Perchance to Dream: Theatre Illuminata No. 2 by Lisa Mantchev

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 25, 2010)

Summary: We are such stuff as dreams are made on.
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?

My Review: Lisa Mantchev has done it again. She has created an entertaining tale filled with magic, wonder, wit and tons of heart. Bertie is such a unique character, so endearing, so funny, and so real I can picture her adventures unfurling before my eyes. This second installment of these residents of the Theatre Illuminata find themselves outside the confining, yet safe, walls of their home. After the zaniness which occurred when Ariel ripped out pages from The Book in the first novel, Bertie has to leave in order to find her pirate friend, Nate (taken by the sea goddess Sedna). Accompanying Bertie are her four fairy friends and Ariel. What a trip they take and we're privy to all of it.

As enchanted as I was by EYES LIKE STARS, PERCHANCE TO DREAM is even better. The world Mantchev creates is blindingly colorful and filled with memorable characters, especially The Mysterious Stranger with his ferrets and Bertie's feathery creature/dad. The story grabbed me on page one and didn’t let me go until the end. It’s amazing how the author can throw in so many theatrical, mythical, culinary and literary references and keep the story moving so well. 

I loved so much about this book—the characters, their predicaments, the love triangle, Bertie’s growing up and how she’s grasping her title of the Queen of Revels--there is so much to take in and enjoy with this series. These books definitely require a second (or third) read to fully enjoy their complexities of language and the play-within-a-play story format.

Action, humor, colorful scenes and unforgettable people, PERCHANCE reads like a theatre production lovingly run a muck and captured on paper so the world can endure this whirlwind comedy. What a ride. What a novel. I can’t wait for the next book.

Favorite Scene:   (From pages 140-141 of the ARC)

     “Tiny, crystalline bits of white drifted over their skin like a lighting special.    Bertie clasped Nate with all the strength she possessed, her grasp on the scrimshaw tightening until the only thing separating the bone medallion from her own bones was the thin layer of flesh on her fingers.

     “Say ye love,” Nate choked. “Even if it’s not true, let me keep th’ words.”

     “I’m not giving up!”

     “Three words, lass. ‘Tisn’t much.”

     He’s wrong. The words are everything. I should have written these down as well.”

Cover Comment: Absolutely, stunningly beautiful. Jason Chan's artwork truly captures the magic of this book by featuring the principle players of its cast. Ariel, Bertie, Nate and the faeries are gorgeously rendered. What Mantchev captured on the page is reproduced in color on the cover. One of the my favorite covers of all time.

Rating: ++++1/2. This story isn't for everyone, but for those who enjoy fantasies with a theatrical bent, this is a must series.

Series: Yes.

For Fans of: Contemporary Fantasy YA.

Book Source: Traveling ARC Tours.

Reviewed by: Laurie