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The Architect of Song

(Haunted Hearts Legacy #1)

A.G. Howard (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 1,416 ratings · 324 reviews

For most of her life, nineteen-year-old Juliet Emerline has subsisted – isolated by deafness – making hats in the solitude of her home. Now, she’s at risk to lose her sanctuary to Lord Nicolas Thornton, a twenty-seven-year-old mysterious and eccentric architect with designs on her humble estate. When she secretly witnesses him raging beside a grave, Juliet investigates, fi ...more

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ebook, 425 pages

Published August 15th 2016 by Golden Orb Press

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Lists with This Book

A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

August 2016 Releases

89 books — 224 voters

New Series (2016)

198 books — 363 voters

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Rating details

· 1,416 ratings · 324 reviews

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Start your review of The Architect of Song (Haunted Hearts Legacy, #1)

Mar 27, 2016 A.G. Howard added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

This is book one in my New Adult historical literary romance series with paranormal elements, slated to launch in August 2016.

Please note: There are significant differences between my new adult (NA) novels and my young adult (YA) reads. I've listed the four most noteworthy ones for quick reference:

(1) Origins: Unlike my YA stories, my NA series is not spun-off or based-on any classical novels or fairytales. The world/setting/characters/canon/origins are unique and completely my own.

(2) ...more

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Mar 27, 2016 C.G. Drews rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, adult, historical-fiction, new-adult, deafness, read-2016

Being a rabid fan of Splintered and A.G. Howard in generally, I was 100% DESPERATE AND DYING to read this book. Very apt of me since this is about a ghost. (Hahha, get it? Dying to read....about a ghost?? Shh I'm hilarious.) It did take me a while to get into the story, and admittedly: Historical Fiction isn't my favourite. But the last 50% was amazing and I COULD NOT STOP READING.

Basically it's a period drama / ghost story. Which suits me JUST FINE because I love ghost stories. Also fun fact: I ...more

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Sep 12, 2016 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: unhauled

Finally read it. Just didn’t do it for me.

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
***************

My September Lit-Cube box

...more

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Jul 15, 2016 Wendy Higgins added it

Oh my goodness!! I am blissed out from the beauty of these words.
Breathtaking and romantic.

flag 29 likes · Like · see review

Aug 12, 2016 Nouf *LostinFantasy* rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2016-release, historical-fiction, forbidden-love-angst, aug-2016-release, mystery, fantasy-sci-fi

Actual rating: 3.5/5 stars. (Rounded to three Goodreads stars even though I might change to four later - undecided)

Okay, so this book pretty much consumed me for the past couple of days. I could not put it down until I got all the answers to this captivating and romantic ghostly mystery.

The story revolves around three characters who are closely connected in a pretty complicated way that reveals itself as the story goes on. Our main character Juliet Emerline, is a girl who's just lost her ...more

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Mar 27, 2016 Stacee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: im-a-spoiled-brat-aka-a-beta-reader, read-in-2016, dont-cheat, will-read-this-authors-grocery-list

I just adore Anita's words and this was just as perfect the second time around. ...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Jen (The Starry-Eyed Revue) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arcs, ghosts-revenants-reincarnation, 2016, favorites, souls-afterlife, historical-fiction, post-hs-ya-new-adult, gothic, this-is-probably-going-to-kill-me, texas

An ARC of this title was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts are my own. This review can also be found at The Starry-Eyed Revue.

I was offered a review copy of The Architect of Song and being a hard-core fan of A.G. Howard's Splintered series, I couldn't say yes fast enough. This is her first "new adult" novel and it's historical fiction with ghosts and baronets and an orphaned protagonist and it's very reminiscent of Crimson Peak , which I just recently watche ...more

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Mar 28, 2016 Maria rated it really liked it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This was a scandalous yet romantic novel- not really a erotica like everybody wanted, but it was a very great adventure. Review to come tomorrow!

Actual Review- Spoilers may be present:

Hiya Guys- Welcome To the Nether! Hey I'm going to be talk about the architect of song by AG Howard. this book really surprise me guys I'm not going to lie this is way different than what AG Howard usually writes. first of all this is an adult novel so it's going to be different either way just because of that shee This was a scandalous yet romantic novel- not really a erotica like everybody wanted, but it was a very great adventure. Review to come tomorrow!

