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Gilded Monsters #4
Cruel Angel
There was a time I felt lost and alone…until I met them, and together our souls took My gentle Raoul and our deadly Angel of Music.
Haunted by the violent death of her parents, Christine Daaé longs to find solace in music, but debilitating stage fright keeps her firmly in the shadows. All she can hope for is a few stolen moments singing to herself in the mournful silence of the backstage stairwell…until one night, the shadows sing back.
In exchange for complete devotion, her mysterious Phantom promises to teach her everything he knows—and with his praise boosting her confidence, Christine is finally able to take center stage…catching the eye of her sweet childhood friend turned something more, Raoul.
But her mysterious mentor is as obsessive as he is demanding, and he will not share Christine with anyone—not unless he can have them both in a bargain that is as dangerous as it is seductive. Light and shadows, gentleness and raging passion, the three of them should not fit so perfectly together. Yet as a supernatural force looms, ready to tear them apart forever, Christine must decide if love can truly exist in the space between beauty and madness…and whether she's finally ready to fully embrace the music of the night.
An addictive and truly original spicy New Adult retelling of The Phantom of the Opera with a magical twist.
RICH BONUS FEATURES
Gorgeous b&w interior artAdditional scenesAnd more!
Haunted by the violent death of her parents, Christine Daaé longs to find solace in music, but debilitating stage fright keeps her firmly in the shadows. All she can hope for is a few stolen moments singing to herself in the mournful silence of the backstage stairwell…until one night, the shadows sing back.
In exchange for complete devotion, her mysterious Phantom promises to teach her everything he knows—and with his praise boosting her confidence, Christine is finally able to take center stage…catching the eye of her sweet childhood friend turned something more, Raoul.
But her mysterious mentor is as obsessive as he is demanding, and he will not share Christine with anyone—not unless he can have them both in a bargain that is as dangerous as it is seductive. Light and shadows, gentleness and raging passion, the three of them should not fit so perfectly together. Yet as a supernatural force looms, ready to tear them apart forever, Christine must decide if love can truly exist in the space between beauty and madness…and whether she's finally ready to fully embrace the music of the night.
An addictive and truly original spicy New Adult retelling of The Phantom of the Opera with a magical twist.
RICH BONUS FEATURES
Gorgeous b&w interior artAdditional scenesAnd more!
ebook
First published April 14, 2026
About the author
Rebecca F. Kenney
79 books3,044 followersRebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
January 16, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Cruel Angel is a standalone spicy retelling of Phantom of the Opera set in modern day times.
Christine Daaè is alone. Orphaned after her parents and siblings were killed during their time in a cult fighting a war they believed in, Christine has lived her life since working for a friend of her family and longing to sing. Her only solace is when she let's herself go to the music but her crippling stage fright keeps her from pursuing a career. When the Angel speaks to her one evening and begins to teach and guide her to reach her full potential and gain her confidence to audition for the lead in the upcoming production by Raoul, Christine finds her emotions stirring for them both. As she gets closer to them both and they get closer not just to her but to each other, why should any of them choose when they could all have each other.
This book is very spicy and includes vampires, shifters, magic, darkness, and pain, as well as trigger warnings that I would advise you to check out before reading.
I loved the song titles dropped like Easter eggs within the book, which any phantom fan will delight in.
Cruel Angel is a standalone spicy retelling of Phantom of the Opera set in modern day times.
Christine Daaè is alone. Orphaned after her parents and siblings were killed during their time in a cult fighting a war they believed in, Christine has lived her life since working for a friend of her family and longing to sing. Her only solace is when she let's herself go to the music but her crippling stage fright keeps her from pursuing a career. When the Angel speaks to her one evening and begins to teach and guide her to reach her full potential and gain her confidence to audition for the lead in the upcoming production by Raoul, Christine finds her emotions stirring for them both. As she gets closer to them both and they get closer not just to her but to each other, why should any of them choose when they could all have each other.
This book is very spicy and includes vampires, shifters, magic, darkness, and pain, as well as trigger warnings that I would advise you to check out before reading.
I loved the song titles dropped like Easter eggs within the book, which any phantom fan will delight in.
December 26, 2025
I really enjoy Rebecca Kenneys retellings and im super into phantom of the opera at the moment. I love how the author gives the characters a modern unique twist to their characters that sets them aside from their original stories. Definitely recommend if you’re a fan of retellings or the original plot
April 8, 2026
₊✧ ｡🩰⊹₊🎭 ˚₊◞ ｡
⭐️⭐️.5/5
First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book an exchange for an honest review! Going into this book. I had no prior knowledge of the Phantom of the Opera, obviously I knew what it was, but I’ve never read or watched it. BUT- I imagine it’s nothing like this. I’m going to do my best to keep this review spoiler free, but I think it’s going to be really hard to explain all the transgressions without giving away what happens in the story.
Cruel angel is a why-choose, new adult retelling of The Phantom of the Opera with a magical twist.
Right off the bat I was kind of overwhelmed with everything that was going on. There was a lot of terminology just thrown around that wasn’t completely explained, and I suppose it could’ve been for dramatic effect, but it came across to me as just being disconnected and confusing. For example, the explanation Christine gives the Phantom of the Progney is seemingly skimmed over. It’s talked a lot about in the first part of the book and then suddenly it was like it was no big deal to her. There was just so many random supernatural aspects and although I think they had the potential to all work together okay within one book, it felt like it made the story cluttered, and like the author was trying to incorporate any supernatural creature she could think of. I also think some of the references to actual religious beliefs, such as the Tutha Dé Danann, weren’t explained properly-- the god of death isn’t actually “one of the important ones.“ and also when it was brought up, it was written as if it was only one being when in reality it consists of multiple gods (which is mentioned later in the story).
My biggest criticism of the book is it’s overly descriptive. Sometimes a lot of descriptive wording is nice and it helps to picture the story, but in this case, it definitely felt more like I was being told “this, this, and this happened,” rather than being in the moment and experiencing it alongside the characters. It just felt like a lot of unnecessary fluff. There was also maybe some formatting errors - like the people who confronted Christine about the changes to the musical were not the same people that decided to move forward with the changes (but I could've misunderstood?). And there's small trivial things I could complain about like trying to flex being "from Nashville" and "knowing" cowboy boots, but then just randomly popping a cowboy hat onto someone's head and it fitting perfectly, when Cowboy hats actually have specific head sizes... Anyways, I think a lot of the story was overthought, but at the same time most of it was under developed.
With that being said, I also think there wasn’t enough plot in the actual story. And I don’t mean there’s so much smut that there’s no plot. I mean that it kind of just jumps around from plot point to plot point. It didn’t feel like we or the characters were able to sit in the emotions and feel them. It was just kind of rushed through to get to the end. The first quarter to third of the book went really smoothly for me as I was just trying to understand what was going on and it kept me engaged enough, but after that, it really dragged on and just felt annoying. Not even the smut aspect could save this for me.
That also leads me to say -> I didn’t feel any real connection between Raoul, Christine and Erik. SORRY. The relationship between Raul and Erik was the hardest for me to believe considering how it first occurred. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for stalker drama romance, whatever, but in the scenario, it was just extremely hard to believe. I think Christine and Erik did have some genuine connection in the beginning, but as the story dragged on it all felt like everyone was settling because they didn’t know who else to look for.
Now that I've basically shit all over this book, allow me to quote a few parts I did enjoy (or at the very least made me giggle):
🎭 "Music is a mercy. It tears my emotions out of my chest and lets them sore in midair, exposed and soothed at the same time."
🎭 "I dream in cotton candy colors, but the reality is a sour gummy worm, dust coated too hard to chew."
🎭 "Adulation and accolades mean nothing. The only thing that matters is the power you posses to stir a soul, to move emotions, to alter the course of a heart."
🎭 “I suffer this violent need to be with you, against you, inside you – to protect you and to seek the best for you. I will defy and destroy anyone who might threaten your well-being or your dreams. Is that love?”
🎭 ""What are you doing? Do you want to fuck again?" "Not right now. I'm just giving you a hug." "A hug," he repeats"
🎭 "Go, blood queen, songstress, muse of mine, before I forget that you do not wish to be fucked in the miasma of death."
🎭 "Kill me first. I deserve death far more than I deserve your love... Kill me, darling, for failing you."
🎭 "I fear the end of possibilities, of choices. I will strive to remain in this world as long as I can to be with those I adore and to contribute something beautiful. Yes, I fear the end. It is only natural... Only human. But I will not let the terror of death control me or steal the joy from the experience of living."
I really thought I was going to enjoy this book, but I just didn’t. I do think I’m going to read other books in this series because the premise of them sound promising, and maybe it’s just because this is an ARC that the editing didn’t feel as precise? Idk. I feel like I'm a huge hater right now.
