Monday, January 23, 2012

Book Review: Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev



Perchance to Dream

by Lisa Mantchev
Series: Théâtre Illuminata #2
Release date: 25th May, 2010
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Pages: 337 (Hardcover bought by me)
Next Book: So Silver Bright

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

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) or 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 Théâtre’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?

Review By Alaiel Kreuz:

I'll try to make this review without spoilers but if you haven't read the first book Do Not continue reading, please. And just in case my review of Eyes Like Stars (first book) is HERE.

Bertie & Company is in the outside world, finally released from the Theatre and ready for adventures and answers.

But they have two goals to achieve: First they need to rescue Nate from the The Sea Goddess' grip. And second Bertie needs to find her father and bring him back to her mom, Ophelia, to whom she promised to reunite their family.

And everything seems to go perfect when she rans directly into The Mysterious Stranger who is her dad. And with him she unravels another mistery about her childhood but before she can question him he flies away (yes, he flies away). Gladly for her there's no time to feel sad... a new face joins the Company: Waschbär, some sort of thief of unwanted things which means if you have something you don't want to have he might come very handy to get rid of it.
With him in the Company Bertie hopes to track her dad down using Waschbär keen senses and he proves to be really good, in fact.

Now Bertie's days are filled with Ariel, the air elemental who abandoned the Theatre with her because, in his own way, he loves her deeply. And Ariel doesn't hesitate when it comes to let her know how much he loves her... But Bertie's nights are shared with Nate who, somehow, is able to communicate with her despite being held prisoner by the Sea Goddess.
Sadly Nate's time is becoming thin... each day he disappears a little bit more and Bertie is afraid she won't find him in time.

New things are coming her way with the Innamorati, another company like hers that creates big performances and now that she is The Misstress of Revels they seek her help to create a story, another masterpiece, to enchant their public.
What they don't know is that Bertie's power is too strong for her to control and what she might create could become more real than they expect.

And lurking in the shadows Sedna's vengeance is reaching them ready to crush them down or ready to make an exchange...

Personal opinion:
No matter how many times I try to think what I want to say for this book is rather difficult without making any spoilers so here goes what I can say:

Read the first book, Eyes Like Stars, and then you will have to read this book. I assure you.

Lisa Mantchev's writing has done the impossible and became better... the twists, the plot itself, the characters... it all feels alive. I found myself reading no stop, smiling, laughing, crying and cheering for Ariel and Nate at the same time. What can I say? I love them both.

The fairies that are always with Bertie will make you laugh out loud and giggle with their craziness and cuteness. Bertie's story will enchant you and you will need to take deep breaths a lot of times.

And I don't want to begin taking about the covers because, believe me, I love them all so much that I'm sure I wont stop praising them.

Alaiel's Rating:


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