Previous SFF Author: Erin Hoffman
(1945- )
Mary Hoffman has written over 80 children’s books. We will present her fantasy epic, Stravaganza, here. You can learn about the characters and story lines and read excerpts at the Stravaganza Website. For information about other books, see Mary Hoffman’s official website.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE BOOKS BY MARY HOFFMAN.
City of Masks by Marry Hoffman
City of Masks is an “other world” novel, one where characters from our world can travel back and forth to another, in this case an alternate history 16th century Italy known as Talia. These travelers (and it works both ways) are known as “stravaganti,” thus the series title. While this book takes places in this world’s version of Venice (Bellezza), others in the series will range elsewhere (City of Stars, for example, is set in an alternate Sienna).
Bill Capossere and Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 3, 5 | Mary Hoffman | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | 3 comments |
The Duke is in a Dangerous Mood…
City of Stars is the second in Mary Hoffman‘s Stravaganza series (of which there are currently five installments), following on from City of Masks. The basic premise of the story is based on people known as the Stravagante: a select group of individuals from our world who can transport in their sleep to the country of Talia, an alternative version of Italy in the sixteenth century.
Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 4 | Mary Hoffman | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
City of Flowers by Mary Hoffman
They Want To Take All My Sons!
This, the third book in the Stravaganza series, is almost twice the size of the first installment, City of Masks, and I can’t help but feel that its pacing suffers as a result. Though still rich in detail and description, City of Flowers feels rather sluggish at times, with none of the intrigue or urgency that filled the pages of its predecessors. It picks up considerably toward the end of the novel,
Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 3.5 | Mary Hoffman | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
City of Secrets by Mary Hoffman
It’s Always Somehow Connected to the di Chimici…
City of Secrets is the fourth book in Mary Hoffman’s Stravaganza series, but by this stage they’re wearing a little thin. They’re still very well written, but the freshness and originality of the first couple of books are long gone and what’s left is just formulaic.
The concept itself is great and somewhat reminiscent of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia.
Rebecca Fisher´s rating: 3 | Mary Hoffman | Young Adult | SFF Reviews | no comments |
Previous SFF Author: Erin Hoffman
Thanks for the kind words, Marion! Coming as they are from a professional writer, they are much appreciated!
Wonderful review, Sandy.
The "body count" bothered me a bit less because being dead seemed more like an inconvenience than anything else... unlike…
Detailed, thoughtful review, Bill. I'm going to read it for two reasons. First, Karen Russell wrote it, and second, it…
this sounds like a fun one