What do you think?
Rate this book
Composer Anonymous
The future has revived the past-but all that glitters is not gold.
In the 25th century, society thrives in a Victorian Renaissance, where polished manners mask political unrest and genetic perfection is the new standard.
Colin, a struggling musician with two obnoxious stepbrothers and a dismissive stepfather, is the only autistic human known to be born in this era. His very existence is an anomaly-and a problem.
Princess Katrin, hailed as the ideal of engineered humanity, is drowning in palace drama and public scrutiny. But behind the glittering image lies a relentless pursuit-and a dangerous secret. When she stumbles upon the darker truths of her government, the key to exposing it all may lie with the elusive "Composer Anonymous" she met on her birthday.
A musician without a future. A princess without a voice. And a society built on buried truth.
Can two rebels rewrite the future before it silences them both?
In the 25th century, society thrives in a Victorian Renaissance, where polished manners mask political unrest and genetic perfection is the new standard.
Colin, a struggling musician with two obnoxious stepbrothers and a dismissive stepfather, is the only autistic human known to be born in this era. His very existence is an anomaly-and a problem.
Princess Katrin, hailed as the ideal of engineered humanity, is drowning in palace drama and public scrutiny. But behind the glittering image lies a relentless pursuit-and a dangerous secret. When she stumbles upon the darker truths of her government, the key to exposing it all may lie with the elusive "Composer Anonymous" she met on her birthday.
A musician without a future. A princess without a voice. And a society built on buried truth.
Can two rebels rewrite the future before it silences them both?
307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
2 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
C. Ash
2 books6 followersMy name is Christy. I am a graphic designer/illustrator by day and a writer in the evening in a particular, comfortable chair in my room. I enjoy writing both fiction (YA sci-fi, romance, adventure, alternative history) and some non-fiction (devotionals, apologetics). Sometimes, I just call myself a "creative" since I pick up more hobbies than I could ever properly carry. I play classical piano, sing, occasionally paint, thrift, practice my photography, and collect things like skeleton keys, pocket watches, vintage books, and teacups.
Follow along if you're interested in stories that capture the imagination, are riveting and yet wholesome, and champion a Christian worldview.
Follow along if you're interested in stories that capture the imagination, are riveting and yet wholesome, and champion a Christian worldview.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 1, 2026
4 stars, personally ⭐️ Christian Fiction - YA Fantasy - Fairytale Retelling (no magic)
About this book:
“The future has revived the past—but all that glitters is not gold.
In the 25th century, society thrives in a Victorian Renaissance, where polished manners mask political unrest and genetic perfection is the new standard.
Colin, a struggling musician with two obnoxious stepbrothers and a dismissive stepfather, is the only autistic human known to be born in this era. His very existence is an anomaly—and a problem.
Princess Katrin, hailed as the ideal of engineered humanity, is drowning in palace drama and public scrutiny. But behind the glittering image lies a relentless pursuit—and a dangerous secret. When she stumbles upon the darker truths of her government, the key to exposing it all may lie with the elusive “Composer Anonymous” she met on her birthday.
A musician without a future. A princess without a voice. And a society built on buried truth.
Can two rebels rewrite the future before it silences them both?”
