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Theresa Schurman #1
The Musician's Daughter
Amid the glitter and glamour of musical and court life in 18th century Vienna, fifteen-year-old Theresa Maria Shurman is trying to solve a brutal mystery. Who killed her father, an acclaimed violinist, and stole his valuable Amati violin? When Haydn himself offers her a position as his assistant, it gives Theresa access to life in the palace-and to a world of deceit. Theresa uncovers blackmail and extortion even as she discovers courage and honor in unexpected places: from a Gypsy camp on the banks of the Danube, to the rarefied life of the imperial family. And she feels the stirrings of a first, tentative love for someone who is as deeply involved in the mystery as she is.
352 pages, Paperback
First published December 23, 2008
82 people are currently reading
4703 people want to read
About the author
Susanne Dunlap
29 books471 followersSusanne Dunlap is the author of more than a dozen historical novels for adults and teens. Susanne grew up in Buffalo, New York and has lived in London, Brooklyn, Northampton, MA, and now Biddeford, ME. Her love of historical fiction arose partly from her PhD research at Yale.
Susanne is also an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction and nonfiction, specializing in coaching historical fiction and historical nonfiction.
Susanne is also an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach in fiction and nonfiction, specializing in coaching historical fiction and historical nonfiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 384 reviews
March 13, 2009
This could have been a fabulous book. It’s the story of the daughter of a violinist in Prince Esterhazy of Austria’s symphony in the eighteenth century. Like her father, Theresa loves music above all things so when her father dies under odd circumstances she goes on a hunt to find out who killed him and stole his beloved violin. Her search leads her to the greatest musicians of her time, the wickedest political counselors, and the truth behind her father’s connection to a band of gypsies.
Sounds good right? And there is a lot of action and turmoil to the story. However, I never felt enthralled by it. Theresa, while surrounded by problems and difficulties, never came alive to me. She never had much of a personality, and this was true of almost every character in the book. The gypsy leader, Theresa’s evil uncle, the brilliant composer Franz Joseph Haydn – none of them were all that interesting. And because of it the book felt flat.
Sounds good right? And there is a lot of action and turmoil to the story. However, I never felt enthralled by it. Theresa, while surrounded by problems and difficulties, never came alive to me. She never had much of a personality, and this was true of almost every character in the book. The gypsy leader, Theresa’s evil uncle, the brilliant composer Franz Joseph Haydn – none of them were all that interesting. And because of it the book felt flat.
June 3, 2023
This is a very difficult review to do !!
--- (warning: English is not my native language, you might find form and grammar errors)---
I gave a 3 star rating, but it could have been 4 stars, but until halfway through the book ( and also a little bit after halfway ) I was convinced that I would have given 2 stars and no more!
I really struggled to go on reading this novel !!!!!!!!!!!!
Where do I begin to explain all these mixed feelings to you?
1) The plot is solid, really captivating, perhaps one of the most original plots that have happened to me in recent years and that captivated me as soon as I read the back cover.
___THE PLOT__ The story takes place in 18th century imperial Vienna.
The protagonist is a young musician, whose life is suddenly turned upside down by the murder of her father, also a musician at the orchestra at Prince Nicholas Esterhazy’s court, his valuable violin missing, and the only clue to his death a strange gold pendant around his neck.
The body, found in a Hungarian gypsy camp, is brought back home by musician friends of the father, all part of the orchestra of Haydn, the famous Austrian composer ... everything is very weird and Theresa wants to find out the truth and she begins to uncover a trail of secrets,blackmail and extortion...
---> how you see all looks like an engrossing tale set against a charming period background and enriched with music and light romance.
------ WHAT WENT WRONG THEN ?
I liked the story, but unfortunately the author told it flatly and without emphasis, at least for the first half of the book, or maybe for almost three quarters of the book!
For the first 8/10 chapters, there were practically no dialogues, only a dozen very short sentences.
Example :
1st sentence : Open up!
2nd one: what happens?
3rd one: I don't know !
...hey ...8 (or maybe 10) chapters where the characters uttered only short sentences like that, scattered among what seemed like a daily newspaper report, really makes one want to throw the book out the window.
Luckily I was reading an ebook that I got for free from a friend!
I considered abandoning the book, but the plot promised well and I hoped it would improve, so I forced myself to keep going on with the reading.
But as I said IT WAS SO BORING ! Eventually halfway through the book twists and turns began, some clues appeared and dialogues were finally more interesting (unfortunately never passionate and full of pathos as it should be in a compelling novel).
By now I had entered the story and so managed to get to the end to see the mystery solved, the villain punished and good people save.
The writing is very simple, indeed I never needed to consult the English-Italian vocabulary ( the book was not available in my native language... I know my English is not so good, then please, forgive any error you find in my review ).
This reading is recommended for 12 years old and up, but since it talks about pedophilia and it describes gruesome death sentences... I'd say it's better from 15 years old and up.
I don't understand why some readers expected something more in-depth about the composer Haydn: it's an adventure-mystery-fiction novel (and not a biography of a famous musician) with just a hint of romanticism (I wasn't looking for that, so it turned out fine, but if you want to read about love, then you have to read a different book ).
Summary : if the setting fascinates you and if you are patient enough to face a flat "newspaper" style reading (at least for half of the book), and you are not interested in love stories, THEN READ IT!
... otherwise forget it.
--- (warning: English is not my native language, you might find form and grammar errors)---
I gave a 3 star rating, but it could have been 4 stars, but until halfway through the book ( and also a little bit after halfway ) I was convinced that I would have given 2 stars and no more!
I really struggled to go on reading this novel !!!!!!!!!!!!
Where do I begin to explain all these mixed feelings to you?
1) The plot is solid, really captivating, perhaps one of the most original plots that have happened to me in recent years and that captivated me as soon as I read the back cover.
___THE PLOT__ The story takes place in 18th century imperial Vienna.
The protagonist is a young musician, whose life is suddenly turned upside down by the murder of her father, also a musician at the orchestra at Prince Nicholas Esterhazy’s court, his valuable violin missing, and the only clue to his death a strange gold pendant around his neck.
The body, found in a Hungarian gypsy camp, is brought back home by musician friends of the father, all part of the orchestra of Haydn, the famous Austrian composer ... everything is very weird and Theresa wants to find out the truth and she begins to uncover a trail of secrets,blackmail and extortion...
---> how you see all looks like an engrossing tale set against a charming period background and enriched with music and light romance.
------ WHAT WENT WRONG THEN ?
I liked the story, but unfortunately the author told it flatly and without emphasis, at least for the first half of the book, or maybe for almost three quarters of the book!
For the first 8/10 chapters, there were practically no dialogues, only a dozen very short sentences.
Example :
1st sentence : Open up!
2nd one: what happens?
3rd one: I don't know !
...hey ...8 (or maybe 10) chapters where the characters uttered only short sentences like that, scattered among what seemed like a daily newspaper report, really makes one want to throw the book out the window.
Luckily I was reading an ebook that I got for free from a friend!
I considered abandoning the book, but the plot promised well and I hoped it would improve, so I forced myself to keep going on with the reading.
