Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata, #1)

by Lisa Mantchev

Jessica Tedder (Editor)

Thirteen-year-old Bertie strives to save Theater Illuminata, the only home she has ever known, but is hindered by the Players who magically live on there, especially Ariel, who is willing to destroy the Book at the center of the magic in order to escape into the outside world.

• ISBN10: 0312608667
• ISBN13: 9780312608668
• Publish Date: 13 April 2010 (first published 7 July 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: St. Martin's Press
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[Amber (The Literary Phoenix)]

I had an incredibly difficult time putting this one down. I want to say I didn’t love it because lets face it… the plot kept pulling me in, then pushing me out, and I found the resolution sadly unfulfilling. However, I loved every bit of the characters and while I had issues with Nate and Ariel being romantic interests (as they felt so old and far away from Bertie) I also know that I wanted so badly for everything to work out with Nate at the end of the book (no further spoilers here!)

The writing at the very end was magnificent. While I didn’t care for Bertie’s overall decision, the way she “saved the day” was perfectly written and felt magical to me even as I read it.

I’m finding it difficult to write this review without spoilers, so bear with me.

The publisher and the cover struck me immediately on this book, and although it is something I won’t normally comment on, I did want to just mention how visually perfect the cover was. A lot of YA fantasy these days uses photography on the cover, but the artistry used to create the cover of Eyes Like Stars and the rest of the series is just absolutely beautiful.

I think the one important thing to keep in mind with this series is that the characters within may have been created in a certain way within certain stories… but Mantchev does not necessarily use them as such. The Shakespearean (etc.) characters have much of their own personalities that become visible offstage, something I both loved and hated (character dependent). One should not expect the heroes of beloved plays to be quite as heroic. This is, after all, but one person’s interpretation.

That being said, for anyone who gets excited by the idea of allusions, or is familiar with the workings of the theatre world, this book is a must-read. It is very unique, and utterly captivating.

[celinenyx]

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.

[paperbackjedi]

This was a wonderful mix of theater and fantasy with everything you need for a good read. Suspense, action, Shakespearean quotes, faerie folk, dashing pirates, a seductive air spirit, a plucky heroine. Great read.