⭐️⭐️.5/5
First of all, thank you so much to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an ARC of this book an exchange for an honest review! Going into this book. I had no prior knowledge of the Phantom of the Opera, obviously I knew what it was, but I’ve never read or watched it. BUT- I imagine it’s nothing like this. I’m going to do my best to keep this review spoiler free, but I think it’s going to be really hard to explain all the transgressions without giving away what happens in the story.
Cruel angel is a why-choose, new adult retelling of The Phantom of the Opera with a magical twist.
Right off the bat I was kind of overwhelmed with everything that was going on. There was a lot of terminology just thrown around that wasn’t completely explained, and I suppose it could’ve been for dramatic effect, but it came across to me as just being disconnected and confusing. For example, the explanation Christine gives the Phantom of the Progney is seemingly skimmed over. It’s talked a lot about in the first part of the book and then suddenly it was like it was no big deal to her. There was just so many random supernatural aspects and although I think they had the potential to all work together okay within one book, it felt like it made the story cluttered, and like the author was trying to incorporate any supernatural creature she could think of. I also think some of the references to actual religious beliefs, such as the Tutha Dé Danann, weren’t explained properly-- the god of death isn’t actually “one of the important ones.“ and also when it was brought up, it was written as if it was only one being when in reality it consists of multiple gods (which is mentioned later in the story).
My biggest criticism of the book is it’s overly descriptive. Sometimes a lot of descriptive wording is nice and it helps to picture the story, but in this case, it definitely felt more like I was being told “this, this, and this happened,” rather than being in the moment and experiencing it alongside the characters. It just felt like a lot of unnecessary fluff. There was also maybe some formatting errors - like the people who confronted Christine about the changes to the musical were not the same people that decided to move forward with the changes (but I could've misunderstood?). And there's small trivial things I could complain about like trying to flex being "from Nashville" and "knowing" cowboy boots, but then just randomly popping a cowboy hat onto someone's head and it fitting perfectly, when Cowboy hats actually have specific head sizes... Anyways, I think a lot of the story was overthought, but at the same time most of it was under developed.
With that being said, I also think there wasn’t enough plot in the actual story. And I don’t mean there’s so much smut that there’s no plot. I mean that it kind of just jumps around from plot point to plot point. It didn’t feel like we or the characters were able to sit in the emotions and feel them. It was just kind of rushed through to get to the end. The first quarter to third of the book went really smoothly for me as I was just trying to understand what was going on and it kept me engaged enough, but after that, it really dragged on and just felt annoying. Not even the smut aspect could save this for me.
That also leads me to say -> I didn’t feel any real connection between Raoul, Christine and Erik. SORRY. The relationship between Raul and Erik was the hardest for me to believe considering how it first occurred. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for stalker drama romance, whatever, but in the scenario, it was just extremely hard to believe. I think Christine and Erik did have some genuine connection in the beginning, but as the story dragged on it all felt like everyone was settling because they didn’t know who else to look for.
Now that I've basically shit all over this book, allow me to quote a few parts I did enjoy (or at the very least made me giggle):
🎭 "Music is a mercy. It tears my emotions out of my chest and lets them sore in midair, exposed and soothed at the same time."
🎭 "I dream in cotton candy colors, but the reality is a sour gummy worm, dust coated too hard to chew."
🎭 "Adulation and accolades mean nothing. The only thing that matters is the power you posses to stir a soul, to move emotions, to alter the course of a heart."
🎭 “I suffer this violent need to be with you, against you, inside you – to protect you and to seek the best for you. I will defy and destroy anyone who might threaten your well-being or your dreams. Is that love?”
🎭 ""What are you doing? Do you want to fuck again?" "Not right now. I'm just giving you a hug." "A hug," he repeats"
🎭 "Go, blood queen, songstress, muse of mine, before I forget that you do not wish to be fucked in the miasma of death."
🎭 "Kill me first. I deserve death far more than I deserve your love... Kill me, darling, for failing you."
🎭 "I fear the end of possibilities, of choices. I will strive to remain in this world as long as I can to be with those I adore and to contribute something beautiful. Yes, I fear the end. It is only natural... Only human. But I will not let the terror of death control me or steal the joy from the experience of living."
I really thought I was going to enjoy this book, but I just didn’t. I do think I’m going to read other books in this series because the premise of them sound promising, and maybe it’s just because this is an ARC that the editing didn’t feel as precise? Idk. I feel like I'm a huge hater right now.
December 11, 2025
Phantom of the Opera retelling plus why choose with ⚔️?! What’s not to love!! This was such a smutty, enjoyable read!!
Christine lost her parents and left their cult and is now trying to survive on her own. Christine has a passion for singing and dancing but is too shy to share her singing passion with the world until an “Angel” hears her singing in the back stairwell of work one day. The Angel encourages Christine to perfect her voice and begins giving her vocal coaching, all without ever seeing one another. Christine tries out for a play as a singer and the Playwrite happens to be her childhood friend Raoul. Raoul begins pining but the dark, possessive angel must both protect Christine and help her flourish by slightly threatening Raoul to get her the lead role.
Raoul and the Angels chemistry is immediate and so delicious. The Angel aka the Phantom struggles with his jealousy and wanting to keep Christine all to himself. Neither knows that Christine is harboring a big secret. What other secrets are there?
This book kept me guessing constantly and some of those guesses were wrong 🤣 I was thoroughly entertained and I love a good, smutty standalone from Rebecca Kenney!
Read this if you like:
🎭 MMF why choose
🎭 Phantom of the Opera retelling
🎭 paranormal world with a multitude of creatures
🎭 mutual pining
🎭 spicy scenes
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you to Rebecca Kenney for the giveaway copy! Thank you for letting me participate in the giveaway and letting me read this one early!
Cruel Angel releases on April 14, 2026!!
Christine lost her parents and left their cult and is now trying to survive on her own. Christine has a passion for singing and dancing but is too shy to share her singing passion with the world until an “Angel” hears her singing in the back stairwell of work one day. The Angel encourages Christine to perfect her voice and begins giving her vocal coaching, all without ever seeing one another. Christine tries out for a play as a singer and the Playwrite happens to be her childhood friend Raoul. Raoul begins pining but the dark, possessive angel must both protect Christine and help her flourish by slightly threatening Raoul to get her the lead role.
Raoul and the Angels chemistry is immediate and so delicious. The Angel aka the Phantom struggles with his jealousy and wanting to keep Christine all to himself. Neither knows that Christine is harboring a big secret. What other secrets are there?
This book kept me guessing constantly and some of those guesses were wrong 🤣 I was thoroughly entertained and I love a good, smutty standalone from Rebecca Kenney!
Read this if you like:
🎭 MMF why choose
🎭 Phantom of the Opera retelling
🎭 paranormal world with a multitude of creatures
🎭 mutual pining
🎭 spicy scenes
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5
Thank you to Rebecca Kenney for the giveaway copy! Thank you for letting me participate in the giveaway and letting me read this one early!
Cruel Angel releases on April 14, 2026!!
April 20, 2026
This was, overall, entertaining. The spice was top tier and the main characters were all compelling. However, I felt like there was just waaaaaaaaaay too much going on to truly love it. It was as if the author couldn't decide which supernatural tropes she wanted to use and was like, "Screw it. I'm gonna use them ALL!"
And when I say "all," I do mean *all* of them! There was everything from Gods, to necromancy, to ghosts, to vampires, to werewolves, to shifters, and more. It was just a little... *much.* I felt that with so many different themes packed into it, it didn't really give me the chance to truly fall in love with the characters or their relationship. Everything felt like an overwhelming speed run.
Now, if it had been a retelling of The Phantom with like *one* supernatural aspect added to it, that could have worked a lot better. As it was, it read like ADHD: paranormal romance edition.
I feel like Phantom by Greer Rivers did the modern retelling of the phantom just a *little* bit better. While I gave it the same rating as this one (because it had a few of its own shortcomings), Rivers actually let the characters shine and allowed the reader to truly get to know them without overpowering the plot with a million and one themes. So, if you're looking for an urban retelling of TPOTO I would recommend that one just a bit more.
And when I say "all," I do mean *all* of them! There was everything from Gods, to necromancy, to ghosts, to vampires, to werewolves, to shifters, and more. It was just a little... *much.* I felt that with so many different themes packed into it, it didn't really give me the chance to truly fall in love with the characters or their relationship. Everything felt like an overwhelming speed run.
Now, if it had been a retelling of The Phantom with like *one* supernatural aspect added to it, that could have worked a lot better. As it was, it read like ADHD: paranormal romance edition.
