Phiction Spotlight: The Sultan’s Favorite

The Sultan’s Favorite is a book that I’ve known about for years, and I’ve always meant to read it, but I kept putting it off in favor of other Phantom books. I typically favor Erik-Christine books and modern retellings, but at the prompting of many fellow Phans, I finally decided to give this one a read.

I’d heard nothing but great things about it from other Phans, and they were not wrong! I wish I’d read this book much sooner. It has soared to the top of my list of phavorite Phantom books. It’s that good!

Setting

One of the most distinctive aspects about this novel is the setting. It’s set in the dangerous world of the Ottoman Empire. It’s a life-after-the-Paris-Opera-House type of story. Erik has been rejected by Christine. He’s bitter and feels like he’ll never love again, but somehow the will to survive keeps him going. He’s channeled all his passion into his architecture. Can you guess? His masterpiece is to build a beautiful palace for the sultan and his wives.

Alexandria

Speaking of the Sultan’s wives…

Alexandria is the heroine of this book, and if you haven’t guessed it already, she is the sultan’s favorite. The sultan has other wives, but Alexandria becomes his favorite. She is different from the other women in that she is highly intelligent and doesn’t live only to serve the sultan. While she’s not thrilled about being married to a man who has other wives, she’s resigned to do her duty to protect her deceased husband’s empire.

It’s not long before our Phantom finds himself drawn inexplicably to her as well…a dangerous situation indeed.

The Sultan

Part of what is so great about this book is the way the author makes us feel for the sultan too. By all rights, we should hate him. He has more than one wife. Alexandria deserves so much better. Yet the author explains him in such a way that you come to realize how tied he is by his customs. It seems that he truly does love Alexandria, and I must admit that a time or two I even found myself rooting for him. Ironic that the sultan actually has much in common with Erik back in his Phantom days at the Opera Populaire. You’ll see what I mean…

The Phantom

The Phantom…I LOVED how Anne totally got the Phantom’s character. She nailed him. He is moody and irritable. He can be downright mean. Yet underneath his hard exterior is a heart that beats and feels more than anyone knows. This is the Phantom that I look for when I read Phantom books — the one that can make your heart skip beats with his dangerous allure.

A Must-Read

Masterfully woven together, The Sultan’s Favorite is a must-read for all Phantom Phans. It gives us a viable ending to the Phantom’s tale. It’s the sequel that we wish would have really happened.

About the Author

Anne Burnside is the author of this compelling tale. She’s totally down-to-earth and a joy to chat with. If you’d like to learn a bit more about her, check out this interview she did on Blog Talk Radio: All Things Phantom.

Phiction Spotlight: The Master of Illusion Series

So much like the Phantom, and yet he’s not the notorious Phantom of the opera. Still, the child who comes to be known as Angel gleans much inspiration from the much-rumored Phantom of the Paris opera house. From the get-go, you can see some similarities between the classic tale of The Phantom of the Opera and Master of Illusion. Yet, this series is unlike any Phantom of the Opera-inspired series I have read to date—and I mean that in a good way.

In this first novel, we follow the blossoming friendship between a young ballerina, Elise, and Angel, a nameless boy who can’t remember his past. Two kids with a thirst for justice in an imperfect world. Will their noble endeavors land them in trouble, though?

Their story is so vastly different from what we’re used to reading in Phantom-inspired literature. It was like a breath of fresh air. Never could I say the plot was predictable. It kept me on my toes the entire time, for I never knew how things would go or what would happen next. This first book in the series definitely grabs the reader’s attention and establishes a solid foundation for the rest of the series to be paved upon.

This second books delves further into Angel and Elise’s curious relationship. I don’t want to offer spoilers, but I’ll admit that I was always wondering if a romance would blossom between the two. Their lives seem to be so irrevocably entwined no matter what they do. They’ve hurt each other, but can they manage to move past the pain and hold onto their childhood friendship? Could there be more between them?

This third book in the installment was one of my fave’s. Elise’s character has evolved into an exemplary example of womanhood, and Angel has finally learned a few things about his past and himself. He’s found a new reason for living too, but warning! This book is fraught with many tragedies. So many things happen. I know I’m being vague in my review, but I don’t want to give too much away. Let’s just say you might want a box of tissues handy at the end of this one!

