A review by nebraskanwriter
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book truly surprised me. I cannot remember reading, at least recently, a book that blends historical fiction and fantasy together. This is the story of Marianna (nicknamed Nannerl) and her younger brother, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This is the tale of Nannerl composing along with Wolfgang, their love for music and the harpsichord one of the foundational stones of their tight sibling bond. As Nannerl grows and matures, she sees how many women in history are overshadowed by those more powerful and highly esteemed so she vows to never be forgotten. 

Thus, the Kingdom of Back is born, a nursery/imaginary game between Wolfgang and Nannerl that becomes real when a princeling from their imaginations visits Nannerl to grant her wish—but for a price. The book weaves between the magical world of the Kingdom of Back, the historical streets of Austria and king’s palaces that the siblings preform at. 

This is definitely one of my favorite books of 2020 thus far, Lu’s rich attention to historical details and lush descriptions of the Kingdom of Back as well as the relationships between the Mozart family members kept me reading long into the night. 
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