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The Kingdom of Back

Marie Lu (Goodreads Author)

3.81 · Rating details · 1,608 ratings · 548 reviews

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 ...more

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Hardcover, 336 pages

Published March 3rd 2020 by Putnam/G. P. Putnam's Sons

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Average rating 3.81 ·

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· 1,608 ratings · 548 reviews

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Mar 07, 2020 Emily May rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, fantasy, 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 Own, Woolf imagines that Shakespeare had a sister who was as talented, as imaginative, as capable as her brother, but because she was a woman, she had to stay home. She never had the opportunities Shakespeare did. This idea was to demonstrate how much talent has been wasted throughout history... just because it belonged to women. What I didn't know is that we don't need to imagine a fictional sister of a talented man-- we have one. Nannerl Mozart.

I knew nothing about this before reading The Kingdom of Back. I knew nothing of the girl who was a child prodigy, a musical genius alongside her brother, but forbidden from composing by her father. I didn't know that, as adults, Wolfgang begged Nannerl to send him her compositions in letters. I didn't know that the young Mozart siblings came up with their own fantasy world while they were touring Europe and called it "Das Königreich Rücken”. The Kingdom of Back.

This book is Lu's passion project; her first novel, put on hold for over a decade while she wrote the more widely-appealing dystopian and fantasy works we've come to know her for. Here, she combines historical fiction - the stifling feeling of being a woman in 18th Century Europe, the airs and graces of the courts, the spectre of smallpox - with fantasy. As Nannerl sees the future she longs for, the acknowledgement and immortality she craves, slipping away from her, The Kingdom of Back beckons.

She strikes a bargain with a Fae boy: complete several tasks for him and he will help her achieve her dreams. But all is not as it seems, of course. How far is Nannerl willing to go to be remembered?

I wasn't immediately sold on the fantasy aspects, to be honest. Nannerl completes fairy tale-like quests in The Kingdom of Back - retrieving a sword from an ogre and a night flower from a witch, etc. - and I didn’t fully understand it at first. But it did all come together quite wonderfully.

But it is the searing unfairness of it that made me keep reading on anxiously. I found myself telling everyone I talked to about this book… I was so affected by it. So angered, saddened and frustrated that so much talent could be allowed to go to waste. As Lu says in her powerful Author's Note:

What legacy could Nannerl have left if she’d been given the kind of attention and access that her brother enjoyed? What beautiful creations were lost to us forever because Nannerl was a woman? How many other countless talents have been silenced by history, whether for their gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic circumstances?

Facebook | Instagram ...more

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Oct 13, 2018 Nick marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Who spread the rumor that Marie Lu has replicated herself and the army of hers is going to attack us with a million books during the upcoming years?

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Mar 17, 2020 jessica rated it really liked it

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 havent touched in about a year, and play one of mozarts violin concertos that i learned when i was a teenager. it was a struggle, but i loved that this story motivated me to do that.

i think fans of ...more

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Sep 19, 2019 Cardan Greenbriar -- PLEASE STAY HOME AND SAFE rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: i-will-always-love-you, i-mmm-in-love-with-the-cover, oh-the-ocean-of-tears

But be wary of what you wish for, he went on. Wishes have a habit of surprising their makers.

I SHIT YOU NOT THIS BOOK REMINDS ME OF MY KINGDOM
and me

What great injustice that after 4 days of release this book only has less than 400 ratings
Who set the date similar to another *ahem* overly hyped book's release date?
anyway
talk about a motherfucking book hangover

I am such a mess that i don't even know how to properly review

I have never cried this much during a happy ending

So our very beloved ...more

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Jun 28, 2019 Hamad rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: e-books, good-covers, rtc, 2020-reads, ya

I just started this and I have forgotten how magical Marie's writing style is!!

description

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Mar 15, 2020 Claudia Ramírez rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020

3.5 stars

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Dec 13, 2019 Miranda Reads marked it as to-read · review of another edition

I've been burned so many times... and yet here I am, crawling back for more.

Can you smell the desperation?

YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat @miranda.reads

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Feb 10, 2017 Simona Bartolotta marked it as wishlist · review of another edition

I think new series should be kept secret until, say, six moths before the release, especially if it's an author like Marie Lu we're talking about, because jeez, my heart plummets when I look at that hideous "Expected publication: 2019". Just sayin'.

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Jan 14, 2020 Mara YA Mood Reader rated it liked it

Shelves: retellings, foreign-setting-not-in-us, 2020-new-releases, read-in-2020

3/29/2020: Well that was depressing. A sad story, beautifully told. And so unlike most YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy, it was most refreshing.

