Customer Reviews

City of Stars (Stravaganza)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I loved this book. I really liked the first book in this series, Stravaganza, City of Masks, and was looking forward to this one. A little anxiously, though, as sometimes sequels don't live up to expectations. I was delighted to find I liked this second story even better. I loved the way the characters from the first story were interwoven into this one. Unfortunately I raced through this book in one (long) evening and will now have a very long wait for book three.

This is my favorite book of all time. I want to go to Talia soooo badly!!! I find myself wishing this was not a fantasy book. The way it is written, the characters, plot, and setting seem so real and fantastic and intriguing. If you were to read one book in your entire life, I hope this would be it- you need to read it.

Middle books in trilogies often suffer the problem of being just a "bridge" work that adds very little to overall plot or characterization within the main storyline. Hoffman manages to avoid this pitfall nicely but making wholesale changes in focus for her sequel to City of Masks. The story still involves travel between our world and Talia, an alternate 16th century Italy, though the specific setting is no longer Belezza (Florence) but Remora, a parallel Sienna about to run it most famous and important horse race. And while Mask characters reappear, the major focus is on several brand new characters: Georgia, a young girl from our world unhappy with her step-brother and overall social situation; Cesare, a young Remoran jockey, and several new di Chimici's, whom fans will recall are the villains of the series, though this novel shows that not all family members have the same goals.
City of Stars displays the same descriptive strengths as Masks, with Remora visualized in vivid, detailed splendor, though at times while the many twists and turns of the factions in Remora are explained the reader may wish for slightly less detail or complexity.
The plot of Stars, while centered on a lot of political intrigue as in Masks, is more concrete and focused and with the addition of a few characters whose allegiances remain unknown, overall more interesting and compelling, though the book suffers from the same abstractness with regard to the Stravaganti themselves. The plot is also hurt a bit by the book's length, which is overlong by about a 100 pages I'd say--detracting from the suspense and creating a few scenes that bog the reader down while seeming superfluous.
Characters remain a bit thin. As in Masks, females do well, with Georgia a relatively strong character, especially in comparison to Cesare who is not particularly well-developed. Georgia's stepbrother, unfortunately, is a bit cartoonish and her parents may as well not be there (a step back from Masks where Lucien's mother added a great deal of emotional depth). Lucien, Arianna, Rodolfo, and the Duchessa reappear, but not to any real deepening of character, though the concept of the attraction between Arianna and Lucien is highlighted and made more complex by the addition of several near-age characters to themselves (including one who proposes to Arianna). Gaetano, one of the new di Chimici's, is solid, but it would have improved things to get a sense of just why he doesn't necessarily go along with his family's machinations, a sense of development to the point we see him at. The same is true of his brother Falco, who has suffered a crippling accident and hopes to convince Lucien and Georgia to take him into our world where he could be cured. His desire and will to do so is probably the book's strongest plot line and is well-handled throughout, especially the effect of his actions on his family, adding some strong emotional impact into the mix at the end.
Overall, though Stars is a flawed book, it seems an improvement on Masks and would bode well for continued improvement in plot and character for book three.

this is the 2nd in the Stravaganza series (1st is City of Masks)! Luciano, Silvia,Rodolfo,Enrico, Arianna and many more characters are back in this book. They are joined by another stravagante , Georgia, and many other people such as Cesare, Paolo, Falco and ofcourse the star of the show :Merla (i won't tell who this is gotta read the book). This book is packed with adventure, friendship, bravery and a bit of romance.This is definetly for all ages but especially for all those girls who dream of things that seem impossible. just dont read this before you read city of masks! That will ruin everything! If you have read this already get City Of Flowers! Get reading and remember VIVA LA STRAVAGANZA!!!!!

This book deserves nothing less than than 5 stars! This is by far the best series I have read like ever! But you must read the first book or it will not have the same spark to it! Arianna,Rodolfo, Lucien,Silvia, Enrico and Guido are all back in this fast paced adventure. They are joined by another stravagante:a girl named Georgia,Flaco (DiChimici) , Geatano, Cesare, and Paolo. This book is definetly for all ages but especially for all those girls out there who dream of getting what seems impossible. Whatever you do don't read this before you read City of Masks. If you have, what are you waiting for??? Get to the bookstore ! If you've read this get the next book City of FLowers for more sparkling adventures! Viva la Stravaganza!!!!

It is honestly a great book by mary Hoffman but the City of Mask was better. It seems like the race was the big turning poin of the book and I don't think the race was not all that important. Georgia (new stravagante) comes and I think she is only good for the racing. Lucien doesn't express anything to Arianna or Georgia. Overall a great book but not the best.

I think City of Stars is a really great book because it is exciting, has great charachters, and an interesting plot. I liked City of Masks, also and strongly suggest you read that first to enjoy this book much more. This is a good sequel to City of Masks, I enjoyed meeting Lucien again and I like Georgia, the protagonist. I can't wait for City of Flowers! (The next book in the trilogy will be published soon... I hope!)

