Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

2010 edition (out now) , Square Fish
366 pages, Paperback
Received as part of IBBMP

Fantasy, Young Adult

Cushions: 4
Daggers: 2
Smiles: 5
Tears: 3
Nayuleska's recommended rating;♥♥♥♥♥


Book cover blurb: 


Welcome to the Theatre Illuminata, where the characters of every play ever written can be found behind the curtain. The actors are bound to the Theatre by The Book, and ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of the actors, but they are her family. And she is about to lose them all because The Book has been threatened, and along with it the Theatre. It's the only home Bertie has ever known, and she has to find a way to save it. But first, there's the small problem of two handsome men, both vying for her attention. The course of true love never did run smooth...


A confession: I picked this book because of the cover. Come on! How cool is Bertie's blue hair? (The events involving the change in Bertie's hair colour is hysterical). And the fairies are cute! Although they are really funny, love food, and cause much trouble for Bertie. They occasionally help her out too. 


Bertie enjoys her life in the theatre. Sure, her sleep gets disrupted when plays need to be performed (such is the trauma of having her bedroom on stage). And she is in such big trouble with the theatre management that she must perform a play that will sell out and get an ovation in order to stay there. But her entertaining fairy companions are there to lighten (and darken) the mood. 


There is peril which had me on the edge of my seat, but this is interspersed with a great deal of humour. There's humour in the tissue moments (of which there are a few). There's humour as Bertie unravels the mystery of her origins - who exactly is her mother? How did some come to be in the Theatre? There's also humour as Bertie deals with the threatened Book. When the magic gets taken out of the Book, the result is catastrophic. I didn't think it could be resolved, but Bertie finds a way. The way isn't easy, and she gets hurt and tricked by people she thought she could trust. But what good is a story without conflict? 

I would like to relate the happy news that there is a second book coming out very soon! Perchance to Dream continues Bertie's adventure. There is more to Bertie's life to be revealed. She has to choose which man to give her heart to (personally there is no choice in the matter, stupid girl). Perchance to Dream will hopefully carry the same humour in Eyes Like Stars. I'm glad there's another story with Bertie because her personality and that of her friends is too enjoyable to remain in just one book. I'm hoping there might be a third! 


Additionally Bertie's friends could, in my view, have their own series. They are so funny, and I'm sure they have lots of adventures Bertie doesn't know about. 


This is a truly funny book, which will cheer you up and make you laugh out loud. And smile a lot.

If you liked this, try another book with fairies: Knife by R J Anderson