But as I said IT WAS SO BORING ! Eventually halfway through the book twists and turns began, some clues appeared and dialogues were finally more interesting (unfortunately never passionate and full of pathos as it should be in a compelling novel).
By now I had entered the story and so managed to get to the end to see the mystery solved, the villain punished and good people save.
The writing is very simple, indeed I never needed to consult the English-Italian vocabulary ( the book was not available in my native language... I know my English is not so good, then please, forgive any error you find in my review ).
This reading is recommended for 12 years old and up, but since it talks about pedophilia and it describes gruesome death sentences... I'd say it's better from 15 years old and up.
I don't understand why some readers expected something more in-depth about the composer Haydn: it's an adventure-mystery-fiction novel (and not a biography of a famous musician) with just a hint of romanticism (I wasn't looking for that, so it turned out fine, but if you want to read about love, then you have to read a different book ).
Summary : if the setting fascinates you and if you are patient enough to face a flat "newspaper" style reading (at least for half of the book), and you are not interested in love stories, THEN READ IT!
... otherwise forget it.
July 19, 2010
I read this s book because my 11 year old daughter asked me to preview it for her. I really enjoyed the book but feel that my daughter probably isn't ready to read it.
I think another reviewer, Shanon Carthcart, summed it up quite well. She said "While the publisher positions this book as being appropriate for those 12 and older, I think it would very much depend upon the young teen in question. Dunlap deals frankly with prostitution, crime and punishment (descriptions of torture devices and so on) and other matters that were most assuredly part of the culture at the time during which the book takes place. Involved parents should be prepared to answer questions and concerns that may be raised by a less mature reader."
With that said, it was great historical fiction about the time in which the composer Hayden lived. The story handled these sensitive subjects well, with a clear line between right and wrong. The heroine is a talented young musician who strives to find her place in a world where women are not encouraged to develop musical talents.
I think another reviewer, Shanon Carthcart, summed it up quite well. She said "While the publisher positions this book as being appropriate for those 12 and older, I think it would very much depend upon the young teen in question. Dunlap deals frankly with prostitution, crime and punishment (descriptions of torture devices and so on) and other matters that were most assuredly part of the culture at the time during which the book takes place. Involved parents should be prepared to answer questions and concerns that may be raised by a less mature reader."
With that said, it was great historical fiction about the time in which the composer Hayden lived. The story handled these sensitive subjects well, with a clear line between right and wrong. The heroine is a talented young musician who strives to find her place in a world where women are not encouraged to develop musical talents.
December 2, 2008
Susanne Dunlap has done a marvelous job in describing life in 18th Century Vienna. Court intrigues, jealousies between musicians (the heroine's godfather is Jozsef Haydn), and racial conflicts between the Viennese, Hungarians and the Romany are all brought to the fore in this well-crafted novel.
Sixteen-year-old Theresa Maria is the daughter of a famous violinist; her father's murder sets the stage for the novel's plot. Between helping her family keep food on the table and trying to avoid making a marriage she does not want, Theresa somehow manages to investigate the circumstances surrounding her fathers death -- all starting with an unusual pendant found in his hand.
While the publisher positions this book as being appropriate for those 12 and older, I think it would very much depend upon the young teen in question. Dunlap deals frankly with prostitution, crime and punishment (descriptions of torture devices and so on) and other matters that were most assuredly part of the culture at the time during which the book takes place. Involved parents should be prepared to answer questions and concerns that may be raised by a less mature reader.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
Sixteen-year-old Theresa Maria is the daughter of a famous violinist; her father's murder sets the stage for the novel's plot. Between helping her family keep food on the table and trying to avoid making a marriage she does not want, Theresa somehow manages to investigate the circumstances surrounding her fathers death -- all starting with an unusual pendant found in his hand.
While the publisher positions this book as being appropriate for those 12 and older, I think it would very much depend upon the young teen in question. Dunlap deals frankly with prostitution, crime and punishment (descriptions of torture devices and so on) and other matters that were most assuredly part of the culture at the time during which the book takes place. Involved parents should be prepared to answer questions and concerns that may be raised by a less mature reader.
(Review based on uncorrected advance proof.)
March 4, 2011
Well, let's just start this by saying, I read this book in one night. Literally. I started it around three o'clock yesterday afternoon and other than a few breaks for class and social life, I read pretty much non-stop - even breaking my self imposed bedtime of midnight.
Other than my own personal habit of getting insanely attached to books until I stop caring about life-essentials, this book was just addicting. The setting was unique - who else writes books about Germany pre-unification? The premise - a daughter figuring out the murder of her father - while maybe not unique, had quirks that intrigued. And while I thought the motif of music was at times lost in the action of the plot, it was a nice touch to read about this artistic perspective.
Also, it was nice that the main character wasn't annoying. Is it just me, or has there been a serious trend (starting with Twilight, and culminated in Hunger Games) for the female protagonist of a novel to start off awesome and then crash and burn in a disaster of annoying whining or dramatic fundamental character shifts that make no sense, and do nothing for the novel. I just liked this girl, and while Maria Teresa did at times take a path down the whiney road, she usually recovered quickly. My only major complaint is that Maria's romantic life never came to fruition, but I suppose with a character of 15 I shouldn't expect too much.
I guess, in the end, I just liked the book. I liked that it was unique, that the setting left me curious about more events that occurred during that time period. In fact, I'm gonna go ahead and say that the setting was my favorite part.
Don't get me wrong, this was no The Book Thief, but was a nice, easy read that I think a lot of teens would enjoy.
Other than my own personal habit of getting insanely attached to books until I stop caring about life-essentials, this book was just addicting. The setting was unique - who else writes books about Germany pre-unification? The premise - a daughter figuring out the murder of her father - while maybe not unique, had quirks that intrigued. And while I thought the motif of music was at times lost in the action of the plot, it was a nice touch to read about this artistic perspective.
Also, it was nice that the main character wasn't annoying. Is it just me, or has there been a serious trend (starting with Twilight, and culminated in Hunger Games) for the female protagonist of a novel to start off awesome and then crash and burn in a disaster of annoying whining or dramatic fundamental character shifts that make no sense, and do nothing for the novel. I just liked this girl, and while Maria Teresa did at times take a path down the whiney road, she usually recovered quickly. My only major complaint is that Maria's romantic life never came to fruition, but I suppose with a character of 15 I shouldn't expect too much.
I guess, in the end, I just liked the book. I liked that it was unique, that the setting left me curious about more events that occurred during that time period. In fact, I'm gonna go ahead and say that the setting was my favorite part.
Don't get me wrong, this was no The Book Thief, but was a nice, easy read that I think a lot of teens would enjoy.
January 8, 2024
Overall Rating : B+
"For who could own a soul?"
A story about a normal girl in the 18th century living her normal life, when all of a sudden tragedy strikes. Her father, dead, with his violin missing and no clue as to what had happened. Theresa will have to go out of her comfort zone to figure out the mystery of those close to her.
A reread from my younger years and still just as good. For a pretty mild story, I was hooked. I loved Theresa and her love for her family and the music that shaped her life. The detail of her town, country, and the people captivated me and I couldn't leave it alone. It was simple and unique and lovely.
"For who could own a soul?"
A story about a normal girl in the 18th century living her normal life, when all of a sudden tragedy strikes. Her father, dead, with his violin missing and no clue as to what had happened. Theresa will have to go out of her comfort zone to figure out the mystery of those close to her.
A reread from my younger years and still just as good. For a pretty mild story, I was hooked. I loved Theresa and her love for her family and the music that shaped her life. The detail of her town, country, and the people captivated me and I couldn't leave it alone. It was simple and unique and lovely.
November 30, 2021
I consider myself a historical fiction fan, but I don't venture beyond the 1800s very often, and in countries other than the US I don't really read books set earlier than 1900. So The Musician's Daughter, taking place in 1700s Austria was a new perspective for me. So was the story of a historical murder and the story's emphasis on the music world.
I really appreciated the feminist take on this novel. Theresa was not content to sit and let the men do the work, even in an era where women were seen as mothers and that was it. This book does a great job of combatting stereotypes about women and pointing out that there were many who were strong-willed at all points throughout history. This book combats other stereotypes as well, namely ones about the Romanov people (Gypsies, derogatorily) living in Eastern Europe at the time. The perspective shown of the Romanovs in The Musician's Daughter shows what we've learned time and time again: the people who claim foreigners are committing atrocities against people are often the ones actually committing the atrocities themselves.
The mystery is very engaging, but the book also isn't solely about the mystery. I wouldn't classify this as a cozy mystery per se, but it is very character-driven and also controlled by the setting more than the mystery itself.
I really enjoyed this, although there were some parts that were more fabricated than I would have liked, such as Haydn's involvement with the Romanovs. Although, admittedly, I don't know enough about Haydn to completely refute the idea that he could have been involved, even if the author explicitly stated that he most likely wasn't.
My only other concern is that this book did jump around a lot, and some of the language and transitions were confusing. This made it somewhat hard to follow, but not in a way that detracts from the story too much.
I don't know if I want to read the other Theresa Schurman books. I kind of liked where this ended, especially the open-ended-ness of it. I could definitely see myself rereading this, though.
I really appreciated the feminist take on this novel. Theresa was not content to sit and let the men do the work, even in an era where women were seen as mothers and that was it. This book does a great job of combatting stereotypes about women and pointing out that there were many who were strong-willed at all points throughout history. This book combats other stereotypes as well, namely ones about the Romanov people (Gypsies, derogatorily) living in Eastern Europe at the time. The perspective shown of the Romanovs in The Musician's Daughter shows what we've learned time and time again: the people who claim foreigners are committing atrocities against people are often the ones actually committing the atrocities themselves.
The mystery is very engaging, but the book also isn't solely about the mystery. I wouldn't classify this as a cozy mystery per se, but it is very character-driven and also controlled by the setting more than the mystery itself.
I really enjoyed this, although there were some parts that were more fabricated than I would have liked, such as Haydn's involvement with the Romanovs. Although, admittedly, I don't know enough about Haydn to completely refute the idea that he could have been involved, even if the author explicitly stated that he most likely wasn't.
My only other concern is that this book did jump around a lot, and some of the language and transitions were confusing. This made it somewhat hard to follow, but not in a way that detracts from the story too much.
I don't know if I want to read the other Theresa Schurman books. I kind of liked where this ended, especially the open-ended-ness of it. I could definitely see myself rereading this, though.
July 16, 2009
I had high hopes for Musician's Daughter, because the cover looked decent, it's a murder mystery, it has to do with music, and Theresa is on speaking terms with Haydn. The Haydn. For those of you who don't know, he's a really famous composer.
But honestly, it was kind of slow.
It started out great- murder, creepy necklace no one knew about, cute guy, hot chocolate... you know, just little things that pull you in. And that lasted at the most about 100 pages or so. And then we're left with a creepy rich uncle, a main character that's basically wandering around looking for answers, much confusion, and no solid characters. By solid characters I mean that none of the characters besides Theresa are really developed. They are just there. I felt this most with Haydn, who I was really looking forward to read about. Who cares whether the account is fiction!? I want to see this guy! I got a little bit of him, but there were almost too many characters that Theresa had to jump around too much between them.
So the slow part lasted another 150 pages or so.
And THEN... then we got to the exciting part. Action, revelations, Theresa actually thinking and working things out, murders, people locked in dark places. yaaaay!
But the characters? They remain flat. (spoiler warning...) Theresa kisses boy. Honestly? I didn't feel the pull. I mean, the guy's cool, he comforts her, but they haven't ever had a conversation really. They just *look* at each other and decide they're in love. (I might be taking that too far...)
/spoiler.
All in all, I wasn't really impressed. It didn't have as much as I wanted about Haydn. There were too many characters, so they ended up pretty flat. There wasn't enough about music. The murder mystery was good, but slow during the middle.
It was... okay.
But honestly, it was kind of slow.
It started out great- murder, creepy necklace no one knew about, cute guy, hot chocolate... you know, just little things that pull you in. And that lasted at the most about 100 pages or so. And then we're left with a creepy rich uncle, a main character that's basically wandering around looking for answers, much confusion, and no solid characters. By solid characters I mean that none of the characters besides Theresa are really developed. They are just there. I felt this most with Haydn, who I was really looking forward to read about. Who cares whether the account is fiction!? I want to see this guy! I got a little bit of him, but there were almost too many characters that Theresa had to jump around too much between them.
So the slow part lasted another 150 pages or so.
And THEN... then we got to the exciting part. Action, revelations, Theresa actually thinking and working things out, murders, people locked in dark places. yaaaay!
But the characters? They remain flat. (spoiler warning...) Theresa kisses boy. Honestly? I didn't feel the pull. I mean, the guy's cool, he comforts her, but they haven't ever had a conversation really. They just *look* at each other and decide they're in love. (I might be taking that too far...)
/spoiler.
All in all, I wasn't really impressed. It didn't have as much as I wanted about Haydn. There were too many characters, so they ended up pretty flat. There wasn't enough about music. The murder mystery was good, but slow during the middle.
It was... okay.
June 16, 2009
Courtesy of BLT Reviews: booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com
History, a mystery, and a little music.
The Musician’s Daughter is a mysterious and musical story of a girl’s desperate search for truth and justice. The characters were very true to their era (even if they’re were a little too vague sometimes)-it was the fad back then to be extremely polite and obedient, even if it meant life or death; being vague and secretive, and no emo showing whatsoever. The book had a sense of adventure and mystery and Theresa was a very good heroine.
Around the first couple chapters of the book, I became confused and annoyed because of the simple details, that’s when I realized I had to use my imagination. After that, it was a breeze. The glamorous city of Vienna came to life, and the hardships of the 18th century became more realistic. My brain buzzed with excitement when Theresa dodged scheming politicians, visited the Gypsy (Romanian) camps for clues, and unveiled the nasty little secrets of her uncle.The Musician’s Daughter is written in first person (which I tend to like more) and is a wonderful example of justice and the love of music. Books are so much better when they have a meaning. The plot was wonderfully crafted-which kept those pages turning- and the ending was perfect.
I think The Musician's Daughter will appease to both historical fiction lovers, and non-history lovers alike. (My sister is not a history fan and she enjoyed it)
Might I also add that the cover is just curious?
History, a mystery, and a little music.
The Musician’s Daughter is a mysterious and musical story of a girl’s desperate search for truth and justice. The characters were very true to their era (even if they’re were a little too vague sometimes)-it was the fad back then to be extremely polite and obedient, even if it meant life or death; being vague and secretive, and no emo showing whatsoever. The book had a sense of adventure and mystery and Theresa was a very good heroine.
Around the first couple chapters of the book, I became confused and annoyed because of the simple details, that’s when I realized I had to use my imagination. After that, it was a breeze. The glamorous city of Vienna came to life, and the hardships of the 18th century became more realistic. My brain buzzed with excitement when Theresa dodged scheming politicians, visited the Gypsy (Romanian) camps for clues, and unveiled the nasty little secrets of her uncle.The Musician’s Daughter is written in first person (which I tend to like more) and is a wonderful example of justice and the love of music. Books are so much better when they have a meaning. The plot was wonderfully crafted-which kept those pages turning- and the ending was perfect.
I think The Musician's Daughter will appease to both historical fiction lovers, and non-history lovers alike. (My sister is not a history fan and she enjoyed it)
Might I also add that the cover is just curious?
September 10, 2012
A most exciting read, with a plucky, likeable heroine and adventure, mystery plus romance spun into this tale.
Dunlap brings us into the world of Vienna (my most favourite musical place in the world!!) in the 1770s, during the Habsburg empire. Theresa Maria's father, a principal violinist in the royal orchestra, has been murdered and it is up to Theresa to uncover the truth. Along the way, she finds out that there is much more to her loving, gentle father, with the help of Gypsies, her godfather Joseph Haydn (yes the great musician!) and the dashing Zoltán.
This book was truly a most wonderful tale and I enjoyed it very much. This brilliant imagination of what it was like to be in Vienna long ago struck a chord in my heart. Vienna is the most beautiful place I have been to so far which enthralled me. The story taking place there thus made it even better. Dunlap keeps you turning the pages, wanting more of Theresa's adventure to vindicate her father's murder. A must-read, ESPECIALLY for music lovers!
Dunlap brings us into the world of Vienna (my most favourite musical place in the world!!) in the 1770s, during the Habsburg empire. Theresa Maria's father, a principal violinist in the royal orchestra, has been murdered and it is up to Theresa to uncover the truth. Along the way, she finds out that there is much more to her loving, gentle father, with the help of Gypsies, her godfather Joseph Haydn (yes the great musician!) and the dashing Zoltán.
This book was truly a most wonderful tale and I enjoyed it very much. This brilliant imagination of what it was like to be in Vienna long ago struck a chord in my heart. Vienna is the most beautiful place I have been to so far which enthralled me. The story taking place there thus made it even better. Dunlap keeps you turning the pages, wanting more of Theresa's adventure to vindicate her father's murder. A must-read, ESPECIALLY for music lovers!
July 6, 2013
Theresa Maria is on a mission to discover her father’s murderer. Who would attack a simple violinist from the Prince’s orchestra? And why would her father’s corpse have been found by the river near a camp of gypsies? And why do all the people she trusts seem to know more about her father than she does?
Theresa is determined to learn more. But the more she learns, the more she begins to care. About the same issues that appear to have led to her father’s death.
I liked the 18th century setting for this story (Aurelia, Robert, and I are QUITE fond of this time period), and I enjoyed the author’s emphasis upon music, both within Theresa Maria’s life and the lives of the characters surrounding her.
Theresa is determined to learn more. But the more she learns, the more she begins to care. About the same issues that appear to have led to her father’s death.
I liked the 18th century setting for this story (Aurelia, Robert, and I are QUITE fond of this time period), and I enjoyed the author’s emphasis upon music, both within Theresa Maria’s life and the lives of the characters surrounding her.
March 1, 2017
I was pre-reading this for my daughter, but I was not impressed in the least. She won't enjoy this largely "fluff" book about yet another stereotypical helpless female protagonist. Yes, she investigates her father's murder, but the story of her petticoats and dresses is not entertaining.
December 1, 2014
this is such a good little book. i went into this fully expecting not to fall in love with it, but fall in love with it i did. set in 1700s’ vienna, this is the story of fifteen-year-old theresa maria schurman, the daughter of a violinist who works in the emperor’s court. but her world is turned upside down when her beloved father is found dead on christmas eve, with no clue as to how he has ended up this way. he has not been robbed, save one item: his violin and its case. thus theresa sets out on a mission to find out what exactly occurred to end the life of her father so prematurely. there are strange aspects to the case, aside from the missing violin – his being found at the local romani encampment; the strange gold medallion found on him; the fact that he was absent from court on that night; and this, my friends, is only the beginning.
and the beginning itself is a bit on the slow side. although we are immediately thrown into the chaos of her father’s death, the mystery is gradually built, with theresa attempting to piece together at least a vague picture of what happened on that fateful night. in retrospect, however, i can see that the slowness is only a minor hindrance to a story that expands and quickens with every chapter. there are a few key players in the story, many of which are romani – mirela, a young romani woman who befriends theresa swiftly; danior, the sort of “leader” of the romani camp; zoltán varga, another musician in the court, who clearly has a deeper knowledge about her father than he is letting on; and alida varga, a maid of honor and zoltán’s kindly sister. all of these characters are individuals and interesting, and while zoltán’s status as the romantic interest is made clear from the start, i think he’s probably the least fascinating of all of the side characters. the secondary characters are, in fact, much more complex than our protagonist, in my opinion – but the story is obviously theresa’s, and that’s a fact that i respect greatly. i think one of the reasons that zoltán lacks character depth is perhaps because he’s honestly not featured all that much. it’s a nice change of pace to see a young adult novel that does not fixate on the romance; despite the fact that the element is there, it is theresa’s own arc and coming-of-age that is the focus of the story.
regardless of the fact that this story is tonally similar to a large amount of the YA novels out there, i think it thematically differs. there are a lot of issues dealt with here, quite nicely although not perfectly, which include: class, racism, misogyny, judgment, and the always present story trait – good and evil. theresa is from a family of modest income, and yet by her own admission, she is more comfortable in the “maid’s position than the lady’s.” i think her generally poor status and her sex are addressed rather succinctly throughout the story. there is also, naturally, the feature of racism and hatred against the romani. it is an ever prevalent theme throughout the course of the book, and i think it’s refreshing to see the fact that theresa is not exempt from the suspicion felt against the romani, either. i feel that so many books think it is somehow progressive to have their privileged characters be immediately accepting, and yet theresa is not – perhaps not in a hateful or malicious manner, but an ignorant one. and theresa grows. she learns that these people are no different from her; they are not evil; they are not thieves, beggars, dirty; she is filled with the knowledge of their welcome to her. she is treated kindly by their people despite the fact that the romani are continuously mistreated by people of her “status” in life. as i said, it is not all dealt with perfectly, but the overriding message is: judgment gets you nowhere. you cannot honestly judge people unless you have lived their lives. and that ignorance is just as harmful as hatefulness.
then there’s the lovely twist:
there were a few aspects of this book that, naturally, i didn’t care for. i thought that, at times, theresa lacked common sense…but as a fifteen-year-old, i think all of it is a little understandable, particularly considering the situation she finds herself in. i cringed at some of the things that theresa thinks of the romani in the beginning, but i think the fact that her ignorance is portrayed as deeply wrong is very, very nice. the pacing could’ve been better, without a doubt.
but as a whole? i highly recommend it. this is an enjoyable book at its heart, but also one with an admirable message. the fact that i came away from this desiring to know more about theresa and the others’ cause is definitely a sign of its overwhelming wonderfulness. it’s highly relieving to see a book that feels socially conscious, even if only in the smallest of ways, directed at the teenage crowd. so, again, i went into this thinking: “it’s just like all the other YA novels out there.” i finished with the distinct impression that this was something verging on the side of special. (on another note, how dreamy is danior???)
and the beginning itself is a bit on the slow side. although we are immediately thrown into the chaos of her father’s death, the mystery is gradually built, with theresa attempting to piece together at least a vague picture of what happened on that fateful night. in retrospect, however, i can see that the slowness is only a minor hindrance to a story that expands and quickens with every chapter. there are a few key players in the story, many of which are romani – mirela, a young romani woman who befriends theresa swiftly; danior, the sort of “leader” of the romani camp; zoltán varga, another musician in the court, who clearly has a deeper knowledge about her father than he is letting on; and alida varga, a maid of honor and zoltán’s kindly sister. all of these characters are individuals and interesting, and while zoltán’s status as the romantic interest is made clear from the start, i think he’s probably the least fascinating of all of the side characters. the secondary characters are, in fact, much more complex than our protagonist, in my opinion – but the story is obviously theresa’s, and that’s a fact that i respect greatly. i think one of the reasons that zoltán lacks character depth is perhaps because he’s honestly not featured all that much. it’s a nice change of pace to see a young adult novel that does not fixate on the romance; despite the fact that the element is there, it is theresa’s own arc and coming-of-age that is the focus of the story.
regardless of the fact that this story is tonally similar to a large amount of the YA novels out there, i think it thematically differs. there are a lot of issues dealt with here, quite nicely although not perfectly, which include: class, racism, misogyny, judgment, and the always present story trait – good and evil. theresa is from a family of modest income, and yet by her own admission, she is more comfortable in the “maid’s position than the lady’s.” i think her generally poor status and her sex are addressed rather succinctly throughout the story. there is also, naturally, the feature of racism and hatred against the romani. it is an ever prevalent theme throughout the course of the book, and i think it’s refreshing to see the fact that theresa is not exempt from the suspicion felt against the romani, either. i feel that so many books think it is somehow progressive to have their privileged characters be immediately accepting, and yet theresa is not – perhaps not in a hateful or malicious manner, but an ignorant one. and theresa grows. she learns that these people are no different from her; they are not evil; they are not thieves, beggars, dirty; she is filled with the knowledge of their welcome to her. she is treated kindly by their people despite the fact that the romani are continuously mistreated by people of her “status” in life. as i said, it is not all dealt with perfectly, but the overriding message is: judgment gets you nowhere. you cannot honestly judge people unless you have lived their lives. and that ignorance is just as harmful as hatefulness.
then there’s the lovely twist:
there were a few aspects of this book that, naturally, i didn’t care for. i thought that, at times, theresa lacked common sense…but as a fifteen-year-old, i think all of it is a little understandable, particularly considering the situation she finds herself in. i cringed at some of the things that theresa thinks of the romani in the beginning, but i think the fact that her ignorance is portrayed as deeply wrong is very, very nice. the pacing could’ve been better, without a doubt.
but as a whole? i highly recommend it. this is an enjoyable book at its heart, but also one with an admirable message. the fact that i came away from this desiring to know more about theresa and the others’ cause is definitely a sign of its overwhelming wonderfulness. it’s highly relieving to see a book that feels socially conscious, even if only in the smallest of ways, directed at the teenage crowd. so, again, i went into this thinking: “it’s just like all the other YA novels out there.” i finished with the distinct impression that this was something verging on the side of special. (on another note, how dreamy is danior???)
March 22, 2021
This was an interesting book. I liked the mystery to it. It definitely had a surprise ending.
February 18, 2009
I'm enjoying this, but it's just not what I'm in the mood to read right now, plus I need to focus on getting through the Book Thief for my book club next week. And that's a pretty big book...I'll let you know what I think when I get back to this one!
2/18/09 I finished last night and it got much better and I really enjoyed it. This 3 is more like 3 3/4s, but it wasn't quite a 4. It was well written and very enjoyable, but there was something lacking to make it spectacular.
There was something choppy about the flow occasionally, especially at the end where one paragraph summed up the rest of her life unsatisfactorily. It could have done with a good one chapter prologue.
There was also one relationship between two characters that was built up for the whole second half of the book and just kindof forgotten in that closing paragraph. I wanted to know more about that relationship, since it was what got me more intersted in the book as I was reading.
Overall it seemed a bit long for me for a YA book. Much of it could have been presented more quickly, and there were moments when I thought, "Come on, she really hasn't figured it out?".
But don't get me wrong. Historical fiction is a genre I really enjoy, and this was a very creative story set in the world of imperial courts and the twists and turns of the life of a musician, and the politics of the day of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
2/18/09 I finished last night and it got much better and I really enjoyed it. This 3 is more like 3 3/4s, but it wasn't quite a 4. It was well written and very enjoyable, but there was something lacking to make it spectacular.
There was something choppy about the flow occasionally, especially at the end where one paragraph summed up the rest of her life unsatisfactorily. It could have done with a good one chapter prologue.
There was also one relationship between two characters that was built up for the whole second half of the book and just kindof forgotten in that closing paragraph. I wanted to know more about that relationship, since it was what got me more intersted in the book as I was reading.
Overall it seemed a bit long for me for a YA book. Much of it could have been presented more quickly, and there were moments when I thought, "Come on, she really hasn't figured it out?".
But don't get me wrong. Historical fiction is a genre I really enjoy, and this was a very creative story set in the world of imperial courts and the twists and turns of the life of a musician, and the politics of the day of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.
April 8, 2020
DNF at 54%.
Usually I don’t rate books that I DNF, but this book was exceptionally unenjoyable and overall terrible.
The writing style was crappy and reminded me of Twilight’s. It wasn’t engaging and it didn’t hype up the thrill of the mystery. It didn’t make me want to read more, it told, it didn’t show. I think if you’re writing a mystery, one of the key factors in it is the suspense. You have to build up to the action, not outright say it, which is exactly what this book did.
The characters were one-dimensional and not interesting to read about. And the plot was simply all over the place. Like, I understand this is a mystery, but honestly, it didn’t fit together like a usual mystery does.
I haven’t read many mysteries, and in 2020 I’ve been trying to explore new genres I might possibly enjoy. This was a terrible experience for my entrance into the mystery/thriller world, and I’m pretty disappointed. If anyone has some good mysteries they’d recommend to me, I’d love if you would comment or recommend them to me through Goodreads.
Congratulations, The Musician’s Daughter . This was my first DNF of 2020. 😒
Usually I don’t rate books that I DNF, but this book was exceptionally unenjoyable and overall terrible.