Actual Review- Spoilers may be present:

Hiya Guys- Welcome To the Nether! Hey I'm going to be talk about the architect of song by AG Howard. this book really surprise me guys I'm not going to lie this is way different than what AG Howard usually writes. first of all this is an adult novel so it's going to be different either way just because of that sheer aspect but I'm also very skeptical about the Ronchi love scenes in this book, which if you read AG Howard's other books as you know they're not like that. And I know people will argue with me because I am kind of saying that I know that there's going to be Raunchy scenes because I know this is an adult novel, but blah I'm kind of just used to AG Howard writing in her typical why YA style it might have just threw me off guard a little, don't judge me. I actually really adore this book because of its sheer originality of it even though it is just a ghost love novel. Without furtherer adue I'm probably just going to go to the plot of the novel and tell you what I think it's about before going into my points.

This book takes place in 18th century England . The main character is Juliette and she is deaf. she just lost her mother life kind of sucks and the book starts out with her but of course the cemetery because that typical AG Howard style there's got to be a Graveyard area in it I think she digs up a grave and she finds a flower and when she touches this flowers she sees an image of a very young attractive man, Hawke. This man ends up being one of the main male characters of the story and the whole story is about The two finding out how he died. Meanwhile in her real life she is getting courted by this young nobleman, Thorn. Juliette finds out a lot of dirty secrets about him-what truly happened to Hawk. This becomes a love triangle which actually works a little bit other than most love triangles nowadays and her desire to find the truth. Well we ever find out how Hawks died? Only you can to find out if you read the book that's all I'm gonna say about it.

Point 1: what's talk about the romance Shall we? Of course I'm going to talk about both characters and their weird obsession with the main character. Sorry guys did not like hawk that much-which he was the main love interest of the story and was the ghost. I thought you was way too clingy- both characters just seemly fell in love with each other within like a week. Don't get me wrong I thought they were very cute but yeah I felt like it was unbelievable because I felt like there wasn't a lot of time spent on building the relationship up. On the other hand however I thought that Shawn and Juliette's relationship was believable enough to make me like them both. So if I was going to pick between Shawn or Nicholas I would probably pick Shawn. That is just the sheer aspect of him be a romantically involved with her more, and that he is alive and not dead but let's just move on.

Point 2: did I think the plot enough with strong yes what do I believe that this book should be a series I don't think so. If you read the entire story all the way through it reads like a standalone novel I don't feel like we could get three more books of the series after the conclusion of this novel. Feel like I should be talking about this in point 4 but been aching my mind since I've finished this novel. I have felt like that this novel really does not need a sequel but I guess you can elaborate on the children that Juliet has and they're problems I guess? I felt like the plot in the story was begun and ended at the last page so I don't know how she's going to pick it up in the next novel. Good thing about this novel though is that it's a self published novel if she could basically publish the book whenever she goddamn feels like it so I feel like we're going to probably get the sequel fairly soon soon whether or not it'll be next year I don't know. I remember her saying that she was done with the first draft of the second book already so I would be surprised if the book came around sometime early next year. Hopefully she will publish a audiobook along with the novel because I rather read a novel with the audiobook alongside with it.

Point 3: there was pretty solid side characters in this book. A lot of the being maids or her family but I felt like it was an OK addition to the series. I know that there's going to be some additional characters in the next novel probably just because we know that she's having twins probably twin boys because there are twin boys in this novel after her heart that's not a spoiler at all. But I also feel like this but really needed more characters in it. I didn't really feel like there was a lot going on because of the lack of characters in it- don't like Juliet was whining for most of the novel because there wasn't a lot of conflict in the Novel that we saw in anyway. A lot of it was fighting herself trying to realize that she shouldn't be so longing of the dead and embracing her livelihood- and I feel like that was what the book attended to go Upon. Other than that I thought that a lot of the conflicts in the novel which was like the conflict with herself the conflict with the ghost it was all concluded throughout the story as it ended. I might have to read the summary in order to understand where she's heading with the series but for now I am kind of confused. The side characters yet again did have some conflicts within themselves but it was resolved by the end of the novel like I said before.

Point 4: I really don't know what else to say other then I was content with how the book ended and I love the romantic scenes between the couples. I felt like it was appropriate for that time it was in- and overall I love the ambience of the book itself. I feel like maybe we should go into further detail what I thought of the plot of them trying to solve the mystery of the ghost but there really wasn't a lot to say about it without spoiling it to the extreme so I'm just going to say that there is a ghost she goes on a adventure to find out how he dies she finds out how he dies and gets married to the man you would not expect. That's it and that's all I'm going to say about it!