I feel like Phantom by Greer Rivers did the modern retelling of the phantom just a *little* bit better. While I gave it the same rating as this one (because it had a few of its own shortcomings), Rivers actually let the characters shine and allowed the reader to truly get to know them without overpowering the plot with a million and one themes. So, if you're looking for an urban retelling of TPOTO I would recommend that one just a bit more.
April 16, 2026
'And in this fragmented reality, in this whirl of hidden faces and broken souls, the one truth is music. Vicious, panting, tremulous, thunderous music, changing every few minutes yet always the same, speaking the language of humanity, lacerating the soul, stirring the blood.' (Ch 21)
Dark Romantasy | Phantom of the Opera Retelling / Reimagined | Supernatural | Morally Grey | Mental Health Rep | MMF
I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I believe they can be read as standalones. There were characters referenced in this book that I assume were in previous books, but it didn't seem to cause much confusion or impede reading this story comfortably.
'The only thing that matters is the power you possess to stir a soul, to move emotions, to alter the course of a heart.' (Ch 5)
Christine - a dancer/singer, Phantom - a damaged entity, and Raoul - a poet/writer — all bearing a traumatic past — are drawn to each other. Hate and jealousy transform. They form a bond through the power of music and shared desire.
'We crave something a little twisted, something to command our minds entirely, to pull us out of ourselves and set us free to enjoy the wildest heights of pleasure.' (Ch 18)
They all harbor a secret. Raoul surprised me with his. I knew something wasn't right with him, but when it came out, I did not expect it! And neither did Phantom and Christine, apparently!
'"....I will defy and destroy anyone who might threaten your well-being or your dreams. Is that love?” (Ch 19)
Lessons have to be learned before they can heal. Love that each of them discover or overcome something about themselves in this, in addition to finding each other.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Sourcebooks Casablanca
Dark Romantasy | Phantom of the Opera Retelling / Reimagined | Supernatural | Morally Grey | Mental Health Rep | MMF
I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I believe they can be read as standalones. There were characters referenced in this book that I assume were in previous books, but it didn't seem to cause much confusion or impede reading this story comfortably.
'The only thing that matters is the power you possess to stir a soul, to move emotions, to alter the course of a heart.' (Ch 5)
Christine - a dancer/singer, Phantom - a damaged entity, and Raoul - a poet/writer — all bearing a traumatic past — are drawn to each other. Hate and jealousy transform. They form a bond through the power of music and shared desire.
'We crave something a little twisted, something to command our minds entirely, to pull us out of ourselves and set us free to enjoy the wildest heights of pleasure.' (Ch 18)
They all harbor a secret. Raoul surprised me with his. I knew something wasn't right with him, but when it came out, I did not expect it! And neither did Phantom and Christine, apparently!
'"....I will defy and destroy anyone who might threaten your well-being or your dreams. Is that love?” (Ch 19)
Lessons have to be learned before they can heal. Love that each of them discover or overcome something about themselves in this, in addition to finding each other.
eARC courtesy of NetGalley | Sourcebooks Casablanca
February 3, 2026
I was provided an ARC of this title for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts are my own.
Cruel Angel is the fourth title of Rebecca Kenney’s Gilded Monsters series, is a Phantom of the Opera reimagining, and follows The Phantom, Raoul and Christine.
The Phantom, The Poet and The Blood Queen.
Rebecca has such a way with words and reading this book reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with her writing. I’ve always admired the way she can take a beloved classic and put her own fantastical spin upon it, sweeping me away into the story and stealing my heart time and again.
Book four of her Gilded Monsters series immerses readers within a lush world of artistry, where music bridges the gap between unlikely bedfellows, and there’s more to pretty much everyone than meets the eye.
Read this if you love:
New Adult paranormal romance
Multi POV
“Mine”
MFM / throuple vibes
Magic
Supernatural creatures
Complex family dynamics
LGBTQIA+ rep
Longing
Mental health rep
Morally gray characters
Secrets aplenty
Medium burn
Groveling
& honestly so much more— please go read this series.
Thank you to Rebecca F Kenney, SourceBooks Casablanca & NetGalley for the early digital ARC.
Cruel Angel is the fourth title of Rebecca Kenney’s Gilded Monsters series, is a Phantom of the Opera reimagining, and follows The Phantom, Raoul and Christine.
The Phantom, The Poet and The Blood Queen.
Rebecca has such a way with words and reading this book reminded me of all the reasons I fell in love with her writing. I’ve always admired the way she can take a beloved classic and put her own fantastical spin upon it, sweeping me away into the story and stealing my heart time and again.
Book four of her Gilded Monsters series immerses readers within a lush world of artistry, where music bridges the gap between unlikely bedfellows, and there’s more to pretty much everyone than meets the eye.
Read this if you love:
New Adult paranormal romance
Multi POV
“Mine”
MFM / throuple vibes
Magic
Supernatural creatures
Complex family dynamics
LGBTQIA+ rep
Longing
Mental health rep
Morally gray characters
Secrets aplenty
Medium burn
Groveling
& honestly so much more— please go read this series.
Thank you to Rebecca F Kenney, SourceBooks Casablanca & NetGalley for the early digital ARC.
April 17, 2026
5/5 this was everything I needed it to be.
underrated threesome dynamic of herding dog x lamb x wolf
this was a phantom-tastic retelling. and having it be why choose with sword crossing was even better.
we have everyone's pov (christine, raoul and the phantom's) and each one fit so perfectly for their character. rebecca truly captured their characters well and gave them each a twist that made this retelling not only her own take but also was an honor to the original classic we know and love.
christine was wonderful. i looovve that she's a vampire. I hadnt been expecting that when i initially picked this up. as the story progressed i loved seeing her trying to manage her vampirism with her jobs and her singing lessons and her dance lessons. she felt very relatable, especially nowadays when most of us are trying so hard to make ends meet while still trying to pursue what interests us. its a difficult thing to balance and it made christine feel very alive and relatable. her horrible parents and the loss of her siblings added a depth to christine's character that i didn't know she was missing, but im glad those things were added to give her even more layers.
raoul was a delight. him being a werewolf also wasnt on my radar when i initially picked this up, but i was intrigued the further i read. having him finally be able to shift because he's loved for once in his life was very touching, and I feel like a lot of us can transform like he did if we were loved properly instead of punished in one way or another.
the phantom. he was interesting and i feel like i was missing just a litle bit of who he was/where he came from since it believe he's either in book 1 or 3 -- both of which i havent read yet... ( i read book 2 last year) but daisy is mentioned a few times and so are banshees so i guess i gotta read those to really get his origins. but with that aside, i loved reading his pov. his quest for knowledge and to create music was captured really well. in fact there were several lines about creating in this story that i really enjoyed. ill leave them down below if i remember lol.
the phantom at first being unwilling to share christine with raoul was kinda obvious, but his willingness to open himself up to her and raoul, his willingness to surrender his control at all for raoul was delicious and i love it when a man gets on his knees for those he loves. the spice within this story was wonderful, and done rather well. the car scene was fun, and since im thinking about it -- the homophobes at the harvest/carnival thing and having raoul and the phantom stand up for their relationship was a delight to see. thruples exist and they shouldnt have to hide themselves for the sake of others. and the dancing scene, getting the phantom to dance... getting to see the phantom live and do something adjacent to creating music (dancing) was fun. seeing them live was wonderful.
now the progeny -- perhaps im missing stuff since i know book 1 covers vampires x gatsby but i was rather confused about them and why they mattered apart from them taking everything from christine and having her be turned into a vampire. maybe im missing something about them or maybe that was their only purpose.
and raoul's bitch of a sister. man... fuck her and how she treated raoul. honestly im glad raoul and christine took her out. while i could never imagine killing my own sibling, i can see and understand (and condone) why raoul took her out.
now the ending seemed a little silly - taking the muscial on the road??? not sure that i loved that bit, but i did love that everyone got to pursue their dreams and could execute them and get the happy ending they deserved. this was a phantom-tastical phantom retelling and i will be recommending this to everyone who will listen to me yap about it.
