Sing the Night

Opera Magique #1

by Megan Jauregui Eccles

Discover a fantastical story inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, as musical magicians compete for the once-in-a-lifetime role as the King’s Mage, but only if their magic—or fellow contestants—don’t destroy them first—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Erin Morgenstern.

“Gorgeous and lush.”―Rachel Howzell Hall, New York Times bestselling author
“Dreamy, dangerous, and utterly enchanting!”―Logan Karlie, New York Times bestselling author
“This book truly sings.”―Sydney J. Shields, USA Today bestselling author
“A lush, devastatingly romantic gothic fantasy.”―L.R. Lam, USA Today bestselling author

For as long as Selene remembers, she’s only wanted one thing: to sing the boldest, brightest magic into existence and win L′Opéra du Magician. To the winner goes the spoils of being declared King′s Mage, a position her father held years ago, before he lost control of his magic and spiraled into madness, leaving Selene an orphan. But when the competition turns cutthroat and a competitor steals Selene′s song, the chance to redeem her father’s legacy begins to slip through her fingers.

Until, in the depths of the opera house, she discovers a mysterious and beautiful man trapped within a mirror. He offers not only the magic of music, but a darker sorcery of shadow, blood, and want. He can help Selene if she helps him in return—but his forbidden magic may not be worth the cost.

As the competition continues and mages are driven to ruin competing for the king′s favor, Selene must navigate betrayal, the return of childhood love, and the price of ambition.

Genres: Fantasy, Retellings, Young Adult, Romance, Gothic, Romantasy, Young Adult Fantasy

400 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 10, 2026

Reviews

[Andi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why do I do this to myself.

I like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me a read.

Listen, I've been in the Phantom of the Opera fandom since the Y2k era (I became a fan pre-2004 film). I lived through the 2004 film, Love Never Dies, and I thought I have seen everything. I'm telling you, this is the first time that a Phantom inspired (or stripped fanfiction) has left me bewildered and perplexed.

Lets start with the setting: this world is using the French language and terms, but is in some fantasy world. ... why? Just call in an alt. universe France. Not only that, there is horrible handling of the French language by someone who clearly does not speak French or bother with correct tenses. And so, this 'fantasy' world has magic. There is also a monarchy. But what does the monarchy do? It's unknown. They DO have mages... which then brings the story of Selene (Christine) and her 'father'.

Her father was once the mage to the King, but for some strange reason he went magic drunk and almost tried strangling her. Selene tries to protect herself and uses thunderbolt (it is effective) and kills her dad. She lives with this guilt. Meanwhile the monarchy is playing the part of FOX and having some weird American Idol tournament in some opera house where nobody performs opera...

Their magic is singing. But their magic is also dancing too? But Selene says often that singing is magic... so it's confusing.

Selene moves into the opera house and befriends the caretaker of the opera house 'magicians' (Madame Giry - or in this cause Madame Giroux... ) and her daughter, Gigi (Meg Giry). They know there is a 'ghost' in the opera house but the ghost isn't really present nor causes mischief.

The Raoul character is Victor (Vicomte De'Changy) and he is a pretty dumb prince who apparently has no other clothes to wear and wears his naval uniform a lot (because the author recalls a bit about Raoul in the original novel serving in the navy, and wears the Hussar costume in the stage show). He pretty much flirted with her and was with her when her father went psycho.

Our Erik character is some dude who doesn't remember who he is and lives in a mirror that is accessible by shedding blood on it. It is there our female lead decides to go after his strong dark powers so she can restore her father's legacy and clear his name. She doesn't do much of that, just continuously try on dresses of the most extravagant kind (even though Selene brings in no currency) and takes part in this weird American Idol competition which somehow triggers some need to strangle people and cut their throats out. It's all really bizarre.

The romance is really bad, and at times you wonder why there is some weird debate on who she wants to be with because the author makes it very, very clear that she finds our Erik character hot and how badly she wants to press her body up to him (and make out with him) upon seeing him for the first time.

I admit the ending did take me by surprise, but it wasn't a good 'oh this makes the rest of the book make sense' surprise. No, it makes me wonder why mages exist when they really don't do anything or serve any sort of purpose in this badly drawn out monarchy.

