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janagaton's review against another edition
4.0
It took me so long to finish this book! It would've been 3 stars if it weren't for the unique concept because I've never seen anyone else write a story involving Mozart at all, let alone his sister + a magical world! It was also kind of predictable at times, and I noticed that the pacing was kind of off during some chapters, but the writing is beautiful & the fantastical elements of the Kingdom of Back are very well done!
meggeorge's review against another edition
3.0
3.2 stars
This book was cosy and beautiful. The fairy tale vibe was amazing and exactly what I was looking for. I thought the story and characters were very well crafted.
My gripes were quite personal. YA is very hit or miss for me, for reasons of prose, since I read mostly adult. I thought the prose here was good, but too simple to hold my attention for too long, so I had to skim quite a bit. I also thought the plot structure was a bit repetitive, with almost every single character falling ill multiple times throughout the story.
Again, though, I rarely love YA books, but this was great.
This book was cosy and beautiful. The fairy tale vibe was amazing and exactly what I was looking for. I thought the story and characters were very well crafted.
My gripes were quite personal. YA is very hit or miss for me, for reasons of prose, since I read mostly adult. I thought the prose here was good, but too simple to hold my attention for too long, so I had to skim quite a bit. I also thought the plot structure was a bit repetitive, with almost every single character falling ill multiple times throughout the story.
Again, though, I rarely love YA books, but this was great.
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I remember that I got this book for a few reasons. Firstly, this cover is insanely gorgeous and it instantly made me curious about the story. Secondly, it's about the Mozart children and as a musician I developed a soft spot for Mozart. Thirdly, it focusses mainly on Nannerl. For once she's allowed to come out of her brother's shadow. Fourthly, there is a fantasy world involved. Yesterday it was finally time to start reading.
I totally understand that this story doesn't work for everyone, but it absolutely did work for me. And that's mostly because I really recognized myself in Nannerl. I recognize myself in the way she experienced and made music. I recognize myself in her love (and sometimes envy) for her brother. I recognize myself in her drive to be remembered (and the lesson she learns throughout the book). I also recognize myself in her fear of her music and creations being discovered and destroyed.
I also loved the fantasy world and its influence on the real world. The line between fantasy and reality is really nicely blurred in this novel. It's clear that the characters are truly experiencing everything in the fantasy world, but it's also all very symbolic and mirroring what's happening in the real world. I also love how many elements of Mozart's Oper "Die Zauberflöte" are present in the Kingdom of Back, although mostly in a slightly different shape and form.
I also really enjoyed how this book breathed music. I'm not entirely sure if it still works for people who have no knowledge of music theory at all, since a lot of terms and symbols are used without any explanation, but it fits Nannerl and Wolfgang. They are both so passionate, talented and mad about music. They must breath it, must feel and must use it to describe any and every experience and moment in time.
I wish I had read this book sooner. Although I've maybe read it exactly when I needed it most.
I totally understand that this story doesn't work for everyone, but it absolutely did work for me. And that's mostly because I really recognized myself in Nannerl. I recognize myself in the way she experienced and made music. I recognize myself in her love (and sometimes envy) for her brother. I recognize myself in her drive to be remembered (and the lesson she learns throughout the book). I also recognize myself in her fear of her music and creations being discovered and destroyed.
I also loved the fantasy world and its influence on the real world. The line between fantasy and reality is really nicely blurred in this novel. It's clear that the characters are truly experiencing everything in the fantasy world, but it's also all very symbolic and mirroring what's happening in the real world. I also love how many elements of Mozart's Oper "Die Zauberflöte" are present in the Kingdom of Back, although mostly in a slightly different shape and form.
I also really enjoyed how this book breathed music. I'm not entirely sure if it still works for people who have no knowledge of music theory at all, since a lot of terms and symbols are used without any explanation, but it fits Nannerl and Wolfgang. They are both so passionate, talented and mad about music. They must breath it, must feel and must use it to describe any and every experience and moment in time.
I wish I had read this book sooner. Although I've maybe read it exactly when I needed it most.
swampbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Marie Lu has one goal in life and it is to break my heart.
This book is not at all what I thought it would be. What was believed to be a story about the life of the forgotten Mozart child ended up being a full-blown Narnia-esque fae fantasy. As someone who has only read her Legend series, a thrilling dystopian full of politics and danger, this revealed a side of her I didn’t know existed.
I’ve gotta admit, it was real hard for me to get through the first half of the book. The writing was beautiful and enchanting, but I felt bored reading it. And then, when I got to the halfway point, it was practically impossible for me to put it down. It took me days to get through the first half and then I finished the second in a single sitting.
Nannerls’ growth was inspiring, and I think her story would have been life changing for me had I read it at a younger age when I was still intimidated by simply existing. Finding out that she was, in fact, a real person who not only performed with Wolfgang but actually imagined up the Kingdom of Back with him on their travels really turned around my perspective. Now I’m sitting here hoping that she eventually found true happiness in her life, even with knowing that she would always spend it living under her brothers shadow.
This book is not at all what I thought it would be. What was believed to be a story about the life of the forgotten Mozart child ended up being a full-blown Narnia-esque fae fantasy. As someone who has only read her Legend series, a thrilling dystopian full of politics and danger, this revealed a side of her I didn’t know existed.
I’ve gotta admit, it was real hard for me to get through the first half of the book. The writing was beautiful and enchanting, but I felt bored reading it. And then, when I got to the halfway point, it was practically impossible for me to put it down. It took me days to get through the first half and then I finished the second in a single sitting.
Nannerls’ growth was inspiring, and I think her story would have been life changing for me had I read it at a younger age when I was still intimidated by simply existing. Finding out that she was, in fact, a real person who not only performed with Wolfgang but actually imagined up the Kingdom of Back with him on their travels really turned around my perspective. Now I’m sitting here hoping that she eventually found true happiness in her life, even with knowing that she would always spend it living under her brothers shadow.
ssssophie3745's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
meyrathedreamer's review against another edition
5.0
I've always been skeptical about Marie Lu's books because my first encounter with her was her Legend series which I did not like very much but when I heard about this book, despite being from an author I was hesitant about, I immediately thought I need to read this. This was about music, faeries, magic, the love between siblings, and the wishes to not be forgotten. What was I going to do? Not read? Absolutely not. And I am glad that I did not simply ignore this wonderful book because of my prejudices. It was beautifully written, with vivid details of the Kingdom and the music, and every time Marie Lu described what playing piano meant for Nannerl, I quit reading and sat on the bench, of course, I am not a prodigy as Mozart siblings are, and still a beginner, I think our love for music is similar. I am definitely going to read more about Mozart siblings in the future and play their compositions a little bit differently, knowing the story behind them.
Anyways, read this if you have a strong love for music and fairytales. It was amazing.
Anyways, read this if you have a strong love for music and fairytales. It was amazing.
rolypoliak's review against another edition
2.0
DNF, could not get into it even after getting over 1/3 of the way in. Pretty prose, but the story felt stagnant.
torreads95's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5