*and for a side rant about llyod-henry and the sea god.... i know im missing a bit of their story, which i plan to get to very soon... but i need to know what's wrong with lloyd-henry and his shifting... and i need the sea god to get with the morrigan... this needs to happen asap... but i havent heard any rumors about any more books in this series... soooo i do hope there's maybe more to come....
the writing of this one vs a court of hearts and hunger (the latest Rebecca Kenney book I read - which I know aren't similar at all) felt very different. this one felt much more polished, much deeper in terms of connecting with each character in their POV. I dont think that has anything to do with the fact that one was trad pub's vs. indie pub'd... but it is something I noticed as I was reading. This one felt deeper, whereas H&H felt very surface level when it came to connecting with each character and forming a bond with them.
underrated threesome dynamic of herding dog x lamb x wolf
this was a phantom-tastic retelling. and having it be why choose with sword crossing was even better.
we have everyone's pov (christine, raoul and the phantom's) and each one fit so perfectly for their character. rebecca truly captured their characters well and gave them each a twist that made this retelling not only her own take but also was an honor to the original classic we know and love.
christine was wonderful. i looovve that she's a vampire. I hadnt been expecting that when i initially picked this up. as the story progressed i loved seeing her trying to manage her vampirism with her jobs and her singing lessons and her dance lessons. she felt very relatable, especially nowadays when most of us are trying so hard to make ends meet while still trying to pursue what interests us. its a difficult thing to balance and it made christine feel very alive and relatable. her horrible parents and the loss of her siblings added a depth to christine's character that i didn't know she was missing, but im glad those things were added to give her even more layers.
raoul was a delight. him being a werewolf also wasnt on my radar when i initially picked this up, but i was intrigued the further i read. having him finally be able to shift because he's loved for once in his life was very touching, and I feel like a lot of us can transform like he did if we were loved properly instead of punished in one way or another.
the phantom. he was interesting and i feel like i was missing just a litle bit of who he was/where he came from since it believe he's either in book 1 or 3 -- both of which i havent read yet... ( i read book 2 last year) but daisy is mentioned a few times and so are banshees so i guess i gotta read those to really get his origins. but with that aside, i loved reading his pov. his quest for knowledge and to create music was captured really well. in fact there were several lines about creating in this story that i really enjoyed. ill leave them down below if i remember lol.
the phantom at first being unwilling to share christine with raoul was kinda obvious, but his willingness to open himself up to her and raoul, his willingness to surrender his control at all for raoul was delicious and i love it when a man gets on his knees for those he loves. the spice within this story was wonderful, and done rather well. the car scene was fun, and since im thinking about it -- the homophobes at the harvest/carnival thing and having raoul and the phantom stand up for their relationship was a delight to see. thruples exist and they shouldnt have to hide themselves for the sake of others. and the dancing scene, getting the phantom to dance... getting to see the phantom live and do something adjacent to creating music (dancing) was fun. seeing them live was wonderful.
now the progeny -- perhaps im missing stuff since i know book 1 covers vampires x gatsby but i was rather confused about them and why they mattered apart from them taking everything from christine and having her be turned into a vampire. maybe im missing something about them or maybe that was their only purpose.
and raoul's bitch of a sister. man... fuck her and how she treated raoul. honestly im glad raoul and christine took her out. while i could never imagine killing my own sibling, i can see and understand (and condone) why raoul took her out.
now the ending seemed a little silly - taking the muscial on the road??? not sure that i loved that bit, but i did love that everyone got to pursue their dreams and could execute them and get the happy ending they deserved. this was a phantom-tastical phantom retelling and i will be recommending this to everyone who will listen to me yap about it.
*and for a side rant about llyod-henry and the sea god.... i know im missing a bit of their story, which i plan to get to very soon... but i need to know what's wrong with lloyd-henry and his shifting... and i need the sea god to get with the morrigan... this needs to happen asap... but i havent heard any rumors about any more books in this series... soooo i do hope there's maybe more to come....
the writing of this one vs a court of hearts and hunger (the latest Rebecca Kenney book I read - which I know aren't similar at all) felt very different. this one felt much more polished, much deeper in terms of connecting with each character in their POV. I dont think that has anything to do with the fact that one was trad pub's vs. indie pub'd... but it is something I noticed as I was reading. This one felt deeper, whereas H&H felt very surface level when it came to connecting with each character and forming a bond with them.
Read
April 14, 2026I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review. The opinions thus forward are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is an unbelievably delicious why choose romance retelling of Phantom of the Opera. Cruel Angel is the fourth book in the Monster series by Rebecca Kenney. This book drops readers into the paranormal world with shifters, vampires, and lots of other magical creatures. This was my first book by Rebecca Kenney, and I was intrigued with her writing. It was a very heavy in the paranormal sense. There was so much information going around that I had a tough time keeping up at moments, the book is a very fast paced read. I am one of those readers who cannot wait for the smut to begin so the insta lust was a plus for me.
This book includes:
Multi POV
Throuple
Why Choose MMF
PNR
Modern Retelling
Sword crossing – iykyk 🤤
Obsession
Longing
Morally Grey
Traumatic Pasts
I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for the early copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This is an unbelievably delicious why choose romance retelling of Phantom of the Opera. Cruel Angel is the fourth book in the Monster series by Rebecca Kenney. This book drops readers into the paranormal world with shifters, vampires, and lots of other magical creatures. This was my first book by Rebecca Kenney, and I was intrigued with her writing. It was a very heavy in the paranormal sense. There was so much information going around that I had a tough time keeping up at moments, the book is a very fast paced read. I am one of those readers who cannot wait for the smut to begin so the insta lust was a plus for me.
This book includes:
Multi POV
Throuple
Why Choose MMF
PNR
Modern Retelling
Sword crossing – iykyk 🤤
Obsession
Longing
Morally Grey
Traumatic Pasts
I would like to thank NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for the early copy.
March 17, 2026
There was a bit too much supernatural elements going on for me to fully engage in this story…
I love a Phantom of the Opera retelling, so I was really excited going in... but between the heavy supernatural elements and the insta love?? I just never felt fully pulled into the story
I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click… and it just didn’t happen for me
That being said, I can definitely see how this could work for readers who enjoy heavier supernatural elements and faster paced romance it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally
I love a Phantom of the Opera retelling, so I was really excited going in... but between the heavy supernatural elements and the insta love?? I just never felt fully pulled into the story
I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click… and it just didn’t happen for me
That being said, I can definitely see how this could work for readers who enjoy heavier supernatural elements and faster paced romance it just wasn’t the right fit for me personally
March 8, 2026
3.5/5 stars
phantom of the opera is one of my all time favorite musicals so when i saw a phantom inspired romantasy i knew i had to read it. this was really interesting because it has a paranormal aspect, which got a little spooky!! the tension between the characters was my absolute favorite part of this story. it was soooo good. i will say, this did confuse me A LOT at times. there were a few plot holes and this was a little all over the place. this was a very fast paced and entertaining read for me though and i’m interested in reading more from the author!
phantom of the opera is one of my all time favorite musicals so when i saw a phantom inspired romantasy i knew i had to read it. this was really interesting because it has a paranormal aspect, which got a little spooky!! the tension between the characters was my absolute favorite part of this story. it was soooo good. i will say, this did confuse me A LOT at times. there were a few plot holes and this was a little all over the place. this was a very fast paced and entertaining read for me though and i’m interested in reading more from the author!
December 12, 2025
Thank you to Rebecca for the opportunity to read the ARC!
This was a really interesting, smutty fantasy take on The Phantom of the Opera. I only know the outline of the plot, so I did go into this fairly blind compared to fans of the musical and the book.
I definitely did not expect the revelation about Christine’s real nature, and I thought that was a great choice. As with a lot of Rebecca’s FMCs, it’s refreshing and different that she wasn’t an entirely innocent ingenue. She did a great job of writing her backstory (and all of the characters)
Angel is possessive in a way where I still found it exciting and darkly romantic, rather than tipping me over to a point where I felt put off. I think I enjoyed reading his POV the most, probably in part because that’s where you see the most character development, and there were some surprisingly beautiful lines in there.
Raoul’s POV was perhaps the least interesting for me to read, but he was very sweet and a perfect foil to Angel - kind of the glue that held the three MCs together. He and Christine share a similar background in some ways, but it shaped them very differently.
The dynamic between the three characters wasn’t what I expected but made complete sense to me. I thought Rebecca built the sexual tension between the characters really well, and the cute date chapter was a very pleasant surprise, such a nice change of pace from a book with fairly dark themes.
I’d anticipated the ending a bit earlier than it came, and I was surprised to realise I had 20% to go! That said, the ending did wrap up the story in a way that made you feel the characters could completely move on from their past.
This was a really interesting, smutty fantasy take on The Phantom of the Opera. I only know the outline of the plot, so I did go into this fairly blind compared to fans of the musical and the book.
I definitely did not expect the revelation about Christine’s real nature, and I thought that was a great choice. As with a lot of Rebecca’s FMCs, it’s refreshing and different that she wasn’t an entirely innocent ingenue. She did a great job of writing her backstory (and all of the characters)
Angel is possessive in a way where I still found it exciting and darkly romantic, rather than tipping me over to a point where I felt put off. I think I enjoyed reading his POV the most, probably in part because that’s where you see the most character development, and there were some surprisingly beautiful lines in there.
Raoul’s POV was perhaps the least interesting for me to read, but he was very sweet and a perfect foil to Angel - kind of the glue that held the three MCs together. He and Christine share a similar background in some ways, but it shaped them very differently.
The dynamic between the three characters wasn’t what I expected but made complete sense to me. I thought Rebecca built the sexual tension between the characters really well, and the cute date chapter was a very pleasant surprise, such a nice change of pace from a book with fairly dark themes.
I’d anticipated the ending a bit earlier than it came, and I was surprised to realise I had 20% to go! That said, the ending did wrap up the story in a way that made you feel the characters could completely move on from their past.
April 10, 2026
Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca #partner for entrusting me with an early copy!
Cruel Angel by Rebecca Kenney
Gilded Monsters book 4 (standalones)
Releases 4/14
Spicy dark (and paranormal) Phantom of the Opera Retelling
Multiple POV, throuple, MMF, obsession, traumatic pasts, gods/vampires/shifters, love story to music, angst and longing, morally grey everyone, ghost minions
Music is Christine's life and while she loves dancing as a performer, she dreams of singing on stage. The problem? Her crippling stage fright. When she meets a mysterious being in the theatre, he tells her he will help her with her singing. He helps her feel alive and she brings light to his solitary existence. And he is head over heels for her while she is also catching feelings. Soon she is auditioning for a musical and finding herself drawn to the creator of the play, Raoul. Her mysterious angel gets possessive and tries to scare Raoul away, but feelings develop between them too!
What a great time! It's definitely dark, the Phantom definitely is morally grey, and there is lots of angst. Which is exactly what I was in the mood for! AND on top of everything, there are paranormal creatures like vampires and shifters to up the danger and action! All three of our characters have trauma they are dealing with and the journey to them helping each other is so good. They are all hurting so much and I love them together! I'm also a sucker for when the boyfriends are also boyfriends! We are still learning pieces of the past and secrets as the story unfolds, which keeps the interest going. This is part of a series but can be read alone - I haven't read the rest of these yet, but now I want to!
Cruel Angel by Rebecca Kenney
Gilded Monsters book 4 (standalones)
Releases 4/14
Spicy dark (and paranormal) Phantom of the Opera Retelling
Multiple POV, throuple, MMF, obsession, traumatic pasts, gods/vampires/shifters, love story to music, angst and longing, morally grey everyone, ghost minions
Music is Christine's life and while she loves dancing as a performer, she dreams of singing on stage. The problem? Her crippling stage fright. When she meets a mysterious being in the theatre, he tells her he will help her with her singing. He helps her feel alive and she brings light to his solitary existence. And he is head over heels for her while she is also catching feelings. Soon she is auditioning for a musical and finding herself drawn to the creator of the play, Raoul. Her mysterious angel gets possessive and tries to scare Raoul away, but feelings develop between them too!
What a great time! It's definitely dark, the Phantom definitely is morally grey, and there is lots of angst. Which is exactly what I was in the mood for! AND on top of everything, there are paranormal creatures like vampires and shifters to up the danger and action! All three of our characters have trauma they are dealing with and the journey to them helping each other is so good. They are all hurting so much and I love them together! I'm also a sucker for when the boyfriends are also boyfriends! We are still learning pieces of the past and secrets as the story unfolds, which keeps the interest going. This is part of a series but can be read alone - I haven't read the rest of these yet, but now I want to!
January 29, 2026
3.5 stars
• phantom of the opera inspired retelling
• dark paranormal romance
• mmf / why choose
• obsessive devotion
• gothic drama
• high spice
• morally gray everyone
cruel angel is basically phantom of the opera if it decided to get paranormal, emotionally messy, and very horny. it’s gothic, dramatic, and fully committed to the bit, with obsession, power plays, and supernatural chaos baked into the story from the start.
thank you to netgalley and rebecca kenney for the chance to read this as an arc.
overall, i had a really good time with cruel angel and i’ll be reading more from this series & author.
this book knows exactly what it wants to be and goes all in on vibes, spice, and drama. the phantom inspiration is obvious in the best way, but it still feels like its own thing instead of a copy & paste retelling.
the chemistry is where this book shines. the tension is intense, the dynamics are messy on purpose, and when the story slows down to let the characters actually interact, i was fully locked in. it’s theatrical, it’s indulgent, it’s a little unhinged at times, but in a way that works for the story and makes it fun to read.
the only thing is that there is just… a lot going on. i could tell a lot of the characters and plot threads were setting up future stories, but at times it still felt like too much all at once.
that said, i really enjoyed myself. the world is rich, the romance is compelling, and the book absolutely delivers on dark, dramatic, spicy chaos. even with a few moments of confusion, cruel angel was engaging from start to finish!!
• phantom of the opera inspired retelling
• dark paranormal romance
• mmf / why choose
• obsessive devotion
• gothic drama
• high spice
• morally gray everyone
cruel angel is basically phantom of the opera if it decided to get paranormal, emotionally messy, and very horny. it’s gothic, dramatic, and fully committed to the bit, with obsession, power plays, and supernatural chaos baked into the story from the start.
thank you to netgalley and rebecca kenney for the chance to read this as an arc.
overall, i had a really good time with cruel angel and i’ll be reading more from this series & author.
this book knows exactly what it wants to be and goes all in on vibes, spice, and drama. the phantom inspiration is obvious in the best way, but it still feels like its own thing instead of a copy & paste retelling.
the chemistry is where this book shines. the tension is intense, the dynamics are messy on purpose, and when the story slows down to let the characters actually interact, i was fully locked in. it’s theatrical, it’s indulgent, it’s a little unhinged at times, but in a way that works for the story and makes it fun to read.
the only thing is that there is just… a lot going on. i could tell a lot of the characters and plot threads were setting up future stories, but at times it still felt like too much all at once.
that said, i really enjoyed myself. the world is rich, the romance is compelling, and the book absolutely delivers on dark, dramatic, spicy chaos. even with a few moments of confusion, cruel angel was engaging from start to finish!!
April 15, 2026
Another home run from the fabulous Rebecca!
I haven't read many reverse harem or poly romance books—in general, they just aren't usually my cup of tea. However, I have yet to come across an RK book that I did not love, and I certainly wasn't about to turn down the Phantom installment of the Guilded Monsters series.
Cruel Angel was haunting, passionate, desperate, and full of longing—for family, for love, for acceptance. I've always loved Rebecca's writing, the attention to detail she applies in this series especially. My heart was broken by the trauma Christine, Erik, and Raoul experienced, and it was healed with their love.
The characterization of each of them was deep, involved, and moving. The progression of their relationship felt realistic (minus the fantasy aspects, of course) and the pacing kept me perfectly engaged. I cried with them, laughed with them, and cheered for them as they fought.
This was truly a wonderful addition to the series. I'm not sure if there will be another book, but while I saw a opening for one (and I would so love that), I think the tone at which Cruel Angel ended provides a nice conclusion to the series, so I'll be happy either way.
I haven't read many reverse harem or poly romance books—in general, they just aren't usually my cup of tea. However, I have yet to come across an RK book that I did not love, and I certainly wasn't about to turn down the Phantom installment of the Guilded Monsters series.
Cruel Angel was haunting, passionate, desperate, and full of longing—for family, for love, for acceptance. I've always loved Rebecca's writing, the attention to detail she applies in this series especially. My heart was broken by the trauma Christine, Erik, and Raoul experienced, and it was healed with their love.
The characterization of each of them was deep, involved, and moving. The progression of their relationship felt realistic (minus the fantasy aspects, of course) and the pacing kept me perfectly engaged. I cried with them, laughed with them, and cheered for them as they fought.
This was truly a wonderful addition to the series. I'm not sure if there will be another book, but while I saw a opening for one (and I would so love that), I think the tone at which Cruel Angel ended provides a nice conclusion to the series, so I'll be happy either way.
Did Not Finish
April 7, 2026Thank you so much to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for an early copy for an honest review!
DNF - 57%
I am an absolute sucker for a good retelling. When I saw that this was a Phantom of the Opera retelling, I knew I wanted to give this book a shot. However, this landed very flat for me. I found myself annoyed with Christine as a character. She was like a bad Hannah Montana: regular girl with a voice during the day, then turns into a killer at night. I wish there was more time earlier in the books that put more time into why she is the way she is. The romance, I truly could’ve cared less. There was nothing going for these characters that had me rooting for them.
If you liked Kinney’s other works or love modernized retellings, I think this story will land for you. Unfortunately, it did not work for me.
