Eyes Like Stars tells the story of orphaned Bertie Shakespeare Smith, who has lived the magical Theatre Illuminata as long as she can remember. The theatre Illuminata is where all of the characters in any play ever written perform their roles, their lives, endlessly. When Bertie’s escapades in the Theatre finally become the last straw for the Theatre Manager, she must prove herself in order to stay at the only home she’s ever known, and find out a little about herself in the process.
At the risk of soundly completely cliché, this is a very imaginative debut novel. I know I’ve never read anything like it. Lisa Mantchev really brings the characters to life, and creates a magnificent world and an incredible plot, tempered heavily with one of my favorite aspects: humor. Plenty of giggles, mostly brought by the fairies from the Bard’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Moth, Peaseblossom, Cobweb, and Mustardseed. I fell so totally in love with this book, that I couldn’t put it down. Literally, really. I’d make my nice big stack, and wound up reading more of this than anything. It’s even the book I celebrated with one night when I had finally earned reading time during NaNoWriMo. I was crazy for it!
As for some of the romance, there’s just enough fluff and triangle to make it interesting, but this book has so much more to offer! Which is one of its greatest points for me.
The Recommendation – I’d recommend this book to pretty much anyone, it’s such a great read! But if you’re a lover of fantasy and the stage, you’ll enjoy it all the more!
The Other Books – I MUST have the other books in the trilogy! (The second is titled Perchance to Dream, and that’s all I know right now.) We’re talking, top of the buy pile, please please daddy please, if I don’t get the next one I’ll scream. That’s how badly I want it. I will gladly pay the money for hardback.
The Vitals* – Eyes Like Stars is available in hardcover for $16.99, and will be available in paperback for $8.99 April 13, 2010.
The Links - The Theatre Illuminata's Website
* = All Prices from Borders.com, and are subject to change without notice. That change may not be reflected on this page.
Hmmm...I didn't know this was her debut novel. For some reason I thought the author had published another series. Anyways, the fact that this is her first published book makes me even more impressed with all the great publicity it's been getting! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Review, Eyes Like Stars is one of my favorite books from 2009.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like something I would enjoy. Great review!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review. I've heard nothing but positive things about this, so I can't wait to read it.
ReplyDeleteI've heard great reviews. Cannot wait to read it. The cover is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThis book has been on my wishlist for the longest time! And teh cover is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteTHis book looks great and I've wanted it for a long time.
ReplyDeleteI've been dying to read this one! I enjoyed your review and I'm glad I found your site. :) I definitely need to get my hands on a copy of this book soon.
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