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Sunday, March 8

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!








59 comments:

  1. I would love to have this novel!

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

    insertbooktitle@yahoo.com

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

    www.insertbooktitle.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yay! I have been following you for a while!

    Go me!

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

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  5. I would love to win this.

    I am following you.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. 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

    ReplyDelete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Thanks for fixing that! My kitten says:

    gfvdfx vvvmnnbghj

    ReplyDelete
  9. + 1 I'm now following you but not JUST for the contest - I love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  10. +1 I added to my sidebar at insearchofgiants.com!

    ReplyDelete
  11. 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

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'd love to read this one!

    wishonstars13@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. +1 for blogging about it here:

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

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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! (:

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

    Great contest.

    ReplyDelete
  16. This book sounds amazing! Count me in.

    harrypotterfan6991@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. 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

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

    ReplyDelete
  19. I would love a chance to win this book.

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

    alwayssomething2read(at)gmail(dot)com

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

    Megan
    writing.meg [at] gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I would so love a chance to win this book!

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

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

    http://creativitygone.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Sweet contest! I want! I want!

    blogroll and I'm following you. great blog!

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

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  26. 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!

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

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

    ReplyDelete
  29. I would love to read this, it looks wonderful!

    vmlay@artsci.wustl.edu

    ReplyDelete
  30. I would love to enter the contest!

    +1 for following your blog

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

    -Annabell (heartofchrist19@yahoo.com)

    ReplyDelete
  32. +1 Left info about this contest on my blogsite:

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

    -Annabell

    ReplyDelete
  33. +1 Following you (but it's through Twitter--does that count?)

    -Annabell (twitter.com/heartofchrist)

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

    -Annabell (myspace.com/hippiewriter

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

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would love and entry!

    I'm a follower!

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would love to have a copy!!!!

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

    florid982002[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  39. wow, great contest!
    addictedtobooks1993@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'd LOVE to win this!

    stephxsu at gmail dot com

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

    ReplyDelete
  42. 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

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  43. 'Kay, entry number 2!!

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

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

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  45. 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

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  46. I'm now following!
    ewrigleyfield AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  47. 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

    ReplyDelete
  48. 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! :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Please enter me in the contest!

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

    ReplyDelete
  50. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  51. This comment has been removed by the author.

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