ARC Review: "The Musician and the Monster" by Megan Van Dyke ★★★★★
ARC Review: The Musician and the Monster by Megan Van Dyke
The tale of Beauty and the Beast meets The Phantom of the Opera with a touch of Bridgerton in this gorgeous gothic romance retelling filled with magic, monsters and mystery as well as family, grief, love, hope and revenge.Not all monsters crept through the night, baring their fangs and claws for all to see.[Contains some spoilers]
PLOT SUMMARY
In the city of Teneboure at the edge of the kingdom of Castamar, Ceridwen Kinsley is a flutist struggling to provide for her once-prosperous-now-destitute family. When a thief is murdered by a monstrous beast right in front of her and she lives to tell the tale, she becomes the talk of the town.
This attracts the attention of Drystan Winterbourne, Lord Protector of Teneboure, a Goddess-blessed man – meaning he has been gifted magical powers by the Goddess herself, used for strength and protection – who nobody knows much of as he keeps to himself. He offers Ceridwen a proposition she cannot refuse: she stays with and plays music for him at his manor and he will compensate handsomely for her services by providing her family money for their depts.
At Drystan’s grand yet rather empty manor, Ceridwen starts to develop feelings yet unravel dark secrets about its master. He is meant to be assigned to keep watch over the city, keeping the monster at bay. But what if the monster is closer than she realises? And what if it relates to the mysterious untimely death of her mother?
This is a dual-POV historical fantasy, told from the point of view of Ceridwen and Drystan.
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| Drystan and Ceridwen illustration by @lulybot |
OVERALL OPINIONS
Megan Van Dyke has done it again! Just as everyone was mesmerised by Ceridwen’s music, so too was I beguiled by Megan’s story. She has such a way with words and storytelling that touches the heart and clings to the soul. There were many funny moments but many realistic depictions of family and dealing with grief.
This is the second book I have read of hers, the first being Captive of the Stolen Empire. I was obsessed with her previous release, so I had a feeling I would enjoy this one. I was not wrong. I must say I still prefer CotSE more because of its uniqueness and surplus of action, but considering this story is a part of her Reimagined Fairytale series, it ticks all the boxes where this is concerned.
This is the first book in The Castamar Duology. I cannot wait to see what happens next! I assume it will go in the direction of Bronwyn and Malik.
I had not encountered the term “gaslamp fantasy” before but it is a subgenre of fantasy and historical fiction set in that of the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian eras, hence the gas lamp allusion. It also draws upon gothic tropes.
Megan Van Dyke has done it again! Just as everyone was mesmerised by Ceridwen’s music, so too was I beguiled by Megan’s story. She has such a way with words and storytelling that touches the heart and clings to the soul. There were many funny moments but many realistic depictions of family and dealing with grief.
This is the second book I have read of hers, the first being Captive of the Stolen Empire. I was obsessed with her previous release, so I had a feeling I would enjoy this one. I was not wrong. I must say I still prefer CotSE more because of its uniqueness and surplus of action, but considering this story is a part of her Reimagined Fairytale series, it ticks all the boxes where this is concerned.
This is the first book in The Castamar Duology. I cannot wait to see what happens next! I assume it will go in the direction of Bronwyn and Malik.
I had not encountered the term “gaslamp fantasy” before but it is a subgenre of fantasy and historical fiction set in that of the Regency, Victorian or Edwardian eras, hence the gas lamp allusion. It also draws upon gothic tropes.
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| Beauty and the Beast (2014) |
The Writing
You can tell a lot of effort went into this, and the writing itself is very clever. Take the names, for example:
🠚 Ceridwen and Drystan are Welsh names, meaning “fair” (aka “beauty”, Belle) and “full of sorrow” respectively.
🠚 Drystan’s cousin is called Malik which means "ruler/king" in Arabic.
It just adds a whole other layer to the characters and they are really fitting names! Especially for Malik: whose side is he on? What is his goal?
🠚 The name of the city Teneboure is inspired by the Latin word “Tenebrae” meaning darkness.
Positives
🠚 There were so many moments within this book that I loved. To name a few: Drystan smiling at Ceridwen when she reacts to the first snow falling, him scrubbing up for the first snow dinner, the balcony scene, the “good girl” moment ahh, and the masquerade ball. The funniest scene has to be when Ceridwen invites both Drystan and Malik to her chambers haha.
🠚 There was a good amount of characterisation and buildup of tension from the get-go. The mysteries and questions just kept coming.
🠚 Ceridwen and her sister Bronwyn’s bond is the sweetest and healthiest thing! They have my heart. Loved every scene with the two of them.
🠚 The fact this is part of a series of books but can be read as a standalone is always a bonus for me.
🠚 I adore the rose chapter heading design! Of course, very appropriate.
Negatives
Perhaps if Goodreads allowed .5 ratings I would make this 4.5/5 but I did really enjoy it. The reason why I say this is the following:
🠚 Some of the plot felt too easy, especially the climax of the book. Everything goes to plan, everyone is fine and if not fully then they recover quickly after. I myself would have liked a scene equivalent to the Beast lying injured on the verge of death and Belle saving him by breaking the spell. Nothing much happens at times but that is due to the limitation of locations, I think.
🠚 I thought there would be more about her flute powers too, potentially that she possessed light magic.
🠚 Most of this was predictable, though I would not necessarily say it is completely a bad thing. You still are guessing at some moments, especially when it comes to Malik. As I have previously said, the whole point is this is a retelling so there will be some differences but not to the overall plot structure.
🠚 I like slowburns but I felt this was really slowburn
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Ceridwen꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I love her! I love her to bits. She makes a change from the usual strong female characters portrayed today (more like Bronwyn’s character) because while she can be strong and speaks her mind when she feels she must, ultimately she is quiet and reserved. I relate to this personally, as I’m a relatively quiet person who likes to keep to myself, and much rather prefers “music and plants to parties and gossip”. The nature of her character makes so much sense, being an outsider with a dark past.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Drystan꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ He is everything! He deserves the world more than he thinks he does. He is so interesting I loved whenever the reader is told anything from his point of view. ALSO, HE PUTS HIS COAT AROUND HER IN THE COLD. That’s a green flag right there!
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
🠚 Malik is such a complex man. I liked his aloofness yet gradual charm. By the end of the book, I liked him almost as much as Drystan!
🠚 Bronwyn is the best. She always says what she thinks, but is very caring. Just like me.
🠚 Adair, Ceridwen’s brother, is understandable with his temper. Glad he eventually calms down and helps them.
🠚 Jackoby, Kent and Gwen are so lovely. I would have liked to have seen them at the end of the story.
“Music says things words never can.This opening line alone really intrigued me and set the scene of the story. Here, just about all the themes within this story are mentioned: music, love, loss and mystery respectively. Who killed who and why? What happened? Then you are thrown straight into the action with the thief and the introduction of the beast who, of course, is a very important character. It is a page-turner the moment one picks up the book!
I love you. I miss you. I'm sorry I killed you.”
You can tell a lot of effort went into this, and the writing itself is very clever. Take the names, for example:
🠚 Ceridwen and Drystan are Welsh names, meaning “fair” (aka “beauty”, Belle) and “full of sorrow” respectively.
🠚 Drystan’s cousin is called Malik which means "ruler/king" in Arabic.
It just adds a whole other layer to the characters and they are really fitting names! Especially for Malik: whose side is he on? What is his goal?
🠚 The name of the city Teneboure is inspired by the Latin word “Tenebrae” meaning darkness.
Positives
🠚 There were so many moments within this book that I loved. To name a few: Drystan smiling at Ceridwen when she reacts to the first snow falling, him scrubbing up for the first snow dinner, the balcony scene, the “good girl” moment ahh, and the masquerade ball. The funniest scene has to be when Ceridwen invites both Drystan and Malik to her chambers haha.
🠚 There was a good amount of characterisation and buildup of tension from the get-go. The mysteries and questions just kept coming.
🠚 Ceridwen and her sister Bronwyn’s bond is the sweetest and healthiest thing! They have my heart. Loved every scene with the two of them.
🠚 The fact this is part of a series of books but can be read as a standalone is always a bonus for me.
🠚 I adore the rose chapter heading design! Of course, very appropriate.
Negatives
Perhaps if Goodreads allowed .5 ratings I would make this 4.5/5 but I did really enjoy it. The reason why I say this is the following:
🠚 Some of the plot felt too easy, especially the climax of the book. Everything goes to plan, everyone is fine and if not fully then they recover quickly after. I myself would have liked a scene equivalent to the Beast lying injured on the verge of death and Belle saving him by breaking the spell. Nothing much happens at times but that is due to the limitation of locations, I think.
🠚 I thought there would be more about her flute powers too, potentially that she possessed light magic.
🠚 Most of this was predictable, though I would not necessarily say it is completely a bad thing. You still are guessing at some moments, especially when it comes to Malik. As I have previously said, the whole point is this is a retelling so there will be some differences but not to the overall plot structure.
🠚 I like slowburns but I felt this was really slowburn
CHARACTERS
-ˋˏ ꒰ Ceridwen꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ I love her! I love her to bits. She makes a change from the usual strong female characters portrayed today (more like Bronwyn’s character) because while she can be strong and speaks her mind when she feels she must, ultimately she is quiet and reserved. I relate to this personally, as I’m a relatively quiet person who likes to keep to myself, and much rather prefers “music and plants to parties and gossip”. The nature of her character makes so much sense, being an outsider with a dark past.
-ˋˏ ꒰ Drystan꒱ ˎˊ-
↳ He is everything! He deserves the world more than he thinks he does. He is so interesting I loved whenever the reader is told anything from his point of view. ALSO, HE PUTS HIS COAT AROUND HER IN THE COLD. That’s a green flag right there!
-ˋˏ ꒰ Other characters꒱ ˎˊ-
🠚 Malik is such a complex man. I liked his aloofness yet gradual charm. By the end of the book, I liked him almost as much as Drystan!
🠚 Bronwyn is the best. She always says what she thinks, but is very caring. Just like me.
🠚 Adair, Ceridwen’s brother, is understandable with his temper. Glad he eventually calms down and helps them.
🠚 Jackoby, Kent and Gwen are so lovely. I would have liked to have seen them at the end of the story.
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| The Phantom of the Opera (2004) |
INSPIRATION
There are many parallels.
Beauty and the Beast
• Cursed to become a beast (due to turning to dark magic gifted by the Goddess / due to spell by Enchantress)
• Keeps main character in his estate
The Phantom of the Opera
• Love interest obsessed with and would listen to main character’s musical abilities for a while (Drystan would hear Ceridwen playing her flute in the late hours for a while / the Phantom would hear Christine Daaé singing for years and becomes her “Angel of Music”, tutoring her)
• Features an opera house (Grand Opera / Palais Garnier Opera House)
• Love interest watches to main character’s performance from high up
• Love interest visits main character through the mirror
• Masquerade ball
Bridgerton
• People have a love of gossiping and reporting scandals
• Brother demands a duel with main character’s love interest after finding them in a compromising position (Adair desiring to duel with Drystan / Anthony Bridgerton desiring to duel with Simon Bassett)
FAV QUOTES
• What would be the focus of their stories later? The monster who stalked the night, or the odd country girl who saw it?
• Clear blue eyes stared into her as she reached for the depths of his spirit, trying to see beneath the unkempt noble in front of her. Yet all she found were walls, high ones covered in thorns and impossible to breach.
• The candlesticks on the table flickered and wavered more than she did.
• “I am not your pet, nor anyone’s.”
• Their conversation was as strategic and important as a battle waged during a war.
• Dark and light. Predator and song bird.
• Guilt was a wicked burden on both of their hearts.
• “Will you ever be able to see me as a man and not a monster?”
“I see only you.”
• She was so much more than a monster like him deserved, yet he’d been unable to stop yearning for that light, for the beauty of her spirit that shone through in her songs and smiles.
• His scars told a story with as much heart and emotion as any song. Some marked his fall, others his suffering, yet the newer ones paved his path to vengeance.
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I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Megan Van Dyke for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
There are many parallels.
Beauty and the Beast
• Cursed to become a beast (due to turning to dark magic gifted by the Goddess / due to spell by Enchantress)
• Keeps main character in his estate
The Phantom of the Opera
• Love interest obsessed with and would listen to main character’s musical abilities for a while (Drystan would hear Ceridwen playing her flute in the late hours for a while / the Phantom would hear Christine Daaé singing for years and becomes her “Angel of Music”, tutoring her)
• Features an opera house (Grand Opera / Palais Garnier Opera House)
• Love interest watches to main character’s performance from high up
• Love interest visits main character through the mirror
• Masquerade ball
Bridgerton
• People have a love of gossiping and reporting scandals
• Brother demands a duel with main character’s love interest after finding them in a compromising position (Adair desiring to duel with Drystan / Anthony Bridgerton desiring to duel with Simon Bassett)
FAV QUOTES
• What would be the focus of their stories later? The monster who stalked the night, or the odd country girl who saw it?
• Clear blue eyes stared into her as she reached for the depths of his spirit, trying to see beneath the unkempt noble in front of her. Yet all she found were walls, high ones covered in thorns and impossible to breach.
• The candlesticks on the table flickered and wavered more than she did.
• “I am not your pet, nor anyone’s.”
• Their conversation was as strategic and important as a battle waged during a war.
• Dark and light. Predator and song bird.
• Guilt was a wicked burden on both of their hearts.
• “Will you ever be able to see me as a man and not a monster?”
“I see only you.”
• She was so much more than a monster like him deserved, yet he’d been unable to stop yearning for that light, for the beauty of her spirit that shone through in her songs and smiles.
• His scars told a story with as much heart and emotion as any song. Some marked his fall, others his suffering, yet the newer ones paved his path to vengeance.
@saqphirc ♬ original sound - Sophie 💠
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Megan Van Dyke for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
Lovely review, Sophie. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
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