DNF - 57%
I am an absolute sucker for a good retelling. When I saw that this was a Phantom of the Opera retelling, I knew I wanted to give this book a shot. However, this landed very flat for me. I found myself annoyed with Christine as a character. She was like a bad Hannah Montana: regular girl with a voice during the day, then turns into a killer at night. I wish there was more time earlier in the books that put more time into why she is the way she is. The romance, I truly could’ve cared less. There was nothing going for these characters that had me rooting for them.
If you liked Kinney’s other works or love modernized retellings, I think this story will land for you. Unfortunately, it did not work for me.
March 29, 2026
5/5 ✨
Review of Advance Copy Received from NetGalley
A masked man can’t be a red flag if he sings like an angel…right?
Did I think I needed a Phantom of the Opera retelling in my life? No. Was I proven very wrong once I started reading? Yup.
Rebecca always has such a fun and unique take when she writes a retelling and this story was no different. I love where the plot line went with this book. Which is a wild statement, because I don’t even typically like vampire romances.
This was such a fun, dark gothic romance vibe, and I genuinely don’t think you can go wrong picking it up for a quick read.
Tropes
~ Found Family
~ Masked MMC
~ Why Choose
A special thank you to Rebecca F. Kenney, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of Advance Copy Received from NetGalley
A masked man can’t be a red flag if he sings like an angel…right?
Did I think I needed a Phantom of the Opera retelling in my life? No. Was I proven very wrong once I started reading? Yup.
Rebecca always has such a fun and unique take when she writes a retelling and this story was no different. I love where the plot line went with this book. Which is a wild statement, because I don’t even typically like vampire romances.
This was such a fun, dark gothic romance vibe, and I genuinely don’t think you can go wrong picking it up for a quick read.
Tropes
~ Found Family
~ Masked MMC
~ Why Choose
A special thank you to Rebecca F. Kenney, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, and NetGalley for this ARC
January 9, 2026
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance / Spicy Retelling
Series: Gilded Monsters
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Cruel Angel, which the author does not frequently do, and it did not disappoint. She is phenomenal at world building gothic settings with a modern edge. The characters are alluring and their electric chemistry is addictive. If you enjoy retellings that explore shadows without losing sight of the humanity inside them, this Phantom of the Opera one is worth diving into.
Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance / Spicy Retelling
Series: Gilded Monsters
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Cruel Angel, which the author does not frequently do, and it did not disappoint. She is phenomenal at world building gothic settings with a modern edge. The characters are alluring and their electric chemistry is addictive. If you enjoy retellings that explore shadows without losing sight of the humanity inside them, this Phantom of the Opera one is worth diving into.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such a good spicy retelling of Phantom of the Opera!
I really related to the fmc Christine due to her stage fright. I really enjoyed the modern twist on all of the characters and story, it was super unique and the world building was so well done.
Also, the chemistry between the two mmc's and the fmc was undeniable, I loved Raoul, the angel and Christine so much. The why choose was so hot and watching her get coaching/help with singing and the stage fright was so beautiful.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoy a smutty, fun retelling of Phantom with a modern twist!
I really related to the fmc Christine due to her stage fright. I really enjoyed the modern twist on all of the characters and story, it was super unique and the world building was so well done.
Also, the chemistry between the two mmc's and the fmc was undeniable, I loved Raoul, the angel and Christine so much. The why choose was so hot and watching her get coaching/help with singing and the stage fright was so beautiful.
Definitely pick this up if you enjoy a smutty, fun retelling of Phantom with a modern twist!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A paranormal contemporary retelling of Phantom of the Opera, the blurb for this book ticked all my boxes. Each character had trauma to overcome and inner demons to conquer. I was immediately hooked. But as the story progressed, the chemistry between our main characters fell a bit flat, and some of the scenes and situations felt forced, making the energy and pacing feel uneven. Ruthless Devotion remains my favorite in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
April 16, 2026
First and foremost, thank you, Netgalley, for sending me an ARC of this book!
Boy, oh boy, where to begin. I loved the book as a whole. As someone who loves the phantom of the opera, and I feel like she did the original story justice.
I will say that the pacing of this book is fast-paced, and I felt that because of this, some things should have more time to be explained or gone more in depth for certain scenes.
The trio couple was super cute and wholesome, but I also feel like we didn't get enough time to get to know the characters in depth as we did with previous books in this series.
Other than those complaints, I truly had fun reading this book. Thanks again for the copy!
Boy, oh boy, where to begin. I loved the book as a whole. As someone who loves the phantom of the opera, and I feel like she did the original story justice.
I will say that the pacing of this book is fast-paced, and I felt that because of this, some things should have more time to be explained or gone more in depth for certain scenes.
The trio couple was super cute and wholesome, but I also feel like we didn't get enough time to get to know the characters in depth as we did with previous books in this series.
Other than those complaints, I truly had fun reading this book. Thanks again for the copy!
April 16, 2026
4 ⭐️
I’m giving this 4 stars on vibes alone because, honestly, the writing itself could’ve been stronger. That said… the spice? Top tier. No notes.
I will always show up for a The Phantom of the Opera retelling, and this one absolutely delivered on that dark, dramatic energy. And the throuple? Surprisingly well done, it felt natural, made sense for the characters, and didn’t come off as forced, which is rare.
Where it lost me a bit was the plot. It had a lot of potential, but didn’t fully deliver in the way I wanted. Still, I was completely invested the entire time and didn’t want to put it down, which says a lot.
I’m giving this 4 stars on vibes alone because, honestly, the writing itself could’ve been stronger. That said… the spice? Top tier. No notes.
I will always show up for a The Phantom of the Opera retelling, and this one absolutely delivered on that dark, dramatic energy. And the throuple? Surprisingly well done, it felt natural, made sense for the characters, and didn’t come off as forced, which is rare.
Where it lost me a bit was the plot. It had a lot of potential, but didn’t fully deliver in the way I wanted. Still, I was completely invested the entire time and didn’t want to put it down, which says a lot.
April 21, 2026
A quick and dirty review. This was a fun Phantom of the Opera retelling blended with the supernatural. We have three different MCs all suffering their own trauma and yet healing together. It was a bit insta-love for my taste without the needed chemistry to make it hold.
April 1, 2026
Phantom of the opera retelling where she gets with both the phantom and rahoul say less!
January 4, 2026
Thank you so much to the author and the publisher, Sourcebook Casablanca, for sharing an ARC of this book with me on NetGalley!!!
“When she sings, the chaos of my mind is quiet”
I love this author’s retellings and this was no exception !!! Phantom of the Opera? Gimme Gimme Gimme !!!
What if Christine wanted both of them? What if Roul wanted the Phantom too?
Vampire ghosts and shifters defines the intricacies of the complicated dynamic between three tortured and devastated people. Three humans who have been through hell and found themselves in the beauty and delicacy of music and each other. This book was spicy, addicting, possessive, intense and devastatingly beautiful. I loved every second of reading it. Each scenes filled with its own magic. Its own darkness. And light too. The plot below the scene lead to a grand finale that kinda surprised me but not really. But most of all, it lead me to a deeper love for a character I already could not love more: Erik. I loved loved loved this book !!! I need more from this author !!!
P.S. I’m such a sucker when Taylor Swift’s songs are mentioned in the story !!
“It’s the most naked, monstrous, indestructible kind of love”
“When she sings, the chaos of my mind is quiet”
I love this author’s retellings and this was no exception !!! Phantom of the Opera? Gimme Gimme Gimme !!!
What if Christine wanted both of them? What if Roul wanted the Phantom too?
Vampire ghosts and shifters defines the intricacies of the complicated dynamic between three tortured and devastated people. Three humans who have been through hell and found themselves in the beauty and delicacy of music and each other. This book was spicy, addicting, possessive, intense and devastatingly beautiful. I loved every second of reading it. Each scenes filled with its own magic. Its own darkness. And light too. The plot below the scene lead to a grand finale that kinda surprised me but not really. But most of all, it lead me to a deeper love for a character I already could not love more: Erik. I loved loved loved this book !!! I need more from this author !!!
P.S. I’m such a sucker when Taylor Swift’s songs are mentioned in the story !!
“It’s the most naked, monstrous, indestructible kind of love”
January 20, 2026
Arc Review
omg. I was not prepared for this Rebecca 😫
this book got me hooked from the title but I stayed for those characters. phantom is literally perfect and a man who *grovels* yasss queen. please add this to your tbr asap
omg. I was not prepared for this Rebecca 😫
this book got me hooked from the title but I stayed for those characters. phantom is literally perfect and a man who *grovels* yasss queen. please add this to your tbr asap
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 14, 2026
Phantom of the Opera has always been such an iconic part of my childhood, so I went into this reimagining genuinely excited to revisit that world in a new way. The premise alone had me completely on board.
I will say the beginning felt very slow for me. The first 40% dragged quite a bit, and I found myself waiting for the story to truly settle into itself. There was a lot of buildup, but not all of it felt essential to the progression of the plot.
Once the romance really took off, though, I was much more engaged. The chemistry was undeniable, and the MMF dynamic was executed beautifully. The tension? Strong. The spice? Absolutely delivered. In terms of romantic energy, this book knew exactly what it was doing.
Where it fell a little flat for me was the overall plot. Despite the slower pace and the high word count, I didn’t feel like the storyline developed with the same intensity as the romance. I wanted more narrative weight to balance out all that passion.
Overall, while it didn’t fully live up to my expectations plot-wise, the romance and chemistry carried it enough for me to still enjoy the experience. A solid three stars.
I will say the beginning felt very slow for me. The first 40% dragged quite a bit, and I found myself waiting for the story to truly settle into itself. There was a lot of buildup, but not all of it felt essential to the progression of the plot.
Once the romance really took off, though, I was much more engaged. The chemistry was undeniable, and the MMF dynamic was executed beautifully. The tension? Strong. The spice? Absolutely delivered. In terms of romantic energy, this book knew exactly what it was doing.
Where it fell a little flat for me was the overall plot. Despite the slower pace and the high word count, I didn’t feel like the storyline developed with the same intensity as the romance. I wanted more narrative weight to balance out all that passion.
Overall, while it didn’t fully live up to my expectations plot-wise, the romance and chemistry carried it enough for me to still enjoy the experience. A solid three stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I am such a fan of Rebecca F. Kenney’s Gilded Monsters series and have devoured every modern, Southern gothic retelling that she has given us of our favorite classics. When I heard that her latest release, Cruel Angel, was going to be a twist on Phantom of the Opera that turns this tortured love triangle on its head, I could NOT wait to get my hands on it!
Prepare yourself readers because Kenney takes you on quite the ride as she shows you all the fantastically delightful possibilities when the dangerous Phantom looks to not only claim the defiant soul of his singing muse, Christine, but also finds himself inexplicably drawn to the soulful heart of his rival and ‘poet’, Raoul. At the end of the day, the Phantom will stop at nothing to protect and keep what is his, even if that means calling upon ancient enemies and fighting the powerful influence of cultish communities.
In Cruel Angel, we are taken back to the same universe that Kenney has brought to life in the rest of this series. We are in a modern day South that provides the perfect backdrop for a dark, gothic magic system where supernatural beings with hidden agendas and dormant gods clamoring to reclaim their power clash with mortals and their allies fighting to protect their world.
As we open the story, we meet Phantom, the recently resurrected God of Death, who has been chained to a body and existence that he did not choose and that has stripped him of much of his former power. He lives a lonely existence in the bowels of a Tennessee theatre, craving connection and the spark of purpose that he used to have. All of that changes the moment he hears Christine Daae sing for the first time in an abandoned stairwell as she tries desperately to push through her crippling battle with stage fright. From the first note Christine sings, the Phantom is determined to claim her as his and becomes her angel of music, promising to deliver her to the peak of her talent if she will but just surrender all of herself to him.
Of course, not everything is as it seems. Christine has her own demons and a dark and bloody past that continues to threaten the sparks of happiness she is so desperately trying to make for herself. This version of Christine is so wonderfully complex as she simultaneously, mourns the loss of a family that ultimately failed to protect her, and against whom she rebels in nearly all aspects of her life. Christine cannot help but feel drawn to the dark promise that the Phantom offers. Things become more complicated when the playwright and director for the theatre’s newest musical is a former childhood friend, Raoul de Chagny. Raoul’s warmth, tenderness and light calls to Christine in way she never knew she needed and as the pair revel in the sparks of being reunited, the Phantom swears to destroy Raoul to keep Christine for himself. However, he finds his plans for vengeance are not the only thing drawing him to the soulful and creative young man and the sparks that fly between him and Raoul leaves the Phantom reeling and us readers…well I was fanning my face and screaming in delight.
As the Phantom, Christine and Raoul come to explore their passions and vulnerabilities with each other, forces from each of their pasts threaten to shatter the world they are building with one another. Their loyalties and love is tested as the battle for dominance amongst the supernatural community reaches its peak. Through it all, I adored the way that Kenney provides a journey of self discovery and healing for these three characters. They each carry traumas that for many would leave them paralyzed and suffering in the dark. However, it is because of the strength they find in their collective love, that past pains can finally be put down and a renewed sense of hope for being loved for all of who you are ultimately realized.
Now, like many a dark fantasy girlie, my love of the morally grey MMC definitely was fueled by being 100% a Phantom fan. However, if anyone could have me reconsidering everything I thought of Raoul, it is Rebecca Kenney and man did she ever! This trio brought the fire and the beautiful way in which Kenney explores their raw vulnerabilities individually and as a group, makes you root for the choices they make to fight for the love they’ve found in one another. They refuse to let society define who they can be with and how they can love.
This was such an entertaining story with very powerful and poignant messages and I really never wanted it to end. This can definitely be read as a standalone but reading the other books in the series provides added context and texture to the world and the histories of the 3 main characters. I wholeheartedly recommend picking this one up if you love the Phantom story—there are so many great nods to the original but Kenney brings us her own unique spin and really delivers a very enjoyable, action packed and steamy tale!
Prepare yourself readers because Kenney takes you on quite the ride as she shows you all the fantastically delightful possibilities when the dangerous Phantom looks to not only claim the defiant soul of his singing muse, Christine, but also finds himself inexplicably drawn to the soulful heart of his rival and ‘poet’, Raoul. At the end of the day, the Phantom will stop at nothing to protect and keep what is his, even if that means calling upon ancient enemies and fighting the powerful influence of cultish communities.
In Cruel Angel, we are taken back to the same universe that Kenney has brought to life in the rest of this series. We are in a modern day South that provides the perfect backdrop for a dark, gothic magic system where supernatural beings with hidden agendas and dormant gods clamoring to reclaim their power clash with mortals and their allies fighting to protect their world.
As we open the story, we meet Phantom, the recently resurrected God of Death, who has been chained to a body and existence that he did not choose and that has stripped him of much of his former power. He lives a lonely existence in the bowels of a Tennessee theatre, craving connection and the spark of purpose that he used to have. All of that changes the moment he hears Christine Daae sing for the first time in an abandoned stairwell as she tries desperately to push through her crippling battle with stage fright. From the first note Christine sings, the Phantom is determined to claim her as his and becomes her angel of music, promising to deliver her to the peak of her talent if she will but just surrender all of herself to him.
Of course, not everything is as it seems. Christine has her own demons and a dark and bloody past that continues to threaten the sparks of happiness she is so desperately trying to make for herself. This version of Christine is so wonderfully complex as she simultaneously, mourns the loss of a family that ultimately failed to protect her, and against whom she rebels in nearly all aspects of her life. Christine cannot help but feel drawn to the dark promise that the Phantom offers. Things become more complicated when the playwright and director for the theatre’s newest musical is a former childhood friend, Raoul de Chagny. Raoul’s warmth, tenderness and light calls to Christine in way she never knew she needed and as the pair revel in the sparks of being reunited, the Phantom swears to destroy Raoul to keep Christine for himself. However, he finds his plans for vengeance are not the only thing drawing him to the soulful and creative young man and the sparks that fly between him and Raoul leaves the Phantom reeling and us readers…well I was fanning my face and screaming in delight.
As the Phantom, Christine and Raoul come to explore their passions and vulnerabilities with each other, forces from each of their pasts threaten to shatter the world they are building with one another. Their loyalties and love is tested as the battle for dominance amongst the supernatural community reaches its peak. Through it all, I adored the way that Kenney provides a journey of self discovery and healing for these three characters. They each carry traumas that for many would leave them paralyzed and suffering in the dark. However, it is because of the strength they find in their collective love, that past pains can finally be put down and a renewed sense of hope for being loved for all of who you are ultimately realized.
Now, like many a dark fantasy girlie, my love of the morally grey MMC definitely was fueled by being 100% a Phantom fan. However, if anyone could have me reconsidering everything I thought of Raoul, it is Rebecca Kenney and man did she ever! This trio brought the fire and the beautiful way in which Kenney explores their raw vulnerabilities individually and as a group, makes you root for the choices they make to fight for the love they’ve found in one another. They refuse to let society define who they can be with and how they can love.
