Richard, a talented young pianist, sets off for the Wexford Conservatory of Music. Between lessons with his exacting teacher and fun times with two fellow musicians named Emily and Sandra, he discovers that music, friendship and love can lead to passions never imagined. Supported by a cast of characters pulled straight out of the music world, these three aspiring performers find that the life of a musician is that of extremes: formidably challenging, and exceptionally rewarding. Edited by pcb
Size: 1579 KB (285,468 words)
Genre: Romantic
Sex Contents: Some Sex
Tags: Ma/Fa, Fa/Fa, Mult, Teenagers, Consensual, Romantic, Heterosexual, Fiction, Humor, School, Polygamy/Polyamory, Anal Sex, Exhibitionism, Oral Sex, Petting, Voyeurism, Public Sex, Caution, Slow
Review by manddscott [other reviews by manddscott]
Reviewed:
Someone who read several of my reviews recommended this story to me. Ironically, I was already in the middle of reading it already.
So many people accept that we each have only one soulmate. What if, instead, there is a group of people who we are compatible with. This story follows three such people, along with others on the periphery, through their first year of post high school education at a school similar to Juilliard.
For plot, I give this an outstanding score of 10. The author does a great job of filling in the back story of the characters, sometimes via flashbacks and other times through recounting of events. In the end, he ties up the loose threads that often leave a reader wondering.
For Technical score, I give it an A+ (9). There are just enough small errors to bring the score down.
For appeal, I give it another 10. The story had a great mix of romance, tragedy, love, loss, hope and despair. Mix in a life lesson or two and it makes an excellent read.
Review by ethalsar [other reviews by ethalsar]
Reviewed:
There are a few stories I come back to from time to time. I've just done that - and read Opus One over a couple of days. What a journey.
You could summarize this as a coming-of-age tale based in a music conservatory, focused on three first-year students in a three-way relationship - with some spicy bits, oh yes - with some tragedy and comedy thrown in. Sure. But to do so would be to really diminish what Ryan Sylander achieves in this remarkable tale.
You don't have to love or know classical music to appreciate this story - Sylander gives you enough to get through the technicalities and live the meaning of the music as it flows through and surrounds this wonderful story. I'm sure knowing the music and having as intimate a relationship with it as the author does would help, but if like you me only have a passing knowledge of the material, he carries you along effortlessly, and I found that all the while I was more and more imbued with a passion for the music. In the end, I wandered over to Youtube and put a long classical playlist on to accompany the story!
The relationship between the three protagonists is established very early on, and perhaps it's a bit easy for them. Some initial tentative fumblings, but if I have a critique of this story, it's that the threesome seems too easy for them. It's a trifling critique, though, as the story is about so much more than their relationships with each other - there's a rich network of other relationships with family, teachers, friends; Sylander paints a rich landscape of these connections and you end up seeing the best in everyone.
I cannot recommend this story highly enough. One of my top few on this site.
Review by Bobster [other reviews by Bobster]
Reviewed:
I had to wait an hour after finishing Opus One before my hands were steady enough to write. And this was my second time reading the story. I truly find myself at a loss for words to describe this story.
So I will use two, directed at the author: Please...More!
If there is justice in the world, there will be an Opus Two!
I have zero, nada, zilch, musical talent, and at my age no hope of suddenly developing any. However, this story made me yearn for music!
Ryan's' depiction of soul mates in this story rang so true, as Richard, Emily, and Sandra fell deeper in love, they grew in their music. As they experienced joint and individual joys, sorrows, loss, and most importantly, love. They and we the readers, were there to share it all.
The story will take you the incredible highs of joy, and some of the lowest valley's of sorrow. Counterpoint in life! Don't miss it, not one measure, not one act, not one note. Listen to it, feel it, live it!
Review by Andrew Johns [other reviews by Andrew Johns]
Reviewed:
This story has been reviewed at the request of the author.
In "Opus One", we have the story of three college freshman who are enrolled at a famous music school that meet and form a friendship that grows. How does their first year go? Read along and find out.
The sex in the story is done with a nice build-up for the first encounter, and after that the encounters can be quite hot at times. Other times, they aren't as stroke worthy. Every act was in the telling of the tale, so they all fit perfectly. Don't read this one for stroke, but enjoy the sex that is described along the way.
The plot itself is very well done. The three main characters come across the screen with clarity. The author obviously knows quite a bit about music and theory, and it comes out well to almost the point of being too much. The key word being almost.
Technically, I noticed two minor typos in the whole story, which considering its epic length, is negligible.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The pacing was quite good, the characters felt right, and it was a fun read. I'm looking forward to the next school year!
Review by Threesheets [other reviews by Threesheets]
Reviewed:
Opus One, as the name implies is about music.
Music of the heart and music of the mind. While the story is fairly predictable, it's still a nice romantic ride. Yes there is disappointment and just a little bit of drama. For the most part it is a romantic love story about three young musicians. Who would have thought that three teens would love classical music instead of the garbage that is called music now days?
This story is not only about the music, it's about the side bars of life. Each has their own issues to deal with. They do this not only singly but as a triad.
No there are now down and dirty sex scenes but some moments of erotica where your mind must fill in the blanks.
Listen to the music that is written, practiced and performed in this concert of romance.
FD 2 hankie.
