"For fans of My Brilliant Friend and Mexican Gothic, Julia Fine's Maddalena and the Dark is a novel set in 18th-century Venice at a prestigious music school, about two girls drawn together by a dangerous wager..."--Provided by publisher.

Andrew Neyman is an ambitious young jazz drummer, single-minded in his pursuit to rise to the top of his elite east coast music conservatory. Plagued by the failed writing career of his father, Andrew hungers day and night to become one of the greats. Terence Fletcher, an instructor equally known for his teaching talents as for his terrifying methods, leads the top jazz ensemble in the school. Fletcher discovers Andrew and transfers the aspiring drummer...

Toby is an eccentric, pot-smoking Manhattan ballet instructor whose quiet life is interrupted by the arrival of a young couple from Seattle, presumably there to interview him about his colorful life as a dancer in the 1960's. As Tobi spins salacious tales from his former career, an ulterior motive for the couple's visit emerges, forcing the trio to confront a secret that may connect them all. Driven by Stewart's tour-de-force performance, it moves...

"Things are finally looking up for Amelia Jones: she's officially a Mystwick student, and she even has a teacher to help her learn how to use her rare Composing magic. When Mystwick enters an international magic competition, it’s Amelia's chance to Compose something that will help them win the day. The only problem is that she still doesn’t understand how her powers work. But then she hears about a super exclusive Midnight Orchestra—half performance,...