Title: Prospero Lost

Author: L. Jagi Lamplighter

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy

Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: August 2009
Hardcover: 352 pages

Why did we read this book: We had seen glowing reviews for Ms. Lamplighter’s debut effort all over the blogosphere – but it was Graeme of Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review that really got us salivating over this title. With his help, we were able to procure two review copies of this gorgeous title, and we couldn’t wait to get started.

How did we get this book: Thea received a Review Copy (from publisher) and Ana got her copy as a gift from Graeme.

Summary: (from amazon.com)
More than four hundred years after the events of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, the sorcerer Prospero, his daughter Miranda, and his other children have attained everlasting life. Miranda is the head of her family’s business, Prospero Inc., which secretly has used its magic for good around the world. One day, Miranda receives a warning from her father: “Beware of the Three Shadowed Ones.” When Miranda goes to her father for an explanation, he is nowhere to be found.

Miranda sets out to find her father and reunite with her estranged siblings, each of which holds a staff of power and secrets about Miranda’s sometimes-foggy past. Her journey through the past, present and future will take her to Venice, Chicago, the Caribbean, Washington, D.C., and the North Pole. To aid her, Miranda brings along Mab, an aerie being who acts like a hard-boiled detective, and Mephistopheles, her mentally-unbalanced brother. Together, they must ward off the Shadowed Ones and other ancient demons who want Prospero’s power for their own….

REVIEW

First Impressions:

Thea: It’s completely shallow, but as soon as I saw the gorgeous cover art for this book, I wanted it instantly. When I read the blurb for Prospero Lost, I wanted it even more. The only question that remained in my mind was, with all this wanting going on, could the actual title live up to my irrational expectations? The simple answer is: why, yes. YES it can. I loved Prospero Lost, completely, truly, madly, deeply. Ms. Lamplighter seamlessly blends beloved characters from Shakespeare’s The Tempest with other literary landmarks, such as Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus, a Raymond Chandler-esque gumshoe, Homerian Greek mythological figures, and even throws in an appearance from Father Christmas himself. It’s a wondrous melting pot of genres and archetypes, and I loved every second of it.

Ana: It is funny how I had a completely different reaction to the cover of the book when I first saw it: I thought it was ugly as hell and did not give the book a second thought. It was only after reading Graeme’s review that my curiosity was spiked; then Thea start campaigning for a joint. And I am so glad she did because even though we departed from opposite directions with regards to the expectations, we ended up in the same final line: I too, loved Prospero Lost, truly, madly, deeply. For its scope, for its creative genius and for the imaginative retelling of The Tempest, I loved Prospero Lost as a tour de force and as a story. It has been a while since I caught myself simply enjoying the act of reading so much.

On the Plot:
It has been four-hundred years since William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and the Prospero family has grown considerably in number and power. Immortal, thanks to daughter Miranda’s status as a Handmaiden of Eurynome and her ability to procure the Waters of Life, Prospero and his children have become rich and powerful beyond any other mortal on Earth. As the eldest, Miranda takes over the day to day running of international conglomerate Prospero, Inc. – the family company that not only dabbles in the mundane and mortal, but keeps humanity safe by virtue of its immortal and magical dealings. One day, during one of Prospero’s prolonged absences, however, Miranda discovers a note from her father – a warning that she and her siblings are no longer safe, because the three shaded ones have escaped from Hell. When Miranda cannot locate her father, she takes it upon herself to warn her eight siblings – especially when one of the shaded ones attacks Prospero Mansion itself. With head detective, the inscrutable Mab (actually the North Wind, one of the Aerie Ones in human form) in tow, Miranda embarks on a journey to warn her strange, immortal family, and to save Prospero from the clutches of Hell.

Thea: In terms of world-building, Prospero Lost is an incredibly tall order – set in modern times, Ms. Lamplighter takes an old and familiar story with the characters of Prospero and Miranda, but makes them strange mortals that have lived far longer than any human should. The story also encompasses different mythologies, spirits, magics, and interpretation of the pantheons of heaven and hell. It seems like all these disparate parts should make for a confused, befuddled reading experience; but somehow, it all blends together in some mysterious alchemy, creating an entirely winsome and never overwhelming novel.