There is also some really weird descriptions of how people talk, as I quote:
"His voice was pianissimo" and "dreams in treble cleff", like what the hell does this mean? how do you dream in 'treble cleff'? The author got tired of using normal descriptive phrases and decided since this was a book about 'music' she was going to relate musical terms to adjectives.
"He rolled the words around in his mouth like cherry stones?" why are 'red stones' or 'cherry stones' different than anything else round that could go in the mouth?

[ EDIT: Since a reader decided to low-key drag me in a review (which is something they should have done in the comments, but I *am* reporting because frankly that's a no-no on goodreads), I like to so graciously thank her? them? for their kind update on the above. I still think it's messy to have in a book, but since this book hasn't even come out yet, lets see how the work stands post release. ]

There is a point in which Selene gets hurt and our Victor removes his shirt ENTIRELY and reaches into a picnic basket brings out a jar of honey. He then tells her that it's good on wounds and dabs it on her skin (?!) followed by him ripping up the shirt and using it as bandages. Never-mind that they're in the opera house building and he can just go to the infirmary or ask Madame Giroux for some bandages or ointment. (He actually told her to get lost so he could do this... so it was just an excuse for the female to ogle his body.)

[EDIT: Apparently honey can be used on wounds, as mentioned in the comments! But still lol, poorly done scene.]

I honestly think this book is the Dance of the Starlit Sea of 2025. It has a sequel coming out and I am not going to be reading it.

EDIT: I just noticed this "perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Erin Morgenstern". Excuse me? What on earth? Where are we getting these comps? HARD NO.

[Megan Jauregui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Update August 2025:

I’m so pleased to share that Sing the Night is now set to be released March 10, 2026 with Grand Central Publishing and Piatkus UK! Thank you to everyone who read, reviewed, and preordered. I’m so glad that the book has a second life!

Update June 2025:

Due to some changes behind the scenes, the rights to SING THE NIGHT have reverted to me. It will no longer be releasing this fall. I’m currently working with my agent to decide what to do next.

Thank you to everyone who has read Sing the Night. Your support means more than you know.


I have it on good authority that this book is pretty dope.

[elizabeth rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darkly enchanting, musically magical, and dripping with gothic atmosphere—Sing the Night hits all the right notes. 🎼🩸🎭

I absolutely devoured this book. A spellbinding, Phantom of the Opera–inspired fantasy full of blood, beauty, betrayal, and longing—it had me hooked from the opening pages and left me desperate for a sequel after that ending. 👻🎶😱

Selene is a fierce and emotionally complex protagonist, driven by ambition, grief, and a desperate need to prove herself in the cutthroat world of L′Opéra du Magician. The magic system—woven through song—is gorgeously imaginative, and the entire story pulses with a sense of theatrical drama and creeping dread. The mysterious man in the mirror? Deliciously dark and hauntingly seductive. I was just as spellbound as Selene.

Eccles creates a world entirely her own—one where magic exacts a price, love is laced with shadows, and obsession simmers beneath the surface. ✨️

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish, and I’m aching for more. If you love your fantasy atmospheric, emotionally charged, and tinged with madness and mystery, this one deserves a standing ovation. 👏✨

Definitely recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Kayla_Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF as much as I love Phantom Of The Opera I could not get into this one

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.

[jules ⋆｡·☁︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was so excited to get into sing the night, lured by the promise of a phantom of the opera magical retelling, which is probably the best thing a blurb could have told me ever. "retelling" in this case is somewhat literal, as every character and story beat is present, but the theatrical, gothic and dangerous vibes are a little lacking.

that said, selene, our main character, is a bright spot. i genuinely enjoyed following her journey to become the king’s mage — until the narrative started to feel a bit repetitive: opera drama, visit "the ghost", drama, visit, rinse and repeat, often with the same dialogues to a t - which have a in-world reason that still didn't make it fun. also their connection is a little instalove-y for my tastes, on selene's part especially, as she's immediately obsessed with him.

the magic system, though, is where the author really struck gold. though i wish it was explored a little more in depth, music literally spinning magic is an incredibly cool and well executed idea. i also enjoyed the subtle commentary on how history can reframe and repurpose something as massive as magic in just a handful of years. it’s a clever, sharp touch.

all in all, this was unfortunately a mid read for me. not bad, but not the fantastical retelling i was hoping for. if you’re here purely for phantom vibes, might not be the story for you — but if you love messy competitions, operatic music, and a likable, flawed heroine, you’ll probably still have a good time.

thank you to netgalley and 8th note press for the arc!