Conclusion I'm going to give this book a four star rating for what the book really wise which was a love adult novel. Writing is very compelling because AG Howard knows how to write very well, story drives you in with that steamy love scenes even though there's not particularly any sex in this novel. I believe that it's a better love love triangle novel that I have read. Granted I don't think that it deserves a series of but maybe she will surprise me I don't know but I will see you next time when I read a book!

BYE~

((Feeling like you guys didn't really like my review on this ahhh!!))

UPDATE: AG Howard is making this COMPANION novels so that makes a whole lot of scents don't you agree! The woman is a genius I love her XD ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Steysha Kravits rated it did not like it

Shelves: dnf

DNF at 30%

Insta-insta-insta-love, stupid as hell Mary-Sue and a ghost-pervert. I don`t really care about the plot, because every page made me raise my brows so high that I started to worry it`ll leave permanent wrinkles.
I get that the MC`s deaf, and the ghost was the only, ahem, person she could hear, but come fucking on. The fist time she met him she was naked in a bath tube. What would be your reaction if you saw a ghost? Don`t know about you, but the only thing she was curious about was whe DNF at 30%

Insta-insta-insta-love, stupid as hell Mary-Sue and a ghost-pervert. I don`t really care about the plot, because every page made me raise my brows so high that I started to worry it`ll leave permanent wrinkles.
I get that the MC`s deaf, and the ghost was the only, ahem, person she could hear, but come fucking on. The fist time she met him she was naked in a bath tube. What would be your reaction if you saw a ghost? Don`t know about you, but the only thing she was curious about was whether he liked her tits!!!!!! She thinks about it a lot and then even asks him (they were talking to each other for about three minutes):

«What kind of scheme are you running? Summoning men to your bath and teasing them with visions of milky skin and perfect breasts. Purposely leading them on a nightmare journey into madness.”
A forbidden delight stirred in my chest. “You think my breasts are perfect?»

And after explaining to him that he is a ghost (he didn`t realise it), the man basically threatened to rape her in order to prove that he is pretty much real:

«Why are you holding that blasted plant? Put it down.” A dare laced his words. “Put it down and I’ll give you something worth stealing. First, we start with a kiss. Then I’ll show you how real the rest of my body is.”
My mouth drained of moisture. I never realized a threat could double as an enticement.
Before I could react, he reached for my wrist. His hand dispersed like a rush of dandelion seeds then reappeared. It felt as if the wind had ruffled my skin. He cried out and my legs jerked in reaction, toppling the pot from my lap. Dirt hiccupped onto my bare feet as my guest vanished.»

Hooray, he vanished, now you are safe from this bastard! But that would be a reaction of any sane person who met a ghost and was almost "defiled" by him, as he put it sometime later. Since our MC`s definately not the brightest crayon in the box, she immediatelly summons him back. I guess it`s a question who would have raped who in the end.

All in all, this was like a cheap start of a porn with a pizza guy, and I don`t have it in me to continue to read this. ...more

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May 20, 2016 Candace Robinson rated it it was amazing

I really liked this one. I normally don't like books with ghosts, but this one worked for me. I liked that the main character was deaf, and I also liked the mystery of the story. I liked being able to guess what was going to happen. Now the love triangle was odd not because one was a ghost, but I still give it a five because I just love the era and the atmosphere! Full review on my blog https://literarydust.wordpress.com/20... ...more

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Jun 27, 2016 Jaime (Two Chicks on Books) rated it it was amazing

This book needs more than 5 stars!!!! Omg it was so good! It was beautiful! I need more now!!!!

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Sep 02, 2016 Sabrina rated it it was amazing

Shelves: close-to-my-heart-series, 2016, books-i-need-to-own, reread-bc-perfection, i-cried

Checkout my full review on my blog!! http://omgbooksandmorebooks.blogspot....

This book was absolutely beautiful. From the first page I knew I would love The Architect of Song. The writing was haunting, tormenting and lush, all in one. Each word, phrase was intricately crafted to create a dark telling of a tragic love story that goes beyond death. This book is perfect.

This book consumed me for a week. I could have finished it in one day but The Architect of Song was so achingly beautiful that I h ...more

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Jul 03, 2017 monica kim rated it it was ok · review of another edition

The book overall was fun and I really liked the mystery, however the last chapter was cringey af. I also need to see if I can find some own voices reviews of it because I question how some of the rep was written.

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Apr 28, 2016 Stephanie (Bookfever) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: review-copy, historical-fiction, romance, book-boyfriends, new-adult, paranormal, 2016-publication

photo THE ARCHITECT OF SONG_zpsnqgykzbo.jpg

This book was gorgeous, simply gorgeous. I had high expectations and I'm so glad they were all met. I knew this was going to be a great read but it still took me by surprise in the best way possible.

The heroine of this book, nineteen-year-old Juliet Emerline was really interesting and I liked her so much. As the summary says, she is quite isolated by her deafness until she risks losing her home to Lord Thornton. A lot of mystery surround him as well as a ghost of an young English nobleman t ...more

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Apr 07, 2016 Kristen rated it really liked it

My Thoughts:
This book was so, so beautifully done. I’m a long time fan of Howard’s work and this did not disappoint in any way. I loved the characters, story and pacing. This novel was in essence a ghost story. I’ve not had the best of luck lately with ghost stories but this one was exactly what I’ve been looking for.

The main character, Juliet, was so easy to relate to and I found her voice wonderful. I had no problems getting into the story and her headspace. The loss of her mother was so poig My Thoughts:
This book was so, so beautifully done. I’m a long time fan of Howard’s work and this did not disappoint in any way. I loved the characters, story and pacing. This novel was in essence a ghost story. I’ve not had the best of luck lately with ghost stories but this one was exactly what I’ve been looking for.

The main character, Juliet, was so easy to relate to and I found her voice wonderful. I had no problems getting into the story and her headspace. The loss of her mother was so poignant and touching- I think anyone that has lost someone they love will be able to easily relate to how Juliet felt. I felt that her inability to hear was handled very well. I can’t imagine how it would have felt to for her to lose her hearing at a young age and then hide it from the rest of society. It was easy to understand her detachment from other people and how it created loneliness for her. Because of this, the idea that she would connect so deeply with the ghost she encounters- the ghost she can hear- made perfect sense to me.

As I mentioned above, this ghost story worked for me. In a good amount of books the ghost really isn’t all that different from the living. At times, the reader might even forget that they are not of this world any longer. I didn’t have that in this book. Hawking was always apart from the living world. I felt that the way he related to Juliet- physically and emotionally- was very accurate to a ghostly encounter.

Each of the characters were enthralling and I loved the hint of mystery surrounding Hawk’s past and demise. As the reader, I was as riveted as the characters to find out more and more details about who he was and what occurred. The questions surrounding Lord Thornton were just as enticing and really helped pull me deeper in the story.

I had some suspicions on where the story was going and some of the time I was correct. I loved trying to figure things out and then seeing how all the story lines tied together. All of this kept me enthralled and eager to keep reading.

Final Thoughts:
The Architect of Song was achingly beautiful, lush with vivid descriptions and an ability to capture and communicate the emotions surrounding the characters to the reader. I thought this was wonderfully done and I look forward to future companion novels.
...more

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Jun 21, 2016 Tracy (Cornerfolds) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: new-adult, romance, paranormal, fantasy, read-2016

Read more of my reviews at Cornerfolds.com!

Initial reaction:

A.G. Howard is hands down one of my top 5 favorite authors and her books are on my auto buy list! I adored her Splintered series SO much that I would basically read her grocery list. When I saw that A.G. was going to be releasing the first book in a new adult series, I knew I had to have it!! I will admit... I had no idea what this book was even about when I requested a copy. I saw the cover, saw the author, and dived right in!

As it turns out, this is an incredible story about Juliet, a deaf girl whose mother has recently died. After stumbling into a friendship with a ghost who also happens to be the only person she can hear, Juliet finds herself embarking on a mission to help him find out more about his life and death. To gain information, she has to journey to a resort run by Lord Thornton, an unsavory fellow who has been after her estate for reasons unknown. Once there, she finds herself unsure of what to believe or who to trust, but remains determined to uncover the truth.

