The Phantom Returns by Stefanie Cole
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Book Reviews of The Phantom Returns
Book Review: Love love love this book
Summary: 5 Stars
Started reading at 7:30 at night, finished at 12:15 am - it was throughly enjoyable. very nicely written - you won't go wrong with this Phantom/Christine story....Book Review: will anyone sell their book?
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been searching all over for this book but no one has it for lower then 200.00... would anyone be willing to sell their "Phantom Returns" book?Book Review: I enjoyed it
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a sweet book. You can finish it in one day. If you want Christine to be with Erik you'll enjoy it. I did.Book Review: A Delightful Sequel!
Summary: 5 Stars
An enjoyable and touching sequel to the movie ... as an Erik/Christine fan... I found it delightful indeedBook Review: A Sequel Worthy of the Phantom!
Summary: 4 Stars
The Paris Opera House lies in ruins; the Phantom is gone - or is he?
Beginning with a short Forward that quickly chronicles the tragedy at the opera house, Raoul and Christine escaped and are now married. Raoul, only wanting to love and protect Christine, purchases her childhood home which is located along the ocean, and there they reside during their honeymoon. Christine, desiring to move on and put her past behind her, is determined to adjust to her new life - the life of a Vicomtesse.
But one day, before their honeymoon is over, she discovers a trunk in her dead father's music room that contains all of his music. There she finds the score for The Angel of Music, the first piece that she'd sung at the opera house; the music that connects her to own Angel of Music, her former mentor. Despite her misgivings, she begins to sing its haunting melody and voice the lyrics that touch her heart. But her husband, Raoul, interrupts her solo, with the reminder that music is now in her past - as a Vicomtesse, she "no longer has to sing for her supper". Stuffing the music into the trunk and slamming the lid closed, Raoul resolves to expunge the memory of the deformed Phantom from his wife's mind - and heart.
Sixteen months later, at a lavish ball held in England, Christine waits in a reception line with her husband to greet their aristocratic hosts. Despite her husband's encouragement, Christine is apprehensive and nervous. Parisian society had looked down their noses at her, meeting her warmth with disdain. They refused to accept her as one of their own; she was a mere chorus girl, a commoner who had the audacity to aspire higher than her station. In her heart, Christine knew that her London reception would fare no better - for the English were notoriously pretentious and clannish.
When her misgivings are proved correct, she escapes the condescension of her peers and flees to a deserted balcony. There, in the starlight overlooking a fragrant rose garden, she loses herself in the muted strains of the orchestra. Closing her eyes, she senses the presence of her former mentor, the one who claimed her heart. Opening her eyes once more, she sees his cape-enshrouded figure in the moonlight, listens as his ethereal voice whispers her name, and feels the airy, feathery touch of his gloved hand graze her cheek. Suddenly, he is gone - but in his wake he leaves a single red rose entwined with a white ribbon - his symbol of his love for her. With the rose is a note assuring her that he will always be there for her, and he has signed it simply "Erik". She breathes his name several times, for she had never known the name of her Angel of Music.
Raoul finds her and asks who she's talking to. As she replies that she was talking to herself, she drops the rose behind her and clutches the note securely in the palm of her hand. He takes her arm to lead her back to the ball, but before they enter the doorway, he glances behind him and sees the rose - and he knows, as does Christine, that the Phantom has returned.
From there, the story entails the Phantom's quest to win the only woman he could ever love, Raoul's character and integrity are challenged to the utmost, and Christine wavers between her devotion to her vows and her love for the one who inspired her voice and stole her heart.
Ms. Cole's characters are those we know and love and outside of Raoul's struggle with a situation that has the potential to destroy him, they are everything we could hope them to be. A few new and interesting characters are entwined in the ever interweaving fabric of our heroes/heroines lives, and they add a fresh, titillating, and at times, witty facet to the story that has enthralled millions for nearly a century. In addition to the fascinating characters, Ms. Cole also includes an imaginative touch to Erik's past and an enthralling development to ensure Christine's love. The ending, with its unique and unexpected twist, makes this one Phantom phic that is exciting and interesting to read.
In the past few years since the release of the 2004 movie, the market has seen quite a few versions of the Phantom's continuing story. Many of them are disappointing at best. But Ms. Cole's version is fast paced, fascinating, and at times, heart stopping. Thank you, Stef, for making the Phantom's story one that not only touches our hearts, but our souls as well!