The second in the magical Stravaganza series is a gorgeous book returning us to the wonder of Bellezza and the joy of Mary Hoffman's craftsmanship.
Form the blurb;
'Georgia fell asleep with the model of the flying horse in her hand, wishing she could find a place where horses has wings and she could fly away from her troubles forever. Georgia loves horses and hates Russell, her step-brother. It seems Russell's main aim is to make Georgia miserable, whereas all Georgia wants to do is to go horse-riding whenever she can get the opportunity - and to avoid Russell.
'When Georgia finally saves up enough money to buy the little model of a winged horse she has admired in the window of an antique shop, she knows she has to keep it well out of Russell's way in case he realises it is important to her. But what Georgia doesn't know is that the little horse offers her an escape to another world and another time, that of sixteenth-century Remora, a city that is similar to Siena in Italy, but that has evolved quite differently...'
This novel has us looking through antique shops in the hope of magical talismans as Hoffman crafts a glorious world which enchants the mind and captures the soul.
Unlike Lucien in City of Masks, Georgia's story isn't about finding another life, but about finding a way to survive and thrive in her own reality. For her the world of Remora is a chance to live out her wildest dreams, to discover her true strengths and passions and to grow as a person.
Like Lucien Georgia soon finds herself entangled in far to many political maneuverings to count, and must race to learn everything she can about this vast and complex world entrenched in treachery.
Thrilled to be back in Hoffman's alternative past readers enter City of Stars with a sense that they know and understand the landscape of the world they are entering only to be thrillingly surprised by the new twists and turns Hoffman introduces, throwing Georgia and the reader down a rabbit hole of discovery that only furthers our passion and excitement for the Stravaganza series.
We give City of Stars Five Stars
ISBN - 0-7475-6123-0
Hardback Cover Price - £12.99
First published in Great Britain in 2003 by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc