquility, I must say reading the River of Time series has been a marvelous adventure. I love these novels more than cake and that's saying a lot!! Lisa Bergren with her Jedi Master skills at romance, history that doesn't put me to sleep and action that jumps off the pages had me at page one in Waterfall, made me fall in love in Cascade and stole my heart with Torrent. This is a series that will stick with you long after you finish......(less)

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Oct 02, 2011 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

*4.5 stars*

This book is truly amazing. The River of Time series is one of my favorite series of all time. I love the way Lisa Tawn Bergren writes and applaud her for being able to create yet another amazing novel. Torrent was even better than its predecessors and had me reading well into the early hours of the morning. I was fully hooked from the first page right through to the end, and frankly, I want more!

I hope this book gets the attention it deserves. A definite must-read.

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Feb 16, 2013 Wendy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian

I loved the River of Time series and was sorry that this set of stories was concluded with 'Torrent'. I hope Lisa Tawn Bergren will write further stories about the lives of Gia and Marcello, Lia and Luca, especially as the Black Plague approaches. And I'm sure everyone will want to know what happens with Lia, the youngest sister, and Luca as the passion in the relationship up until now seems to lie more with him than her.
I couldn't put the book down when Gia was exchanged and taken to Roma to...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Bluerose's Heart rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian, time-travel, romance, young-adult-12-and-up

By now, I was mostly used to the language, although I still don't like God being referred to as "The Big Guy". I warmed up a bit to Gabi. She didn't grow as much in her Christian journey as I thought she would. She also makes some horrible choices(don't we all, though).

I was really hoping Torrent would be much slower in pace, and it was! The first half let me fall for Lord Greco, the second half for Marcello(finally). I never disliked Marcello, but it wasn't until Torrent that I grew to really l...more By now, I was mostly used to the language, although I still don't like God being referred to as "The Big Guy". I warmed up a bit to Gabi. She didn't grow as much in her Christian journey as I thought she would. She also makes some horrible choices(don't we all, though).

I was really hoping Torrent would be much slower in pace, and it was! The first half let me fall for Lord Greco, the second half for Marcello(finally). I never disliked Marcello, but it wasn't until Torrent that I grew to really like him. I was surprised there wasn't more of Lord Greco, though. I thought he'd play a bigger part, judging from all the crushes around the web. I'm going to assume he has a much bigger part in the novellas. To show you how much I do like this series....I am going to HAVE to read the novellas on my computer, which I detest! But I'm willing to just so I can read more about the gang.

Torrent was also much more passionate than I anticipated. I'm disappointed in that, considering this is Christian fiction for young adults.

SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(view spoiler)

END SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This isn't a series I would recommend to just anybody. If you like teenage drama, love at first sight romance, time travel, and TONS of action, AND you are a mature reader, then definitely give them a try! (Honestly, though, if I'd saw that description I probably wouldn't have picked them up. This series seems to crossover to ALL kinds of readers, it appears). The teenage slang is probably the only reason I'd hesitate recommending it to some of you, and the passion for the younger readers.

Just make sure you've got all of them ready, because the endings are cliffhangers, and you'll want the next one handy. It will pick up immediately after the one before. I didn't mean to read these all at once, because I do have review books waiting, but I couldn't stop!

MAY cause you concern:

-There's lots of passion in the Torrent, but the first two I don't recall TOO much.
-There's TONS of violence in all of them.

I'd definitely say it's a series for mature readers.(less)

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Jun 23, 2012 Loretta rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have to say that book 2 was the highlight of this series. Book 3? Not so much. I kept reading because I wanted to see how it all ended, but I grew increasingly tired of the inner angst of "Marcello! Oohhhh, Marcello!" When a writer has to use her character's internal dialogue to acknowledge just how over the top the romantic pining is (as Gabi muses at one point in the book) it might be best to go back and re-think the book.

And as for plot, beyond the endless cycle of Gabi gets captured, Gabi...more

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May 13, 2012 Yakety Yaks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-madeleine

Have you been enjoying our River of Time week? We sure have! In fact, we’re planning on hosting themed weeks more often.

