I have finished Mary Hoffman’s second book City of Stars and the adventures keep on coming. Georgia O’Grady, a London teenager with a bad life at home, is mysteriously transported at night to a wonderful place called Talia. Much like Renaissance Italy, she marvels at the strange way people live without modern technology and especially how they get around on horses, being interested in them herself. But as she sees the amazing features, she realizes under the beautiful sites, there lies a Talia that is extremely dangerous. One that people lie, cheat, steal, spy and sometimes murder in order to get their way. Georgia is bound for trouble, but will new friends in Talia, and in London, keep her out of danger?
Several amazing things have happened in Remora, the city in Talia that Georgia stavagates, or travels, to. Prince Gaetano di Chimici has been sent by his father, the Duke, to ask the hand of the Duchessa of Bellezza, Arianna Rossi. Gaetano is also friends with Luciano Crinamorte, her father’s assistant and her favorite. While in Bellezza, Gaetano, who is described as very ugly, meets with Arianna, but is also surprised when another family member who he is very close to shows up at Arianna’s palazzo. He wants to spend more time with this person instead of the Duchessa, who he has become great friends with.
After a while, the Duchessa of Bellezza comes to the twelfth of Ram in Remora. She is a young, beautiful, elegant woman to Georgia, and secretly is a little jealous of her. She is excited to see the new Stravaganti, Giorgio Gredi, that’s Georgia’s Talian name, but surprisingly is not as excited to see Luciano. Arianna is Luciano’s best friend since he came to Bellezza, even before she was the Duchessa, and he wanted her a little happier to see him. She is also greeted warmly by Gaetano and his father, the Duke Niccolo of Giglia, but this was the family that tried to kill her mother, the former Duchessa, and to the public knowledge, did.
Speaking of her mother, Silvia and the Regent Rodolfo, who is her father, are also in Remora. Falco di Chimici, Gaetano’s younger brother, has come to Luciano and Georgia with a wild request that will be dangerous and get everyone into much trouble. The Duke’s spy, Enrico, has come to Remora after his Fiancée disappeared and is doing things her shouldn’t do, and he is very close to finding out the Ram’s secret. Merla is a black, winged, foal that was born just weeks ago, and is in hiding up at another person’s stables out of the city. But will Enrico find her, and what will he do with her if he does?
This is a little faster paced than the first book, I think. There isn’t a whole lot more action, but there are things that make you want to turn the pages or look ahead. I know it is tempting, but don’t look! The book is better if you are surprised, because you will be wondering what in the world these people are thinking. I know I was, right up until the end, which is also a face-palm ending. I am so thankful to Mary Hoffman for this series and this installment in it. It pleases every kind of person from the fantasy person to the sci-fi fan to the normal teenage book geek. With all the danger and action, a beautiful setting, a great storyline and such lovable characters (my personal favorite is either Cesare), this book is a major keeper. It also makes me reach for the next book . . .
RED’S ALL-STAR REVIEW: If a great historical-fantasy is like an apple pie, then this series is a Boston Crème. 3 ½ star easy, and bound to get better.
MASS APPEAL: As I think I’ve mentioned before, this is great for a lot of people. If you like: history, Renaissance, Italy, horses, espionage and kidnapping, mythology, and/or the concept of time travel, this book is practically calling you name. Listen to it, the books know best.
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