"The Kingdom of Back" by Marie Lu

The Kingdom of Back (Mar. 3, 2020) by Marie Lu.

Everyone is familiar with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (affectionately called Woferl), but this is not his story. It is hers. Maria Anna Mozart, usually called Nannerl. She’s the elder Mozart. The big sister who should shine as brightly as her little brother, but for the fact that she’s female in a male-dominated world (this is the 18^th century, after all). This does not stop her from her desire to compose music for all to hear and is masterful in playing the clavier (harpsichord), but she’ll only perform until she’s of a marriageable age, according to her strict and often tyrannical father. As is known, Woferl shines brightly from a young age; he’s clearly a prodigy. His brilliance eclipses Nannerl’s swiftly and with such ease, and she struggles with jealousy. People will remember him, but what about her? The Mozart family’s tours are long and often take a toll on the young Mozarts, especially on Woferl’s health. Strangely, his downturns in health seem to coincide with a handsome, mysterious stranger from a land of their own stories. A forest surrounds a kingdom, but the trees grow upside down (this is the Kingdom of Back, for it can seem backwards). It is a magical place, intriguing to explore and fantastical, and they even outwit a witch. The stranger, Hyacinth, says he can help Nannerl if she’ll help him. But at what cost?

            From what I’ve read from Marie Lu, “The Kingdom of Back” is her first foray into the world of historical fiction. Historical fantasy. Lu’s YA novel is a clever composition of history, magic and world-building. Whether at home in Austria, somewhere in Europe on a grand tour or visiting Back, Lu blends each setting to segue without hitting the wrong note. That isn’t to say it’s a perfectly comprised concerto. Despite reading the book fairly quickly, there remained something slow about reading it compared to the colorful excitement of the Warcross duology or the action of the Legend series. While I appreciated the historical element, I was less impressed by Hyacinth and Back as a whole. That part felt a bit generic, I’m disappointed to admit. Still, the love/rivalry of the Mozart siblings is emotional and compelling, especially when Nannerl opens her eyes to the Faustian mess she’s gotten herself into. I may not have loved this story, but there is music in it. Can you hear it?