This was such an entertaining story with very powerful and poignant messages and I really never wanted it to end. This can definitely be read as a standalone but reading the other books in the series provides added context and texture to the world and the histories of the 3 main characters. I wholeheartedly recommend picking this one up if you love the Phantom story—there are so many great nods to the original but Kenney brings us her own unique spin and really delivers a very enjoyable, action packed and steamy tale!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a complete lover of Rebecca's books and with this newest one I couldn't wait to see what she did. Rebecca F Kenney took The Phantom of the Opera and turned it into something dark, juicy, intriguing, and my favorite description - ménage. 🥵 I mean, what's better than not only turning a tragic tale upside down with a happily ever after, but also giving everyone a happy ending 😏 in the process.
Each new twist added a new layer that fit seamlessly into this new rendition of an old classic and it was shockingly fantastic!! I never expected where this story would led me and I loved every new development that led to a twisted happy ending!💙❤️
The Phantom, who is notorious as a dark, wrath-like man, his face shrouded by a mask, spending his days haunting a theater and terribly in love with a soprano singer, Christine Daaè. He still embodies a lot of the classic Phantom attributes, but he also made me laugh. This morose character, that is known to be dark, moody, stalker-like and most definitely known for stealing away the singer within an opera house is still all that, but he’s also tender and awkward because he's new to being part human. He's funny in his brooding, along with being possessive and dominant when it comes to how he feels. I loved how chaotic he was at times and it was because of this duality that lived inside of him that I think this book worked so well. He can't help all these new feelings that continually overtake him and as much as he wants to enjoy his new human form, he is also morose over missing his god status. It makes him extremely likable and empathetic in a strange way.
Christine is fierce, aside from her stage fright, she was the one between the three main characters that gave off the "don't mess with me" vibes. She wanted both men, but also she didn't want to give herself over to them emotionally. She'd already had a lot of loss in her life and she wasn't about to lose more. Her character had a lot of layers and she was quite fascinating to unwrap as the story went along.
Then there is the golden retriever, Raoul. He’s sweet, soft and a poet. He’s also hiding some secrets, but at his core he's the glue that helped hold the trio together, or also could potentially tear them apart with his secrets, it's fifty-fifty.😏 Truly Raoul, is the grounding wire and keeps both Christine and Phantom reigned in and I loved how his backstory fit into the entire book.
I love reading Rebecca's books to see how she breaks down a traditional tale, what elements she will add to twist everything up, and how everything works out by the end. If you're looking for a true classic rendition, then this book isn't for you, but if you want a parallel universe where happy endings occur, monsters live, and the impossible happens than Cruel Angel is that kind of book to jump in, read, and experience. 😍💖
Each new twist added a new layer that fit seamlessly into this new rendition of an old classic and it was shockingly fantastic!! I never expected where this story would led me and I loved every new development that led to a twisted happy ending!💙❤️
The Phantom, who is notorious as a dark, wrath-like man, his face shrouded by a mask, spending his days haunting a theater and terribly in love with a soprano singer, Christine Daaè. He still embodies a lot of the classic Phantom attributes, but he also made me laugh. This morose character, that is known to be dark, moody, stalker-like and most definitely known for stealing away the singer within an opera house is still all that, but he’s also tender and awkward because he's new to being part human. He's funny in his brooding, along with being possessive and dominant when it comes to how he feels. I loved how chaotic he was at times and it was because of this duality that lived inside of him that I think this book worked so well. He can't help all these new feelings that continually overtake him and as much as he wants to enjoy his new human form, he is also morose over missing his god status. It makes him extremely likable and empathetic in a strange way.
Christine is fierce, aside from her stage fright, she was the one between the three main characters that gave off the "don't mess with me" vibes. She wanted both men, but also she didn't want to give herself over to them emotionally. She'd already had a lot of loss in her life and she wasn't about to lose more. Her character had a lot of layers and she was quite fascinating to unwrap as the story went along.
Then there is the golden retriever, Raoul. He’s sweet, soft and a poet. He’s also hiding some secrets, but at his core he's the glue that helped hold the trio together, or also could potentially tear them apart with his secrets, it's fifty-fifty.😏 Truly Raoul, is the grounding wire and keeps both Christine and Phantom reigned in and I loved how his backstory fit into the entire book.
I love reading Rebecca's books to see how she breaks down a traditional tale, what elements she will add to twist everything up, and how everything works out by the end. If you're looking for a true classic rendition, then this book isn't for you, but if you want a parallel universe where happy endings occur, monsters live, and the impossible happens than Cruel Angel is that kind of book to jump in, read, and experience. 😍💖
April 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
A possessive Angel, a girl finding her voice, and a why choose dynamic that leans into obsession, devotion, and chaos… I was hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💌
I went into this not fully knowing what to expect, and ended up getting a chaotic, spicy, supernatural Phantom of the Opera retelling with a why choose twist. Yes, I was seated.
At its core, this story follows Christine, a singer struggling with stage fright and a past tied to loss and something much darker. When a mysterious “Angel” begins guiding her voice from the shadows, she is pulled into a world of obsession, power, and dangerous devotion, all while reconnecting with her childhood friend Raoul.
And instead of choosing, she does not.
Which, honestly, is exactly the kind of chaos I signed up for.
This book leans heavily into atmosphere, emotion, and intensity. The relationships are dramatic, obsessive, and layered with desire, control, and vulnerability. The Angel, in particular, brings that possessive, all-consuming energy that makes this feel darker and more unhinged than your typical retelling.
I will say the pacing and structure felt a little uneven at times. There were moments where things moved quickly or felt slightly underdeveloped, and I did wish we had more time to really sit in certain emotional beats and connections.
However, the writing itself is stunning in places. There are lines in here that genuinely hit and linger.
The overall vibe is dark, sensual, dramatic, and a little chaotic in a way that works if you are here for the experience more than perfect structure.
Tropes:
🎭 why choose
🎶 Phantom of the Opera retelling
🖤 paranormal romance
🔥 obsessive, possessive love interest
💭 mutual pining
✨ supernatural elements
🩶 tortured MMC
⚠️ touch her and you die energy
🎤 performance, artist heroine
Who should read this:
📚 readers who love dark, dramatic romance with obsessive dynamics
🎭 fans of Phantom of the Opera retellings with a spicy twist
🔥 readers who enjoy why choose with strong emotional intensity
✨ readers who want paranormal elements mixed with romance
🖤 people who care more about vibes and tension than perfect pacing
Quotes:
“Music is a mercy. It tears my emotions out of my chest and lets them soar in midair, exposed and soothed at the same time.”
“I suffer this violent need to be with you, against you, inside you, to protect you and to seek the best for you.”
“I fear the end of possibilities, of choices, but I will not let the terror of death control me or steal the joy from the experience of living.”
A possessive Angel, a girl finding her voice, and a why choose dynamic that leans into obsession, devotion, and chaos… I was hooked.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💌
I went into this not fully knowing what to expect, and ended up getting a chaotic, spicy, supernatural Phantom of the Opera retelling with a why choose twist. Yes, I was seated.
At its core, this story follows Christine, a singer struggling with stage fright and a past tied to loss and something much darker. When a mysterious “Angel” begins guiding her voice from the shadows, she is pulled into a world of obsession, power, and dangerous devotion, all while reconnecting with her childhood friend Raoul.
And instead of choosing, she does not.
Which, honestly, is exactly the kind of chaos I signed up for.
This book leans heavily into atmosphere, emotion, and intensity. The relationships are dramatic, obsessive, and layered with desire, control, and vulnerability. The Angel, in particular, brings that possessive, all-consuming energy that makes this feel darker and more unhinged than your typical retelling.
I will say the pacing and structure felt a little uneven at times. There were moments where things moved quickly or felt slightly underdeveloped, and I did wish we had more time to really sit in certain emotional beats and connections.
However, the writing itself is stunning in places. There are lines in here that genuinely hit and linger.
The overall vibe is dark, sensual, dramatic, and a little chaotic in a way that works if you are here for the experience more than perfect structure.
Tropes:
🎭 why choose
🎶 Phantom of the Opera retelling
🖤 paranormal romance
🔥 obsessive, possessive love interest
💭 mutual pining
✨ supernatural elements
🩶 tortured MMC
⚠️ touch her and you die energy
🎤 performance, artist heroine
Who should read this:
📚 readers who love dark, dramatic romance with obsessive dynamics
🎭 fans of Phantom of the Opera retellings with a spicy twist
🔥 readers who enjoy why choose with strong emotional intensity
✨ readers who want paranormal elements mixed with romance
🖤 people who care more about vibes and tension than perfect pacing
Quotes:
“Music is a mercy. It tears my emotions out of my chest and lets them soar in midair, exposed and soothed at the same time.”
“I suffer this violent need to be with you, against you, inside you, to protect you and to seek the best for you.”
“I fear the end of possibilities, of choices, but I will not let the terror of death control me or steal the joy from the experience of living.”
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