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Stravaganza #1
City of Masks
In modern-day London, Lucien Mulholland undergoes chemotherapy treatments, but when he falls asleep clutching a mysterious book his father has given him, he is transported - or "stravagated" - to an enchanting 16th-century Venice-like city called Bellezza, in the country Talia. Lucien can return only if he can get hold of the book again. In this colorful other world, rich with court intrigues and magic, he feels vibrantly alive, as opposed to his pain-ridden days back in England; his hair has grown back and he eats with relish. Bellezza is also where, as "Luciano," he meets lovely 15-year-old Arianna and Rodolfo, who created the book that acts as Lucien's "stravagation" talisman. Rodolfo explains that a stravagante is "a wanderer between worlds," and also the history of this magical travel. Now the secret brotherhood dedicated to keeping the two worlds separate is being challenged by a faction with evil intent. Soon "Luciano" is caught up in their power struggle and learns there is a cost when one cannot stravagate properly.
345 pages, Paperback
First published December 8, 2002
220 people are currently reading
12434 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 776 reviews
April 27, 2023
Cute. That a the first thing that comes to mind when I think of this book. Cute and mostly harmless. Adorable and sweet, but unfortunately just not too memorable. Like a decent fast food meal, it's satisfying but not too nutritious.
This is a story of a teenage boy dying from cancer in contemporary England, who accidentally discovers a way to travel to an alternate reality that closely resembles medieval Venice. He makes friends with a powerful scientist-magician and a perky tomboy-girl, foils a few political intrigues and, as his life ebbs away in the real world, realizes that this alternate reality quickly is becoming more real than 'real' world.
It's a book that seems to be aimed at quite young readers, perhaps age 9 or 10. It's gentle and sweet, with simple plot and easy-to-follow hints of the predictable plot twists, with never-too-real dangers, relatively harmless villains and generally happy resolutions to conflicts. The depths that could have been explored - in characters as well as the plot - were left uncharted.
There were a few points where it could all have been taken to the next level, to the place that can arouse strong conflicting emotions and create necessary tension- but they were sweetly glossed over (for instance, Lucien's experience of loss and dying, addressing the pain of grief, the difficult choices Silvia makes, the introduction of some ambiguity into the events - there were such opportunities for making the shades of moral grayness more prominent and more memorable!). Alas, any possibility of moral upheaval and emotional effect were softened and made sweet and cute and very easily palatable, which I thought was a real missed opportunity.
It's overall a feel-good book, probably unlikely to cause deep discussions between children and their parents, probably unlikely to change any kid's perception of the world, probably a lovely read on the cold rainy day when kids have to stay inside (however, I'm probably thinking of those long-away days of my own childhood when there were no video games and TV programs were quite limited, and library books were the perfect go-to entertainment).
It's a lovely book to help pass some time before moving on to better, more challenging literature. It has no teeth, it doesn't bite, and that may be a good or a bad thing, depending where you stand on the idea of literature in lives of young readers. At least it does pass for a decent bedtime story.
Not a bad read, but you may find it hard to remember much of it a few days later. Interesting enough to finish reading it, but not captivating enough to pick up the sequels. 3 stars.
This is a story of a teenage boy dying from cancer in contemporary England, who accidentally discovers a way to travel to an alternate reality that closely resembles medieval Venice. He makes friends with a powerful scientist-magician and a perky tomboy-girl, foils a few political intrigues and, as his life ebbs away in the real world, realizes that this alternate reality quickly is becoming more real than 'real' world.
It's a book that seems to be aimed at quite young readers, perhaps age 9 or 10. It's gentle and sweet, with simple plot and easy-to-follow hints of the predictable plot twists, with never-too-real dangers, relatively harmless villains and generally happy resolutions to conflicts. The depths that could have been explored - in characters as well as the plot - were left uncharted.
There were a few points where it could all have been taken to the next level, to the place that can arouse strong conflicting emotions and create necessary tension- but they were sweetly glossed over (for instance, Lucien's experience of loss and dying, addressing the pain of grief, the difficult choices Silvia makes, the introduction of some ambiguity into the events - there were such opportunities for making the shades of moral grayness more prominent and more memorable!). Alas, any possibility of moral upheaval and emotional effect were softened and made sweet and cute and very easily palatable, which I thought was a real missed opportunity.
It's overall a feel-good book, probably unlikely to cause deep discussions between children and their parents, probably unlikely to change any kid's perception of the world, probably a lovely read on the cold rainy day when kids have to stay inside (however, I'm probably thinking of those long-away days of my own childhood when there were no video games and TV programs were quite limited, and library books were the perfect go-to entertainment).
It's a lovely book to help pass some time before moving on to better, more challenging literature. It has no teeth, it doesn't bite, and that may be a good or a bad thing, depending where you stand on the idea of literature in lives of young readers. At least it does pass for a decent bedtime story.
Not a bad read, but you may find it hard to remember much of it a few days later. Interesting enough to finish reading it, but not captivating enough to pick up the sequels. 3 stars.
December 30, 2020
7.5 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)
Short-Soundtrack:
Nilda Fernandez – L'invitation à Venise
Paul Cardall – The Traveler
Lucas Vidal – New Found Life
Genre: AU, historical-fantasy, teen-ish YA
Stuff: time-travels, AU-Italy, 16th century, cancer
WOW: world-building
POV: 3rd-person, multi
Love-Geometry: none and romance is quite non-existent
Quote-Core:
"How on earth was he going to fill the time in his world before nightfall?"
It's hard to write a review for this book (now I remember why I didn't do it after the first read of City of Masks ), the world created by Mary Hoffman is too rich for me to describe it fully. And how can I tell you about the characters without spoiling some interesting details? I'll try to give you a glimpse, some clues, a few notes, but believe me, you'd better dive into Stravaganza 's realm blindly.
So, we have Talia which is an AU of our Renaissance Italy, only with some benefits. And the biggest of all is magic which is called there science. City of Masks will show you Bellezza (AU-Venice), a city floating on the water and ruled by a woman (Duchessa). Here you'll meet handsome mandoliers (instead of gondoliers), visit nearby islands, witness traditional celebrations, learn about stravagation*, and see how cunning di Chimichi (a-la Medici family) are.
*Stravagation is an ability to move between worlds and times in your sleep. You need a token from the other side to be able to visit it. Suchlike travelers are Stravaganti (the plural of Stravagante). There are a lot of nuances about this phenomenon, but the story would teach you everything step by step.
Meet Lucien Mulholland. He's a 15-year-old British boy who's recovering from chemotherapy in our world. One day his dad brings home a beautiful notebook for his son to write when he's too weak to speak. When Lucien falls asleep with the gift in his hands he appears in Bellezza. The problem is the day on which Lucien (or Luciano) stravagates is the Forbidden Day for anyone who wasn't born on the main island: outsiders who violated the law will be burnt at the stake.
Now let me introduce a young Talian girl Arianna Gasparini. She's almost 16 and eager to become a mandolier which is almost impossible, 'cause only boys have this privileged. Why almost? You can pretend to be a boy after all. That's what Arianna planned to do on the Forbidden Day - the Day when the Duchessa chooses new pupils for the Scuola Mandoliera - until she met a weird guy in modern pajamas.
There are more characters and POVs, like Rodolfo Rossi (Stravagante, magician, the Duchessa's favorite and future mentor of Luciano) and his brothers, the Duchessa herself (always masked, always cunning and smart), Arianna's family (a big one and not without secrets), William Dethridge (the first Stravagante from our 16th century), di Chimici (power-hungry and slippery), plus people of Talia.
The story, which would stitch together all the aforementioned guys, is fast-paced and atmospheric. It also deals with a sad topic (Lucien has cancer in our world), but Mary doesn't push you, she doesn't try to play with your emotions, she just tells facts and your feelings are totally yours.
The plot is complex, but has teen-ish vibes. I don't even know how to explain this thing... you'd see it yourself throughout the read. There are cruel events and mature nuances, but the way everything wrap-ups reminds me of fairytales' endings.
The romance is soooo subtle, you may miss it completely. Arianna and Luciano's relationship is more friendship-like than anything, but it's obvious that they like each other and has a future together.
All in all, I highly recommend this series, 'cause it has an amazing world-building and interesting setting that would expand with every next book.
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
February 1, 2022
ایدهی خوب، پرداخت سطحی.
تنها دلیل تا آخر خوندنش اطلاعات جالبی بود که دربارهی شهر ونیز میداد. همین.
تنها دلیل تا آخر خوندنش اطلاعات جالبی بود که دربارهی شهر ونیز میداد. همین.
June 19, 2009
This is a book from my childhood (circa age 11) that I am so happy to have picked up again now! I'm not even really that interested in Italy, but I certainly dig the idea of inter-dimensional space and time travel! I'm re-reading all of the books in the Stravaganza series by Mary Hoffman in accordance to the release of the newest sequel, "City of Sercrets". So far, I've read City of Masks and I started City of Stars last night. This is, as I recall, the best book in the series as of yet. Lucien/Luciano is an extremely likable character, and the ending, I think, was perfect. I cry every time I read this, which is pitiful because it is written for 12-year-olds, but also not pitiful because you love the characters so much it doesn't even matter! I wish the Duchessa actually existed, so then I could admire her beautiful clothing and scull her mandola through the winding canals of Bellezza, which is the 16th-century alternate-universe counterpart of Venice. Along the lines of the Chrestomanci series, it takes the idea of a child's dream-life and takes it to an extreme next level, filled with political intrigue, romance, magic (also known as natural philosophy), and adventure! Definitely a must even if you aren't still in middle school! Charming and quick, this book transports you to a past that is almost absolutely better than reality, and entertains your imagination with lush description and with a plot as complex as the city of Bellezza itself. Brava, Mary Hoffman!