I loved Juliet! Despite the fact that she is forced to go to Lord Thornton's estate and essentially audition for the part of his wife, Juliet always maintains her independence and never becomes a weak character in any way. Not only does she play a huge part in the uncovering of the mystery surrounding Hawk, she actually fights against the system in several ways. The most entertaining of these is her refusal to wear the uncomfortable clothes forced upon her by the society of the time. I found it hilarious to see her repeatedly try to get away with not wearing the incredible uncomfortable dresses people kept trying to put her in, but I did like that she offered reasonable solutions to the issue. I also really liked that she was open to exploring relationships and her sexuality, albeit not in an overly risqué way. What I mean to say is I loved that A.G. Howard was able to give us a strong female protagonist while staying true to the time period.

Of course, there are two love interests, as implied by the synopsis. I ended up loving Hawk and Lord Thornton in different ways. There were times when I really didn't like either of them, but it all came together perfectly. I can't say much about either of these men without spoiling the book, but suffice it to say there were many swoons to be had. I was a little worried when I realized that there would be a love triangle in this story, but if anyone knows how to write a satisfying love triangle, it's A.G. Howard! Although this is a new adult romance and there is some sexual content, there are no sexually explicit scenes. Something to keep in mind if you're not a fan of the overly steamy!

The setting was also fantastic and really goes hand in hand with the cover. Most of this story takes place between a graveyard, a really unique luxury resort, and an old mine. All of it fit right into a story of a ghost stuck between worlds and a shady nobleman with a questionable past. I definitely felt like I could picture my surroundings the whole way through and it really added to the reading experience!

Speaking of reading experience... Sometimes new adult romance has a tendency to focus too much on the romance, while the plot slides to the back burner, but that is not the case here! I wasn't sure what the story would be going in and much of it stays shrouded in mystery until late in the book. I love big twists and The Architect of Song has them! I was totally shocked more than once reading this. There is also a very satisfying conclusion at the end of this book. Although it is the first in a series, they are loosely connected enough that there's no cliffhanger to leave you in agony for the next year!

I honestly don't think A.G. Howard can write a book I won't like. I went into The Architect of Song not knowing what it was all about, but with very high expectations. Sometimes high expectations are a recipe for disaster, but in this case I was not disappointed! I blew through this in a couple days and, even though there wasn't a cliffhanger ending, I already can't wait to get the next one! ...more

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Mar 31, 2016 La La rated it really liked it

Shelves: want-hardcover-for-bookshelf, on-my-kindle, review-arcs-author-pub-copy, adult-fic

Twists, turns, and gorgeous prose! I will say A G. Howard is the only author who can make love triangles palatable for me, and you all know how I deeply loathe them. Although this is a period story she still managed to shine a light on her love of fashion. If you like classics like Jane Eyre, you will love this book.

Please don't be turned away by the NA (New Adult) classification because the intimate scenes are steamy, but not explicit.

FULL BLOG REVIEW: lalatoadstone.blogspot.com/2017/01/ra...

I ...more

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Oct 23, 2016 Lizzy (Bent Bookworm) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, 2016-releases, read-in-2016, halloween, historical-fiction

~*Full review on The Bent Bookworm!*~

This book totally surprised me. I was not expecting to enjoy it as much as I did, though I was hoping I would. So I was delighted when this was my initial reaction:

Yep. This was one giant dark truffle of deliciousness. I started it one day, and about two chapters in decided I wanted to just sit down and devour it all in one go, so I waited for a weekend day and did just that.

First of all, don’t go into this book expecting something it’s not. This is a gothic ...more

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Oct 08, 2018 Charlie Holmberg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

My first A.G. Howard book and I loved it! Can't wait to read more of her works. I've been looking high and low for an author who writes romantic fantasy that hits the steam level I like, and voila! Howard, you beautiful goddess, thank you for giving me a great read! ...more

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Jul 29, 2016 Britt rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-authors

Let's talk about the Architect of Song shall we? I was very impressed with this story in general. I am not familiar with the Phantom of the Opera which the story is loosely based on. That being said it was very easy to get lost in this amazing yet slightly macabre world. I love that she went with a more historical tale as well. It was obvious that she did her research cause the imagery I got while reading seemed to suit this story to a tee. From the very beginning I felt that creepy macabre vibe ...more

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Mar 30, 2016 Pili rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Anita Howard is one of my auto buy authors and every book of hers reinforces this more and more!
The Architect of Song is a perfect example of a brilliantly done gothic novel. Atmospheric, enticing and absolutely captivating!

The writing is as vivid and visual as it was in her previous books and it paints us clearly both settings and characters without bogging down the narrative.

