As the title states, this book blends romance (not the swoony, cosy type) and music into a gripping narrative that will have you on the edge of your seat. I was on the edge of mine when I started to read this book. This is my first time reading this author and now, I want to devour all her other books.
Dark Notes is dark romance that captures the depth of passion and the pains of brutal past with the complex melodies of human emotion and reality. The story centers around a seventeen-year-old piano virtuoso, Ivory Westbrook, who attends a prestigious school for gifted students.
She's poor and on scholarship and determined to graduate as the best so she could get admission into the Leopold Conservatory of New York. This affords her the chance to leave her town, horrible home and brutal past behind. But she needs a letter of recommendation and the new handsome and notorious painist, Emeric Marceaux, is the only one who can write this letter for her. There are whispers and rumours about him circulating in the school and Ivory doesn't want anything to smear her name or rob her of the scholarship into Leopold.
When Emeric sees Ivory for the first time walking into his classroom, he's blown away. He tries to keep their relationship platonic but as he learns of her background, music ambition and past abuse, he wants to be her saviour. But they must walk the forbidden line to save each other.
Genres: Dark Romance, Fiction
Publication: April 2016
Pages: 493
Told from dual POV, this book is an addictive read that pulls you in from start to finish. The plot is compelling—a forbidden love story between a teacher and his beautiful, gifted student. The author vividly captures what it's like to have ambition and try to pursue it while navigating a toxic home life and abuse at school. She portrays the FMC, Ivory Westbrook's struggles in a light that resonates with many readers.
This book is filled with good tension, suspense and some action-packed moments. The forbidden/taboo relationship adds a spicy edge but what I appreciate the most is that Dark Notes isn't one of those novels filled with steamy scenes as though that's all a reader cares about in a story. Beneath the romance and spice, is an interesting, realistic plot that grips and grounds you at the same time.
The strength of this book lies in its characters. The two leads: Emeric Marceaux and Ivory Westbrook are captivating. This author portrays them as people with heartbreaking pasts that make readers want to root for them. Emeric is the acclaimed painist and teacher, handsome, elusive and entitled due to his wealthy background. Ivory is the naive yet resilient student who gives up so much so she can be the best in the music field. Together, their relationship is taboo (teacher-student) but their chemistry is sizzling and makes their connection worthwhile.
As I stare at her, I realize with startling clarity she doesn’t need me to slay her past. She’s already lived it and came out the other side with more fortitude than any person I know.
Their development through each chapter is remarkable and I easily connected with these characters. Their personalities are layered because of their past and present. There are a few flashbacks that sheds light on their past and it doesn't disrupt the smooth flow of the narration. I like how the author shows us how their actions, thoughts and emotions are influenced by music. This adds to their depth, making this story captivating.
Though it's marketed as dark romance, I feel it's like a mild version of it. Dark Notes skates the surface of dark romance. It's not soft yet it's not scarily dark, just in-between enough for most readers especially those who can't stand books with darker themes.
Rating this book, I'll give it 4 stars out of 5. The story is well written and the blend of music into the plot makes it more satisfying.
All images above are from my E-library
Header images compiled in Canva.
Note: Excerpts are from the book
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