The Musician

by Heloisa Prieto

Thomas has felt alone most of his life, his only companions the musical creatures that he can see but others can't. Wealth, talent, charisma, good looks, and fame conceal the eighteen-year-old's lingering pain following the loss of his parents. His music is his bridge to the world, and his favorite form of connection.




A chance meeting with a group of strangers leads to the eventual revelation of his magical musical secret-and there are those who wish to steal it from him. Soon the wealthy Dr. Alonso and his beguiling daughter, Dora, trick Thomas into joining a cult from which he may never escape.




When Marlui, a young Guarani shaman, senses the danger surrounding Thomas, she vows to protect him from Dr. Alonso at all costs. Can she rescue him, or will Thomas succumb to the advances of Dora and lose not only his heart but the powers that bring him joy?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magical Realism

200 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 13, 2022

About the author

Dr. Heloisa Prieto is one of Brazil's most celebrated children and YA authors. She has sold over two million books in her native country. Her Mano series of YA novels inspired the Time Warner movie “The Best Things in the World”. She recently published 1,002 Ghosts and, in 2022, she had 8 titles selected for the PNLD Public Book-Purchasing Programme, including The Wind Riders, a magical realism novel co-written with Irish writer and illustrator, Adrienne Geoghegan. She has spent a lifetime researching myths and legends-both ancient and modern-and organizing and curating collections of cross-cultural interest. She has created and organized numerous creative writing workshops for children, teenagers, and adults. Heloisa also has a PhD in French literature (University of São Paulo) and a master's degree in semiotics (Catholic University of São Paulo).

Her 92 titles include fantasy, fairy tales, gothic novels and contemporary fables and daily life fiction.

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Nasceu em São Paulo, em 1954. É formada em Letras e mestra em comunicação e semiótica. Heloisa iniciou sua carreira de escritora quando contava histórias para crianças pequenas na Escola da Vila, em São Paulo. Atualmente tem cerca de quarenta livros publicados, a maioria pela Companhia das Letrinhas

Reviews

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical, enchanting and captivating. A must-read for any musician. This is one of my favorites of 2022!!

I fell in love with this book! I knew immediately this was a five star read due to the quality of writing. Beautiful prose the whole way through and a cast of characters who I adored (and would love as friends).

This story, while magical and YA, presents many profound questions about the nature of humanity, the ideas surrounding what is considered civilized and the value of Indigenous peoples, their culture and traditions, specifically the Guarani.

This book is a quick read at 175 pages, more of a long short story, with very short chapters, but oh so much depth.

- set in and near São Paulo, Brazil
- beautiful representation of the Guarani people
- magical realism
- a love letter to music and the way it unites us all
- loss and grief
- friendship and found family
- spirituality
- nature as powerful, peaceful and healing
- cult vibes
- Greek mythology
- good vs. evil

Thank you Books Forward PR, Koehler Books and Heloisa Prieto for the beautiful advanced copy and the opportunity to read and review this gem!!

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredible story about a young person's love for music, his way of coping with loss, and the power that music has over others. It's a bit YA, but also very adult and I think everyone of any age will be able to relate to it.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever since he can remember, Thomas has had a magical relationship with music. When he plays, magical creatures appear and keep him company. At eighteen, Thomas is suffering the loss of his parents; his music and the magical creatures his only friends. Thomas enjoys playing his guitar in the square of São Paulo, Brazil. One fateful day, his music captivates several people around him, some friends and some foe. Maruli, an Indigenous Guarani, is attending school in the city and can also see Thomas' magical beings around him. Young brothers, André and Miguel can also see the magical creatures and recreate them out of toys to bring to Thomas. Dr. Alonso, a college professor and his daughter, Dora, an influencer, want Thomas for his talents and lure him to their compound. Thankfully, Thomas' new friends realize he is in danger and come up with a plan to help him out of Dr. Alonso's grip.

The Musician is a unique story of magical realism, music and friendship that is craftily blended together. I really liked the idea of this story, a group of people bound together by a higher connection of music, fully using our senses and connecting to nature. All of the characters were very interesting and had different backgrounds. Told mostly through Thomas, we get to know him the best. I was very intrigued by Maruli, a Guarani native and her ways of life. One of the other themes within the story was Indigenous, natural living in alignment with the world and how to combine those principles with the modern world. The writing dives right into the action with Thomas' talents, a chance meeting with others in the town square and then him being taken by Dr. Alonso and Dora. I felt like I just needed to know more about each of the characters, their backstories and motivations before they jumped in to help or harm a man they had just met. Thomas' time at Dr. Alonso's was disorienting, as I'm sure it was for his character. I was very interested in the Orphics and their origins. Every part of the story was meaningful and well written, I just kept feeling like it was a little rushed and needed more context. I would have loved to be immersed in the fantastic world of music, magical creatures, the Brazilian forest and even the Orphics.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

[Syifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Group of stranger brought together in one afternoon at the park because of the beauty of the music played by the musician – modern day Orpheus, they said. But of course this beauty also lured the evils who wants to take away the musician's gift. With the force of indigenous knowledge, spirit of nature, and compassion between friends, would they be able to save him?

