Lisa Mantchev - Perchance to Dream

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, Mistress of Revels, takes her show on the road in this rousing sequel to Eyes Like Stars (Feiwel & Friends, 2009). Abandoning the enchanted Théâtre Illuminata to rescue her beloved pirate Nate from watery doom in the lair of Sedna the Sea Goddess, the 17-year-old embarks on the journey accompanied by four feisty fairies and seductive Ariel, air spirit from The Tempest and Nate's rival for Bertie's heart. By turns perilous and comedic, the tale rolls along at breakneck speed as the troupe encounters danger and delight, negotiating predicaments with magic and wit. The fairies' constant clamor for pie adds hilarity as Bertie explores the extent of her magical powers, untangles her origins, and meets her father, the brooding bird-man Scrimshander. Mantchev's highly imaginative prose bursts with lush imagery and literary riffs, and the party's encounter with the Innamorati, a traveling circus inspired by Cirque du Soleil, enhances the book's surrealism. Although the lack of backstory may leave readers new to Bertie in the dust of confusion, fans of the first book will cry "Encore!" as the ending sets up the third in the series.