I had thought that the third book of the series would be my favorite, but this last one is even better. That is the thing about Rouen’s series. It gets better and better with each book. This one tells the story of a generation or two after our initial characters, and yet somehow Rouen manages to still keep the initial storyline as a central guiding post of the books. Set amidst the turbulent times of WWII in France, this book is one that history buffs will love.

Final Thoughts

This series is expertly tied together. Even though each book is vastly different, they all follow the same central theme and tie back to the first one. Part of what I loved most about these books was how they were written. Rouen has her own unique writing style. It’s charming and witty. Her stories are dialogue-driven in a style that fits the eras she’s writing about.

The author’s love for the French language and culture really shines through in this series, and I appreciated the authenticity in the way she included French turns of phrase.  I actually learned a few that I didn’t know, and any time an enjoyable work of fiction can teach me something too I am always happy. Plus, these books are sprinkled with enough real history that they are made even more believable.

Romance, intrigue, espionage, suspense and even a bit of the supernatural. These books have it all. They’re definitely a recommended read for any Phan who’s craving something different and wants to break away from the typical Phan Phiction mold.

If you’re not already convinced that this series is worth the read, you will be after you consider that the author won awards for it. Anne was the winner of the Global Ebook Awards Silver (2014) & Bronze (2016) Medals for Modern Historical Literary Fiction for this saga. She also won Silver (2018) and Bronze (cover) (2018) awards.

About the Author

Anne Rouen is one of the sweetest, most down-to-earth authors I’ve ever had the pleasure to call my friend. She was beyond patient with me as it took me a while to get this spotlight up due to external commitments. She’s one of the kindest souls you’ll ever connect with, and I sincerely congratulate her on her accomplishments with this series. If you’d like to connect with Anne, you can do so via her Facebook profile, and you can also find out any updates by following her on Amazon. You can also check out her personal website: www.annerouen.com.

Phiction Spotlight: An Unexpected Kindness

An unexpected kindness. Such a beautiful thing. A thing that has the power to totally transform someone’s life.

I’ve been wanting to read this book for some time now, but my to-read list is so long and ever-growing, it kept getting pushed to the back burner. Finally, I said, “No more!” and bumped it up to the top to give it a read, and I was not disappointed.

The title captivated me right off the bat. It was different. Original. It set the theme for the entire book because this book is certainly different and original. It’s not like a lot of Phan phiction out there, and I mean that in a good way.

The Heroine

Our heroine is Madeleine, and she’s blind. Following a series of unfortunate events, she comes to be in the employee of the notorious Phantom of the Opera (who’s currently in love with – or obsessed with, your call – Christine and doing everything he can to woo his young ingenue).

Madeleine is as kind a soul as you’ll ever meet, and she’s wise and practical with a good head on her shoulders. The extra challenges she must face living day to day life as a blind woman immediately endeared me to her and caused me to stand in awe of her strength and bravery.

The Phantom

What I liked about Webster’s version of the Phantom was how it was realistic in his devotion to Christine. When Madeleine first comes into his employ, he is wrapped up with Christine, so much so that he barely even notices Madeleine. You would think he’d be grateful and awed at another person’s willingness to tolerate his existence, but he seems to block out everything but Christine. Fittingly, when Christine rejects his love, he is suitably crushed, and it takes him a while to get over her. That definitely earned this book some points in my eyes because I do so hate it when Erik gets over Christine too quickly. I mean, he devoted his life to tutoring the girl and became obsessed with winning her love. I don’t think it’d be so easy to forget her.

Webster also does a great job of capturing the Phantom’s precarious mental nature. She shows us in one climatic scene in particular just how close he teeters on the brink of madness and delusion. Of course, as the old saying goes, “With great genius sometimes comes madness,” and Erik was a genius if nothing else with his many talents.

The Metaphors

If I had to choose one single thing that I liked most about this book, it would have to be the author’s liberal, witty use of metaphors. Perhaps it is because Madeleine is blind, but her character certainly explains many situations well with metaphorical language. As a reader, I am one who is always delighted when something is explained to me in a new and exciting way that I’d never thought of before. That happened many times throughout this book.

A Beautiful Read

Fresh and wonderfully articulated, this book was a beautiful read. It’s in a league of its own in the Phan phiction realm in that it was so original. I shan’t say more because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I think I’ve given you enough to discern that this is definitely a Phantom book that’s worth the read. I found myself frustrated with Erik at times and my heart aching for Madeleine at others. The fact that the book could evoke such an emotional response from me meant it was a success in my book. Suffice it to say, it’s not one that I think I’ll be forgetting any time soon.

The Author

Mary Webster, much like her heroine, is a kind soul. She’s a true pleasure to chat with, and her writing leaves readers feeling charmed and satisfied. You may connect with Mary via her Facebook account.

In an unexpected kindness (pun intended), when I reached out to Mary asking her permission for me to do this Phiction Spotlight, she instructed me to mention that her book is free on FanFiction.net, stating that, “…in fairness you should also tell people that it’s now available to read free on fanfiction.net” and that “…I care more about getting it read than making money from it.”

As honest as our dear Madeleine, I thought it very noble and thoughtful of her to be willing to share this so that those who don’t have the funds to purchase the book may read it for free here: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11803547/1/An-Unexpected-Kindess

Phiction Spotlight: Seductively Ever After Box Set

This fiction spotlight is of USA Today bestselling author Kim Carmichael’s box set: Seductively Every After. Kim’s books initially qualified for the Phiction Spotlight due to the first book in the series being directly inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, but after reading the others, I am convinced that all Phans would love the entire series.

Kim’s Seductively Ever After series consists of four books:

• Facade (inspired by The Phantom of the Opera)
• Fantasy (inspired by Cinderella)
• Fascination (inspired by Beauty and the Beast)
• Forever (inspired by The Prince and the Pauper)

The entire series centers around the members of the rock band, Spectre. Each book is the love story of a different band member. Basically, a tragic accident caused by defective pyrotechnics during a concert left all of the band members maimed or scarred in some form or fashion. Each one struggles to regain a sense of normalcy and ultimately finds his salvation is his respective heroine.

Facade

I remember reading Facade before. I loved it the first time I read it, but it’s been a couple of years, so I had forgotten much of what happened. I loved it just as much this time around (if not more so) than I did the first time.

Erik is our Phantom character. He was the lead singer of Spectre until the disaster left half his face disfigured. Consequently, he wears a half mask just like our beloved Phantom from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical. He just so happened to buy a theater and set up living quarters in it.

Christine is, of course, our ingenue. She’s tragically homeless and an orphan to boot. She sings backup in a band that is composed of a guy who seems to be crushing on her a bit (the Raoul character) and a diva lead singer (the Carlotta character).

Their band breaks into Erik’s supposedly deserted theater to rehearse, and Christine ends up seeking shelter there. Captivated by her voice, Erik allows her to stay and becomes her anonymous mentor and protector.

Facade expertly brought The Phantom of the Opera into the modern age in a manner that I could believe. It held to the main theme of our beloved tale while modernizing certain elements to make them relevant to today’s world.

I liked how Erik had that dark, Phantom-y aura, and Christine was young and naive, yet she wasn’t stupid.

Fantasy

Fantasy is the charming tale of two lost souls who find solace together in the wooded area of a piece of land that both are unknowingly tied to together. In this reverse Cinderella story, Nash (who was once the guitarist of Spectre) falls for the heiress to a huge company, but insecure about his limp that was caused by the pyrotechnics disaster, he finds himself hesitant to reveal his true identity to his Petals (the nickname he dubbed his love the first time he saw her; it’s a long story – you’ll have to read it to find out *wink*).

Little does Nash know that Petals totally digs him too, even so much as to fantasize about Knight (what she calls him; again, long story – read to find out) day and night.

Their clandestine meetings in the woods ultimately culminate into passion that could change their lives irrevocably if they only have the courage to reveal their true selves to one another.

As much as I loved Facade, I really loved this book too. I loved the fairy tale-esque vibe to Knight and Petals’s story in this reverse Cinderella story brought into the modern age. Both trapped by something, they found freedom in each other even when they didn’t know each other’s names. Poignant and such a striking metaphor that really brought to light the different between knowing someone’s surface identity and knowing someone’s soul. Does a name really matter so much once you know the true being within?

Fascination

This third book in the Seductively Ever After series had to be one of my very faves. About Upton, the drummer of Spectre, this one expertly crafts us a modern Beauty and the Beast that we can totally fall in love with.