The Kingdom of Back was not at all what I expected it to be. And I suppose that was the saving grace in my experience. Although, still, I was not especially enthralled.

The YA genre needs books like this though. Wether it not be much in my tastes, it is true that the genre is often filled with unrealistically ridiculous romance plots that we both eat up 3/29/2020: Well that was depressing. A sad story, beautifully told. And so unlike most YA Historical Fiction/Fantasy, it was most refreshing.

The Kingdom of Back was not at all what I expected it to be. And I suppose that was the saving grace in my experience. Although, still, I was not especially enthralled.

The YA genre needs books like this though. Wether it not be much in my tastes, it is true that the genre is often filled with unrealistically ridiculous romance plots that we both eat up and also eye roll at the same time.

There is no romance here. No boy pining. No girl pining. No unrealistically and ridiculous handsome or gorgeous love interests. No one is throwing themselves at cruel boys that treat them poorly but are “oh-so-hot” we hate to love them and love to hate them.

And there’s no slow burn, drawn out over 3-5 books romance or mystery or coming into their powers tropes here either! This is a stand alone! Very Refreshing!

And if the lack of tropes is not your thing than I highly recommend Wintersong instead of The Kingdom of Back. In fact this reminded me so much of Wintersong but sadly lacking, that I almost feel compelled to read Wintersong again because what I was wanting and hoping for in The Kingdom of Back was just not there as it is in Wintersong.

3/22/2020
The story you already know is set in a real land, full of kings and castles and courts. There are long carriage rides and summer concerts and a little boy in a royal coat.

The story you have never heard is set in a dream of fog and stars, faery princelings and queens of the night. It is about the Kingdom of Back, and the girl who found it.

I am the sister, the other Mozart, and the girl who found it.

*eeeeek* Will the unboxing of my exclusive Owlcrate edition finally prompt me to read? And will this beautiful book bring an end to what has become the longest reading slump of my life to date?

2/2020:
Sounds a bit like Wintersong with the musical siblings in a time of female opression. And I’ve never read Marie Lu before??? ...more

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Mar 22, 2020 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it really liked it

Shelves: own, fantasy-all, zombie, historical, hardback

This came in my March Owlcrate. Pretty silver, shimery edges. And candle, socks, notecard, Art, lip balm, etc.

Omg! I had no idea Mozart had a sister that was just as talented, but held back for being a girl. Girls werent allowed to compose!!

Marie talks about this in her acknowledgments so read that as well. Shes added some fantasy to the world with a bit of truth. Im thoroughly impressed and enjoyed the book!

Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾 ...more

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Jan 12, 2019 Tucker marked it as not-released-tbr · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

"Perfect for fans of The Hazel Wood"

***********
Kingdom of Back? Like is everyone a spine?

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Mar 06, 2020 Ashley rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2020-march

Star Rating: > 4 Stars

What a wonderful fairytale filled with all the ingredients to make a story an absolutely joyous adventure to read!

This made me feel like I was a little girl again, in one corner of the house or another, reading in the sunlight.

Truly a beautifully and elegantly woven tale, about Nannerl Mozart, the brilliant sister that time almost left forgotten, & her brother Wolfgang, their secret kingdom, music, faeries, magic, & most of all, love.

💙 ...more

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Jun 29, 2019 Mary S. R. marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Recommended to Mary by: Mozart, who'd you think?

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, young-adult

To be remembered in this world, she created another.

Thou who hath pranced amidst this land,
Thou who hath walked upon thy hand,
And thou who hath danced on the river's strand...

Behold my quietus, my quiet stand!
Behold these tears and please withstand,
My wailing and waning and weening, and,
Behold my deathof thee, I demand!

Oh lo and behold my life so damned,
And watch my dawning demise, so grand;
Then seize my murderer, oh that I command
Bury and bind the book in this sand,
Within my grave, this during ...more

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Jan 22, 2020 Candace Robinson rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I wasnt 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 werent truly equals. But her brother, Wolfgang, AKA Wolferl, was so freaking adorable, cute, ...more

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Mar 18, 2020 Sylvie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: magical-realism, magic, historical-fiction

3.75

This was one of the most magical books I've read!

Review will be posted very soon.

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Jan 26, 2020 Jananie (thisstoryaintover) added it

THIS WAS ENCHANTING. Hands down one of my favourite books EVER. Haunting, lyrical, and beautifully written. This might even be my favourite Marie Lu book ever. It's definitely more literary than her other books and also one that could appeal to any age, young or old. Highly recommend!!