[Alischa O'Harrow Rogillio · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review is incoming soon... However, I feel it ABSOLUTELY necessary to make this statement.:

Phantom of the Opera was first published in French in 1909 and later adapted into the iconic musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which premiered in 1986—a fact anyone even loosely familiar with its legacy should know (and yes, some of us were actually around for that cultural moment).

Now, to the linguistic critique: the term pianissimo is not French, as the reviewer mistakenly implies, but Italian. And as anyone with even a rudimentary understanding of opera would know, Italian is the dominant language of the operatic world. Pianissimo translates to “very soft” or “very quiet,” directing performers to execute a passage with delicate restraint.

The phrase “dreams in treble clef” is a poetic nod to musical imagery, symbolizing dreams carried in the upper register—particularly fitting given that the character Selene is a soprano. It's metaphorical, lyrical, and entirely appropriate for the setting.

As for “cherry stones”—those are cherry pits, the small, hard seeds left after the fruit is eaten. You know, the ones people instinctively roll around in their mouths to savor the last bits before discarding? Not exactly an obscure or difficult image to interpret.

While readers and reviewers are absolutely entitled to their opinions, there’s a line between honest critique and outright contempt. When a reviewer openly boasts about “destroying” a work, particularly while revealing a shaky grasp of both operatic tradition and Phantom's source material (and no, the 2004 film does not count as the definitive version), it speaks far more loudly about the reviewer’s intent than the author’s execution.

Criticism does not require cruelty. There is a profound courage in sharing creative work with the world, knowing it will be judged. That act alone deserves a baseline of respect—even if the work is not to one’s taste. Disagree, dissect, debate—yes. But destroy? That’s not critique. That’s performative unkindness. And frankly, it’s beneath anyone who claims to care about literature or the arts.

Let us lead with insight- Not ego.

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sing the Night
Author: Megan Jaurequi Eccles

Selene has had a difficult childhood. Her father died prematurely, which made her an orphan.

She is taken in by the care taker of L Opéra du Magican academy. Here she is given the opportunity to develop her magical talents.

The idea is that one of the students will work in the service of the king as the new king mage.

In order to achieve this, the students must demonstrate what they are capable of through a competition. Each of them must put together an act in which they must bring their singing to life through magic and dance, creating a kind of illusion on stage.

The rivalry escalates. Selene is starting to doubt her future more and more due to a series of fateful events...

The storyline and setting remind me a lot of the movie: The Black Swan, but with opera music vibes, and there are some similarities with the book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

While reading there were a few things that struck me. One of the first things I ran into is that I don't really understand the magic system. There is magic, but the magic is partly an illusion which made me wonder what the actual function of magic in general is.

Another point is that the function of the monarchy is not clearly described by the author. The king is looking for a new mage, which makes him quite an important person in the storyline.

What also caught my attention is that a number of puns often recur in the text, which made some descriptions seem monotonous at times.

I found the entourage of the opera and the historical aspects very spectacular and vividly elaborated, which sometimes gave me the idea that I was actually present in the building myself.

I want to thank netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Trigger warnings:
Violence, death, blood, mental illness, problematic family ties

[Dannii Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating 2.5/5 stars. This is the first instalment in the Opera Magique series.

This fantastical The Phantom of the Opera retelling revolved around Selene and her wish to win the L'Opéra du Magician trials. The winner was granted the title of the King's Mage, which was a position her father previously held until he lost control of his magic and, consequently, his life. Selene vows to follow in his footsteps but only so far, believing she can reign in the storm of magic writhing inside of her.

This synopsis instantly piqued my interest as I adore Phantom - both the book and movie adaptation - and fantastical trials are bookish buzzwords of mine. The parts which retell the original tale were interesting and I liked how the author reworked something known into something fresh and new. However, I found I had many questions about just how magic in this world works and how the trials were judged and carried out but none of them were answered, over the course of the book. The plot was solid enough but the mechanics confusing and pulled me out of the story many times, meaning I never bonded with Selene or what was occurring.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, Megan Jauregui Eccles, and the publisher, 8th Note Press, for this opportunity.