Upton was horribly burned in the disaster during the band’s last concert. Rather than wear a mask to cover his scars, though, Upton chooses to simply become a recluse, holing himself up in his mansion and shutting out the daylight. He throws himself into work and generally becomes a beast to everyone. He seems pretty taciturn and bitter – until a beauty shows up who might be able to thaw his frozen heart.

Alaine is our Belle, and she’s as beautiful as she is kind-hearted. To save her father’s floundering publishing business, she agrees to live for one year with the person who holds the deed to their property and write a biography of his life in exchange for all her father’s debts forgiven and the deed to their property, and that beast is none other than (yes, you guessed it) Upton.

Part of what I loved about Upton was that he was a great Beast character, but yet he was also a great Phantom character as well. He was kind of like a mixture of the brooding Phantom and stubborn Beast, and I loved his darkness, which only made it that much more interesting when Alaine attempted to bring him into the light.

Fantasy

Oh gosh. I want to tell y’all about Forever so bad, but I’m not going to write anything about it for fear of providing you with spoilers that will affect your reading of the previous three books. All I will say is that this book was inspired by Mark Twain’s beloved tale, The Prince and the Pauper, and that each book in this series got better and better and that after reading this book, you’ll probably have the insane urge to be a glorified fish sitter. (Trust me. It’ll all make sense when you read the book.)

I never thought I’d like one of the books that was inspired by a tale other than The Phantom of the Opera more than that one, but I have to admit that I liked each book a little more than the previous one in this series. Kim’s stories just got better and better as the series went along, and I would be hard pressed to choose my favorite book among this series.

About the Author

Kim Carmichael is one of the most personable authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of connecting with. She’s real. She’s raw. She’s down to earth. She’s a USA Today bestselling author and without even having read all of her books, I would recommend any of them based on this series alone. I’m excited to see what else lies in store for Kim throughout her writing career and look forward to reading many more of her books.

To learn more about Kim or find out more about all the works she’s published, you can follow her on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, Instagram, BookBub or Facebook. You can also explore Kim’s author site at www.kimcarmichaelauthor.com/

Phiction Spotlight: The Most Dangerous Dream: Leroux’s Phantom Reimagined

The Most Dangerous Dream by Kelsey Brickl is one of the best Phantom retellings I’ve had the pleasure of reading. “Leroux’s Phantom Reimagined” is a perfect description of it because that is exactly what it is.

Brickl’s book starts off in the Opera Populaire just as the original novel does, but instead of taking the exact same turns that the original novel does, The Most Dangerous Dream takes a few unexpected twists and spins – dare we say better twists and spins than the original? Not to dishonor the memory of Leroux, but I quite enjoyed this reimagined version of the classic tale.

The Story

Without giving too much away, I’ll say that this is one for the Erik/Christine lovers. If you’ve always wanted to see Erik get the girl, then this is the read for you. Erik does a couple of key things differently in this book that make it plausible to believe that Christine was able to return his affections. Raoul gets his shot, but pretty boy can’t hold a candle to her mysterious, darkly alluring Angel of Music.

Unfortunately, a chance encounter with Meg puts everything in jeopardy, causing Erik and Christine to flee the Paris Garnier, leaving behind their lives there to build a new one in…Argentina of all places. Don’t cry for me, Argentina… (I’m sorry. I always break into that song from Evita when I hear “Argentina.” LOL)

I’m not going to reveal any more of the plot at this point. I’ll just say that it’s an exhilarating read that will leave you needing a box of tissues handy at the end of it.

The Characters

Of course, we have Erik (The Phantom) and Christine. Meg, Raoul, Madame Giry and even the Daroga play their own little parts in Brickl’s reimagining. I love the liberties the author took with the characters. For instance, Christine is still innocent and naive, but she isn’t stupid. She can indeed have a backbone when she needs one. That was a nice change for this reimagining because Christine, bless her heart, I love her dearly, but I usually find myself wanting to scream at her, “Stand up for yourself every once in a while, will you?” I didn’t have to do this in Brickl’s book. Don’t misunderstand. Christine is still a kind, gentle soul, but she doesn’t let Erik walk all over her either.

