Orpheum

Orpheum #1

by D.S. Murphy

I always knew music was powerful. Even though I rebelled against the marathon forced practice sessions that turned my adolescence into a prison camp, there were moments--even in the mechanical repetition of practice--where I stopped being a robot and felt a kind of transcendence, a connection to something deeper.

But that was before I learned what music really was, and that it was capable of more than just pretty feelings. That it was a weapon, which could cause great pain and destruction; that it was deeper and older than humanity; and that there were forces in the world that wanted to reclaim it for themselves.

And there's something beyond the music, something darker and more violent. Something waiting to be invited, something only I can control. I'm more powerful than I ever could have imagined, but the price is something - and someone - I can't bear to lose.

(This is PART ONE of the first book in the series.)

Orpheum is a young adult dark fantasy romance based on Eastern European history, the myths and literature of Orpheus and Pythagoras' theory of the music of the spheres. Readers who loved This Savage Song and Strange the Dreamer will love this hypnotic mythological thriller.



"Music, mythology and romance. A sense of mystery, a lot of emotions and some very scary and macabre scenes turned this into one of the best books I have read lately." ★★★★★

"With the completion of the much-awaited Orpheum, Derek Murphy proves that the fantasy genre is so much more than vampires and werewolves." ★★★★★

♬☠♪♩♫♬☠♪♫♩☠♬☠♪♫♩☠♬☠♪♩♫

I spent a decade becoming the best violinist in my state - but a single letter dashed my hopes of a musical career. Desperate to escape my sheltered existence, I took a mysterious offer from a music school in Bulgaria. The culture and my new classmates seemed magical at first... a little too magical. My blood runs dark and hot as new emotions awaken within me, along with supernatural abilities that take my music farther than I'd ever imagined. They tell me I'm the key to everything, but only if I can keep my head.

That should have been easy. Instead, I follow my heart and kill everyone I loved.
Now I'm going to get them back.


Orpheum is a young adult dark fantasy romance based on Eastern European history, the myths Apollo and Dionysus, and an alchemical magic based on planetary music. Readers who loved This Savage Song and Strange the Dreamer will love this hypnotic mythological thriller.



A gripping dark fantasy romance for anyone who loves...
music and stories with violins
epic stories full of history and mythology
magical powers and supernatural creatures
Gothic themes and literature
tragic romances


"Believable and engaging characters - also very informative about music, European countries, and architecture. These elements nicely complimented the suspense and fantasy in the story." -Amazon Review ★★★★

This book was updated in 2018 and now contains the FULL novel.
Read the epic conclusion now!

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Mythology, Paranormal Romance, Fiction, Magic

430 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2016

About the author

See Derek Murphy

Reviews

[Donita · Rating 2 out of 5]

After the disaster that was Shearwater, I decided to give one of D.S Murphy book another try. I ended up choosing Orpheum because of its beautiful cover - honestly, all of his books have beautiful covers but I thought this one was more striking - vague and interesting plot I thought this might be a good way to start. Although I didn't end up DNF'ing this book, I still had some problems with it, and that is for a whole different reasons I had with Shearwater.

Orpheum wasn't mind-blowingly good, not really, a couple of paranormal cliche's along the way, but the intriguing plot, the mostly relatable MC and wonderful setting in the book should have been more than enough for me to actually liked this story, but I felt like the most part of this book could have been removed and it wouldn't make any impact on the overall plot, which kinda ruin the moment for me.

The MC, Samantha, is a flawed character, and I mean it in a positive way. She's arrogant and thinks highly of herself for being one of the best violin player of their school. One of her dream was to be admitted on Julliard(one of the world's leading music school) and to announce to the school how genius she is, how all this time they were ignoring a future famous violinist - only she didn't get in.

"I may have squandered every opportunity to be a normal teenage girl, but I imagined my classmates would recognized my genius at graduation when it was announced I'd be going to the finest music school in the country. So I worked, and saved money, and practiced. And it had all turned out to be a total joke.

I fell asleep surrounded by tissues and broken dreams."

Although she didn't get to Juillard, atleast she gets to have a scholarship offer from Pipkov School of Music in Sofia, Bulgaria. That was a big turns of events right?

Samantha is a work in progress, she realizes her mistakes and tries to correct them. She's basically an Ok character but what mostly turned me off was her ability to always fantasize being together with her super hot professor and always wondering if there's a chance he might actually like him. Like are we seriously doing this right now? Not to mention her keen observance to notice how perfect everyone is in her new school in terms of physical appearance and comparing it on her own.

See? I didn't mind the character building, but those unnecessary drama wasn't needed at all in the story. It made the whole interesting plot to be lame and uninteresting. I seriously don't want to read about boring stuff so please just skip it.

I kept thinking that this side story might have been added on the story to make it a little bit longer since this was supposed to be the first part, of the first book of this series. Which I honestly think is unnecessary. What's the sense of publishing only the first part of the first book just to see how the majority of the readers will respond before publishing the 2nd part and eventually publishing the whole book. Oh well, I have zero idea on publishing books so who am I to criticized? I've read the Author's note to the readers and tried to understand his reasons for publishing this way, but really those reasons were better suited for beta readers.

This was really a good advancement from the first book - storywise - I've read from D.S Murphy. I did like the story, but it was the plot or the sequence of events that happens in the story that turned me off. Many questions were not answered, I honestly believe that there are ways to set-up a stage for a whole story without including unnecessary and frustrating drama that tends to drag the pacing on the story.

Anyway, there's a possibility of me reading the second part of this book because the curiosity is hard to resist and I still basically have no idea what this is really about after reading 16 Chapters but the possibility to completely abandon this story is also not out of the option.

[Katriann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read for everyone who loves dark tales with mysteries, Greek mythology and music. It's a story about Samantha, who wants to become a professional violinist and travels to Bulgaria to study in a small but well respected Pipkov School of Music. However, soon after settling in at her new school, Samantha realizes that all is not as it seems and her musical skills may not be the only reason she was invited to Pipkov.

Notice that this is only part one of the book. If you prefer to wait for the whole book to be out, follow the author's website or facebook page to be notified of the publication date and other updates.

SPOILER ALERT!

There's something about this story that makes it beautifully compelling. Samantha is a likable character who takes her studies seriously. Sure she could loosen up a bit every now and then, but she knows what she wants from life and is ready to work for it. Not everyone is able to commit themselves to things they love the way Samantha is. Personally, I love that she plays the violin. I feel like it's a perfect instrument for this story and for a character like Samantha. The setting also fits the story perfectly. The city of Sofia with its pulsing nightlife and the surrounding woods and remote mountain villages offer various opportunities for the author to develop the plot. The characters move quickly and easily between lively market squares and sinister campfire sites in the middle of the forest. I love that the Pipkov school is in an old historical building. I couldn't help but imagine a school filled with beautiful old fashioned furniture and candle lit long hallways. I would love to study in a school like that.

All the characters may not be as likable as Samantha. Actually most students at the Pipkov school are pretty mean to her in the beginning. I guess they have their reasons, though. There are secrets buried in the dark catacombs under the school and the students probably have their own monsters to battle too. I love it how D.S. Murphy combines Greek mythology and age-old stories with modern day life and science. The idea of music being a universal power that moves the planets is fascinating - as is the way the characters control people's actions and other, more abstract forces, through music. I also love it that the author has researched topics such as music therapy and music of the spheres and used them to support his story.

This is a magical and beautiful story with some shockingly dark twists and I can't wait to read the whole book. I definitely recommend this for everyone who is into fantasy and mythology and, of course, for everyone else who finds the synopsis interesting. Read it! You won't regret!

[Line Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first part of the story and I got the e-book for free a long time ago. I finally decided to read it and I was not disappointed.

The story takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria, a place I’ve been wanted to visit for quite a long time (and I will someday), so it made it even better.

This is the story of Samantha, an ordinary teenage American girl who plays the violin and whose dream is to go to Julliard. Unfortunately, it does not go as planned and Sam is devastated. However, she received an invitation to go study music in Bulgaria with a great musician. She decides to give it a try, but she will soon discover that everything is not as it seems.

It was not my first book y D.S. Murphy and as usual, I really liked discovering the new world he created. Some things about Samantha were not okay with me, I kind of found her sometimes too pretentious and it did not work for me. She could be really annoying at times.

The ending was absolutely brilliant though, I really think of this as more of a sneak peek and I will definitely check out the rest of the story when it is out.

-----------------------
Finished part 2 (August 06 2018)

[☆☆Hannah☆☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a good thing that I knew going into this that it was going to be multiple parts. Otherwise I would have been a little upset at how it just ended all of a sudden. The story is about a girl named Samantha and all she ever wanted was to go to Julliard. Of course she got rejected. She then gets an invitation to a music school in Bulgaria. However, when she gets there she realizes that it's not your typical music school. With the ending being what it was I'm definitely looking forward to the next part. I really want to know what happens next.

[Isa (Pages Full of Stars) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Music is more than the notes on the page. And it's more than just your fingers hitting the right notes. Music is the language of the universe.

3,5 stars

To be honest, I'm not really sure what to make of this book. When I got it from Amazon and when I started reading it just now, I didn't realise that my copy of the ebook will only contain half of the book. I've never seen such tactic adopted by authors before, and I have to say I was a little disappointed when I found out, but I'll try to review what I managed to read.

If not for the lack of the second part of the book, I felt like this story and the author has lots of potential. It's a dark fantasy inspired by Greek mythology, and it drew me in right from the beginning. The mystery kept me turning the pages but the writing in general was good, and I thought the story and the main character were well developed. I liked that the main theme of this book was music and how it was described, it really piqued my interest. I don't want to spoil much, but also all the fantasy elements were well done and exciting. The setting in Bulgariafelt like a breath of fresh air and I loved all the descriptions. (they made me want to hop on the train this minute! :D)

I saw that the book is now available in its entirety, so I'd probably re-buy it one day, just to see how it ends.

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[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was an interesting one. I liked how music was woven into the mythology aspect and that some people could then do magic with music.

Sam, as a main character, was rather forgettable and not someone I felt connected to at all.

There were several spelling errors, I'm used to seeing this in ARCs but this was a finished book so I thought I'd mention it.

All in all, I thought this was an okay story and I'd be interested to see where it'll go in future books.

[N B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really, really liked most of this book, Part 1 of the Orpheum story. It centers around heroine Sam (Samantha), who is an extremely studious violin student. She spends hours a day practicing and has dreams of getting into Julliard upon her high school graduation, so she is crushed when her long-awaited letter turns out to be a rejection. Surprisingly, she receives a letter inviting her to a school she never heard of – Pipov School of Music in Sofia, the capital of in Bulgaria. A professor Dobreva has seen a YouTube video of her playing, and they want to give her not only a free tuition scholarship, but also pay her a $500usd stipend every month to cover basic expenses. She doesn't know a thing about Bulgaria or this school but feels she can't turn down an offer like that.
The school has some rather, um, unorthodox ways of teaching, to put it mildly. Like, focusing on supernatural ideas about incorporating so much feeling into the music that it just takes it over and has power to actually, physically, do things. There also don't seem to be any other classes besides focusing on their music, either separately or in a group. There are three other violin students there, and if there are any other students studying something other than the violin, they never show up, not even in the cafeteria. It's a very, very strange place.
There is quite a bit of tie-in with Greek mythology, particularly Orpheus and his wife, Eurydice. Orpheus was a musician whose music could charm creatures and also was involved with mysticism. The story Orpheum gets further involved in these mystical ideas at the story goes on. I don't know much about Greek mythology and admit I need to learn more.
It was extremely interesting and compelling to read, but not really what I expected. It's kind of hard to explain without giving too much away. There's something strange about the other students and staff that we still don't understand by the end of the book. (Yes, it is clearly marked as Part 1, so I won't fault the author for that.) We are also told in advance that this is a somewhat dark story, but it takes an unexpected dark twist at the end of this episode that really threw me.
As much as I was drawn into this story, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the next part. I think I will probably start it, but if it gets much darker, I'll be done with it.
This is the second Part 1 book by a very promising new author with a lot of ambition, definitely strong writing ability, and a strange, beautiful mind. (The first was Shearwater.) Apparently there will be quite a few more Part 1 books before we start seeing the Part 2's. If you have a hard time with cliffhanger-type endings, you may want to wait until the rest is finished before reading this story.

[Kikijanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read from Derek Murphy and I must say he has great potential to become one of my favorite authors. His writing style is captivating and the books are quick to read and I like that his stories are so dark, especially Orpheum. I just wish this had been the whole book instead of only Part 1 but at least I have something to look forward to.

*SPOILER ALERT*

Orpheum is a story that centers on music and its ability to control matter. It portrays music as the element that the whole universe is made of and as a force that can be used both as a tool to do good or to create destruction. It's a dark story about the myth of Orpheus and his lyre as well his dangerous followers who tear men to pieces.

The protagonist of the story is Sam, a 17-year old girl who's dedicated her life for playing violin. As her dream of getting into Juilliard comes crashing down, she accepts a scholarship offered to her by a small but appreciated school of music in Sofia, Bulgaria. As Sam arrives in Bulgaria and gets settled in her new school she's surprised to find out the teachers and other students seem to believe that music has the power to control matter. However, as weird things start to happen she's forced to let go of her scepticism and accept there might be some truth in the strange perceptions people in the school are trying to teach her. But the more Sam learns about the school and about the reason she was really brought there, the more she realizes she might actually be in grave danger. And in addition there's a question whether there is a monster lurking inside Sam that she's not even aware of.

The story is set in Sofia, Bulgaria which works as a perfect setting for the dark and ancient atmosphere of it. The old buildings, crypts and vaults, underground tunnels and smoky clubs give the book and eerie feeling and the mysterious music coming from underground at night combined with the other unexplained things just add to the haunting impression. The fact that the school is for classical music kind of creates the story a constant dark violin soundtrack as well.

I found the concept of this book extremely interesting and I loved the creepy atmosphere of the story. I do understand the author's motives for publishing only part one first but really I can't wait for the whole book to come out. I really loved this story and I'm dying to read the rest of it! This was perfect for my Halloween reading challenge and I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to read something dark but beautiful.

[anjuli · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF @57% of this one. Ugh, just could not. The story probably wouldn't have been bad in a way greek mythology and all. However, it just lost on me.

The characters were just not engaging enough. I could care less. Story moved at slow ass pace. I kept hoping something would happen but, it just didn't. Love interest or supposed love interest was not even insta-love (which I hate but can tolerate if done well) but rather, she felt something day 1 and got jealous/upset over when he didn't want to talk to her next day. I love music however, I don't have the tech details on the instruments. And, I was sort of lost when they were mentioned. I mean at even 50% I had no idea what the heck was going on. There were secrets and secret societies...however, you have some background. But, it was like weird music school in Sofia (Bulgaria), girl from US goes to it where there are like 4 students total. And there is something fishy but what?? At 50% of the book I do expect some details about the plot not more music stuff & attempt at world-building to show how powerful music can be. The whole idea about music controlling emotions and otherworldly stuff could be fascinating but, seriously I would have liked a bit more engagement. Add to it unnecessary drama that seemed forced. Ain't got time for that.

This was just dull!!

[Claude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to finish reading this!!!

[Tracey Madeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book which punches you between the eyes, pins you to the floor and sits on you. Very intense in parts, but there are some lulls in the action to enable to catch your breath. There is a great use of myth and legend in this dark fantasy, which is better integrated into the plot than some of Derek’s earlier books. Definitely, the best I’ve read of his books so far.

I don’t generally like blonde hair, beards, or tattoos, but Denzi is interesting. He is the associate professor at the Bulgarian school Samantha is invited to study at. Charming and flirtatious he is almost cold when she becomes a student. It is only after halfway through the book that we learn his true nature and why he seeks to fight the stereotype and keep her at a distance.

Samantha sees the school as a fresh start, a chance to fit in and make new friends. However, the other students are not as friendly as she hoped. Equally, none of them are what they seem. Only Iskara seems to warm to her. This is perhaps the reason why she seeks company outside the school.

On a girl’s night out, she meets Karina and when she tells Denzi about her he says she is dangerous, but he does not explain why. The gory truth is only fully revealed at the festival in the village. Even though Sam has been told by a gypsy that she has darkness in her soul, the school still want her to feel music as a power. This is arguably because they want her to procure Orpheus’ Lyre for them and not Karina and the maenads.

Samantha also learns her mother has not only been to Bulgaria, but her father and grandfather also attended the school. The author sets up two opposing interpretations with the school’s view about what happened and the maenad’s version. Two opposing forces representing abandonment and order, the emotional and the cerebral, and like most people Samantha needs to find a path between the two.

The ending has previously been hinted at by the gypsy’s prediction, but it is both logical and fantastical. It sets up the book for a sequel, but not in a forced way, this will be Samantha’s new life going forward.

Anyone who likes young adult or fantasy novels will love this book. My only concern is more attention is paid to the plot than character development. This may be more of a feature in YA fiction than general fiction, just as in murder mystery more attention is given to the clues and discovering the culprit.

[Elisabeth Wheatley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I didn't like this book. I was thinking it was alright, but I wasn't involved in the characters.

Then it turned out to be a sampler and I WAS FURIOUS. I WANT THE WHOLE BOOK. I WANT THE REST OF THE DAMN STORY, DAMN IT.

The plot:

This is an author who emphasizes the importance of story in writing to build emotional connect. I was thinking it wasn't working out that well, but my outrage upon reaching the end says otherwise. You win, Murphy.

The world building in particular was unexpected and different. I read this just a few weeks after a trip to Eastern Europe and I think that was a big part of what kept me reading even when I wasn't "feeling it." You don't often think of Greco-Roman history in Bulgaria, Moldova, and Romania, but it's there along with Ottoman.

I have read about Orpheus and the maenads and it was thrilling to find a story that incorporates them so originally. I certainly didn't expect incorporation of sparagmos and that got a big "hell yes" from me.

The characters:

Samantha reminds me of a lot of young people I've met. They devote themselves wholeheartedly to one path, not considering there could be multiple paths to the same goal. It frustrates the hell out of me, but it happens. Nonetheless, it took me a while to warm up to her. 

I'm really not feeling the attraction between her and the love interest. I know it's supposed to be there, but...it feels forced. I think it would be a better story if it were YA fantasy and the romance was just allowed to develop over the series. 

Besides the love interest, I do think the side characters were empathetic, even the villains. It's strange, come to think of it. 

Despite my issues, I do want to read the whole thing. Joke's on me for not reading the end of the damn blurb. All the same, SOMEBODY BETTER GIVE ME THE WHOLE BOOK.

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/23/2017)! 💝

[Benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently read Of Song and Tide, and immediately had to try another DS Murphy book. I think that the fantasy genre can get a little repetitive, but the concept for this book was unique to anything else that I've read.

[Carolina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting another clichéd YA novel, but that wasn’t what I got. I actually liked Orpheum. I didn’t love it. Yet.
The story is interesting. It bases itself in little known mythology (through a great myth). I found it original, though somewhat predictable. The story itself is different, but the way the way it develops is more or less common. But I do like how dark it is.
I like the weird things that keep happening around Sam. Neither she nor the reader know what going on and we both want to. She investigates and thinks and follows the clues. One or two huge coincidences help her, but she does some work too.
Sam is an extremely talented violin player (and a melodramatic moron), just not good enough for Julliard, so she has to now to Bulgaria, to a weird music school. There, they teach a somewhat metaphysical approach to music and playing. Sam, of course, finds out she is even more special than she thought, as she is sort of a chosen one and her life is now in danger.
Her pseudo-romance with Denzi is overplayed and absolutely clichéd. They meet in the street and flirt a bit in her first day. They later find out that they’re student and professor. Sam is very hurt when Denzi that they can’t be together because of this. It’s too much! It was an innocent, casual flirts, yet they act as if they had been dating for a while. They act too involved for their little interaction. It’s a very forced romance. They act as if they’re in love (a forbidden love, by the way) when they barely know each other. I know this is almost a rule in YA, but it-s not a good thing!
Denzi is hot, of course. He also has tattoos, because everyone knows that tattoos equals magic *or bad boy, depends on the setting). Sometimes, he’s a jerk who won’t help or support Sam in situations a professor should protect a student, because he seems to think that actually doing something for her would be going too far in their relationship. On the other hand, he follows her once (that turns her on, which is a very bad example for young people that Stalking is Love). He’s certainly mysterious, and I really want to find out and understand what he is.
As for her classmates, they’re quite bland. One hates her from the start, for unknown reasons, but it seems that almost every YA heroine has someone who hates her just because there’s a role to fill. Another one is instant friends with Sam, which is nice, but she isn’t much more than that. The last one, ignores Sam or is condescending with her.
I wasn’t sure if I should rate this book three or four stars. On one side, I really liked the basis of the story and the myth behind it. On the other, there are a lot of small things that bother me: failures, clichés and un-logic. I’m waiting for the next part to decide whether I forgive it or not.

[Anna Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Samantha Lewis is offered a scholarship to learn music at some fancy school in Bulgaria, she's not quite sure if it's a scam. After all, which music professor scours YouTube videos for potential students? But Prof Jeni Dobreva and the Pipkov National School of Music seem legit, so she takes the chance. Between the almost-mystical teachings and strange beliefs of her teachers and fellow students, Sam is not quite sure if these Eastern Europeans are quite sane, but she soon discovers that she needs them just as much as they need her.

Orpheum (another part 1 story) is either a really short read or a pretty enticing read, because I read it in one sitting (maybe 2-ish hours) over cooking and eating lunch the day I downloaded the ARC. It's darker than Shearwater Part One, its prologue sending you straight into a rather... gory scene.

Chapter 1 throws you back into normalcy, and I think I am beginning to detect a trend here in Murphy's writing (which he probably will not deny, seeing that he has written whole posts on YA tropes and making full use of them). Teenage female protagonist (writing in first person) with poor self-esteem leaves home and discovers that she is SOMEONE SPECIAL and she must do The Thing to save either someone she loves or the world.

It actually reads better than his debut novel - it feels less info-dumpy; at least, the Greek myth background seems to mesh with the story, leaking out in bite-sized, understandable pieces. It could also be that I have a touch more familiarity with Greek myth than with Irish myth. Whatever it is, the story seems to flow more, fitting together just a little better.

I'm thinking that Orpheum may actually be somewhere between YA and NA, however, with it's darker themes and higher emphasis on sex and sexual relationships. (But I suck at genres and categorisations, so I could be wrong.) I think Murphy should just market his books as serials - which would probably make more marketing sense - than selling Part One of a story on its own.

* I received a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

(Other note: I am also potentially being overly critical due to bias. Immediately after reading this, and before writing this review, I started on The Untold Tale which is kind of blowing my mind away.)

[Clare Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and, just to let people know, the second half of the story has now been added so it's a complete novel. It cleverly uses the Orpheus Greek myth as a taking-off point and leads the viewer on an exciting, wild adventure.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book a lot

I received this book from goodreads giveaway.

I really liked this book. Would be good for anyone who likes mythology mixed with the present.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the premise of the book, even if I didn't particularly like Sam, the main character. However, as several other reviewers have said, this feels like a draft which could do with some polishing, editing and refining. The idea of music having power and the connection with the Orpheus myth was great and I applaud the author for his imagination and research. But this book is really only the first part, which sets the story up. He states, when you get to the end, that the rest of the book is coming and that he is happy to hear feedback, which I think is admirable, but I wasn't prepared for it and was slightly disappointed. I am going to provide feedback though and I do look forward to reading the rest of the book. Although I bet I'm not the only one who hopes that Sam goes over to the dark side...

[Leila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting

This was a very interesting read. I liked the lore of the story and would like to read more. The author is good at describing the environment and characters, however there were times in which these descriptions slowed down the pacing of the story. That being said, the lore and mythology is rich and fascinating making me want to delve deeper into the story. I recommend this to anyone interested in music, mythology, and music theory on it's effects on its environment.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Must not be distracted when reading this

Very interesting read. You have to really pay attention when reading this story or you will be very confused. I had to reread certain chapters over again. I'm really giving this book 3.5 stars because it took me awhile to get into it. I will definitely be reading book 2 as this story did peak my interest. This story is not as good as Taste, which is killing me slowly waiting for the whole book, or even The Scarlet Thread series. Saying this D.S. Murphy is one hell of a writer!

