Book Review of Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev

Title: Perchance to Dream

Author: Lisa Mantchev

Release Date: May 25, 2010

*If you have not read Eyes Like Stars this will contain spoilers*

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?

Summary from Goodreads.com

My Review: I wanted to say thank you first to Lisa Mantchev because I won an ARC of this book through a contest on her website and was so excited!!  Now for the review, this is the second book in a trilogy about a girl named Bertie who is trying to find her way in the world.  We last left Bertie as she was leaving the Thèâtre with her fairy friends and Ariel to look for Nate who has been captured by the sea goddess.  One of my favorite aspects of this series is the language, because many of the characters come from Shakespearean plays and the language reflects their origin.  There are many theatrical elements to this novel and because of that it almost reads like a play as well.  I found all of the Shakespearean references wonderful and liked being able to understand the humor behind the way they were used.

The previous novel Eyes Like Stars was an introduction to this world and the characters in it, in Perchance to Dream we watch Bertie as she tries to find her independence and discover who she is.  Her heart is so torn between Nate and Ariel, she is starting to lose herself and is not very happy about it.  She even states in the book:

What is mine, and mind alone?”

To add to her worries, she is not even sure who her heart truly belongs to.  She loves both men for different reasons and because they are so different there is not one clear winner in her mind.  My favorite line that describes the love triangle in this books is

Caught between the water and the sky, Bertie tried to stay grounded.”

At the end of the previous novel I had not made up my mind about the love triangle, but now I think I am leaning towards Ariel.  I feel like he has to almost fight his nature to be able to love, and he is head over heals for Bertie.  Nate seems more like a brother to me, someone to protect Bertie, but not to be with her romantically.  Both those boys have their own plans though, and in this book they both trick Bertie into doing something I did not expect.  I also don’t think Bertie expected it and she was not thrilled when she figured it out.

I think the biggest question I had coming away from this book was, how much power do words really hold?  Especially Bertie’s?  The book from the Thèâtre is gone, but she has found a new book to write her own story in and aid her in her journey.  The book always gives her what she asks for, but not always in the way she expects and I loved watching her words come to life in unexpected ways.  So often the story blurs the line between reality and fantasy you have to make sure you read carefully because you might get lost if you are not paying attention.  Lisa’s descriptions are so beautiful, I could picture everything perfectly I just wanted to jump into the book and see it in person.

Of course the comic relief comes in the form of the fairies from A Midsummer’s Night Dream, they are constantly getting into trouble and making me laugh out loud.  At one point Peaseblossom falls in love with a groom model from the top of a wedding cake and is convinced he is her one true love, until Mustardseed eats him.  They never cease to amaze me with the trouble they get in and the amount of food they can shovel into their mouths.

Overall this is a magical story filled with adventure, romance and a beautiful tale of a girl looking to find her own little piece of the world.  If you have not read this you should check it out.  Today is also the release day of the book and Lisa is celebrating with a Great Cupcakeathon, go check it out on her blog here!