Speaking of Erik…I love how Brickl really captured what I call “my” Erik. The way I imagine the Phantom is dark and dangerous to the world but not to Christine. He’s got a temper, and he’s a strong, dominant male. Too many authors want to turn Erik into a lovesick pup (“He’s the Phantom of the Opera, for God’s sake,” I always want to scream.), but Brickl doesn’t do that. She works with Erik’s flawed, broken character to illustrate his humanity in a way that leaves the reader understanding and even sympathizing with him.

Monsieur Lefevre gets a larger role in Brickl’s reimaging, which I also liked. I like it when authors use characters that previously didn’t receive much love and explore them more. There are also a few new characters introduced to the plot. I won’t spoil them for you. You’ll meet them soon enough. *wink*

The Verdict

Overall, this book is very well-written. Sometimes it’s hard to find Phantom books that use proper grammar, punctuation and so on, but Brickl is obviously a good writer. She weaves plenty of facts into her fiction. She also has some great symbolism and uses witty metaphors in her writing that make it that much more fun to read. What is the most dangerous dream? You’ll have to read her book to find out…

About the Author

From Amazon:

Kelsey Brickl is a wife, mother, language enthusiast, travel addict, and unabashed history nerd. She is a graduate of Saint Mary’s College in Indiana, where she studied history and received the Blecka-Zatko Award for Excellence in Senior Composition. She is also a graduate of the Keough-Naughton Institute at the University of Notre Dame, where she studied Irish Language and Literature and Irish Studies. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, son, and two cats.

From me:

Kelsey is one of the most down-to-earth authors you’ll ever have the pleasure of chatting with. She’s personable, friendly, and humble. I want to thank her for allowing me to do this Phiction Spotlight and wish her luck in all her future writing endeavors.

To learn more about Kelsey or her other books or to contact her, visit her author website: kelseybrickl.com/

Phiction Spotlight: About Face

 

After much anticipation, the long-awaited sequel to Disfigured is here! Those of you who follow my blog might remember my review of Wendy’s first book. In that review, I mentioned that she was currently in the process of writing a second one. I am happy to report that the second installment does not disappoint. In fact, it was just as good as (if not better than) the first book!

The Synopsis

In About Face, we’re given more of the power couple we’ve come to love: Erik and Sylvie. They’ve built a life together, but when has life with the notorious Phantom of the Opera ever been easy? As you can guess, Erik’s past continues to follow him, and he must deal with it by making an impossible choice, a choice that threatens to tear him and Sylvie apart for good.

To top it all off, there’s another hurdle on the rise: another woman who’s hell-bent on getting her claws into Erik. Will she succeed, or will Erik and Sylvie’s love hold true?

The Verdict

I greatly enjoyed About Face. I’m almost tempted to say that I enjoyed it more than Disfigured, but I love that one too, so I’ll just settle the difference by saying they are both wonderful. This second book is filled with adventure and keeps you on the edge of  your seat the entire time. With a gripping storyline and rich imagery, it’s difficult to put down. Without giving too much away, I will say that I love how the author stays true to her characters while furthering along their story (which I assure you is no easy task). She treats us to glimpses of Erik’s underlying Phantom persona, and Sylvie’s brave, stubborn side comes out again and again when in the face of adversity, causing us to fall in love with her as a character all over again.

The Story Continues

As all good books do, About Face leaves you yearning for more, and, fortunately, Wendy is already in the process of writing the third installment in what she’s lovingly and appropriately dubbed The Disfigured Series. She gives us a sneak peek into Book III: Spirit of Revenge at the end of her novel, and I must say I can’t wait to read it. The title alone sounds intriguing…

The Author

Wendy is one of the sweetest authors you’ll ever have the pleasure of chatting with. She truly loves to hear from her readers, and you can get in touch with her via the following channels:

Her website: www.disfiguredseries.com

Her Facebook author page: Wendy’s Author Facebook Page

My Note to Wendy

Thank you so much, Wendy for the mention in the acknowledgements of  your book! You have no idea how deeply honored I was by it. Also, thank you for quoting my little Phiction Spotlight review of Disfigured. I am so glad that you liked it and hope this one brings you some sense of joy as well.

To all authors, thank you for taking the time to write the books that you do and share them with us!

Fun Facts

I also like the fact that Wendy goes above and beyond in her author’s notes to offer us a bit of history into some of the research she did for her novels. She makes them factually correct by researching the period she’s writing about, and she uses plenty of French terms throughout her books as well, which adds such an authentic and charming touch, in my humble opinion. Make sure to read her author’s notes at the end of the book to learn more about the history of the time period this series is based in.

Also, the cover art for About Face was designed by our very own Phantom graphic design extraordinaire, Sharon Robertson. If you want to see more of Sharon’s designs or want to commission one of your own from her, you can contact her via her Facebook link: Sharon’s Facebook Page

Phiction Spotlight: The Phoenix of the Opera Series

 

 

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Phiction Spotlight, and this one has been a long time coming. I read this PHANTASTIC series by Sadie Montgomery a couple Christmases ago, and I fell in love with her portrayal of our beloved phantom.

The Series

Sadie’s series is commonly referred to as The Phoenix of the Opera series after the first book’s title. It’s appropriately titled because like a phoenix that rises from the ashes in a glorious rebirth of life, that is what our phantom does in Sadie’s continuation of the classic tale, but more about the story later. The series consists of 7 books in the following order:

The Phoenix of the Opera

Out of the Darkness: The Phantom’s Journey

The Phantom’s Opera

Phantom Death

Phantom Madness

Phantom Murder

Phantom Nightmare

While the photo collage I have featured at the top of this page features all these books, it also shows three more of Sadie’s books that aren’t part of the series, but I thought I’d include them as well since they’re all by her too. For purposes of this review, though, we’ll only be discussing the books pertaining to The Phoenix of the Opera series.

The Story

This series is a continuation of The Phantom of the Opera. It details how Erik, once the notorious Phantom, now just a man, broken and alone, rises up to rebuild a new life for himself. But wait…he’s not really alone for there’s a light in his darkness. Someone who comes along and makes his life worth living again…

And that someone is Meg.

So for all of you Erik/Meg shippers out there, these are the books for you.

I must admit, prior to reading Sadie’s books, I was skeptical of an Erik/Meg combo. In fact, I was a strict Erik/Christine shipper. It was Sadie’s books that really opened me up to other character pairings and made me willing to try reading some of the Phantom books that have now become some of my favorites.

I don’t want to give any details away about the story line for risk of spoilers, but let me just say this: Erik and Meg’s life is a roller coaster from the beginning. It’s filled with intrigue, romance, mystery and so much more. Part of what makes Sadie’s series so wonderful is that it has a bit of everything in it, but the author so expertly weaves her tale that all the characters stay in character and each turn of the page is believable.

The Characters

I can’t praise how well Sadie portrays the characters in her series enough. The Phantom is the Phantom. Erik is Erik. Meg is Meg. Christine is Christine. If you’ve read much Phan phiction, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about when I say that the characters are themselves. So many Phans change the characters’ whole personas in their writing to make them fit their little phantasies, and while phantasies are all fine and dandy every now and then, for a good series, you want the real personas. Sadie doesn’t do that (change them, that is). She stays true to who all the characters are. The Phantom is frightening and intimidating, and yet he also has his vulnerable side that shows the man underneath: Erik. Meg is tenacious and undaunting with the strong, stubborn character that her best friend, Christine, lacked.

Yet, while staying true to the characters, Sadie also allows them to grow as they progress throughout life. I found it particularly interesting to note how the characters interacted amongst themselves and in different life situations as they got older, and the way each scene is portrayed, you’re led to believe that’s exactly how it happened. A natural and believable transition and growth that makes the characters so real and relatable. That’s the defining characteristic of this series that sets it apart.

The Author

I always delight in connecting with the authors of my favorite works, especially when those works are Phantom-related. Sadie is one of the sweetest authors you’ll ever meet, and she loves to hear from her readers and see any artwork that her series inspired. She’s active on social networking, and you can find her via the following links:

Sadie Montgomery’s Amazon Author Page

Sadie Montgomery’s Facebook Author Page

Sadie Montgomery on Goodreads

As far as her other works go, I have yet to read them, but they are definitely on my to-read list, and if her Phantom books were any indication of what she’s capable of, I am sure I will love them too. In fact, she tells me that Ghost Song is, in fact, another Phantom-related book, so I’m excited to read it soon!

Phiction Spotlight: Disfigured

This Phiction Spotlight is long overdue, and I want to start off by thanking the author of the book featured in this spotlight (as well as you, my blog readers) for her (and your) patience.

Penned by Wendy Coles-LittlePage, Disfigured, is now another one of my all-time favorite POTO reads. A gothic romance, to be sure, that leaves the reader wanting more. (Fortunately for us readers there is more to come because the author is currently in the process of finishing up the second book in what will become the Disfigured series. Yay! We’ll talk more about this later, though.)

Disfigured: A Gothic Romance Featuring the Phantom of the Opera (Disfigured Series Book 1)

The Heroine

Let’s begin with the heroine of our story: Sylvie Bessette. A charming character, Sylvie is no Christine. As I’m sure most of my blog readers know by now, I was always traditionally an Erik/Christine supporter, but as I’ve started reading more and more books by authors like the one who wrote this phabulous novel, I’ve become more in support of other character pairings with our beloved Phantom. Yet, again, another author has caused me to root for Erik to be with a more mature woman who can see past his physical deformity to the man underneath.

Sylvie isn’t the naive child that Christine was. However, in the same token, she still maintains a sense of innocence and goodness. She’s a caring and nurturing soul who’s bravely struck out to make a new, independent life for herself. She wants to stand on her own two feet while still helping others, and while she’s met with a few setbacks, she’s innovative and perseveres.

The Phantom

The author crafted the Phantom wonderfully, in my humble opinion. He was exactly as one would expect the Phantom to be. He’s not all fluffy kittens and bunnies and can even come off as a bit cruel and gruff at times. A powerful figure ensconced in darkness and mystery – just as we would expect him to be. Until Sylvie begins to break down his barriers, that is.

The Story

Sylvie’s passion is cooking, and can you guess it? That’s how she comes to be connected with the Phantom. After making friends with the Phantom’s aid, Madame Celestine Giry, Sylvie is commissioned to prepare meals to be delivered to the Phantom via a strict and somewhat odd set of instructions. Of course, Sylvie being the free, independent spirit that she is breaks the Phantom’s rules at every turn and ends up getting to know Erik, despite all the walls he’s put up to keep himself from getting hurt again after the fiasco with Christine Daae. Alas, I don’t want to say more for fear of spoilers. Just read the book, and you’ll see how gripping this story is.

Wait! There’s More…

While Disfugured is one of the best continuations of the tale of The Phantom of the Opera that I’ve ever had the pleasure to read and stands well enough on its own, after much prodding and encouragement from so many Phans who loved her book (I don’t want to say any names but…LISA! Lol), she’s graciously decided to continue forth by writing a sequel entitled About Face. She was even generous enough to provide us readers with a special sneak peek on her website, which you can view by clicking here: Wendy Coles-Littlepage’s Author Site

The Author

And that brings us to the author: Mrs. Wendy Coles-Littlepage herself. A delight to chat with, Wendy’s always enjoyed writing from an early age and enjoys hearing from her readers. Disfigured is her debut fiction novel, and she’s one of the sweetest authors I’ve ever had the pleasure to chat with. You can contact her via her website listed above or her Facebook page: Wendy Coles-Littlepage’s Facebook

Phiction Spotlight: Seen Through the Phantom's Eyes: The Omnibus Edition

For those Phans like myself who crave more after reading Gaston Leroux’s original novel, The Phantom of the Opera, there’s Sharon E. Cathcart’s novels. Seen Through the Phantom’s Eyes: The Omnibus Edition is actually a compilation of two novels and a collection of short stories. If purchased separately, they consist of the following:

• In the Eye of the Beholder
• In the Eye of the Storm
• Through the Opera Glass

Seen Through the Phantom’s Eyes: The Omnibus Edition

Seen Through the Phantom’s Eyes: The Omnibus Edition contains all of these in the aforementioned order. However, the author herself stated that they don’t necessarily have to be read in that order. I would advise reading In the Eye of the Beholder before reading In the Eye of the Storm. However, if you happen not to, it’s no big deal because the author is conscious of making it so that readers who haven’t read her first book are quickly brought up to speed in her second one.

The Through the Opera Glass book is the one that’s a collection of short stories, so it can certainly be read any time you wish. However, I think that it provides for a richer reading experience when you read all the books in the order listed. After doing so, I believe you’ll understand why I say this.

