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Stravaganza #2
Tähtien kaupunki
Viisitoistavuotiaan Georgian elämä on kurjaa. Koulussa hän on yksinäinen, ja kotona asuu velipuoli, joka purkaa Georgiaan kaikki aggressionsa. Ainoa ilo ovat hevoset. Siksi Georgia ostaa antiikkikaupasta pienen siivekkään hevospatsaan. Kun hän nukahtaa se kädessään, hevonen lennättää hänet uuteen maailmaan, salaperäiseen Remoraan. Georgia saa tietää olevansa stravagantti, ihminen, joka kykenee siirtymään ajasta ja paikasta toiseen, 2000-luvun Englannista 1500-luvun Taliaan.
Remorassa valmistaudutaan suuriin jokavuotisiin ratsastuskilpailuihin. Kaikki Talian ylimykset kokoontuvat Remoraan, myös Bellezzan – naamioiden kaupungin – herttuatar Arianna sekä stravagantit Rodolfo ja Luciano.
Georgia uppoutuu Remoran kiehtovaan, vaaralliseen elämään. Oleskelu Taliassa vaikuttaa arvaamattomalla tavalla myös hänen elämäänsä Englannissa.
Remorassa valmistaudutaan suuriin jokavuotisiin ratsastuskilpailuihin. Kaikki Talian ylimykset kokoontuvat Remoraan, myös Bellezzan – naamioiden kaupungin – herttuatar Arianna sekä stravagantit Rodolfo ja Luciano.
Georgia uppoutuu Remoran kiehtovaan, vaaralliseen elämään. Oleskelu Taliassa vaikuttaa arvaamattomalla tavalla myös hänen elämäänsä Englannissa.
474 pages, Hardcover
First published September 3, 2003
101 people are currently reading
2778 people want to read
About the author
Mary Hoffman
272 books592 followersSee also works published under Mary Lassiter
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
Mary Hoffman is a bestselling British author and reviewer, born in 1945. She is a true enthusiast of Italy and spends a lot of her time there, which shows in her Stravaganza novels: a series currently in publication. In total, she has written over 80 books, including the aforementioned Stravaganza series and the bestselling picture book, Amazing Grace. Mary is also the editor of a review magazine Armadillo for kids.
Watch the book trailer for David, Mary Hoffman's most recent novel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
October 25, 2016
5 out of 10
Ревью в моем блоге/This review on my blog
Living A Thousand Lives (please use Chrome/Yandex browser or Android/IOS to see the page; otherwise, spoiler-tags I use to make my post compact may not work)
Genre: AU, historical-fantasy, teen-ish YA
Stuff: time-travels, AU-Italy, 16th century, races
Fail: annoying females, childish stuff, same twists
WOW: Remora
POV: 3rd-person, multi
Love-Geometry: harrrrd
Quote-Core:
"Remember that nothing lasts for ever. The bad things as well as the good."
In this book we meet new characters while they meet the old ones and all it happens in Remora (a la Siena), the city which is divided into 12 parts like zodiacal circle. That's pretty interesting: fire signs can be friends with air ones, but water and earth are their rivals and so on. You can't be from Ram (Aries) and walk freely at the Lady's (Virgo) sector. Plus each Twelfth is connected with a another city of Talia. For example, Ram supports Bellezza. Each summer Remora has a grand race on its central plazza. All the Remoran are mad about horses, so the race is not only about winning, but also about honor and fun and something that not separates the citizens, but make them united.
City of Stars 's MC is Georgia, a passionate lover of horses from our world's London. She gets a flying horse figure from an antiquary-shop, falls asleep, and wakes up at the Ram's stable, at the moment when a local mare has given birth to a real flying foal. That's a miracle, blessing and secret at the same time. That's also a sing that this year will be lucky for Rams. But they need to hide the foal from the others and especially from de Chimici. MC befriends local jockey Cesare. his family, and learns about stravagation and falls in love with Remora. In London she's an outsider and a whipping girl for her stepbrother. Here, she's a rarity.
The plot is revolving around the race, but there are always di Chimici plan's to marry one of their son to the new Duchessa of Belezza, unhappy life of the youngest member of their family after an accident, and Georgia's problems in the real life. At first, everything seemed fascinating. But then we learnt that MC knew Lucien in his previous life and had a crush on him. Hello, love-geometry! Cesare likes Georgia, Georgia likes Cesare, but still in love with Luciano, who loves Arianna, she loves him back, but flirts with Gaetano, he courts her, but likes Francesca, she likes him too, but is already married... For freaking sake, STOP! Even this crazy love-geometry might be good in a funny manner, but Arianna was acting like a bitch toward Luciano, and Georgia was super whiny about her romantic feelings. I felt sorry for poor boys.
I don't know why Hoffman fails when she writes about women. They all are meh at their best or very annoying. Her male characters are better and more likable. I did love Cesare, little Falco, fell again for Luciano, but wanted to slap Arianna and Georgia. Hard. Not all the time, of course. But often. And after I finished the book I got that overall I indeed really dislike them.
What I also dislike is that this book, while having some new stuff, is a mirror of City of Masks. Again we have a weird Enrico and his cunning plans. Again we have a kidnapping. And a new life in another world. And a fairytale-ish ending (the epilogue's stuff was extremely stupid: it's one thing to visit your family and the other to show off in front of the whole city). But the first book was way more logical. And its twists were more serious, too. Here, I saw endless chats about stravagation (with info we already knew) and teen drama. In the end of the story MC's happy to have boobs and there are hints that she'll fall in love with a younger boy (she's 16, he's 14) and. Not creepy at all.
I know, this review is very confusing and has no structure, but that's what the book is and my feelings are. I was hoping for a good development of the world, but didn't get even that. The first book has a fresh vision of Venice, unique details. This one's filling came from the real life, from the real Siena. Nothing new! How lazy is it?
And you know what? Turned out there is a such thing as too many POVs. I mean, City of Stars is told from a million perspectives, including the horse's. WHY??? For what? For readers not to attach to any character at all? I love multi-POV, but not when the author deals with more than 15-20 narrators.
All in all, I mourn the potential. The author has to decide whether she writes for children (then she has to stop put in her work dirty innuendos) or for the older kids (then she has to turn the fairytale-button off).
Stravaganza (Страваганца):
— City of Masks (Город масок) #1/6
— City of Stars (Город звезд) #2/6
— City of Flowers (Город цветов) #3/6
— City of Secrets (Город секретов) #4/6
— City of Ships (Город кораблей) #5/6
— City of Swords (Город мечей) #6/6
August 19, 2014
It's not like I didn't REALLY enjoy the first book in the Stravaganza series - I did. But City Of Stars, the second, very welcome installment, is a marvel. It expands on the universe introduced in the first novel. In scope, of course, as a new Stravangante Georgia escapes her unhappy real life (tortured as she is by her brother Russell and her lack of self-confidence and friends) and lands in another Talian city-state - this time the intoxicating city of Remora, on the brink of its annual horse race that pits the 12 sections of the city against each other. The sheer amount of detail that goes into Hoffman's descriptions of this Remora is breathtaking: culture, history and tradition are mixed into the magical and fantastical, as a winged horse is birthed in the Ram (the Twelfth to which Georgia declares her allegiance, and the Twelfth which is aligned to the Bellezza of the first novel).
But what is really exciting about this second novel is the explosion of character development that takes place within its pages. She takes every character from the first book and gives them space in this one, particularly the hero Lucien (now Luciano) and the hateful, blue-cloaked spy Enrico... but also introduces an entire set of new, fascinating characters, from other Stravaganti (Paolo) to a sweeping introduction to members of the ruling di Chimici family. No longer are the di Chimici viewed merely as pure, black-and-white villains - it becomes clear that the weak, snivelly ambassador Rinaldo glimpsed in City Of Masks does no justice to the complexity of this huge family bent on creating an empire. Instead, the reader is introduced to Niccolo, the manipulative, calculating head of the family with a surprising affection and love for his sons, the delicate, crippled Falco who dreams of a better life in which he can be whole again, and the courtly gentleman Gaetano, in every way a repudiation of the image one had formed of a di Chimici villain. This, in particular, proves a triumph, as it lends Hoffman's series a weight that was missing (though not noticeably so) from the first novel.
A sweeping epic that covers romance, politics, action, magic and the thrill that can come from reimagining history, City Of Stars, even more so than its predecessor, truly marks the Stravaganza series out as one to watch... every inch as rewarding and complex as its counterpart in adult fantasy fiction.
But what is really exciting about this second novel is the explosion of character development that takes place within its pages. She takes every character from the first book and gives them space in this one, particularly the hero Lucien (now Luciano) and the hateful, blue-cloaked spy Enrico... but also introduces an entire set of new, fascinating characters, from other Stravaganti (Paolo) to a sweeping introduction to members of the ruling di Chimici family. No longer are the di Chimici viewed merely as pure, black-and-white villains - it becomes clear that the weak, snivelly ambassador Rinaldo glimpsed in City Of Masks does no justice to the complexity of this huge family bent on creating an empire. Instead, the reader is introduced to Niccolo, the manipulative, calculating head of the family with a surprising affection and love for his sons, the delicate, crippled Falco who dreams of a better life in which he can be whole again, and the courtly gentleman Gaetano, in every way a repudiation of the image one had formed of a di Chimici villain. This, in particular, proves a triumph, as it lends Hoffman's series a weight that was missing (though not noticeably so) from the first novel.
