(Théâtre Illuminata #1)
4 out of 5 stars
Published by Feiwel & Friends
I've been wanting to review this book for quite a while now, but somehow I can't seem to figure out what to say about Eyes Like Stars. I'm not often at lost for words, but somehow this book has left me speechless.
Eyes Like Stars is nothing like a book I have ever read before. And I know I say this kind of thing quite often, but I can't stress enough that this book is truly unique. I have nothing to compare it to. I can't even give it a proper rating, because I don't have a frame of reference. Maybe it deserves 5 stars. Maybe it deserves only 3. I honestly couldn't decide, so I gave it a diplomatic 4.
Beatrice lives in a theatre. The stage is her bedroom. The players come and go as they please. With her four fairy friends she has many adventures, to the annoyance of the Stage Master. When she somehow causes a cannon to explode, she has gone too far. Now Beatrice has to prove she is necessary to the theatre, or she will be kicked out the only home she has ever known.
In this book reality and magic are so weaved together it is sometimes hard to distinguish the difference between the two. It actually took me a while to grasp the concept of the magical stage. It can do things that are completely impossible, like flood the whole thing, then somehow suck the water out again. Yet these improbabilities are explained as if they are made possible by smart contraptions built within the stage.
I really liked the character of Beatrice. She is more of a tomboy, having grown up with all kind of exciting stage props. Even though she practically lives in some kind of fairytale, she's easy to relate to. And what I liked even more is that she's not so terribly prudish as a lot of female leads are.
The cover is absolutely stunning. A big thumbs up to the cover artist, Beatrice actually has blue hair in the story. She looks just like I would imagine her.
Blurb
All her world’s a stage.
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.
Enter Stage Right
NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.
COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
BERTIE. Our heroine.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book — an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family — and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.
Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.
Open Curtain
Bertie Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater. She’s not an orphan, but she has no parents. She knows every part, but she has no lines of her own. That is, until now.
Enter Stage Right
NATE. Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie.
COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARD SEED, and PEASEBLOSSOM. Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. BERTIE’S sidekicks.
ARIEL. Seductive air spirit and Bertie’s weakness. The symbol of impending doom.
BERTIE. Our heroine.
Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the actors of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book — an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family — and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.
Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.
Open Curtain
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3 comments:
I've had this book for a while, and the second one too. I just don't like the covers. I know, everyone loves these covers -- but not me. I really need to get past that and read them --I've heard good things about them. Thanks for giving me a nudge....
@ Annette; Really? You must be the only one out there to not like the covers! Don't let that hold you back; you might like the story anyway (:
I've heard amazing things about this. The cover really sticks out for me. I like hearing that it is like nothing you've read before, this story sounds amazing and I can't wait to read it. Great review.
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