The Theatre Illuminata is home to every play ever written – and to Beatrice Shakespeare Smith ("Bertie" for short), who was left on its doorstep as an infant. Now she lives on its stage and consorts with spirits, pirates, kings, and… well, in short, every character ever to stride the boards. Constantly accompanied (whether she wants to be or not) by four cake-obsessed fairies, Bertie can't seem to stay out of trouble. It's gotten so bad that management is ready to throw her out, unless she can – against all odds – prove her worth to the theater. With its willful and engaging heroine, dazzling concept, and host of Shakespearian characters, Lisa Mantchev's debut novel is itself like a great piece of theatre. Shifting effortlessly from hilarity to romance to loss to redemption, it is bound to delight anyone who has ever dreamed of the stage.