A sweeping epic that covers romance, politics, action, magic and the thrill that can come from reimagining history, City Of Stars, even more so than its predecessor, truly marks the Stravaganza series out as one to watch... every inch as rewarding and complex as its counterpart in adult fantasy fiction.
June 5, 2010
At first I didn't think I would like this as much as the first book, as the description didn't sound as interesting. However, I really ended up enjoying it and couldn't put it down, just like the first.
This book was set in Remora (Siena in our world) and most of the book was about the Stellata, a great horse race held once a year but celebrated all year. A whole new set of characters, in addition to Luciano, Ariana, Rodolfo, Dr. Dethridge, Silvia and the Di Chimici family. Georgia, a classmate of Lucien's from London, stravagates to Remora after finding a winged horse talisman (auspicious because of the recent birth of a winged horse in Remora) and is found by a local who belong to the Rams (on the Twelve divisions within the city). She befriends Cesare and his father, who is also a Stravagante and she runs into Luciano. She is surprised to say the least as she had a bit of a crush on him in London, and the two of them with Cesare befriend the younger Di Chimici children Gaetano and Falco. Falco was horribly injured in a horseback riding accident two years before and wants to get better, so he plots with Luciano and Georgia to stravagate to London so he can get the medical attention he needs. Will he be able to go there and be cured? What are the consequences? Who will win the Stellata (reminiscent of the Palio in modern times)? I can't wait to read the third book "City of Flowers"!
This book was set in Remora (Siena in our world) and most of the book was about the Stellata, a great horse race held once a year but celebrated all year. A whole new set of characters, in addition to Luciano, Ariana, Rodolfo, Dr. Dethridge, Silvia and the Di Chimici family. Georgia, a classmate of Lucien's from London, stravagates to Remora after finding a winged horse talisman (auspicious because of the recent birth of a winged horse in Remora) and is found by a local who belong to the Rams (on the Twelve divisions within the city). She befriends Cesare and his father, who is also a Stravagante and she runs into Luciano. She is surprised to say the least as she had a bit of a crush on him in London, and the two of them with Cesare befriend the younger Di Chimici children Gaetano and Falco. Falco was horribly injured in a horseback riding accident two years before and wants to get better, so he plots with Luciano and Georgia to stravagate to London so he can get the medical attention he needs. Will he be able to go there and be cured? What are the consequences? Who will win the Stellata (reminiscent of the Palio in modern times)? I can't wait to read the third book "City of Flowers"!
February 29, 2016
This series has become a part of my soul.
June 18, 2022
4,5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Stel je voor: je ligt "s avonds in bed in je eigen vertrouwde kamer en valt in slaap. Maar als je wakker wordt, ben je in een Italiaanse stad, vier eeuwen geleden. Een stad die op het water drijft, met zijn eigen regels en geheimzinnige vrouwen met maskers. Wat doe je dan?
De schrijfster was op vakantie in Italië en kreeg toen het idee voor de Stravaganza- trilogie. Ze nam uit de stad Sienna een tegeltje mee van een vliegend paard en dit inspireerde haar tijdens het schrijven. Ze nam zelfs Italiaanse les, zodat ze de boeken over het oude Italië beter kon schrijven! Je leeft je dan zeker meer in bij het creëren van een wereld. Dat zie je zeker ook in dit boek tot leven komen.
De hoofdpersoon van het eerste boek is de Engelse Lucien. Hij heeft kanker. Alles verandert als hij een bijzonder notitieboek krijgt van zijn vader. Het blijkt dat Lucien een Stravagante is; iemand die kan reizen naar een andere plaats en tijd. Wat een gegeven he? Een Stravagante.
Hij komt terecht in Bellezza, een stad in Talia, vier eeuwen eerder. Daar ontmoet hij Arianna, die samen met hem en professor Rodolfo probeert te ontdekken waarom juist Lucien uitgekozen is om een Stavagante te zijn. Wat is zijn opdracht in Bellezza? Heeft het te maken met het ziek zijn in zijn gewone leven? Want in Bellezza voelt hij zich kiplekker. Of heeft het te maken met de Duchesa die Bellezza regeert? Ontdek het zelf in dit spannende verhaal met een heel verrassend einde!
In dit boek gaat het over Georgia. Zij is een Engels meisje met een hele vervelende broer en een voorliefde voor paarden. Georgia heeft een talisman; een beeldje van een gevleugeld paard. Met deze talisman komt Georgia terecht in Remora, ook een stad in Talia, in de 16e eeuw.
In deze stad is iedereen zich aan het voorbereiden op de jaarlijkse paardenraces. Georgia raakt bevriend met Cesare, een van de jockeys die de paardenrace zal gaan rijden. Ook komt zij Lucien, uit deel één, tegen. Lucien, die zij nog kent van de middelbare school en waar ze stiekem een oogje op heeft.
Samen met Cesare en Lucien beleeft Georgia spannende avonturen rondom de paardenrace, waar Georgia uiteindelijk nog een belangrijke rol in zal spelen!
De stravagerende hoofdpersonen zijn zo geloofwaardig beschreven dat je makkelijk met hen meeleeft. Je beleeft hun verwarring over het tijdreizen, de vriendschappen die ze sluiten en de avonturen. En wat voor avonturen!
Spannende belevenissen, vol onverwachte wendingen en verrassende ontknopingen volgen.
Deel twee sluit goed aan op deel één. De verhaallijn loopt door en alle hoofdpersonen komen elkaar in deel twee tegen. Het is daarom wel handig eerst deel één te lezen, voor je aan deel twee begint.
Wat de boeken vooral bijzonder maakt, zijn de beschrijvingen van de steden Bellezza en Remora. Deze steden zijn gebaseerd op de Italiaanse steden Venetië en Sienna.
De schrijfster geeft aan het eind van elk boek ook een stukje informatie over de echte steden. Leuk als achtergrond- informatie en zo kun je de steden uit het verhaal en de steden van nu met elkaar te vergelijken.
Stel je voor: je ligt "s avonds in bed in je eigen vertrouwde kamer en valt in slaap. Maar als je wakker wordt, ben je in een Italiaanse stad, vier eeuwen geleden. Een stad die op het water drijft, met zijn eigen regels en geheimzinnige vrouwen met maskers. Wat doe je dan?
De schrijfster was op vakantie in Italië en kreeg toen het idee voor de Stravaganza- trilogie. Ze nam uit de stad Sienna een tegeltje mee van een vliegend paard en dit inspireerde haar tijdens het schrijven. Ze nam zelfs Italiaanse les, zodat ze de boeken over het oude Italië beter kon schrijven! Je leeft je dan zeker meer in bij het creëren van een wereld. Dat zie je zeker ook in dit boek tot leven komen.
De hoofdpersoon van het eerste boek is de Engelse Lucien. Hij heeft kanker. Alles verandert als hij een bijzonder notitieboek krijgt van zijn vader. Het blijkt dat Lucien een Stravagante is; iemand die kan reizen naar een andere plaats en tijd. Wat een gegeven he? Een Stravagante.
Hij komt terecht in Bellezza, een stad in Talia, vier eeuwen eerder. Daar ontmoet hij Arianna, die samen met hem en professor Rodolfo probeert te ontdekken waarom juist Lucien uitgekozen is om een Stavagante te zijn. Wat is zijn opdracht in Bellezza? Heeft het te maken met het ziek zijn in zijn gewone leven? Want in Bellezza voelt hij zich kiplekker. Of heeft het te maken met de Duchesa die Bellezza regeert? Ontdek het zelf in dit spannende verhaal met een heel verrassend einde!
In dit boek gaat het over Georgia. Zij is een Engels meisje met een hele vervelende broer en een voorliefde voor paarden. Georgia heeft een talisman; een beeldje van een gevleugeld paard. Met deze talisman komt Georgia terecht in Remora, ook een stad in Talia, in de 16e eeuw.
In deze stad is iedereen zich aan het voorbereiden op de jaarlijkse paardenraces. Georgia raakt bevriend met Cesare, een van de jockeys die de paardenrace zal gaan rijden. Ook komt zij Lucien, uit deel één, tegen. Lucien, die zij nog kent van de middelbare school en waar ze stiekem een oogje op heeft.
Samen met Cesare en Lucien beleeft Georgia spannende avonturen rondom de paardenrace, waar Georgia uiteindelijk nog een belangrijke rol in zal spelen!
De stravagerende hoofdpersonen zijn zo geloofwaardig beschreven dat je makkelijk met hen meeleeft. Je beleeft hun verwarring over het tijdreizen, de vriendschappen die ze sluiten en de avonturen. En wat voor avonturen!
Spannende belevenissen, vol onverwachte wendingen en verrassende ontknopingen volgen.
Deel twee sluit goed aan op deel één. De verhaallijn loopt door en alle hoofdpersonen komen elkaar in deel twee tegen. Het is daarom wel handig eerst deel één te lezen, voor je aan deel twee begint.
Wat de boeken vooral bijzonder maakt, zijn de beschrijvingen van de steden Bellezza en Remora. Deze steden zijn gebaseerd op de Italiaanse steden Venetië en Sienna.
De schrijfster geeft aan het eind van elk boek ook een stukje informatie over de echte steden. Leuk als achtergrond- informatie en zo kun je de steden uit het verhaal en de steden van nu met elkaar te vergelijken.
June 11, 2018
okay so yes i read the 3rd one first because it was on sale first and i didn't care for it so i have no idea why i bought the 2nd book *i have a problem*.the only reason i'm give this one 3 stars and not 2 like the other is because i found it to be better.it's not my thing.if u are like 12 and care for kids time travelling in the sixteenth-century go for it.just remember that it's a big book *453pages,fucking end me*...i guess i have a soft spot for books that start with City Of something something
March 6, 2021
Finally! Took me years to get around to finishing it. Honestly maybe two stars is a bit harsh, it's a bit of fun. But now onto the not fun:
-There's serious case of telling and not showing, worst with the relationships between characters. We just have to trust these acquaintances are best friends now, because the narrator told us so. The main protagonist has an older step brother who bullies her. She travels to a new world and author tries to do "found family" but our protag just thinks it - that this new older boy is like a brother to her. Except she's known him for an evening. I'd much rather read them becoming closer than just have it lazily shoved in a character's thoughts. This is ALL the main character's relationships. Her crush, the boy she thinks is crushing on her, he new older brother, her new best friend in her old world (why is this character even in the book? She almost never appears, she adds nothing except a little plot contrivance). Also the older brother boy and the boy she has a crush on might also fancy her??? It's both unclear and too bluntly put. Amazing.
-Pacing is off - story threads disappear for too long, or are unnecessary (see above new beat friend in her old world). No one cares that the horse has been stolen until it's found by accident at the end. One of the main characters (teenage jockey in an important race, except I had hard time caring about the race) is kidnapped and literally no one gives a damn! Even his own father! Even his own new so-called dear friends! They just get the protag to bravely race in his place and act as if that means everything is alright now??? They are terrible people. Who cares about a race that is really only symbolic, when your son has been kidnapped?! The idea is, if the winner of the race is aligned with this powerful family, it means the family is meant to be in power. Their jockey has won for 20 years, so I don't see how one more year of them winning is important stakes, certainly not versus losing a horse and then your son!
There is far too much information to keep up with vis-a-vis extended family members, interconnected cities and districts, alliances and the like.
-Ties up in way that smacks of naivety. Oh Georgia you were right all along, say her parents.
-Teenagers speak with slang of 50 somethings. "Poxy" and "she's a bit of a hard nut" (meaning edgy or alternative).
-I didn't care about any of the main threads. Except for the horse theft, but none of the characters seemed to care about that, and it didn't make up a large amount of the book.
-Everyone fancies the protagonist. Except not? What? Would have been better Georgia has her unrequited crush, and gets over it over the course of the book, and every other romantic thread tied to her is just let go.
All in all, it's a frustrating experience. Some good ideas, and thorough world building, but bad pacing, characterization, and bad writing on a structural and technical level.
-There's serious case of telling and not showing, worst with the relationships between characters. We just have to trust these acquaintances are best friends now, because the narrator told us so. The main protagonist has an older step brother who bullies her. She travels to a new world and author tries to do "found family" but our protag just thinks it - that this new older boy is like a brother to her. Except she's known him for an evening. I'd much rather read them becoming closer than just have it lazily shoved in a character's thoughts. This is ALL the main character's relationships. Her crush, the boy she thinks is crushing on her, he new older brother, her new best friend in her old world (why is this character even in the book? She almost never appears, she adds nothing except a little plot contrivance). Also the older brother boy and the boy she has a crush on might also fancy her??? It's both unclear and too bluntly put. Amazing.
-Pacing is off - story threads disappear for too long, or are unnecessary (see above new beat friend in her old world). No one cares that the horse has been stolen until it's found by accident at the end. One of the main characters (teenage jockey in an important race, except I had hard time caring about the race) is kidnapped and literally no one gives a damn! Even his own father! Even his own new so-called dear friends! They just get the protag to bravely race in his place and act as if that means everything is alright now??? They are terrible people. Who cares about a race that is really only symbolic, when your son has been kidnapped?! The idea is, if the winner of the race is aligned with this powerful family, it means the family is meant to be in power. Their jockey has won for 20 years, so I don't see how one more year of them winning is important stakes, certainly not versus losing a horse and then your son!
There is far too much information to keep up with vis-a-vis extended family members, interconnected cities and districts, alliances and the like.
-Ties up in way that smacks of naivety. Oh Georgia you were right all along, say her parents.
-Teenagers speak with slang of 50 somethings. "Poxy" and "she's a bit of a hard nut" (meaning edgy or alternative).
-I didn't care about any of the main threads. Except for the horse theft, but none of the characters seemed to care about that, and it didn't make up a large amount of the book.
-Everyone fancies the protagonist. Except not? What? Would have been better Georgia has her unrequited crush, and gets over it over the course of the book, and every other romantic thread tied to her is just let go.
All in all, it's a frustrating experience. Some good ideas, and thorough world building, but bad pacing, characterization, and bad writing on a structural and technical level.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2020
Snel op naar 3,4,5&6
October 4, 2024
Συμβαίνει κάτι παράξενο με ορισμένες ιστορίες. Ενώ αρχικά φαίνονται τόσο οικείες, όσο βαθύτερα προχωράς μέσα τους, ενώ η αίσθηση της οικειότητας αυτής δεν χάνεται, σου δημιουργείται ξαφνικά η εντύπωση ότι διαβάζεις για κάτι ολότελα καινούργιο και άγνωστο. Μια τέτοια περίπτωση είναι και η τριλογία "Στραβαγάντζα" της Mary Foffman η οποία, αν και σε ταξιδεύει σε μια χώρα που μοιάζει πολύ στις ρίζες της με την Ιταλία, στο βάθος της έχει μεγάλες διαφορές που την κάνουν να φαίνεται τελικά στα μάτια μας, άγνωστη, μυστηριώδη, μαγευτική και γεμάτη άγνωστες πτυχές που αδημονούμε να ανακαλύψουμε. Αφήνοντας πίσω μας για λίγο την Μπελλέτσα, με το δεύτερο βιβλίο της σειράς, ταξιδεύουμε στη Ρεμόρα και τα δωδεκάτα της, μια πόλη που θυμίζει πολύ την γνωστή σε εμάς Σιένα, τόσο τοπογραφικά όσο και στα ήθη της.
Όπως ακριβώς συνέβη και με την "Πολιτεία Με Τις Μάσκες", η "Πολιτεία Των Αστεριών" χαρακτηρίζεται από την ζωντάνια, την αληθοφάνεια και την ρεαλιστικότητα με την οποία μας την συστήνει η συγγραφέας, προσκαλώντας μας να την ανακαλύψουμε. Η αφήγηση γίνεται αβίαστα και το μυστήριο γύρω από τους Περιπλανητές και τις δυνάμεις του μεγαλώνει ακόμα περισσότερο. Οι ήρωες που γνωρίσαμε στο πρώτο μέρος της σειράς εξακολουθούν να υπάρχουν και να παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στη συνέχεια και την εξέλιξή της όμως η συγγραφέας δεν μένει στην αξιοποίηση μόνο των προσώπων εκείνων που ήδη γνωρίζουμε. Έτσι, μας συστήνει μια νέα Περιπλανήτρια από τον κόσμο του Λυσιέν, την Τζόρτζια αλλά, και ορισμένα από τα μέλη της οικογένεια Ντι Κίμικι τα οποία μας κάνουν να σκεφτούμε ότι τελικά, δεν ισχύει η ρήση ότι το μήλο πέφτει κάτω από τη μηλιά, αναπτύσσοντας με τους ήρωές μας δεσμούς που όχι μόνο δεν φανταζόμασταν αλλά, και που έχουνε μείζονα σημασία για την πλοκή.
Η Τζόρτζια ανακαλύπτει το δικό της τέλεσμα και μαζί με αυτό, ανακαλύπτει έναν κόσμο που δε θα φανταζόταν ούτε στα πιο τρελά της όνειρα. Φτάνει στο δωδεκάτο του Κριού λίγο καιρό πριν την έναρξη του αντίστοιχου με το Σιενικό Πάλιο, της ετήσιας ιπποδρομίας που πέραν από ένα αθλητικό γεγονός, αποτελεί και μια επίδειξη δύναμης και ισχύς ανάμεσα στα δωδεκάτα, όπου ένα φτερωτό άλογο έχει γεννηθεί αποτελώντας τον καλύτερο οιωνό για τους ίδιους τους Κριούς και ταυτόχρονα, μια επιτακτική ανάγκη των εχθρών τους να αποκτήσουν την δικιά τους καλή τύχη. Εκεί ανακαλύπτει τρία πράγματα. Πρώτον, τις νέες της δυνατότητες και τι σημαίνουν αυτές τόσο για την ίδια όσο και σε σχέση με τους υπόλοιπους Περιπλανητές ή όσους έχουν γνώση γύρω από τον κόσμο τους. Δεύτερον, το γεγονός ότι ο Λυσιέν, ο παλιός της συμμαθητής και ο πρώτος της έρωτας δεν έχει πεθάνει αλλά, ζει σε ένα νέο κόσμο με νέα ταυτότητα και πλέον ονομάζεται Λουτσιάνο. Τρίτον, ότι πλέον είναι κάτοχος ενός μεγάλου μυστικού και μιας ισχυρής δύναμης η οποία, στα σωστά χέρια μπορεί να αποδειχτεί χρήσιμη και να εξυπηρετήσει καλούς σκοπούς που όμως, στα λάθος χέρια, μπορεί να αποδειχτεί επικίνδυνη και καταστροφική.
Οι Περιπλανητές, ανάμεσά τους πλέον και η Τζόρτζια, δεν είναι τυχαία κάτοχοι μιας μυστικής γνώσης και μιας ακόμα μεγαλύτερης δύναμης. Έχουν να ακολουθήσουν ένα συγκεκριμένο πεπρωμένο, να ολοκληρώσουν έναν σκοπό καθώς, τα τελέσματά τους, δεν αποτελούν απλά το εισιτήριο σε έναν άλλο, παράλληλο κόσμο αλλά, το μέσο εκείνο μέσω του οποίου είναι σε θέση να πετύχουν τα παραπάνω, να επιτελέσουν ένα καθήκον, έστω και αν δεν μπορούν να είναι σίγουροι για το πιο είναι αυτό. Καθώς η μάχη ανάμεσα στην Μπελλέτσα και τη Ρεμόρα κορυφώνεται, πρέπει όλοι μαζί να συνεργαστούν, όχι μόνο για να διατηρήσουν το μυστικό της ύπαρξής τους αλλά, για να διαφυλάξουν την ελευθερία τους και να αντισταθούν ενάντια στα σατανικά σχέδια των Ντι Κίμικι που το μόνο που επιζητούν είναι ο απόλυτος έλεγχος, η δύναμη και η εξουσία, με όποιο μέσω και όποιο κόστος. Φυσικά, κανένας δε μπορεί να προβλέψει όλα όσα θα ακολουθήσουν, αποφάσεις και πράξεις που μπορούν να φέρουν τη λύτρωση αλλά παράλληλα, μπορούν να προκαλέσουν ακόμα μεγαλύτερες αναταραχές.
Η Ταλική Ρεμόρα θυμίζει σε πολλά σημεία τη δικιά μας Ιταλική Σιένα, όπως έχω ήδη προαναφέρει, γεγονός που βοηθάει όσους έχουν ιδέα γύρω από τα έθιμά της να κατανοήσουν πολύ πιο εύκολα τα έθιμά της αλλά πάνω απ' όλα, την σημαντικότητα που κρύβεται πίσω από αυτά. Η νίκη σε έναν αγώνα σαν αυτόν δεν είναι απλά ένα σημάδι καλής τύχης αλλά, μια επίδειξη ευλογίας και δύναμης. Η Hoffman μας ταξιδεύει στα σοκάκια της Ρεμόρα, μας ξεναγεί στα δωδεκάτα της, που το καθένα με τον δικό του ξεχωριστό τρόπο είναι μοναδικό ανάμεσα στις ομοιότητές του με τα υπόλοιπα και όσο προχωράμε βαθύτερα στην ιστορία, μαγευόμαστε από την γοητεία, τον ενθουσιασμό, το πάθος αλλά και τις δολοπλοκίες που κρύβονται πίσω από μιαν οργάνωση όπως αυτή, νιώθοντας τον πυρετό της επερχόμενης, ας την χαρακτηρίσουμε έτσι, μάχης. Η λογική με την οποία έχει αναπτύξει την ιστορία της μοναδική, γοητευτική αλλά και λογική συνάμα, έχοντας αξιοποιήσει τον ζωδιακό κύκλο στηρίζοντας έτσι με τον καλύτερο και τον πιο αξιόπιστο τρόπο τις συμμαχίες αλλά και τις έχθρες ανάμεσα στα διαφορετικά αυτά τμήματα της πόλης, που μια φορά τον χρόνο βρίσκουν αφορμή να είναι πιο έκδηλα από ποτέ.
Μπορεί σε κάποια σημεία η "Πολιτεία Με Τις Μάσκες" να υπερτερεί έναντι της "Πολιτείας Των Αστεριών", με σημαντικότερο ίσως την απώλεια της ύπαρξη της παλιάς Δούκισσας στο θρόνο που με έξυπνο και πονηρό τρόπο εγκατέλειψε ωστόσο, χαρακτηρίζεται από μια δική της, αρκετά διαφορετική αλλά ωστόσο, μυστηριώδη και μαγευτική λογική και διάσταση γεγονότων. Οι δεσμοί που αναπτύσσονται ανάμεσα στους ήρωες είναι ιδιαίτεροι και πολύπλοκοι, με έναν τρόπο που μπορεί καν να μην μας περνούσε από το μυαλό, τα συναισθήματα που πηγάζουν από τις σχέσεις δυνατά και ειλικρινή ενώ οι αποφάσεις στις οποίες οδηγούνται, αν και ακραίες, γιατί όχι, και απερίσκεπτες ορισμένες φορές, δραστικές και καταλυτικές, τόσο για την εξέλιξη και την πορεία της ιστορίας στο παρόν όσο και στο κοντινό μέλλον το οποίο και αναμένεται να ολοκληρώσει την τριλογία, η οποία στην πραγματικότητα είναι εξαλογία αλλά που ο Πατάκης δεν έχει σκοπό να μας κάνει τη χάρη. Το δεύτερο μέρος της ιστορίας χαρακτηρίζεται από ακόμα περισσότερες ίντριγκες και δολοπλοκίες, η μάχη ανάμεσα στα δύο αντίπαλα στρατόπεδα περνάει σε ένα νέο επίπεδο ενώ δεν απουσιάζει η δράση αλλά και η συγκίνηση σε μια ιστορία που οι μικρές αποφάσεις είναι οι πιο σημαντικές.
Όπως ακριβώς συνέβη και με την "Πολιτεία Με Τις Μάσκες", η "Πολιτεία Των Αστεριών" χαρακτηρίζεται από την ζωντάνια, την αληθοφάνεια και την ρεαλιστικότητα με την οποία μας την συστήνει η συγγραφέας, προσκαλώντας μας να την ανακαλύψουμε. Η αφήγηση γίνεται αβίαστα και το μυστήριο γύρω από τους Περιπλανητές και τις δυνάμεις του μεγαλώνει ακόμα περισσότερο. Οι ήρωες που γνωρίσαμε στο πρώτο μέρος της σειράς εξακολουθούν να υπάρχουν και να παίζουν σημαντικό ρόλο στη συνέχεια και την εξέλιξή της όμως η συγγραφέας δεν μένει στην αξιοποίηση μόνο των προσώπων εκείνων που ήδη γνωρίζουμε. Έτσι, μας συστήνει μια νέα Περιπλανήτρια από τον κόσμο του Λυσιέν, την Τζόρτζια αλλά, και ορισμένα από τα μέλη της οικογένεια Ντι Κίμικι τα οποία μας κάνουν να σκεφτούμε ότι τελικά, δεν ισχύει η ρήση ότι το μήλο πέφτει κάτω από τη μηλιά, αναπτύσσοντας με τους ήρωές μας δεσμούς που όχι μόνο δεν φανταζόμασταν αλλά, και που έχουνε μείζονα σημασία για την πλοκή.
Η Τζόρτζια ανακαλύπτει το δικό της τέλεσμα και μαζί με αυτό, ανακαλύπτει έναν κόσμο που δε θα φανταζόταν ούτε στα πιο τρελά της όνειρα. Φτάνει στο δωδεκάτο του Κριού λίγο καιρό πριν την έναρξη του αντίστοιχου με το Σιενικό Πάλιο, της ετήσιας ιπποδρομίας που πέραν από ένα αθλητικό γεγονός, αποτελεί και μια επίδειξη δύναμης και ισχύς ανάμεσα στα δωδεκάτα, όπου ένα φτερωτό άλογο έχει γεννηθεί αποτελώντας τον καλύτερο οιωνό για τους ίδιους τους Κριούς και ταυτόχρονα, μια επιτακτική ανάγκη των εχθρών τους να αποκτήσουν την δικιά τους καλή τύχη. Εκεί ανακαλύπτει τρία πράγματα. Πρώτον, τις νέες της δυνατότητες και τι σημαίνουν αυτές τόσο για την ίδια όσο και σε σχέση με τους υπόλοιπους Περιπλανητές ή όσους έχουν γνώση γύρω από τον κόσμο τους. Δεύτερον, το γεγονός ότι ο Λυσιέν, ο παλιός της συμμαθητής και ο πρώτος της έρωτας δεν έχει πεθάνει αλλά, ζει σε ένα νέο κόσμο με νέα ταυτότητα και πλέον ονομάζεται Λουτσιάνο. Τρίτον, ότι πλέον είναι κάτοχος ενός μεγάλου μυστικού και μιας ισχυρής δύναμης η οποία, στα σωστά χέρια μπορεί να αποδειχτεί χρήσιμη και να εξυπηρετήσει καλούς σκοπούς που όμως, στα λάθος χέρια, μπορεί να αποδειχτεί επικίνδυνη και καταστροφική.
Οι Περιπλανητές, ανάμεσά τους πλέον και η Τζόρτζια, δεν είναι τυχαία κάτοχοι μιας μυστικής γνώσης και μιας ακόμα μεγαλύτερης δύναμης. Έχουν να ακολουθήσουν ένα συγκεκριμένο πεπρωμένο, να ολοκληρώσουν έναν σκοπό καθώς, τα τελέσματά τους, δεν αποτελούν απλά το εισιτήριο σε έναν άλλο, παράλληλο κόσμο αλλά, το μέσο εκείνο μέσω του οποίου είναι σε θέση να πετύχουν τα παραπάνω, να επιτελέσουν ένα καθήκον, έστω και αν δεν μπορούν να είναι σίγουροι για το πιο είναι αυτό. Καθώς η μάχη ανάμεσα στην Μπελλέτσα και τη Ρεμόρα κορυφώνεται, πρέπει όλοι μαζί να συνεργαστούν, όχι μόνο για να διατηρήσουν το μυστικό της ύπαρξής τους αλλά, για να διαφυλάξουν την ελευθερία τους και να αντισταθούν ενάντια στα σατανικά σχέδια των Ντι Κίμικι που το μόνο που επιζητούν είναι ο απόλυτος έλεγχος, η δύναμη και η εξουσία, με όποιο μέσω και όποιο κόστος. Φυσικά, κανένας δε μπορεί να προβλέψει όλα όσα θα ακολουθήσουν, αποφάσεις και πράξεις που μπορούν να φέρουν τη λύτρωση αλλά παράλληλα, μπορούν να προκαλέσουν ακόμα μεγαλύτερες αναταραχές.
Η Ταλική Ρεμόρα θυμίζει σε πολλά σημεία τη δικιά μας Ιταλική Σιένα, όπως έχω ήδη προαναφέρει, γεγονός που βοηθάει όσους έχουν ιδέα γύρω από τα έθιμά της να κατανοήσουν πολύ πιο εύκολα τα έθιμά της αλλά πάνω απ' όλα, την σημαντικότητα που κρύβεται πίσω από αυτά. Η νίκη σε έναν αγώνα σαν αυτόν δεν είναι απλά ένα σημάδι καλής τύχης αλλά, μια επίδειξη ευλογίας και δύναμης. Η Hoffman μας ταξιδεύει στα σοκάκια της Ρεμόρα, μας ξεναγεί στα δωδεκάτα της, που το καθένα με τον δικό του ξεχωριστό τρόπο είναι μοναδικό ανάμεσα στις ομοιότητές του με τα υπόλοιπα και όσο προχωράμε βαθύτερα στην ιστορία, μαγευόμαστε από την γοητεία, τον ενθουσιασμό, το πάθος αλλά και τις δολοπλοκίες που κρύβονται πίσω από μιαν οργάνωση όπως αυτή, νιώθοντας τον πυρετό της επερχόμενης, ας την χαρακτηρίσουμε έτσι, μάχης. Η λογική με την οποία έχει αναπτύξει την ιστορία της μοναδική, γοητευτική αλλά και λογική συνάμα, έχοντας αξιοποιήσει τον ζωδιακό κύκλο στηρίζοντας έτσι με τον καλύτερο και τον πιο αξιόπιστο τρόπο τις συμμαχίες αλλά και τις έχθρες ανάμεσα στα διαφορετικά αυτά τμήματα της πόλης, που μια φορά τον χρόνο βρίσκουν αφορμή να είναι πιο έκδηλα από ποτέ.
Μπορεί σε κάποια σημεία η "Πολιτεία Με Τις Μάσκες" να υπερτερεί έναντι της "Πολιτείας Των Αστεριών", με σημαντικότερο ίσως την απώλεια της ύπαρξη της παλιάς Δούκισσας στο θρόνο που με έξυπνο και πονηρό τρόπο εγκατέλειψε ωστόσο, χαρακτηρίζεται από μια δική της, αρκετά διαφορετική αλλά ωστόσο, μυστηριώδη και μαγευτική λογική και διάσταση γεγονότων. Οι δεσμοί που αναπτύσσονται ανάμεσα στους ήρωες είναι ιδιαίτεροι και πολύπλοκοι, με έναν τρόπο που μπορεί καν να μην μας περνούσε από το μυαλό, τα συναισθήματα που πηγάζουν από τις σχέσεις δυνατά και ειλικρινή ενώ οι αποφάσεις στις οποίες οδηγούνται, αν και ακραίες, γιατί όχι, και απερίσκεπτες ορισμένες φορές, δραστικές και καταλυτικές, τόσο για την εξέλιξη και την πορεία της ιστορίας στο παρόν όσο και στο κοντινό μέλλον το οποίο και αναμένεται να ολοκληρώσει την τριλογία, η οποία στην πραγματικότητα είναι εξαλογία αλλά που ο Πατάκης δεν έχει σκοπό να μας κάνει τη χάρη. Το δεύτερο μέρος της ιστορίας χαρακτηρίζεται από ακόμα περισσότερες ίντριγκες και δολοπλοκίες, η μάχη ανάμεσα στα δύο αντίπαλα στρατόπεδα περνάει σε ένα νέο επίπεδο ενώ δεν απουσιάζει η δράση αλλά και η συγκίνηση σε μια ιστορία που οι μικρές αποφάσεις είναι οι πιο σημαντικές.
January 14, 2014
Throwback review!
This right here, ladies and gentlemen, is my undisputed favourite of all the Stravaganza books. Coming from someone who's read and loved every single one of these books for six years, that is no light compliment. City of Stars was the book that really put Stravaganza on my favourites shelf. The story follows Georgia, horse-crazy tomboy, who's constantly being tormented by her stepbrother. Georgia finds a little winged horse statuette in an antique shop, falls in love with it, and takes it home. It in turn takes her to Talia, to the city of Remora. Georgia is suddenly neck-deep in a world of horse racing, city rivalries, and political tension.
Why should you read this book? I have one sentence for you. AU sixteenth century Italy. The story switches between present-day England, and Talia, and the setting of Remora is absolutely breathtaking. Based on the city of Siena in our world, Remora's intricacies and horse-racing-obsession is so much fun to read about. I personally went through a horse phase at the time I read this, but I don't think an interest in horses is really necessary to love this book. Think about a city or town you've lived in that is fiercely obsessed with a sport. The rivalries are no joke. Coming from a country that's totally insane about cricket, it's not hard to envision this. So not only does City of Stars have that lovely setting, it has everything that City of Masks, book one, promises: political rivalries (I'm looking at you, bleedin' di Chimici), powerfully imagined stories, and gripping plotlines. It is here that the Stravagante become absolutely entangled with the all-powerful di Chimici family (based loosely on the de Medici family). If you have any interest at all in historical fiction or medieval Italy, then I promise you'll enjoy this book. If not, you're welcome to blame me :)
This right here, ladies and gentlemen, is my undisputed favourite of all the Stravaganza books. Coming from someone who's read and loved every single one of these books for six years, that is no light compliment. City of Stars was the book that really put Stravaganza on my favourites shelf. The story follows Georgia, horse-crazy tomboy, who's constantly being tormented by her stepbrother. Georgia finds a little winged horse statuette in an antique shop, falls in love with it, and takes it home. It in turn takes her to Talia, to the city of Remora. Georgia is suddenly neck-deep in a world of horse racing, city rivalries, and political tension.
Why should you read this book? I have one sentence for you. AU sixteenth century Italy. The story switches between present-day England, and Talia, and the setting of Remora is absolutely breathtaking. Based on the city of Siena in our world, Remora's intricacies and horse-racing-obsession is so much fun to read about. I personally went through a horse phase at the time I read this, but I don't think an interest in horses is really necessary to love this book. Think about a city or town you've lived in that is fiercely obsessed with a sport. The rivalries are no joke. Coming from a country that's totally insane about cricket, it's not hard to envision this. So not only does City of Stars have that lovely setting, it has everything that City of Masks, book one, promises: political rivalries (I'm looking at you, bleedin' di Chimici), powerfully imagined stories, and gripping plotlines. It is here that the Stravagante become absolutely entangled with the all-powerful di Chimici family (based loosely on the de Medici family). If you have any interest at all in historical fiction or medieval Italy, then I promise you'll enjoy this book. If not, you're welcome to blame me :)
April 6, 2009
A very sweet, but also 'realistic' book, highly recommendable for girls and boys between the ages of 10 and 15-16.
Georgia O'Grady is a teenaged girl who likes horses, but is a bit of an outcast at school and has a terrible stepbrother who likes to torment her when she's at home. When she buys a little statue of a winged horse in an antique-shop, she discovers a whole new world, with a different Italy and a horserace that will change her life.
