gloriasing's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Sexism and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Chronic illness
scarletthequeen's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexism
becbec624's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
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.
Spoiler
She gives up composing, gives up music in general, has an unnamed husband and basically becomes the very thing she did not want to be. I understand that she made peace with her legacy being Wolfgang's due to the fact she inspired him so heavily, but I also just cannot accept that being enough considering they fell so out of touch.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
Spoiler
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 introducedI 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
Spoiler
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.Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Sexism, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Medical content and Emotional abuse
Minor: Death
madamenovelist's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Moderate: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Injury/Injury detail and Violence
__olivia__'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5
Moderate: Sexism
escapismforlife's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Fun fact about me before you read this review : I had a minor in Woman and Gender Studies. One that I completed spring of 2021.
A real life firgure like Marianne Mozart is why I refuse to keep my mouth shut when it comes to my opinion. And incorporating characters in stories that have sensitive men who listen, validate and help women and women of color.
While she had many privileges and rights growing up getting her due recognition and respect was never one of them. And for that reason I will continue to be critical of men and women who I'm around to not live in delusion of the western society's patriarchal oppression.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Child abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Sexism, and Confinement
Moderate: Abandonment and Violence
Minor: Body horror
ajourneythroughpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The descriptions in this book of how the main character feels when she plays music were so relatable and inspired me to start playing piano again after three years. I couldn't put this book down for the last 100 pages and I loved it.
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Blood and Death
allyhoo811's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Positives (for me):
1) I don't feel this book should be marketed as YA. Yes, the protagonist is a teenage girl, but it feels much more general audience to me.
2) The writing style is beautiful and had a dreamlike quality. I found myself falling asleep on several occasions while reading this one -- not because it was boring, but the cadence of the words just kind of lulled me into dreamland lol
3) This book has some wonderful Dark "Peter Pan" vibes (reminded me a bit of Season 3 of Once Upon A Time in that way). If you enjoy that story, I'd try this.
4) Fans of portal fantasies should check this out.
5) The brother/sister relationship in this story is perfection.
6) I loved that I was never sure what the author intended the Kingdom of Back to be: was it a real place, a dream, I childhood game, or was Nannerl experiencing some kind of mental health issues (schizophrenia perhaps).
Negatives (for me):
1) The last 2 or 3 chapters (after the time jump to post-Mozart's death) really brought the book down for me. They didn't feel necessary to me and really left me confused (not in a good way this time) to the author's intentions for what the Kingdom was and what the theme of the story was. It should have just ended without these chapters included.
2) There are several historical inaccuracies (at least according to some very basic google research). It doesn't greatly affect the story, but if you like researching your historical fiction/fantasy you will find it is there.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Terminal illness
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Xenophobia