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3.15 AVERAGE
3.15 AVERAGE
Slow start, good for a little while...then....psychic vampires....like why?
I really liked Howard's Splintered series so I had high hopes for her latest novel. I don't want to say I was disappointed, because I wasn't. But it just wasn't what I expected. Based on the cover, I was completely drawn in. I have never read/seen/heard The Phantom of the Opera so I'm not sure if that was a help or a hindrance. If you are a big fan of the Phantom, you may not like the twists that are added and the story that is extrapolated from the original. However, Howard excels at painting a beautiful landscape for her novels. She is incredible at detail and really draws the reader in.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
I thoroughly enjoyed the read.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was not a good book. It was both predictable and completely bonkers in the strangest ways. However, I cannot say I hated reading it. At some point, I realized that this book was exactly in my "so bad it's good" ballpark- with baffling occurrences, illogical characters, hammy dialogue, and best of all, the most odd twists on the Phantom of the Opera since Love Never Dies. Wouldn't recommend if you're a huge fan of the musical or original book, unless seeing a strange YA sequel sounds like something you could get a chuckle out of.
dnf at page 88. Interesting concept, just not for me.
I found the first 1/2-3/4 of this book very slow. Despite loving the author’s Splintered series, this one took me nine months to get through. Once I got to that sweet point of action, things actually started moving and I finished the story within a few days, but for more than half the book, I had no motivation to read it.
My other major reason for rating this three stars is Rune, our lovely little protagonist whom is just so tortured and misunderstood by literally everyone, who is so completely passive for the majority of the book. Now, I completely understand that before the events in here, Rune had several majorly traumatic events occur. She has understandable mental issues and trauma and associated guilt because of those. I get that. I also realize that most of her passivity comes from that trauma.
However, that doesn’t make her any less passive. I don’t like characters who don’t even try to stand up for themselves at least once. I don’t like characters who literally don’t do anything about anything that’s happening to them or around them. It drives me nuts and makes for a really slow, boring story.
The other protagonist/point-of-view character, who also happens to be the love interest, actually does stuff. He’s also traumatized and in a really, really weird family situation that reads as borderline abusive if not actually abusive, but he still does stuff. He makes his own choices, he disobeys orders, he sneaks around in the dark and leaves creepy stuff in places and generally creeps people out.
It’s a shame I didn’t like him at all, but at least he was somewhat interesting to read about.
The magic was interesting, and I did enjoy learning about that. The writing was also beautiful and highly descriptive. Both of these could be good things, but because the book started out so slow, these made it feel even slower and continued draining my motivation to continue. I’m sad it took me so long to really get into this story, because I really thought I would love it. It is creepy and gothic-feeling, but it took ages for Rune to become even slightly interesting as a character and not just as a cursed chess piece, and that really impacted my enjoyment reading it.
My other major reason for rating this three stars is Rune, our lovely little protagonist whom is just so tortured and misunderstood by literally everyone, who is so completely passive for the majority of the book. Now, I completely understand that before the events in here, Rune had several majorly traumatic events occur. She has understandable mental issues and trauma and associated guilt because of those. I get that. I also realize that most of her passivity comes from that trauma.
However, that doesn’t make her any less passive. I don’t like characters who don’t even try to stand up for themselves at least once. I don’t like characters who literally don’t do anything about anything that’s happening to them or around them. It drives me nuts and makes for a really slow, boring story.
The other protagonist/point-of-view character, who also happens to be the love interest, actually does stuff. He’s also traumatized and in a really, really weird family situation that reads as borderline abusive if not actually abusive, but he still does stuff. He makes his own choices, he disobeys orders, he sneaks around in the dark and leaves creepy stuff in places and generally creeps people out.
It’s a shame I didn’t like him at all, but at least he was somewhat interesting to read about.
The magic was interesting, and I did enjoy learning about that. The writing was also beautiful and highly descriptive. Both of these could be good things, but because the book started out so slow, these made it feel even slower and continued draining my motivation to continue. I’m sad it took me so long to really get into this story, because I really thought I would love it. It is creepy and gothic-feeling, but it took ages for Rune to become even slightly interesting as a character and not just as a cursed chess piece, and that really impacted my enjoyment reading it.
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
I didn't finish this book, I got just under halfway through when I glanced at its Goodreads score for the first time and realized it probably wasn't getting better. I hated the way the author would insert you into conversations between characters without any prior context, so you have no idea what's going on or what anyone is talking about. This just made me feel confused not curious. I also found the way the author wrote to be confusing; like the way she structured her sentences. I would end up rereading sections slower, because I couldn't quite comprehend them the first run through. Not because they were complex but because they were worded oddly for no particular reason-usually I could think of a simpler way to say the exact same thing without losing any meaning. I've never really had a hard time understanding books before (especially YA) but I just couldn't quite wrap my mind around some of the sections of this book. Honestly, my patience for books these days is almost nonexistent, and just couldn't garner the extra patience to read another book based on insta love and filled with needless cruel bullying.
What a disappointment.
This Phantom-inspired novel, set at a French boarding school and revolving around a protagonist with a deadly operatic gift, promised epic Gothic romance and a bizarre and richly detailed world. Instead, I got Rune, a bland main character who spent a considerable amount of the book whining about how awful it was that she had to go to school in France and who men fell for despite her utter blandness, a plot that took almost a hundred and fifty pages to get going, underdeveloped minor characters who merely seemed to be there to prove that Rune was in fact likable, and an all-too-convenient ending. I did like the creepy details of the opera house and the Phantom's lair, as well as the school's resident ghost cat and some aspects of Thorn's story, but ultimately a much-anticipated read that severely let me down.
This Phantom-inspired novel, set at a French boarding school and revolving around a protagonist with a deadly operatic gift, promised epic Gothic romance and a bizarre and richly detailed world. Instead, I got Rune, a bland main character who spent a considerable amount of the book whining about how awful it was that she had to go to school in France and who men fell for despite her utter blandness, a plot that took almost a hundred and fifty pages to get going, underdeveloped minor characters who merely seemed to be there to prove that Rune was in fact likable, and an all-too-convenient ending. I did like the creepy details of the opera house and the Phantom's lair, as well as the school's resident ghost cat and some aspects of Thorn's story, but ultimately a much-anticipated read that severely let me down.
One of the best quotes:
One of the dumbest quotes:
Couldn't decide between:
Now. I'd just like to preface this review by knowingly admitting that I did go into this book after already reading about two one-star reviews for it, one of which outlined all the cliché's they found in it that stopped them from appreciating it. So, even with that prior knowledge, I still wanted to read this book, mainly for an aesthetic pleasure and the fact that I really like Phantom of the Opera, both the original book and the musical which I recently went to see with friends for my 18th.
That being said, I did go on quite a few rants to my unwilling friends about my journey through this book.
It isn't a bad book. I wouldn't say that at all. I think this writer has a wonderful imagination, a romantic style of writing and clearly a great love and passion for this story. I read her Author's note and it was great to see the joy she had in researching for this book and the sources for her inspiration. I haven't read any of her other books (as of yet, of course), but I can imagine they might very well be written just as lovely.
However.
For me, it was the story itself that disappointed me to a certain extent.
The so-called "clichés" on their own didn't bother me so much in relation to them being used, it was more so how and why they were used. I don't necessarily see clichés as a bad thing - they're often cliché for a reason: people like them and what to read/write/hear about more of them because its a guilty pleasure, secret vice, whatever - but it's come to a point where you need to implement them well, or they can sound a bit ridiculous. Which was my issue with this book. There just seemed to be so much going on in this book that didn't seem to be necessary or, honestly, that interesting. Once they started, they just kept coming in a way that just made me think "oh wow, we're just throwing everything in here aren't we".
For example - the two biggies -.
While a review I read did allude to this (), I wasn't entirely sure if they meant it only as an example or not. I wasn't sure if that was actually where the book was going. Even while reading it, while I could see the signs, I could still give it the benefit of the doubt and think "It's not actually going to go there... is it?". And then it did. And I couldn't help but take a moment to register that. And then when we added the I'm aware that A.G.Howard never calls it soulmates in the book and in the author's note she specifically didn't label it as that, finding the twin flame concept more preferable, it did nothing to stop me for seeing and reading it that way. It's more or less the exact same premise, but with a less cliché name), and I couldn't help but sigh. Along with these, there's a stereotypical mean girl (with a best friend who's only personality trait and function in the story is to be a lacky and pine for her best friend who doesn't treat her right. Oh, and add the exposition on the mean girl in order to convince us that she's not just a meanie, but she's a meanie with a motive), quirky teachers that don't seem to be all that necessary, a sad/tragic backstory and more. It just all seemed a bit much if you ask me.
A more minor issue I had with this book was actually it's all-around structure. Some of the chapters flowed strange to me: something big would happen, then the next chapter would continue with a time skip to the future in which Rune would then retell or reflect on the aftermaths of those scenes while something more mundane was going on. Because of this, I felt like I was missing out on what could have been very good scenes. It felt a bit like that the author had clearly put the romance and its rise and falls at the forefront and then didn't care that much about the rest, despite having a detailed and interesting background to work with. I felt this quite clearly at the ending, although at this point I shouldn't complain since I rather wanted to get it over with. To sum it up, the climax consisted of Now, once the main climax had been escaped from, the climax the story had been working up to, the story just sort of... ends. The final chapter is more of a summery - Rune telling us how she found her friends and got them off the roof, visiting her grandma who'd she'd been avoiding, then the next largely detailed, as-it-happens scene we get is when she reconciles with Thorn again, and he tells her what he's been up to. Some of these things that happened would have been so much better and smoother to read in real-time! It just felt... lazy, I guess. Like clearly the author only cared about Rune and Thorn's relationship.
And finally, I've saved my biggest issue for last.
You may have read a synopsis or blurb etc. for this book describe it as a retelling or, at least, an inspired retelling. I personally feel like this is the wrong word to use for this book.
To me, a retelling is taking the bare bones/concept of one iconic story and reshaping it, remoulding it, into something new, with a different spin. I feel like a retelling is detached from the original source material in terms of lore, existence, timeline etc. Fantastic examples being [b:Cinder|36381037|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507557775l/36381037._SY75_.jpg|15545385] / The Lunar Chronicles (for fairytales), [b:Everything Under|36396289|Everything Under|Daisy Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522082835l/36396289._SY75_.jpg|58089593] (Shakespeare) or [b:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|5899779|Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1)|Seth Grahame-Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320449653l/5899779._SY75_.jpg|6072122] (Jane Austen… obviously). Roseblood felt more like a fanfiction. It exists with the same universe as Leroux's original book, because the main character reads and references it throughout, and Erik exists in both narratives. It plays out like a supernatural sequel to the story we know, just with a different supernatural interpretation. And really there is nothing wrong with this, except I wouldn't call it a retelling because of it. What I expecting was a revamped, COMPLETELY new take on this romantic, gothic, obsessive narrative that I really enjoyed, instead I felt like I'd just finished reading a well-written, passionate, 100-years-later fanfiction.
I could talk about other minor stand-offish details I found, but I think this review is long enough already. You can actually read my notes for this particular reading from my profile, since I read this on my Kindle and like to make my initial reactions to certain dumb things known. If you also read this on Kindle, I wonder if you'll notice like I did that all the most highlighted quotes from this book are not even from the story, but are the quotations that each chapter starts with from other works of literature. Just thought that was quite indicative of what to expect.
In conclusion, I wouldn't tell you to not read this book because of its story. It is indeed a very rich and romantic narrative with a lot of thought and imagination poured lovingly into it, which is why I hate to criticize it so deeply. I just do think you need to know what you're getting yourself in for fully. I think for a lot of people, this could be their cup of tea. Maybe I've just read too much fanfiction.
But, for now, I think I definitely be sticking with Leroux's enchanting, romantic and stunningly gothic original work of literature that has yet to be re-imagined in an equally as beautiful way as it began.
Happy reading readers! May your head be filled with enchantment and tummy full of butterflies wherever it take you. Thanks for reading! x
The excuse drizzled from his tongue like honey, sticky enough to make a mess but sweet enough to soothe the ache.
One of the dumbest quotes:
Couldn't decide between:
Holy goat balls of fireor
So rumor has it you and the Phantom are hooking up every night," she says, her voice laced with innuendo.
Now. I'd just like to preface this review by knowingly admitting that I did go into this book after already reading about two one-star reviews for it, one of which outlined all the cliché's they found in it that stopped them from appreciating it. So, even with that prior knowledge, I still wanted to read this book, mainly for an aesthetic pleasure and the fact that I really like Phantom of the Opera, both the original book and the musical which I recently went to see with friends for my 18th.
That being said, I did go on quite a few rants to my unwilling friends about my journey through this book.
It isn't a bad book. I wouldn't say that at all. I think this writer has a wonderful imagination, a romantic style of writing and clearly a great love and passion for this story. I read her Author's note and it was great to see the joy she had in researching for this book and the sources for her inspiration. I haven't read any of her other books (as of yet, of course), but I can imagine they might very well be written just as lovely.
However.
For me, it was the story itself that disappointed me to a certain extent.
The so-called "clichés" on their own didn't bother me so much in relation to them being used, it was more so how and why they were used. I don't necessarily see clichés as a bad thing - they're often cliché for a reason: people like them and what to read/write/hear about more of them because its a guilty pleasure, secret vice, whatever - but it's come to a point where you need to implement them well, or they can sound a bit ridiculous. Which was my issue with this book. There just seemed to be so much going on in this book that didn't seem to be necessary or, honestly, that interesting. Once they started, they just kept coming in a way that just made me think "oh wow, we're just throwing everything in here aren't we".
For example - the two biggies -
Spoiler
vampires and soulmatesWhile a review I read did allude to this (
Spoiler
the vampire thingSpoiler
soulmate/twin flame thing into the mix as well (A more minor issue I had with this book was actually it's all-around structure. Some of the chapters flowed strange to me: something big would happen, then the next chapter would continue with a time skip to the future in which Rune would then retell or reflect on the aftermaths of those scenes while something more mundane was going on. Because of this, I felt like I was missing out on what could have been very good scenes. It felt a bit like that the author had clearly put the romance and its rise and falls at the forefront and then didn't care that much about the rest, despite having a detailed and interesting background to work with. I felt this quite clearly at the ending, although at this point I shouldn't complain since I rather wanted to get it over with. To sum it up, the climax consisted of
Spoiler
Erik (yup, the original. He's in this too, as a vampire and Thorn's father figure) stealing away Rune in order to operate on her and his plan involved him releasing bees into the college as well as starting a fire. Rune's friends took a different route in order to avoid the bees, because one of them is allergic.Spoiler
The aftermath of the fire, meeting her classmates again to see the results of the incident, her visit to her Grandma (which gets alluded to quite a bit throughout the novel so I was expecting it at some point, but we never really get this scene), Thorn burying the still-born child (which was a weird plot choice in itself) etc.And finally, I've saved my biggest issue for last.
You may have read a synopsis or blurb etc. for this book describe it as a retelling or, at least, an inspired retelling. I personally feel like this is the wrong word to use for this book.
To me, a retelling is taking the bare bones/concept of one iconic story and reshaping it, remoulding it, into something new, with a different spin. I feel like a retelling is detached from the original source material in terms of lore, existence, timeline etc. Fantastic examples being [b:Cinder|36381037|Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)|Marissa Meyer|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507557775l/36381037._SY75_.jpg|15545385] / The Lunar Chronicles (for fairytales), [b:Everything Under|36396289|Everything Under|Daisy Johnson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1522082835l/36396289._SY75_.jpg|58089593] (Shakespeare) or [b:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|5899779|Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, #1)|Seth Grahame-Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320449653l/5899779._SY75_.jpg|6072122] (Jane Austen… obviously). Roseblood felt more like a fanfiction. It exists with the same universe as Leroux's original book, because the main character reads and references it throughout, and Erik exists in both narratives. It plays out like a supernatural sequel to the story we know, just with a different supernatural interpretation. And really there is nothing wrong with this, except I wouldn't call it a retelling because of it. What I expecting was a revamped, COMPLETELY new take on this romantic, gothic, obsessive narrative that I really enjoyed, instead I felt like I'd just finished reading a well-written, passionate, 100-years-later fanfiction.
I could talk about other minor stand-offish details I found, but I think this review is long enough already. You can actually read my notes for this particular reading from my profile, since I read this on my Kindle and like to make my initial reactions to certain dumb things known. If you also read this on Kindle, I wonder if you'll notice like I did that all the most highlighted quotes from this book are not even from the story, but are the quotations that each chapter starts with from other works of literature. Just thought that was quite indicative of what to expect.
In conclusion, I wouldn't tell you to not read this book because of its story. It is indeed a very rich and romantic narrative with a lot of thought and imagination poured lovingly into it, which is why I hate to criticize it so deeply. I just do think you need to know what you're getting yourself in for fully. I think for a lot of people, this could be their cup of tea. Maybe I've just read too much fanfiction.
But, for now, I think I definitely be sticking with Leroux's enchanting, romantic and stunningly gothic original work of literature that has yet to be re-imagined in an equally as beautiful way as it began.
Happy reading readers! May your head be filled with enchantment and tummy full of butterflies wherever it take you. Thanks for reading! x
Overall... I really don’t know. It took a VERY LONG TIME for me to read this book. For me (and probably a lot of you guys), that’s saying something. You get to know Rune pretty well during the first half of the book but all of the other characters are hidden with little more than short, teasing appearances. I think this created suspense and anticipation but it also held the plot back, A LOT.
I was determined to finish and I did eventually but as much as I love the author’s other series I really can’t recommend this to anyone who isn’t really stubborn about finishing books. :/
(If you do stick it out, good job! I actually quite liked the ending and didn’t regret reading through so if you’re in the middle of reading right now do me a favor and finish. You might be surprised!)
I was determined to finish and I did eventually but as much as I love the author’s other series I really can’t recommend this to anyone who isn’t really stubborn about finishing books. :/
(If you do stick it out, good job! I actually quite liked the ending and didn’t regret reading through so if you’re in the middle of reading right now do me a favor and finish. You might be surprised!)