The writing style was crappy and reminded me of Twilight’s. It wasn’t engaging and it didn’t hype up the thrill of the mystery. It didn’t make me want to read more, it told, it didn’t show. I think if you’re writing a mystery, one of the key factors in it is the suspense. You have to build up to the action, not outright say it, which is exactly what this book did.
The characters were one-dimensional and not interesting to read about. And the plot was simply all over the place. Like, I understand this is a mystery, but honestly, it didn’t fit together like a usual mystery does.
I haven’t read many mysteries, and in 2020 I’ve been trying to explore new genres I might possibly enjoy. This was a terrible experience for my entrance into the mystery/thriller world, and I’m pretty disappointed. If anyone has some good mysteries they’d recommend to me, I’d love if you would comment or recommend them to me through Goodreads.
Congratulations, The Musician’s Daughter . This was my first DNF of 2020. 😒
January 10, 2012
The Musician's Daughter was a book that had both romance, and an adventure. It starts on Christmas Eve, when Theresa's father is brought home.....dead.Theresa is convinced to find her father's missing, prized possesion, his violin, but the only way to do that is to enter his music world, and reveal the missing pieces to the puzzle. My favorite quote would be: "Mirela took the medallion in her hand and gazed at it as if she were trying to read the future in her palm. It is a curious thing,she murmured at last,to touch history. Looking into the past is very much like seeing the ages to come." I found this quote on page 193 of the book, and I specifically liked it because it gave a little bit more history on the medallion and who it previously belonged to. The author wrote this book from Theresa's perspective, so in this case it would be a first-person point of view. I would recommend this book to people who love mysteries, romances, and adventures. This book has it all, when I first got it I literally couldn't put it down.
May 5, 2011
When Theresa, the 15 year old daughter of a musician who has been murdered decides to investigate her father's death, she finds herself deeply involved with radical politics in 18th century Austria. This is the sort of political machinations that I enjoy.
I loved the musical aspect. Theresa is herself a musician, and the composer Haydn is a major character. There is also the music of the gypsies and gypsy musicians in Haydn's orchestra. I finished the novel wanting to read more about Haydn.
The blurb on the cover mentioning "true love" is more than a bit misleading. There is only a slight amount of romantic content. Theresa is mainly concerned with music and her father's death. I suspect the blurb is supposed to attract the YA audience for which it's intended. Yet I think that adults like me would appreciate this book more.
I loved the musical aspect. Theresa is herself a musician, and the composer Haydn is a major character. There is also the music of the gypsies and gypsy musicians in Haydn's orchestra. I finished the novel wanting to read more about Haydn.
The blurb on the cover mentioning "true love" is more than a bit misleading. There is only a slight amount of romantic content. Theresa is mainly concerned with music and her father's death. I suspect the blurb is supposed to attract the YA audience for which it's intended. Yet I think that adults like me would appreciate this book more.
February 2, 2009
Fifteen-year-old Theresa is the daughter of a violinist playing in the glamorous royal court of 18th century Vienna. When her father turns up murdered, Theresa is determined to find out more about his death, if not solve the mystery. But the social constraints of both her sex and her social position get in Theresa's way as she tries to move in various circles to get more information. Gypsies, musicians, courtiers, and even Haydn himself are all part of the wider mystery that grows more and more complicated the closer Theresa looks.
The historical setting is uncommon for young adults novels and provides an in-depth look at the social class structure and the view of Romanies in the 18th century. The story is engaging with intrigue, romance, and music woven throughout.
The historical setting is uncommon for young adults novels and provides an in-depth look at the social class structure and the view of Romanies in the 18th century. The story is engaging with intrigue, romance, and music woven throughout.
September 23, 2016
It's 18th century in Vienna, Austria. Theresa Maria's father is a violinist and, on Christmas Eve, he is brought home and has been murdered. Although her mother would like to get her married (with the help of her rich uncle, who disowned his sister - Theresa Maria's mother), Theresa Maria insists on trying to find out who killed her father. This brings her into contact with gypsies, rich unscrupulous men, other musicians, and more, and sends her on a bit of an “adventure” (without giving too much away!).
I really enjoyed this. It moved fast and there was plenty going on to keep me interested. I read another novel a number of years back where gypsies were featured prominently, and I'd hoped to read more on them, but really haven't, so this was fun from that aspect, as well.
I really enjoyed this. It moved fast and there was plenty going on to keep me interested. I read another novel a number of years back where gypsies were featured prominently, and I'd hoped to read more on them, but really haven't, so this was fun from that aspect, as well.
July 11, 2025
The things that happen in this book are so amazing. There are many moments where I could hear the unsaid words of this tale. It's very easy to imagine the untold scenes. It would have been even better if Rezia and Zoltan's love story became a reality. I was waiting for them to at least have their first kiss! But it wasn't meant to be:/
The way Susanne Dunlap inserts music into this story is beyond me. I loved the mystery, action, and romance. I'm a musician and I absolutely enjoyed this thrilling story of music.
The way Susanne Dunlap inserts music into this story is beyond me. I loved the mystery, action, and romance. I'm a musician and I absolutely enjoyed this thrilling story of music.
February 1, 2021
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
I bought this at a library book sale years ago because I love historical fiction and it seemed right up my alley, but then I kind of forgot about it. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it because I really enjoyed it. 18th century Vienna was a very interesting setting. I liked all the characters and enjoyed the mystery and adventure. I can't say anything in particular blew me away, but it was a good read and I'd like to see where these characters go in the next book.
I bought this at a library book sale years ago because I love historical fiction and it seemed right up my alley, but then I kind of forgot about it. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it because I really enjoyed it. 18th century Vienna was a very interesting setting. I liked all the characters and enjoyed the mystery and adventure. I can't say anything in particular blew me away, but it was a good read and I'd like to see where these characters go in the next book.
September 23, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up.
I was skeptical of this book because it was marked as YA, but I ended up enjoying the 15-year-old Theresa's search for her father's killer in 1770's Her late father was a violinist in Hayden's court orchestra so the story was not only a historical mystery but one revolving around music (as well as politics). I probably won't continue the series, but I enjoyed Book 1.
I was skeptical of this book because it was marked as YA, but I ended up enjoying the 15-year-old Theresa's search for her father's killer in 1770's Her late father was a violinist in Hayden's court orchestra so the story was not only a historical mystery but one revolving around music (as well as politics). I probably won't continue the series, but I enjoyed Book 1.
April 8, 2015
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started reading this, but the end result was not it.
I didn't love it, but it wasn't really that bad. It's quite slow moving until up to about halfway, and from then on there's still not much action. The world-building isn't great; nothing is really described, including the characters. They didn't go through much growth and always seemed like silhouettes; they had no personalities, nothing that made them into real people rather than words on a page. There is an annoying attempt at romance.
I really had my hopes up when I read the description: a web of extortion and blackmail leading from the royal court to a Gypsy camp, a mysterious gold pendant around her father's neck, music and politics in Vienna (which I love)... All of these ideas really intrigued me, but the execution was disappointing. There was not much action and nothing exciting really happened. What had the potential to be an amazing book just fell flat.
Aside from the general dullness, my main gripe is the main character. Theresa is, in three words, annoying as hell. She jumps into doing things when she knows they're idiotic, she's reckless and stupid, she lets herself be tricked into all sorts of situation and she doesn't even realise they are traps! I was facepalming at her stupidity for most of the book. However, the worst part was her attitude towards the supposed 'love interest'. Like all YA, there is a(n attempt at) romance. But it isn't really a proper romance: it's a girl with a massive crush on a handsome musician. He clearly doesn't care for her, but she fawns over him anyway. And the worst thing is, every time she was starting to take control of the situation and actually doing something intelligent, she catches sight of him and loses all focus. She can't distract herself from looking at him. She is yet another YA heroine ruined by a love interest.
It gets worse, though. Later on in the book, somebody tells her she has a visitor, and she hopes it is the love interest. It's actually her brother, who has just been saved from a horrible fate. And her reaction? She's disappointed. Disappointed it's not the love interest. It's her own fault her brother was in that horrible situation anyway, (thanks to her being stupid again) and she's disappointed! Cue facepalm.
One of the worst bits (also relating to the love interest) is when she's in the LI's house having blacked out or something because she's a useless idiot, and a stunningly beautiful woman is taking care of her. Theresa gets all mad and decides she absolutely hates this woman because she's decided she is the LI's wife, based on no evidence whatsoever. Then, when she finds out the woman is not the LI's wife, she says to herself, 'how could I ever have thought I hated her'?
I kid you not.
But, despite all that, it was engaging and managed to keep me interested, so I'm giving it three stars.
I didn't love it, but it wasn't really that bad. It's quite slow moving until up to about halfway, and from then on there's still not much action. The world-building isn't great; nothing is really described, including the characters. They didn't go through much growth and always seemed like silhouettes; they had no personalities, nothing that made them into real people rather than words on a page. There is an annoying attempt at romance.
I really had my hopes up when I read the description: a web of extortion and blackmail leading from the royal court to a Gypsy camp, a mysterious gold pendant around her father's neck, music and politics in Vienna (which I love)... All of these ideas really intrigued me, but the execution was disappointing. There was not much action and nothing exciting really happened. What had the potential to be an amazing book just fell flat.
Aside from the general dullness, my main gripe is the main character. Theresa is, in three words, annoying as hell. She jumps into doing things when she knows they're idiotic, she's reckless and stupid, she lets herself be tricked into all sorts of situation and she doesn't even realise they are traps! I was facepalming at her stupidity for most of the book. However, the worst part was her attitude towards the supposed 'love interest'. Like all YA, there is a(n attempt at) romance. But it isn't really a proper romance: it's a girl with a massive crush on a handsome musician. He clearly doesn't care for her, but she fawns over him anyway. And the worst thing is, every time she was starting to take control of the situation and actually doing something intelligent, she catches sight of him and loses all focus. She can't distract herself from looking at him. She is yet another YA heroine ruined by a love interest.
It gets worse, though. Later on in the book, somebody tells her she has a visitor, and she hopes it is the love interest. It's actually her brother, who has just been saved from a horrible fate. And her reaction? She's disappointed. Disappointed it's not the love interest. It's her own fault her brother was in that horrible situation anyway, (thanks to her being stupid again) and she's disappointed! Cue facepalm.
One of the worst bits (also relating to the love interest) is when she's in the LI's house having blacked out or something because she's a useless idiot, and a stunningly beautiful woman is taking care of her. Theresa gets all mad and decides she absolutely hates this woman because she's decided she is the LI's wife, based on no evidence whatsoever. Then, when she finds out the woman is not the LI's wife, she says to herself, 'how could I ever have thought I hated her'?
I kid you not.
But, despite all that, it was engaging and managed to keep me interested, so I'm giving it three stars.
May 22, 2009
Fifteen-year-old Theresa has just received the worst news of her life: her father, a musician in Haydn's orchestra in 18th century Vienna, is dead and his most valuable possession, his violin, is missing. Theresa is sure that her father has been the victim of foul play, and despite her mother's determination that their next step must be to marry Theresa off, Theresa starts unraveling the mystery as best she can. But as Theresa investigates she learns some unsettling facts about her father and his involvement with a camp of Gypsies and she finds herself drawn into more and more dangerous situations. She also finds herself employed by Haydn as a music scribe; Haydn's failing vision makes it impossible for him to record the music in his head accurately, Theresa has the musical training from her father that qualifies her for the job, and Haydn knows her family needs the money. Caught up in a whirl of intrigue and court politics that expands to include members of Theresa's family and even Haydn himself, Theresa must find a way to keep everyone safe. If she's lucky, maybe she'll also find a little romance along the way and, more importantly, maybe she'll find the strength to determine her own path rather than following the one set out by her mother.
I think Dunlap was a little over-ambitious here - there's just a lot she's trying to squeeze in and the mish-mosh is less than successful. You've got romance, mystery, historical fiction, multiple social issues, music, and court politics. I felt like I never really got a good read on the intended tone of the book - if this was supposed to be realistic style historical fiction, it's awfully far-fetched, if it was supposed to be the type of book where you just suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride, the serious tone in places and the emphasis on the social issues seem a little out of place. The descriptions of the brutal justice system of 18th century Vienna as well as the depiction of Theresa's lecherous uncle keep this at junior high level or above. The ending is clearly set up for at least one sequel, possibly more - since this is Dunlap's first book for younger readers, maybe she's still learning how to adjust and her next one will strike a better balance.
I think Dunlap was a little over-ambitious here - there's just a lot she's trying to squeeze in and the mish-mosh is less than successful. You've got romance, mystery, historical fiction, multiple social issues, music, and court politics. I felt like I never really got a good read on the intended tone of the book - if this was supposed to be realistic style historical fiction, it's awfully far-fetched, if it was supposed to be the type of book where you just suspend your disbelief and go along for the ride, the serious tone in places and the emphasis on the social issues seem a little out of place. The descriptions of the brutal justice system of 18th century Vienna as well as the depiction of Theresa's lecherous uncle keep this at junior high level or above. The ending is clearly set up for at least one sequel, possibly more - since this is Dunlap's first book for younger readers, maybe she's still learning how to adjust and her next one will strike a better balance.
November 8, 2009
When Theresa Maria recieves the shocking news that her father was found dead on Christmas Eve, she can't help but wonder why he had died. He was supposed to be playing in the orchestra at the prince's Chistmas Eve ball, but reportedly never showed. What's worse news to Theresa is that her father's beautiful violin is missing. The fact that it was supposedly with him the night he died leads Theresa to believe that her father was murdered.
As she searches deeper for answers, Theresa becomes envolved in a secret organization that wishes to bring change to her home of Vienna and beyond. In order for this change to come, though, she will have to meddle in the lives of the outcasted gypsies, participate in a kidnapping, and endure the underground sewers of the city.
"The Musician's Daughter" was unlike any book I have read before. I couldn't find any flaws other than the beginning, which was weak compared to the rest of the story. I loved how the author incorporated music into the plotline. I play an instument as well, and I found myself relating to Theresa's sheer passion of being able to create beautiful sound. Also, the romance in the book was absolutely captivating. It wasn't too overdone, which was satisfying enough.
Thrilling and musical, Susanne Dunlap has composed a memoriable tale of frienship, love, loyalty, and faith that readers be sure to think about long after they have set the book aside.
