Lisa Mantchev

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.

act 1

Theatre Illuminata

Monicap

Fairies with pie obsession+girl with blue hair+pirate=Very Good Book.
ps, Ariel may have a girl's name, but he NO mermaid.

Nicole Dykeman

This was...okay. I certainly didn’t love it, and maybe my hopes were too high. But honestly, the majority of this book doesn’t make much sense because the magic system is poorly explained. I’m willing to accept that the theater is magical, that the characters are alive, but I had so many questions—where does the magic come from? Are all theaters like this, or just the one? What’s with Bertie’s magic necklace? Where is Nate, the only sensible character in the whole goddamn book? I want to know, but not enough to read the second book. 

Also: Why are the theater manager and the stage manager such jerks? Why are the rest of the adults in this book completely incompetent? The props manager, the set manager, the costume designer—all of them are simultaneously meant to be adults that Bertie loves and respects, but their actions say otherwise. They’re irresponsible and childish when the plot calls for it, and offer sage advice when Bertie needs it. The characters were just inconsistent from scene to scene. Useless adults is a trope I just can’t get behind. 

My final complaint: this read more like a middle grade than the YA it is advertised as. I think if this book WAS a middle grade, and were purposefully written and marketed as such, I might feel differently about a few things, like the way the dialogue feels immature sometimes. But as it is, this book just didn’t do it for me, which is disappointing, since it’s been on my TBR for so long.

Alexandra Mellas

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Original Language: English
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Publication Date: 2009
ISBN: 0312380968
Page Count: 368

Lisa Mantchev's debut novel, Eyes Like Stars, is the witty, clever and full of delightful beginning to her new Theatre Illuminata trilogy. It is a fun and interesting new take on the world of theatre and Shakespeare with a vivacious heroine. 
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith, named for the Shakespeare and his most independent heroine, is the odd one out at Theatre Illuminata. Left at the door of the Theatre as a baby, the Theatre and its cast are the only home she has ever known. Yet Bertie is no actress and unless she can find herself a vital part to play, she will end up on the streets.
Matchev has created a mystical and magical environment in the Theatre Illuminata, one brought to life by the characters from every play ever written. The plays of William Shakespeare, notably Hamlet, play a fundamental role in Bertie's adventures in the Theatre. Her entourage of faeries were Titania's court in A Midsummer's Night Dream while her cunning and decietful love interest Ariel is the enslaved wind spirit from Tempest. Matchev uses the familiarity of Shakespeare, even to the uninitiated, to her readers in Eyes Like Stars to bring a whole new story to light.
In the same way Bertie revitalises Hamlet, Matchev brings a new light to old characters. Her faery companions, like Peaseblossom and Cobweb, are sweet, companionable trouble makers; Lady Gertrude is haughty; and Ophelia is easily troubled and confused. Yet, as always, each has a role to play in Eyes Like Stars while they maintain their original unique personalities and lines.
Though the narrative begins in a slightly confusing way it quickly becomes engrossing and hard to put down. Bertie is everything you can want in a heroine; pretty, clever, and decisive with a touch of naivety and hesitance. Far from perfect, she is beguiling and confident. 
Though I don't like the love triangle angle, they are beginning to pop up more and more, the competition between Nathan and Ariel is amusing. Nathan's instinctive protectiveness and his rugged pirate looks make him appealing, while Ariel's charm and cunning are intriguing. 
It is fitting, as a story set in a theatre, for sections of the narrative to be written in script. Instead of telling a story within a story, Mantchev has her characters tell a story in script. It suits the story and the characters better than gathering around in a circle to tell a tale.

I am heartily impressed with Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars and look forward to reading the sequel Perchance to Dream. The third Theatre Illuminata book is due for release in September this year.

Judging by the Cover: Eyes Like Stars has a beautifully illustrated cover. It shows Bertie's independent style and the faery's surrounding her looks amazing. Her pose, slightly turned, in front of the curtains gives away clues about the story without acting as spoilers.

Neveen Badr

“All the world is her stage”
This is the story of Britce, she lives in the theater but do not belong to the theater; which all the characters comes to life not only the stage but they live together and act and react outside there plays.
All what has been written in The Book keeps the magic alive as so the theater.

I love this book so much, I really enjoyed reading it.
Starting from the amazing reactions of the characters outside the plays; till the story of Britce herself and how she want to stay in the theater even though she do not belong there; it’s her home and she has to keep it safe and never let a hand touch The Book.
I also loved the passion and the kisses.

Celia Adams

This book was recommended to me years ago by a friend, and I'm so glad I finally got the chance to read it after coming across it in a used book store. At first I wasn't crazy about the story, but after the first hundred pages or so.....I actually really liked it. The concept is honestly so clever, having every character of every stage play ever written all kept in a theatre to perform forever. I wish I understood a little more about the setting, such as where and when this theatre physically is. It seems modern, but I could also believe it's some crazy out-of-time bubble, which I realized was part of the magic of theatre, just in book form. I wasn't crazy about some of the characters, like Nate and the fairies, but others, like Ariel(from the Tempest) and Mrs. Edith, I absolutely LOVED. And of course, the protagonist Bertie was fantastic, is maybe not quite a typical fantasy heroine. But who doesn't love an underdog. Funny enough, I'm equally intrigued with the plot, her making her place in the Theatre, as I am with what would have happened had the author gone the other way, and had Bertie leave to make her place in the world outside. All together, as long as you can handle a bit of second-hand embarrassment, this is a great, funny read, with enough romance and drama to keep you thoroughly entertained.

Theatre Illuminata act 1

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