Ava Read About Violins and Candy ~ Composer Anonymous

Welcome to the twenty-fifth century *curtseys*

Have you ever happened across a gem of a book and wondered why you’ve never heard of it before?? This exact situation has just foisted itself upon me. Thus, I’m trying to remedy the situash by thrusting a book at you all and hoping you’ll at least investigate it.

No actually, the very least would be merely marveling at the cover. Here it is ⬇️

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✨ The future has revived the past-but all that glitters is not gold. ✨

In the 25th century, society thrives in a Victorian Renaissance, where polished manners mask political unrest and genetic perfection is the new standard.

Colin, a struggling musician with two obnoxious stepbrothers and a dismissive stepfather, is the only autistic human known to be born in this era. His very existence is an anomaly-and a problem.

Princess Katrin, hailed as the ideal of engineered humanity, is drowning in palace drama and public scrutiny. But behind the glittering image lies a relentless pursuit-and a dangerous secret. When she stumbles upon the darker truths of her government, the key to exposing it all may lie with the elusive “Composer Anonymous” she met on her birthday.

A musician without a future. A princess without a voice. And a society built on buried truth.

Can two rebels rewrite the future before it silences them both?

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🍭Bookish Huzzahs🍭

• the setting is immaculate. Like the blurb says, it’s set in the future (the year 2437, to be exact), but they’ve become obsessed with all things Renaissance. It’s the glory and glitter of the past combined with the vision and wonder about the future and I just adore it.
• The romance!!! *dies of cuteness* it wasn’t overt and in your face, it truly wasn’t the entire point of the book. It was very tastefully done as well.
• Autism and neurodivergence were addressed here and honestly I’ve never really seen that done before (in a fantasy novel, no less).
• can we please talk about that cover. Scroll back up and gaze upon it for a minute or two. It’s so dreamy and delicious and delightful!!
• The Christian content was also tastefully done (at least, I thought so). It wasn’t an outright unbeliever-sees-the-error-of-her-ways-and-changes arc, but a girl with questions searches for them and doesn’t necessarily get them all answered to her satisfaction.
• VIOLINS?!? CELLO?!? HELLO THE DUKE OF ISLINGTON AND QUINCY ST. CLAIRE CALLED AND THEY’RE HAPPY FOR THE REPRESENTATION.
• A main character who isn’t blindingly and brilliantly talented?!? Such reality y’all; sign me up.
• they’re just so cuteeeee
• The dress and palace descriptions made me ache for a time that I’ve never visited 🥺
• Oh oh ohhh did I mention that this is a gender-swapped Cinderella retelling?!? You can see the ties to the original, but it did it in a way that didn’t rely too heavily on it. Composer Anonymous can stand on its own two feet *nod nod*
• the naming and inspiration of Colin’s compositions gave me great pleasure. Yes, please create an opera based on candy. Yes, I beg you to name these compositions slightly unhinged things. Yes, I’ve been waiting my entire life for a song about the rain. Pray continue.

💧Bookish Alases💧

• I got the twin step-brothers confused because, well, they’re twins. And they’re mean. They had identical personalities until they dIDN’T. And I missed that transformation because I couldn’t tell them apart 😭
• Why…why exactly is swimming the Labyrinth such a thing?? That doesn’t exactly scream Renaissance (or high-tech) to me.
• I fully expected Colin’s family to find his VR technology from Katrin and accuse him of unfounded nonsense, but this never happened and for some reason I feel robbed.
• It was written in first person, present tense, and usually that doesn’t bother me, but it grated a bit this time around. I could have coped with the first person POV, but ouch that present tense stung.

Coda

Truly, this book was so gorgeous, inside and out. I have no idea why I’ve never heard of it before. A book this delightful should be spoken of and foisted upon people and fanart should be made and mock compositions should be composed and *takes deep breath*

Go read. Please.

Always,

Ava 🎻