**Warning: Mild spoilers in this review. Very mild.**

The End of the Beginning…

I love Lisa T. Bergren for so many reasons, not least of which is her tendency to start with a bang. Torrent opens right where Cascade leaves off…and boy, am I glad! I finished Cascade and dove into Torrent, almost without coming up for air. (I admit that I did come up for a slice of cheesecake chocol...more

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Apr 14, 2012 Natalie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: medieval, historical-fiction, time-travel, young-adult, romance, favorites

Gabi and Lia return with their mom to save their Dad from an accident that has always haunted them. With Dad firmly in tow, they return back to the world of Marcello and Luca. One year has passed and the Firenze are as determined as ever to conquer Siena. Marcello is overjoyed to see Gabi again and has faithfully been awaiting her return. But trouble is around them on all sides and it's hard to figure out where the future is headed.

I think in the midst of the wars and the plots and the intrigue...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Marian rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After saving their dad in the 21st century - Gabi, Lia and their parents travel back to the 14th century.
More than a year has passed for Marcello. He is even more determined to marry Gabi. But before Gabi can make a decision, her whole family must agree to stay in the 14th century. And before a final decision can be made Gabi is put in prison and Firenze tries to force her in marriage with one of their citizens. Gabi tries to escape, but get captured again and now is lead to the altar immediatel...more

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Mar 30, 2012 Skedatt rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, scifi-fantasy

Overall it was a decent series. A lot better than some of the other stuff out there. But I can't help but think that it would have been a little better to have something else happening besides daring escapes and a weapon wielding girl in love. But overall, it was ok. Perfect for its target audience. Since I am older and in a different life stage, I found myself very frustrated with Gabi at times. She keeps jumping into danger without really thinking. (view spoiler)...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Booknut rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone who loves historical fiction!

Shelves: books-i-love-dearly, favorites, can-t-get-enough-of

I must say - and this is no lie - this series is by far the best historical fiction novel I have ever read. The entire series has blown my mind, taking me on the most addictive, tantalising, adventure-packed, emotion-packed, thrilling journey ever. It is one of those books that works for anyone, that catches your imagination and charms your heart.

I could read this again and again and again - so detailed is the world Lisa has created, and so heart-warming are the motley cast of characters she ha...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Whatchyareading added it · review of another edition

Shelves: caitlin, historical, series, young-adult

A few weeks ago Leiah reviewed Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren and it inspired me to buy/read the entire trilogy. Time travel and romance with knights? What’s not to love?

Now that I am done I thought I’d do a review on the end of the trilogy (so far) and what I thought of the story as a whole.

All three books of the trilogy are packed with action and romance and drama. There is never a dull moment, which I love! Sure, they aren’t the most realistic telling of what would happen if we traveled back in...more

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Feb 29, 2012 Rambling Readers rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I finished reading Cascade, I planned to wait a few months before reading Torrent, enjoying the anticipation of what the pages would hold. Torrent tempted me from the bookcase for just a couple of weeks, before I succumbed to the pull. Once again, I was swept away with Gabi's story. This time, the novel begins with a tug on the heartstrings as Gabi and her family are reunited with her father. His fatherly perspective adds an extra dimension to the growing love between Gabi and Marcello, and...more

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Feb 03, 2012 Julie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Torrent is the 3rd book in the River of Time Series by Lisa Bergren. Torrent begins where Cascade left off. In this book, they go back to current time to see if they get there before their father/husband is killed in an accident and bring him back to the 14th century. Amazingly, they are able to to this. I really liked this book. It was full of action, tragedy, twists and romance, as were Waterfall and Cascade. Many things happen in this book and Gabi really matures. She is put in some very toug...more

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Jan 26, 2012 Nicole rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