Very soon we are completely enthralled by the mystery and Juliet's experience through it all. Given Juliet's disability ...more

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Mar 27, 2016 Bethany Crandell rated it it was amazing

Same gorgeous prose you've come to love in AG's YA novels, spiced-up a bit in this stunning, historical NA read.
...more

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Nov 30, 2016 Dark Faerie Tales rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviewed-by-bridget

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Beautifully written story with amazing characters, suspenseful mystery, and epic romance!

Opening Sentence: Melancholy.

Excerpt: No

The Review:

Nineteen year old Juliet has lived a quiet life with her mother but recently her mother passed away and it has left Juliet devastated! Ever since she was a child Juliet has been deaf and it has caused her to feel awkward in social settings! She would love nothing more then to live out her life in her childho ...more

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Jan 12, 2017 Jessica | Booked J rated it it was amazing

Shelves: various-favorites, best-of-the-2010s

Blog | Twitter | Instagram

If you’re new to my reviews and don't know, let me catch you up to speed: I am in love with words written by A.G. Howard. I mean. Obviously. There, I said it. I’m almost positive that I would read an instruction manual titled How to Unclog Your Toilet With Your Pinky Finger if A.G. Howard wrote it (although, Anita, please don’t take this as an invitation to write said instructions--that was a weird statement even for me and I am sure I should talk to a therapist about i ...more

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Oct 12, 2019 Catherine rated it it was amazing

I'm not sure if this story was inspired by Beauty and the Beast, but it definitely gives off that vibe, which I absolutely adore. Whether it is or not, the story and writing both beautiful and intricate.

One of my favourite things about this book is the constant tension created by the mystery Juliet is trying to solve and the uncertainty surrounding her male companions. There was never a moment when I wasn't worried about what would happen to Juliet next and what she would discover, never a mome ...more

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Oct 02, 2016 Guadalupe rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Rating: 4,5 / 5

OMG!! A. G. Howard did it again, she made me cry, laugh, smile and suffer. This story is simply wonderful. I couldn't help but falling in love with the story, with the characters... with everything!

It's a must read for everyone!! ...more

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Sep 19, 2016 Jessica Nelson rated it it was amazing

From the moment I read this book, I loved it. Enraptured by the gothic landscape, the lush and haunting prose, and the memorable, unique characters. One of my favorite romances!!!

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Mar 02, 2017 Sabrina rated it it was amazing

I read, well more like listened to this book. the Architect of Song was my first audiobook and man was it ever stunning

For the storyline itself, this book was yet another stunning enchantment created by A.G. Howard. I fell in love with all the characters. The story itself flowed beautifully and kept my interest locked in. Each secret that unfolded was crafted with such delicacy. Overall I was amazed.

As for the Narrator, I was completely speechless. She did a fantastic job at executing the story ...more

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Apr 24, 2016 Marie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: diverse-characters-ftw, review-book, england, cover-love, read-in-2016, favorites, historical-fiction, arc, ebook, swoonworthy-guy

photo Architect-of-Song-AG-Howard-SweetMarie83_zpsxgf1nsjg.png

Find this and other reviews at Ramblings of a Daydreamer.

I try really hard not to set my expectations too high with books anymore because I feel like I’m often disappointed when I built a book up in my mind. That being said, after reading Splintered and Unhinged by AG Howard, I couldn’t help but get excited and set high hopes when I read the synopsis and saw the gorgeous cover for The Architect of Song. Once I started reading, I knew within a few chapters that I was right to get excited about this book; Howard has a magical way with words and an ability to weave a beautiful story that’s dark, haunting, twisted, unique, and ultimately hopeful.

Part of my initial curiosity about The Architect of Song was the fact the main character, Juliet, was deaf. My brother is deaf, and having grown up surrounded by deaf people, I was interested to see how Howard would tackle the disability, especially in a Victorian setting. As sad as it was, it made sense that in that era, Juliet had to hide her deafness rather than be pitied or seen as ‘less than’ by society. Her feelings of isolation and her aversion to people other than her uncle and her maid, paired with her grief over the death of her mother, came across well and made me sympathize with her immediately.

There were so many elements of this story that kept me enthralled. It was a wonderful combination of mystery, romance, paranormal, and historical fiction. I liked the sense of not quite knowing who to trust, and how even as you pieced together parts of the mystery there was still so much to unravel. The night I started the book I had trouble falling asleep because the ghost element of the book - while probably not scary to most people - freaked me out! Then once I was over the fear, I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters whenever I had to set the book aside. I wanted to know what was going to happen and how things would work out. I also really enjoyed the gypsy lore in the story. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything with Romani characters, and I found the bits of history and customs fascinating. It was just one of the many things that set this book apart and made it sparkle.

