Review: A Mystical Composition
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 10, 2014
Mayra Calvani’s “The Luthier’s Apprentice” is an imaginative short novel composed of elements diverse enough to appeal to a variety of readers. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Emma Braun discovers that her beloved violin teacher, Monsieur Dupriez, has disappeared, as have several other violinists around the world. Determined to emulate her favorite literary hero, Sherlock Holmes, she sets about investigating, forming new alliances and uncovering centuries-old secrets about her family’s luthier craft and her aloof grandfather, to whom she is apprenticed. Suddenly the strange feelings she has been experiencing and the puzzles associated with her heritage begin to become startlingly clear, thrusting Emma into a bizarre realm in which all that she loves becomes endangered.A mixture of paranormal fantasy and science fiction with a light romantic element, “The Luthier’s Apprentice” provides enough excitement and mystique to engage readers without being overtly frightening, and fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate the myriad quotations that Calvani employs. Given the characters and simple yet descriptive writing, the target audience is young adult, although older readers will enjoy this story as well. A slight caveat: there are a few instances of mild profanity during some of the more tense scenes, and Italian phrases and terms are scattered throughout the story, although with either an immediate translation or sufficient context clues to figure out the meaning. Short chapters keep the action moving at a steady pace so that there are no lulls, and the story does come to a logical conclusion, although Calvani cunningly leaves the door (or should I say portal?) open for a sequel.