Series: As of now, no, it seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 46:1 at the beginning; A Scripture is read & written on a paper; Prayers (including Colin adding to a prayer for God to tell his mother that he loves and misses her & asking God what was the purpose of him being born this way); Talks about God, being created by God, believing in God, & miracles; 'H’s are capital when referring to God; Colin believes in God, but Katrin isn’t sure about Him even though he father believes as well (*Spoilers* ); Mentions of God, believing in God, & being created with intention; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of a Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of souls/spirits; A mention of a person pretending to have a faith;
*Note: When Colin brings up about being created for a purpose, his step-father says that the “creation stuff is nonsense”; Mentions of human evolution, scientists trying to prevent aging by putting the human consciousness into an android body, & wanting to be gods like we “were meant to be” (which is said by one side character and Colin disagrees); Mentions of a mythology character becoming a god (Adonis); Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of “the next life” (said by Colin who believes in God); A mention of a government executive worshiping his schedule.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘confound it’, a form of ‘shut up’, a ‘stupid’, and three forms of ‘dumb’; “Skies” (a fictional world phrase/exclamation) is said seven times; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Falling through a ceiling and into a pool, Being locked in a room, Having a hand caught in a door and broken fingers, & Pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths (including of a mother) & grief; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of manipulation; A mention of bullies;
*Note: Katrin says that it was planned from the beginning that she wouldn’t have a mother or know who she is and has a longing to know her (Colin says that it was cruel to not give her a mother on purpose as “everyone should have a mother”); Someone tells Katrin that there is nothing special about her which hurts her and she has to tell herself that she has worth; Colin is Autistic/neurodivergent and this is shown through him being overwhelmed by loud noises and bright lights, dislike new or rough clothes (said to be Sensory Processing Disorder), unable to understand sarcasm or hidden meanings in facial expressions, not being good at lying, and making little eye contact; Colin is an anomaly in his world because “advancements in genetic code allowed geneticists to purge so-called “neurodivergence.”” (his mother was offered by the government to take him off her hands, but refused); With the genetic modification and advancements, anyone who can afford it can customize their child’s appearance, health, and talents (and can also “isolate psychopathy” which is what happened to a side character who wishes he had a choice in the matter); One person makes it sound like Colin has a disease (which Katrin rejects), but another wonders if neurodivergence can be useful and happens for a reason; Colin knows that the genetic researchers want to study him and prevent more people like him from being born (including one of his step-brothers); Colin’s step-family mistreats him (*Spoilers* ), snaps at him, manipulates and bullies him, and can be unkind to him when he has “attacks or episodes” (Colin apologizes once when his step-father is upset at him and the man replies that if Colin was sorry, he would change; They also bring up past events where he was unable to do something (like give an order to a waiter) and treat him like a child); Colin doesn’t want to believe what his step-father says about him but *Spoilers* ; Mentions of a group of people wanting to eliminate excess population that they deemed are unneeded and can be replaced by androids; A quote from Nietzsche.
Sexual Content- A not-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, & Butterflies (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to hold hands; A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of boyfriends; A couple mentions of a love triangle; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Katrin, age 17-18
-Colin Burke, age 17-18
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 2437
307 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I don’t think I’ve ever read such an art-filled book and it was so neat to see not only an emphasis on painting, but a ton about music and instruments as well. It was honestly fascinating to read and I really enjoyed how creating art was a major importance of the plot.
This was not quite a dystopian book because while it’s set in the future, there isn’t a corrupt government to deal with and take down. It’s not quite a sci-fi book, though,, either because while it’s a very technologically advance setting, it’s not set in space. So perhaps fantasy set in the far future would just be the best way to describe it? Regardless, it was a very unique setting.
I do think that there were a few times where some events could have been explained more for better understanding of what was happening (such as the layout of the swimming pool venue’s roof? how did she get up there? why is the swimming labyrinth such a big deal? it is just a popular sport? it was really only featured at the beginning of the book), but overall I was able to follow along and enjoyed our main two characters. I would have liked to have more details about the world and the technology as I had to guess on some of it, but that could have been because the characters don’t have to explain what they already know and the reader is jumping into their world.
There was a pro-life theme to this book which I loved to read. It highlighted the value of life and creativity in an AI-dominated world—in a futuristic world that has AI-androids and humans “enhancing” their physical appearance, talents, and health. It was a little scary to see what everything could one day be with AI’s assistance and growth.
I only like our main two characters because I was suspicious of basically everyone else—they seemed like either vipers or phony-balonies and I didn’t trust a single one of them. I was squinting my eyes at anyone else and wanting to protect both Katrin and Colin from harm. I knew there were Cinderella elements (but gender swapped) to this book, but I wasn’t sure how much it would have or follow the general idea of that story. I ended up liking the parts that were included and which parts weren’t present.
I’ve commented on it before in a Clean Fiction retelling of Cinderella that was gender-swapped, but I think that I don’t see this fairytale with swapped roles often because it’s a fine line between the male lead being unlike the typical Cinderella and being a bit of a pushover. It didn’t work for me with that other book for other reasons, but it worked well in this book because it was believable with Colin being Autistic but also being told time and time again that he can’t do again—which took time to undo and for him to believe in himself and that he was created with intention. I think this was my first time reading a YA book with an Autistic main character (Colin, in this book’s case) and I think the author did very well with the writing style changes between his and Katrin’s chapters as I could quickly tell who’s POV the chapter was in.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book! When first seeing the trope list and the many different elements that would be in this book, I was a little concerned that would make the book feel a little rushed, but the author impressed me with the topics shown and discussed throughout it. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“The future has revived the past—but all that glitters is not gold.
