“My life was so normal that it was boring. So ordinary that it was practically a sin.”
— Greeley's initial perspective on her life in modern times.
Archivist's Choice
Waterfall
Lisa Tawn Bergren (2011)
Genre
Fantasy / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
738 min
Key Themes
See below
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When a modern American teenager in Tuscany touches an ancient tomb, she is sent into a fourteenth-century Italian battle and falls for a knight from another time.
Synopsis
Seventeen-year-old Gabi Betarrini spends another summer in Tuscany with her archaeologist parents and younger sister, Lia. She feels bored and out of place. While exploring an ancient tomb, Gabi touches a mysterious handprint and is transported to 14th-century Italy. She immediately finds herself in a medieval battle and is rescued by a knight named Marcello. Gabi quickly adjusts to life in the past, struggling with the language, customs, and dangers of a world on the brink of war. She learns that she is believed to be a 'waterfall' — a visitor from another time destined to play a role in the conflict. As Gabi and Marcello fall in love, Lia, in the present, desperately searches for a way to bring her sister home. Gabi is torn between her feelings for Marcello and her longing for her own time, knowing her choices could change history and the fate of those she cares for. As war approaches, Gabi faces a battle and a difficult decision about where she belongs.
Reading time
738 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Romantic, Adventurous, Historical, Enchanting
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy time-travel romances with a strong historical setting and a touch of fantasy.
✗ Skip this if...
You prefer hard science fiction or historical fiction without fantastical elements.
Plot Summary
A Summer in Tuscany
Seventeen-year-old Gabi Betarrini and her younger sister, Lia, spend another summer in rural Tuscany with their archaeologist parents, Dr. and Mrs. Betarrini. Their parents are excavating a medieval castle, Castello di Moscatelli, near San Gimignano. Gabi, an aspiring artist, feels bored by the dust and history, wishing for a 'normal' American summer. Lia, more academic, is slightly more interested but still finds the site dull. Their parents are engrossed in their work, often leaving the girls to entertain themselves. Gabi often sketches the ruins, feeling a pull to the past, while Lia reads and explores. The sisters' main concern is the lack of internet and the isolation of the dig site, making their summer feel endless.
The Handprint and the Portal
While exploring a newly found tomb within the castle ruins, Gabi feels compelled to touch a handprint carved into a stone sarcophagus. As her hand makes contact, a flash of light engulfs her, and she feels a powerful pull, like falling. When it stops, she is in the same location, but everything is different. The ruins are now a complete, bustling medieval castle, with banners, horses, and knights. She is disoriented and terrified, realizing she has traveled through time. Lia, who was just behind her, sees Gabi disappear, screaming her name into the empty tomb.
A Knight in Shining Armor
Gabi quickly finds herself in a chaotic battle, with knights on horseback clashing around her. Dressed in modern jeans and a t-shirt, she is out of place. A young knight, Lord Marcello of the house Forelli, sees her and, believing her to be a noblewoman lost, sweeps her onto his horse, saving her. He takes her back to his family's castle, Castello Forelli, which is the same castle Gabi's parents are excavating in her time. Gabi is overwhelmed by the medieval setting, the language barrier (though she understands Italian), and the strangeness of her situation. Marcello is curious about her unusual clothes and lack of companions, but his immediate concern is her safety.
Adjusting to the Past
At Castello Forelli, Gabi is given new clothes and a room, but her modern views clash with medieval customs. She struggles with the lack of hygiene, strict social rules, and the constant threat of war between the Forelli and Moscatelli families. She tries to explain her situation, but her story of time travel is met with disbelief. To protect her, Lord Marcello and his family decide to present her as a distant noble relative, 'Gabriella,' who has lost her memory from a recent attack. Gabi, desperate to return home, feels trapped and isolated, finding comfort only in her growing connection with Marcello, who is kind and protective.
Lia's Desperate Search
Back in the 21st century, Lia is distraught and tries to explain Gabi's disappearance to her parents. Dr. and Mrs. Betarrini, at first dismissive, think it is a hallucination or Gabi running away. Lia insists on the handprint and the flash of light, but her parents, focused on science, refuse to believe in time travel. They search for Gabi, contacting authorities and exploring the area, but find no trace. Lia, however, remains convinced and secretly researches the tomb and castle's history, hoping to find a way to bring her sister back. She feels immense guilt and fear for Gabi's safety.
The Growing Connection
As Gabi spends more time at Castello Forelli, her initial fear gives way to a careful interest in the past. She learns about the feud with the Moscatellis and the realities of medieval life. Marcello, a devout and honorable knight, becomes her confidant. Their conversations, often about faith, duty, and the future, show their different views but also a deep mutual respect and attraction. Gabi finds herself falling for him, despite the impossible circumstances. She helps with basic medical care using her modern knowledge and even offers strategic advice, drawing on her understanding of future history, though she must be careful not to reveal too much.