The City of Stars is a great sequel to a great book. I loved the City of Masks and I couldn't put this one down!
If you haven't read the City of Masks, then that one comes first, but if you have, then this should be your next buy! I won't tell you about it, because other reveiws will do that, but I will tell you that it brings back all the magic and sparkle of the first!

"City of Stars" is the second in Mary Hoffman's Stravaganza series (of which there are currently five installments), following on from City Of Masks. The basic premise of the story is based on people known as the Stravagante: a select group of individuals from our world who can transport in their sleep to the country of Talia, an alternative version of Italy in the sixteenth century. Armed with a unique talisman that enables passage between the worlds, the young Stravagante inevitably find themselves caught up in the political intrigue and power mongering that goes on in the beautiful cities of Talia, whilst simultaneously trying to deal with the repercussions of their normal lives in the waking world.

The previous book centered on a terminally ill boy called Lucien and his permanent transition into the city of Belleza in which he is able to live out his life free of cancer, even if it means leaving his family behind him. In this sequel the perspective shifts to a shy, quirky girl called Georgia O'Grady who is trying to cope with her mother's remarriage and the presence of a bullying stepbrother in the house. She has just saved up enough money to buy a beautiful winged horse ornament at the local antique store. Unbeknownst to her it is a talisman that allows her to transport to Talia that very night.

Specifically, to the capital of Talia: the city of Remora. Here the city is divided up into twelve wards, each aligning to a sign of the Zodiac, where rivalry between each faction is rife. This unrest provides a breeding ground for the likes of the ambition di Chimici family to work their manipulations. They have long-since desired to add the free city of Belleza to their ever-growing republic, and are all set to rig the annual Remoran horse race in order to consolidate their reputation of superiority among the people.

But on the same night that Georgia appears in the city, a miracle is born in the stables of the Ram: the first winged foal in over a hundred years, one that bears an eerie similarity to the small model that Georgia carries with her.

What follows is a story of horse-racing, political machinations, family dramas (in both worlds), and a coming-of-age story for our young protagonist. In fact, it's quite a mish-mash of several disparate story-threads which are only tangentially related to each other, making it not quite up to the standard of City Of Masks. To be honest, I found the plot rather slow-going considering the narrative kept switching from one arc to the next, with no real sense of urgency in any of them. Though it's certainly as vibrant and sensory as the previous book, it would have helped had there been one central storyline instead of half-a-dozen subplots, including Georgia trying to deal with her stepbrother's bullying, the upcoming horse race, the Duchessa of Belleza's marriage propositions, the theft of the winged horse, and the meeting of the Stravagantes with two young members of the di Chimici family, including one that is desperate for Georgia's help.

Falco di Chimici is a young boy crippled by a riding accident who is entranced by Lucien's tale of recuperation in Talia. He believes that could he travel to Georgia's world he would be able to overcome his injuries with the help of the more advanced healthcare, and hatches a plan with Georgia and Lucien to leave his family and find a place for himself in their world. In what is a nice reversal of the previous book's scenario, it is someone from Talia who must learn to cope with the 21st century, and like the previous book, Hoffman manages to make it a difficult, poignant transition for everyone involved.

Another interesting development that is built on from City Of Masks is that the di Chimici family is now painted in shades of grey rather than the straight-up villains they were in the previous books. Characters like Falco and his brother Gaetano are sympathetic young men who disapprove of their family's political wrangling, and even the likes of patriarch Duke Niccolo di Chimici is allowed to show a softer side in the affection and grief he feels for his son.

Hoffman always shows a deft touch with her characterization throughout, for even the horrid Russell (whose use of strong derogatory terms throughout the story may raise a few parental eyebrows) gets a glimmer of redemption at the book's conclusion. Of further interest is Hoffman's afterword in which she discusses some of the similarities between our world's version of certain Talian traditions, and how they were reshaped for the novel. She's clearly put a lot of time and effort into research and consistency, and it may pique the interest of many young readers into learning more about the Reinassance.

Lastly, the whys and wherefores of the Stravagante phenomenon is shrouded in mystery, but there are a few hints scattered throughout "City of Stars" that suggests there is a rhyme and reason for certain people finding their way into Talia. I certainly hope this is explored further in previous books. In light of the final paragraph, I couldn't help but feel that much of what happens in "City of Stars" is setup for the next book, City of Flowers. Though that left me a little cold, I'm still looking forward to what else is in store for this particular series.

Great read. Especially for those about to travel to Italy. Gives an alternative Italy on a separate plain to ours, however the time travel element is fascinating and well played out. I love the historical mix up of ages and knowledge. An excellent very readable series which can be read independently and still enjoyed.