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A review by shelflife
Phantom by Susan Kay
3.0
I have had this book sitting on my shelf for about 6 years. After 2 people raved and praised this story, I finally had to read what the fuss was about. Giving Erik, the phantom of the opera a back story is a clever idea that has intrigued me for quite some time.
Kay is a lovely writer, her style feels dark and gothic setting the right tone for handling the story of Erik. I completely fell in and got lost in the beginning. I loved it from birth to Persia. Where she started losing me and I felt myself slowing down my momentum was when Christine came in the picture and he eventually evolved in the Phantom. For me I couldn't feel anything anymore about Erik. He lost me completely. I could no longer understand him or his relationship with Christine who seemed so utterly vapid I could not connect the deeply felt passion between these two. I never understood Raoul at all. Why would he even give his life over to this nightmare.
I can't put my finger on it really. I should have been over the moon about this story. Gothic fiction, doomed lovers, complex protagonist, all the elements I love in a book and yet I feel underwhelmed overall.
Still, I would recommend it. It is still well worth the lovely writing.
Kay is a lovely writer, her style feels dark and gothic setting the right tone for handling the story of Erik. I completely fell in and got lost in the beginning. I loved it from birth to Persia. Where she started losing me and I felt myself slowing down my momentum was when Christine came in the picture and he eventually evolved in the Phantom. For me I couldn't feel anything anymore about Erik. He lost me completely. I could no longer understand him or his relationship with Christine who seemed so utterly vapid I could not connect the deeply felt passion between these two. I never understood Raoul at all. Why would he even give his life over to this nightmare.
I can't put my finger on it really. I should have been over the moon about this story. Gothic fiction, doomed lovers, complex protagonist, all the elements I love in a book and yet I feel underwhelmed overall.
Still, I would recommend it. It is still well worth the lovely writing.