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$hannah ✧/ᐠ-ꞈ-ᐟ\ (on hiatus)$

Aug 14, 2017 hannah ✧/ᐠ-ꞈ-ᐟ\ (on hiatus) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-tbr

update: look!!! every time I get new information about this book my heart swells with excitement

_____

I ADDED THIS BOOK AS SOON AS I SAW MARIE LU'S NAME and when I read the description it got even better

I've always thought it sad that Nannerl couldn't pursue music like her brother because 18th century gender roles are the worst. plus, it's MARIE LU, so this is basically guaranteed to be amazing

but 2019....that's so far away.................. *weeps silently into bowl of cheerios*

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Dec 02, 2019 Elle Rudy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020, bookishfirst

An elegantly beautiful story about a sister and brother told through the lenses of history and fantasy, I was unexpectedly touched by this offering from Marie Lu. This is a departure for the YA Sci-fi/Fantasy writer, and despite her Legend series being published first, I was surprised to learn shed written The Kingdom of Back prior to it.

The tone of this reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth, but centered around the childhoods of Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, known to one another as Nannerl An elegantly beautiful story about a sister and brother told through the lenses of history and fantasy, I was unexpectedly touched by this offering from Marie Lu. This is a departure for the YA Sci-fi/Fantasy writer, and despite her Legend series being published first, I was surprised to learn she’d written The Kingdom of Back prior to it.

The tone of this reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth, but centered around the childhoods of Maria Anna and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, known to one another as Nannerl and Woferl, respectively. In order to escape the wretched unfairness of being the child breadwinners of their family and the clear & constant favoring of Woferl by their father, Nannerl and her brother either discover or invent the mystical Kingdom of Back, where they can abandon their earthly troubles for new ones. Taking place in Europe in the mid-1760s, so before the United States was even a country, the gender roles are devestatingly restrictive. Passages like this are utterly heartbreaking, but somehow still resonate today:

“He tells you to play, so you play. He tells you to curtsy, so you curtsy. He tells you what you are meant to do and what you are meant not to do, so you do and you do not do. He tells you not to be angry, so you smile, you turn your eyes down, you are quiet and do exactly as he says in the hopes that this is what he wants, and then one night you realize that you have given him so much of yourself that you are nothing but the curtsy and the smile and the quiet. That you are nothing.”

As an older sister of two brothers, the youngest also being nearly five years my junior, I really felt for Nannerl immensely. The times where she would be blamed for not controlling her brother if he acted out or would be expected to care for him in lieu of the his two parents, whilst being a child herself, were so relatable that I almost didn’t believe that Lu was an only child. The love Nannerl has for her little brother despite how her family or the world treats them is steadfast and everlasting, no matter how frustrated she may be with him at the time.

I feel lucky that I got to read this book several months before publication, and I’m glad that Marie Lu was finally able to publish it. I’d really love if she wrote even more standalones. I’m sure publishers like to put out sweeping series with loyal followings, but it would have been a shame if we never got to enjoy this sparkling, lyrical novel. If you’re an adult who doesn’t usually read YA, I’d still recommend picking this one up. It clocks in as Historical Fantasy before any other genre, and despite focusing on two adolescent characters, has lessons and reflections on loving your sibling that stretch far beyond whatever age you currently are.

*Thanks to Penguin Teen & BookishFirst for an advance copy! ...more

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Dec 07, 2017 Gaby (lookingatbooks) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Marie Lu is just releasing new book after new book, I am so down for this. I will read her friggin grocery list if given the opportunity. Shes one of best ya writes ever ...more

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Feb 10, 2017 Andreea Pop marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Um.............. WHAT IS THIS????

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Jan 29, 2019 ELLIAS (elliasreads) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

As someone who played the piano for over 10 years, consider me INTRIGUED!!!??

Like what is this synopsis???!!! Whatever, I'm here for it:)
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Jan 30, 2020 Helena of Eretz ✰ marked it as to-read

Shelves: favourites, faeries, young-adult, hardback, arcs, monthly-tbr

I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

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Mar 07, 2020 Zoë ☆ rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, 2020-releases, 2020-reads, 2020-faves, review-copy, all-time-faves

THIS WAS FREAKING AMAZING, Im crying right now it was so beautiful 😩😢💗
Go read this!!
----
The Kingdom of Back is SUCH a beautiful and enchanting read! I LOVED the magical world so much, and the combination with historical fiction made it an amazing and PERFECT read for me! The best thing about this book though was easily the writing. It was so enchanting and wonderful to read. Whenever I picked up the book, I was completely sucked into the world!

