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.
