A night of revels courtesy of...So Silver Bright by Lisa Mantchev

*intro music plays*

QUIET!  QUIET, PLEASE!

--- people scurrying everywhere ---

Places everyone, places!

You there!

What do you think YOU are doing?

No interruptions when the players are about to take the stage!

Grab a seat and enjoy the show....

...because this is one show stopping ending you don't want to miss!

Hiya fellow book-a-holics!

How goes your reading week thus far?  Mine, it's hurting...for some more reading time that is.  Busy week with WAY to much work (not complaining...well, not exactly) scheduled, but it is what it is and we make the best of it all, right?  Who's with me?

*looks at YOU*

_taps foot waiting for your response of agreement_

- aww, there it is -

Yesterday was officially "Talk Like a Pirate Day".  By whom was it started?  Well, I'm certain Google would uncover this mystery in a jiff, I'm not curious enough at this moment to check so feel free to do so at your leisure while I spin a tale of a book I recently finished (as in a day or so ago) and simply can't keep to myself.  It all begins two acts ago (okay, two books ago) with a young girl named Beatrice Shakespeare Smith; long name...unusual girl, but with MUCH story ahead of her.  We are introduced to her in Eyes Like Stars (catch up with my review by clicking here), learn to love her for who she truly is in Perchance to Dream (instant flashback granted...just click here), and finally see her come into her own amidst some rather trying scenes in....today's book of choice....

Theatre Illuminata, book 3:

So Silver Bright

by

Lisa Mantchev

From the author's site...

...and so begins the third and final installment (~tear~) of the fabulous Theatre Illuminata series.  We've a love triangle to navigate (when you pick up the book, do me the favor of having a laugh at the passage on or about page 11) that is thrown into even greater chaos by the sea witch out to end wreak her revenge on the one that tried to do her in (though Bertie had every right in my opinion...hmph!).  The stakes are high for one and all...but the true colors of the ever chameleon like Bertie will be on display by books end. 

Oh Bertie.  Your fellow players act their parts in your play of plays complete with hilarious antics, banter and pie eating episodes...but the true thread of your costume is laid bare when it comes to your happily ever after.  Your heart gets you in more trouble than it seems worth at times and yet you try, try again to set things right.  The best part?  With each failed attempt, you learn something new about the plot you are trying to interpret as well as yourself. 

The Mistress of Revels, the Queen of the Forrest, the Teller of Tales...all fancy wrappings for who you truly are....Beatrice Shakespeare Smith; a force to be reckoned with, with or without mask, glitter and bows.  Your true value is not your looks, the tales you can spin with the lilt of your tongue nor the uncanny way that you've captured the hearts of both air (Ariel, sigh) and sea (Nate, sigh), but the grace and strength with which you manage it all and despite those obstacles, persevere toward your own happily ever after.  It may not be easy, but when is the starring role EVER a piece of apple pie with ice cream on the side? (Okay, Moth...stop editing my review!) 

All those prizes worth winning are more often than not hard fought for and whilst your audience may wish you a peaceful journey, the treasure of your triumph is that much sweeter when viewing all you came through along the way.  So brava Bertie, cast and crew (and Ms. Mantchev, for without your brilliant mind we would've never met this colorful band of merry makers)!  Take your final bow and enjoy the applause from a thousand hands clapping though you shall never hear them, trust me...the noise would rival that of a thousand ships launching as well as that sudden gust of wind you are currently reveling in. 

Would I recommend this book to you fair readers?  Well now, that simply depends on you, now doesn't it?  Do you like enchanting writing that taps into your imagination and sets free the theater-esque persona hidden within?  Do you like adventures of the sword AND the heart?  Do you like mischief and mayhem and sweet treats of all varieties?  Do you like butterflies in the pit of your stomach and an ever changing array of hair and wardrobe changes, each more magnificent than the last?  If you answered yes to any, all, or even your own set of questions (far be it from me to restrict you to my questions alone), then I suggest you seek thee out a bookstore post haste and begin (or continue, as the case may be) your journey beyond the cover.  But please, do hurry....the curtain is about to rise on the next performance and EVERYONE knows the Stage Manager is not one to be trifled with.