[Talia Samara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. I received an ARC of Sing the Night from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Sing the Night has been an anticipated read for me probably for years since the author started posting about her journey writing and publishing.

There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about the story. I loved the opera house setting and the subtle nods to the Phantom lyrics. I also really enjoyed the use of musical terms to describe certain things in the story. I loved the competition aspect, giving the story a clear goal and timeline for our protagonist.

Selene’s blind ambition and lack of self preservation frustrated me, but it was clear that was the point of the story, and I enjoyed the ghost being a personification of Selene’s ambitions and desires. I was very compelled by her being caught between her ambitions and desire for a normal life, especially as her feelings for Victor grew.

That being said, I wish Dante had been developed a bit more. Selene’s obsession with him felt too instantaneous, and I wasn’t convinced by her need to be with him and see him. The chemistry between Selene and Dante was incomparable to the chemistry she and Victor seemed to have. I was much more compelled by Victor as his own character as well as Selene’s attraction to him than I was by Dante and his relationship with Selene. I felt like I needed more from him in terms of his struggle and backstory to feel sympathetic to him. It was clear to me that, consciously or not, he was using Selene, so I just wanted her to stay away from him, especially once I learned Madame had studied with him too!

I was also a bit confused by the magic system. I understood that people sang magic, and the magie du sang wants blood and painful memories, but I didn’t understand why magic was only used as entertainment. Becoming the king’s mage is supposed to be a great honor, but if you’re just a fancier version of a jester, why is that something people are willing to risk their sanity and the lives of others for? Was magic used differently before? Had anyone tried? Do you need an affinity for magic as well as a talent for singing? Or just one?

Lastly, I noticed a lot of repetition in the description of how Selene was feeling in certain scenes. There was a lot of “and perhaps it was this, or perhaps it was that, but…”

All of that being said, however, I very much enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to music/phantom lovers and lovers of romantasy.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sing the Night was loosely based on The Phantom of the Opera; however, it was not a blow-by-blow retelling but rather a general inspiration. This is a fantasy tale with reasonable world building; although, once or twice there were aspects I wished the author had delved into with a little more detail. Selene was an intriguing character who did go on a bit of a journey throughout the novel. We saw everything from her POV throughout, which really helped the reader to identify with her, but which also meant some of the other characters were not quite as fully fleshed out. The ending felt a little abrupt and left me confused at first, but then I realised it does say 'Book One' on the cover, which suggests a continuation is coming, and that makes the cliffhanger-like ending more understandable. I would be interested to read on to a second book, and I hope a new volume will offer a little more on the backstory of the 'ghost'. I am giving this volume 4 stars. Recommended if you like YA fantasy with Gothic vibes, a feisty heroine and a tortured male lead.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lisa Conant · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this, I really did. Some of the beginning i was on board with then it lost stars as i read. The music-powered- magic and the American Idol Hunger Games competition is vague and cliche. The writing to describe the magic abilities was just as confusingly articulated as the obscure time and place this story takes place in. Visualizing them walking around the Opera singing into their door to unlock all the time seems a bit comical.

The FMC is not likable, just seems like she wants to use our "Erik" character for his magic to win this competition. She wants to win it to clear her father's name (who was a mage that went "dark" and lost his mind with magic use). Not sure how her winning clears his name after the fact and also not even sure the purpose of this magic in the court. They seem like glorified illusionists...so just entertainment? Seems like this is made to be cutthroat unnecessarily.

Almost 60% in and we see "Erik" like only 3 times (he doesn't remember his name and has lost memories being a prisoner to a dark magic for decades). I think his magic being powered by Blood was the coolest part of this story. His magic is actual magic whereas everyone else's are mere illusions, meaning not real.

This had potential but got overly messy in its execution real fast. I couldn't connect with anyone and it meandered on boring passages that I began skipping through.

Ironically, I cared most about Erik and I saw him the least but he was compelling when he was there, all shadow daddy and mysterious (but in the end too mysterious). No chemistry between him and FMC. Again just felt like she was using him. She would say how attractive he looked one time too many and say she wanted to help him but I didn't believe her because she never tries to really help and just kept coming back with answers to theae random riddle quests that Erik sends her on. This felt unfocused, a thinly developed world, confusing magic system, and unlikable characters.

