Reviews

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

kimal2028's review

5.0

This book gets an A+ from me. This book had just the right amount of family while showing how torn Nannerl was between saving her brother and becoming immortal. She shared the same fear as her mother. Being forgotten. She had the chance to become immortal but she would have to give up her brother. She didn't give up her brother because she loved him more than she wanted to become immortal. Hyacinth should go die in the hole but she did fall in love with him. But Wolferl was a true prince in both the Kingdom of Back and in the real world. He was just a little child but he had the hugest impact on so many people's lives.

niinahayashi's review

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

lectora_errante's review against another edition

3.0

Es un libro lento, no me causó la sensación de tener que leerlo a cada hora. Para mi gusto se centra demasiado en la fantasía y no eb la parte histórica. Fue bastante predecible en algunas cosas desde el principio, sin embargo la historia es bonita. Quizás simplemente no era lo que tenía en mente leer, pero creo que con una relectura futura mejoraría bastante.
Lo mejor, los personajes, Nannerl y Woferl me enamoraron desde el minuto uno.

becbec624's review

3.0

Nannerl is the sister of Wolfgang Mozart and just wants to be remembered in a society that does not want women to be remembered for the music they create. Nannerl spends this whole book going on this ongoing adventure and making this big deal with a supernatural being just so that she can be remembered. All while her and her brother are traveling Europe as child musicians. Throughout the book you can see Wolfgang gaining the respects of the patrons and royalty as he gets commissioned while Nannerl is just a sort of afterthought. This leads to her becoming desperate for her to be the one to write the family legacy, hence the deal with the supernatural being from a made up world that both her and her brother share. I was so looking forward to loving this book. As a double violin major in college, it sounded like the perfect book for me.
I think Nannerl had so much potential. She had a spunk and a want that I just feel fell so flat during the last 2 chapters. Nannerl ends up being exactly what she stated time and time again that she did not want to be. Another problem I had with this book was the plot points that really didn't lead anywhere. Nannerl meets a boy she is interested in and then he just sort of disappears? He wrote her letters and from the looks of it she never wrote him back or tried making any communication despite being very interested in him? I could see if Johann made an appearance at the end of the book, but instead there is an unnamed husband. I just don't see at all why this character needed to be introduced There were also a lot of times where characters were so sick it seemed they were on the brink of death, but for some reason they always made a miraculous recovery.
I keep trying to understand why the ending was written the way it is. Why Nannerl had to fall so flat at the end. But I cannot. I can understand the approach of not wanting to divert from history too much, but this book includes a magical world filled with a dragon, a witch, ogre among other magical things. There was no reason Nannerl's story could not have been slightly rewritten
she could've continued composing under the vague Mozart name even if there was never no intention of publishing, she could've kept making music, even if it was just for her family and close friends, she could've married someone who was important enough to name.
*2.5 Stars*

hkc0125's review

adventurous challenging inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

paig35mith's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book and the Magical Kingdom of Back. I liked it even more when relistening to it with my husband.

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. 

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