Thinking back on it (I finished it almost a week ...more

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May 30, 2018 ☆ Mira ✷ marked it as tbr-good-authors · review of another edition

Shelves: i-want-it-now

I never thought Id see Mozart become a YA legend. But Marie Lu has made me ship 15 year olds, cry for days, and fail my final exams, so I have complete faith that she will make it happen. ...more

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Nov 24, 2019 Bethany rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2020-interested, 2020-arcs

The Kingdom of Back is something different from Marie Lu, but is still filled with her lush descriptions, well-developed characters, and wonderfully imaginative worlds. This is a stunning work of historical fiction with elements of magic, focused on the little known story of Mozart's sister Nannerl and the fairytale kingdom they created as children. It is about the constraints placed on women during that time and the desire to leave a lasting effect on the world, but it is also about the bond The Kingdom of Back is something different from Marie Lu, but is still filled with her lush descriptions, well-developed characters, and wonderfully imaginative worlds. This is a stunning work of historical fiction with elements of magic, focused on the little known story of Mozart's sister Nannerl and the fairytale kingdom they created as children. It is about the constraints placed on women during that time and the desire to leave a lasting effect on the world, but it is also about the bond between siblings and the complexities of family relationships. This book begins as a quiet, achingly beautiful tale and builds with intensity in the latter part of the book. It gets under your skin, juxtaposing beauty and magic with things that are....subtly disturbing at first, but become darker with time.

Nannerl Mozart is a gifted young musician who wishes to be remembered, but is overshadowed by her even more gifted and (more importantly) male younger brother. As a young woman in 18th century Europe, composing music is forbidden to her, but it lives in her soul as it does her brothers. So she makes a wish that she might be remembered and is answered by a fairy prince who introduces the Mozarts to the magical Kingdom of Back. But real life and the fairytale merge in strange ways, demonstrating that all is not as it seems.

This is a beautiful story that can be difficult to read at times. It seamlessly weaves together magic and reality. Darkness in the other world mirrors things like infectious disease (a big deal in this time period), beauty mirrors the music that the siblings create and perform. It is a story of familial love, but also about how those things can be complicated by gendered expectations, by parents with financial concerns, and by abuse in the form of neglect and over-working. The central relationship here is really the one between the siblings and that truly shines, even when Nannerl struggles with resentment she knows is misplaced. It is painful to see the limitations placed on her and other women, and will truly make you grateful for how things have changed. This one is well worth picking up. I received an advance copy of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

CW include depictions of severe illness, death, violence, misogyny, and child abuse. ...more

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Mar 15, 2020 Noura Khalid (theperksofbeingnoura) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 3-star-reads, young-adult, retelling, arc, fantasy, historical-fiction, 2020-releases, 2020-reading-list

Thank you Penguin International for the gifted copy of The Kingdom of Back!

The Kingdom of Back is the first book by Marie Lu that I've read. Historical fiction isn't a genre I usually read. My first one was The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi and it's one of my favorite books of all time! So I went into this one with an open mind and I was pretty excited to try it out. The best way to describe this book is historical fiction with a hint of wild magic.

Marie Lu has wonderful writing. Her writing Thank you Penguin International for the gifted copy of The Kingdom of Back!

The Kingdom of Back is the first book by Marie Lu that I've read. Historical fiction isn't a genre I usually read. My first one was The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi and it's one of my favorite books of all time! So I went into this one with an open mind and I was pretty excited to try it out. The best way to describe this book is historical fiction with a hint of wild magic.

Marie Lu has wonderful writing. Her writing was so lyrical and I loved every moment of it! I also adored the story that she brought to the page. There are plenty of stories about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and hardly any about his sister, Maria Anna Mozart. She contributed in different ways to his music and he looked up to her, but hardly anyone mentions her. Diving into a story about her was wonderful. The book was mostly centered on the siblings and their strong relationship. I've hardly read any books that focus on sibling relationships and I really loved this one!

Nannerl was a tough character in her own way. She definitely grew up in a female oppressive society. I felt like this was highly realistic. It did annoy me all the comments about a woman's place and what's expected from her, especially from her own father. She definitely made sacrifices but I feel like towards the end of the story she did defy those ideas in her own way. Wolfgang although he's a child through most of the book he definitely had emotional intelligence mostly towards his sister. I loved how he always questioned the reasons why his sister couldn't do things. It showed how society shapes us to think the way that we do. He wasn't really aware of the privileges that he had. I did enjoy seeing how supportive he was of his sister. Even though Nannerl felt how unfair things were towards her she still remained by her little brothers side.