-This review contains minor spoilers-
Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren is about two teen girls, Gabi and Lia Betarrini, who are able to travel to fourteenth century Italy. In this book, Gabi and Lia, who have been able to control their time travel, return to modern times with their mom to save their dad from his tragic death. Back in medieval Italy, the girls have to deal with wars, imprisonment, kidnapping, and forced marriage, as well as the threat of the black plague.
(This is the third book in the R...more -This review contains minor spoilers-
Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren is about two teen girls, Gabi and Lia Betarrini, who are able to travel to fourteenth century Italy. In this book, Gabi and Lia, who have been able to control their time travel, return to modern times with their mom to save their dad from his tragic death. Back in medieval Italy, the girls have to deal with wars, imprisonment, kidnapping, and forced marriage, as well as the threat of the black plague.
(This is the third book in the River of Time series. The first book is Waterfall and the second is Cascade)

I found this book (Well, the series) to be a little cheesy. The first book was a free Kindle download, and it sounded pretty interesting, two time traveling girls? Might be good.
-I had trouble relating to the characters. They seemed a little too perfect. There just wasn't any conflict between the main characters. Not that I want a lot of arguing or anything, but a little disagreement or something would have made a big difference to me. I guess I just didn't feel very connected to them
-The black plague is talked about on the back cover of the book, making you think it's going to play a major role in the story, but it's only mentioned. I wish that plot line would have been used, it would have made for a more interesting read.
-I found it a little hard to believe that Gabi and Lia so easily gave up every modern convince to stay in the fourteenth century. I think I would be missing things like, oh, I don't know, the internet, decent shoes, and being able to wear jeans ;). They didn't seem to have much trouble giving all that up. That and the idea they so easily integrated into medieval society. But then again, things might be different if I were madly in love, which brings me to my next point...
-I really got that Gabi and Marcello were in love. I did. It was made abundantly clear. the author went a little overboard on all the romance stuff. Luckily, it is a Christian book, so the content was clean! BUT, I am not a mushy romantic, I like more conflict and suspense between characters. Like how coughRonieKendigcough writes. So maybe I'm not the best judge of that.
What I did like:
-I liked that the author wrote from first person point-of-view. So many authors write from third person, it was nice to read something a little different.
-The concept of time travel is neat, which was what interested me when I first read the summary of the book. It was different and that's what I was looking for.
-And the whole Italy and knights thing was pretty cool. Again, not what I normally read so it was good for something out of the
ordinary.
-And I really could feel the authors passion for Italy. You could tell she put a lot of research into these books when it came to Italy and that time period.

Overall, this is a good, light read. Not something you have to put a lot of thought into or stay up late reading.
This is a great series for the 13-16 year old crowd, which is what it's marketed for anyways. (less)

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Dec 05, 2011 Rachelle Rea rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

This stunning finale (for now, anyway) to the River of Time series kept me up late into the night, but I didn't mind. Written in Lisa T. Bergren's winning style and as action-packed as the first two, Torrent holds an honored place on my bookshelf.

Summary

Would you sacrifice your future for an uncertain past?

Gabriella and Evangelia Betarrini are just two normal American teenagers. Normal --except for the fact that they time travel to fourteenth-century Italy, where they’ve lived in castles they’v...more

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Nov 06, 2011 Reading Teen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me first start out by saying this: This is the third book in the River of Time trilogy, which means two things. First, if you haven't read the first two books, you should check out our reviews of Waterfall and Cascade. Second, if I made it to the third book, you know it has to be good. I don't have a lot of time to spend on a book series that isn't awesome, so you can be assured, this series is awesome!

I wondered, going into this book, what Lisa could possibly have in store for us. How could...more Let me first start out by saying this: This is the third book in the River of Time trilogy, which means two things. First, if you haven't read the first two books, you should check out our reviews of Waterfall and Cascade. Second, if I made it to the third book, you know it has to be good. I don't have a lot of time to spend on a book series that isn't awesome, so you can be assured, this series is awesome!

I wondered, going into this book, what Lisa could possibly have in store for us. How could she keep this story interesting? How could she hold up to the high standard she herself set with the first two books? Well, I shouldn't have been worried, because Lisa is a wonderful story teller. She kept me on the edge of my seat this entire book, wondering how Gabi would escape or overcome each obstacle placed before her. This book is so action-packed and intense that at one point I felt out of breath. I kept thinking that if I were Gabi, I would just scream in exasperation. Like how much more could she possibly endure!

