So Silver Bright

All Beatrice Shakespeare Smith has ever wanted is a true family of her own. And she’s close to reuniting her parents when her father disappears. Now Bertie must deal with a vengeful sea goddess and a mysterious queen as she tries to keep her family – and the Theatre Illuminata – from crumbling. To complicate it all, Bertie is torn between her two loves, Ariel and Nate.

from amazon.com

Beth says 5 Stars…

First and foremost, I LOVE THIS SERIES. Sorry, but I had to get that out there. It really is one of the most fun and quirky set of books published for young adults recently. The wit and heart (along with the originality) that drew me to Eyes Like Stars remained a constant force, making me chuckle and cry alternatively. This closing act definitely brought it home in more ways than one, with things both predicted and out of left field in the best possible way. I loved that the Theater itself returned to prominence as it feels like an anchor to the books. I actually read this one on a plane, which I think truly testifies to how good the novel is. I completely forgot where I actually was and instead found myself transported to Bertie’s magical world. The plot utterly pulled me in and kept me entertained. I finished it in one sitting, that’s how much I enjoyed it! I will say that this definitely doesn’t stand alone and really relies on the other novels in the series. I personally think that’s a good thing because it made me become invested in the story. I honestly cared what about happened to the characters and how the novel ended.

Oh the characters… all I can say is that parting is such sweet sorrow as far as they’re concerned. Bertie still had her spunk, but showed immense vulnerability in this book. However, her fragility fell on the side of endearing because she became broken, easy as it may have been. Even through all of the tests, trials, and pie, she never completely lost herself and managed to discover her identity without whining about it. The fairies continually delighted me with their antics and loving devotion to Bertie and cakes, cupcakes, puddings… where was I? The interplay between them kept me in stitches without seeming forced. Then we come to the wonderful strapping gentlemen, who spiced up the book. They serve to highlight each other’s strengths and weaknesses as well as Bertie’s. Dependable Nate and tempestuous Ariel both ended up in the best places they could have, which made saying goodbye a touch more bearable.

I’m going to continue recommending this series of books to people looking for something a little different. They’re wonderful, magical, comedic, tragic, and really everything a set of novels should be. If you haven’t read these books you really must, because they’re simply fantastic. I give Lisa Machev a standing ovation for daring to create a wonderful series in the face of Twilight and for bringing these characters to life. As sad as I am to see the curtain close on this cast, I know that they’ve provided me with enough fun and laughter to last through many re-readings.

Perchance to Dream

Guys, we're so terribly sorry this has taken so long, but both of us were taken hostage by the monster that is finals and the end of freshman year. Now, we're home and everything should go back to normal!

We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
Act Two, Scene One
Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.
Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY
But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—
Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.
Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.
When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?

from amazon.com

Beth says 4.99 Stars...

I love this series. Eyes Like Stars quickly won a spot on my favorites shelf, and this second installment doesn't disappoint. Mantchev takes a risk by leaving the familiar setting of the Thèâtre and literally taking the show on the road. It was the slightly stereotypical hero's journey and traveling of a second book in a trilogy. However, what could have been flat and boring was lifted into the realm of entertaining by the quick wit that permiates the novel. Literary allusions abound, and there's impressive hilarity for those well-read enough to understand the jokes. I didn't get them all, but when I did I felt a small sense of pride and had a chuckle.

The funniest part of the book was the fairies. From the very first page they had me in stitches whenever they appeared. There were some fun new characters who added to the dynamic, but I still missed everyone from the Thèâtre. Bertie grew as a person, and so did her relationships with both Nate and Ariel. I love that they went in different directions and weren't stereotypical. I'm interested to see how everything resolves in the final book. The different magics in that world were also significantly explored, and I'm waiting for more. Bertie's powers have begun to take a fascinating shape, and what the other different characters can do is intriguing was well.

Overall I really liked this book. The reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that there was just something little missing that would have made it amazing. I can't put my finger on it, but it was there in Eyes Like Stars and not in this one. However, the book is still fantastic. Mantchev proves that she has a singiature style that absolutely delights and avoids the pitfall of a terrible sequel. I'm thoroughly excited for the next book. This is a good continuation of the series and sets up what should be a hilarious thrill ride of a final act.

Book from Publisher

Eyes Like Stars

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice 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.
Until now.

Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Theatre 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.

Beth says 5 Stars...
I'm going to try to keep the gushing to a minimum, or at least make it sound intelligent. This book is absolutely amazing. I loved every minute of reading it, and wish that it had taken me longer. Bloggers often throw around the words unique and unusual, but this book absolutely deserves them. I've never read anything like it, and am so glad that I finally have. The plot was so fresh that it immediately captured my attention, and so interesting that it held it. Manchev's writing was absolutely magical; it captured the vibrancy of the theatre honestly, and blended it seamlessly with fantasy elements. Bertie was strong, interesting, and simply jumped off of the page. I want to sit and have coffee with her. All of the other characters also felt deep and realistic in their personalities. I loved how many familiar characters from Shakespeare were given new lives and personalities. I particularly enjoyed the antics of the fairies. They cracked me up constantly. Something else that I found interesting was that there are quite a few lines that the characters say that are from Shakespeare, either the same or slight variations. It was fun to try to find them and figure out what shows they were from. This book is perfect for anyone, but especially those who love theatre and/or Shakespeare. This is the best debut novel I've read in a long time, and can't wait for the rest of the trilogy. This is one that you should just go out and buy as soon as you can because not only is it amazing, but the cover is stunning. A fantastic first novel from an extraordinarily talented and imaginative author.

Nathan says 5 stars...
For me, books need interesting characters, original plots, and great writing to be considered a work of art. Eyes Like Stars needs to be in the Louvre (and not just because of the awe-inspiring cover). We've been anxiously waiting to post this review until closer to the release date, and now I just have a lot of bottled-up love trying to escape. The book absolutely sucked me into the Theatre, and refused to set me down until the final curtain call; however, I can't say that I minded. Original, fresh, and unique don't even begin to cover the world Mantchev has so lovingly and skillfully created. I'm so excited to see what the rest of the series will reveal after such an explosive and charismatic debut.