“Love is the bridge that spans the world above and below, and keeps the wheel of life turning.”

I’ve actually been thinking about how to review this book since I finished reading it almost a week ago and I still have no idea. It’s clearly inspired by the movie Labyrinth (the author says as much) as well as other myths and legends that most of us are at least somewhat familiar with. I’m not an expert on any of these subjects and I haven’t seen Labyrinth in a long time (I tried recently but I couldn’t) so I don’t know if someone who is more familiar with these stories would have a harder time enjoying the book.

Emotionally, I loved this novel. Objectively, I think it needed further editing and it could have benefitted from dropping the YA label and going all in on darker and more adult aspects of the story.  Still, I’m very glad I read it and I have recommended it to a few friends who I know will enjoy it as much as I did. I thought the writing was beautiful, particularly the passages about music and composition, but sometimes it was a bit much. I know it sounds like I’m contradicting myself but that’s the only way I can explain it.

As a child, Liesl used to play in the forest with the Goblin King. As she grew older and had to take on more responsibilities, she forgot all about him and the games they played. At 19, Liesl is a young woman who has forgotten her dreams. She helps her parents run their inn and dedicates her life to her young brother, Joseph, a gifted violin player. But Liesl has a secret that only Joseph knows: despite not receiving the same musical education as her brother and even though her father has dismissed her efforts, Liesl has continued to write music.

Full review here.