In the 25th century, society thrives in a Victorian Renaissance, where polished manners mask political unrest and genetic perfection is the new standard.
Colin, a struggling musician with two obnoxious stepbrothers and a dismissive stepfather, is the only autistic human known to be born in this era. His very existence is an anomaly—and a problem.
Princess Katrin, hailed as the ideal of engineered humanity, is drowning in palace drama and public scrutiny. But behind the glittering image lies a relentless pursuit—and a dangerous secret. When she stumbles upon the darker truths of her government, the key to exposing it all may lie with the elusive “Composer Anonymous” she met on her birthday.
A musician without a future. A princess without a voice. And a society built on buried truth.
Can two rebels rewrite the future before it silences them both?”
Series: As of now, no, it seems to be a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 46:1 at the beginning; A Scripture is read & written on a paper; Prayers (including Colin adding to a prayer for God to tell his mother that he loves and misses her & asking God what was the purpose of him being born this way); Talks about God, being created by God, believing in God, & miracles; 'H’s are capital when referring to God; Colin believes in God, but Katrin isn’t sure about Him even though he father believes as well (*Spoilers* ); Mentions of God, believing in God, & being created with intention; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of miracles; A few mentions of a Bible & Bible reading; A few mentions of souls/spirits; A mention of a person pretending to have a faith;
*Note: When Colin brings up about being created for a purpose, his step-father says that the “creation stuff is nonsense”; Mentions of human evolution, scientists trying to prevent aging by putting the human consciousness into an android body, & wanting to be gods like we “were meant to be” (which is said by one side character and Colin disagrees); Mentions of a mythology character becoming a god (Adonis); Mentions of luck & being lucky; A couple mentions of “the next life” (said by Colin who believes in God); A mention of a government executive worshiping his schedule.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘confound it’, a form of ‘shut up’, a ‘stupid’, and three forms of ‘dumb’; “Skies” (a fictional world phrase/exclamation) is said seven times; Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Falling through a ceiling and into a pool, Being locked in a room, Having a hand caught in a door and broken fingers, & Pain (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths (including of a mother) & grief; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of eavesdropping; A couple mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of manipulation; A mention of bullies;
*Note: Katrin says that it was planned from the beginning that she wouldn’t have a mother or know who she is and has a longing to know her (Colin says that it was cruel to not give her a mother on purpose as “everyone should have a mother”); Someone tells Katrin that there is nothing special about her which hurts her and she has to tell herself that she has worth; Colin is Autistic/neurodivergent and this is shown through him being overwhelmed by loud noises and bright lights, dislike new or rough clothes (said to be Sensory Processing Disorder), unable to understand sarcasm or hidden meanings in facial expressions, not being good at lying, and making little eye contact; Colin is an anomaly in his world because “advancements in genetic code allowed geneticists to purge so-called “neurodivergence.”” (his mother was offered by the government to take him off her hands, but refused); With the genetic modification and advancements, anyone who can afford it can customize their child’s appearance, health, and talents (and can also “isolate psychopathy” which is what happened to a side character who wishes he had a choice in the matter); One person makes it sound like Colin has a disease (which Katrin rejects), but another wonders if neurodivergence can be useful and happens for a reason; Colin knows that the genetic researchers want to study him and prevent more people like him from being born (including one of his step-brothers); Colin’s step-family mistreats him (*Spoilers* ), snaps at him, manipulates and bullies him, and can be unkind to him when he has “attacks or episodes” (Colin apologizes once when his step-father is upset at him and the man replies that if Colin was sorry, he would change; They also bring up past events where he was unable to do something (like give an order to a waiter) and treat him like a child); Colin doesn’t want to believe what his step-father says about him but *Spoilers* ; Mentions of a group of people wanting to eliminate excess population that they deemed are unneeded and can be replaced by androids; A quote from Nietzsche.
Sexual Content- A not-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Dancing, Hand holding, & Butterflies (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to hold hands; A few mentions of flirting; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of boyfriends; A couple mentions of a love triangle; Love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Katrin, age 17-18
-Colin Burke, age 17-18
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 2437
307 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
I don’t think I’ve ever read such an art-filled book and it was so neat to see not only an emphasis on painting, but a ton about music and instruments as well. It was honestly fascinating to read and I really enjoyed how creating art was a major importance of the plot.
This was not quite a dystopian book because while it’s set in the future, there isn’t a corrupt government to deal with and take down. It’s not quite a sci-fi book, though,, either because while it’s a very technologically advance setting, it’s not set in space. So perhaps fantasy set in the far future would just be the best way to describe it? Regardless, it was a very unique setting.
I do think that there were a few times where some events could have been explained more for better understanding of what was happening (such as the layout of the swimming pool venue’s roof? how did she get up there? why is the swimming labyrinth such a big deal? it is just a popular sport? it was really only featured at the beginning of the book), but overall I was able to follow along and enjoyed our main two characters. I would have liked to have more details about the world and the technology as I had to guess on some of it, but that could have been because the characters don’t have to explain what they already know and the reader is jumping into their world.
There was a pro-life theme to this book which I loved to read. It highlighted the value of life and creativity in an AI-dominated world—in a futuristic world that has AI-androids and humans “enhancing” their physical appearance, talents, and health. It was a little scary to see what everything could one day be with AI’s assistance and growth.
I only like our main two characters because I was suspicious of basically everyone else—they seemed like either vipers or phony-balonies and I didn’t trust a single one of them. I was squinting my eyes at anyone else and wanting to protect both Katrin and Colin from harm. I knew there were Cinderella elements (but gender swapped) to this book, but I wasn’t sure how much it would have or follow the general idea of that story. I ended up liking the parts that were included and which parts weren’t present.
I’ve commented on it before in a Clean Fiction retelling of Cinderella that was gender-swapped, but I think that I don’t see this fairytale with swapped roles often because it’s a fine line between the male lead being unlike the typical Cinderella and being a bit of a pushover. It didn’t work for me with that other book for other reasons, but it worked well in this book because it was believable with Colin being Autistic but also being told time and time again that he can’t do again—which took time to undo and for him to believe in himself and that he was created with intention. I think this was my first time reading a YA book with an Autistic main character (Colin, in this book’s case) and I think the author did very well with the writing style changes between his and Katrin’s chapters as I could quickly tell who’s POV the chapter was in.
Overall, I quite enjoyed this book! When first seeing the trope list and the many different elements that would be in this book, I was a little concerned that would make the book feel a little rushed, but the author impressed me with the topics shown and discussed throughout it. I look forward to seeing what she writes next!
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
January 26, 2026
5 stars
This is a beautiful story, and its mix of genres is unlike anything I've read before! It's a nonmagical Cinderella retelling set in Paris, where dystopian/sci-fi aspects (such as human genetic enhancements and futuristic tech) are blended with a Victorian renaissance theme. At first, some of these may seem like quite the contrast, but I was surprised at how well everything fit together!
I also LOVED its worldbuilding! From elegant palace waterfalls to a whimsical candy land, every location is so satisfying to visualize. Even the fashion is richly detailed. And the characters are wonderful! Between the main two, there's a strong focus on art: Katrin enjoys her painting hobby, and Collin shines with his violin compositions. But Collin's personal journey really takes the spotlight. He's so sweet, and I just loved seeing his growth throughout the book!
What makes this story even more special is the message! The Christian faith content is really prominent. There are powerful discussions of human value/finding worth in God's creation, along with trusting God through trials, and it all feels naturally woven into the plot.
If you're looking for a unique, clean, Christian YA story (one that would appeal to both teens and adults), I would definitely recommend adding this to your reading list!
*Content to note*
Character treated poorly/manipulated by step family. Non-graphic discussions of genetic enhancements/population control/etc.
This is a beautiful story, and its mix of genres is unlike anything I've read before! It's a nonmagical Cinderella retelling set in Paris, where dystopian/sci-fi aspects (such as human genetic enhancements and futuristic tech) are blended with a Victorian renaissance theme. At first, some of these may seem like quite the contrast, but I was surprised at how well everything fit together!
I also LOVED its worldbuilding! From elegant palace waterfalls to a whimsical candy land, every location is so satisfying to visualize. Even the fashion is richly detailed. And the characters are wonderful! Between the main two, there's a strong focus on art: Katrin enjoys her painting hobby, and Collin shines with his violin compositions. But Collin's personal journey really takes the spotlight. He's so sweet, and I just loved seeing his growth throughout the book!
