Phantom
by Greer Rivers
A dark romance retelling inspired by the musical classic The Phantom of the Opera. The story blends forbidden love, obsession, and masked men, creating a suspenseful and emotional entry point into the genre.
About This Book
In the sultry streets of New Orleans, Scarlett Day, a gifted music student, grapples with her mental health while pursuing her passion for opera. Her life takes a tumultuous turn when she becomes the object of Sol Bordeaux's intense obsession. Sol, a reclusive figure shrouded in mystery, watches over Scarlett from the shadows, leaving her cryptic notes and haunting melodies that blur the lines between reality and illusion.
As Scarlett's performances ascend, the tension between her and Sol deepens, intertwining their fates in a dance of desire and danger. The undercurrents of their connection are further complicated by the longstanding animosity between their families, threatening to engulf them in a web of betrayal and violence. Scarlett's struggle with her own mental health adds layers of complexity to their relationship, challenging her perceptions and decisions.
"Phantom" is a dark, modern retelling of the classic "The Phantom of the Opera," set against the backdrop of New Orleans' vibrant yet shadowy atmosphere. The narrative delves into themes of forbidden love, obsession, and the blurred boundaries between reality and illusion, creating a suspenseful and emotionally charged journey for the characters.
What Readers Say
Many readers appreciate the dark, gothic atmosphere blended with mafia elements. Fans praise the author's portrayal of mental health struggles, particularly bipolar disorder. Some readers find the repetitive use of certain phrases, like 'sing for me,' distracting. Content warnings include mental illness, sexual content, and violence; reader discretion is advised. Ideal for fans of dark romance and modern retellings of classic tales.
Reader Reviews
6 curated reviewsElly Morgan
Mar 19, 2006
A wonderful masterpiece
I adored this book. I came to it with some reservations as a Leroux fan, but those reservations were blown away after the first page and I was literally sucked in to this amazing story by the sheer power of the writing. What a magnificent writer Ms Kay is and how beautifully she carries off her daring project to give us the life story of such a famous fictional character. She must have known it had to be darned good or she would have been shot down in flames by such a huge fan base and yet she pulls it off. With it's lyrical prose, first class characterization and fast moving plot, it justly d
Anonymous Reader
Oct 12, 1996
Breathtaking... amazing...heartbreaking!
I simply cannot imagine the story of the Phantom having happened any other way after reading this novel! Susan Kay is brilliant. Erik comes alive in her text, more human than ever before. The author's imagination is stunning; the re-creation of Erik's life prior to and through the main body of events at the Paris Opera is so believable you lose your heart to the Phantom at the first page. The portrayal of Erik's life in Persia is especially outstanding. Kay's imagery of the Persian makes him no longer a mystery. Given a name and life and true experiences that bond him as a friend to Erik, her
ValkyrieRavenfeather
Apr 23, 2006
Disturbed and in Love
I am a fan of both the ALW musical and the Leroux novel. This was much better than the latter. We were given a chance to see Erik's early life and better understand his character.When Erik's mother gave birth, the beautiful young widow was horrified. Her reputation was immediately ruined, and no one came to see her for fear of the monster she gave birth to. But young Erik's genius terrifies his mother more than his deformed face. By the time he was six months old, he was walking, talking, and figuring out how to play music.The abuse his mother puts him through brings Erik to be disturbed at an
"rukhus"
Apr 13, 2000
Absolutely Stunning!
I never considered myself a devoted fan of PotO,but the story's always been one of my favorites b/c of seeing the play @ 5 yrs. old and listening to the soundtrack. This book captures everything and anything you could learn or feel for the PotO, Erik.The story is very much tragic, and I know I couldn't help wishing he were real! Kay has obviously put her imagination to good use when giving us the detailed account of Erik's life and travels. She makes him into a full, three-dimensional figure that is human but at the same time curiously supernatural.The second part of the book, with Christine a
Rebecca
Mar 22, 2002
My all-time favorite book - BEAUTIFUL!
I myself just had to confirm that 99.9% of the previous reviews on this brilliant novel were absolutely dead-on correct. PHANTOM is a beautifully written, well-researched, highly intelligent, passionate, emotional insight into Erik's enigmatic life well before the familiar story. The different perspectives of the key people in Erik's life (including himself) are all eloquent as well as informative, with perfectly timed moments of humor weaved throughout. While many and most of the story's previously written versions portray Erik to be a cold-blooded monster who hunts to kill for no just cause,
Sunflower1970
Jan 3, 2007
A touching story
It's great this book is back in print!I have read this book more than once, but it's been a while, now. The story is about Erik, the Phantom of the Opera--his beginnings, how he became the Phantom from Gaston Leroux's book, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. Kay's Erik is a mixture of Michael Crawford's Phantom and Leroux's. One of the best melding of the two I've ever read. The artwork for this edition is gorgeous. Llumina Press had a contest for fans to submit their artwork for the hardback edition, and the public would get to vote on which one was the best. Raphael, who is well-known in the
