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A Song of Leaving
A battered violin on the cheap consignment shelf - that sings like chocolate joy.
The story doesn’t begin there, though. It starts with an oppio tree that wants to see the world and a poor cabinetmaker of the Marches who can no longer fix his daughter Lucia’s terrible violin.
But violins have long lives. There will be performances and plagues, vast oceans and tiny one-room schools, a planet lost and willing hands on a spaceship found.
This is the story of a real violin, or at least the one she told to the author who picked her up off that cheap consignment shelf, and some imagining of her future.
A song of leaving that is also a story of coming home - eventually.
The story doesn’t begin there, though. It starts with an oppio tree that wants to see the world and a poor cabinetmaker of the Marches who can no longer fix his daughter Lucia’s terrible violin.
But violins have long lives. There will be performances and plagues, vast oceans and tiny one-room schools, a planet lost and willing hands on a spaceship found.
This is the story of a real violin, or at least the one she told to the author who picked her up off that cheap consignment shelf, and some imagining of her future.
A song of leaving that is also a story of coming home - eventually.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 20, 2025
99 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Faye
44 books316 followersHas previously authored books under the name of Debora Geary.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
March 21, 2025
Different in way only Audrey Faye can do
Highly recommend.
It's sad and happy and wonderful and I went through a whole box of tissues, Audrey Faye does it again.
Its been a long time since I cried my way through an entire book, I think the last one was also by Audrey Faye.
It's hard to describe this story - the main character is on the cover, it has all the feels that I associate with an Audrey Faye book, it makes you think as you enjoy the story.
Again, highly recommend.
Knowledge of any other Faye world is not necessary to enjoy.
cross posted goodreads, amazon, book bub
Highly recommend.
It's sad and happy and wonderful and I went through a whole box of tissues, Audrey Faye does it again.
Its been a long time since I cried my way through an entire book, I think the last one was also by Audrey Faye.
It's hard to describe this story - the main character is on the cover, it has all the feels that I associate with an Audrey Faye book, it makes you think as you enjoy the story.
Again, highly recommend.
Knowledge of any other Faye world is not necessary to enjoy.
cross posted goodreads, amazon, book bub
March 23, 2025
A masterpiece from Audrey Faye
My journey with Audrey Fayes writing began with Kharmacorp on the reccomdation of Nathan Lowell. I started reading the Ghost Mountain series which soon became one of my go to series where I reread both the whole series and also dip into my electronically highlighted favourite passages.
This book is very different yet has much the same sense of belonging and occassional trauma. If you want to follow a violin through time as it meets each of the people who play it and is changed by ggem as it changes them. This is a more thoughtful book than Ghost Mountain but is well worth your time especially as one of the people we meet along the way is a certain author.
My journey with Audrey Fayes writing began with Kharmacorp on the reccomdation of Nathan Lowell. I started reading the Ghost Mountain series which soon became one of my go to series where I reread both the whole series and also dip into my electronically highlighted favourite passages.
This book is very different yet has much the same sense of belonging and occassional trauma. If you want to follow a violin through time as it meets each of the people who play it and is changed by ggem as it changes them. This is a more thoughtful book than Ghost Mountain but is well worth your time especially as one of the people we meet along the way is a certain author.
March 30, 2025
Comforting, even charming, but also unsatisfying
While this book has all of Audrey Faye's usual warmth and sense of interconnection, it never really sank deep enough into any of the characters, even Charlie, who is the one constant, to develop any real sense of narrative.
It starts off promisingly, but every time I started to get pulled into a character's story, it jumped into another time, with another, usually fairly similar, character, in different circumstances, and the previous character joined the chorus of nice-people-to-be-remembered-fondly. It was frustrating, repetetive, and ultimately a little boring, especially because Charlie, broken and rebuilt repeatedly, remains fundamentally unchanged as a character.
I understand that the timeline progression was essentially the point, but I really wish that we could have lived alongside one set of characters long enough to experience their lives with them instead of getting a summary recap through Charlie's memories as she moves on to the next.
It would be pretty awesome if each of the stops along the timeline could've been its own book or shirt story, with a fully realized plot and unique Charlie-friend. Then Charlie could have evolved alongside the characters whose lives she shared, and we could've watched her learn and develop her ability to communicate with her human clan in ways appropriate to different individuals, rather than essentially waiting passively for the next "right person" who has the innate ability to hear her to come along.
I'm torn -- I always find Audrey Faye's books comforting, and her sense of community nourishing to my spirit, and that was true of this book as well, so in that sense, I loved it. But I also found it narratively unsatisfying, and that's a significant issue. So... five stars for warm fuzzies and two for story? I guess round the 3.5 up to 4.
While this book has all of Audrey Faye's usual warmth and sense of interconnection, it never really sank deep enough into any of the characters, even Charlie, who is the one constant, to develop any real sense of narrative.
It starts off promisingly, but every time I started to get pulled into a character's story, it jumped into another time, with another, usually fairly similar, character, in different circumstances, and the previous character joined the chorus of nice-people-to-be-remembered-fondly. It was frustrating, repetetive, and ultimately a little boring, especially because Charlie, broken and rebuilt repeatedly, remains fundamentally unchanged as a character.
I understand that the timeline progression was essentially the point, but I really wish that we could have lived alongside one set of characters long enough to experience their lives with them instead of getting a summary recap through Charlie's memories as she moves on to the next.
It would be pretty awesome if each of the stops along the timeline could've been its own book or shirt story, with a fully realized plot and unique Charlie-friend. Then Charlie could have evolved alongside the characters whose lives she shared, and we could've watched her learn and develop her ability to communicate with her human clan in ways appropriate to different individuals, rather than essentially waiting passively for the next "right person" who has the innate ability to hear her to come along.
I'm torn -- I always find Audrey Faye's books comforting, and her sense of community nourishing to my spirit, and that was true of this book as well, so in that sense, I loved it. But I also found it narratively unsatisfying, and that's a significant issue. So... five stars for warm fuzzies and two for story? I guess round the 3.5 up to 4.
April 24, 2025
As always, a beautifully written story with a lush world to explore. I found myself taking my time with this book. At first, I wasn't sure I was even going to buy it because something about it just didn't quite call out to me. But I also knew I love everything Faye writes, so that I would likely fall in love with the story and I did. But it was a different journey through this book than I usually have, where I usually sit and read all in one sitting. For this one, I needed to take my time and read it over the course of days. And it took me a little while to really engage with the story. Some parts I connected to more than others.
March 26, 2025
I like this author's shifter series, so was willing to give this book a try. Sadly it didn't work for me, it was too slow. I'm also not sure what to shelve the book under, it seems the tree knows what is going on, but then we have a man trying to build a violin for his daughter as a precious gift, asks the tree if he wants to help in the project. Just weird for me, yet I have a feeling there is a beautiful story there, if you are willing to give it the time, I wasn't, this one just wasn't for me.
June 2, 2025
A Song for the Ages
Ms Faye has outdone her with her latest book, “A Song of Leaving.” Interestingly enough, the story is told from two viewpoints: the violin and its various owners throughout the ages. It goes from Italy in the Middle Ages to the stars in the future. It is a story of hope and loss, of joy and heartbreak. It is also semi-autobiographical. Sorry Audrey, we’ve known each other for too many years for me not to see you!
Read the book and experience the music and the magic that is truly Audrey Faye.
Ms Faye has outdone her with her latest book, “A Song of Leaving.” Interestingly enough, the story is told from two viewpoints: the violin and its various owners throughout the ages. It goes from Italy in the Middle Ages to the stars in the future. It is a story of hope and loss, of joy and heartbreak. It is also semi-autobiographical. Sorry Audrey, we’ve known each other for too many years for me not to see you!
Read the book and experience the music and the magic that is truly Audrey Faye.
March 24, 2025
This is a simply wonderful story. I had no idea what to expect, but found a sentient tree (and then violin), interesting and well written characters, and details of the the journey of an amazing violin and the impact it had on the lives of many people. This is a story with the power to evoke emotion as you read - one of the few that has affected me so much, and in a good way. If you like music and unique, thoughtful, and inspiring stories, by all means; pick up this book!
March 24, 2025
Belonging is not limited by species
Another book slated for infinite rereading! Any new book signed by Audrey Faye goes onto my permanent shelf, and is always easy to grab when I need something to encourage growing and be a safe place to root at the same time.
Unusually, this was not a quick read the first time, and is not moving swiftly the second time either. But the motto I take runs through me as well as the chapters: "Remember who you are."
Another book slated for infinite rereading! Any new book signed by Audrey Faye goes onto my permanent shelf, and is always easy to grab when I need something to encourage growing and be a safe place to root at the same time.
Unusually, this was not a quick read the first time, and is not moving swiftly the second time either. But the motto I take runs through me as well as the chapters: "Remember who you are."
April 22, 2025
This is a book to savor. I’ll try next time
My daughter (17) and I love everything by this author under any name. Witch Central, the purple series, dragons and world saving women and Ghost Mountain. The sensitivity and strength feeds hope when life is heavy and choices small.