[Tahlia · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFed after the first three chapters.
The blurb really intrigued me but this read like a rough first draft. The first three chapters were full of info dumping, yet still failed to give me a basic grasp on the world and the magic. It felt very rushed. The author also over explained very obvious interactions between characters. Very disappointed as I was so excited for a Phantom Of The Opera retelling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this eArc to review.

[SelkieReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark, political reimagining of the Phantom of the opera. Steeped in a world of mysterious monarchies and mages, where magic is solely for entertaining and nothing more.

Children with the gift are sent off to live in an opera house run by an apathetic and harsh teacher. With the end of the Kings prize mage’s retirement, comes the opportunity that they have been waiting for since childhood. The chance to compete against their fellow students, friends, family, to become the new King’s mage.

The opera itself is run almost like a black widow style academy. Where the would be entertainers are trained, not only to be the best but allowed, to slight each other, sabotage is common even so far as between siblings.
With the outcomes being either insanity, grave injury, and even death versus the opulence, luxury, power and acclaim.

The book has a lot of intricacies, and though it has almost all the same main characters, though with different names, there are vastly different plot lines.

This book asks a lot of questions: why is magic only for entertaining, what is the true purpose of the King’s mage, what other magic is out there?

This is definitely going to be a very interesting series!

[soph · Rating 3 out of 5]

this 100% reads like a phantom of the opera fanfic.

i liked the magical elements and the writing style, but there were so many unanswered questions, especially about the whole trials thing. the worldbuilding needed way more depth for me to love this. the pacing wasn’t the best at times, felt like it dragged on a bit with the recurrent over explanations of simple things.

that said, i’m weak for a gothic mystery with hints of found family, so i couldn’t really hate it. also, i love a tortured man in books and he was by far the best part of the story for me (even though he was barely in it). i really hope we get more of his backstory in the next books. as for selene i just didn’t connect with her., she was a bit annoying and i couldn’t connect with her at all.

i have mixed feelings, but i’m still curious enough to continue with this series.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC — opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Vitea · Rating 3 out of 5]

"If he were a song, she would have sung him until the world was filled with his music. If he were magic, she would have opened her mind and let him flood her until all the world was remade."

Beautiful and interesting premise, but somehow weak execution.
I liked the writing style, the dark, melancholic atmosphere with subtle gothic undertones, and the unique magic. However, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and the story with its shaky pacing failed to hold my attention.

The worldbuilding left me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the magic and the trials (how they work, etc). I also don't understand why becoming the King’s Mage is such a great honor when the mages in this world are just mere entertainers.

The romance was the weakest part of the book, it felt shallow and flat. There was no chemistry or tension between the characters. The main character insta lusts after the Ghost (who immediately declares that he "could never forget her"), and she's also kinda into her childhood friend Victor. Sigh, I'm not into love triangles at all.

Unfortunately, it was a mid read for me. Not a bad debut, the story definitely has potential, and I liked the vibes, but that's it.

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[R.J. Valldeperas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just know I am going to devour this

~~~~

Update: I DEVOURED THIS

A deeply intimate dissection of ambition in the arts and the cost of power and success. Eccles’s prose is lyrical and deliciously arranged, painting a picture of beauty amidst darkness that will leave you wanting more and more. Selene’s desperate desires were so visceral and vulnerable. I found her deeply relatable and I cannot wait to see how her story continues. PLEASE DONT BREAK MY HEART MS. ECCLES!!!

Also, TEAM VICTOR!!! 👏🏼

[Bianca Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the TOP of my “cannot wait to read” list!

[Maxine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a 3.5 for me but the ending gave it a small bump to a 3.75. I think this was more of a me issue than any issues with the book bc the concept was cool, nothing about the writing stuck out as being off to me and the characters were cool. I just wasn't able to full connect and sink into the book.

This book is a retelling of Phantom of the Opera with a magical twist as well as gothic themes and it hit all those points so much, so I started listening to phantom of the opera while reading it and I sort of want to rewatch the movie so if ur a lover of phantom of the opera then you definitely need to check out this book. I will also say this book does have a twist at the end I didn't see coming and shed some light on some clues in this book that if I had connected with this book, I would definitely want to see how it played out in the next book.

This book is a magical competition book, and I was left wanting a little more about the magical system but there were indications that the magic today isn't what it's always been so maybe as this mystery unravels that will be discussed. I will say that the imagery the author uses to describe the magic and illusions was really well.

For the characters we focus on Selene who in her grief wants to restore her father's legacy and uses that grief to fuel her drive to succeed. There was nothing wrong with her as a character and a lot of the things she thinks and does makes sense for the story. So, no issues with her.

Overall, I had no issues with this book but I just didn't connect with it and won't continue the series, but I can see how this book will vibe with a lot of readers.

------

This book is about Selene who has only ever wanted one thing: to sing into exists something so magical that she wins the L'Opera De Magician competition and becomes the King's Mage just like her father did. Her winning wouldn't just be about her and her success through but would also allow her to restore her father's good name after he when he was the king's mage lost control of his magic sending him into madness earning him the name the Mad Mage and making Selene an orphan. But as she enters the competition things become cutthroat when the other competitors start to cheat by stealing her music. Feeling like her chances to win are slipping through her fingers she wanders the halls of the opera house looking for inspiration when she discovers a hidden mirror in the depths of her school that shows her a beautiful and mysterious Mage trapped within the mirror. It is only with her blood she is able to enter into his world where he shows her there is more to the magic she has been taught. A darker magic and he is willing to teach her but only if she helps him in return. With the fate of the competition and her chances of becoming the King's Mage hanging in the balance she decides to accept his bargain but will the cost of his forbidden magic may not be worth the cost.

I received an ARC Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Booked & Dreaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5-star* So, Sing the Night was a bit of a rollercoaster for me. I picked it up mostly for the vibes—a dark, magical opera house? Phantom of the Opera retelling? Say less. And let me tell you, it delivers on that atmosphere. The whole world feels lush and dramatic, with music-infused magic, eerie mirrors, and that moody, mysterious tone that makes you want to sink into the pages with a candle and some gothic soundtrack playing in the background.

That said, I struggled a bit at the beginning. It took me a while to feel connected to Selene or the stakes of the competition. The story felt a bit slow to start, and I kept waiting for that moment where everything would click. Thankfully, by the halfway point, I was vibing—I was invested in the magic system, the drama, and especially the strange mirror man (no spoilers, but he was very intriguing).

But even with that, something about the plot felt a little undercooked. It had all these intense elements—madness, murder, shadow magic—but I kept wishing it would dig a little deeper. And the ending? Confusing. Not necessarily in a "bad writing" way, but in a "wait, what just happened, and do I care enough to follow the next book?" kind of way. I’m torn. Part of me wants to see where it goes, and the other part feels like this should’ve left a stronger impact if it’s meant to hook me into a series.

Overall, I’d say it’s worth a read if you love magical competitions, eerie vibes, and messy ambition, but go in knowing it might not answer all your questions—and it might leave you with a few more.

[Margaret Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up - thank you to the publisher for an ARC!

I had a really good time reading this book - it was atmospheric and moody with light gothic undertones. I found Eccles’ writing to be particularly alluring – lyrical, but not overdone - as she engrosses the reader in a world where music is the source of magic that is beautiful but dangerous. The magic system is fresh and compelling (even for someone like me who is not particularly musical) as Eccles cleverly weaves it into the Phantom-inspired storyline. I was quickly invested in Selene and her journey to uncover hidden truths about the opera house, magic, and her own family, and while many revelations only beget more questions, it was clear that Eccles' is setting up for more to be discovered in the 2nd book of this duology. I am definitely looking forward to seeing how Selene's story continues in book 2.