May 24, 2017
This year I'm doing a Reading Challenge; so I have 26 books with specific subjects that I need to read.
Book 24: A book set somewhere you really want to visit
It's been long since a dream for me to visit Venice. As a little girl I was always mesmerized by the beauty of its watery streets, colorful city scape and mosaics. This wanderlust have not since diminish.
City of Masks gave me an opportunity to visit not only Venice(Italy) but also its counter part - Bellezza(Talia).
The country of Talia is both like and unlike the
Italy of this world. It exists in a parallel dimension
and diverged hundreds of years ago from the Italy
we know.
Hoffman paints a beautiful world; full of realistic relics with just the slightest variation form our own world. This makes the setting extremely believable. I especially appreciated the part where Lucien visit the real Venice and points out the differences between this world and the parallel of Talia's Bellezza.
This is one of those "guilty pleasure" reads. It leans more to a Middle-grade read than Young Adult, so it is a quick, fun read. Even with the darker topics of cancer and death that is mixed with-in. I think if you sit still you'll be able to finish these books in one sitting.
There was a few things that bugged me though:
The adults of Talia behaving like spoiled children, especially the Duchessa.
The shocking ease with which death is dealt with, or rather not dealt with.
And all the chapters ending in cliffhangers, it got really annoying.
But still, I own the whole Stravaganza series; so I'll sneak in a book every now and then.
June 7, 2015
recently re-read this series for the hundredth (or so) time, and once again the story did not fail to draw me in. Original, fascinating, exciting - love it.
April 29, 2019
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (maybe even 3.5)
Wait, what?!? Quite a low rating to be on an all-time-favourites list, I know.
I won’t lie: objectively this series may not be the best ever written. Frankly, I am not even sure I am capable of judging them in that aspect.
I read these books together with my mother when I was probably 11. My mother was already very sick and the memories we spent taking turns reading pages to eachother are ones that I will treasure for life now that she is no longer with me. The Stravaganza-series is displayed on my shelves more as a reminder of this memories than a testimony to the content of the books.
At the moment I don’t plan on ever rereading them, neither do I go too far out of my way to recommend them to others. They are very enjoyable, early 2000 YA-fantasy novels about teens travelling to a parallel Italy. The plot is quite interesting but nothing you haven’t seen before, probably. Nonetheless, the beautiful, atmospheric description of Venice (and other Italian cities in the later books) is already a good enough reason on its own to pick this one up.
Stravaganza was originally intended to be a trilogy, until 3 more books were added on later. I personally recommend stopping after the original trilogy, as they go down hill from there in my opinion.
Again: it’s a very enjoyable first book in a series, but objectively I have read better ones. For sentimental reasons, it just feels wrong to not include them on my favourites though.
Wait, what?!? Quite a low rating to be on an all-time-favourites list, I know.
I won’t lie: objectively this series may not be the best ever written. Frankly, I am not even sure I am capable of judging them in that aspect.
I read these books together with my mother when I was probably 11. My mother was already very sick and the memories we spent taking turns reading pages to eachother are ones that I will treasure for life now that she is no longer with me. The Stravaganza-series is displayed on my shelves more as a reminder of this memories than a testimony to the content of the books.
At the moment I don’t plan on ever rereading them, neither do I go too far out of my way to recommend them to others. They are very enjoyable, early 2000 YA-fantasy novels about teens travelling to a parallel Italy. The plot is quite interesting but nothing you haven’t seen before, probably. Nonetheless, the beautiful, atmospheric description of Venice (and other Italian cities in the later books) is already a good enough reason on its own to pick this one up.
Stravaganza was originally intended to be a trilogy, until 3 more books were added on later. I personally recommend stopping after the original trilogy, as they go down hill from there in my opinion.
Again: it’s a very enjoyable first book in a series, but objectively I have read better ones. For sentimental reasons, it just feels wrong to not include them on my favourites though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
February 3, 2014DNF at 22%
I was very excited to start this one because one of my all-time favorite concepts is TIME TRAVEL. There's nothing better than the fascination one gets when they find themselves in another place, in another time, be it in the future or in the past. I love that sense of awe and wonder characters get in such books. I think it's related to my love for both history and traveling, so you really can't blame me for the major excitement I had prior to reading this book. And I guess that's why my disappointment was huge as well. I couldn't even get past 25% of this novel.
There's nothing wrong with the plot per se. Lucien is a teenager stricken with cancer. He can barely move and eat, and he has to have his dad read to him. One day, his father gave him a rather peculiar book, with the instructions to write anything on it. Then when he goes to sleep, he wakes up and finds himself in a strange place, and later finds out he traveled to a parallel universe akin to 15th-16th century Venice. Could have been a really great story with lots of "star-crossed lovers" potential, know what I mean?
Unfortunately, the writing really ruined it for me. You know, I would let third person omniscient pass as long as it does it right. I wouldn't mind as long as there is good pacing, but man, this was the most disjointed novel I've ever read. There was absolutely no build-up and pacing. We're given the POV of this character, then two paragraphs later, we jump to another character's POV from OUT OF NOWHERE, and then we jump back to another POV with an ongoing dialogue with no context given whatsoever. It was bugging the hell out of me, but when it started having THREE POV changes in ONE PAGE, I lost it. I can understand the POV of side characters, but random ones that don't contribute to the overall story, people whose existences I would forget later on? Come the fuck on.
The writing is very important to me. It encourages me to read on. It can have a tragic plot, and maybe even a ridiculous one, but if the writing is splendid, I would ALWAYS give it a chance and read it through. But this? Ugh... If I were a cellphone and you opened an app called City of Masks, I'd be drained out of battery in no time. That's how much this book demotivated me.
I was very excited to start this one because one of my all-time favorite concepts is TIME TRAVEL. There's nothing better than the fascination one gets when they find themselves in another place, in another time, be it in the future or in the past. I love that sense of awe and wonder characters get in such books. I think it's related to my love for both history and traveling, so you really can't blame me for the major excitement I had prior to reading this book. And I guess that's why my disappointment was huge as well. I couldn't even get past 25% of this novel.
There's nothing wrong with the plot per se. Lucien is a teenager stricken with cancer. He can barely move and eat, and he has to have his dad read to him. One day, his father gave him a rather peculiar book, with the instructions to write anything on it. Then when he goes to sleep, he wakes up and finds himself in a strange place, and later finds out he traveled to a parallel universe akin to 15th-16th century Venice. Could have been a really great story with lots of "star-crossed lovers" potential, know what I mean?
Unfortunately, the writing really ruined it for me. You know, I would let third person omniscient pass as long as it does it right. I wouldn't mind as long as there is good pacing, but man, this was the most disjointed novel I've ever read. There was absolutely no build-up and pacing. We're given the POV of this character, then two paragraphs later, we jump to another character's POV from OUT OF NOWHERE, and then we jump back to another POV with an ongoing dialogue with no context given whatsoever. It was bugging the hell out of me, but when it started having THREE POV changes in ONE PAGE, I lost it. I can understand the POV of side characters, but random ones that don't contribute to the overall story, people whose existences I would forget later on? Come the fuck on.
The writing is very important to me. It encourages me to read on. It can have a tragic plot, and maybe even a ridiculous one, but if the writing is splendid, I would ALWAYS give it a chance and read it through. But this? Ugh... If I were a cellphone and you opened an app called City of Masks, I'd be drained out of battery in no time. That's how much this book demotivated me.
March 23, 2016
Summary
Review
I bought this book on whim. The cover just sort of popped out and said, “Buy Me.” It didn’t take me long to get caught up in the world of Bellezza, Talia. Talia, based on our own Venice, Italy during the Renaissance, is a captivating place. There is something so beautiful about the cities of Italy, which is why tourists still travel there, and this book manages to harness that wonder within its pages.
The first thing that drew me in was the tangibleness of the protagonist, Lucien. While I’ve never had to live through the horrible life of living with a tumor, I understand what it’s like to feel helpless and utterly incapable of controlling your own future. Lucien is the epitome of this, he can’t even get out of bed. Luckily for him, the book his father gives him transports to Bellezza. But with it comes its own dangers, thrusting him (and the reader) into a world of adventure.
Now, if you know anything about history, you know that all states, countries, and kingdoms have had to fight to conquer or maintain what they were. In the world of Talia it is no different. In a world where political intrigue, assassination attempts, and ancient laws were at the height of the citizen’s life, the reader learns everything as it is revealed through Lucien’s eyes. In fact, despite the multiple viewpoints that the book is written from, Lucien is the reader’s window to the world.
Now if the adventure or beauty isn’t enough to peak your interest, there is a tangled web of love and betrayal that weaves its way throughout the story. Every character has their own motives and desires and is willing to do anything for them. An example you say?
So, despite being labeled as ‘young adult’, I think there is enough here to make the books enjoyable for all ages.
Review
I bought this book on whim. The cover just sort of popped out and said, “Buy Me.” It didn’t take me long to get caught up in the world of Bellezza, Talia. Talia, based on our own Venice, Italy during the Renaissance, is a captivating place. There is something so beautiful about the cities of Italy, which is why tourists still travel there, and this book manages to harness that wonder within its pages.
