hannchilada's review
5.0
So, Kingdom of Back got stuck on my currently-reading shelf for longer than I care to admit. It had some initial pacing issues, but upon finishing the book I found it kind of haunting. Nannerl as a character felt hauntingly familiar.
I don't know who the real Anna Maria Mozart was, but I think Lu succeeded in creating a character that resonates across time and boundaries. You can read a longer review on my blog
I don't know who the real Anna Maria Mozart was, but I think Lu succeeded in creating a character that resonates across time and boundaries. You can read a longer review on my blog
taylorreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
It started very slow but the ending was great. I really sympathized with Nannerl. I am a photographer, its how I see the world and if I was told I couldn't do that just because of my gender.. I feel like my soul would wither and die. I wonder how much mankind has missed out on over the years because women were kept from reaching their potential. I would like to read more about forgotten women of history.
kenna_ainjo's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.25
vbarrett17's review
4.0
4.5 STARS
First of all, I have to start by applauding Marie Lu. I have a soft spot for her because her debut series ("Legend") is what sparked the book monster that I am today. I have so much respect for her. She tackles multiple genres and produces beautiful work in everything that she does!
With that being said, this novel was exquisite. "The Kingdom of Back" is a historical fantasy that is centered around Mozart's older sister, Nannerl. I learned so much about her and young Mozart! They BOTH were talented musicians AND composers. The reason we do not hear much about Nannerl is because in their time period, composing music was a man's profession.
I really enjoyed the family aspects, specifically the sibling bond between Nannerl and Wolfgang. They were very close to one another and their love showed in even the smallest interactions. They encouraged each other and protected each other with such ferocity.
Where the fantasy element came into play was a separate world called, the Kingdom of Back. It turns out, the siblings created this world with their imaginations to pass the long travels as they toured around Europe to perform in real life! Marie Lu weaved together this mystical land with the desires of Nannerl to be known for her music in her fictional story in a very unique and exciting way! I think it is best to go in this novel without much background knowledge, so I will leave it at that.
The only critique I have is I wish the fantastical element was more concrete. It felt almost like it wasn't real and more dream-like in the story. I wish the readers had more time learning about this interesting kingdom. Also, the book's timeline spans for nearly a decade (excluding the epilogue), and it is not written in specific detail of when things happen. Months take place within a paragraph. I know the characters are becoming older, but I wish I knew what stage of life they were in for certain scenes to bring more clarity. Other than that, I had a wonderful time reading this novel!
Marie Lu poured out a ton of research into this novel, and I think she portrayed Nannerl and Wolfgang's story well. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end to find out more about her inspiration in this story and listening to Mozart's compositions to put you in the mood!
First of all, I have to start by applauding Marie Lu. I have a soft spot for her because her debut series ("Legend") is what sparked the book monster that I am today. I have so much respect for her. She tackles multiple genres and produces beautiful work in everything that she does!
With that being said, this novel was exquisite. "The Kingdom of Back" is a historical fantasy that is centered around Mozart's older sister, Nannerl. I learned so much about her and young Mozart! They BOTH were talented musicians AND composers. The reason we do not hear much about Nannerl is because in their time period, composing music was a man's profession.
I really enjoyed the family aspects, specifically the sibling bond between Nannerl and Wolfgang. They were very close to one another and their love showed in even the smallest interactions. They encouraged each other and protected each other with such ferocity.
Where the fantasy element came into play was a separate world called, the Kingdom of Back. It turns out, the siblings created this world with their imaginations to pass the long travels as they toured around Europe to perform in real life! Marie Lu weaved together this mystical land with the desires of Nannerl to be known for her music in her fictional story in a very unique and exciting way! I think it is best to go in this novel without much background knowledge, so I will leave it at that.
The only critique I have is I wish the fantastical element was more concrete. It felt almost like it wasn't real and more dream-like in the story. I wish the readers had more time learning about this interesting kingdom. Also, the book's timeline spans for nearly a decade (excluding the epilogue), and it is not written in specific detail of when things happen. Months take place within a paragraph. I know the characters are becoming older, but I wish I knew what stage of life they were in for certain scenes to bring more clarity. Other than that, I had a wonderful time reading this novel!
Marie Lu poured out a ton of research into this novel, and I think she portrayed Nannerl and Wolfgang's story well. I highly recommend reading the author's note at the end to find out more about her inspiration in this story and listening to Mozart's compositions to put you in the mood!
atra's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? No
5.0
yajisfr23's review against another edition
5.0
Is this my first 5 stars??! This was my first historical fiction/fantasy. I haven’t read fantasy in a long time, i was afraid i wasn’t going to enjoy it as much, but to my surprise i did. This book was so enchanting, it was truly an escape for me as well when the Mozarts stepped into the Kingdom of Back. Amazing, i loved it, so wholesome, charming, and touching.
a_cera_t0ps's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
chandraleereads's review against another edition
5.0
Okay, this book is amazing!!! It is magical and lyrical and beautiful and like a fairytale. On top of all that I got to learn about the fabulous sister of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, her name was Maria Anna Mozart. She is one of innumerable women forgotten to history, and I’m so thankful for this whimsical piece of fiction that focuses on her.