Note: In respect to the Phantom-related aspects of the book, as someone who has seen the play/movie but is not necessarily a die-hard stan, I thought this was a lovely interpretation within a YA context (i.e. it's moody and appropriately dark for the intended audience, if perhaps not as dark or expansive as some others would have preferred).

[she.readsromantasy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a TREAT. This was truly a perfect YA fantasy. There was light nods to romance, but overall the plot and unique magic CARRIED this book on its own. This was one of those books I could not put down and knew from the early pages it was going to be a phenomenal read.

This story follows Selene, as she enters into a competition in the Opera House that will help her restore her father’s legacy. Here we’re introduced to the absolute masterpiece that is the magic system. Using song and vocal training, these magicians craft illusions that tell stories and tales. This book truly hit the mark on a very competitive environment & each character brought something to the table that made them invaluable to the plot. If you love Phantom of the Opera, you’re going to love this book.

A huge thank you to Grand Central Publishing for the advanced galley to review this book before its publication date.

Themes:
🎭: musical magic system
🖤: romantic subplot
🪶: auditions & competitions
🎼: gothic angsty vibes

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Music and magic are harmoniously infused in this Phantom of the Oprea retelling.

Where music is magic and magic is entertainment Selene vies for her place as the King's Mage. Things are not what they seem when she meets the mythical opera ghost, saboteurs try to take her out and she learns chilling truths about her late father the last Kings Mage.

This retelling blends the aspects of the original novel, the aura of the musical and creates a worthy homage to both. I adore Selenes Relationships with many of the other characters especially between the two love interests Victor the sweet scallywag Prince from her past and the deliciously dangerous oprea ghost. The way we are constantly kept guessing who the villian(s) are is a particularly clever feat, is it her competition, the ghost, her mentor or the royal family.
I am throughly looking forward to the next book already.

You will love this is if you like-

🎼 Music Magic
🎵 Shadow Daddies
🎼 Found Family
🎵 Trials
🎼 Slow Burn

[Rema Tannous · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won an ARC of this book through a giveaway. I’ve never read Phantom of the Opera but it was supposed to be a retelling. The first half of the book drew me in but then the narrative started to get repetitive ‘sing, visit ghost, etc’. The repetition ruined the pace and it could have been used for some world building. I did like the gothic aesthetics within the book and the idea of using magic while singing was cool. Not a bad read overall.

[rachel x]

"A fantastical retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Erin Morgenstern."

[Katherine Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has everything I love: Magic, a powerful heroine, ghosts, music and romance. Yes, please! I loved Selene from the first page and really appreciated her confidence and determination. As someone who has studied music since childhood, I also really appreciated how the author wove in the musical references and made them part of the language in the story. There’s a great twist near the end (I won’t spoil it). This concept is so cool - music that creates magic - this honestly needs to be optioned and made into a movie musical!

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

While the concept of channeling magic through music, singing, and dance is creative and intriguing, this seems too preoccupied with recreating The Phantom of the Opera in every character, story beat, and even lines directly lifted from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s songs to explore these ideas to their fullest.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hauntingly romantic. See what I did there? Now fetch the smelling salts, I’m about to swoon. 🥰🥰🥰

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 3.0 of 5

Selene was orphaned as a child and subsequently taken in by the caretaker of the L'Opera du Magician. Here she is encouraged to develop her own magical talents. There is much talk that one of the students will be selected by the king to be the new king's mage.

The selection of the new mage will be chosen through competition, each student of magic will show what they can accomplish by putting together a performance of song, dance, and magic - creating a magical, entertaining illusion.

Selene doubts her own abilities among the many talented students, but finds help (and unrequited passion) in a mysterious figure - a magician, trapped inside a mirror inside the opera.

I actually started to read this book a few months ago, but I had also just started Wild as the Stars by Kerry Chaput which, rather ironically, has extremely similar themes and story line, so I put this one away for a bit, though honestly, much of the previous mentioned book came back to me as I read this and I had to keep reminding myself which story I was currently in.

I quite enjoy the concept of magic through art (whether it's song, dance, painting, etc) and I did like author Megan Jauregui Eccles's magical world building here. Eccles clearly understands this world and blends the song and magic quite nicely.

