Stravaganza City of Masks - Mary Hoffman

'City of Masks is a poignant, touching and exciting novel, difficult to put down. This is one of the best time-slip stories that I have read in recent years. Without doubt a masterwork of contemporary children's literature.' Edgardo Zaghini, Children's Literature Officer/Booktrust A fantastic first novel in a potential trilogy. Sequel to come: City of Stars. This is quite simply the most romantic, thrilling book of the year. Set in a parallel world, in an Italy that in this world is called Talia and in a Venice that in this world is called Bellezza, the narrative follows Lucien, who in this world is ill with cancer. Given a marbled notebook to help him communicate when his throat hurts too much to speak, this notebook is the means that transports Lucien to this magical, dangerous new world. This is a world which is set in the C16, and thrills to the delight of political intrigue, including assassination attempts both foiled and successful. The parallel Venice is astonishingly evoked, with the silks and velvets, the sensuousness of the food and the elegance of the city and its waterways all beautifully and powerfully described. The world of Talia is unforgettably and convincingly real. Follow Lucien as he finds out that he is in fact a Stravagante - a powerful magician who can travel in space and time - and as he becomes inextricably linked with the lives and fates of the people in Bellezza. The must-read of the year