While this book has the same beautiful tone and rhythm as the others, it is different. I can smell the wood and feel the healing cracks. Timeless. A new treasured story for our family.
My daughter (17) and I love everything by this author under any name. Witch Central, the purple series, dragons and world saving women and Ghost Mountain. The sensitivity and strength feeds hope when life is heavy and choices small.
While this book has the same beautiful tone and rhythm as the others, it is different. I can smell the wood and feel the healing cracks. Timeless. A new treasured story for our family.
July 5, 2025
This is a beautiful book that is in Audrey Faye’s style and it will take you through all the emotions a great story can take you through! By the end you have watched multiple love stories of friendship and clan and never want the last page of the story to arrive. No one else I have found so far in my life of reading can write stories that touch the soul like Audrey Faye. Thank you for all the stories you share with us, every new one is a treasure!
September 10, 2025
This was an unexpected masterpiece. I knew nothing about the book starting out, and multiple times it surprised me with where it went. It has wonderful writing, some enthralling character sketches, and moments of extreme poignancy and sadness. And, unusually for books these days, self-contained without seeming to self itself up to launch a series. I don't want to say more lest I take away from experiencing it for yourself
April 5, 2025
Audrey's tales always leave me raw with emotion. No other author touches and resonates with me like Audrey, deep within my Buddhist being! She writes in a visual language of emotional relationships, hope, and dreams through word pictures and allegory... She is a poet. And she is a master! Thank you once again, Audrey, for another beautiful and uplifting story! May your violin find new clan...
April 5, 2025
I wasn't ready to let this book end. Highly recommend.
Truly haunting. Whispers of Karma Corp. Loved every moment. My heart heard, my eyes cried and I'll be tree- reading now and always. The messages were so spot on.
Truly haunting. Whispers of Karma Corp. Loved every moment. My heart heard, my eyes cried and I'll be tree- reading now and always. The messages were so spot on.
April 18, 2025
Wonderful book
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and found myself pleasantly surprised. The story of a sentient violin and all the lives touched by the music she shared is amazing.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, and found myself pleasantly surprised. The story of a sentient violin and all the lives touched by the music she shared is amazing.
April 23, 2025
I wept when I read the last page.
This lyrical book, full of imagery and love, made me sad that I do not play music. However, I do love listening to music, and I do love dancing. Thus my fierce connection to this wonderfully written book. I will be rereading it many times!
This lyrical book, full of imagery and love, made me sad that I do not play music. However, I do love listening to music, and I do love dancing. Thus my fierce connection to this wonderfully written book. I will be rereading it many times!
April 8, 2025
The story of a tree with roots so deep, but with a soul full of fire and a dragon heart. A tree that wishes to be free and becomes a violin that goes on to inspire even more souls with dragon hearts. Tears of heartbreak, sorrow, love, and joy were shed reading this tale.
The beginning of this review was written by a very tired brain that just had to get the words down so that I would not forget how amazing this book was. A tired brain that apparently had a flair for drama and whimsy, though I still stand by every word of that drama and whimsy. I should have know this book was going to touch my heart so much as it is an Audrey Faye book.
I loved this book so much. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book but I knew it would be good because of the hands that wrote it. But there was something about this book that touched me in a a way that none of Audrey Faye’s other books have been able to do. This violin has left a lasting impression on me and I will continue to remember and love the stories it had to tell.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good character driven story or who loves books that will touch your heart.
Steam Content: Not a romance book. No sexual content.
The beginning of this review was written by a very tired brain that just had to get the words down so that I would not forget how amazing this book was. A tired brain that apparently had a flair for drama and whimsy, though I still stand by every word of that drama and whimsy. I should have know this book was going to touch my heart so much as it is an Audrey Faye book.
I loved this book so much. I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book but I knew it would be good because of the hands that wrote it. But there was something about this book that touched me in a a way that none of Audrey Faye’s other books have been able to do. This violin has left a lasting impression on me and I will continue to remember and love the stories it had to tell.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good character driven story or who loves books that will touch your heart.
Steam Content: Not a romance book. No sexual content.
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April 14, 2025I just couldn’t get into this book.
April 25, 2025
A new departure for this author, but I enjoyed it.
May 24, 2025
I’ve read this author for a long time (even under her previous pseudonym ) the feel of the books sings through . Soothing and challenging.
October 19, 2025
A series of tales held together by a violin and the people who can hear the story is carries. Beautifully lush language, diverse cast of characters, and a reminder of what we share. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews