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isathetiefling's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
kdahlo's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the concept of this book, and there was enough to keep me reading. Despite that I thought it could have been better with a little more specificity. I didn't feel like I was fully able to picture the setting or the main character, despite being interested in the time period and familiar with the non-fantasy locations and characters. Because I liked the concept so much, I felt like I was often comparing the book to my idea of what the concept should have been or how it should have been executed.
emmae_05's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
shiqingxuan34's review against another edition
4.0
this had a very unique premise that worked out really well ! the writing was beautiful and contributed to the magical atmosphere created. i don't know much about classical music, so some of the terms used i wasn't familiar with. i wasn't even familiar with mozart's story ! though this was wonderful for me, i'm sure that it may mean much more to someone more familiar with this kind of music and story :) as i finished the book, it really made me think about how many amazing minds were lost in history for various reasons, so i really appreciate marie lu for writing this.
harleyrae's review against another edition
2.0
2.5/5 Stars
This book was a struggle for me. I have really enjoyed all of Marie Lu’s past works, but I could not get into this. It was very very slow paced. For a large part of the book every time I picked it up all it made me do was want to fall asleep. It could not hold my attention at all. While I love Marie Lu this book was just not for me, which is a shame since I was super excited for this.
This book was a struggle for me. I have really enjoyed all of Marie Lu’s past works, but I could not get into this. It was very very slow paced. For a large part of the book every time I picked it up all it made me do was want to fall asleep. It could not hold my attention at all. While I love Marie Lu this book was just not for me, which is a shame since I was super excited for this.
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.