The story is billed as a retelling of Phantom of the Opera. I can see it - it definitely has all the right beats and characters. But I don't know why we need a retelling of a classic that still stands on its own. Perhaps it's publisher hyperbole and out of the control of the author, but when I see something like that, I'm going to look for the connections and similarities, rather than simply enjoying the book,

I enjoyed the magic and the world even though I did think our protagonist was a little off the rails with her deep connection to the mysterious man in the mirror, but the general tone of the book was a bit slow for me. I didn't feel the energy of competition, music, song, or magic, so the book was a bit of a let-down. This was very much an average read for me - entertaining enough to keep me reading, but not something I'm eager to recommend.

Looking for a good book? Sing the Night by Megan Jauregui Eccles is a fantasy of magic and music. Fans of cozy fantasy may enjoy this. I found it too similar to another book recently published, but without the energy.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, though Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Franky · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25⭐

LIKED:
- I really like the idea of magic between tied to performance. It’s interesting in this that the magic isn’t just tied to singing, but dance as well (though I know that that is mainly due to it being a Phantom of the Opera retelling than anything).
- I liked that the main issue in the book is that magic in this world is only illusion and that real magic does exist but it’s just dangerous. That was a neat twist.
- I think the atmosphere is good. I got the vibes that she was laying down.
- The title is good.

LAMENTED:
- This book being a Phantom retelling honestly made it pretty insufferable at times. There were just too many references, where it was through song lyrics or their being characters named Ramin and Gerard. It was too theatre kid energy for me. I know that there are people who like that amount of reference, but for me if it is distracting me from the story, it is frustrating.
- Also, the way that this author writes is just …not for me. It felt like the author was trying to hard to be lyrical or artsy and it just ended up being clunky. You don’t need to insert musical verbiage onto the page arbitrarily for it to feel musical. It actually ends up doing the opposite.
- Again, I get it. It’s a Phantom retelling. But the love triangle felt completely stakeless. And the prince character isn’t reintroduced until like Act II.
- Why do we just have the phantom having Christine - sorry, Serene - doing fetch quests for him that don’t matter/ It felt like a waste of time in the end.
- Serene also just kind of sucks. She just kind of gets what she wants despite screwing up all the time. But she’s also supposed to be just so magnetic wow. But she’s just…not? The thing about Christine is that she's driven by her own naivety. Serene is not that. She knows what she’s doing.
- The end is just a mess.
- I think the cover is fine, but I don’t love it. I like the curtains and the focus on the mirror, but it just looks a bit like it was made in Canva, which isn't my style

LONGED FOR:
- Less reliance on the source material.
- Less clunky references.
- No love triangle, ugh.


Will I read the next one? : No.

*Thank you to Grand Central & NetGalley for providing this ARC!


Similar Books :
- ‘The Night Circus’ by Erin Morgenstern
- 'A Treachery of Swans' by A.B. Poranek
- 'A Far Wilder Magic' by Allison Saft
- 'A Study in Drowning' by Ava Reid

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC!

Full review and thoughts here on the blog! https://thegrimmlibrarian.com/2025/06/11/sing-the-night-opera-magique-1-by-megan-jauregui-eccles-review/

Selene has one goal in her mind – to use her singing to summon the most powerful magic in order to win L′Opéra du Magician. The prize? Being declared the King’s Mage, a position of honour and one that her father held before he descended into madness, leaving Selene to fend for herself. The competition quickly turns sour when a competitor steals Selene’s song and her chances of winning start to slim. That is, until she discovers a hidden mirror in the opera house and within it, a handsome and mysterious man. He has no memory of how he got trapped in the mirror but offers his help in the form a darker magic that does not just involve music, but blood, darkness and pain. His forbidden magic might be dangerous, but Selene is desperate to win. As the competition starts becoming more and more deadly, Selene must navigate a thick web of secrets and betrayals to achieve her ambitions… and the return of a childhood sweetheart who has never forgotten her.

I really enjoyed this Phantom of the Opera inspired retelling! I loved the worldbuilding, how music is used to create magic and the dangerous side-effects it can cause when it goes wrong – as we learn what happens with Selene’s father. Selene’s ambition to win the L′Opéra du Magician and redeem her father’s legacy was compelling to read, especially when as more and more secrets and betrayals are revealed, the more winning L′Opéra du Magician seems unwise. I also really like how the author incorporated the famous love triangle from the musical/book into the story, with Selene effectively using both of her love interests to try and win the competition. I did feel that Selene’s first reaction to the mysterious ‘phantom’ was somewhat insta-lovey, but hey it’s YA! Also, the mirrors – if you know you know! I don’t really enjoy school or competition settings in fantasy books that much either, but this was still pretty good. If you enjoy stories about magical competitions, love triangles, music, and are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, I would definitely recommend this book! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.