The Threat of War
The rivalry between the Forelli and Moscatelli families grows. Lord Moscatelli, a ruthless man, poses a constant threat. Gabi learns that her presence, especially as an unknown 'noblewoman,' could be a political pawn or a reason for more conflict. Marcello is often called to battle, leaving Gabi anxious about his safety. She sees the brutal consequences of medieval warfare firsthand, which strengthens her desire to return to her own time but also deepens her bond with Marcello, as she fears losing him. The castle is constantly on alert, and food and resources become scarce due to ongoing sieges and skirmishes.
A Glimmer of Hope
Gabi continues to search for a way to return to her own time. She learns about an ancient prophecy or legend linked to the handprint and a specific alignment of stars, hinting at a cyclical nature of the portal. She confides in Marcello, who, though still struggling to fully understand her story, believes her and helps her research. They find an old text suggesting that the portal might only open during specific celestial events, linked to the same tomb where she arrived. This discovery gives Gabi desperate hope, but also a growing dread of leaving Marcello behind. The window for her return seems narrow and unpredictable.
The Battle and the Choice
The conflict between the Forelli and Moscatelli families ends in a decisive battle near Castello Forelli. Gabi, despite Marcello's pleas to stay safe within the castle, feels drawn to the action, wanting to help. She sees Marcello's bravery and skill as a warrior. During the chaos, she realizes that the celestial alignment mentioned in the prophecy is happening. The handprint in the tomb begins to glow faintly. Gabi is torn between her love for Marcello and her desire to return to her family and her own time. The portal is opening, but leaving means abandoning the man she has come to love and possibly changing history.
A Farewell and a Promise
With the portal shimmering, Gabi makes the difficult decision to return to her own time. She shares a tearful goodbye with Marcello, promising to find a way back to him, or at least to ensure his legacy. She places her hand on the glowing handprint once more, and with a final look at Marcello, she is pulled back through time. She reappears in the 21st-century tomb, where a relieved but bewildered Lia is waiting. Gabi is physically back, but her heart remains in the 14th century. She is no longer the bored teenager but a woman transformed, determined to unravel the mysteries of time travel and find a way to reunite with Marcello. Her journey is far from over.
Principal Figures
Gabi Betarrini
The Protagonist
Gabi transforms from a bored, somewhat self-centered teenager into a courageous, compassionate young woman who finds love and purpose in an unexpected time.
Lord Marcello Forelli
The Love Interest / Supporting Protagonist
Marcello evolves from a dutiful knight into a man deeply in love with a woman from another time, forcing him to question his understanding of reality and fate.
Lia Betarrini
The Supporting Character
Lia transitions from a somewhat overlooked younger sister to an independent and dedicated investigator, driven by her love for Gabi.
Dr. and Mrs. Betarrini
The Supporting Characters / Mentioned
Their initial skepticism gives way to genuine concern and a desperate search for Gabi, though they never fully grasp the supernatural truth.
Lord Moscatelli
The Antagonist
Remains a consistent antagonistic force, symbolizing the constant threat of war and political instability in the 14th century.
Signora Forelli
The Supporting Character
She serves as a maternal figure for Gabi, offering comfort and helping her integrate into medieval life, while gradually accepting Gabi's unique nature.
Father Anselm
The Supporting Character
He remains a consistent source of spiritual wisdom and intellectual curiosity, providing Gabi with a sounding board for her unique predicament.
Themes & Insights
Love Across Time and Worlds
The main theme explores the deep connection between Gabi, a modern teenager, and Marcello, a 14th-century knight. Their love crosses social barriers and centuries. It shows that true love can exist regardless of external circumstances, cultural differences, or even physics. Their relationship makes both Gabi and Marcello question their understanding of their worlds and what is possible. Gabi's difficult decision to return home, promising to find a way back to him, and Marcello's slow acceptance of her impossible story show this.
“How could I have fallen for a man who lived centuries before me? And yet, here I was, my heart irrevocably tied to his.”
The Clash of Modernity and Antiquity
This theme appears in Gabi's struggles to adapt to 14th-century life and her culture shock. Her modern views on hygiene, gender roles, medicine, and social freedoms are constantly challenged by the medieval environment. Conversely, her presence in the past introduces modern ideas to Marcello and the Forelli family. The contrast between Gabi's future knowledge and the limited understanding of the past creates both humor and tension, such as her attempts to explain basic science or her dismay at the lack of amenities. It highlights how much society has changed, yet also how fundamental human emotions remain constant.
“I missed hot showers, flush toilets, and a world where women didn't have to worry about being kidnapped by a rival lord.”
