From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu comes a historical YA fantasy about a musical prodigy and the dangerous lengths she’ll go to make history remember her–perfect for fans of Susanna Clarke and The Hazel Wood.Two siblings. Two brilliant talents. But only one Mozart. Born with a gift for music, Nannerl Mozart has just one wish–to be remembered forever. But even as she delights … remembered forever. But even as she delights audiences with her masterful playing, she has little hope she’ll ever become the acclaimed composer she longs to be. She is a young woman in 18th century Europe, and that means composing is forbidden to her. She will perform only until she reaches a marriageable age–her tyrannical father has made that much clear.
And as Nannerl’s hope grows dimmer with each passing year, the talents of her beloved younger brother, Wolfgang, only seem to shine brighter. His brilliance begins to eclipse her own, until one day a mysterious stranger from a magical land appears with an irresistible offer. He has the power to make her wish come true–but his help may cost her everything.
In her first work of historical fiction, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu spins a lush, lyrically-told story of music, magic, and the unbreakable bond between a brother and sister.
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I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this. I also knew nothing about Wolfgang Mozart besides him being a famous pianist. As for Nannerl, I had never heard of her! As the pages turned, I wanted to know more about them! Not just in the story, but in real life as well! I was pleasantly surprised about how much I loved this!
Nannerl was a girl I truly felt for, especially during this time where women weren’t truly equals. But her brother, Wolfgang, AKA Wolferl, was so freaking adorable, cute, and sweet! I really did love their bond.
The entwined fantasy elements were so cool and deliciously strange. I’m a lover of all things weird and odd, so I was so on board with the Kingdom of Back’s fantasy world. I’ll also admit that I think this may be Marie Lu’s best writing that I’ve read from her! Beautiful, haunting, magical, and mesmerizing!
If someone had told that I needed a Mozart fantasy historical retelling in my life I’d probably say something intelligent like ” What? Uuhh sure? But why?” And then promptly forget about it because mom brain. So I’m very grateful for 1. The books beautiful cover. 2. The chance to read the First Look on Bookish First that led me to quickly using my points to secure this ARC.
It’s my first Marie Lu book (sad, I know), but it certainly won’t be my last.
The story was magical but real ( I guess that’s where the historical fiction part comes in). Nannerl is a very talented musician with a time where a composing is forbidden for a female. So that means she’ll perform until she gets married. She is very hard in herself and wants nothing more than to be really seen by her father and to be immortalized through her music. Insert her little brother, Wolfgang, who is now also showing major talent at a very young age and has the fortune of being a boy.
In between all of this we have Hyacinth and the Kindgom of Back. He comes from a magical land to offer Nannerl her greatest desire. Of course this comes with a price. And it absolutely will begin too.
I thought hard about not giving it four stars and perhaps 3.5 instead. But in the end I didn’t. Even though at times the pacing seemed off and I wasn’t too big a fan of the ending..it jumped 25 years and to be honest I was caught off guard and I really wanted to be in the Kingdom of Back more…I loved how original the story felt. I loved that Marie made me want to learn more about the real Nannerl. I loved her strength and passion for music but also her and Wolfgang’s bond. While this is my first Marie Lu book, it definitely won’t be my last.
Being half German, I’ve grown up on the Scandinavian folk and fairytales and love them. The Kingdom of Back isn’t a fairytale retelling but a completely original story based on the real Mozart siblings. I find that a lot more interesting than the usual fairytale retellings that are so popular. The cover art is pretty and completes the Scandinavian fairytale vibes within the story.
The characters are interesting and keep you guessing the whole book. Little Wolfgang’s pure heart would make anyone melt. His relationship with his sister Nannerl is so sweet it’ll make your teeth hurt. Their father made me really mad many times though. My heart ached for Nannerl. Her father was so awful toward her and doted on Wolfgang. He constantly reminded her that she was a girl and couldn’t compose music. Her father was so controlling that if he even had a little suspicion that she was composing music there would be hell to pay. Little Wolfgang encouraged her to write anyway and would leave the ink, quill, and lose leaf paper where she could use it when their father wasn’t around. Wolfgang had savant skills for composing music and playing any instrument he touched. As he grew up, their father paid special attention to him and set up concerts with Wolfgang as the star and Nannerl barely mentioned.
All Nannerl wanted was to compose beautiful music and her greatest fear was to be forgotten. Society’s oppressive attitude toward women caused Nannerl to make a deal with a powerful creature that would make her work famous. Instead, her world gets turned upside down as the creature drains the life from Wolfgang by giving him an illness. Horrified, Nannerl realizes the creature is killing her little brother to make way for her to be the one in the spotlight instead of Wolfgang. She had naturally felt jealousy toward her brother because he was doted on for playing the same music she could with the difference being that he was a boy. The love for her brother is stronger and she does anything it takes to save him, not caring anymore if anyone will remember her.
