“The author approaches her material with a steady and experienced hand. It is a lengthy novel, but its span is justified. Papaliou’s decision not to skimp on the rich, textural details that enliven the protagonist’s world attests to her acumen as a writer. This is, indeed, one of the novel’s greatest strengths: the description of spaces and situations that thoroughly immerse the reader in the soloist’s claustrophobic and anxiety-ridden horizons. We learn about the ins-and-outs of the music market, as well as the role of the dealers and luthiers charged with the care of extraordinarily rare and expensive instruments, and observe music classes that are never too heavy on the technical detail yet also resistant to oversimplification or platitude. Additionally, the way the novel touches on hot button contemporary issues is both discerning and provocative: the rampant self-promotion and narcissism inherent in social media; the extremes of political correctness; the way the arts have exploited migrant crises. It is this rich narrative weave that draws the reader into the increasingly familiar world of the story and sets its rhythms: at times languorous, at times brisk, in descriptive or explanatory bursts that imbue the prose with a sense of musicality.” Α. Zographakis, Istos