That said, on to the review…

Let’s begin with Claire. She’s the first character we’re introduced to in In the Eye of the Beholder, and she’s the principal character throughout the first novel, although she certainly remains a prominent one in the other novel and the short story collection as well. Claire is not your typical, simpering Victorian lady. She’s a strong, independent woman (as much as society would allow anyways), and she’s got a good head on her shoulders. She knows how to think for herself, and she’s obviously very different from the naive child (Christine Daae) who our notorious Phantom, Erik, had fallen in love with previously.

I absolutely loved Claire! She was a refreshing change, and although I have stated that she was a strong woman, she had her moments of vulnerability as well, all of which worked together to make her quite a realistic and believable character. Although her moral compass was certainly rooted, she also went outside the realm of what society at that point in time deemed acceptable. She stood up for what she believed in, and her compassion knew no bounds.

Our Phantom, as well, was a greatly developed character. He wasn’t quite as darkly depicted as some Phantoms are, but he wasn’t too vulnerable either. Instead, I believe he was the perfect mix of dark and light, making him believably human.

Fiction that Makes a Statement

Sharon’s Phantom tales are more than just sappy Phan phiction. Not only do they offer a realistic continuation of the beloved tale of the Phantom of the Opera, but they also reference real historical events and contain a essence of realism that you don’t get from the everyday fiction book. Her novels not only weave a delightful story for our Phantom, but they also illuminate real life issues, such as the plight of women living in a male-oriented society, the cruelty of mankind, and the injustice of inequality, just to name a few.

I particularly loved how the author would take a certain issue that she feels strongly about and weave it into her novels in such a way that highlights the injustice of the topic and prompts the reader to feel that same injustice. For instance, without giving too much of the storyline away, I will reveal that Claire is rendered virtually penniless when her cousin is given control over her inheritance simply because he is the closest male relation to her. As we learn of how that injustice affected Claire’s life, we, as readers, feel for the plight of women who were restricted by the constraints of their sex.

Beyond that, I will say no more, other than that I highly recommend these books to any Phan. These Phantom books not only entertain, but they teach as well, highlighting societal issues that some people still deal with today. Also, the author very considerately included a glossary of terms in her books so that those who are unfamiliar with certain equestrian and French terms she used in her writing can look up their meanings for better understanding. I, for one, greatly appreciated this, for I would have never know what some of the foreign terms meant otherwise.

The Author

Not only is Sharon E. Cathcart an author, but she’s an award-winning one at that. Like her character, Claire, Sharon is also a very generous soul. She frequently hosts e-book giveaways and such, and she’s a delight to interact with. To contact Sharon or learn more about her published works, go her author website and/or her Facebook fan page.

Sharon E. Cathcart Author Page

Sharon E. Cathcart’s Facebook Fan Page

Phiction Spotlight: Redemption of Shadows

After much prompting from fellow Phans, I finally got around to reading Redemption of Shadows. Since I’d heard nothing but good things about this book from fellow Phans, I was quite excited to read it.

Redemption of Shadows: A New Tale of the Phantom of the Opera

As usual, my phriends were right! This book didn’t disappoint. Not only is it beautifully written, but it’s also a refreshing change from much of the typical Phan phiction that we read.

Not Your Typical Phantom Novel

The author, Cathy M. Conway, isn’t an Erik/Christine shipper in this book. Instead, she introduces us to a new character: Caitlin. I absolutely loved Caitlin! Adored her! What can I say without giving away key plot points? I’ll say this:  despite the traumatic experiences Caitlin goes through, she’s still a strong, independent woman capable of deep love.

I also love the way the author portrayed Erik in this novel. He has the perfect balance of that mysterious power that we all find so alluring and the vulnerability that makes him human rather than monster and endears him to us so much.

This continuation of the beloved tale of the Phantom of the Opera is a believable and satisfying one to say the least. I highly encourage any Phan to give it a read. I think you’ll quickly find that it’ll become one of your all-time phavorite Phantom books.

The Author

The author of Redemption of Shadows, Cathy M. Conway, is a delight to chat with. Redemption of Shadows was her debut novel, and she was especially kind to me when I reached out to her after reading her book. (As most of you know, I simply love connecting with the authors of books that I’ve read, especially if the books were really good like this one was.)

If you want to reach out to Cathy yourself or view any of the other works she’s published, you can do so on her Amazon author profile by clicking here: Cathy M. Conway on Amazon.