The love story takes a new turn with the amazingly hot and charming Lord Greco. Let me just say, that he stole my heart. He was just.....sigh......yes. I'm not really sure that it's fair that two amazingly rich, gorgeous, charming Italian men fall for Gabi, while I ended up with a guy from Arkansas (sorry, honey, just a joke, <3).

The thing I love most about this series is that there is this modern family placed in the middle of 14th century Italy. It's so intriguing to think about what would happen if I somehow landed in that time period. Would they think I was amazing, or would they think I was a heretic? Would they be in awe of me, or throw me in jail? Who knows how they would behave, but it was exciting to read about this possibility.

This series has everything I love in a book! Gorgeous setting, lots of action and adventure, an amazing family, an intense and well-developed romance, and a storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for? If you need more proof, check out Mundie Moms review here, or Once Upon a Twilight's review here. Even though this is a trilogy, Lisa is hoping to write a fourth book, called Tributary (read an excerpt), and it looks like it will be from Lia's perspective! I'm so excited about this, and I love that Lia will be our voice this time. I hope Lord Greco gets some more face time! :D

Andye
readingteen.net(less)

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Oct 13, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lisa T. Bergren in her new book, "Torrent" Book Three in the River Of Time series published by David C. Cook takes us back on a time travel adventure to fourteenth-century Italy.

The two sisters, Gabi and Lia Betarrini, have learned how to control their time travel. Since this series is all about family they decide to use this new knowledge to save the life of their father from his tragic accident. However now that they have been in 14th Century Italy and both girls have men that they love there...more Lisa T. Bergren in her new book, "Torrent" Book Three in the River Of Time series published by David C. Cook takes us back on a time travel adventure to fourteenth-century Italy.

The two sisters, Gabi and Lia Betarrini, have learned how to control their time travel. Since this series is all about family they decide to use this new knowledge to save the life of their father from his tragic accident. However now that they have been in 14th Century Italy and both girls have men that they love there who are also in deadly danger they just cannot leave them alone. So it is time to return however this time they take both parents with them.

First it was a "Waterfall", book one in the series. Then it became a "Cascade", book two in this series. Now it is a "Torrent" so get ready to be hurtled along as the family Betarrini battles for land, against the Black Death and for love. Lisa T. Bergren works some really marvelous themes into this book: we fight for what we believe in; we fight for who we believe in and no matter where we are, or when we are, God has us there for such a time as this. This is really an exciting book and adults will enjoy it as well. I know I did and while I am sad this series is ending Ms. Bergren has done a masterful job of tying it all together. Perhaps, in the future, there will be more stories with this family we will just have to wait and see.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from Jeane Wynn at Wynn-Wynn Media for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Sep 23, 2011 Julie Graves rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, favorites

Gabi, Lia and their mother return to the time before their father dies in order to save him. They then race back to the 14th century. A year has passed and Fortino is still being held prisoner. Negotiations to gain his release have failed. The only way Firenze will agree to his release is a trade, the She-Wolves of Siena for Fortino.

Once again Gabi finds herself in Lord Greco's care. Only this time she is being forced to marry him in order to gain peace between Siena and Firenze. Will Marcello b...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a review of the entire River of Time series.

MY THOUGHTS
The River of Time books transport us to an utterly enthralling medieval world, enchanting us with knights in shining armor and their chivalry, but also never letting us forget the difficulties of the time period. With the extravagant gowns and the propriety we also experience lives governed by the point of a sword–often lived fast and lost quickly–as accompanying the gallantry we find greed and a desire for power; just as with loyalt...more This is a review of the entire River of Time series.