I can’t imagine what it would be like to listen to the Mozart children perform. When I was a dorky high schooler all I listened to was classical music. No boy bands for me, just old men that have been dead for over 100+ years. There’s a certain magic in classical music that you won’t find in music today. Fantasy and fairytales just feel like they should be paired with classical music. It may be because a lot of those type stories and music were written around the same time period and in Europe.
I really liked this as an audiobook. It was a quick listen for me but there is a lot of magic packed in it and somehow it never felt rushed to me. The Kingdom of Back is a clean historical fantasy that anyone can read or listen to. Happy reading!
I have received this beautiful edition of Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu with my Owlcrate subscription.
Mostly everyone knows about Mozart, but a lot don’t know he had an older sister, i know I didn’t. Narnel Mozart is, like her brother, born with the gift of music. Her only wish is to be remember forever, but since she’s a woman, she can’t compose her own music, even if she able to. Its eighteenth-century Europe, so thats not woman place. She’s allow to perform for the moment, but once she reached the age to get married, it will be over. One day, a mysterious stranger for a magical land appears to her and agree to help with her wish but that might cost her everything.
The kingdom of back is a place both Narnel and her brother, Wolfgang, share. It’s a story they made up and dream about, but at one point, dream and reality starts mixing. I have really like this book and enjoy reading about Narnel, who despite being born in a century where woman place is at home with childrens she won’t stop believe in what she like to do.
This book didn’t seem like something that Marie Lu would write, but as you keep reading the book, you see that this book has many of the same great writing techniques as Marie Lu’s other books.
I loved the concept for this book the moment I read the blurb, and I had no doubt the concept paired with Marie Lu’s impeccable writing would make this a story worth reading. In so many ways, this book exceeded my every expectation – it was breathtakingly written, humming with sonatas and hidden strength and a brother-sister relationship that nearly jumps of the page with emotion and warmth. It is lovely at every turn, but something kept me from loving it as fully as I did some of Lu’s other books. I think it was that the whole time, I wanted to believe the Kingdom of Back was real – I wanted to be tempted to forget that it was childhood fancy, to believe as Nannerl did that a fairy princeling could lead her away into a Narnia-like world just at the edge of the sidewalk, but I never quite found that chance in the story. The fantasy was never really fully seeped, and while that may have been intentional, I was hoping for just a little more faith, trust, and pixie dust and a little less growing up.
The Kingdom of Back is the latest novel from Marie Lu, and it is a stunning blend of fantasy and music. This is the tale of Nannerl Mozart, her brother, Wolfgang Mozart, and the magical world they once shared.
Nannerl was born with a gift for music. It should have taken her so far – if not for the time in which she had been born. That and her gender. While Nannerl struggled to hold her father’s attention, her brother was adored and praised.
If not for the magical secret these two siblings shared, their bond might never have survived so long. Not in the conditions they were being raised in. This was a secret they were content to keep – a secret that influenced their music for years to come.
“I am going to tell you a story you already know. But listen carefully, because within it is one you have never heard before.”
Warnings: There are some heartbreaking descriptions in this novel, which make the world feel all the more real. Some of those descriptions include the way Nannerl is treated (both by her father and by society), and others detailing the illnesses of the time. Just something to keep in mind.
As a long-standing fan of Marie Lu, it’s safe to say that I was eagerly looking forward to The Kingdom of Back. The fact that it was so musically inclined only furthered to increase my excitement. Having devoured this book, I can honestly tell you that it lived up to all of my expectations.
The Kingdom of Back was a lovely and enchanting tale. No, I take it back. That description does not do this novel justice. It was elegant and chilling, with melodic themes that carried me away as I read. It was every bit the novel I was hoping it would be, and then some.
The theme was perfection, obviously. Combining the history of Mozart with fantasy elements seemed almost natural, with the way Marie Lu handled it here. It’s like the story I never knew I needed, not until now, at any rate.
I honestly cannot say enough positive things about the writing in The Kingdom of Back. It was enchanting and captivating, all while running away with the prevalent themes surrounding the Mozart family. It’s a tale I never expected to see in this yet…but it worked so beautifully here. It has been a long time since I read a novel that touched me in such a way.
Nannerl’s story was a compelling one. Her story was breathtaking, while also being overwhelming at times. It was the perfect balance, as she journeyed through both a magical world and a world that refused to accept her for who and what she was.
The Kingdom of Back was an amazing novel. One that I wish I could go back in time and read as if new all over again. It was beautiful in ways I could never have imagined, and utterly unforgettable.
Nannerl and Woferl’s adventures in the Kingdom of Back start off fun and end up becoming scary and dangerous. The shift as they get older progresses well. I really like how this story was centered on Marianne Mozart. It’s sad that during this time period a woman wasn’t allowed to show her skills in music composing. There are some nice twists regarding her music in the story. The author paints a great picture of the relationship between Nannerl and Wolferl. How close they are and how much Wolferl looks up to his sister. I did not like their father. He was greedy and selfish. Wolferl got sick many times because of the busy schedule he kept them on.
The fantasy part of the book is very well written. The Kingdom of Back is beautiful and different. I have never read anything with such a place. The author describes the kingdom in vivid detail and I loved how Nannerl traveled there. The transition between worlds was seamless and simple.
I would love to know how much of this story came from fact, It would be nice to know how close Marianne and Wolfgang were and if why Wolfgang was known as just Mozart is based on fact. This is a delightful story with a great ending.
What an exceptionally well written book. I had no idea the sounds and feels of music could be described so well by the written word so kudos to the author for that. The exploration of Nannerl’s and Woferl’s relationship was at the core of the book, and I only wish more of that interaction would have occurred in the kingdom to move the story along a little more quickly. Still very good. I never expected to enjoy a book about the Mozart siblings so much.
Marie Lu is best known in the young adult and dystopian fiction genres but wait till you read her newest book, A Kingdom of Back . A historical fiction fantasy story where she was able to demonstrate once again the greatest tool in her toolbox – her rich imagination.
Nannerl Mozart, chosen by the Divine as what her father told her only hopes for one thing – to be remembered forever. Forbidden to compose her own music and overshadowed by her brother’s (Wolfer Mozart) talent, she made a wish. She wished for others to remember her and her talent because she believed that she is worthy of praise, attention, and love.
He heard her wish.
Hyacinth will grant her immortality only if she will complete the tasks she set for her and help him reclaim his throne.
How much does Nannerl willingly sacrifice to get a touch of immortality especially if it will cost the life of someone dearest to her?
What I like about Marie Lu’s writing is how she can richly describe a character, a place, and a scene that every time I read her works, I feel like I get transported to it. It also has a smooth transition between two worlds – 18th century Europe and the magic land of the kingdom. Each character, both major and minor, has their own distinct personality which contributed to how the story came together till the end.
CHARACTERS
Nannerl and Wolfer Mozart – Both gifted with a natural talent in music, there is an undeniable bond between the two. I felt how close they are to each other every time they practice together, how much Wolfer admires the talent of her sister, and when they both explored the Kingdom of Back. It greatly saddened me that Nannerl’s great talent was ignored only because composing music was a man’s realm in 18th century Europe. Despite the feelings of envy and jealousy, Nannerl’s love for her brother stayed and was supportive of him during his performances.
Leopold and Anna Maria Mozart – It is time to meet the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mozart. I pretty much dislike as he made his children practice to the brink of exhaustion and he has a favoritism, while the mother just always agrees just to avoid a fight.
Hyacinth – All I can say is that do not be fooled by his blue eyes and light hearted grin.
Overall, it was a perfect blend of history and fantasy which made this book a 4-star read for me.
PS: I know the title is kinda off but do not worry guys, it was explained in the book why it is called the Kingdom of Back. *wink*
– I received an ARC through a giveaway on Goodreads. Thank you for the book! Although this is the case, it has no influence over my review and rating. Actual review: 3.5/5 –
This book is a great story about Marianna ‘Nannerl’ Mozart and her relationship with her younger brother, Wolfgang ‘Wolferl’ Mozart. Before reading this, I hadn’t read a book where the sibling relationship is the main focus of the story, and I was not disappointed. This book opened me up to trying out more books with sibling relationships. I have my own younger brother, and we are separated by three years rather than five years, like Nannerl and Wolferl are. Although I have never felt the way Nannerl does about Wolferl with my brother, I can understand why and how she has come to feel the way she does throughout the entire book. While I think the way she feels towards her brother is realistic for a sibling, I think that the extent it went and how long it lasted might not be as realistic. I don’t think Nannerl went through enough internal struggle with her conflicting emotions of her love for Wolferl and her jealousy and ambition.
Nannerl went through a decent amount of character development. Throughout the majority of the book she is driven by jealousy and ambition. Her negative character traits make her realistic and I enjoyed that. She learns valuable lessons that shape her character in the end and form her into the woman that she becomes while keeping true to herself.
The book is a bit slow, and the descriptions add to that. The second half of the book is better and was more enjoyable for me. More occurred in it and I think the descriptions toned down at least a little. Lu does a fantastic job at combining fantasy and historical fiction and I really liked how she goes about it. I think Lu was the perfect person to write this book. She has such great, lyrical writing that compliments the story. Her book has created in me a newfound interest in Nannerl and Wolferl Mozart’s relationship and Nannerl’s story.
Wonderful, Unique, and Absolutely Enthralling
Marie Lu has always been a wonderful storyteller and I’ve been a big fan since the devouring the Legend series. Her writing is absolutely captivating and I always find myself utterly in love with her books that I can’t get enough. This lovely novel is no exception and I adore this masterpiece with all my heart!
The Kingdom of Back is such a unique, fascinating and beautifully written tale. The world building is amazing and I was enthralled the entire time. There are some slow moving parts, but the intrigue never faded and I wanted to know what would happen next. The characters are likeable and well-developed. I enjoyed getting to know both Nannerl and Woferl and seeing them grow throughout the story was interesting and fun.
All in all, The Kingdom of Back is a fantastic story that had me glued to the pages and I honestly can’t recommend it enough.
To be honest I don’t really read book descriptions, ive seen this book for what seems like a year (and might have been lmao) in giveaways, I saw it on libby and snagged it immediately!! I really wanted to read this book originally due to the name, genres and amazingly awesome cover and then I started it and LOVED IT!!!
I grew up in a family that loved music so this was really a book up my ally and to find out the history behind it in the end?!?! amazing. This is hands down going to be one of the best books I will read this year, I already know it lol but its so great I don’t mind, I can just read it again.
I really loved everything about this book, the characters are amazing, this historical accuracy again, amazing, the world this book painted just fantastic and magical. must own book imo.
A favorite historical fiction story told as an enchanting, mystical fairy tale!
Reading Marie Lu’s first historical fiction and discovering the secret, enchanting world of The Kingdom of Back was an absolutely outstanding experience! This is the first book I have read by this author and I loved this totally surprising and magical journey into 18th Century Europe, the lives of Nannerl Mozart and her younger brother Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and their secret world of the Kingdom of Back. The story of Nannerl Mozart and her desire to be remembered forever as not only a gifted musician but as a talented composer immediately pulled me. The magical plot captured my full attention and the enchanting world of this fairy tale left me in awe of the beautifully, descriptive writing style of this very talented author. The Kingdom of Back is a standalone story and it is told from Nannerl’s point of view. “I am the sister, the other Mozart. And her story is mine.”
What I particularly enjoyed about The Kingdom of Back was how Marie Lu was able to take a well known historical fiction story and weave it into a beautiful fairy tale with so many imaginative and magical moments. As I was reading this book I felt like I was being drawn into a classical fairy tale from my childhood and the emotions, magic, music and enchanting adventure of this story were just outstanding. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a historical fiction story with great characters, an outstanding plot and a wonderful magical adventure.
I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from PenguinTeen, the author and BookishFirst in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this story. Believe it or not, this was the first time that I have read any of Marie Lu’s work. I love music so I was really drawn to the premise of this story. I read the bulk of this book in a single day and couldn’t get enough of Wolferl and Nannerl’s story. I am so glad that I decided to give this book a try.
There was a point at the start of this story that I thought that this book was going to be mostly set in the fantasy world of the Kingdom of Back. I was wrong. This book really reads like historical fiction with short trips into fantasy. The fantasy elements were a nice addition to the story but I felt like the relationship between Nannerl and her brother, Wolferl, and their music was the main focus of the story.
Nannerl is Wolferl’s older sister. The world knows Wolferl as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and he is remembered by everyone. But who remembers his sister who shared his talent? As children, they were both very gifted musicians and played for important audiences everywhere. They were not treated the same though. Nannerl is expected to help supervise her younger brother and knows that being a wife and mother is in her future. She is allowed to play her music but composition is strictly considered a man’s domain.
I really enjoyed the magical elements of this story. Hyacinth was a great character and I loved that I was never quite sure of his motivations. I thought that the descriptions of the scenes within the Kingdom of Back made this world come alive. All of the things that they were faced with in this land were exciting and helped to move the story along.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this was a very well done story involving a historical figure from a unique point of view. I wouldn’t hesitate to read more of Marie Lu’s work in the future.
I received a review copy of this book from G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers via Bookish First.
Marie Lu, known for her fantasy and science fiction has created a well-written and imaginative story about the childhood of the Mozart siblings. Wolfgang Mozart had an older sister nicknamed Nannerl, and together they imagined a fantasy land called the Kingdom of Back.
Nannerl, like her brother, is a enormous talent in terms of playing and composing music, but it is 18th century Europe and women are not allowed to openly compose or have musical careers. Her greatest wish is to be remembered forever. Enter Hyacinthe, a faerie prince from the Kingdom of Back, who offers to make Nannerl’s wish a reality, if she will complete a series of tasks for him. At first Nannerl is enthusiastic as she follows his wishes, but soon realizes that there is a sinister price that comes with Hyacinthe’s demands. She realizes she must rethink her priorities.
A big theme is this novel is the constraints that were placed on women in this time and it made me wonder how many talented women throughout history were unable to pursue their dreams. Four and a half stars.