Publishers Weekly reviewed Sonata Mulattica as "a heterogeneous profusion of short poems, some almost prosy, some glittering in their technique" and "...those who loved her early work may think this book too long: few, though, will doubt the seriousness of her effort, her interest at once in the history of classical music and the changing meanings of race."

The New York Times quotes Africlassical.com creator William Zwick who says "Dove does a wonderful job of humanizing the story"[11] The New Yorker said, "[...] stuffed with historical and musical arcana.

Dove is fascinated by Bridgetower's life as a black musician and occasionally implies parallels with the world of jazz and rap, but the issue of race does not predominate.

"[15] Jillian Wilson, a poet and professor at Kent State University, says that Dove did particularly well with converting all of the history in this book and adding her own twist to it.

[16] Sonata Mulattica is being produced as a documentary film by Spark Media,[17] Stone Soup Productions, and the Fetzer Institute.