While there are some times strange jumps in the story and the story suddenly goes way too fast near the end (it almost feel liks the author hadn't realised the deadline was in 20 days and the plot still needed to end and all the loose ends brought together) it's still well written and captivating. I loved this book as a teenager, wanting to escape the world like every teenage girl does. It deals with some heavy topics and I think it deals with them really well, in a way that the teenager reading this book will think about the themes and what he or she would have done in that situation.
Georgia O'Grady is a teenaged girl who likes horses, but is a bit of an outcast at school and has a terrible stepbrother who likes to torment her when she's at home. When she buys a little statue of a winged horse in an antique-shop, she discovers a whole new world, with a different Italy and a horserace that will change her life.
While there are some times strange jumps in the story and the story suddenly goes way too fast near the end (it almost feel liks the author hadn't realised the deadline was in 20 days and the plot still needed to end and all the loose ends brought together) it's still well written and captivating. I loved this book as a teenager, wanting to escape the world like every teenage girl does. It deals with some heavy topics and I think it deals with them really well, in a way that the teenager reading this book will think about the themes and what he or she would have done in that situation.
January 30, 2015
This book is one hell of an amazing book. Flying horses are too good to be true.;) Thank goodness they are not real. It would be a shame to this mind blowing book...xD
September 23, 2018
Oh how I love these books. Definitely wish I was a Stravagante.
December 31, 2023
Tatsächlich hat mir der zweite Band mehr zugesagt als der Erste, obwohl ich den Schauplatz im ersten Teil interessanter fand (was wahrscheinlich auch daran liegt, dass ich schon einmal in Venedig war). Der zweite Band spielt in Siena (in Talia Remora genannt), was allerdings richtig gut passte und dargestellt wurde. Ich war selber nie ein Pferdefan, aber ich konnte die Begeisterung der Protagonistin gut nachvollziehen, da das alles sehr gut beschrieben war. Die Autorin hat auch gut daran getan aus Georgia keine inaktive Hauptfigur zu machen, wie es vorher bei Lucien der Fall war. Daher baut sich die Spannung wie von selbst auf. Außerdem war es wirklich schön die Figuren aus dem ersten Band hier wieder zu sehen.
Bisher kann ich die Buchreihe für Fantasyfans empfehlen.
I actually liked the second volume more than the first, although I found the setting in the first part more interesting (which is probably because I've been to Venice before). The second volume is set in Siena (called Remora in Talia), which was really well suited and portrayed. I've never been a fan of horses myself, but I could understand the protagonist's enthusiasm because it was all very well described. The author also did a good job of not making Georgia an inactive main character, as was the case with Lucien before. That's why the suspense builds up by itself. It was also really nice to see the characters from the first volume again.
So far I can recommend the series to fantasy fans.
Bisher kann ich die Buchreihe für Fantasyfans empfehlen.
I actually liked the second volume more than the first, although I found the setting in the first part more interesting (which is probably because I've been to Venice before). The second volume is set in Siena (called Remora in Talia), which was really well suited and portrayed. I've never been a fan of horses myself, but I could understand the protagonist's enthusiasm because it was all very well described. The author also did a good job of not making Georgia an inactive main character, as was the case with Lucien before. That's why the suspense builds up by itself. It was also really nice to see the characters from the first volume again.
So far I can recommend the series to fantasy fans.
April 30, 2019
Somehow this just doesn’t hold up as well as the first book... though all the problems I had with it are also present in City of Masks, so I really don’t know why they bothered me so much more here.
I still love the premise and the world though, and I definitely still want to reread the rest of the series!
I still love the premise and the world though, and I definitely still want to reread the rest of the series!
Read
November 18, 2021This is def the best book of this series I love it so much
April 3, 2022
Beetje voorspelbaar wel oké
July 17, 2023
Stravaganza is definitely my favorite fantasy book series and “City of Stars” is just magical!
October 5, 2014
Na het teleurstellende 1ste deel van de Stravaganza serie ''Stad van Maskers" begon ik met lichte huivering aan het 2de deel van deze boekenserie ''Stad van Sterren''
Gelukkig voor mijn portemonnee was dit boek geen miskoop. Stravaganza: Stad van Sterren is een stuk vermakelijker dan zijn voorganger met dank aan de hoofdpersoon Georgia. Haar achtergrond verhaal (of beter gezegd haar leven in Londen) was in mijn ogen veel meer boeiender en het hield me aan het lezen. Ik kon me meer inleven in haar angst en strijd tegen haar stiefbroer Russell met wie ze noodgedwongen moet samenleven en het feit dat ze een buitenbeentje op haar school is wegens haar jongensachtige uiterlijk en haar onzekerheid om met zo weinig mogelijk mensen contact te leggen.
Dat alles veranderd wanneer ze in een antiekwinkel een prachtig beeldje in de vorm van een gevleugeld paardje koopt. Georgia weet op dat moment echter niet wanneer ze met het beeldje in haar armen in slaap valt en op dat moment vurig droomt van een uitweg van haar leefsituatie thuis dat ze in een geheel andere wereld terecht komt. Ze beland in Remora de hoofdstad van Talia, de twaalfde van de Ram waar ze al gauw kennis maakt met Cesare en zijn familie en tot haar verbazing een prachtige paard met vleugels. Alsof dat niet wonderbaarlijk genoeg is komt ze tot haar grote schrik een oude bekende tegen, iemand die in haar wereld was overleden maar nu in deze vreemde stad springlevend voor haar neus staat. Georgia blijkt net als Luciano een stravagante te zijn, iemand die tussen twee werelden kan tijdreizen door middel van een talisman, in Georgia's geval het gevleugelde paardje. Stravageren gaat echter niet zonder gevolgen en daar komt Georgia snel achter wanneer ze de gehandicapte Falco ontmoet, de jongste prins van de Chimici's familie en de aartsrivalen van de Stravaganza genootschap. Hertog Niccolo de Chimici broed wederom een plan uit om meer macht te krijgen over het land en probeert de Stellata, de grote paardenrace die ieder jaar in Remora wordt gehouden op alle fronten te manipuleren in zijn voordeel. Maar wanneer Falco de hulp in roept van Georgia en Luciano en hun zogenaamde magie wordt de strijd tussen de Chimici's en de Stravaganza's nog heftiger dan het al was. En dan heeft Georgia haar eigen strijd nog te strijden thuis met haar familie...
De schrijfwijze is net zoals Stad van Maskers precies hetzelfde. Dan lees je Georgia's belevenissen en zo spring je weer over naar Luciano, Falco, Hertog Niccolo, Cesare etc. Allemaal binnen 1,2 of 3 pagina's. Bij het eerste deel moest ik daar gruwelijk aan wennen of beter gezegd ik kon er niet aan wennen. Op de één of andere manier kon ik de personages uit dit deel beter elkaar houden. Wellicht kwam dit wel omdat veel personages uit het eerste deel in dit verhaal ook terug kwamen, zodat je niet met een hele nieuwe meute mensen moest kennis maken. Het verhaal vond ik tevens ook vlotter geschreven en vooral de herkenbaarheid van de personages raakte me. Al met al een grote opluchting dat het 2de deel meer een succes was dan de 1ste. Hopelijk blijft de serie in grote lijnen vooruit gaan.
Gelukkig voor mijn portemonnee was dit boek geen miskoop. Stravaganza: Stad van Sterren is een stuk vermakelijker dan zijn voorganger met dank aan de hoofdpersoon Georgia. Haar achtergrond verhaal (of beter gezegd haar leven in Londen) was in mijn ogen veel meer boeiender en het hield me aan het lezen. Ik kon me meer inleven in haar angst en strijd tegen haar stiefbroer Russell met wie ze noodgedwongen moet samenleven en het feit dat ze een buitenbeentje op haar school is wegens haar jongensachtige uiterlijk en haar onzekerheid om met zo weinig mogelijk mensen contact te leggen.
Dat alles veranderd wanneer ze in een antiekwinkel een prachtig beeldje in de vorm van een gevleugeld paardje koopt. Georgia weet op dat moment echter niet wanneer ze met het beeldje in haar armen in slaap valt en op dat moment vurig droomt van een uitweg van haar leefsituatie thuis dat ze in een geheel andere wereld terecht komt. Ze beland in Remora de hoofdstad van Talia, de twaalfde van de Ram waar ze al gauw kennis maakt met Cesare en zijn familie en tot haar verbazing een prachtige paard met vleugels. Alsof dat niet wonderbaarlijk genoeg is komt ze tot haar grote schrik een oude bekende tegen, iemand die in haar wereld was overleden maar nu in deze vreemde stad springlevend voor haar neus staat. Georgia blijkt net als Luciano een stravagante te zijn, iemand die tussen twee werelden kan tijdreizen door middel van een talisman, in Georgia's geval het gevleugelde paardje. Stravageren gaat echter niet zonder gevolgen en daar komt Georgia snel achter wanneer ze de gehandicapte Falco ontmoet, de jongste prins van de Chimici's familie en de aartsrivalen van de Stravaganza genootschap. Hertog Niccolo de Chimici broed wederom een plan uit om meer macht te krijgen over het land en probeert de Stellata, de grote paardenrace die ieder jaar in Remora wordt gehouden op alle fronten te manipuleren in zijn voordeel. Maar wanneer Falco de hulp in roept van Georgia en Luciano en hun zogenaamde magie wordt de strijd tussen de Chimici's en de Stravaganza's nog heftiger dan het al was. En dan heeft Georgia haar eigen strijd nog te strijden thuis met haar familie...
De schrijfwijze is net zoals Stad van Maskers precies hetzelfde. Dan lees je Georgia's belevenissen en zo spring je weer over naar Luciano, Falco, Hertog Niccolo, Cesare etc. Allemaal binnen 1,2 of 3 pagina's. Bij het eerste deel moest ik daar gruwelijk aan wennen of beter gezegd ik kon er niet aan wennen. Op de één of andere manier kon ik de personages uit dit deel beter elkaar houden. Wellicht kwam dit wel omdat veel personages uit het eerste deel in dit verhaal ook terug kwamen, zodat je niet met een hele nieuwe meute mensen moest kennis maken. Het verhaal vond ik tevens ook vlotter geschreven en vooral de herkenbaarheid van de personages raakte me. Al met al een grote opluchting dat het 2de deel meer een succes was dan de 1ste. Hopelijk blijft de serie in grote lijnen vooruit gaan.
December 8, 2020
"Georgia fell asleep with the model of the flying horse in her hand, wishing she could find a place where horses had wings and she could fly away from her troubles for ever."
I've been rereading a lot this year, because when I have deadlines, I prefer reading books that I can put down easily. I was really into the first three quarters of City of Stars, but because I had to put it down and focus on school, when I got back to the last quarter, it was lackluster in comparison.
The protagonist, Georgia, is likable and interesting. Her character growth is great and we really get a sense of her personality and passions. One of her passions is horses and horse riding. Usually, books about horses and horse riding are slow and boring (well, the ones that I've read), but I enjoyed the horses and horse riding aspect in City of Stars because of the competitive horse racing and the fantasy element of flying horses.
The city of Remora is where horse racing takes place and I loved the atmosphere and exploration of this city. It revolves around the zodiac signs, where the city is divided according to the signs and there are allies and enemies based on the signs. This aspect added something to the overall story.
Remora is ruled by the di Chimici family. Duke Nicollo is the head of the di Chimici family and he's a little more nuanced than the other characters. He's power hungry, ambitious and a little ruthless, but he's family-orientated. When certain events occur, I could relate to his emotions and grief. I also enjoyed the introduction of other members of the di Chimici family, such as Falco and Gaetano, because it stops the family from seeming one-note.
The Arianna and Luciano 'drama' is hilarious. Everyone around them can see how they feel about each other because they're so obvious and I love how everyone tries to bring them together.
The plot is a lot stronger in City of Stars and while the narration style is still weird and jarring, it felt a little more organic. The story is engrossing and I wanted to see what would happen next. I also really like the ending, which wraps up the main story, but still leaves room for expansion.
I'm looking forward to rereading the rest of the series!
""Remember that nothing lasts for ever," he said. "The bad things as well as the good.""
November 11, 2014
City of Stars revolves primarily around Georgia O'Grady, who buys a wooden horse with wings and thus stravagates (is that the right English term?) to Remora. Like in the first book, the story is not told from the protagonist's POV. I have no problems with that, but I do with it the number of characters that are introduced, and there for are also told from their point of view. It can be said that Georgia, Cesare and Falco are the most important new characters. Cesare is the boy whose family Georgia enters in Remora. Falco is a young son from the Di Chimici family.
The story is set around a horse race, the Stellata. It has to do with astronomy. The theory behind it was a little too complicated. There are 12 horoscopes, who are either each other’s allies or enemies. Each horoscope belongs to a city – I believe? Mary could have made this story a little simpler, especially because there are so many characters.
Apart from this the book was very pleasant to read. Remora is a completely different city than Bellezza and here too you can get a beautiful image through Mary’s writing style. The enmity between Bellazza and the Di Chimici family can be seen as the thread of the series. Characters from the first book, such as Luciano and Arianna come back. No matter how lovely Georgia is and how much sympathy you'll get for this girl, I wish Mary had written the books entirely around Luciano and Arianna. Their story remains the most interesting.
The story is set around a horse race, the Stellata. It has to do with astronomy. The theory behind it was a little too complicated. There are 12 horoscopes, who are either each other’s allies or enemies. Each horoscope belongs to a city – I believe? Mary could have made this story a little simpler, especially because there are so many characters.
Apart from this the book was very pleasant to read. Remora is a completely different city than Bellezza and here too you can get a beautiful image through Mary’s writing style. The enmity between Bellazza and the Di Chimici family can be seen as the thread of the series. Characters from the first book, such as Luciano and Arianna come back. No matter how lovely Georgia is and how much sympathy you'll get for this girl, I wish Mary had written the books entirely around Luciano and Arianna. Their story remains the most interesting.
January 2, 2015
What to say about this book? It was freaking amazing! I loved it.
Can we just take a moment to wonder at how well Mary Hoffman worked the two worlds? They're just enough different to be interesting, but not so much that it goes overboard. I love it!
Sadly though I have mixed views about Georgia, in some ways I loved her, but the stupid mistakes she made where horrible.
In some ways I wished Lucien was still the main characters, but in other ways I was glad he wasn't, there would have been far too much Arianna, which is ok for one book, not for two!
I was very pleased to find out my matchmaking came true. Every couple I thought perfect, came true. And that's a good thing because if they hadn't it would have ruined the whole book!
I can't wait to get onto the third book (which I do have)!
Can we just take a moment to wonder at how well Mary Hoffman worked the two worlds? They're just enough different to be interesting, but not so much that it goes overboard. I love it!
Sadly though I have mixed views about Georgia, in some ways I loved her, but the stupid mistakes she made where horrible.
In some ways I wished Lucien was still the main characters, but in other ways I was glad he wasn't, there would have been far too much Arianna, which is ok for one book, not for two!
I was very pleased to find out my matchmaking came true. Every couple I thought perfect, came true. And that's a good thing because if they hadn't it would have ruined the whole book!
I can't wait to get onto the third book (which I do have)!
May 28, 2021
تا حالا متوجه نشده بودم که چی این مجموعه منو جذب کرده، منظورم چیزایی به جز چیزای معموله. من جذب رها شدن شخصیت اصلی داستان از زندگی واقعیش شدم. اینکه هر شب برای چند ساعت، از همه چیز دل میکند و میرفت توی دنیای جدید، با آدمای جدید و اتفاقات جدید. دنیایی که کوچکترین اشتراکی با زندگی خودش نداشت و میتونست چیزای جدید تجربه کنه، میتونست کارایی رو انجام بده که شاید هیچوقت قرار نبود انجام بده...
بیاین با خودمون صادق باشیم. کی تا حالا آرزو نکرده که کل زندگیشو بزاره پشت سرشو بره یه جایی که نه هیچکس اونو میشناسه نه اون هیچکسو؟!
بیاین با خودمون صادق باشیم. کی تا حالا آرزو نکرده که کل زندگیشو بزاره پشت سرشو بره یه جایی که نه هیچکس اونو میشناسه نه اون هیچکسو؟!
March 28, 2009
Second in the series. Pretty good too. Appealing to horse-lovers.
February 12, 2024
Viss jau forši, tikai uz nerviem sāk krist stravagēšanas teorijas neviendabīgums.
December 31, 2023
Still so good♡
October 19, 2020
Volume two of Mary Hoffman's alternate Earth/time travelling Stravaganza series. This novel is about Georgia: mad about horses, timid around boys, repelled by her step-brother, unsure of her own physical attractiveness, prepared to believe in the reality of a fantastical beast, desperate for an adult's support yet not quite trusting her mother and step-father. In part that shows a weakness in the story. It is as if the author wrote down a list of female teenage tropes and then tried to squeeze each one into the storyline at the expense of a plot of adventure and political intrigue. Which is a shame, as that plot is the interesting part of the book.
Georgia finds her talisman – the object that will allow her to stravagate between this world and renaissance Talia – and flits in and out of a city filled with fascination, romance and danger. In our world, Romulus and Remus tussled over dominance and Romulus won, founding Rome; in Talia Remus won, founding Remora. Remora is the equivalent of Siena and stages an annual horse race – the Stellata – similar to Siena's Palio. The dominant family is the di Chimici, originating as chemists, and match the Italian Medici, starting as medics, and the di Chimici are every bit as ruthless, power hungry and cunning.
There are many twists and turns in the plot and many characters, including a flying horse. For me it would have worked better if the action had remained in Remora. Georgia's frequent returns home serve to break up the tension and really tell a different story of teenage friendships and angst. Young Falco's role – he is the youngest of the di Chimici children and suffering from the effects of a serious accident – may have been better left to the end; setting up the sequel would still have worked. To younger readers Georgia's adventure leading to her riding in the Stellata in the place of Cesare, a Remoran boy she starts to fancy, would probably come over as seamless escapism. It's one of the penalties of getting older, but I was reminded of one of the old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney films of sugar-coated optimism: “Sure, you can take my place, Georgia. You can win, too.” You will have to read the book to find out if she does.
Despite everything I enjoyed it, except for Russell – the step-brother and a twisted little boy if ever there was one – who ends up going to a therapist and appears to have his hang-ups psychoanalysed more deeply inside his psyche rather out of it. His later teenage years could be a lucrative source for another novel.
Georgia finds her talisman – the object that will allow her to stravagate between this world and renaissance Talia – and flits in and out of a city filled with fascination, romance and danger. In our world, Romulus and Remus tussled over dominance and Romulus won, founding Rome; in Talia Remus won, founding Remora. Remora is the equivalent of Siena and stages an annual horse race – the Stellata – similar to Siena's Palio. The dominant family is the di Chimici, originating as chemists, and match the Italian Medici, starting as medics, and the di Chimici are every bit as ruthless, power hungry and cunning.
There are many twists and turns in the plot and many characters, including a flying horse. For me it would have worked better if the action had remained in Remora. Georgia's frequent returns home serve to break up the tension and really tell a different story of teenage friendships and angst. Young Falco's role – he is the youngest of the di Chimici children and suffering from the effects of a serious accident – may have been better left to the end; setting up the sequel would still have worked. To younger readers Georgia's adventure leading to her riding in the Stellata in the place of Cesare, a Remoran boy she starts to fancy, would probably come over as seamless escapism. It's one of the penalties of getting older, but I was reminded of one of the old Judy Garland/Mickey Rooney films of sugar-coated optimism: “Sure, you can take my place, Georgia. You can win, too.” You will have to read the book to find out if she does.
Despite everything I enjoyed it, except for Russell – the step-brother and a twisted little boy if ever there was one – who ends up going to a therapist and appears to have his hang-ups psychoanalysed more deeply inside his psyche rather out of it. His later teenage years could be a lucrative source for another novel.
June 30, 2024
Ach Stravaganza, wie habe ich dich in der sechsten Klasse geliebt, das ganze erste Kapitel hätte ich förmlich mitsprechen können, selbst nach über zehn Jahren noch! Stadt der Masken habe ich tatsächlich nur ein oder zwei Mal gelesen und keine größere Erinne-rung daran, aber Stadt der Sterne! Ja, Stadt der Sterne habe ich etliche Male gelesen, unter anderem in einem sehr verregneten Irland-Urlaub. Ich habe also entsprechend viel Nostalgie für diesen Roman und ich würde lügen, wenn ich sagen würde, dass das meine Bewertung nicht in irgendeiner Hinsicht beeinflussen würde.
Ich muss gestehen, auch wenn ich inzwischen nicht mehr die Zielgruppe bin: Stravaganza hat eine Prämisse, die interessant genug ist, um originell zu sein, ohne so abgespaced zu sein, dass man nur noch mit den Augen rollen will, was mir in der Zwischenzeit mit vielen YA Romanen so gegangen ist. Kurzum: Zeitreise, Alternatives Universum, Italien-esque in der Renaissance bis frühen Neuzeit ist recht unterhaltsam und entzieht sich geschickt den „das ist ja historischen inakkurat!“ Kritiken, da es sich schließlich nicht um ein echtes Land handelt. Die Figuren sind alle nicht allzu tiefgründig, aber liebenswert und doch unterschiedlich genug charakterisiert, dass man sie alle unterscheiden kann. Georgia mochte ich als Kind schon und glücklicherweise ist das immer noch der Fall. Ich muss zugeben, dass es keinen Charakter gibt, den ich wirklich gar nicht leiden kann. Selbst die stereotypischen ‚Bösewichte‘ sind für dieses Genre erstaunlich komplex. So ist Niccolo di Chimici zwar manipulativ und ehrgeizig, jedoch im Bestreben die Machtposition seiner Familie zu sichern und mit einer überraschend warmherzigen Liebe seinen Kindern gegenüber. Ich schätze diese vermenschlichenden Seiten sehr.
Kritikpunkte sind höchstens, dass die Mitte des Buches etwas schleppt, das Volk der Manoush, das auf der Kultur der Roma und Sinti beruht zwar immerhin nicht villifiziert, aber durchaus romantisiert und exotisiert dargestellt wird, was mir etwas negativ aufgefallen ist. Allerdings kann ich insgesamt sagen, was mich sehr freut: It overall holds up, nice!
Ich muss gestehen, auch wenn ich inzwischen nicht mehr die Zielgruppe bin: Stravaganza hat eine Prämisse, die interessant genug ist, um originell zu sein, ohne so abgespaced zu sein, dass man nur noch mit den Augen rollen will, was mir in der Zwischenzeit mit vielen YA Romanen so gegangen ist. Kurzum: Zeitreise, Alternatives Universum, Italien-esque in der Renaissance bis frühen Neuzeit ist recht unterhaltsam und entzieht sich geschickt den „das ist ja historischen inakkurat!“ Kritiken, da es sich schließlich nicht um ein echtes Land handelt. Die Figuren sind alle nicht allzu tiefgründig, aber liebenswert und doch unterschiedlich genug charakterisiert, dass man sie alle unterscheiden kann. Georgia mochte ich als Kind schon und glücklicherweise ist das immer noch der Fall. Ich muss zugeben, dass es keinen Charakter gibt, den ich wirklich gar nicht leiden kann. Selbst die stereotypischen ‚Bösewichte‘ sind für dieses Genre erstaunlich komplex. So ist Niccolo di Chimici zwar manipulativ und ehrgeizig, jedoch im Bestreben die Machtposition seiner Familie zu sichern und mit einer überraschend warmherzigen Liebe seinen Kindern gegenüber. Ich schätze diese vermenschlichenden Seiten sehr.
Kritikpunkte sind höchstens, dass die Mitte des Buches etwas schleppt, das Volk der Manoush, das auf der Kultur der Roma und Sinti beruht zwar immerhin nicht villifiziert, aber durchaus romantisiert und exotisiert dargestellt wird, was mir etwas negativ aufgefallen ist. Allerdings kann ich insgesamt sagen, was mich sehr freut: It overall holds up, nice!
February 9, 2020
La historia me ha gustado. Sigue la línea de la anterior, y aunque los protagonistas son otros, los del primer libro reaparecen en más de una ocasión. Los personajes están bien definidos y aunque la historia es más sencilla que la de La Ciudad de las Máscaras, tiene también su puntillo. A ratos a se hace un poco soso y Georgia resulta un poco infantil, pero mejora. De todas formas he echado en falta un poco más de acción (y eso que muchas escenas se prestaban a ello). La evolución de Georgia está bastante lograda. Tiene toques de fantasía muy bien llevados, aunque diría que le ha faltado cierta espectacularidad. Los saltos espacio-temporales siguen la dinámica del primer libro, y el vocabulario es bastante rico, aunque parece que la autora ha rebajado un poco el nivel. La traducción es bastante peor que la del primer libro, con frases casi calcadas de la versión inglesa. Pero teniendo en cuenta que es el último libro traducido al castellano, no me puedo quejar. Es una historia que se cuece a fuego lento, con leves toques de romance que no llegan a cuajar, debido a la inmadurez de los personajes. En ocasiones se hace un poco lento, pero mantiene la suficiente intriga. Está muy lejos de ser el tipo de libro juvenil exitoso con carne de bestseller, pero tiene otras virtudes. Personalmente, no creo que pueda leer los siguientes. No por falta de interés, sino porque me da mucha pereza leerlos en inglés. Si algún día llegan a traducirlos, me acabaré la saga.
February 12, 2023
We’re back with another “Stravaganza” book! This one features Georgia as a protagonist and is set mainly in Remora, which is the Talian equivalent of the Italian city of Siena. This series is a fun way to learn random things about Italy and Renaissance history through tangential learning? The horse race in Remora is based off of an actual thing in Siena, though obviously because it’s fantasy some details are changed.
Georgia is an interesting protagonist in that she’s got a much more troubled home life (her stepbrother six) and so you think that it might be like how Lucian doesn’t have that much more to go back to. But as the story goes on and she makes friends in Remora, she also builds up her life in the ordinary world. It’s good that we did that, and so the character arcs feel very different between these two protagonists. I wonder how our next protagonist will go, considering that every novel in the series has a different protagonist.
Also! There’s a flying horse. That’s cool.
Something I criticized about the first novel was that it wrapped up a bit too neatly. This one also wraps up a little neatly, but there’s enough dangling Plot that we know that there’s something coming in the future. The characters’ decisions weren’t always wise, and there will be consequences for that! I think I’m going to enjoy seeing where it all goes.
Georgia is an interesting protagonist in that she’s got a much more troubled home life (her stepbrother six) and so you think that it might be like how Lucian doesn’t have that much more to go back to. But as the story goes on and she makes friends in Remora, she also builds up her life in the ordinary world. It’s good that we did that, and so the character arcs feel very different between these two protagonists. I wonder how our next protagonist will go, considering that every novel in the series has a different protagonist.
Also! There’s a flying horse. That’s cool.
Something I criticized about the first novel was that it wrapped up a bit too neatly. This one also wraps up a little neatly, but there’s enough dangling Plot that we know that there’s something coming in the future. The characters’ decisions weren’t always wise, and there will be consequences for that! I think I’m going to enjoy seeing where it all goes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews