I did enjoy this book (except the tears! keep a tissue close!). It wasn't as funny as the first two, but it did have its moments, and the story is just as well-written as [b:Eyes Like Stars|3817859|Eyes Like Stars (Théâtre Illuminata, #1)|Lisa Mantchev|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312231039s/3817859.jpg|3862155] and [b:Perchance to Dream|7179686|Perchance to Dream (Théâtre Illuminata, #2)|Lisa Mantchev|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1317792140s/7179686.jpg|7652031], but the books truly are a trilogy and can not be read as stand-alone books. I read the first two books back-to-back, but that was months ago, and I don't remember all the details. Many past events are alluded to, but not recapped, in the third book, so you'll want to read all three books together so you're not lost. I don't have time right now, but at some point, I'll have to reread all three. (Not my favorite plan, as I don't like to reread books, but I'll get more enjoyment out of So Silver Bright when I know what happened previously.)

As for the actual story, I was blown away when a character mentioned that they had only been away from the Theatre for a little over a week! I guess I just supposed that with everything going on, it had been a few months. There is also a little time-travelling going on, and there are a couple time paradoxes of the sort that always freak me out a little. ( )

This is not a stand-alone book, do not read it before the other two like I did. I found it very confusing, and the parts that tried to be whimsical just felt annoying. ( )

Not the ending I expected. Not the ending I wanted.
So, this book actually took me awhile to read. I think it was five days. Being someone who usually reads a book a day, this is nearly unprecedented.
Not that it was boring or slow or hard to read. I think it was mostly because I was distracted. But whatever.
More fairy hijinks in this book.
Okay, so the thing about this book: the title, her hair, everything basically, was pointing to Bertie ending up with Ariel. This was a cause of great happiness for me, as I love Ariel.
And, at the ending, I suppose she did choose Ariel, in a way. it was very profound. It was very deep. But by no means a happily ever after.
And then, there was a tad more after she chose-Ariel-in-a-way. Kind of, this story is over but it’s not the end kind of ending.
It was a good ending. It wrapped everything up, broke my heart a little, and left it open-ended in a way that indicates the story is over, but it’s not the end of the character’s lives (not all of them, anyway).
And that is my definition of a good ending.

( )

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, the faeries continue to be delightful, and the dialogue in the novel is witty and fun as ever. On the other hand, the story was all over the place. I had a really difficult time following the plot, and figuring out exactly what Bertie was trying to do in this one. There were so many loose ends that it seems like the author was trying to tidy up, that she kept switching directions and it got confusing at times.

All and all, this was delightful to read, but I had a hard time focusing. It does not rate is high is the previous two books in the trilogy, but I'm glad I finished it.

Honestly? The faeries themselves made the read worthwhile! :-) Few books make me laugh as often as this trilogy has! ( )

Sista boken om Beatrice Shakespeare Smith är i princip en rak fortsättning på den andra: tredje och sista akten är inte platsen att introducera några stora nya roller (även om en och annan biroll och statist kan tänkas): detta är tillfället för att knyta ihop trådar, gärna med en elegant vändning, och att ge alla gestalter det slut de varit på väg mot, osäkra på om det hela är tragedi eller komedi (för älvorna är allt definitivt komedi; för övriga är det lite mer osäkert).

Beatrice skall alltså, nu när hennes två älskade är säkra, också se till att återförena sina föräldrar, och dessutom hålla sig undan havsgudinnan Sednas vrede: två långtifrån lätta mål, men kanske kan det hjälpa om man uppsöker Drottningen och från henne får en Önskan uppfylld. Å andra sidan, med den nyckfulla journalen som mycket i förra boken kretsade kring i åtanke kanske inte en Önskan är vad som krävs heller.

Om första boken var en förtjusande utforskning av teaterns magi, och andra var ett halvhjärtat försök att göra detsamma med reseskildring och mindre genrer, är det mesta sådant nu definitivt borta: Bertie har ordmagi och jordmagi, lite ärvd magi från jord och hav, och kanske även lite stulen eld, men det är inte riktigt narrativ magi i berättelsen. På något sätt. Man lämnas hungrig efter mer, inte som älvor som gått utan mat i två timmar, utan som en som fått äta rester av en från början mycket god måltid. ( )