What makes this story even more special is the message! The Christian faith content is really prominent. There are powerful discussions of human value/finding worth in God's creation, along with trusting God through trials, and it all feels naturally woven into the plot.
If you're looking for a unique, clean, Christian YA story (one that would appeal to both teens and adults), I would definitely recommend adding this to your reading list!
*Content to note*
Character treated poorly/manipulated by step family. Non-graphic discussions of genetic enhancements/population control/etc.
August 9, 2025
The 25th century may be advanced, but underneath fake culture and civility, two young people must fight for their very survival.
Autism isn’t permitted in a world of genetic enhancements, so Colin hides his true self behind his music.
Katrin may be the princess of a fine kingdom, but in truth, she’s merely a decoration for the people– more prisoner than royal.
When their two lives collide, they decide to work together to save their world… and perhaps make a better life for themselves.
I can safely say without hesitation that I have never read a book like that one before. A dystopian sci-fi with fantastical aesthetics like a Disney princess stepped into a game of Candy Land? I mean, that’s pretty unique, and this author wrote it well. I was excited to read a brand-new Christian YA book, and this definitely fit the bill.
There were a few notes in particular that caught my attention in this story. One of which was that I wanted to help Colin, because there were some serious red flags. I would put some triggers for (mainly) emotional and verbal abuse– sorry, I’m trying to be careful not to give away too many spoilers. It didn’t feel too heavy for my taste, but I just wanted to note that for anyone who was more sensitive on that sort of thing. I’d say it felt a little like a Cinderella/Rapunzel family situation for any of my Disney princess girlies.
The writing style was really unique to this story. I can’t remember when I’ve read a book in third person present tense. It was one of the many unique elements to this story. Another was the dystopian/sci-fi elements– especially when it came to the AI elements.
Since I know this really is a hot topic right now, I thought that it was very interesting to read a book that dealt with it a lot, and it definitely was thought-provoking. The genetic enhancements and androids were also interesting (it reminded me of what I’ve heard of Enhanced by Candace Kade, so if you like that idea, you really should check this one out). The whole part about neurodivergent people being basically obsolete… whew, that was a little crazy to think about, and I really liked that thread throughout the story, and how that was addressed.
The classical composer element added a new depth of atmosphere to this book, and it even brought a new layer of aesthetics to the story, so I was really happy to see that– especially combined with the whole princess aspect, because that combination… ahh, YES!!!
Our main characters were great. I liked both of them, and I did like their relationship throughout the story. It was a very clean romance, which I really appreciate in young adult stories. They were the two characters who really captivated me, and I really liked them each individually.
As far as content goes, it was very clean, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to older YA audiences. I think that there was a lot of solid faith content, and I really appreciated that. I also appreciated the way things ended, because I was pretty worried about possible cliffhangers, but, no, this one ended perfectly!
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited, which I really appreciated! It was a very fun read, and it’s brand-new, so if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check it out! I really enjoyed it!!!
Anyway, I am so glad to be able to share this review! I really enjoyed this book, and knowing it was written by one of my Instagram friends just made the whole experience that much better. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
EMOJI REVIEW!
⏲ takes place in a dystopian future
🎻 he composes music
🎨 she’s a painter… and a discontent princess
🏰 fantastical setting
📱 available on kindle unlimited
Autism isn’t permitted in a world of genetic enhancements, so Colin hides his true self behind his music.
Katrin may be the princess of a fine kingdom, but in truth, she’s merely a decoration for the people– more prisoner than royal.
When their two lives collide, they decide to work together to save their world… and perhaps make a better life for themselves.
I can safely say without hesitation that I have never read a book like that one before. A dystopian sci-fi with fantastical aesthetics like a Disney princess stepped into a game of Candy Land? I mean, that’s pretty unique, and this author wrote it well. I was excited to read a brand-new Christian YA book, and this definitely fit the bill.
There were a few notes in particular that caught my attention in this story. One of which was that I wanted to help Colin, because there were some serious red flags. I would put some triggers for (mainly) emotional and verbal abuse– sorry, I’m trying to be careful not to give away too many spoilers. It didn’t feel too heavy for my taste, but I just wanted to note that for anyone who was more sensitive on that sort of thing. I’d say it felt a little like a Cinderella/Rapunzel family situation for any of my Disney princess girlies.
The writing style was really unique to this story. I can’t remember when I’ve read a book in third person present tense. It was one of the many unique elements to this story. Another was the dystopian/sci-fi elements– especially when it came to the AI elements.
Since I know this really is a hot topic right now, I thought that it was very interesting to read a book that dealt with it a lot, and it definitely was thought-provoking. The genetic enhancements and androids were also interesting (it reminded me of what I’ve heard of Enhanced by Candace Kade, so if you like that idea, you really should check this one out). The whole part about neurodivergent people being basically obsolete… whew, that was a little crazy to think about, and I really liked that thread throughout the story, and how that was addressed.
The classical composer element added a new depth of atmosphere to this book, and it even brought a new layer of aesthetics to the story, so I was really happy to see that– especially combined with the whole princess aspect, because that combination… ahh, YES!!!
Our main characters were great. I liked both of them, and I did like their relationship throughout the story. It was a very clean romance, which I really appreciate in young adult stories. They were the two characters who really captivated me, and I really liked them each individually.
As far as content goes, it was very clean, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to older YA audiences. I think that there was a lot of solid faith content, and I really appreciated that. I also appreciated the way things ended, because I was pretty worried about possible cliffhangers, but, no, this one ended perfectly!
This book is available on Kindle Unlimited, which I really appreciated! It was a very fun read, and it’s brand-new, so if this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check it out! I really enjoyed it!!!
Anyway, I am so glad to be able to share this review! I really enjoyed this book, and knowing it was written by one of my Instagram friends just made the whole experience that much better. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
EMOJI REVIEW!
⏲ takes place in a dystopian future
🎻 he composes music
🎨 she’s a painter… and a discontent princess
🏰 fantastical setting
📱 available on kindle unlimited
January 6, 2026
Oh my goodness. This book absolutely blew me away with its vivid world-building and amazing characters!
The story follows Colin, a talented composer living in the 25th century, where society has undergone a Victorian renaissance fused with advanced genetic engineering. This era values genetic perfection, making Colin the only autistic person born in his time, which sets him apart in a society that prizes artificial beauty and uniformity. Princess Katrin feels like a mere pawn for her government until she meets the mysterious composer who has long inspired her through his music. They both must find the courage to seek the truth about the lies that underpin their world.
My thoughts:
Colin and Katrin are both wonderful characters whom I immediately loved and rooted for. Their friendship is beautifully written and the romance between them is very sweet and wholesome.
The world-building is breathtaking, blending a dystopian future with elegant Victorian aesthetics. And there’s a virtual candyland! It’s so creatively imagined!
The story carries a powerful message: that human worth is inherent because we are created by God, who invests us with value. It emphasizes that art and creativity are divine gifts that cannot be artificially produced. The story also speaks to the importance of uncovering and speaking the truth, using one’s voice to stand for what is right.
The climax fully delivers, featuring a plot twist that had me reading late into the night to discover what would happen next!
The story follows Colin, a talented composer living in the 25th century, where society has undergone a Victorian renaissance fused with advanced genetic engineering. This era values genetic perfection, making Colin the only autistic person born in his time, which sets him apart in a society that prizes artificial beauty and uniformity. Princess Katrin feels like a mere pawn for her government until she meets the mysterious composer who has long inspired her through his music. They both must find the courage to seek the truth about the lies that underpin their world.
My thoughts:
Colin and Katrin are both wonderful characters whom I immediately loved and rooted for. Their friendship is beautifully written and the romance between them is very sweet and wholesome.
The world-building is breathtaking, blending a dystopian future with elegant Victorian aesthetics. And there’s a virtual candyland! It’s so creatively imagined!
The story carries a powerful message: that human worth is inherent because we are created by God, who invests us with value. It emphasizes that art and creativity are divine gifts that cannot be artificially produced. The story also speaks to the importance of uncovering and speaking the truth, using one’s voice to stand for what is right.
The climax fully delivers, featuring a plot twist that had me reading late into the night to discover what would happen next!
November 21, 2025
The message in this book is lovely, and the characters are interesting and unique! I struggled to get used to the third person present-tense narration for about half the book, but once I got into that mindset, the rest of the story seemed to flow much smoother. I would definitely read more from this author in the future.
December 10, 2025
Aw, this book was so beautiful!
It had a slower plot that really helped showcase the characters and fascinating worldbuilding. (But the climax did not fail! I really enjoyed the pacing...) I really really appreciated the take on AI/tech, and how there will always be more beauty in the handmade. The inperfect.
Colin was SO sweet and relatable! I loved his chapters so much. Katrin was also super interesting, and the entire cast of side characters were all so quirky and different and fun! I hated Colin's stepfather and one stepbrother, but the other one was a surprise favorite character...XD
A dystopian with classic feels. Music, a super fascinating realm of tech, and Victorian Renaissance. Most definitely recommend!!
CW: It is a Cinderella retelling, so the stepfather is nasty...otherwise I can't remember any content!
It had a slower plot that really helped showcase the characters and fascinating worldbuilding. (But the climax did not fail! I really enjoyed the pacing...) I really really appreciated the take on AI/tech, and how there will always be more beauty in the handmade. The inperfect.
Colin was SO sweet and relatable! I loved his chapters so much. Katrin was also super interesting, and the entire cast of side characters were all so quirky and different and fun! I hated Colin's stepfather and one stepbrother, but the other one was a surprise favorite character...XD
A dystopian with classic feels. Music, a super fascinating realm of tech, and Victorian Renaissance. Most definitely recommend!!
CW: It is a Cinderella retelling, so the stepfather is nasty...otherwise I can't remember any content!
December 2, 2025
In a glittering, futuristic world where most of the population is genetically enhanced and unblemished, we meet Colin, an autistic boy with a gift for violin, and Princess Katrin, who is hailed as the engineered ideal of humanity but is trapped in a web by the ruling elite.
I adored this book. It's cozy (until the plot twist, that is!), yet deep and meaningful. The main theme is one close to my heart: that every human being has inherent worth and value, and that those whom we might look down on have something to offer the world that no one else can.
The romance is sweet, wholesome, and light—just the way I like it. And the story wrestles with relevant questions such as: does AI art count as art? How far is too far when it comes to scientific advancements? What if "defects" are actually gifts?
The author's style and her use of 3rd person present POV took some getting used to, but once I was immersed in the story, it became a point of uniqueness that I enjoyed, and something that set it apart from other stories.
One of my favorite reads of 2025!
I adored this book. It's cozy (until the plot twist, that is!), yet deep and meaningful. The main theme is one close to my heart: that every human being has inherent worth and value, and that those whom we might look down on have something to offer the world that no one else can.
The romance is sweet, wholesome, and light—just the way I like it. And the story wrestles with relevant questions such as: does AI art count as art? How far is too far when it comes to scientific advancements? What if "defects" are actually gifts?
The author's style and her use of 3rd person present POV took some getting used to, but once I was immersed in the story, it became a point of uniqueness that I enjoyed, and something that set it apart from other stories.
One of my favorite reads of 2025!
March 4, 2026
Beautiful novel about how every life is valuable and humanity is more valuable than AI. I think the best age range would be 12-18. It’s a bit of a Cinderella fairy tale, very chaste cute romance appropriate for any age.
For me, as an adult, several parts needed a lot of suspension of disbelief (e.g. you can’t win a sport you’ve never played, let alone set a record), and it’s very preachy. But despite a few weak points, the main message is so good, the setting is lovely, the characters are well drawn.
For me, as an adult, several parts needed a lot of suspension of disbelief (e.g. you can’t win a sport you’ve never played, let alone set a record), and it’s very preachy. But despite a few weak points, the main message is so good, the setting is lovely, the characters are well drawn.
March 18, 2026
This was a fun book! It's set in the 25th century, so it has a fun dystopian vibe to it. Society is very technologically advanced, which is interesting and fun to read. It follows Colin, who is autistic, and Kartrin, the Princess. Colin is very musically talented, and through music, he meets the Princess. I thought this was a really fun story with light romance, political intrigue, and fun tech. It raised good thoughts about AI and the value of human life.
August 3, 2025
This book is awesome! I read it multiple times :)
The setting, characters, and plot lines are great.
The setting, characters, and plot lines are great.
January 5, 2026
Absolutely loved this unique twist on a Cinderella story, set in the exciting, futuristic Victorian Renaissance!
December 31, 2025
This book is such a treasure! A highly imaginative look into a future world, it's a beautiful, thought provoking read about the value of human life.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews