Inspired historic fiction meets fantasy.

This writing style much exceeded my expectations. Very approachable yet distinctively elegant, setting the scene for a centuries-old world. Magical elements are introduced with subtle grace, increasing my willingness to suspend disbelief. The magical elements and overall vibe is similar to The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett but YA. Also reminds me somewhat of the Gemma Doyle series by Libba Bray, which is high praise since that was one of my all-time favorites. Historic fiction-meets-fantasy is a seldom explored topic in this genre. Kingdom of Back belongs to a niche within YA and has a unique perspective. Nannerl is a striking lead character, based off of a real person who has been all but forgotten despite her importance in history and classical music. This fact is well-integrated with the plot and insightfully handled. Overall, I'm very pleased with this book and look forward to trying more of Marie Lu's work.