This has been an enchanting story, combining the indigenous knowledge of the forest people and the modern twist of Greek Myth–Orpheus. The narrative has taken me in entirely, I can't even put the book away. It was beautifully written, and each of the chapters that focused on each of the characters perspective was greatly done as an opportunity to dwelve more into their thoughts. The story has been conforming yet daunting at some point, but it reminds us to get back and listen to the nature/mother earth as morale story.

[Ileana Renfroe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Musician follows a young Thomas whose only companions are the musical creatures only he can see. As a famous musician, he’s able to hide the lingering pain of his childhood using music as a form of connecting with the rest of the world. But when people find out about his magical creatures, they plan to steal them for themselves through seduction. With the help of Marlui, a young Guarani shaman, Thomas must face down his demons in this offbeat love triangle.

A captivating read and one I enjoyed reading.

[Books Forward · Rating 5 out of 5]

All music lovers must read this book. The magical realism brings the writing to a new level, but the characters at the center of the story hold their weight against the incredible forces at play here. This musical novel will pull you right in!

[Laura Mollo · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!!!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it!!
The content of the book is very interesting as it has elements from many cultures and the characters are passionate.
I loved reading it was very enjoyable and engaging

[Declan Cosson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best novels to come out in the 21st century, 'The Musician' is actually unusually unique in a good way compared to other contemporary novels that I have read. The first thing to say about the book is that the writing style is beautifully poetic, telling the story of an orphan named Thomas who must navigate a difficult and uncertain world where powerful elites like the villain's novel Dr. Alonzo and his daughter Dora are out to exploit and take advantage of youthful people like him.

However despite the threat of such figures, many of the characters regardless of their background are good hearted and relatable, making them much easier to root for.

On a deeper thematic level, the novel's real strength comes through its exploration of deeper themes such as the danger and allure of wealth, the importance of family and humanity's link to its environment. Central to the novel is the quest for belonging and what it means to belong to something or somewhere.

All in all, I would highly advise anyone to read this book.

[Shea Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Musician
Touch of a thriller, but with the bonus that it asks and makes us question our perception of life and nature. It is a magical journey that takes us into the world of the Guarani indigenous people of Brazil. What the wonderful effect of beautiful music is if we only take the time to listen. How that beauty can be destroyed by envy or greed. This is a wonderful story that I unreservedly recommend. Beautifully written!

[Amber Eats Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella may be short but it packs a big punch. Mythology inspiration is always a hit for me but when you add in a cult? Homerun! I really enjoyed the full cast of characters. I enjoyed learning about each of them and how they were connected through Thomas. Marlui was my favorite and I would love another story with her at the helm. The magical touches that are sprinkled in throughout the story were a pleasurable bonus. The message of the book is one that will stick with me for a long time. Definitely recommend this one to anyone who love mythology and their retellings.

[Syifa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Group of stranger brought together in one afternoon at the park because of the beauty of the music played by the musician – modern day Orpheus, they said. But of course this beauty also lured the evils who wants to take away the musician's gift. With the force of indigenous knowledge, spirit of nature, and compassion between friends, would they be able to save him?

This has been an enchanting story, combining the indigenous knowledge of the forest people and the modern twist of Greek Myth–Orpheus. The narrative has taken me in entirely, I can't even put the book away. It was beautifully written, and each of the chapters that focused on each of the characters perspective was greatly done as an opportunity to dwelve more into their thoughts. The story has been conforming yet daunting at some point, but it reminds us to get back and listen to the nature/mother earth as morale story.

[Tim Fitzgibbon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really hope a lot was lost in translation here. The story telling was stilted, conversations were wooden. How often do you use the person's name when conversing. 2 was average in this story. The fast-friends parts were completely unbelievable and the way they said, 'hey wanna be best friends?' Yup! Oh I hate your culture but that's OK, thanks for being understanding. Ugh...just so much to slog through. Almost a dnf, but I needed a musician book for a library bingo.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the experience of reading this book because it feels so different from books set in and written by and written for people in the United States. The way the people were characterized and the way they interacted felt different. For me that was enjoyable.
The dialogue felt a little too simplistic at times, but it has been translated. So that feels like a nit picky issue. The other parts of the prose are very well done and I felt like the dialogue got better as the book went along.
This book is hard to categorize as a specific genre. There is a bit of magic realism that is presented as an alternative way to see reality. There is some romance and some thriller parts as well. My recommendation is for you to read it if you want to fell like you are in a very different place with very different people showing you their lives.