Ms. Lamplighter writes with a skill that spans centuries of the human experience though the eyes of first-person narrator Miranda, but focuses on Miranda’s quest to warn her siblings of the impending danger. In this sense, Prospero Lost is something of a quest-mystery novel, with Miranda and Mab traveling from location to location, attempting to persuade her reluctant and bizarre family members to take heed of her warnings. And, as is the case in most mystery novels, different clues are revealed each step of the way, leading Mab and Miranda ever onward to discover just who the shaded ones are, how they escaped, and what exactly they want with Prospero and his children. Though there isn’t much resolution in this book as more questions are posed than answers given, and the book ends on an infuriating cliffhanger, I liked that Ms. Lamplighter keeps things ambiguous and that she’s not afraid to keep storylines dangling – in the tradition of many great mysteries, each unveiled clue sheds light on an even larger mystery, and such is the case with Prospero Lost. The plotting might be straightforward and undesirable to some readers who crave solid answers and resolutions, but I liked Ms. Lamplighter’s choice to keep things open. As this is part of an ongoing trilogy, we can all rest assured that answers are coming!

Ana: Colour me totally delighted with the premise of Prospero Lost. Ms. Lamplighter takes The Tempest and departs from it, making the characters her own: the story goes basically as told by Shakespeare (who learnt the story directly from Prospero, by the way) but with a few differences. Miranda never married Ferdinand (who jilted her at the altar), Prospero never quit his Magic and never delivered in his promise to free Ariel and the other Aery Ones; in fact he has proceeded to become one of the most powerful magicians in the world, taking up on the mission to protect humans from destructive supernatural forces and ended up having another 8 children. Together, the Prospero family was a force to behold but somewhere along the centuries something went very wrong and each kid went on their separate ways, each carrying a Staff of Power, granted by Prospero when they all worked together at Prospero, Inc.

Or this is what Miranda, the eldest child, tells us. As she is fond of repeating, she read Shakespeare several times and only lived her life once so it is difficult to remember exactly events that took place such a long time ago. And this is what makes Prospero Lost such an unique book: the book is narrated by an immortal whose memory is not that good. It makes for riveting read because not only the narrator may be unreliable but also for the very idea that immortal beings are not necessarily more wise or omniscient. I read quite a few books with immortals characters in them but I can’t remember a single one where the problem of memory is addressed and that alone makes Prospero Lost a book well worth reading.

The plot itself is a Quest story with Miranda and the detective Mab going after each of her siblings to tell of their father’s disappearance and to make sure that their Staffs are secure. On the way Miranda thinks about each member of the family and remembers the adventures they had together -my favourite being the one all of them invaded the Vatican to steal objects of potential harmful magic kept by the Church, including The Ark of Covenant and Merlin’s Globe. Each of these stories, each step of the way represents a piece of the puzzle regarding not only Prospero’s disappearance but the entire history of his family and power and I can’t wait to see when all the pieces fall into place.

I did have a couple of misgivings with regards to the writing though. Sometimes Miranda reminiscences came across as rather info-dumpy and repetitious BUT in all fairness I think this is intentional – I felt the author was hammering those pieces of the puzzle that are most important. I sometimes, felt the need to have a notebook like Mab’s where I could write down each of the clues.

Prospero Lost kept me guessing (I have so far, theories A, B, C and D about what the heck is going on) and it kept me entertained with the rich, imaginative storytelling. I thought this book was, in other words, made of cool and I had a jolly good time reading it.

On the Characters:

Thea: As I’ve said before, Miranda is the first person narrator of this novel, and as such, the narrative is colored by her impressions and memories – and it becomes abundantly clear that Miranda is not the most reliable of narrators. Forever young so long as she keeps drinking the Waters of Life, Miranda is not immortal (she, and the rest of her family, can all be killed, but they will not die of old age or sickness), but she has an unlimited lifespan. And, as a mere mortal creature that has lived for centuries, she’s a little peculiar. What I loved the most of Ms. Lamplighter’s novel was her detailed, realistic portrayal of ageless beings – as Miranda and her family are simply humans with no time limitations, they have grown strange in their time on earth. Their memories are foggy of early dates (for human minds were not meant to hold centuries’ worth of memories), they develop eccentricities, and use their magic for personal, even selfish purposes. A common failing in many contemporary fantasy novels is the creation of so-called “immortals,” but who have the mindset and outlook of regular humans with an eighty-year lifespan. Ms. Lamplighter manages to avoid this pitfall, and creates characters that feel both believably old, and yet still relatably human at the same time.