MY THOUGHTS
The River of Time books transport us to an utterly enthralling medieval world, enchanting us with knights in shining armor and their chivalry, but also never letting us forget the difficulties of the time period. With the extravagant gowns and the propriety we also experience lives governed by the point of a sword–often lived fast and lost quickly–as accompanying the gallantry we find greed and a desire for power; just as with loyalty we also discover the brutal sting of betrayal. Ms. Bergren paints her world in hypnotic color, gloriously illustrating the joys and pains of the medieval era, dazzling us with rich historical details and intricacies, and thoroughly entertaining us with characters who win us over with their vibrant personalities. Gabi and Lia drag us through the tomb's portal with them, companions on a an epic adventure that has us keeping track of the page numbers with increasing dismay and grieving the speed with which they're flying by as we catapult toward an end we're simply not prepared to accept just yet.

Gabriella is a heroine virtually impossible to dislike, her quick mind coming to her aid again and again as she moves through a world she's only read about previously, never despairing of her circumstances but rather embracing the soft romanticism of a medieval lady's life with the hard-edged brutality of civilization at the time. While it would be shockingly easy for her to lose herself in the grandeur of living in a castle with the attentions of its handsome lord, she never forgets herself entirely or allows her mind to fall prey to the beautiful illusion, instead remaining cognizant of what's waiting for her in her life back home and the effect her decisions will have on her family. She swoons over Marcello and then mentally chastises herself for doing so, approaching her relationship with remarkable maturity and level-headedness–perhaps more so than we do as readers given that we find ourselves weak-kneed and foggy-minded when faced with Marcello, Luca, and Lord Greco.

In addition to an extraordinary leading lady, Ms. Bergren also increases our love for this series by steadily integrating the presence of Gabi's family, drawing us blissfully further into the story as the dynamic of a modern family traipsing through and forever altering an ancient world fully captivates us. We start with the brief presence of Lia in Waterfall, then progress to the addition of the girls' equally strong-willed and physically fearsome mother in Cascade, and finally see the completion of the Betarrini family in Torrent with their father. Each Betarrini member supports the others fully but also questions them, ensuring no decision is made lightly or without forethought, and we can't help but admire each of them for their individual strengths as we watch a jump in time save a family in so many different ways.

The River of Time series is an absolute pleasure to read, keeping our emotions constantly in flux as we discover both how wonderful and terrifying medieval Italy can be. All three books are incredibly action-packed with family feuds and political battles taking center stage while sweet romance is expertly interwoven to keep our hearts beating double time for hundreds of pages. These novels will appeal to a wide variety of readers as no single element overpowers the others, and we are left with a solid conclusion but also the potential for so much more. The possibility that this world is just waiting for us to return is a heady one, bringing a smile to our faces every time we think of it.

Overall series rating: 4.5/5(less)

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Sep 16, 2011 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one of those authors - and there are hardly any left in the literary world - who had this reviewer at, "Hello." The River of Time series has been adventurous, fun, beguiling, romantic, and…way cool! (Just to speak the language of all you YA’ers out there.) It was beyond jubilant for me to receive Ms. Bergren’s collection which began a while back, especially as I was in the midst of reviewing and critiquing nine hundred thousand vampire books. All of a sudden this medieval story came alon...more This is one of those authors - and there are hardly any left in the literary world - who had this reviewer at, "Hello." The River of Time series has been adventurous, fun, beguiling, romantic, and…way cool! (Just to speak the language of all you YA’ers out there.) It was beyond jubilant for me to receive Ms. Bergren’s collection which began a while back, especially as I was in the midst of reviewing and critiquing nine hundred thousand vampire books. All of a sudden this medieval story came along about two sisters who were in present-day Italy with their mother (an archaeologist), who happened to enter an Etruscan tomb and find themselves thrown back in time to Italy (Toscany and the surrounding areas) where they found themselves in the midst of a medieval battle.

Gabriella and Lia brought their present-day knowledge, honor, and strength to the small Italian countryside war, and soon became known as the "She-Wolves," seeing as that they risked it all - including their own necks time and time again - to help Siena beat Firenze.

At the conclusion of the last novel, Cascade, the girls had time-traveled away from this ‘party’ of men to find their father. They wanted nothing more than to reach him before he was in the accident that eventually claimed his life in present-day. The upside? They found Dad alive and brought him back to Siena with them. The downside? When they returned, the Firenze flag was flying over the Siena castle and Gabriella and Lia were desperate to find the men they loved who they’d left behind. The escape scenes, fight scenes, and the "She-Wolves’" plans of action are truly amazing and a whole lot of fun to read. And the romance between Gabri and Marcello is very deep and moving (far more than old Edward and Bella, trust me on that one). And having their father back in the picture - who not only has no clue what’s going on or how he got there, but also has to find a way to deal with the fact that both of his teenagers are in love - is absolutely hysterical.

Bergren has done it again! My advice? Begin with Waterfall and Cascade, so you don’t miss a minute of this exciting series!

(less)

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Sep 11, 2011 Sandra Stiles rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: christian, adult, fantasy, middle-grades

Lisa T. Bergren has once again brought us into the middle ages with the third book in the River of Time Series. Although I received an ARC I was unable to get y review up before now. When it arrived my mother TOOK it from my desk and read it then passed it on to her best friend at church. I finally got it back. She loved the book as much as she did the first two. She was glad things happened the way they did but felt like maybe there should be a fourth book.

I on the other hand was not discourage...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Kelli rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

The concept of this book could have been really good. I read this one because, after hating the middle book, I wanted to finish the series as a whole to see how the end turned out. I still think the first book is the strongest of the three. This one is probably just as awkward as the second book, sadly. Time travel is never an easy thing to write about. The language the author puts into her main characters head seems so mom-ish. Its what a mom thinks a teenager thinks like.

One of the major flaw...more The concept of this book could have been really good. I read this one because, after hating the middle book, I wanted to finish the series as a whole to see how the end turned out. I still think the first book is the strongest of the three. This one is probably just as awkward as the second book, sadly. Time travel is never an easy thing to write about. The language the author puts into her main characters head seems so mom-ish. Its what a mom thinks a teenager thinks like.

One of the major flaws of the series is in the second book. The whole awkwardness with the mom appearing, making Marcello and Gabriella's moments together childish and super awkward. This is 5x intensified with awkwardness with the appearance of the dad. This 'one big happy family' thing in the story is so old, and makes the romantic love seem unbelievable.

I also find it really hard to believe, that every member of the family would be ok with living out the rest of their lives never seeing the present time again, just to satisfy Gabi being able to be with Marcello. The concept is just to 'perfect' at the end. And the selfishness Gabriella eludes is annoying. She doesn't consider any option but staying with Marcello. She gets overly sensitive when her parents start talking about other possibilities. Its just weird.

In the middle of the story, their are glimmers of what this book could have been. The bits when Gabriella is away from Marcello and captured and forced into almost marrying that other guy, it was actually intriguing. Then the family & Marcello comes to 'rescue' her and its all awkward again. It makes me think that at least I know their is a good story hidden somewhere in this book, but it does not come into focus, because it was not executed well.
The dialog is riddled with cliches. I got to eye rolling every time I read a "yeah, this is gonna be good" or "Marcello is the one, this is true love!" or something along the lines of saying "bring it". Yuck.

If the author was going to write a fun, witty, love story--- then Luca should have been the lead. His character was actually enjoyable to read. He had the best lines. (less)

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About Lisa Tawn Bergren

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Lisa Tawn Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 35 books, with more than 2 million copies sold. She recently finished a teen series called River of Time (WATERFALL, CASCADE and TORRENT) and soon will release a follow-up e-novella called BOURNE. She's currently writing a New Adult series called The Grand Tour, and the first release is GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS (June 2012).

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Quotes from Torrent

“He hesitated, as if wrestling with the desire to cross the space between us and kiss me until I admitted I was just a tiny bit in love with him too. But he didn't. He didn't.” — 30 people liked it

“If he lived in my time, Marcello would’ve been in the running for Sexiest Man Alive in People. Rich, powerful, and hotter than wasabi, he was a force.

(Kindle Locations 766-767).” — 18 people liked it

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Torrent (River of Time #3)

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