The Kingdom of Back

Marie Lu

Mar 2020 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

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 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.

Ratings and reviews

Beautiful Writing, but Fell Flat The premise and gorgeous cover made me snatch up this book immediately. I've read this author's work before and loved the story arcs and well-rounded characters, so I really had high hopes of loving this novel with a character who like me, immerses herself in classical, baroque music. I enjoyed the writing and found it perfect for historical fiction; I felt like I was being told a story as I read. I loved the brother/sister relationship between the Mozarts. I also enjoyed the passion these characters felt about music and how hard they practiced and spent time writing music too. I also felt for Nannerl as society refused to let her follow her dreams or accept her talents. However, I found the pacing of this book slow or even stagnant at times and the characters seemed flat or stereotypical. I never felt surprised or found unexpected twists. I guessed the ending quickly and was so disappointed that I was correct. Also, what happened with Johann? When he became part of the story, my hopes soared for a plot twist, such as Nannerl secretly goes against her father's wishes to pursue a relationship with Johann, but this character just faded away.

I am already a huge fan of Marie Lu. I love her writing style--always so beautiful, yet crisp and clean in its execution--and her story ideas. However, this is the first I've read of hers that is not straight sci-fi/fantasy! The Kingdom of Back follows Nannerl Mozart and her brother, Wolfgang as they develop their musical talents. Although most know at least a part of Wolfgang's story, few have heard of Nannerl despite her impressiv talent, mostly due to the fact that she is female. This weighs on young Nannerl and she finds escape and hope in a different world in this portal fantasy lush with music and imagination, both described in incredibly beautiful detail. Nannerl is a sympathetic protagonist who stole my heart and had my compassion early on. She is very easy to root for with her many admirable AND flawed characteristics. My only complaint was that much of the story follows Nannerl as an 8-year old, which made it difficult for me to identify with her.

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. 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. Overall, it was a perfect blend of history and fantasy which made this book a 4-star read for me.

About the author

Marie Lu is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Young Elites, Legend, and Warcross series. She graduated from the University of Southern California and jumped into the video game industry as an artist. Now a full-time writer, she spends her spare time reading, drawing, playing games, and getting stuck in traffic. She lives in Los Angeles with her illustrator-author husband, Primo Gallanosa, and their family.