Fate vs. Free Will
The idea of destiny and personal choice is present throughout the story. Gabi's accidental journey to the past raises questions about whether her arrival was fated or random. The prophecy about the handprint further blurs these lines, suggesting a predetermined path. Both Gabi and Marcello deal with their roles in history and their ability to influence events. Gabi's knowledge of the future creates a moral dilemma about whether she should intervene, while Marcello's faith often leads him to believe in a divine plan. Ultimately, their choices, especially Gabi's decision to return and her promise to find a way back, show the tension between what is destined and what is chosen.
“Was I merely a traveler, an observer, or had God sent me here for a purpose?”
The Search for Identity and Belonging
Gabi initially feels out of place in her own time, bored with her parents' archaeological digs. When transported to the 14th century, she is given a new identity as 'Gabriella' and struggles to find her place in a foreign world. Her journey is not just about returning home, but about discovering who she is. She learns to be brave, resourceful, and to value things beyond her superficial desires. The love she finds with Marcello helps her find a new sense of belonging, even if it is in a different time. This theme explores the idea that 'home' is not just a place, but where one's heart and purpose lie.
“I was Gabriella now, a ghost in a world that wasn't mine, yet somehow, I felt more alive than I ever had before.”
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
Time Portal / The Handprint
A magical handprint on a sarcophagus that transports people through time.
The handprint carved into the stone sarcophagus in the tomb at Castello di Moscatelli serves as the primary mechanism for time travel. It acts as a portal, activated by touch during specific celestial alignments. This device introduces the fantastical element into the story, allowing Gabi to be transported from the 21st century to the 14th. Its mysterious nature and the associated prophecy drive much of the plot, as Gabi and Lia both seek to understand its workings – Gabi to return, and Lia to retrieve her sister. It is the catalyst for the entire narrative.
The Prophecy
An ancient legend foretelling the handprint's power and a 'traveler'.
An ancient prophecy or legend, discovered by Gabi and Marcello in old texts, hints at the cyclical nature of the handprint's power and the potential for someone to travel through time. This device provides a narrative framework for Gabi's impossible situation, giving her (and Marcello) a glimmer of hope and a direction for understanding her predicament. It adds a layer of mystical significance to the time travel, suggesting that Gabi's arrival might be more than just an accident and perhaps even fated. It also helps to legitimize Gabi's story in Marcello's eyes.
The Forelli-Moscatelli Feud
A long-standing conflict between two noble families.
The ongoing, violent rivalry between the Forelli and Moscatelli families serves as the primary external conflict and backdrop for Gabi's time in the 14th century. This feud creates constant danger, tension, and political intrigue, forcing Gabi to witness the brutal realities of medieval life and warfare. It provides the setting for Marcello's chivalry and Gabi's increasing attachment to him, as she fears for his safety. The feud is a historical anchor that grounds the fantastical elements in a plausible, if harsh, medieval reality, shaping the characters' daily lives and decisions.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“It was as if I was living in a dream, one that I never wanted to wake up from.”
— Greeley's early enchantment with the ancient world of Hélon.
“Sometimes the greatest gifts are the ones we never asked for.”
— A reflection on the unexpected journey Greeley finds herself on.
“Love isn't about finding someone perfect. It's about finding someone who makes you feel perfect.”
— Greeley's evolving understanding of love, particularly with Kip.
“To truly live, you must first be willing to die.”
— A philosophical realization about the stakes and dangers of her new world.
“The past wasn't just a story; it was a living, breathing thing, waiting to claim me.”
— Greeley's growing awareness of her connection to Hélon's history.
“Courage isn't the absence of fear, but the triumph over it.”
— Greeley facing perilous situations and her own anxieties.
“Every choice we make ripples through time, affecting not just ourselves but generations to come.”
— A deeper understanding of the consequences of her actions in the past.
“Sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them go.”
— A difficult lesson learned about sacrifice and love.
“The world was far more vast and magical than I had ever dared to imagine.”
— Greeley's expanded worldview after experiencing Hélon.
“Home wasn't a place on a map; it was where my heart felt whole.”
— Greeley's shifting sense of belonging and where she truly feels at home.
“Even in the darkest of times, hope finds a way to flicker.”
— Finding optimism amidst danger and despair in Hélon.
“I was no longer just Greeley; I was a part of something ancient, something sacred.”
— Greeley's transformation and acceptance of her role in Hélon.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
The novel centers on Gabi Betarrini, an American teenager spending her summer in Tuscany, who accidentally travels back in time to 14th-century Italy. She finds herself embroiled in a medieval conflict and falls in love with a knight, Lord Marcello, from that era, creating a profound dilemma about her place in time.
About the author
Biography coming soon.
