I know I'm going to ask myself WHY I am reading this. Stay tuned.. I suspect this may be more of the same from this series.. Then again I might end up pleasantly surprised. One hopes... =)

Read the full Review at Witchmag's Boekenplank

While reading my twitter messages I came across a review about this book. My first reaction was: huh? The next book would be Tributary, wouldn’t it? And wouldn’t that take a while? It turns out there’s another story about Gabi, Lia, Marcello, Luca and lord Greco. It takes place after the end of book 3, Torrent. And of course I bought it asap!

The beginning of the story is very powerful, with a severely wounded Marcello. Regrettably, the power of he story declines afterwards. Although I read the story in one sitting, it became predictable after a while, as I already mentioned in my review about Torrent. This was a bit of a disappointment, since I started it with a lot of enthusiasm. It just didn’t meet my expectations…

In spite of the predictability, Lisa T. Bergren managed to show the brutality of a medieval war. No modern medicine, no hygiene. Retribution that won’t even spare children. And of course the medieval men and their view about woman. That’s something that I find very annoying every time I read a historical roman. But o well, what can we do about it? It’s something that’s normal in that time. You can’t cross time and space to make them see their wrongdoings ;)

Furthermore I liked reading through the eyes of Lia. In the other books, where Gabi is the main character, I got to know her as a very agreeable girl. The real deal is something else! When the need arises she knows what to do and how to handle those chauvinistic medieval man. Loved it! ^^

I also loved reading about the blooming romance between Luca and Lia. You could see the hints between them in the first three books, but now it’s their time to shine! And they are such an adorable couple! They behave much more like two teenagers in love than Marcello and Gabi ;)

Conclusion

3 HEARTS. Although it was an enjoyable book that gives a clear understanding about that era, it was a bit too much of the same concept as the previous three books. Not that I didn’t like reading it, but it’s not enough to give this book a higher score. But it did made me more curious about Lord Greco’s story…. ( )

If you know me, you know just how much I love this series! I heart this series sooooo much. I swear, I could read it over and over again, and never get bored with it.

So, if you haven't read the series, I suggest you do. This is short story picking up right after the third installment called, Torrent.

I really loved getting back into the shoes of Gabi. I missed being in her mind and hearing her thoughts. Being that her life has changed dramatically since the first book, I'm glad to see the growth in Gabi. In every decision she makes, she is so much more mature. She really takes her time and thinks things through. Not mention that the new role in her life suites her perfectly.

I was also happy to see some development with her sister, Lia. Lia has done much growing up as well. I'm glad to see her finally facing her feelings, towards someone. I can't wait to see that fully develop!!

Bourne is absolutely perfect. Just giving the reader the right amount of action mixed with love and faith, you can't go wrong when reading this. If you have not read this series, GO NOW! READ IT!!!! With exciting new adventures, Bourne is charming. ( )

Review originally published on my blog: AWordsWorth.blogspot.com
eBook provided by author for review.

You need to read the River of Time series BEFORE you read Bourne. For those who have read all the books, Bourne is a novella - Lisa's calling it "River of Time #3.1" - that picks up literally where Torrent ends. As in, the day after The Battle. As a novella, it's shorter - roughly a third of the novels' length - and it covers a shorter period of time, just a few days. Those days however, are intense. Things are still uneasy between Florenze and Sienna, and since Castello Forelli is on the front-lines, there's always potential for danger. Especially when the She-Wolves are victorious again. But the tension in the Castello is more than just the threat from the North, it comes from within. The bond of brotherhood existing between Marcello, Luca and Lord Greco is strained. Everyone is trying to navigate the new place they find themselves in, while also handling their haunting pasts.

Bourne is told in alternating perspective from Gabi and Lia, as their stories - their places in medieval Italia - begin to take slightly different paths. This allows for a more dynamic and detailed story overall, as well as allowing Bergren to get into the characters themselves. As Gabi and Lia adjust to their new situations, and the ongoing border war, they do a lot of thinking about themselves and those around them. And we get to see it all, and in the process learn more about these brave Italian hearts that have captured our imagination. I loved getting to see Lia's side of things, and watch as she becomes ever more comfortable in her role as a She-Wolf. (I'm pretty sure Luca has something to do with that). As with each of the novels, Bourne ended too soon - and I am eagerly awaiting the next installment, breathlessly waiting to see what happens next! ( )