The Architect of Song is a story that will stick with me for a long time. I finished reading it a couple weeks ago and still think about it daily. I became so emotionally invested in the characters that they were like real people by the end (so much so that I was a sobbing mess in the last couple chapters). This story has something for everyone, whether you’re looking for something with a paranormal twist, historical fiction, romance, or mystery.

Captivating, atmospheric, romantic, and beautifully written, The Architect of Song is a must read. ...more

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Nov 02, 2016 Marguerite rated it it was amazing

Shelves: just-plain-awesome, long-series-to-cont, ghosts, favorites, gothic

All of the stars. All of my heart.

The Architect of Song is such a beautiful book, A.G Howard has outdone herself with the stunning prose, intriguing story and wonderful characters. I went into this book expecting a lot (I am a huge fan of the Splintered series) and not only did this book deliver, but it exceeded everything I had hoped or anticipated that it would be. In short, this has become a favourite and certainly one of my favourite reads of the year.

Juliet is a wonderful heroine - a perfe All of the stars. All of my heart.

The Architect of Song is such a beautiful book, A.G Howard has outdone herself with the stunning prose, intriguing story and wonderful characters. I went into this book expecting a lot (I am a huge fan of the Splintered series) and not only did this book deliver, but it exceeded everything I had hoped or anticipated that it would be. In short, this has become a favourite and certainly one of my favourite reads of the year.

Juliet is a wonderful heroine - a perfect blend of intellect, curiosity, a little madness, vulnerability, passion and kindness. She was a joy to read and I loved her strength, resilience and bravery. All of the characters were fantastic, to be honest. Hawk as the ghost was riveting - I felt his pain and struggles of coming to terms with being dead and no longer amongst the living, along with the uncertainty and fierce desire to uncover his forgotten past. Lord Thornton was the suitably dashing gothic figure - mysterious, ambiguous and very swoon-worthy. Juliet's Uncle and Enya added depth and insight into the story and just... everyone was great!

The settings were just as fascinating as the characters, and A.G Howard brought her signature flair for description and beauty to really placing the reader within the Victorian manor houses and world the characters inhabited.

The plot was just, so gothic I just don't have it in me not to adore it. The winding beauty of the story, the subtle reveals, then the big twists and the final build to the climax - I was never bored and just like Juliet, always intrigued to turn over the next page to reveal the truth of the mystery. Also, that final build up to the end - so beautiful, I was crying in parts. Also, having the flower just as relevant to the story was fascinating. I just loved it!!

I want to take a moment to comment on A.G Howard's stunning prose - it really shines in this book and I find it to be the perfect blend between stunning words and plot. I love reading about the gorgeous interiors of the houses and the unique fashions which inspire me. Her writing is so, so beautiful! I could wax lyrical more, but I insist that you pick up this book and read it to experience the wonder.

Okay, this review is really just a gush fest of me saying how awesome this book is and it deserves to be gushed about. The Architect of Song will now sit on my shelf beside all of my favourite gothic novels and I can't wait to read it over and over throughout the years. I was only halfway through this book and already longing for the next companion novel - the wait will be hard. I'm now going to recommend this book to everyone I know, because this book needs to be read by the world.

Re-Read 1:

I (somehow) officially love and adore this book EVEN MORE than my first read, clearly evidenced through the very fact that my re-read was actually faster than my first read (which normally doesn't happen)! I'm ready for the emotional turmoil of The Hummingbird Heart now! :) ...more

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About A.G. Howard

A.G. Howard

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#1 New York Times and International bestselling Author of gothic / fantasy & paranormal tales, mystical & romantic with a side of horror. A.G.'s dark Alice in Wonderland inspired Splintered series has been published in over a dozen languages.

Young adult, Adult, and literary romance. Repped by Jenny Bent.

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“Love enters a man through his eyes, a woman through her ears.” — 4 likes

“Love is inside each of us... a dormant seed. Once it has been planted, whether in the soils or the fallows, it will take root and either flourish to something beautiful and dramatic, or grow dormant, content in its stasis. But there’s no right or wrong season for it to bloom.” — 1 likes

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