Stravaganza: City of Masks

A teenage boy named Lucien Mulholland travels between two worlds - present-day London and a parallel 16th century Venice-like city called Bellezza. His link between the worlds is a marbled notebook that transports him while he sleeps, transforming him into a healthy version of himself in this alternate Renaissance reality. In Bellezza, Lucien becomes a "Stravagante" - someone who can move between worlds - and studies under a master who teaches him about this power. He befriends Arianna, a girl from the island city, while navigating the complex political landscape of Bellezza and its powerful Duchessa who rules amid threats to her leadership. The story interweaves elements of historical fiction, fantasy, and coming-of-age as Lucien balances his two lives and the increasing dangers in both worlds. Throughout his journey, themes of identity, power, and courage emerge against the rich backdrop of a reimagined Renaissance Italy.

Readers highlight the rich world-building of 16th century Venice (Bellezza) and the creative parallel universe concept. Many point to the detailed descriptions of masks, architecture, and Venetian culture as strengths. The dynamic between protagonists Lucien and Arianna receives frequent mention in positive reviews. Common criticisms include a slow start, confusing time-travel mechanics, and too many secondary characters to track. Some readers note that the political intrigue elements feel underdeveloped. "The fantasy elements blend seamlessly with historical fiction" appears in multiple reviews, while others say "the modern-day sections drag compared to the historical parts." Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (15,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (400+ ratings) The book scores higher with young adult readers compared to adult fantasy fans, with teen reviewers particularly connecting to the coming-of-age themes and school elements.

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🎭 "City of Masks" was inspired by the author's deep love of Venice, Italy, though the fictional city of Bellezza in the book is an alternate version set in a parallel universe. ⚜️ Author Mary Hoffman wrote the first draft of the novel while recovering from breast cancer treatment, using the story as a form of escape during her recovery. 🎪 The traditional Venetian Carnival masks featured in the book have a real historical significance - they were once used to maintain anonymity and eliminate social class distinctions during celebrations. 📚 The book is the first in a series of six Stravaganza novels, each set in a different magical city based on a real Italian location. 🌙 The talisman that allows the main character to travel between worlds is a marble notebook - each subsequent book in the series features a different object as its magical transport device.