March 8, 2009

Review & Contest: Eyes Like Stars (Theatre Illuminata, Part I) by Lisa Mantchev

Cover ArtEyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata Part I
Lisa Mantchev
July 7, 2009
Feiwel & Friends

I was given the chance to read and review the ARC of this lovely story by the author herself, Lisa Mantchev. I'd been stalking Lisa ever since the first time my eyes meet the cover of this endearing book.

Originality: 20!
Characters: 20!
Writing: 20!
Setting: 10!
Plot: 20!
Passion: 9!
Grade: 99/100!


Beatrice Shakespeare Smith lives at Center Stage of the Theatre Illuminata. Her best friends are fairies! She crushes on a pirate, Nate, and an air elemental named Ariel. She butts heads with the Stage Manager and constantly feeds the fire between the Property Manager and the Scenery Manager. And within it all she's an orphan with Cobalt blue hair. She controls the written word. If she writes it, it happens.

She is given the ultimate challenge. Sell out a show and receive a standing ovation or leave the Theatre forever. Is she able to get all the Managers and Players to work together to remake a play into something new? Will she survive an attack from a Sea Witch? And lastly, will she find out who her mother is?


This book was just too much fun to read! Beatrice's character seemed like an average teenage girl with a very supernatural setting that she lived in. The other characters of this book were from the works of Shakespeare's plays. I found that I knew just about all of the characters, so I didn't have any issues understanding what was going on. However, I wonder if other people reading this book find themselves confused because they don't know what play the character originates from. That would be the only negative thing I could find about this book.

The story was very original and complicated but it meshed well together. The setting and the plot were just outstanding. The creativity needed to write this book is unbelievable. Lisa did an amazing job putting it all together. And one of my favorite things about the written book is the typeface changes when Beatrice was writing the play lines. Amazingly well done.

I gave the Passion rating a 9/10, because I honestly felt the passion between Beatrice and both male leads, Ariel and Nate, more so with Nate. However, since Beatrice is only a teenager I feel the passion was definitely there and it was very tangible; therefore, my resulting rating of a 9/10.

Ultimately, this has got to be one of the funniest, creative books I have read in a very long time.



CONTEST!

Would you like my copy* of Eyes Like Stars?
Just leave a comment!
Open to US residents only (sorry!)

Additional Entries (leave separate comments for each entry):
+1 Follow Me! (current or new, both count!)
+1 Blog about this contest (sidebar is fine, post your link)

Contest open until 11:59 pm, Saturday, March 14th.
Winner announced on Sunday, March 15th.

* Gently used ARC

ETA!
Lisa has just unveiled her new website for this series! Visit The Theatre Illuminata!








57 comments:

Insert Book Title on March 8, 2009 at 10:19 PM said...

I would love to have this novel!

Will it count as another entry if I am already following you?

insertbooktitle@yahoo.com

Insert Book Title on March 8, 2009 at 10:21 PM said...

Here is the link where I posted(in the side bar)about your contest.

www.insertbooktitle.blogspot.com

Insert Book Title on March 8, 2009 at 10:26 PM said...

Yay! I have been following you for a while!

Go me!

Erika Lynn on March 8, 2009 at 11:58 PM said...

don't enter me, obviously but i am glad you gave it such a good review. I can't wait to start it

donnas on March 9, 2009 at 12:12 AM said...

I would love to win this.

I am following you.

bacchus76 at myself dot com

Aimee on March 9, 2009 at 12:38 AM said...

That book sounds so good! I really hope I win. I am now following your blog and I posted about your contest on my blog.
http://abookdork.blogspot.com/2009/03/contest-for-arc-of-eyes-like-stars.html

Aerin on March 9, 2009 at 9:02 PM said...

Thanks for fixing that! My kitten says:

gfvdfx vvvmnnbghj

Aerin on March 9, 2009 at 9:03 PM said...

+ 1 I'm now following you but not JUST for the contest - I love your blog!

Aerin on March 9, 2009 at 9:05 PM said...

+1 I added to my sidebar at insearchofgiants.com!

Lizzy on March 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM said...

+1 for following the blog

Lizzy on March 9, 2009 at 9:06 PM said...

Yay commenting is fixed! Thanks for offering your ARC up in the contest. Everyone seems to love this book, which is usually a good sign

Nora on March 9, 2009 at 9:43 PM said...

+1 for following

Nora on March 9, 2009 at 9:43 PM said...

I'd love to read this one!

wishonstars13@hotmail.com

Nora on March 9, 2009 at 9:46 PM said...

+1 for blogging about it here:

http://noraatnow.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-contests.html

Bookworm on March 9, 2009 at 10:13 PM said...

Sounds so good! I already have a copy (yayayayay!) but I got your comment and posted a link on my blog anyway. Good luck to everyone who entered! (:

Amelia on March 9, 2009 at 10:40 PM said...

Okay I follow you and posted this in my sidebar ( bookjunkiereviews.blogspot.com )

Great contest.

Katie said...

This book sounds amazing! Count me in.

harrypotterfan6991@hotmail.com

Wrighty on March 10, 2009 at 12:34 AM said...

This sounds great and I love your rating system! I've heard good things about this book. Please include me too. Thanks so much!

5wrights1[at]verizon[dot]net

Wrighty on March 10, 2009 at 12:38 AM said...

I'm a follower and so glad I found your blog!

