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starrysea98's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars. while being fairly captivating (marie lu NEVER disappoints with her amazing writing) i just didn’t really connect with the story if that makes sense? the whole kingdom of back thing confused me a bit bc it’s made up but at the same time, it actually exists? setting logic aside, it makes sense in a fairytale-esque kind of way. honestly i’d love to see illustrations of the kingdom of back; the queen of the night’s grotto especially!! (also didn’t mozart write an aria called queen of the night? clever!)
amy_stoffels18's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
This story was able to both warm and break my heart as it displayed the price of ambition. It follows Mozart's sister in her attempt to be remembered for her music in a world that won’t allow it. Conveniently, there is another - and someone willing to make a deal.
Got a little emotional as I empathised with the main character - her struggles being the eldest daughter and her conflicting emotions for her brother.
Got a little emotional as I empathised with the main character - her struggles being the eldest daughter and her conflicting emotions for her brother.
xknight95's review against another edition
2.0
An interesting concept with beautiful writing. It juts had trouble keeping my attention at times. Fascintating to learn that Mozart had a sister who was also a musical prodigy.
sajk's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
ameena_23's review
5.0
This book was a magnificent embodiment of the love between Nannerl and Woferl that outshined all the betrayal and deception that Hyacinth had conjured up to allure them into the kingdom forever.
“All I’ve ever wanted, Nannerl, was to be like you. It is still all I hope for. I need you to know. I need you to know.” He repeated it several times.
"And suddenly I realized that, here, kept safe within the small chest of my brother, was my wish all along. I’d despaired so much of ever seeing it come true, had spent so much effort turning toward my father for validation, that I’d never taken the time to look in Woferl’s direction for it.
It was my wish not to be forgotten, to have a place within hearts when I was gone. To be remembered by the world.
But it was my brother’s wish to be like me. He was the one who handed me quill and ink. He was the one who remembered.”
“All I’ve ever wanted was to be like you".
"Perhaps I would never be remembered in the same way as my brother. Perhaps, in the world’s eyes, I would never be what I wanted to be. Perhaps the only one who would ever hold me in his heart would be Woferl. But when I was gone, my work would survive, immortalized on paper, embedded in my brother’s mind. Locked away inside me, carried on through him. No one could take that piece of my soul away".
What legacy could Nannerl have left if she'd been given the kind of attention and access that her brother enjoyed? What beautiful creations were lost to us forever because Nannerl was a woman? How many other countless talents have been silenced by history, whether for their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic circumstances?
“All I’ve ever wanted, Nannerl, was to be like you. It is still all I hope for. I need you to know. I need you to know.” He repeated it several times.
"And suddenly I realized that, here, kept safe within the small chest of my brother, was my wish all along. I’d despaired so much of ever seeing it come true, had spent so much effort turning toward my father for validation, that I’d never taken the time to look in Woferl’s direction for it.
It was my wish not to be forgotten, to have a place within hearts when I was gone. To be remembered by the world.
But it was my brother’s wish to be like me. He was the one who handed me quill and ink. He was the one who remembered.”
“All I’ve ever wanted was to be like you".
"Perhaps I would never be remembered in the same way as my brother. Perhaps, in the world’s eyes, I would never be what I wanted to be. Perhaps the only one who would ever hold me in his heart would be Woferl. But when I was gone, my work would survive, immortalized on paper, embedded in my brother’s mind. Locked away inside me, carried on through him. No one could take that piece of my soul away".
What legacy could Nannerl have left if she'd been given the kind of attention and access that her brother enjoyed? What beautiful creations were lost to us forever because Nannerl was a woman? How many other countless talents have been silenced by history, whether for their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic circumstances?
delaneybull's review
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
1.0
This dragged quite a bit, and the plot with the Kingdom of Back was pretty underwhelming. I also really hated how she just quit playing music at the end?? Like you made it fantasy already, can't we have her at least do that?
33lle's review
4.0
This book is a masterpiece, but I don’t 100% love it, which is weird to say since Marie Lu is my favorite author. The reason I don’t 100% love it is not because it’s not good enough, the story and everything blew my mind, but I guess it’s just not my cup of tea?
breakfastgrey's review
4.0
Wow, oh wow, did I love this book. It had some awkward pacing and a few plot hiccups, but I still got lost in the magic. I loved the flawed, fleshed out characters and the magical world they painted around them. I think historical fantasy is becoming one of my new favorite genres. Also, there were two pockmarked characters in the book. And neither of them was a villain. That's huge.
bookish_mrs_w's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 this was an interesting read. While I didn’t love the fantasy aspect of this story, I did really enjoy the historical parts. There were parts of the fantasy that didn’t quite make sense. I have a theory about the manifestation and the progression of the Kingdom of Back that was never specifically implied but through subtle hints in the storytelling gave me an inclination. This book really shines in its historical retelling of how docile and muted women were expected to be. Overall, it was a good read.