But back to Miranda. She is the apple of her father’s eye; the loyal daughter who has stayed by his side, running his business over the centuries. She never questions his authority or judgement, and she pursues the family business without reflection – this has some interesting implications over the course of the book, especially considering the absent Prospero has tricked and forced the Aery Ones into his service for a sworn period of one thousand years. At times, Miranda is obviously conflicted about this, but shrugs off any residual guilt by the reasoning that her father is a good man, and his motives are good enough for her. At the same time, Miranda’s consumed constantly by her desire to finally achieve the last stage in her service to her Lady Eurynome, and progress from Handmaiden to Sibyl.

Perhaps Miranda isn’t the most obviously likable character – the fact that she adheres to her father’s every wish, even when he’s not present in the story, even when she questions his reasoning only to dismiss her own doubts immediately, does not speak highly of her character. Nor does her repetitive desire to become a Sibyl at long last. And yet, I genuinely liked and cared for Miranda. Her shortcomings make her a relatable character, and her loyalty (though possibly misplaced) is an interesting and admirable quality. Her perceived frigidity (which really is simply a distance from her emotions) may be a turnoff to some, but I couldn’t help but want to root for Miranda, and hope she’d be able to conquer her own self doubts.

In terms of secondary characters, I loved them all. Mab, in particular, with his Philip Marlowe persona, his trusty fedora and perpetual four o’clock shadow, and his gruff attitude is an automatic win in my heart. The gruff detective types always manage to win me over, immediately. And, he only gets better over the course of the book – though he resents being forced into servitude for the Prospero family, he genuinely seems to care for Miranda. At least, that’s my perception. And the dynamic between the two characters is pretty damn awesome. Then, there’s Miranda’s younger brother, Mephistopheles – who may or may not have demonic properties, and who certainly has a tenuous grip on sanity. Mephisto is, in a word, hilarious. His pet “Chimey,” his childlike attitude towards responsibility, his playful – and very dangerous – magical abilities, everything about him is wonderful. Of course, he’s dangerous too, but one can’t read Mephisto and not be charmed by the guy.

As for the other characters, Ms. Lamplighter covers a lot of ground – from two of Miranda’s strange other siblings, the resigned Theo and bitter (and cruel) Logistilla, to Father Christmas, to dangerous Elf Lords, and other dangerous corporeal entities. Each are wonderful and diverse, and enchanting in their own ways.

Ana: I agree with Thea: the author’s portrayal of ageless beings was very realistic – as much as one can be realistic when it comes to immortality. The point is: being ageless and very powerful affect each and every one of them, sometimes in a not very positive way, raising questions about whether it is natural or not for human beings to procure or want something that is not in their nature.

Once again, I had a different reaction from Thea, with regards to Miranda. Whereas Thea liked and cared for Miranda, I didn’t. Miranda is not a likeable character because she is not a likeable person. She is cold and detached who at times were on the brink of being downright odious to me. Regardless of that though, she is never dull or uninteresting. Part of what makes Miranda so fascinating was how she is so unrelentingly true to Prospero and Her Lady.

Every time she is on the brink of questioning her father or Her Lady, she stops herself and starts thinking of how much good Prospero, Inc., does. How without it surely, the world would end and disaster would follow! She was basically a walking talking commercial for Prospero, Inc. To the point where I was constantly wondering if there wasn’t something there given as how Miranda, as a Handmaiden, is the very key to her family’s immortality.

So, kudos to the writer who made me want to read about a character whom I disliked. Having said that since this seems to be at heart, a Quest, I am sure Miranda will surface as a different person on the other side. I would actually would go as far as to say that this is also partly, a coming of age story. It may sound ludicrous since Miranda is nearly 500 years old but in some aspects she seems to be stuck in her 16 year old self. And how much of that is intentional (being cryptic here on purpose, dear reader) is yet to be seen.

As for the other characters, I echo Thea’s thoughts on Mab and Mephisto. I loved them both and Mephisto made for some of the laugh out loud funny moments. I also loved all of the wonderful cameos from Mustardseed to Ariel, from Father Christmas to the other siblings. I have to praise the author again, as the appearance of so many cameos and beings from diverse mythologies is a potentially dangerous route to take in the road to Excess but she totally pulled it off. It never grated, it never came out as contrived. It simply worked.

Last, but not least we have Prospero himself who may be absent for the entire duration of the book but is an inherent part of the story. As a character Prospero comes across as a very shady one: how did Prospero get to be so powerful? and who the hell does he think he is to be meddling with not only human life but with the supernatural world? I kept questioning this over and over again almost as a reflection of Mab’s own questions.

Final Thoughts, Observations, and Rating:

Thea: If it isn’t clear, I loved Prospero Lost completely, for its colorful characters and its impressive worldbuilding and mythology blending. L. Jagi Lamplighter is a novelist to look out for, and I cannot wait for Prospero in Hell!

Ana: I enjoyed myself reading this like you wouldn’t know. Every time Miranda recalled one of her stories, I found myself glued to the pages. And hey, in the next book? They go to Hell. Literally. I am so there.

Notable Quotes/Parts: You can read a full excerpt online HERE by selecting the “Look Inside” feature.

Additional Thoughts:

Mab puts us in the mind of some favorite detectives…

Any other favorites?

Rating:

Thea: 8 – Excellent

Ana: 8 – Excellent

Reading Next: Worldweavers: Gift of the Unmage by Alma Alexander

Title: Rosemary and Rue

Author: Seanan McGuire

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Publisher: DAW
Publication Date: September 1, 2009
Paperback: 368 pages

Stand Alone or Series: First in the October Daye series

Why did we read the book: We first learned about the book via LurvaLaMode and added it to our respective wishlists, so when the author generously offered us a review copy, we said HELL YES (please)!

Summary: (from amazon.com)
The world of Faerie never disappeared: it merely went into hiding, continuing to exist parallel to our own. Secrecy is the key to Faerie’s survival—but no secret can be kept forever, and when the fae and mortal worlds collide, changelings are born. Half-human, half-fae, outsiders from birth, these second-class children of Faerie spend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Or, in the case of October “Toby” Daye, rejecting it completely. After getting burned by both sides of her heritage, Toby has denied the fae world, retreating into a “normal” life. Unfortunately for her, Faerie has other ideas.

The murder of Countess Evening Winterrose, one of the secret regents of the San Francisco Bay Area, pulls Toby back into the fae world. Unable to resist Evening’s dying curse, which binds her to investigate, Toby is forced to resume her old position as knight errant to the Duke of Shadowed Hills and begin renewing old alliances that may prove her only hope of solving the mystery…before the curse catches up with her.

REVIEW:

First Impressions:

Thea: I was really looking forward to reading Rosemary and Rue (so much so that Ana and I fought over the copy we had, but of course since she lives in the UK and I am here in the US, I gave in and sent her my copy and bought another for myself), and I am happy to say that it lived up to and even surpassed my expectations. There are a lot of female sleuth Urban Fantasy novels out there, and October Daye is another supernatural creature to add to the ever-growing pantheon. Ms. McGuire, however, manages to create a very unique character in a stunningly detailed, harsh world of faerie that coexists with our own. I definitely enjoyed this book and will be back to this eerie version of San Francisco very soon.

Ana: This book had been calling to me since I first saw the cover and the title. I don’t read a lot of Urban Fantasy – it is one of the genres that I am slowly getting into – and have little basis for comparison within the genre but I thought Rosemary and Rue to be a book that stands on its own. Regardless of which genre it belongs to, Rosemary and Rue is simply a good story, with great characters and above all, a fantastically entertaining world in which to submerge myself for a few hours. I can hardly believe that this is Seanan’s McGuire’s debut work and I enjoyed it so much that am ready for more. Like, right now.

On The Plot:

Thea: In terms of world building and the urban fantasy element, Rosemary and Rue shines. My favorite aspect of this debut novel is the setting itself – Ms. McGuire juxtaposes a world of fae courts and magic, unseen by humans in the city of San Francisco. And the fae aren’t just your usual devilish pixies, winter queens or rowan men, either; Toby’s world is populated by Selkies, Undines, the Daoine Sidhe and Cait Sidhe. There are rose goblins and kelpies, doppelgangers and kitsune – and the variation is a wonderful thing to behold. Ms. McGuire clearly has done some research into the mythology of the fae from not only western Europe, but other parts of the world as well (I loved the occasional Japanese influence). But the defining characteristic of the fae in Rosemary and Rue was the dichotomy between purebloods and those with human in their lineage, aka changelings, such as Toby herself. The changelings are sneered at by their pureblood “betters” for their inferiority in magic and their shorter life spans. On the supernatural totem pole, changelings are firmly at the bottom – and this hierarchy colors the plot of this novel. As a lowly changeling, Toby is bound by a curse to solve the murder of her pureblooded friend/enemy, Evening, and she will die unless she discovers the answers the curse demands. But when Toby turns to the other fae for help, she runs into trouble on all fronts. With the Queen of her Evening’s court, Toby is rejected. And, when the attempts on her life start to roll in, Toby’s lack of powers and lack of importance as a mere changeling make things even harder for her.

While I loved the worldbuilding and the wide variation of magic and fae, as well as the power politics of blood in the novel, there were some problems in terms of writing. This is Ms. McGuire’s first novel, and at times it reads like a debut novel – there’s uneveness in the plotting, especially in terms of pacing. For the first half of the book there’s not too much action, but around the midway mark, it suddenly turns into gunshots and blood loss, with multiple attacks and near-death experiences for poor battered Toby. Also, there’s the problem of the overall mystery – that is, finding Evening’s killer before her curse kills Toby (or something else does). Toby pretty much reacts for the whole novel. She goes from scene to scene looking for clues, only to basically find nothing (other than hired guns, out to kill her). But, then miraculously by a conversation with one all-knowing character, Toby discovers the identity of the bad guy in this tale. It kinda renders all the other action as simple noise and the mystery as a vehicle for suspense without any of the real sleuthing work that goes into it. To be fair, this is a problem I have with a lot of Urban Fantasy novels of the mystery/thriller persuasion.

With that said, however, there are many unresolved plot threads that are expertly handled in Rosemary and Rue that will definitely keep me reading the series. I love that Ms. McGuire isn’t afraid to leave some questions hanging – especially with the original mystery of Toby’s transformation and just what exactly happened to her Liege Luna and her daughter Raysel. Plus, there’s the intriguing character of Tybalt and his feelings for Toby that are irresistible, but more on that in a bit…

Ana The first chapter of Rosemary and Rue sets the tone for the rest of the novel not only in terms of world building and presenting the main character but above all by showing how much is at stake and how the author is prepared to put her character through the ringer. The books opens as October Dayer suffers a horrible fate – she is transformed into a FISH. For 14 years. How seriously twisted is that? Obviously, I loved it. That transformation will change her life and change her stance to the point that 14 years later, when the curse is broken, she is a shadow of the woman she was. THAT is the most important thing for me and one that was imperative for the understanding of the character’s motivations with regards to the main storyline: that and the curse that makes her go back to the world she had been trying to avoid, only to discover who Evening’s killer is.

The curse makes it imperative for her to carry on with the investigation against her own will. I think that explains why Toby REACTS instead of doing any real sleuth work but unlike Thea, I didn’t think this was a problem, I thought it was a reasonable reaction from a character that did not want to be there. But that is just me as a reader who thinks character trumps plot (most of the time, at least). Having said that, it may well be that my interpretation is off-base and it remains to be seen in the next novels if the sleuthing work will well, be done and acted upon.

Although, the mystery is the central storyline of Rosemary and Rue, it is all the secondary threads that are woven (flawlessly in my opinion) that make the book a fascinating read. The courts’ politics, the interaction between all the species of Faeries, the showcasing of several mythologies , they were not particularly NEW to me but there was something about Seanan McGuire’s writing that MADE it feel so. It is quite possible that the conjunction of all the different beings coupled with the unique spin to the changelings (that, a refreshing and original concept by the author) is what makes the story so riveting.

I though this to be a well- crafted, well written story with hardly any bumps along the way and as Thea said the best thing was that there is a lot left to be explored without feeling like it was so merely as sequel bait.

On the Characters:

Thea: Poor, poor Toby. This is something I found myself thinking for most of the book. The prologue begins with Toby on the trail of a faerie named Simon, who has kidnapped her Liege Luna and Luna’s daughter Rayseline – and, completely outclassed in the magic department, Toby is transformed into a koi in the San Francisco Tea Gardens. For fourteen years. Things only get worse from there. Once she’s returned to her true form, Toby’s lost her human husband and now-teenage daughter, not to mention her home, her job and her life. And then when things can’t get worse, she’s bound by a dead friend via answering machine, cursed to solve the case of Eve’s murder or die in the process. Add in multiple gunshot wounds and near-fatal encounters with some nasty fae monsters, and the mental refrain of “Poor Toby!” is on solid repeat. I should clarify – none of this is bad! In fact, it’s refreshing. Toby pays bitterly for every action she takes (or doesn’t take), and for everything she goes through she’s certainly no whiney martyr – in fact, she’s an incredibly endearing character that readers sympathize with completely.

I loved that Toby was a severly UNDERpowered character – she has no significant magical skills, and she doesn’t gain any extraordinary fae powers over the course of the book. Rather, she’s very low in the magical social hierarchy and she not only knows it, but she owns it. These characters are so much more interesting than the super!mage!masters (who are inevitably beautiful and faerie princesses on top of their limitless powers) – and Toby is one of the most compelling new heroines I’ve read in a very long time because of her decision to rock out with her thinned out bloodline.

While Toby is the undeniable main draw to the book, there are a bevy of other secondary characters that are solidly written too. Some of my favorites included the tough street fae twins, Dare and Manuel, and their growing relationship with Toby from initial distrust to gradual awe. There’s of course the old flame, Devin, the master of changeling runaways with his twisted games and kingdom of Home (think a magic, better looking Fagin). Then, there’s they undine and good friend to Toby, Lily, who is beautiful and protective of the changeling. But, my favorite secondary character has to be the King of Cats, the Caith Sidhe Tybalt. According to Toby’s narrative, he hates her and it is his purpose as a pureblood to make her life miserable…but we readers know better than that. There’s something else there, on the other side of the thin line between hate and love. At least, that’s my personal hope as a reader! I loved Tybalt’s appearances in the novel, and the way he and Toby come to an agreement when she needs his help. Absolutely wonderful stuff.

Ana: Poor Toby indeed, Thea, I completely agree with you. The woman goes through so much and as a reader who enjoys character-driven books, I was a happy camper because the events shape and are shaped by her. I mostly loved that she was strong willed and courageous without being too stupid to live and knew when to ask for help. As a character she knew her limitations and was simply aware of what she could or could not do. I also quite liked her sense of humour which is subtle enough to not be an in-your-face kind a humour, instead it relies on the reader to “get” her ironic innuendoes.

The only thing I wondered about was I what I felt was a lack of true attachment to the guy who was her fiancée – although it could be easily argued that this is the point – she was what is called a Faerie Bride, someone who finds a human to get married to, to try to live as a human when they are fully aware that the attachment has to rely on lies and can never last for more than a few years. A Faerie Bride is someone who is wholly selfish and perhaps that makes Toby a little less sympathetic but perhaps more real because she is not perfect.
Thea covered most of the secondary characters and there is one that I really liked as well: her liege and friend the Duke, Sylvester. Him and his family including his son-in-law Connor ( Toby’s potential love interest. I can’t stand the guy) have a very interesting dynamics.

Lastly but not least: oh, Tybalt, let me count the ways my poor deluded hopelessly romantic heart is already shipping you with Toby. Even though you try to hide your feelings, I know, deep down you so totally love the woman. You may try to deny it and cover it up with the hatred and contempt that most purebloods feel for the changelings but you do not fool me, Tybalt. And you know why not? Because there is this one tiny, small detail that was mentioned very en passant by someone else in the book: that the Caith Sidhe have loads of lovers but once they truly love it is forevah. Yeah, I know that probably my heart is set to be broken into several million pieces because this is an UF series which showed no sign so far that it’s going to be heavy with romantic elements. But Tybalt, I remain hopeful. Yours truly, meow, Ana.

Final Thoughts, Observations and Rating:

Thea: I really, really enjoyed this wonderful debut novel from Seanan McGuire. Though it’s not without its flaws, it’s a beautiful foray into the world of the fae, where humans live side by side with unspeakable creatures of monstrous beauty and magic. October Daye is a heroine worth rooting for, and I cannot wait for the next novel in the series. Absolutely recommended, and one of my picks for notable read of 2009.

Ana: I simply loved this book. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I like it. I started the review expecting to rate it Very Good, but managed to convince myself whist writing it that this rather, a truly Excellent novel and the series has the potential to be one of the Great Ones. I devoured it, I rooted for the main character and I think this is certainly one of the best debuts I read this year.

Notable Quotes/ Parts: Official excerpt from the author’s website:

I woke up just after sundown with a pounding head and the vague, nagging feeling that something was wrong. Cagney and Lacey had somehow managed to open the bedroom door while I was sleeping, and had migrated from the couch to the warmer and hence more desirable bed. They started to wail as soon as they realized I was awake, Siamese voices vibrating my head like buzz saws. I groaned, clapping my hands over my ears. “Can’t you two be quiet?” They didn’t oblige me. Cats never listen. They’re dependable that way; when Rome burned, the Emperor’s cats still expected to be fed on time.

The fae have always lived with cats. They’re the only mortal animals that can stand to have us around, and that holds true for all of us, even half-breeds like me. Dogs bark and horses shy away, but cats can look at Kings, and a lot of the time, they do. Cats put up with us, and in exchange, we treat them with respect, and we feed them. We’re related in a way, and I don’t just mean through the Cait Sidhe. We both tend towards pointed ears, stealing cream, and getting burned alive when the wind changes. It was only natural that we’d form an alliance where both sides said “I don’t need you” and both answered “you’ll still stay.”

You can read the full excerpt online HERE.

Additional Thoughts: The next two books in the series already have covers and publication dates:  A Local Habitation comes out March 2010 and An Artificial Night comes out in September 2010:

The interesting thing is, as we recently learned via this awesome interview with the author over at Lurv that the three titles refer to Shakespeare’s plays and are “influenced to one degree or another, by the play the titles come from”. Rosemary and Rue takes its title from A Winter’s Tale, A Local Habitation from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and An Artificial Night from Romeo and Juliet. In the interview, she explains the significance of each of them to the story (very light spoilers) and we totally recommend you check it out.

Rating:

Ana: a solid 8 – Excellent

Thea: 7 Very Good – leaning towards an 8.

Reading Next: The Orphan’s Tales – In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

Title: Eyes Like Stars

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Genre: YA (Fantasy)

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Publishing Date: July 7, 2009
Hardcover: 368 pages

Stand alone or series: Theatre Illuminata Act 1 (of 3)

Summary:All her world’s a stage.

Bertie 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.

That is, until now.

Why did I read the book: I love the internets. I first saw the cover of this book at The Story Siren’s blog. I then googled it and was directed to the book’s webpage and immediately KNEW I had to read the book. I then twitted about it and lo and behold, the writer saw my twit and very generously offered a review copy.

Review:

“Welcome to the Théâtre 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 Théâtre 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 all and the only home she has ever known.”

Act 1 – Open Curtain

Enter stage right

Beatrice Shakespeare Smith or Bertie, is a 17 year old girl who lives in the Theatre Illuminata ever since her mother left her there as a child. She grew up surrounded by characters from every play ever written and there were never truer words than the words “all her world is a stage”– literally speaking. In a world where any character from any play can be called upon by writing their name in the Call Board, she spends her time surrounded by people like Nate, a pirate from the Little Mermaid, the ait spirit Ariel from The Tempest and Ophelia, from Hamlet.

Bertie is high-spirited, good natured and … mischievous.

Free from most limitations that girls her age have, without parenting guidance and with the instigation of her sidekicks, the four fairies from A Midsummer’s Night Dream – Peaseblossom, Cobweb, Moth and Mustardseed – she constantly gets into scrapes that drives the Stage Manager insane. After the latest disturbance though, she is called to the Theatre Manager’s office and is given an ultimatum: she is to prove that she is invaluable to the Theatre or she has to leave. And she only has a few hours to do so.

At the prospect of having to leave the Theatre and everything she has ever known , Bertie sets out to prove her worth with the help of her friends. Her plan is to become a Director, a role that is pointless in a place where the characters know their parts by heart. But her ingenious idea is to shake things up by directing Hamlet….in Egypt. Needless to say, Chaos ensues. The players of Hamlet are distraught. The Stage Manager is not too happy. She is urged to use Badinage and Persiflage to convince people that she is a Director.

What she didn’t know would happen was that the changes to Hamlet cause a certain unbalance to their world. And Ariel, once he realises that if Bertie can leave the Theatre ,then she might be able to set him free, proceeds to tempt her.

Then, the Book disappears. And Bertie realises that she does need to find a role for herself or else her entire world will crumble down. She may not be a Director but there is something else she can do.

And the result is one of the most creative, fun, enjoyable books I had the pleasure to read lately. The premise is brilliant – with a bit of magic and a lot of talent, Lisa Mantchev created a world that I cared for and wished I could live in. It is the Theatre and it has Tragedy, Comedy, Drama and Romance and as I turned the pages I was engrossed by the imaginative story. I mean how could I not?

When Hamlet’s Ophelia walks around the theatre looking for puddles in which to drown; or if there is any drama, the Chorus starts to sing all around them; Or Ariel, the air spirit from The Tempest who wants nothing but his freedom and who says it is not enough to be set free every night on stage; or how in the Props department, Bertie finds Alice in the Wonderland’s DRINK ME potion and proceeds to drink it and the result is a Most Excellent Scene of the romantic variety.

There are friends, sidekicks, and of course villains: from the Stage Manager to the Sea Goddess from the Little Mermaid, every character has a role to play and a stance to take. Even Chaos and Mayhem become main characters at one point.

Except for Bertie, at least at first. Truth be told, when the book started I was surprised at how immature this 17 year old girl was. But then it hit me: of course she is. With the companions that she has and no parents or role to play , it couldn’t have been different. Which is the point after all: Eyes Like Stars is a coming of age tale for Bertie, in which she finally finds her place in life. From the truths she comes to find, choices she has to make and even the awakening of her sexuality ( there is a love triangle – Ariel x Nate. I am on Team Nate although Ariel is a glorious Bad Boy) to the realisation that this damsel has to rescue a person in distress and a heritage to discover.

Bertie IS all the things I mentioned before but she is also full of fire, vibrant and an adventurous spirit. And I simply can’t wait for Act 2.

Curtain

Standing Ovation

Notable Quotes/ Parts: I loved the interaction between Bertie and the fairies who were ever so funny:

“The only reason I’m friends with any of you is because I outgrew the von Trapps, one annoying Austrian at a time.”
“You could have joined the Lost Boys,” Moth said.
“They did nothing but whiz on trees, and I’m not properly equipped for that”.
“So you’re stuck with us because of your innate inability to pee standing up?”

“We’ve more important things to worry about right now than food”.
Mustardseed said reproachfully, “I’m certain you don’t mean that”.
“She’s under duress,” Peaseblossom said.
“I don’t care if she’s under duress, over it, or alongside it,” Moth said, “Nothing in this world supersedes cake”.
“Pie does,” Cobweb corrected.
Moth glared at him. “Are you under duress, too?”.

Verdict: Funny, creative and a wonderful coming of age story.

Rating: 8 – Excellent

Reading next: The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon