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Nicolas Michaud, the prodigy composer and pianist, grew up apart from the world. A mother who neglected him, and a father who never met him. But when he's suddenly orphaned, Nicolas is taken from his comfortable home and thrown into a life where no one understands him. Consumed by his desire to find the perfect musician for his Magnum Opus, he turns away from human relationships, and it turns him cold. Taking a job at the University in the United States, Nicolas is met with disappointment and regret.
Until he meets Cedric Blum, a young chemical engineering student with a secret talent for music like Nicolas has never seen. But Cedric has his own past to overcome. With the help of an old friend, and new relationships, the pair begin their journey toward love, life, and the Magnum Opus.
In the end, will Cedric's happy nature thaw Nicolas' icy exterior, or will Nicolas find himself consumed by his fear of love?
My Rating - 5 Stars!
This is an emotional rollercoaster, so be prepared for a lot of heavy and hard to read content.
We first meet Nicolas and Cedric when they're kids. We learn about their tragic upbringings and all the hardships they face.
Nicholas's childhood is awful with his mother and then he ends up an orphan. Sent to live with his rich and powerful half brother, money is never an issue. But love, or the lack there of, certainly is. He turns himself fully to his music, never learning how to be personable; never caring about anyone.
Cedric is left orphaned at birth. Taken in by a couple who end up traumatizing him in the end certainly shapes who he is. One father loves him, but caters to his abusive husband. That abusive father leaves him feeling unloved, unworthy, and in denial of his sexuality. Worst of all, he's told over and over that he's broken because he's blind.
Fast forward to when they meet years later as adults.
This is a story of music. Two gifted pianists with different paths. One is a world renowned musician, but his life is lacking, as all his energy is devoted to finding someone capable of playing his great piece with him. The other is stripped of his natural born gift to play, as his father doesn't want music to make him gay.
One of the most interesting aspects of this story is the powerful effect of internalized homophobia by Cedric's father. He himself is gay, but will spend all his energy making sure that his son is not. Crazy and sad, but definitely not far fetched.
The music aspect is well written. It's hard to make a reader feel the music, but somehow the author does just that. It's impressive. No, I don't have a strong music background, but I definitely love how it's written.
These two are fated. Destiny has plans for them. It's a long road to get there, but in the end, they are certainly meant for one another. Their journey is paved with conflict, homophobia, tragedy, and abuse. Of course, it's also paved with a strong attraction and profound connection.
I'm seriously blown away by this book. Written in alternating pov, both men fully come alive. The seriousness of this story is felt throughout. The men and the heaviness of their lives, jumps off the pages throughout. And the storyline is truly amazing. The author waits a long time for these men to meet. That isn't typical in a romance, but it is definitely done for a good reason. These men and their lives have lead them to someday meet. The author needs to build up who they are and what got them to the place where they met. Without that background, there is no story.
Verismo is a beautiful story. EM Lindsey left me heartbroken and stunned by these men and their harrowing journey.
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