Wrighty on March 10, 2009 at 12:40 AM said...

I've added this to my blog.
www.wrightysreads.blogspot.com

Martha Flynn on March 10, 2009 at 1:52 AM said...

This is def on my to-read list

Alex D M on March 10, 2009 at 5:00 AM said...

I would love a chance to win this book.

Chantele on March 10, 2009 at 12:36 PM said...

I would love to win this book! I am following!;)

alwayssomething2read(at)gmail(dot)com

writemeg on March 10, 2009 at 1:28 PM said...

This story sounds very unique and awesome! I'd love to win :) Thanks for the chance!

Megan
writing.meg [at] gmail.com

Mishel on March 10, 2009 at 1:59 PM said...

I would so love a chance to win this book!

mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

Mishel on March 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM said...

I also posted a link to the contest in my sidebar. It can be found here:

http://creativitygone.blogspot.com

Mishel on March 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM said...

I'm now a follower. (=

Reverie on March 10, 2009 at 4:19 PM said...

Sweet contest! I want! I want!

blogroll and I'm following you. great blog!

Blodeuedd on March 10, 2009 at 4:58 PM said...

Hi, is this open worldwide, cos the book looks awesome and I would love to get a chance to win :)

Ashleigh on March 10, 2009 at 10:27 PM said...

I'm following you!

Great review :) I'm really excited about this book, and it would be AMAZING to win an ARC! I work at a book store so I love getting teen src of stuff so I can be more informed as the Children's sect. supervisor.

Thanks for the chance!

Michelle Kuo on March 11, 2009 at 12:03 AM said...

I would love to enter! :) I've really been wanting to read this, and your review only makes me want to read it more!

Michelle Kuo on March 11, 2009 at 12:04 AM said...

Just became a follower :)

Michelle Kuo on March 11, 2009 at 12:07 AM said...

I posted your contest up here in my blog:
http://flyingsolooooo.blogspot.com/2009/03/book-giveaway-links-for-march.html

Marie on March 11, 2009 at 2:01 PM said...

I would love to read this, it looks wonderful!

vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

Rebecca Herman on March 11, 2009 at 8:58 PM said...

I would love to enter the contest!

+1 for following your blog

heartofchrist on March 12, 2009 at 2:25 PM said...

Would LOVE to win this book! Sounds like it'll be good!

-Annabell (heartofchrist19@yahoo.com)

heartofchrist on March 12, 2009 at 2:27 PM said...

+1 Left info about this contest on my blogsite:

http://heartofchrist.livejournal.com/1996.html

-Annabell

heartofchrist on March 12, 2009 at 2:33 PM said...

+1 Following you (but it's through Twitter--does that count?)

-Annabell (twitter.com/heartofchrist)

heartofchrist on March 12, 2009 at 2:37 PM said...

Well, now I'm also following you on myspace LOL!

-Annabell (myspace.com/hippiewriter

Katie on March 12, 2009 at 8:28 PM said...

Enter me, please! I'm a follower.
bball11kt@sbcglobal.net

Jodi on March 12, 2009 at 8:37 PM said...

I would love and entry!

I'm a follower!

Lalaland on March 12, 2009 at 8:41 PM said...

I'm following you now.

Lalaland on March 12, 2009 at 8:41 PM said...

I'd like to enter.

Kathleen on March 12, 2009 at 9:03 PM said...

I would love to have a copy!!!!

Kaye on March 13, 2009 at 4:58 PM said...

Please enter me in the drawing, this sounds like an incredible book

florid982002[at]yahoo[dot]com

Amy on March 13, 2009 at 5:06 PM said...

wow, great contest!
addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com

Steph Su on March 13, 2009 at 5:27 PM said...

And I linked to this contest in my sidebar. Thanks! :)

Steph Su on March 13, 2009 at 5:27 PM said...

I'm following you now

Steph Su on March 13, 2009 at 5:27 PM said...

I'd LOVE to win this!

stephxsu at gmail dot com

Christi on March 13, 2009 at 6:34 PM said...

Wow. If I didn't already want to own Eyes Like Stars, I would after reading your review! I'm dying to get that book!

First entry... Check!

and I don't konw if you need it, but my e-mail is lirikos_demonic_angel@yahoo.com

Christi on March 13, 2009 at 6:36 PM said...

'Kay, entry number 2!!

I'm not your follower ^.^ my name's Christi!

Christi on March 13, 2009 at 6:38 PM said...

Sorry! ^^That^^ should say "now", not "not"!!!

Christi on March 13, 2009 at 6:58 PM said...

And here's my journal entry on Gaiaonline!

link:
http://www.gaiaonline.com/journal/?mode=view&post_id=26330653

So that's three, right? :3

wrigleyfield on March 13, 2009 at 9:23 PM said...

I'm now following!
ewrigleyfield AT gmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book. I have following your blog and have just finished reading Wicked Lovely and Ink exchange and love these type of books! I hope I get picked!

katie_magruder14@hotmail.com

Christine on March 14, 2009 at 10:00 PM said...

Hi Jess!
I'm so glad to have found your blog--we have similar tastes in books!

Please enter me in the drawing. I'd love to read this novel. The cover alone intrigues me enough to want to read it. Thanks for the chance! :)

Chloe on March 28, 2009 at 5:57 PM said...

Please enter me in the contest!

This book looks extremely interesting, and I think the cover is beautiful as well.

 

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