Review: Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Title: Eyes Like Stars
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Pub. Date: 2009
Genre: YA
Main Themes: Magic, Theatre, Orphans, Love, Friendship, Family
Pages: 356
Plot (from book jacket):
"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.

Enter Stage Right

NATE: Dashing pirate. Will do anything to protect Bertie (as she's known at the theater).

COBWEB, MOTH, MUSTARDSEED and PEASEBLOSSOM: Four tiny and incredibly annoying fairies. Bertie's sidekicks.

ARIEL: Seductive air spirit and Bertie's weakness. The symbol of impending doom.

BERTIE: Our heroine.

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 and the only home she has ever known."

I was first drawn to Eyes Like Stars because of the cover. My first glimpse was quite some time before the book was released, and without even reading the summary blurb, I was intrigued by the character on the front cover. Blue hair, smoky eye makeup, awesome dress: how could I not think she was awesome. Once I had read the blurb I knew I would read this book, but I didn't know just how much I would love it.

Eyes Like Stars has a magical and wholly original premise. I loved seeing the characters that I loved from plays, like Ophelia from Hamlet! I have a bit of a fascination with her character, so seeing this interesting take on her personality, etc. was so fun. Also, Bertie's quest to save the theater and to find out the truth about how she came to live at the theater kept me furiously turning pages.

Bertie was an amazing character. Not only is she totally unique, stylish, and smart - she's hilarious. She is definitely in  my Top 10 for favorite heroines. Sometimes I like characters, but only love them as part of a couple, but I loved Bertie simply for being Bertie.

But wait - I loved her as part of a couple too! Yes, this book has a love plot line too! Yup, it seems to have everything... There is actually a bit of love triangle. Can you guess from the character descriptions above which characters are involved? :) I don't want to say too much, but I'm totally Team Nate; I need a Team Nate button to go along with my Team Peeta button!

All of the characters were vividly imagined, I really did fall for all of them, even the villainous ones!

I can't write a review for ELS without mentioning the fairies! They are so much fun and so cute...well mostly.

Ratings (Out of 10):
Plot: 10
Characters: 10
Writing: 10
Romance: 10
Originality: 10
Total: 50/50 (A!!)

READ THIS BOOK. I had a copy from the library, but I'm definitely getting one to keep at home. Even though I just finished it and have tons of books to read right now, I kind of just want to reread ELS... :)

Also, I want to mention this awesome Custome Contest that Lisa Mantchev is currently hosting for Halloween! Not only is it a fun idea, there are also chances to win prizes! I'm totally going to participate, so look for my pictures dressed up as my favorite character! Well, as long as I can find the perfect pieces for my outfit... After all, it will be my favorite character, so it can't be taken lightly... :)