Of course there was also the magic aspect. The siblings share The Kingdom of Back. A story they make up that slowly becomes a reality and is a part of their life for years to come. I loved alternating between both worlds and how much magic was in this. The book also gave me intense Peter Pan vibes! There was also all the magic that comes with music and I feel like Marie Lu embodied that need to play especially well. The story was a bit on the slow side. I had wished it was just a tiny bit faster. I enjoyed the second half of the book most because I felt like that was when things started happening.

This story was unique in every way and a retelling unlike anything I've read before! I'm definitely looking forward to reading Marie Lu's other books! ...more

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Mar 06, 2020 Lea ♞ That_Bookdragon rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, releasing-2020

5/5 ⭐

Thank you so much to PRH International for providing me with an awesome free box of goodies including this book in exchange for an honest review!

"The shore's sand was very white, the seashells very blue, and through the curling sea foam walked a boy."

I knew from page 1 I would love this book. It is actually my first book by Marie Lu, but it certainly will not be the last. Her writing is whimsically beautiful and gripped me from the very beginning of the story. This story is a lyrical 5/5 ⭐️

Thank you so much to PRH International for providing me with an awesome free box of goodies including this book in exchange for an honest review!

"The shore's sand was very white, the seashells very blue, and through the curling sea foam walked a boy."

I knew from page 1 I would love this book. It is actually my first book by Marie Lu, but it certainly will not be the last. Her writing is whimsically beautiful and gripped me from the very beginning of the story. This story is a lyrical tale of magic and sibling relationship that captivated me. I, sadly, actually had no idea Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had a sister, this is not something I was told at school even though we did study some of his music therefore reading the Author's Note at the end broke my heart even more. I can't believe I went 21 years of my life not knowing about Nannerl's existence but I'm glad I do now because I will tell everybody around me about here, be sure of it.

This book follows the Mozart family as they discover both Nannerl and Woferl have an incredible talent for music and their father wants them to play in front of the courts of Europe, selfishly thinking only about the money his children can bring him. To escape the constant stress of being overworked for their fantastic music, Nannerl and Woferl create their own fantasy world in which they can dream up everything wild and even meet a strange boy called Hyacinth. The creation of this world will make their bond grow even stronger but also threaten them dearly.

This book is impressive not only by the fact that it is written on a world the Mozart sibling actually really invented but also by the powerful message Marie Lu wants to send all her readers and it is one of always believing in yourself no matter what but also of so much more. This story gripped me and captivated me until the very last page. It is an empowering tale for all women and young girls who are told they shouldn't be doing something because a more powerful force tells them not to but they decide to take back their agency. I absolutely loved this story and would like to thank Marie Lu for writing such an amazing tale! I sincerely hope more books like this would be written because we desperately need them.

My Bookstagram ...more

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Mar 26, 2020 Tani rated it it was ok · review of another edition

RATINGS: 2.5 STARS

"Look hard enough, Fräulein, and the kingdom will show you every truth that your world doesn't."

Kingdom of Back is a historical retelling of the Mozart siblings, Nannerl and Woferl, with faeries. It's magical realism. Although the concept of the book had much potential, it misses it's mark. It's predictable and dismal.

The story is based upon the childhood of Marianne 'Nannerl' Mozart and Wolfgang 'Wolferl' Mozart. Like her brother, Nannerl has talent of music and composure. ...more

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Mar 10, 2020 micolreads rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was a scream of all the women who want to be recognized for their talent and courage, who want to be on the first line and never stand back.
Lu was amazing at showing what a woman would feel in a 18th century Europe, using a girls eyes as a camera, to show what being a woman was when women where considered nothing.

I really appreciate the choice to give a lot of space to the fraternal bond between the main characters; I think it just added to the story in a way romance could not.
...more

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Sep 21, 2018 asbah marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: standalone-tbr

um, id read anything by this woman. ...more

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About Marie Lu

Marie Lu

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[Note: Many apologies, but I'm woefully bad at checking my Goodreads emails! If you'd like to send a note/msg, please catch me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Marie_Lu . Thanks!]

I write young adult novels, and have a special love for dystopian books. Ironically, I was born in 1984. Before becoming a full-time writer, I was an Art Director at a video game company. Now I shuffle around at home and ...more