The Kingdom of Back, Marie Lu
The Kingdom of Back, Marie Lu
1 Rating(s)
List: $25.00 | Sale: $17.50
Club: $12.50

The Kingdom of Back

Author: Marie Lu

Narrator: Lauren Ezzo

Unabridged: 10 hr 31 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/03/2020


Synopsis

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.

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.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Emily May on March 09, 2020

I am going to tell you a story you already know. But listen carefully, because within it is one you have never heard before. Without a doubt, this is Marie Lu's most fascinating book to date. In school, we studied Virginia Woolf's concept of the fictional "Shakespeare's sister". In A Room of One's......more

Goodreads review by Miranda on December 08, 2020

OHMYGOSH. Goodreads Choice Nominees are here and...I couldn't resist a Reaction Video! Don't forget to vote! Annnd here's my original reaction to this book! A new BookTube Video is Up all about whether you should buy, borrow or burn 2020 YA books! Let me know what you think!The Written Review......more

Goodreads review by jessica on March 23, 2020

i love it when stories have the power to inspire action. i love that feeling when you turn the last page and you arent ready to let go of the story just yet, so you do something to make its presence linger, to keep the story in your heart just a little longer. this made me pick up my violin, which i......more

Goodreads review by Nilufer on April 03, 2022

This is breathtaking! A fresh creative approach: dark fairy tale meets historical fiction based on true events. Let’s meet with Nannerl Mozart : Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s not so much known sister who is also a musical prodigy, having only one important wish: to be remembered forever with her talent!......more

Goodreads review by Hamad on October 06, 2020

This Review ✍️ Blog 📖 Twitter 🐦 Instagram 📷 “I am going to tell you a story you already know. But listen carefully, because within it is one you have never heard before.” When I started reading this book, I remembered why I used to enjoy Marie’s books so much! The writing at the beginning......more


Quotes

Praise for The Kingdom of Back:

“A beautifully evocative cover and a feminist angle on Mozart’s older sister, Nannerl (a talented pianist and composer in her own right), will have readers grabbing for Lu’s latest title.” —Booklist 

“A gorgeous story about what it means to be forgotten.” —Buzzfeed
 
“With a unique premise and an understated beauty . . . this novel is unlike anything else [Lu’s] published. It is historical fact transformed into a fairy tale and twisted into a tragedy. There is no question of Lu’s extraordinary literary talent; she is at peak form here with her nuanced tale of sibling rivalry and familial distrust.” —Tor.com

“A beautifully composed historical fantasy that will enthrall readers, especially those with music in their hearts.” —School Library Journal

“In Lu’s capable hands, [Nannerl is] finally resurrected, and her story and music sing.” —BookPage 

"Lu shows her knack for creating detailed worlds while seamlessly building a complicated sibling relationship with a balance of rivalry and love." —Publishers Weekly

“Lu’s exploration of the complex Mozart family dynamics and the period in which they lived is fascinating.” —Horn Book Reviews

“A dreamlike story about music, magic, and the Mozart siblings. . . the end result is spellbinding.” —BookRiot

“The shivery fantasy and bluntly realistic historical detail harmonize well, and there’s plenty to ponder about women whose contributions have been suppressed or lost to history.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books