Spoilers for book one in the series, Eyes Like Stars, ahead! You can read my review of ELS here, if you wish.Long review ahead (what else is new), but the last paragraph kind of sums it up.
[description from goodreads]
Act Two, Scene One
Growing up in the enchanted Thèâtre Illuminata, Beatrice Shakespeare Smith learned everything about every play ever written. She knew the Players and their parts, but she didn’t know that she, too, had magic. Now, she is the Mistress of Revels, the Teller of Tales, and determined to follow her stars. She is ready for the outside world.
Enter BERTIE AND COMPANY
But the outside world soon proves more topsy-turvy than any stage production. Bertie can make things happen by writing them, but outside the protective walls of the Thèâtre, nothing goes as planned. And her magic cannot help her make a decision between—
Nate: Her suave and swashbuckling pirate, now in mortal peril.
Ariel: A brooding, yet seductive, air spirit whose true motives remain unclear.
When Nate is kidnapped and taken prisoner by the Sea Goddess, only Bertie can free him. She and her fairy sidekicks embark on a journey aboard the Thèâtre’s caravan, using Bertie’s word magic to guide them. Along the way, they collect a sneak-thief, who has in his possession something most valuable, and meet The Mysterious Stranger, Bertie’s father—and the creator of the scrimshaw medallion. Bertie’s dreams are haunted by Nate, whose love for Bertie is keeping him alive, but in the daytime, it’s Ariel who is tantalizingly close, and the one she is falling for. Who does Bertie love the most? And will her magic be powerful enough to save her once she enters the Sea Goddess’s lair?
Once again, LISA MANTCHEV has spun a tale like no other—full of romance, magic, adventure, and fairies, too—that readers won’t want to put down, even after the curtain has closed.
Review:
I adored Eyes Like Stars, so I was obviously ecstatic when I got my hands on a copy of Perchance to Dream. I liked this book, but I definitely love the first installment in the series more. I wish I had the time to reread Eyes Like Stars before I read this book because I had a bit of difficulty remembering the details of how some things developed. Accordingly, I was a bit confused and often glazed over some of the things I didn't understand. And then I didn't understand more things that occurred, and eventually I was a little O_O
Also, this is definitely the type of book you want to pay full attention to. There's a lot of bizarre stuff going on and many new developments are made. I love the world/setting in this series-- it's original, fun, and has a lovely magical feel to it. I was SUCH a huge fan of the Theatre in the first book that I missed it in this installment-- while reading this book, I often wondered where the group was traveling and what exactly was there. But, on the other hand, the new setting allowed for a bit more action. Each time the group encountered someone or something new, excitement, action, mystery, and often humor, abounded. The times when no new developments were being made were not as exciting to read, though the fairies would often provide some of their hilarity to keep things at least a bit interesting.
As far as characters go, Bertie stayed her awesome self. I love reading about her developing abilities and how they work, as her powers are different than any others I've read about. I still do not see the appeal of Ariel, because in this book he just annoyed me. I never seem to care about what he's doing, especially when Nate is around. (TEAM NATE!) I did like the introduction of some of the new characters, even though they were only really introduced-- I'm sure they will play a bigger role in the third installment of the series.
I probably would have enjoyed Perchance to Dream more if I had remembered more of Eyes Like Stars-- sadly I am short on time to reread nowadays and am not blessed with a good memory. Still, Perchance to Dream acted more as a "funtimes, new info and mystery, get ready for an epic book three" kind of book. It was amusing and fun to read (when I wasn't confused), but for me it lacked the magic of Eyes Like Stars. However, I know that book three will be fantastic.
Book details: Feiwel and Friends/Hardcover/$16.99
Source: Sent by publisher for review
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