ARC for review courtesy of the magnificent author, Ms. Lisa Mantchev (*throws rose on stage*) and the great folks at Feiwel and Friends, an imprint of MacMillan.  (THANKS!) This book celebrated it's bookish birthday one week ago today so be on the look out for it on a store shelf near you.  For more information on the series as well as the chance to gaze at the gorgeous cover art, check out the Call Board at the official website, where both cast and story come to life in a whole new dimension.  To see what the author is currently up to, visit her blog, or follow along on Twitter.  (I know I do and we had a particularly fun conversation yesterday about pirate cupcakes and a tasty server and...oh, um...sorry.... ^_^)

I leave you with this final question in parting....for those that HAVE read the series whether some or all, WHO would YOU choose, if given the chance?  Nate or Ariel? 

Until next time...happy reading!



Things are never easy for Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Something's happened to the Théâtre Illuminata, putting the only home she's ever known in limbo. Her mother's sanity is fraying under the strain, her father has vanished and an angry goddess is out for revenge. Bertie is caught between her duties and her dreams, just as her heart is torn between Ariel and Nate. But hope glimmers in a Distant Castle, and if Bertie can put on the performance of her life, maybe she can win the magical boon that may save them all.

Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Hello!

Glad you could join me for another rousing round of...Oh, my!  Is that a fabulous book that's been read, reviewed and I simply must have?  Why yes...yes it is...here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  You'll have to forgive any over the top flourish today as I just finished reading the most wonderful sequel in a rather flashy series and dramatic flair is simply the order of the day.  What book you may ask?  Hmm...wouldn't you like to know...no really, I'm sure you would.  It's actually the feature of the day!  Ready?  Today's book of choice is....

Theatre Illuminata, Book 2:

Perchance to Dream

by

Lisa Mantchev

(Okay, first things first...let's take a moment to ogle the cover....ah, yes...it is rather lovely isn't it?  Okay, back to business...)  Welcome, welcome!  Please, sit for a spell and join us as the players take the stage for tonight's performance...only there is no official stage, rather a stage coach, and the players are on the move, far away from their usual haunt.  When last we saw Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, affectionately known as Bertie (and as such referred to from here forward), Sedna had just finished reeking havoc on the theater, Ariel was running errands for Bertie and Nate was pulled into a watery abyss.  A few questions answered...the identity of Bertie's mother, the woman behind the Mistress of Revels, and the way in which a player may have the final curtain fall on their performance.  A few questions raised...who is Bertie's father, is Nate really gone, and why on earth is Ariel behaving so cordially towards her NOW of all times.  Yes, it is a wicked web we weave and a weary world in which it is woven (whoa...that's nine words with the letter "w"....couldn't have done that if I was actually trying...). 

Bertie, not being one to take things lying down, sets out to retrieve her wayward pirate...hoping against hope that she is not too late (watery abyss and all...tends to leave less room for necessary air to breathe).  Her travel companions?  Well, none other than her fairy friends....Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth, and Mustardseed.  Never leave home without a merry band of food loving followers.  What's this?  One companion we've forgotten!  Why, it's Ariel the windy elemental and look, he's here of his own volition.  Interesting turn of events.  No matter.  There is much for Bertie to learn if she intends to find what (who) was lost and claim it once again for her own.  The power of words is a tricky business indeed, but one that she must master quickly lest she falls prey to the wickedness that shadows her intended goal.  Oh, Bertie...what HAVE you gotten yourself into?

If you saw my Goodreads updates, you might already have a fairly good idea about my opinion of this book. Three words...I LOVED IT. Yes! It's true! It was a wonderful second installment to the series full of twists and turns, OMG and Aww moments, the works. Like a well rehearsed play, author Lisa Mantchev struck story telling gold with this one (though one could say 'yet again' with the brilliance that was EYES LIKE STARS).

Your attention is hooked, no grabbed, no clasped by the unflinching hands of the story spinner as the action, the romance, the I'm-gonna-throttle-you-no-wait-embrace-you events unfold before your eyes. (Okay, well mine was at the very least and if you liked the first novel, I can pretty much say this one will fit your fancy as well.)

Character wise....they feel like old chums (hmm, that was sorta proper English there...must be my UK friends influence...anywho...) come together once again to weave a tale unlike any other starring themselves nonetheless. At times, you'll want to love and not-so-much-love both Nate (don't believe me...oh, BELIEVE it) and Ariel (well, that's not so much a surprise now is it?), though Bertie's character remains a steadfast pulse of pure brilliance. She's a girl trying to reconcile the past she's never had with a future that's just out of reach and find answers to herself in the mix of it all. Throw in the two boys vying for her hand (in more ways than one...nope, not gonna spoil it though) and yeah, the emotional roller coaster is palpable through the pages...much like the golden light from The Complete Works of the Stage.

Story wise...there is more than one mystery revealed within these pages. Questions both asked and answered....who is Bertie's father? It's....him? Really? NO WAY! Bertie's true love is...him? Nu-uh! Nate's really not...wow! And he didn't want....NO! But Ariel was....really? You can't be serious!  That's just too much of a good thing!  And whoa...Sedna and...?  GASP!  (What? You thought I'd TELL you....um, no. Gonna have to read it...sorry, well not really...it's good!)

Special thanks to author Lisa Mantchev and the folks at Feiwel and Friends for the ARC for review! (THANKS!) If you haven't checked out this authors amazing work, visit her site (one or two) or follow along on Twitter!  To find out more about Feiwel and Friends, visit their site, take a look at their blog, or follow along on Twitter!  (Gotta love Twitter...really...)

So if you've read the first book, I suggest ye get thine shelf to a bookstore (or online site) and order up this fresh addition as it be on sale for your reading pleasure.  If you haven't read the first book...um, why?  No, really, why?  It's really good.  Still not quite sure?  Okay, for a little glimpse at it's contents, my review.  One final note to this fabulous author....hi, can we have book three ASAP?  Much thanks.  (^_^)  Alrighty then, let's finish this act in true Bertie style with a flourish, a bang and a well timed bow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Until next time....happy reading!

 

CLOSE CURTAIN

 

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Hello, hello!

It's Friday (well, at least when I'm typing this) and with its arrival comes the discovery that you made it through yet another week...congratulations!  Before we delve into the post of the day, just a quick reminder.  You still have time to enter the current giveaway being held here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers!  Enter for your chance to win a copy of Raven Stole the Moon by Garth Stein, courtesy of Sara at Terra Communications!  Entries accepted through midnight 03/25/10!  Now, on with the show...

Lower the lights!  Cue the curtain!  As the heavy velvet curtain parts on the main stage, we are greeted with the site of....today's book choice!  Today we are going to celebrate a great YA book that actually came out last year, but has a sequel approaching it's release date soon thus inspiring it's appearance at the top of my TBR (and now in my RIF ~~that's Read In Full~~) pile.  I've wanted to read it for quite a while and WHOO-hoo...finally was able to do so.  Shall we begin?  As the sun rises over the distant hills, we come upon the scene as it stands....today's book of choice is....

Eyes Like Stars

by

Lisa Mantchev

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata where things are not always what they seem. Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, affectionately known as Bertie, calls this stage home and her family....well, let's just say they are quite a cast of characters. You see, Bertie was left on the theatre's steps as a young baby, never to see nor hear from her parents again (or so she thinks...dun, dun, dun...) All is going swimmingly in her day to day productinos despite chaotic moments that have her fingerprints all over them (hello, she is a teenager...gotta test those boundaries somehow)....until one day, the Theater Manager decides enough is enough. The gauntlet is thrown (so to speak...no actual gauntlet throwing occurred, but there were some sandbags and other larger objects of choice).  Bertie must find a way to contribute to the house like no other, or out she goes. Whatever is a girl to do? Whatever indeed... When you associate with the likes of pirates, fairies, and wind spirits, there is no telling what obstacles you'll encounter.  Set sail for adventure as Bertie discovers not only what the theatre means to her, but more about herself than she ever imagined...

Okay, so let's start at the beginning...this is another case of cover envy.  Take a moment to oogle the picture above....go ahead...I'll wait.....*hums Jeopardy theme*....  As beautiful as it appears here, it's even better in person.  The character face is not overwhelming, nor her fairy friends, thus leaving the imagination able to take the visage and run wild from there.  The colors?  Oh, simply a gorgeous combination of blues and golden glows...it's definitely stunning.  (Girls, wouldn't you love to try out that hair for even a short while?  Okay, well, I would at least and I'm not usually the crazy-color-hair-girl type...except at Halloween...yeah, I had a wig with thes big curls...in cotton candy pink....nope, no pictures, sorry!  Moving on...)

The writing style is very unique and the story line...well, I think we all would like to ability to call for a scene change from time to time at the very least. (SHOUTS:  Scene change....Italy, vineyard complete with personal library!...shucks didn't work....)  The characters...how to put it.  Since Bertie'scompanions are from the actual plays performed at the theatre, the reader is introduced to the Bard's (that's Shakespeare) great works (for the most part...although other playwrights works are discussed later on).  The fairies, Peaseblossom, Mustardseed, Moth and Cobweb, are from A Midsummer Night's Dream.  Her pirate love interest, Nate, heralds from the boat crew of The Little Mermaid.  Ophelia (constantly drowns herself performance after performance) from Hamlet, and Ariel (he's an airy spirit with a mission) from The Tempest are just a few of the cameo appearances you will meet that carry an air of familiarity.  For the uninitiated, it provides a great stepping stone to cross over into a read through of many of these great works.  But alas, I digress...I am getting off topic.

Overall, I loved the adventure.  The theatrical aire that is used in the most mundane situations creates not a scene of utter chaos, but an attention drawing head-lining performance that will have you following the script closely from start to finish.  My favorite character is a toss-up.  I LOVE Bertie's "can-do" attitude, carefree yet able to buckle down when needed soul, and her flamboyant ways (the hair....proof that she's not easily afraid of a little change)....but I also love her little fairy companions, specifically Peaseblossom as the nature she was given seems to be a miniaturized version of Bertie with a little less proper manners to hold her back and a whole lot of spunk to deal with her male fairy counterparts.  The two love interests are like oil and water...they simply don't mix.  First up is Nate; he's a rough and tough pirate, with a soft spot for Bertie...though he'd never take advantage of a situation to gain the upper hand.  On the other side of this oddly weighted coin is Ariel; he would (and DOES) use any opening to assert his power over this lady in waiting.  (What's a girl to do?  *SWOON*)

The ending will leave you breathless (for many reasons...ahem) and filled with questions....but in a good way.  They are the questions that lead to straight to the head of the waiting line for the next book, or to the pre-order option should you desire.  (I have to find out what becomes of....and who is Bertie's.....and is Ariel really....yeah, I can't finish those sentences without spoiling the surprise, but trust me....it's good...)  Full of imagination, creativity and a sampling of some of the great classics, author Lisa Mantchev contributes a unique addition to the YA genre. I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of the upcoming sequel, Perchance to Dream (SQUEE!), thanks to Lisa Mantchev and the good folks at the publishing company (Feiwel & Friends).  Stay tuned for it's release coming in the later part of May 2010, and a review prior to from yours truly.  (Can't wait to start!)  For more information on the book series, author, artist, and so on, check out the author's site (it's very interesting, just like the book.  Curious to see what is in the works for the next installment?  Guess where else she is....yep, Twitter!

COMMENT CREATOR
Since this book deals with the classics of both literature and the stage, I pose this question to you.  Are you a reader of the originals, that is to say the classics that many cut their teeth on?  If so, is it by choice or by assignment (okay, so do you pick them up of your own accord or were they assigned reads at one point or another)?  Your favorite?  Feel free to leave your thoughts and feedback in the comments below!

Until next time....happy reading!

The Roving Reader

Seen a book & felt compelled to share?

Here's my attempt to satisfy....

Seek out

'Eyes Like Stars'

by

Lisa Mantchev.