The Dawn in Moscow

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[More info about my review style can be found on my profile]

▶Summary and recommendation: -----------------------------------------------------------------
An engrossing story that focuses on the premise of Isekai. The fact that you are dying, and waking up in a new body. This story does not ignore that miracle event like most Isekai do.

It focuses on the inner conflict that comes from dying and stealing another person's body and accepting the limitations and new opportunities that come with a new life.
I recommend this manhwa to newcomers and genre fans alike.

▶Story: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
❗Music is the central theme of the manhwa, yet I lack the academic knowledge to fairly judge it, so ... I will judge the rest of the manhwa assuming the music part of it was flawlessly executed.

The manhwa is set in Russia, so it might also be prudent to mention that current day conflict and politics never come up in any form in the story.

After a quick introduction of his life as a pianist before the Isekai, [The Dawn in Moscow] jumps straight to setting up the relevant side characters in his new life. All of which are very much the peers of the main character. Assuring that the protagonist does not get to live his second life on easy mode. It never becomes a power fantasy or an escapism story.

The main character finds himself in a life very different from the one he used to live; He (now she) has to balance her new social life with her classmates, her family and academics. All while trying to not lose her connection to her old life.
Her solution is the Piano. Meanwhile other supporting characters have their own suggestions on how to solve her inner conflicts. All of which come across as reasonable and plausible answers.
Grief, loss, self actualization, lonliness and depression are themes that Isekai rarely (if ever) dare to tackle. [The Dawn in Moscow] manages to portray these struggles fairly well. With a few hickups along the way*.

▶Characters: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a story that focuses on the mental struggles that comes with dying, the story needs a protagonist who reacts to these things in a natural manner, and the author writes that well.
Side characters can come off as a bit aloof at times, but they are all well written and go through their own character development.

▶Romance: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There are hints of romance, but as of writing, that has not been a focus

▶Artwork: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The artwork is a bit disappointing. Being quite simplistic and often failing to live up to the story it is portraying. The characters also look quite different from how they were portrayed in the light novel. Though if that is a good or bad thing is down to personal taste.

Note: *As of writing, the manhwa is on hiatus, and it has not reached the climax of season 2 yet. The biggest questions and conflicts lay unsolved and it is not clear if the story will actually find a solution, or just skip it. If the story gets back on track, and reaches a conclusion, I will increase my score by 1.

This is a great manhwa but i must admit, I wouldn't have rated it 10/10 if it werent for the fact that the main character's struggles about forgetting who they are didn't personally resonate with my struggles. I would still rate it high, about maybe an 8, or 9, but i can't bring myself to because of how it impacted me. The dedication by the author of researching classical music, and it even got me listening to some new pieces I haven't heard before. The story behind the piece Tatiana plays after waking up (Rachmaninoff's The Bells, and its relationship to Rachmaninoff's Prelude Op. 3 ... No. 2 specifically is beautiful, and it isn't explicitly explained, so i would reccomend looking into that after reading the beginning) The characterization varies from character to character. I think that some are well done, and some don't seem to be as well done, but most of them dont get as much screen time, so it's pretty hard to judge. I think the art looks great, but I don't think it's anything too special. Overall, great story, and great dedication to classical music.