The first thing that drew me in was the tangibleness of the protagonist, Lucien. While I’ve never had to live through the horrible life of living with a tumor, I understand what it’s like to feel helpless and utterly incapable of controlling your own future. Lucien is the epitome of this, he can’t even get out of bed. Luckily for him, the book his father gives him transports to Bellezza. But with it comes its own dangers, thrusting him (and the reader) into a world of adventure.
Now, if you know anything about history, you know that all states, countries, and kingdoms have had to fight to conquer or maintain what they were. In the world of Talia it is no different. In a world where political intrigue, assassination attempts, and ancient laws were at the height of the citizen’s life, the reader learns everything as it is revealed through Lucien’s eyes. In fact, despite the multiple viewpoints that the book is written from, Lucien is the reader’s window to the world.
Now if the adventure or beauty isn’t enough to peak your interest, there is a tangled web of love and betrayal that weaves its way throughout the story. Every character has their own motives and desires and is willing to do anything for them. An example you say?
So, despite being labeled as ‘young adult’, I think there is enough here to make the books enjoyable for all ages.
July 22, 2011
Love. So much love. STRAVAGANZA: CITY OF MASKS was such a surprise. I read the summary, and was like “yea, it sounds good”, but oh man…it was so much more than good. This book had me trapped in its story from the first word and I was so content by the end of the epilogue. Happy little sigh and clutching the book to my chest? Yupp, that was me.
Basically, our main character Lucien is bedridden from chemo treatments to try and cure his brain cancer. His father gives him a book, and suddenly when he sleeps, he finds himself in an alternate Italy (called Talia) in a different time period. When he sleeps in Talia, he’s back in his own modern England. In Talia, Lucien is swept up in court intrigue – politics, murder plots, long buried secrets and kidnappings. The stuff adventures are made out of.
While I’m still not quite 100% sure I understand exactly how the Stravagation (moving back and forth in place and time) in the book is supposed to work, I don’t even care. The exact science is not needed when it is a part of a story that encompasses so much detail, emotion and wonderful characterization. The Talia that our main character Lucien Stravagates too is so alive – I felt like I knew its canals, its islands, buildings and peoples. I could picture the fireworks, see the outfits and masks, the bright colours and the architecture – such amazing worldbuilding. I was emotionally invested in this place and the people. The Duchessa who loves her city and will do anything for it, Arianna who wants only to be a mandolier (rows the boats in the canals) but finds so much more waiting for her in the city of Bellezza, and Rodolfo who takes in, cares for and teaches our main character Lucien, unwittingly signing up for more adventure than he could ever want.
I loved Lucien. I wanted to just hug him and tell him everything is going to be ok. He is so strong. Not only is he dealing with cancer in his own world and time, he fully immerses himself in Talia and does everything he can to help out his friends there. By the epic climax, my heart was breaking for him. Lucien has his choice taken away from him, and it’s just…I was so sad for him, and yet so happy at the same time. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain without giving it all away.
STRAVAGANZA: CITY OF MASKS is full to the brim of the stuff that good stories are made out of – mystery, intrigue, royals, a hero, dimension hopping, alternate worlds, characters you can fall in love with and ones you want to be best friends with, amazing detail in the world-building and writing that just pulls you in and wrenches every emotion it can out of you. Though it’s the first book in a series, it stands so well on its own and the ending was just – everything I could have hoped for. Highly recommended!
Originally posted: Escape Through the Pages
Basically, our main character Lucien is bedridden from chemo treatments to try and cure his brain cancer. His father gives him a book, and suddenly when he sleeps, he finds himself in an alternate Italy (called Talia) in a different time period. When he sleeps in Talia, he’s back in his own modern England. In Talia, Lucien is swept up in court intrigue – politics, murder plots, long buried secrets and kidnappings. The stuff adventures are made out of.
While I’m still not quite 100% sure I understand exactly how the Stravagation (moving back and forth in place and time) in the book is supposed to work, I don’t even care. The exact science is not needed when it is a part of a story that encompasses so much detail, emotion and wonderful characterization. The Talia that our main character Lucien Stravagates too is so alive – I felt like I knew its canals, its islands, buildings and peoples. I could picture the fireworks, see the outfits and masks, the bright colours and the architecture – such amazing worldbuilding. I was emotionally invested in this place and the people. The Duchessa who loves her city and will do anything for it, Arianna who wants only to be a mandolier (rows the boats in the canals) but finds so much more waiting for her in the city of Bellezza, and Rodolfo who takes in, cares for and teaches our main character Lucien, unwittingly signing up for more adventure than he could ever want.
I loved Lucien. I wanted to just hug him and tell him everything is going to be ok. He is so strong. Not only is he dealing with cancer in his own world and time, he fully immerses himself in Talia and does everything he can to help out his friends there. By the epic climax, my heart was breaking for him. Lucien has his choice taken away from him, and it’s just…I was so sad for him, and yet so happy at the same time. I don’t know, it’s hard to explain without giving it all away.
STRAVAGANZA: CITY OF MASKS is full to the brim of the stuff that good stories are made out of – mystery, intrigue, royals, a hero, dimension hopping, alternate worlds, characters you can fall in love with and ones you want to be best friends with, amazing detail in the world-building and writing that just pulls you in and wrenches every emotion it can out of you. Though it’s the first book in a series, it stands so well on its own and the ending was just – everything I could have hoped for. Highly recommended!
Originally posted: Escape Through the Pages
May 1, 2009
In modern-day London, Lucien Mulholland undergoes chemotherapy treatments due to the cancer plaguing his body, but when he falls asleep clutching a mysterious book his father has given him, he is transported, or "stravagated," to an enchanting 16th-century Venice-like city called Bellezza, in the country Talia.
Lucien can return only if he can get hold of the book again while thinking of Belleza. In this colorful other world, rich with court intrigues and magic, he feels vibrantly alive, as opposed to his pain-ridden days back in England; his hair has grown back and he eats with relish. Bellezza is also where he, renamed as "Luciano," meets lovely 15-year-old Arianna and Rodolfo, who created the book that acts as Lucien's stravagation talisman.
Rodolfo explains that a stravagante is "a wanderer between worlds," and also the history of this magical travel. Now the secret brotherhood dedicated to keeping the two worlds separate is being challenged by a faction with evil intent. Lucien finds himself swept up in the political undercurrent of the city, whose people and mysterious Duchessa are working with all their might to keep free from the clutches of the Chimici family.
Soon Luciano learns there is a cost when one cannot stravagate properly. The more he travels to this extraordinary city, the more he seems to vanish from his own world and his family. Will Lucien continue to travel between the two worlds or will he be stuck in a world that he barely knows forever?
Book Details:
Title Stravaganza: City Of Masks
Author Mary Hoffman
Reviewed By Purplycookie
Lucien can return only if he can get hold of the book again while thinking of Belleza. In this colorful other world, rich with court intrigues and magic, he feels vibrantly alive, as opposed to his pain-ridden days back in England; his hair has grown back and he eats with relish. Bellezza is also where he, renamed as "Luciano," meets lovely 15-year-old Arianna and Rodolfo, who created the book that acts as Lucien's stravagation talisman.
Rodolfo explains that a stravagante is "a wanderer between worlds," and also the history of this magical travel. Now the secret brotherhood dedicated to keeping the two worlds separate is being challenged by a faction with evil intent. Lucien finds himself swept up in the political undercurrent of the city, whose people and mysterious Duchessa are working with all their might to keep free from the clutches of the Chimici family.
Soon Luciano learns there is a cost when one cannot stravagate properly. The more he travels to this extraordinary city, the more he seems to vanish from his own world and his family. Will Lucien continue to travel between the two worlds or will he be stuck in a world that he barely knows forever?
Book Details:
Title Stravaganza: City Of Masks
Author Mary Hoffman
Reviewed By Purplycookie
March 4, 2016
Like all the others, this is one is beautiful, but I think this one affected me more emotionally than some of the others. I nearly cried several times and I love it just as much now as I did when I first read it about two years and a half years ago.
June 18, 2022
5 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
In dit verhaal wordt je snel meegesleept. In de ene wereld is de jongen kanker patiënt en is het maar de vraag of hij het overleeft. In de Stravaganza wereld waarin hij terecht komt (een soort van Venetië in de 16e eeuw) is hij een jongeman in de kracht van zijn leven.
Hij wordt verliefd op dit gevoel van kracht, op een meisje in deze stad en de stad. Maar hoe komt hij weer in die wereld? En wie kan hij wel en niet vertrouwen? Er is in de 16e eeuwse stad namelijk een familie de die kennis van de 21 eeuw maar wat graag voor hun familie alleen willen hebben en hoe stravageert hij nu tussen zijn eigen wereld en die van de andere wereld?
Ben heerlijk meegezogen in het verhaal.Leest ook heel makkelijk weg door de grote letter druk die wordt gebruikt. Ga deel twee dit jaar ook zeker lezen.
Romy (17 jaar, gebruikster huisbibliotheek Bellefleur)
Naar dependance young adult attic group
In dit verhaal wordt je snel meegesleept. In de ene wereld is de jongen kanker patiënt en is het maar de vraag of hij het overleeft. In de Stravaganza wereld waarin hij terecht komt (een soort van Venetië in de 16e eeuw) is hij een jongeman in de kracht van zijn leven.
Hij wordt verliefd op dit gevoel van kracht, op een meisje in deze stad en de stad. Maar hoe komt hij weer in die wereld? En wie kan hij wel en niet vertrouwen? Er is in de 16e eeuwse stad namelijk een familie de die kennis van de 21 eeuw maar wat graag voor hun familie alleen willen hebben en hoe stravageert hij nu tussen zijn eigen wereld en die van de andere wereld?