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Orpheum, Derek Murphy solidifies his talent in the YA paranormal field. What sets his work apart is his willingness to dive into the worlds of science and mythology. He weaves both into the compelling background on which he places his vulnerable characters. In this book, the overarching theme is music, but the impact of music takes us beyond the everyday into the eerily worrisome.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

I love his character development. They never feel flat and I like the ending, it leaves room for more but also is complete if this is it.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to be able to read this book now that it is completed and it is the first book I have read by this author but I must admit I was really not expecting this story at all and I was completely blown away by this book! A book about the Gods Dionysius and Apollo and their followers. The maenads followers of Dionysius were led by emotions and desires whilst the orphics followers of Apollo were led by reason and order. Orpheus and his music was the middle ground, he could create, could save souls and heal wounds whilst the others could only destroy. Sam was an excellent violinist who was accepted by a very good music school in Bulgaria, where she who came from America found a huge clash of cultures and fell in love with one of her teachers. She also discovered that music was more than just playing the right notes, she had to play from the heart and bleeding on the strings and once she reached this level she could understand what Orpheus could do with his music. Sam went through so much to reach this level, seeing people who had become close to her hurt and even killed, she also felt that there was someone within the school itself who was not to be trusted. There is a sense of mystery right through the book, a lot of emotions and some very scary and macabre things happening turning this into one of the best books I have read lately! Well done Derek Murphy!

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sam graduated from High school with hopes of being accepted into the Julliard college of music, she was a first chair violin player and had dreams of pursuing a career being a violinist. Her dreams were dashed when they declined and now she feared she would work in a burger joint forever. Then she gets a letter asking her to come to school at Belgium to study music. shes scared about leaving to another country but wants to chase her dream.
Sam soon finds out the school isnt exactly what she had in mind, and she wants to know why it was so important that she come here.
She develops a crush on her teacher who she discovers is a Satyr, her friend is a fairy, the class glamor girl is a raw meat eating maened who can chase down a deer and rip its throat out and dine away, no grill needed and the class bully is a troll. Mix in some gods who want her to unlock a vault to get the Lyre everyone wants, while playing her violin. she has to play her violin with emotion that will make candle flames go out and paper airplanes fly... hhmmm???
This story just wasnt for me.. I won this story awhile ago and Thats why I gave it two stars instead of one and if I wouldnt have won it then it probably would have been a DNF.. It was confusing with the mythology Gods and trying to manipulate music into doing things... If you like mythology then you might like it.

[Lily Velez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent storytelling and creative premise, but the mythology felt too foreign to me for some reason, and I wasn't able to connect with it. I loved the idea of music holding power, but then when the book got into maenads and bacchantes and kukeri and Nazis and secret cults--not to mention all the creatures the students were, it felt a little overwhelming.

The history and mythology lessons also became repetitive after a while. It felt more like the author wanted to squeeze in all the cool sites he'd visited and trivia he'd learned while researching. Nothing wrong with that. It just added to the length of the story and slowed the pace at times.

The second half of the book is littered with spelling errors. At one point, a character is called by a different name. In another, a name is misspelled. Almost every page seemed to have a mistake.

But all in all, Murphy's one creative writer, and I enjoy his writing style. I love immersive stories with engrossing worlds. I empathized with the main character immediately. She felt so three dimensional to me. I will definitely check out more of this author's books.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was unique. I enjoyed the way myth was blended with music in this tale, and the Bulgarian setting was beautifully rendered. The pace seemed a bit frantic at times, and there was a wealth of information laid out as the author built the world. I am very curious to see what direction the next book will take the story in, as the first ended on a bit of a cliffhanger.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Greek mythology rules

An enjoyable story about the power of music and the search for a mythical instrument to keep one of the more dangerous gods under control. I would have given it 5 stars if it hadn't lapsed into a young adult story on a regular basis. I look forward to reading the next instalment.

[DeMezia N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was sooo good. I found that I kept thinking of the story when I wasn't reading. Basically, it's the story of one of the Greek gods Dionysis and his followers. It's the story of the power of music. It's also the story of the importance of balance in thought and behavior; not leaning towards extremes. It's different from the typical fantasy books I've read. And a welcome reprieve!

[Alejandra Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't wait to read part 2

I really enjoyed reading part 1 of this book. There are still a lot of gray areas because we don't have the entire picture but I'm really looking forward for part 2. Hope it's out soon!