The Phoenix of the Opera by Sadie Montgomery
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Book Reviews of The Phoenix of the Opera
Book Review: A Toast to Sadie!
Summary: 5 Stars
A Toast to Sadie!
I am not a regular reader of romance novels. Too often, I find their plots predictable, descriptions clichéd, and characters one dimensional. Not so with The Phoenix of the
Opera. This is an arch romance that I couldn't put down. Sadie Montgomery has a flair for visual descriptions of places that beg to be inhabited by passionate and unruly characters boldly following the unexpected turns of their wickedly torturous fates. Sadie extrapolates a wealth of complication, nuance, and innuendo from the poignant story of the phantom that captivated so many on stage and screen. But her imaginative use of the motif of the beautiful/grotesque, seductive/repulsive, angelic/demonic hero is never forced or implausible. The story remains in the realm of the possible and gives great satisfaction to those of us who hated to see the blazing conclusion of the ill fated love story. So, in the realm of Sadie Montgomery's vivid and detailed imagination, Erik, Meg, and Christine merely begin their road of high adventure and suspense at the point where the more popular version ends. Furthermore, the end of The Phoenix of the Opera hardly closes the genre, but rather whets the appetite for many more complications and miss steps through three more sequels and the promise of even a few more from this prolific author.
As a reader who likes to find some dimension of reality illuminated, even in the most escapist of fiction, I really enjoyed the psychology of the outsider as portrayed in the novel. While Erik's struggle for normalcy is unique, his alienated view of society contains elements experienced by any individual who is in some way considered unacceptable. I would imagine that any person who has felt estranged (and haven't we all in some way?) identifies with Eric's battle against the demons inside and outside his head. Our surroundings may not be as exotic and haunting, our dilemmas not so stark, but we can learn from his courage, and the compassion of those who make the effort to understand, and even love him. That, to me, is the optimistic worldview that comes through the palimpsest of this high romance and is the extra bonus beyond a really absorbing and enjoyable read.
Book Review: Very Enjoyable.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is quite interesting to read. I think this author has an interesting style going for her writing.
This is a book where you have to pay attention to the narrative as you go along, but it isn't too annoying. It changes somewhat often but still moves along in it's own way, which I think I rather like. She has these paragraphs, that are just like a train of thought with virtually no punctuation, which intrigues me most about the writing style. I've never encountered anything like it before. It's a little hard to depict a break where a period or comma might be, but I don't mind that too much. It just makes me absorb more of what is being thought by the character and who the character really is.
I was mad at Erik during the ending of this book, for the way he treated Meg. But I could also understand why he did so. In other books I've always disliked Christine; for not choosing him of course, but this book shed a new light on things between her and The Phantom - mostly through view of the situation from Erik's point of view. It just really made me realize how strong his love and obsession was for her, maybe even stronger in this book than in others. I know he'll always have a spot for his beloved Christine, but I cannot wait to see how things unfold with him and Meg.
Also what I found very interesting in this book, that I have never seen in others, is that he actually got caught by police. He did not quite get away. Not so easily. He actually had to pay some amount for his crimes. While I simply adore The Phantom, it was about time someone had him pay for things he had done. Perhaps in the next books of this series it will help him move on from that bad part of his life and truly become more like a Phoenix and less like a Phantom.
Book Review: A story to be savored
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Phoenix of the Opera" is the first installment of a series which now includes 6 books. These books are based on the 2004 Phantom of the Opera movie and answer the question of what would have happened if Meg Giry had followed the Phantom through the mirror at the conclusion of the movie. The books remain true to the 2004 movie version which clearly shows that the Phantom, as a child, moved directly from the carnival to the opera house. I personally disagree with that scenario, but that was the creative decision of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Joel Schumacher, not Sadie Montgomery, who merely held true to their interpretation. For me, that sequence of events in Erik's life did not detract from the beauty of either the film or Ms. Montgomery's book.
The author tells a moving story of Erik, the Phantom, as he struggles to pull himself out of the depths of despair following the disaster at the opera house and Christine's departure with Raoul. Meg, who loves Erik, refuses to give up on a future with him and commits a desperate deception that nearly destroys not only Erik, but Meg's friendship with Christine.
There have been other books that have paired Erik with Meg, but, in my opinion, this one, along with the books that follow in the series, is the best of the best.
Book Review: Megerick Yee haw!
Summary: 5 Stars
When I watched Gerard Butler's Phantom of the Opera. I sobbed profusely at the poor Phantom left all alone in the end. One night while rewatching it came to me like an epiphany that the blond followed the Phantom through the broken mirror with his mask.
I thought that I had a original idea. I had no idea someone else had thought of it.
Then I found out about Sadie.
I wanted Meg and Erik to immediately fall in love when I started reading Phoenix of the Opera.
Sadie was much wiser than me.Of course this would not be immediate many other things had to happen.
There had to be heartache and suffering.
Angst.
No love story is not going to be any good with angst and obstacles.
I was delighted to see Christine and Raoul were kept in the story.
To all the people who cannot fathom Megerik, (My Mixed name for Meg and Erik like Brangelina) I dare you to read Sadie's books and open your minds to the possibilities.
This book will tear out your heart and give you hope at the same time and it leaves you longing for the sequels.
It is a page turner that keeps your eyes glued and your finger eagerly turning the pages to what comes next.
I highly recommend it.
Tracy Holmes
Book Review: Continuation of the Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
Having loved the "Phantom of the Opera" movie and on stage and seeing both multiple times, I'm a bonafide Phantom fan. I've read other Phantom fiction, but I think this is the best of them all. It's like Sadie's writing style is a continuation of the movie. The characters are still who they were when we last saw them on screen, and we are seeing them as they grow and deal with the decisions they have made. They have made choices, but the feelings (both good and bad)are just as strong.
I liked Meg in the movie and wanted more of a storyline for her, and this satisfies that desire. Although she loves Erik and he cares for her, his all consuming passion is still Christine. That's how I believe it should be at this point in their story since a love as great as his for her will never completely die.
Ms. Montgomery's "run-on" style when a character is dreaming or thinking did take some getting used to in the beginning, but then you realize that's exactly how our minds operate (or at least mine does, but that may be a personal problem. :o).
I bought all four books in the series and still have three more to read, but this one is a definite keeper. I'm glad I bought them all.