Ben heerlijk meegezogen in het verhaal.Leest ook heel makkelijk weg door de grote letter druk die wordt gebruikt. Ga deel twee dit jaar ook zeker lezen.
Romy (17 jaar, gebruikster huisbibliotheek Bellefleur)
Naar dependance young adult attic group
January 2, 2009
A heady blend of historical and science fiction, magic and mayhem, City Of Masks is the first in a very promising series about time travellers known as Stravanganti who can travel from our world to Talia, a country much like our own Italy and yet with its own completely different history and traditions. For all that this is essentially fantasy for kids and teenagers, Hoffman has created a fantastic blend of court intrigue (the Duchessa who helms the water-bound state of Bellezza is a delightfully devious character) and surprisingly affecting family drama (as Lucien lives stricken by cancer in his world, but full of bright, shining promise in the other). The plot threaded throughout the novel is a little predictable, but the strength of the characters and ideas - not to mention Hoffman's reverent, lovely descriptions of an otherworldly Venice (already the most unbearably beautiful city in our world) - is simply a treat and makes for a great, entertaining read.
Read
March 21, 2020A time travelling adventure in 16th century Venice, I reread this over and over as a teenager.
September 7, 2024
'... op het water drijven. Je moet er een keer heen, Lucien. Als je de bocht van de lagune om gaat en je ziet al die torenspitsen en koepels hoog boven het water uitsteken, nou, dan heb je het gevoel dat je in de hemel komt. Al dat goud...'
'Dia... Het is zo. Ik begrijp er niet veel van, maar ik geloof je wél. Je komt uit een grote stad hier heel ver vandaan, waar je heel erg ziek bent, en hier ben je opeens gezond en wel. Hoe bestaat dat?'
Het eerste citaat dat hierboven staat, zegt alles al. Als je mijn reviews hier al wat langer volgt, of je kent me gewoon wat beter, dan weet je het natuurlijk al: mijn fascinatie voor Venetië kent geen grenzen. (Zei iemand daar 'obsessie'? Lacht daar iemand?) En samen met Bella Donna, van Annejoke Smids - waar ik ook over La Serenissima heb zitten fangirlen, is de Stravaganza-reeks van Mary Hoffman een van de hoofdredenen waarom ik mij altijd zo aangetrokken heb gevoeld tot die stad.
Vooral bij Boek 1 is dat het geval. Ongelooflijk dat dit boek ondertussen al ruim twintig jaar oud is - het werd gepubliceerd in 2002 - want het leest alsof het gisteren geschreven is. Meestal merk je na een tijdje toch wel dat er iets oudere elementen in zitten, zowel inhoudelijk als qua taal, maar dat is hier nauwelijks te zien, op één vermelding na: jongeren zullen tegenwoordig waarschijnlijk niet meer zo snel Julia Roberts als hun vlam aanduiden, vermoed ik. Ik in elk geval toch niet. Maar verder is dit echt een tijdloos verhaal. Het toont ook heel goed aan hoe ver fantasy toch al gevorderd kon zijn. De meeste verhalen die toen verschenen hadden nog niet dat originele karakter en al die verscheidenheid zoals we later gewend werden, maar Mary Hoffman slaagde erin om iets totaal anders uit haar mouw te schudden, en het is het lezen nog steeds waard.
Datzelfde geldt ook voor de vertaling, die van de hand van Annelies Jorna is. Zoals gewoonlijk is daar weinig of niks op aan te merken. Alleen op het einde staat er ergens 'bios' en 'spijkerbroek', en er is een klein momentje van Algehele Blasfemie Tegen Venetië wanneer het Canal Grande opeens 'Grand Canal' genoemd wordt, zoals ze in het Engels doen. Dat was even een misser, ook bij de redactie, maar goed, het blijft ook maar bij één keer, dat kunnen we nog door de vingers zien. Verder is dit echt een prachtige vertaling met heel mooie beelden die de woorden oproepen.
En het zijn, natuurlijk, die beelden die het hem doen. Het verhaal speelt zich af in Bellezza, een soort variant op Venetië (het hele land Talia is een variant op Italië) eind 16e eeuw. En beelden van de stad zitten erin, wees maar niet bang. Je wordt erdoor overspoeld (sorry, dat klinkt als een woordgrap, besef ik nu pas), het hele boek lang. Door het water, de piazzi, palazzi, campi en een hele resem andere dingen die je vast zult herkennen als je al eens in Venetië bent geweest. En als je er nog nooit bent geweest, zal deze beeldvorming er allicht voor zorgen dat je dat wel zal willen. Wat een prachtbeschrijvingen zijn dit toch. Een knap staaltje werk, er zijn geen woorden voor! Als je Venetië kent - écht kent -, en Italië en haar geschiedenis in het algemeen, zullen je trouwens een hoop details opvallen die voor andere lezers verborgen blijven. Reden te meer dus om je in die cultuur onder te dompelen. En als je die kennis niet hebt: vrees niet, want met een basiskennis Italië en Italiaans kom je ook al een eind.
Het verhaal zelf is ontzettend spannend en origineel. Reizen tussen tijd en ruimte hebben we allemaal al wel gezien, maar de manier waarop is weer eens iets anders, en wat er allemaal gebeurt in Bellezza is adembenemend. Dit boek zit vol climaxen, je kunt er wel een stuk of drie uithalen als je gaat analyseren, volgens mij. De ene verrassing na de andere stapelt zich op, allemaal voorafgegaan door kleine hints (die je pas zult herkennen bij het herlezen, dan valt alles pas echt op zijn plaats!), en een hoop onthullingen passeren de revue. Dit zit echt geweldig ineen. Niets is wat het lijkt, overal zitten geheimen, het maakt echt deel uit van de wereld in het boek. Vooral de laatste honderd bladzijdes ongeveer zitten echt propvol.
Hoffman heeft een beetje een aparte manier van het boek op te bouwen. Daar ben je, vermoed ik, fan van of niet. Ze schrijft altijd korte stukjes - scènes, of delen van scènes - die ze afwisselt tussen ons heden en het Taliaanse verleden, en tussen allerlei personages. Ik vind dat geweldig, die constante wisselwerking tussen iedereen, want dat zorgt voor nog meer spanning dan gewoonlijk, maar als je iemand bent die graag wat langere stukken heeft, geeft het misschien problemen. Maar dan nog zou ik zeggen: er zijn genoeg andere positieve elementen aan het boek dat je het een kans moet geven.
Er zijn best veel personages, nu we het er toch over hebben. Niet onoverkomelijk veel, maar toch al een mooi aantal. Het wordt gelukkig goed opgebouwd, er is nooit verwarring over wie nu eigenlijk wie is. En iedereen wordt erg goed vormgegeven ook. Dat je verliefd wordt op Luciano en/of Arianna is haast onvermijdelijk, denk ik zo. Ze zijn een paar perfecte - in mijn ogen - personages, en ook de andere verrassen. Je zou denken dat de duchessa een irritant kreng is, maar schijn bedriegt. En in Bellezza weten ze wel wat over schijn...
Ach ja, ik kan blijven doorgaan. Laat het gewoon duidelijk zijn dat dit een prachtig begin is van de reeks, en een prachtige reden om Venetië (of iets dat er heel erg op lijkt) te verkennen als je niet genoeg geld hebt om er zelf naartoe te gaan, of als je internet platligt en je niet op Google Streetview door de calli kunt gaan dwalen.
9,7/10
'Dia... Het is zo. Ik begrijp er niet veel van, maar ik geloof je wél. Je komt uit een grote stad hier heel ver vandaan, waar je heel erg ziek bent, en hier ben je opeens gezond en wel. Hoe bestaat dat?'
Het eerste citaat dat hierboven staat, zegt alles al. Als je mijn reviews hier al wat langer volgt, of je kent me gewoon wat beter, dan weet je het natuurlijk al: mijn fascinatie voor Venetië kent geen grenzen. (Zei iemand daar 'obsessie'? Lacht daar iemand?) En samen met Bella Donna, van Annejoke Smids - waar ik ook over La Serenissima heb zitten fangirlen, is de Stravaganza-reeks van Mary Hoffman een van de hoofdredenen waarom ik mij altijd zo aangetrokken heb gevoeld tot die stad.
Vooral bij Boek 1 is dat het geval. Ongelooflijk dat dit boek ondertussen al ruim twintig jaar oud is - het werd gepubliceerd in 2002 - want het leest alsof het gisteren geschreven is. Meestal merk je na een tijdje toch wel dat er iets oudere elementen in zitten, zowel inhoudelijk als qua taal, maar dat is hier nauwelijks te zien, op één vermelding na: jongeren zullen tegenwoordig waarschijnlijk niet meer zo snel Julia Roberts als hun vlam aanduiden, vermoed ik. Ik in elk geval toch niet. Maar verder is dit echt een tijdloos verhaal. Het toont ook heel goed aan hoe ver fantasy toch al gevorderd kon zijn. De meeste verhalen die toen verschenen hadden nog niet dat originele karakter en al die verscheidenheid zoals we later gewend werden, maar Mary Hoffman slaagde erin om iets totaal anders uit haar mouw te schudden, en het is het lezen nog steeds waard.
Datzelfde geldt ook voor de vertaling, die van de hand van Annelies Jorna is. Zoals gewoonlijk is daar weinig of niks op aan te merken. Alleen op het einde staat er ergens 'bios' en 'spijkerbroek', en er is een klein momentje van Algehele Blasfemie Tegen Venetië wanneer het Canal Grande opeens 'Grand Canal' genoemd wordt, zoals ze in het Engels doen. Dat was even een misser, ook bij de redactie, maar goed, het blijft ook maar bij één keer, dat kunnen we nog door de vingers zien. Verder is dit echt een prachtige vertaling met heel mooie beelden die de woorden oproepen.
En het zijn, natuurlijk, die beelden die het hem doen. Het verhaal speelt zich af in Bellezza, een soort variant op Venetië (het hele land Talia is een variant op Italië) eind 16e eeuw. En beelden van de stad zitten erin, wees maar niet bang. Je wordt erdoor overspoeld (sorry, dat klinkt als een woordgrap, besef ik nu pas), het hele boek lang. Door het water, de piazzi, palazzi, campi en een hele resem andere dingen die je vast zult herkennen als je al eens in Venetië bent geweest. En als je er nog nooit bent geweest, zal deze beeldvorming er allicht voor zorgen dat je dat wel zal willen. Wat een prachtbeschrijvingen zijn dit toch. Een knap staaltje werk, er zijn geen woorden voor! Als je Venetië kent - écht kent -, en Italië en haar geschiedenis in het algemeen, zullen je trouwens een hoop details opvallen die voor andere lezers verborgen blijven. Reden te meer dus om je in die cultuur onder te dompelen. En als je die kennis niet hebt: vrees niet, want met een basiskennis Italië en Italiaans kom je ook al een eind.
Het verhaal zelf is ontzettend spannend en origineel. Reizen tussen tijd en ruimte hebben we allemaal al wel gezien, maar de manier waarop is weer eens iets anders, en wat er allemaal gebeurt in Bellezza is adembenemend. Dit boek zit vol climaxen, je kunt er wel een stuk of drie uithalen als je gaat analyseren, volgens mij. De ene verrassing na de andere stapelt zich op, allemaal voorafgegaan door kleine hints (die je pas zult herkennen bij het herlezen, dan valt alles pas echt op zijn plaats!), en een hoop onthullingen passeren de revue. Dit zit echt geweldig ineen. Niets is wat het lijkt, overal zitten geheimen, het maakt echt deel uit van de wereld in het boek. Vooral de laatste honderd bladzijdes ongeveer zitten echt propvol.
Hoffman heeft een beetje een aparte manier van het boek op te bouwen. Daar ben je, vermoed ik, fan van of niet. Ze schrijft altijd korte stukjes - scènes, of delen van scènes - die ze afwisselt tussen ons heden en het Taliaanse verleden, en tussen allerlei personages. Ik vind dat geweldig, die constante wisselwerking tussen iedereen, want dat zorgt voor nog meer spanning dan gewoonlijk, maar als je iemand bent die graag wat langere stukken heeft, geeft het misschien problemen. Maar dan nog zou ik zeggen: er zijn genoeg andere positieve elementen aan het boek dat je het een kans moet geven.
Er zijn best veel personages, nu we het er toch over hebben. Niet onoverkomelijk veel, maar toch al een mooi aantal. Het wordt gelukkig goed opgebouwd, er is nooit verwarring over wie nu eigenlijk wie is. En iedereen wordt erg goed vormgegeven ook. Dat je verliefd wordt op Luciano en/of Arianna is haast onvermijdelijk, denk ik zo. Ze zijn een paar perfecte - in mijn ogen - personages, en ook de andere verrassen. Je zou denken dat de duchessa een irritant kreng is, maar schijn bedriegt. En in Bellezza weten ze wel wat over schijn...
Ach ja, ik kan blijven doorgaan. Laat het gewoon duidelijk zijn dat dit een prachtig begin is van de reeks, en een prachtige reden om Venetië (of iets dat er heel erg op lijkt) te verkennen als je niet genoeg geld hebt om er zelf naartoe te gaan, of als je internet platligt en je niet op Google Streetview door de calli kunt gaan dwalen.
9,7/10
November 10, 2022
De personages zijn wel erg snel gewend aan de plotselinge situaties waarin ze zich bevinden. Plot is wel netjes uitgewerkt.
March 20, 2017
The book has a beautiful setting (something like an unspecifically "historicised" version of Venice), likable enough characters, and not even a bad plot as such. So why did it only receive two stars?
Because it was boring and extremely predictable to me (and rather too soppy in the end). Which is what I give two stars for.
The problem is that it adhered to basically all the unwritten rules of how YA fantasy fiction works while not having a storyline or characters quite "new"/intriguing enough to cover that up. Which is why I knew how the story would go as soon as all the central characters were introduced, which was quite soon. But as it was lent to me as a "fantastic book" I went through with it anyway, only to not once be surprised at the turns and twists.
This might also explain why I never made it to the other books of Stravaganza, and don't intend to, too.
Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone to give it a try - perhaps especially readers who haven't read that much YA fantasy yet or who just can switch off that inner voice making educated spoiler-guesses so readily.
Because it was boring and extremely predictable to me (and rather too soppy in the end). Which is what I give two stars for.
The problem is that it adhered to basically all the unwritten rules of how YA fantasy fiction works while not having a storyline or characters quite "new"/intriguing enough to cover that up. Which is why I knew how the story would go as soon as all the central characters were introduced, which was quite soon. But as it was lent to me as a "fantastic book" I went through with it anyway, only to not once be surprised at the turns and twists.
This might also explain why I never made it to the other books of Stravaganza, and don't intend to, too.
Still, I wouldn't discourage anyone to give it a try - perhaps especially readers who haven't read that much YA fantasy yet or who just can switch off that inner voice making educated spoiler-guesses so readily.
August 4, 2008
This book was a disappointment. The story is childish and unrealistic – in the bad way. The main idea is not very original, the characters don’t read like actual, complex people, the plot is quite predictable. I finished the book, but it was boring, even annoying towards the end.
February 17, 2011
City of Masks is a wonderful story which intricately weaves the present world with a parallel fantasical historical world. This is every bit my favourite type of story and it was a delight to read.
Lucien lives in modern day England but his life is marked by his illness. He has cancer and at the beginning of the story he is undergoing chemotherapy to treat the tumour. Arianna lives in Talia, a parallel universe for want of a better description, which has a feel of 16th century Italy but has its own vivid natural beauty and is populated by a cast of eccentric characters.
Lucien unwittingly comes across a talisman which transports him from his world to Arianna’s. He is a Stravagante who has the power to enter parallel universes. The talisman gives him time without his sickness in Bellezza which is akin to Venice - a great water city surrounded by islands. He arrives in the city on the one day that it is forbidden for non-native Bellezan's to be there. Thus his first stravagation is fraught with danger because if he is discovered he will face punishment by death. But another person is in Bellezza when she shouldn’t be, the feisty Arianna, and so begins the meeting of their two stories and this exotic exciting historical adventure.
The characters in this story were all so colourfully drawn as was the world of Bellezza. The smells, the tastes, the rich setting, the atmosphere all transported me to this unfamiliar world and made me, like Lucien, fall in love with it. But the most breathtaking part of this story is the plot. The twists left me gasping and desperate to know more. The ending had me in turmoil. I wanted to cheer and cry at the same time. I lived this story with Lucien every step of the way. I watched the magnificient fireworks. I dived into the stinky waters of the canal. I hid in the secret passageway. You live every word.
If you haven’t started this series yet, you certainly should! I can’t wait to start the second book City of Stars. The Stravaganza series will appeal to fans of Theresa Breslin and Stuart Hill. Both happen to be writers that I love. Now I can add Mary Hoffman to my list of novelists who can weave stories which open a window into another world and make you feel as if you have walked through the streets, danced with the flamboyant people and risked life and death to do it. It’s love!
Lucien lives in modern day England but his life is marked by his illness. He has cancer and at the beginning of the story he is undergoing chemotherapy to treat the tumour. Arianna lives in Talia, a parallel universe for want of a better description, which has a feel of 16th century Italy but has its own vivid natural beauty and is populated by a cast of eccentric characters.
Lucien unwittingly comes across a talisman which transports him from his world to Arianna’s. He is a Stravagante who has the power to enter parallel universes. The talisman gives him time without his sickness in Bellezza which is akin to Venice - a great water city surrounded by islands. He arrives in the city on the one day that it is forbidden for non-native Bellezan's to be there. Thus his first stravagation is fraught with danger because if he is discovered he will face punishment by death. But another person is in Bellezza when she shouldn’t be, the feisty Arianna, and so begins the meeting of their two stories and this exotic exciting historical adventure.
The characters in this story were all so colourfully drawn as was the world of Bellezza. The smells, the tastes, the rich setting, the atmosphere all transported me to this unfamiliar world and made me, like Lucien, fall in love with it. But the most breathtaking part of this story is the plot. The twists left me gasping and desperate to know more. The ending had me in turmoil. I wanted to cheer and cry at the same time. I lived this story with Lucien every step of the way. I watched the magnificient fireworks. I dived into the stinky waters of the canal. I hid in the secret passageway. You live every word.
If you haven’t started this series yet, you certainly should! I can’t wait to start the second book City of Stars. The Stravaganza series will appeal to fans of Theresa Breslin and Stuart Hill. Both happen to be writers that I love. Now I can add Mary Hoffman to my list of novelists who can weave stories which open a window into another world and make you feel as if you have walked through the streets, danced with the flamboyant people and risked life and death to do it. It’s love!
January 15, 2022
۲.۵
یه کتاب middlegrade معمولی. تنها دلیلی که dnfاش نکردم مود ایتالیایی قرن ۱۶هش . نمیدونم هوپا برطبق چی گفتش این کتاب وای ای ئه:/
یه کتاب middlegrade معمولی. تنها دلیلی که dnfاش نکردم مود ایتالیایی قرن ۱۶هش . نمیدونم هوپا برطبق چی گفتش این کتاب وای ای ئه:/
October 4, 2024
Έψαχνα κάτι καινούργιο, κάτι το διαφορετικό. Ήθελα η ιστορία με την οποία θα καταπιανόμουν αυτή τη φορά να μην έχει τίποτα το γνώριμο, τίποτα το προβλέψιμο. Και ξαφνικά, σε ένα βιβλίο με προσφορές, ανάμεσα σε τόσα άλλα, ξεχώρισα ένα φανταχτερό μωβ εξώφυλλο με μια ασημένια, λαμπερή μάσκα πίσω από την οποία βρίσκονταν δυο μυστηριώδη βιολετί μάτια που αγνάντευαν ένα κανάλι της Βενετίας. Ή μήπως όχι; Όσο κι αν η εικόνα σε οδηγούσε σε ένα συμπέρασμα, διαβάζοντας το οπισθόφυλλο αντιλαμβανόσουν ότι τα πράγματα ήταν πιο περίπλοκα απ' όσο σκέφτηκες με μια πρώτη εντύπωση. Και κάπου εκεί άρχισα να αναρωτιέμαι... τι είναι και τι ακριβώς κάνει ένας Στραβαγκάντε; Και η Μπελλέτσα, γιατί το όνομά της ηχεί τόσο οικείο στα αυτιά μου ενώ στην πραγματικότητα δεν γνωρίζω την ύπαρξή της; Πώς λοιπόν, μετά απ' όλα όσα ήδη ανέφερα, να αντισταθώ στον πειρασμό.
Η συγγραφέας του πρώτου βιβλίου της τριλογίας, "Στραβαγκάντζα", Mary Hoffman, είναι μια εκ των δημοφιλέστερων και πιο αγαπητών συγγραφέων παιδικών βιβλίων, έχοντας άνω των 80 τίτλων στο ενεργητικό της, με πολλά βραβεία και διακρίσεις. Η εν λόγω σειρά, είναι η πρώτη της συγγραφική απόπειρα να απευθυνθεί σε ένα ευρύτερο κοινό, όχι μόνο παιδιών ή εφήβων αλλά, ακόμα κι ανήλικων που αναζητούν λίγη φαντασία, περιπέτεια και δράση, σε έναν κόσμο πέρα από τα συμβατικά και τετριμμένα όρια που είμαστε συνηθισμένοι. Και πραγματικά η ιστορία της αυτής, δεν είναι απλά υπέροχη και μαγευτική, ιδιαίτερη και ξεχωριστή αλλά, τόσο εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένη και δοσμένη με τόση ρεαλιστικότητα που, ακόμα και ο παράλληλος, φανταστικός κόσμος που η ίδια δημιούργησε, να φαντάζει ακόμα πιο όμορφος, αγαπητός και άξιος να εξερευνηθεί, από την Ιταλία και την Βενετία της, που άσκησαν επιρροή και έμπνευση για την δημιουργία του, χάρη στην αγάπη της Hoffman απέναντί τους.
Ο Λυσιέν, βαρύτατα άρρωστος από καρκίνο, χάρη σε ένα μαγικό τέλεσμα που φτάνει τυχαία στα χέρια του, βρίσκεται από τη μια στιγμή στην άλλη, από την ασφάλεια του δωματίου του σ��ην Αγγλία, στην Μπελλέτσα, πόλη της Ταλίας, γερός και υγιής χωρίς ωστόσο να γνωρίζει τι συνέβηκε και πως οδηγήθηκε εκεί. Μέχρι που θα γνωρίσει την Αριάννα η οποία θα τον βοηθήσει αρχικά να μάθει που βρίσκεται και στην συνέχεια της ιστορίας, να κατανοήσει και να γνωρίσει τα πάντα γύρω από την πόλη, την κουλτούρα, την φιλοσοφία και τα έθιμά της. Παράλληλα θα γνωρίσει τον Ροντόλφο, επιφανές μέλος της πόλης ο οποίος τυγχάνει να είναι Στραβαγκάντε, όπως και ο ίδιος ο Λυσιέν και αναλαμβάνει να τον προστατέψει αλλά και να του μάθει τα πάντα γύρω από τη νέα του αυτή ιδιότητα. Ο Λυσιέν, ο οποίος κατά την διάρκεια της παραμονής του στην Ταλία ονομάζεται Λουτσιάνο, δεν αργεί να προσαρμοστεί στα νέα δεδομένα και καθημερινά ταξιδεύει στο χώρο και το χρόνο για να βρεθεί από την σύγχρονη Αγγλία, στην Ταλία του 16ου αιώνα, το alter ego της Ιταλίας του δικού του κόσμου.
Στην Ταλία ο Λυσιέν θα συναντήσει νέους ανθρώπους, νέα έθιμα, θα ανακαλύψει νέα πράγματα γύρω από τον κόσμο, γύρω από τις ικανότητές του και θα αισθανθεί ξανά ζωντανός και χρήσιμος, γεμάτος λαχτάρα για νέες εμπειρίες αλλά, και για να προστατέψει το νέο του κόσμο που πλέον δεν τον αντιμετωπίζει ως απλός επισκέπτης αλλά, ως γνήσιος πολίτης του. Και μπορεί ο ίδιος και η Αριάννα να μην το γνωρίζουν ωστόσο, η ίδια η μοίρα τους έχει σημαδέψει έτσι ώστε να παίξουν πολύ σημαντικό ρόλο στις εξελίξεις που ανοίγονται μπροστά τους. Γιατί η ιστορία της Hoffman δεν περιέχει μόνο στοιχεία φανταστικού και μυστηρίου αλλά, πολιτικών εξελίξεων, δολοπλοκιών και δίψας για χρήμα, αναγνώριση ή εξουσία, ανάλογα σε ποιο πρόσωπο αποτυπώνονται τα πάθη αυτά. Η Δούκισσα της Μπελλέτσα, η ανώτατη εξουσία της πόλης κινδυνεύει και οι δύο νέοι μαζί με τους υποστηρικτές τους θα πρέπει να την προστατέψουν και μαζί με αυτήν, να προστατέψουν την ίδια την Μπελλέτσα και το μέλλον της, με όποιον τρόπο, με όποιο κόστος.
Θα μπορούσε κανείς να υποθέσει ότι το γεγονός ότι η Ιταλία αποτελεί πηγή έμπνευσης για την συγγραφέα αλλά ωστόσο, την μεταμορφώνει σε μια νέα, ανύπαρκτη πόλη, θα ήταν ενοχλητικό. Κι όμως, ενώ αυτή η σκέψη είναι απόλυτα λογική, αποδεικνύεται λανθασμένη και βεβιασμένη. Η Hoffman δεν βεβηλώνει την αξία της Ιταλίας αλλά, με σεβασμό απέναντι στις ιδέες που άντλησε από αυτήν, χτίζει ένα νέο, παράλληλο κόσμο, όπου σχεδόν τα πάντα λειτουργούν αντίστροφα από τον δικό μας. Αυτό έχει σαν αποτέλεσμα, και χάρη στην εξαιρετική ικανότητα γραφής της, να πλάθει κάθε λεπτομέρεια του κόσμου της με τέτοιον τρόπο ώστε, να υπάρχουν στιγμές που να μπερδεύουμε στο μυαλό μας το φανταστικό από το πραγματικό. Η Ταλία και η Μπελλέτσα της, φαντάζουν τόσο αληθινές που μετά από λίγο ξεχνάμε ότι πρόκειται για αποκύημα της φαντασίας της. Περιπλανόμαστε στα κανάλια της και στα στενά σοκάκια της, θαυμάζουμε την αρχιτεκτονική της και μαγευόμαστε από την ιστορία, τους μύθους, τις δοξασίες και τα έθιμα που την συνοδεύουν. Δεν είναι απλά ένας κόσμος που δημιούργησε για να υπάρχει ως πλέγμα γύρω από τους χαρακτήρες της αλλά, για να ζει μαζί με αυτούς.
Στοιχηματίζω ότι όποιος ξεκινήσει να διαβάζει την τριλογία της Hoffman, με αφετηρία πάντα την "Πόλη Με Τις Μάσκες", δεν θα μπορεί να την αφήσει από τα χέρια του. Δεν είναι μόνο μια ιστορία μυστηρίου με φανταστικές προεκτάσεις αλλά, ένα κοινωνικοπολιτικό θρίλερ, ένα δράμα ανθρώπινων χαρακτήρων που ψάχνουν τη δική τους θέση στην τάξη των πραγμάτων και που από την ίδια την μοίρα καλούνται να εκτελέσουν ένα καθήκον, σημαντικό τόσο για το μέλλον των ίδιων και των οικείων τους όσο και της χώρας της οποίας αποτελούν μέλη και πολίτες. Οι περιγραφές της συγγραφέως είναι μοναδικές και λεπτομερείς, με τέτοιο τρόπο που δεν σε κουράζουν αλλά αντίθετα, σου γεννούν την επιθυμία να μπορούσες κι εσύ να γνωρίσεις την Μπελλέτσα και τα ήθη της. Οι ήρωές της είναι καλοδουλεμένοι, πολυδιάστατοι, έτοιμοι για όλα και ωστόσο, χωρίς να σου αφήνουν περιθώρια να μαντέψεις τις κινήσεις τους. Μια ιστορία, με αγάπη, ίντριγκα, πάθη που στο βάθος της, μιλάει για την αξία της ζωής και των σχέσεων, για την ανάγκη να βρεις που ανήκεις και να μείνεις εκεί ακόμα κι αν υπάρχει κόστος πράγμα που στο τέλος, σε αφήνει με μια γλυκόπικρη αίσθηση ικανοποίησης και μια βαθιά συγκίνηση.
Η συγγραφέας του πρώτου βιβλίου της τριλογίας, "Στραβαγκάντζα", Mary Hoffman, είναι μια εκ των δημοφιλέστερων και πιο αγαπητών συγγραφέων παιδικών βιβλίων, έχοντας άνω των 80 τίτλων στο ενεργητικό της, με πολλά βραβεία και διακρίσεις. Η εν λόγω σειρά, είναι η πρώτη της συγγραφική απόπειρα να απευθυνθεί σε ένα ευρύτερο κοινό, όχι μόνο παιδιών ή εφήβων αλλά, ακόμα κι ανήλικων που αναζητούν λίγη φαντασία, περιπέτεια και δράση, σε έναν κόσμο πέρα από τα συμβατικά και τετριμμένα όρια που είμαστε συνηθισμένοι. Και πραγματικά η ιστορία της αυτής, δεν είναι απλά υπέροχη και μαγευτική, ιδιαίτερη και ξεχωριστή αλλά, τόσο εξαιρετικά καλογραμμένη και δοσμένη με τόση ρεαλιστικότητα που, ακόμα και ο παράλληλος, φανταστικός κόσμος που η ίδια δημιούργησε, να φαντάζει ακόμα πιο όμορφος, αγαπητός και άξιος να εξερευνηθεί, από την Ιταλία και την Βενετία της, που άσκησαν επιρροή και έμπνευση για την δημιουργία του, χάρη στην αγάπη της Hoffman απέναντί τους.
Ο Λυσιέν, βαρύτατα άρρωστος από καρκίνο, χάρη σε ένα μαγικό τέλεσμα που φτάνει τυχαία στα χέρια του, βρίσκεται από τη μια στιγμή στην άλλη, από την ασφάλεια του δωματίου του σ��ην Αγγλία, στην Μπελλέτσα, πόλη της Ταλίας, γερός και υγιής χωρίς ωστόσο να γνωρίζει τι συνέβηκε και πως οδηγήθηκε εκεί. Μέχρι που θα γνωρίσει την Αριάννα η οποία θα τον βοηθήσει αρχικά να μάθει που βρίσκεται και στην συνέχεια της ιστορίας, να κατανοήσει και να γνωρίσει τα πάντα γύρω από την πόλη, την κουλτούρα, την φιλοσοφία και τα έθιμά της. Παράλληλα θα γνωρίσει τον Ροντόλφο, επιφανές μέλος της πόλης ο οποίος τυγχάνει να είναι Στραβαγκάντε, όπως και ο ίδιος ο Λυσιέν και αναλαμβάνει να τον προστατέψει αλλά και να του μάθει τα πάντα γύρω από τη νέα του αυτή ιδιότητα. Ο Λυσιέν, ο οποίος κατά την διάρκεια της παραμονής του στην Ταλία ονομάζεται Λουτσιάνο, δεν αργεί να προσαρμοστεί στα νέα δεδομένα και καθημερινά ταξιδεύει στο χώρο και το χρόνο για να βρεθεί από την σύγχρονη Αγγλία, στην Ταλία του 16ου αιώνα, το alter ego της Ιταλίας του δικού του κόσμου.
Στην Ταλία ο Λυσιέν θα συναντήσει νέους ανθρώπους, νέα έθιμα, θα ανακαλύψει νέα πράγματα γύρω από τον κόσμο, γύρω από τις ικανότητές του και θα αισθανθεί ξανά ζωντανός και χρήσιμος, γεμάτος λαχτάρα για νέες εμπειρίες αλλά, και για να προστατέψει το νέο του κόσμο που πλέον δεν τον αντιμετωπίζει ως απλός επισκέπτης αλλά, ως γνήσιος πολίτης του. Και μπορεί ο ίδιος και η Αριάννα να μην το γνωρίζουν ωστόσο, η ίδια η μοίρα τους έχει σημαδέψει έτσι ώστε να παίξουν πολύ σημαντικό ρόλο στις εξελίξεις που ανοίγονται μπροστά τους. Γιατί η ιστορία της Hoffman δεν περιέχει μόνο στοιχεία φανταστικού και μυστηρίου αλλά, πολιτικών εξελίξεων, δολοπλοκιών και δίψας για χρήμα, αναγνώριση ή εξουσία, ανάλογα σε ποιο πρόσωπο αποτυπώνονται τα πάθη αυτά. Η Δούκισσα της Μπελλέτσα, η ανώτατη εξουσία της πόλης κινδυνεύει και οι δύο νέοι μαζί με τους υποστηρικτές τους θα πρέπει να την προστατέψουν και μαζί με αυτήν, να προστατέψουν την ίδια την Μπελλέτσα και το μέλλον της, με όποιον τρόπο, με όποιο κόστος.
Θα μπορούσε κανείς να υποθέσει ότι το γεγονός ότι η Ιταλία αποτελεί πηγή έμπνευσης για την συγγραφέα αλλά ωστόσο, την μεταμορφώνει σε μια νέα, ανύπαρκτη πόλη, θα ήταν ενοχλητικό. Κι όμως, ενώ αυτή η σκέψη είναι απόλυτα λογική, αποδεικνύεται λανθασμένη και βεβιασμένη. Η Hoffman δεν βεβηλώνει την αξία της Ιταλίας αλλά, με σεβασμό απέναντι στις ιδέες που άντλησε από αυτήν, χτίζει ένα νέο, παράλληλο κόσμο, όπου σχεδόν τα πάντα λειτουργούν αντίστροφα από τον δικό μας. Αυτό έχει σαν αποτέλεσμα, και χάρη στην εξαιρετική ικανότητα γραφής της, να πλάθει κάθε λεπτομέρεια του κόσμου της με τέτοιον τρόπο ώστε, να υπάρχουν στιγμές που να μπερδεύουμε στο μυαλό μας το φανταστικό από το πραγματικό. Η Ταλία και η Μπελλέτσα της, φαντάζουν τόσο αληθινές που μετά από λίγο ξεχνάμε ότι πρόκειται για αποκύημα της φαντασίας της. Περιπλανόμαστε στα κανάλια της και στα στενά σοκάκια της, θαυμάζουμε την αρχιτεκτονική της και μαγευόμαστε από την ιστορία, τους μύθους, τις δοξασίες και τα έθιμα που την συνοδεύουν. Δεν είναι απλά ένας κόσμος που δημιούργησε για να υπάρχει ως πλέγμα γύρω από τους χαρακτήρες της αλλά, για να ζει μαζί με αυτούς.
Στοιχηματίζω ότι όποιος ξεκινήσει να διαβάζει την τριλογία της Hoffman, με αφετηρία πάντα την "Πόλη Με Τις Μάσκες", δεν θα μπορεί να την αφήσει από τα χέρια του. Δεν είναι μόνο μια ιστορία μυστηρίου με φανταστικές προεκτάσεις αλλά, ένα κοινωνικοπολιτικό θρίλερ, ένα δράμα ανθρώπινων χαρακτήρων που ψάχνουν τη δική τους θέση στην τάξη των πραγμάτων και που από την ίδια την μοίρα καλούνται να εκτελέσουν ένα καθήκον, σημαντικό τόσο για το μέλλον των ίδιων και των οικείων τους όσο και της χώρας της οποίας αποτελούν μέλη και πολίτες. Οι περιγραφές της συγγραφέως είναι μοναδικές και λεπτομερείς, με τέτοιο τρόπο που δεν σε κουράζουν αλλά αντίθετα, σου γεννούν την επιθυμία να μπορούσες κι εσύ να γνωρίσεις την Μπελλέτσα και τα ήθη της. Οι ήρωές της είναι καλοδουλεμένοι, πολυδιάστατοι, έτοιμοι για όλα και ωστόσο, χωρίς να σου αφήνουν περιθώρια να μαντέψεις τις κινήσεις τους. Μια ιστορία, με αγάπη, ίντριγκα, πάθη που στο βάθος της, μιλάει για την αξία της ζωής και των σχέσεων, για την ανάγκη να βρεις που ανήκεις και να μείνεις εκεί ακόμα κι αν υπάρχει κόστος πράγμα που στο τέλος, σε αφήνει με μια γλυκόπικρη αίσθηση ικανοποίησης και μια βαθιά συγκίνηση.
October 23, 2017
Kun kasiluokkalainen poika tuli kyselemään tätä kirjastosta ja kertoi lukeneensa sarjan jo kolmesti, uteliaisuus heräsi. En ollut aiemin kiinnittänyt huomiota koko sarjaan, mutta tämähän oli ihan tosi kiva löytö. Tylsä kansi, mutta sisältä löytyy tavallista tusinafantasiaa enemmän. Tragediat ovat suuria mutta kärsimys, toiminta ja juonenkäänteet ovat mielestäni niissä rajoissa, että sarjan lukemisen voi hyvin aloittaa jo vaikka neljäs-viidesluokkalainen fantasian ystävä. Tuuppasin tämän myös jälkikasvun yöpöydälle arvioitavaksi.
Ja vaikka kirjapino yöpöydällä on jo pelottavan korkea, niin taidanpa lainata myös sarjanseuraavan osan :)
Ja vaikka kirjapino yöpöydällä on jo pelottavan korkea, niin taidanpa lainata myös sarjanseuraavan osan :)
Read
November 15, 2021Re-reading one of my favourite series from when I was younger! Holds up, pretty much. A little cheesy, but I think that's why I love it so much.
March 4, 2024
What can I say, it was one of my favorite books as a kid and the affection I have for it very much hasn't changed. The writing is perhaps not the most sophisticated (it is aimed at kids after all), but the plot and the worldbuilding were just as gripping and intriguing as I remembered them. They sure don't write books like this anymore. A shot of nostalgia straight through the heart.
March 22, 2020
I loved it❤
December 12, 2023
Ah, the nostalgia. I read this when I was 11 and it always stuck with me. Thankfully, it was still good 12 years later!
February 18, 2024
This series had an absolute chokehold on me in middle school
Sarah this is a must read
Sarah this is a must read
March 26, 2013
The Stravaganza series is based on a really interesting fantasy concept: a select few people can travel between two worlds, the world as we know it and an alternate version of Renaissance Italy. The action takes place in another Venice, called Bellezza. This is the stravagation the series title refers to. It's a great idea, but it really could have used a bit more development. The whole book, in fact, could have used a bit more development.
The book mainly follows two main characters, Lucien and Arianna. Lucien is from our world, where he's a teenage cancer patient. Of course, when he first finds himself in Bellezza, apparently healthy, it seems like a dream to him. Arianna is from the world of Bellezza, but she was born outside the city. We first meet her when she's decided to run away from her brothers in order to spend the night after an important festival in the city, then present herself as a candidate to be mandolier (read: gondolier) the next morning. She has two problems here: only boys can become a mandolier, and only people born on Bellezza can stay in the city the night after the festival. They meet the following morning, when Lucien accidentally stravgates to Bellezza.
Things happen in this book, not necessarily because they make any sense to, but because the later plot will need them to. A perfect example happens relatively early: Lucien, who has just traveled from our world to Bellezza, is made a mandolier (gondolier) for a matter of hours before he's claimed as an apprentice by who is essentially the local wizard. He doesn't so much as set foot on a boat, so why bother with that digression? Because it will become necessary for the plot later on, of course.
Similarly, the antagonist's plots are all so painfully easy to thwart that he quickly ceases to be any sort of threat at all. This book is only 350 pages long, but he goes through no less than five separate plots, all of which are casually swept aside with no more than a few dozen pages of angst, at the most. After the first few, I just stopped worrying about him.
Fortunately, the characters are mostly engaging. I liked Lucien well enough, and his actions and reactions always seemed fairly reasonable to me, under the circumstances. The more minor characters are sympathetic and sound like they could reasonably be expected to sound. The Duchesse, for instance, sounds precisely like how I would expect a powerful woman who's successfully ruled a city for over twenty years to sound. (Though she, too, makes some decisions based only on what would be best for the story Hoffman has in mind.) Arianna, on the other hand... It's a good thing she's likeable. She shows a severe inability to think through her actions. See her grand plan to become a mandolier, one which she eventually admits she hadn't exactly thought through. It also never seemed to dawn on her that her brothers could find themselves in severe danger if they'd lingered in Bellezza too long looking for her. Nor, in all her indignation that girls can't become mandoliers, does it ever trouble her that non-Bellezzans can't, either. At least Hoffman generally treats this as a personal failing and a sign that she's still young, instead of an endearing trait.
There is promise here, there really is. Reading about this alternate version of Bellezza was fun, though I suspect that anybody who wasn't familiar with Venice (or at least the Assassin's Creed version) would be hopelessly lost. The idea of stravagation is interesting, though it needs more development to be truly convincing. And Hoffman can write believable characters and dialog, though she needs some serious work on her villains. But although this was an enjoyable read, I'm not hooked enough to continue with the series.
The book mainly follows two main characters, Lucien and Arianna. Lucien is from our world, where he's a teenage cancer patient. Of course, when he first finds himself in Bellezza, apparently healthy, it seems like a dream to him. Arianna is from the world of Bellezza, but she was born outside the city. We first meet her when she's decided to run away from her brothers in order to spend the night after an important festival in the city, then present herself as a candidate to be mandolier (read: gondolier) the next morning. She has two problems here: only boys can become a mandolier, and only people born on Bellezza can stay in the city the night after the festival. They meet the following morning, when Lucien accidentally stravgates to Bellezza.
Things happen in this book, not necessarily because they make any sense to, but because the later plot will need them to. A perfect example happens relatively early: Lucien, who has just traveled from our world to Bellezza, is made a mandolier (gondolier) for a matter of hours before he's claimed as an apprentice by who is essentially the local wizard. He doesn't so much as set foot on a boat, so why bother with that digression? Because it will become necessary for the plot later on, of course.
Similarly, the antagonist's plots are all so painfully easy to thwart that he quickly ceases to be any sort of threat at all. This book is only 350 pages long, but he goes through no less than five separate plots, all of which are casually swept aside with no more than a few dozen pages of angst, at the most. After the first few, I just stopped worrying about him.
Fortunately, the characters are mostly engaging. I liked Lucien well enough, and his actions and reactions always seemed fairly reasonable to me, under the circumstances. The more minor characters are sympathetic and sound like they could reasonably be expected to sound. The Duchesse, for instance, sounds precisely like how I would expect a powerful woman who's successfully ruled a city for over twenty years to sound. (Though she, too, makes some decisions based only on what would be best for the story Hoffman has in mind.) Arianna, on the other hand... It's a good thing she's likeable. She shows a severe inability to think through her actions. See her grand plan to become a mandolier, one which she eventually admits she hadn't exactly thought through. It also never seemed to dawn on her that her brothers could find themselves in severe danger if they'd lingered in Bellezza too long looking for her. Nor, in all her indignation that girls can't become mandoliers, does it ever trouble her that non-Bellezzans can't, either. At least Hoffman generally treats this as a personal failing and a sign that she's still young, instead of an endearing trait.
There is promise here, there really is. Reading about this alternate version of Bellezza was fun, though I suspect that anybody who wasn't familiar with Venice (or at least the Assassin's Creed version) would be hopelessly lost. The idea of stravagation is interesting, though it needs more development to be truly convincing. And Hoffman can write believable characters and dialog, though she needs some serious work on her villains. But although this was an enjoyable read, I'm not hooked enough to continue with the series.
April 29, 2024
Teenager Lucien, seriously ill with cancer, is able with the help of an old notebook to become one of the stravaganti, time-travellers to a parallel Renaissance Italy called Talia, and finds himself in the city of Bellezza, a version of Venice.
It's the feast of carnival and a time of masks and disguises, and in Belezza's politics the powerful di Chimici family may remind the reader of Florence's Medici dynasty. But who is Rodolfo, a man with a secret of his own? And who is the lad hoping to become a mandolier for the Duchessa? (Clearly the former is Talia's equivalent of a gondolier and the latter the female counterpart of Venice's Doge.)
Lucien is inevitably caught up in intrigues and dangers involving both the Duchessa's fiancé and her secret lover, but unbeknown to him an English stravagante, the alchemist William Dethridge, has plans for the role Lucien is due to assume.
There are strong characters who drive the action forward: Arianna, the girl who wants to become one of the Duchessa's mandoliers; the Duchessa's loyal maid Giuliana; and of course the Duchessa herself, the subject of an assassination plot. Oddly, the least strongest portrayal is Lucien himself, who comes across as a passive player in this dreamworld, perhaps meant as a reflection of his own real life hovering on the frontiers of Death.
There's an additional theme besides disguises running through these pages, that of silver being more precious and efficacious than gold, perhaps linked the the protoscientific concepts of alchemy, a theme which looks set to continue through subsequent novels in the Stravaganza series.
This was a fairly easy and non-demanding read, its intended audience possibly the lower end of the young adult.range, but despite pointers towards the protagonist's ultimate fate it proved a strangely candyfloss confection. Still, as an evocation of a slightly distorted mirror-image Renaissance Italy it was vivid and, as Talia, it will doubtless linger on in the edges of memory.
It's the feast of carnival and a time of masks and disguises, and in Belezza's politics the powerful di Chimici family may remind the reader of Florence's Medici dynasty. But who is Rodolfo, a man with a secret of his own? And who is the lad hoping to become a mandolier for the Duchessa? (Clearly the former is Talia's equivalent of a gondolier and the latter the female counterpart of Venice's Doge.)
Lucien is inevitably caught up in intrigues and dangers involving both the Duchessa's fiancé and her secret lover, but unbeknown to him an English stravagante, the alchemist William Dethridge, has plans for the role Lucien is due to assume.
There are strong characters who drive the action forward: Arianna, the girl who wants to become one of the Duchessa's mandoliers; the Duchessa's loyal maid Giuliana; and of course the Duchessa herself, the subject of an assassination plot. Oddly, the least strongest portrayal is Lucien himself, who comes across as a passive player in this dreamworld, perhaps meant as a reflection of his own real life hovering on the frontiers of Death.
There's an additional theme besides disguises running through these pages, that of silver being more precious and efficacious than gold, perhaps linked the the protoscientific concepts of alchemy, a theme which looks set to continue through subsequent novels in the Stravaganza series.
This was a fairly easy and non-demanding read, its intended audience possibly the lower end of the young adult.range, but despite pointers towards the protagonist's ultimate fate it proved a strangely candyfloss confection. Still, as an evocation of a slightly distorted mirror-image Renaissance Italy it was vivid and, as Talia, it will doubtless linger on in the edges of memory.
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