Read November 4-8, 2025

Rating (5 stars)

https://a.co/d/6ZOO5B8

The classic story, but this time as seen Through the Eyes of the Opera Ghost

Step behind the curtain, strip away the costumes and makeup, and experience a story you thought you knew in a glorious new way.

Phantom of the Opera has long been a favorite of mine: the Broadway version, the original Leroux classic, and Ms DeSye’s own Phantom Rising trilogy. It’s been years since I read DeSye’s prior Phantom-themed books (9 of them to be exact)… but within moments of starting this book I was back, held in the Paris Opera House’s intoxicating embrace.

As the book’s title suggests, the tale is told exclusively from the perspective of Erik. From his shadowy secret passageways to his clandestine ‘service’ toward those less appreciated workers toiling behind the scenes of the Opera House, we see a different side of the Opera Ghost. Shocking events, like the brutal death of Joseph Buquet or the dazzling fall of the grand chandelier, are given new and alternate motivations in ways that feel true and organic. They turn a story we thought we knew into a new experience full of surprises, heartbreak, and loss. Living inside Erik’s hidden world was eye-opening. His heartbreak is visceral, his need for love and acceptance is a primal driving force and one we, as readers, can easily understand.

As in her earlier Phantom Rising series, Ms DeSye has captured the spirit of the original classic. The dialogue and prose feel true to the original. It was easy to get lost in the atmosphere of the opera, the love, betrayals, and sacrifice. Grab a glass of wine, curl up by the fire, and experience the story of Christine, Raoul, and Erik anew. You won’t be disappointed.