As she searches deeper for answers, Theresa becomes envolved in a secret organization that wishes to bring change to her home of Vienna and beyond. In order for this change to come, though, she will have to meddle in the lives of the outcasted gypsies, participate in a kidnapping, and endure the underground sewers of the city.
"The Musician's Daughter" was unlike any book I have read before. I couldn't find any flaws other than the beginning, which was weak compared to the rest of the story. I loved how the author incorporated music into the plotline. I play an instument as well, and I found myself relating to Theresa's sheer passion of being able to create beautiful sound. Also, the romance in the book was absolutely captivating. It wasn't too overdone, which was satisfying enough.
Thrilling and musical, Susanne Dunlap has composed a memoriable tale of frienship, love, loyalty, and faith that readers be sure to think about long after they have set the book aside.
October 21, 2014
This was, by far, my favorite Susanne Dunlap book. It is an intriguing mystery with wonderful characters (especially Zoltan and his sister), fun references to historical people (Salieri, Mozart, Haydn, ect.), and even a likable romance which does not get in the way of the story! The Author's love for music rings clear in the writing, even making someone who isn't a musician or doesn't care for classical music feel Theresa's longing to be able to play the violin.
The content is very light, especially considering the Author's two other novels. There are slight references to rapes, a hint at one of the less important characters having a fancy for young boys, and one scene where Theresa is assaulted, but the latter goes nowhere, and the other things are not referred to in detail, and only mentioned in passing. The romantic element of the story is actually very pleasant, and once I was assured that it would not in any way impede the story's progress, I was fully supportive of the relationship.
The mystery, as I mentioned earlier, is highly intriguing and surprising. It is not necessarily filled with twists and turns, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and with the backdrop of Gypsies, court balls, the life of court musicians, and ancient instruments, this is a mystery that will keep anyone engaged.
The content is very light, especially considering the Author's two other novels. There are slight references to rapes, a hint at one of the less important characters having a fancy for young boys, and one scene where Theresa is assaulted, but the latter goes nowhere, and the other things are not referred to in detail, and only mentioned in passing. The romantic element of the story is actually very pleasant, and once I was assured that it would not in any way impede the story's progress, I was fully supportive of the relationship.
The mystery, as I mentioned earlier, is highly intriguing and surprising. It is not necessarily filled with twists and turns, but it wasn't what I was expecting, and with the backdrop of Gypsies, court balls, the life of court musicians, and ancient instruments, this is a mystery that will keep anyone engaged.
September 24, 2013
This book was quite enjoyable. Theresa is the daughter of a musician in prince Nicholas's service. On the Eve of Christmas, her father is murdered. With the help of her godfather Kapellmeister Haydn and some of her fathers musician friends she searches for the answers to why her father was murdered, all while keeping her mother in the dark. She goes to her uncle's ball and helps her friends kidnap a high noble general. After another hair raising adventure she and her gypsy friend meet their friends at the Hoffburg and they go before the emperor. At their audience she discovers all the facts about her fathers death and is reunited with his violin.
I thought the book had a great plot. It was very vivid and detailed. You could definitely tell what Theresa was feeling or thinking. I was not super impressed with the writing style. Some of the transitions were not smooth and were not always the easiest to understand. All in all the book deserves about a three star rating.
I would recommend the book to a wide variety of people. Really anyone who likes historical fiction would most likely enjoy it. Many musicians and teenagers would also enjoy the book. While the writing is not my favourite. The plot and the characters are sound. I hope to read more like it soon.
I thought the book had a great plot. It was very vivid and detailed. You could definitely tell what Theresa was feeling or thinking. I was not super impressed with the writing style. Some of the transitions were not smooth and were not always the easiest to understand. All in all the book deserves about a three star rating.
I would recommend the book to a wide variety of people. Really anyone who likes historical fiction would most likely enjoy it. Many musicians and teenagers would also enjoy the book. While the writing is not my favourite. The plot and the characters are sound. I hope to read more like it soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2011
This book definitely gets 5 stars from me as I was just wanted to carry on reading everytime I opened the book. It was filled with intrigue, corruption, murder and danger. You were always hoping that nothing bad would happen to Rezia (the main character). The intrigue came when you just had to know what happened to Rezia's father and how high members of society were involved in this and other horrible crimes.
The writing was constant throughout the whole novel and it flowed at a really good pace. It was quick to read as the chapters were quite short and the text is medium sized. The characters were really good and I enjoyed reading the novel to find out what happened to Rezia, Mirela, Zoltan and Alida. The ending tied the whole story together and you found out what Rezia had planned for her future and whether her mother gave birth to her baby. If this book had more chapters I could have kept reading to discover what future adventures Rezia and Mirela had together.
I really enjoy Susanne Dunlaps writing from what I have read in this novel. So I cannot wait to read 'In The Shadow Of The Lamp' (ARC), 'Anastacia's Secret' and any other novels released by Susanne Dunlap.
The writing was constant throughout the whole novel and it flowed at a really good pace. It was quick to read as the chapters were quite short and the text is medium sized. The characters were really good and I enjoyed reading the novel to find out what happened to Rezia, Mirela, Zoltan and Alida. The ending tied the whole story together and you found out what Rezia had planned for her future and whether her mother gave birth to her baby. If this book had more chapters I could have kept reading to discover what future adventures Rezia and Mirela had together.
I really enjoy Susanne Dunlaps writing from what I have read in this novel. So I cannot wait to read 'In The Shadow Of The Lamp' (ARC), 'Anastacia's Secret' and any other novels released by Susanne Dunlap.
did-not-finish
August 21, 2016Gonna have to DNF this one for now, but...
I love the idea of this book. It takes place during the classical music era and, as far as I can tell, deals with Joseph Haydn in some way. Which is amazing. As a fan of classical music and Haydn, I was thrilled when I heard about this book, so I will most certainly be reading it at some later point... just maybe not right now.
As far as I have read in this book (and I'll admit, it's not very far), I have been interested--I do want to know what happens next. But my mind, at this very moment, seems to wander quite far from this particular plot and these characters and so, to better my judgement of this book, I think that it would be wise for me to DNF it for now. I will most certainly be getting to it later!
For those of you who do want to read this book, I'd definitely recommend going for it--I most certainly will later on! I haven't read a Susanne Dunlap book that I haven't fully enjoyed, and even if this one isn't the right one for you, I'm sure that you'll find one of her books that suits something that you're interested in.
I love the idea of this book. It takes place during the classical music era and, as far as I can tell, deals with Joseph Haydn in some way. Which is amazing. As a fan of classical music and Haydn, I was thrilled when I heard about this book, so I will most certainly be reading it at some later point... just maybe not right now.
As far as I have read in this book (and I'll admit, it's not very far), I have been interested--I do want to know what happens next. But my mind, at this very moment, seems to wander quite far from this particular plot and these characters and so, to better my judgement of this book, I think that it would be wise for me to DNF it for now. I will most certainly be getting to it later!
For those of you who do want to read this book, I'd definitely recommend going for it--I most certainly will later on! I haven't read a Susanne Dunlap book that I haven't fully enjoyed, and even if this one isn't the right one for you, I'm sure that you'll find one of her books that suits something that you're interested in.
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