[M. K. French · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas lost his parents as a child, and all the wealth or talent in the world could never replace them. His only friends are the musical creatures that no one else can see, and music is his connection with them. When his secret is revealed to a group of strangers, they want to steal the creatures. Dr. Alonso and his daughter Dora trick Thomas into joining a cult, and he’s unlikely to ever escape it. However, the Guarani shaman Marlui senses the danger around Thomas and vows to protect him from Dr. Alonso. Can she save Thomas before he gives in to Dora and loses his musical powers?

We’re introduced to Thomas as a young man who sees the shadows move and dance in time with music. It had been chalked up as imaginary friends as a child but set him apart. Excerpts from his journal between chapters show that he definitely doesn’t think the way average eighteen-year-olds do. He lists indigenous tribes, various senses, song titles, random questions, and maintains a sense of childlike wonder. In fact, he befriends two young boys with the same easy enthusiasm of early elementary school years. Marlui grew up in the rainforest, connecting to spirits and her ancestors, living between both worlds. There are fewer POV chapters from her perspective than Thomas’, but despite growing up in the rainforest she still strikes me as having a lot more common sense than he does! Dr. Alonso from the start is pushy and hardly gives Thomas a chance to think as he barrels his way into the conversations Thomas struck up with the people listening to him play. He and his daughter come across as really creepy as I read their introduction, and that impression doesn’t improve with time.

Heloisa Prieto is well known in Brazil as a children’s and YA author, researching myths and legends of her country. Knowing that, of course, I’d want to read this book, her debut in English. Some phrasing is different from what English-speaking readers may be used to as a result of the change in language (such as “the beautiful dream he experienced had been erased from his mind” in the second paragraph). Even so, her use of language is very lyrical here, adding to the sense of folklore. Chapters are short and switch POV between various characters so that we see different perspectives of the same morning and how people are affected by music. As the story progresses, we see how they’re linked to each other. It really feels like a fairy tale, with music as the magic to bind people together and allow them to show their true selves.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Koehler Books for an ARC of The Musician.

This story had so much potential and I wanted so badly to love it. I was so excited to find a story by a Brazilian author that includes indigenous characters. As a Brazilian, I am always searching for books by Brazilian authors. The description had me captivated, but the story really fell flat for me. It felt scattered and confusing, and I constantly had to go back and reread things to try to understand what was happening. The dialogue came off as weird and repetitive at times, and the characters spoke to each other so simply and matter of fact. I wish we could speak this way to people in real life, but this didn’t come off as realistic at all.

The sequence of events was confusing, especially relating to Thomas’ time inside Dr. Alonso’s house. It was never clear what time of day it was or how long he’d been there until he finally specified he’d been there for two nights already. The passing of time felt dreamlike, which may have been intentional, but was still very confusing.

I loved Marlui and Popygua the most. The way this story centered and honored indigenous people, knowledge, and traditions was beautiful. I would read a whole novel just about them.

The ending was really anticlimactic. Maybe this is to set up for another book or to leave things a bit open ended on purpose, but I found myself disappointed that there was no final confrontation. I thought it was building up to one more big clash, then the story was over before anything happened.

Also the ARC had some big issues with character name consistency. The little boys are André and Miguel, but sometimes Miguel is Manuel and the name just keeps switching. Gabriella was also sometimes Gabrielle. I’m sure this will be resolved and won’t be an issue for the final version.

One other thing that bothered me was when one of the boys was singing in his sleep and the parents were thinking he might be sleepwalking. They explicitly said for nobody to wake him up or touch him, then in the very next scene Gabriella is hugging him and brings the whole family in for a group hug surrounding him while he’s still in the same state he was in before. It made no sense that they explicitly said not to touch him and then immediately all touched him.

The magic and the culture and the characters in this story had endless potential.

[Brandy {The Review Booth} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish books with the characters imagined fantastical beasts/spirits came with illustrations. I understand why they do not but I do so love seeing the artist’s interpretation of the author’s written creatures. I thoroughly enjoyed the unique blend of Greek mythology with Brazilian folklore. The Guarani and the connection between them and the world was my favorite part of the book. The other was the innocent and endearing relationship the boys have with Thomas.

"When you love again, it will be different, and that’s right, but it will also be the same, because the true nature of love never changes."

All of the different POVs right at the beginning of the story made the start a little rough and confusing. The accelerated timeline and choppy characters were really what kept me from enjoying this book as much as I would have otherwise. The concept and characters were interesting but I believe this book would have had 5-star potential had more time been spent on character and world-building. I was really not a fan of Thomas’ relationships with Dora & Marlui- they felt really shallow, which I would expect with Dora but Marlui’s felt like a disservice to both. Everyone cared intensely about random strangers (for the most part) way too fast for it to come across as believable.

"They were obviously very wealthy, and she’d known so many people like them — housed in wonderful manors yet filled with boredom, emotional misery, and empty souls."

I would like to thank Books Forward PR and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this book – all opinions are my own. Rounded from 3.5 stars.

[Ashli Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was a fun, easy little read. It’s super short and easy to follow, with a beautiful world building and an interesting enough plot. I got through this super quickly and it was a nice book to read if you’re kinda in a slump and want a light hearted read- especially if you’re into fantasy.
It’s only getting three stars because the plot felt kind of flat, I didn’t feel any sort of connection between the characters. their “friendships” felt more like they were strangers who had been lumped together randomly with no care for one another. the romantic relationships felt flat and lifeless too, I guess the plot was good but I would’ve preferred a better execution of relationships & emotions

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not going to be for everyone. It feels a lot like a fairytale, myth, and philosophical cautionary tale. It touches on prejudice, biases, and environmental issues. I think with the style of writing and length of the book the author didn’t get the chance to really delve into more emotional depth of the characters. They are drawn to each other and there is some insta love and they don’t really get the chance to grow into deeper and more authentic feeling relationships. The writing is very poetic and lyrical. It’s a fast short read an a good introduction to this author.

[Violeta · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting book with high potential.
I wanted until the end to have the possibility of giving it more than 2 stars but...no. I adored the idea of myth and indigenous background, Brazil, people of the forest and all.
The plot was so misunderstood since the beginning... the characters appeared so fast without any connection to each other. I could not follow how everyone appeared all of the sudden without any connection and like magic. I do think that the story, written a little different could have been amazing.

[Esther Matheus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved to read The Musician and I am rereading it. It has so many mesmerizing passages that I wanted to go back to them. Just a beautiful entertaining book. It points us in a creative way to the fact that the world is made of different peoples, costumes, and languages and to the fact that magic is a personal experience. From the colorful characters and the direct beautiful wording, to the design of the cover and pages, this book really sang to me.

[Liz Griffin]

DNF at page 35, no rating.

This one just wasn’t for me. I had difficulty connecting to the characters because the POV changed so quickly, and the repetition of the same scene from different characters viewpoints only made made me more perplexed. I recognized after several days that I was more eager to pick up other books on my tbr, so I’m setting this one aside.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Books Forward PR for the copy of this book.

Overall, I really enjoyed the concept of this book. Some of the dialogue was a little rough but that could just be from the translation. I found myself wishing it was a little longer to further develop the characters and story.

[Stacie]

This was absolutely not the book for me. Good writing but I don't know that I really grasped what was going on and it felt very scattered.

[K.M. Cookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Symphony of Mythology and Nature's Magic

Heloísa Prieto weaves an enchanting tapestry for young adults where Greek mythology dances with Guarani cosmology, creating a world where perfect pitch isn't just a musical gift—it's a gateway to the sacred.

What captivated me most was Thomas's journal, threaded through with poetry that pulses alongside rain children and mystical creatures. Prieto masterfully intertwines ancient Greek stories with the Guarani's cosmic harmony—their profound connection to flowing water, their embodiment of contentment and peaceful gratitude.

The novel's magic resonates in its details: children in communion with nature becoming stars in their afterlife, echoes-filled with birdsong; the voice tones of trees, rivers, and skies speaking their own language; sound creatures appearing precisely when Thomas needs them, illuminating the path to his truest self.

This is storytelling that honors indigenous wisdom while celebrating the universal language of music and myth. A luminous read for young adults or anyone who believes nature holds ancient knowledge waiting to be heard.

[Bean]

Thank you netgalley + co for the arc. Keeping this review short.

This book is fine. Like other reviewers have pointed out, there are a few inconsistencies and typos. The prose is simplistic, but sometimes this works against the novel when it’s too stilted or jarring. It reminded me of a middle grade novel, which isn’t a bad thing, but I do wish there was something there to elevate the material a little bit. The cast was too extensive, and if there were less POVs, I think the author would’ve had more room to play with the ideas they introduced. The second half is much easier to read than the first, a lot more engaging, and I really enjoyed the insight into indigenous cultures.

There were a few off moments where characters would bring up “multiple personality disorder” or compare something nothing like fascism to fascism that violently yanked me from the book. I understand the style of prose and how it’s meant to reflect like our core thoughts and be truthful in a way but stuff like that left a bad taste in my mouth.