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Tightrope: A Phantom of the Opera Novel
A historical novel. It is February, 1939, and Franco's troops descend upon Barcelona as the Spanish Civil War grinds to its sinister end. Bereaved and facing starvation, Christine Daaé fights for survival as the shadow of the Second World War looms over Spain. Soon, she will be forced to deal with Erik Deschamps, a terrifying mercenary whose only loyalty is to her.
- GenresRomance
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 6, 2017
Not just fanfiction
When I see the word fanfiction I sometimes cringe. To me it means bad writing and worse spelling and grammar. This has none of that. There's a well written plot, set in WW2 Spain, with suspense, action and lots of real emotion.
Try it you'll like it!
When I see the word fanfiction I sometimes cringe. To me it means bad writing and worse spelling and grammar. This has none of that. There's a well written plot, set in WW2 Spain, with suspense, action and lots of real emotion.
Try it you'll like it!
August 2, 2018
Casablanca meets Phantom of the Opera in WWII Barcelona and it can’t get any better!
Before I start my review, I think it’s fair to say what I value and seek for in a POTO novel:
-to set things right (whoever has read Leroux knows what I mean)
-to retell the story and somehow “make it new” and finally,
-to do all the above in a fun, enjoyable way.
This book delivers and adds more to the list, traits that every novel should have... like complicated characters who grow up (thankfully!) and plot!
The setting is very original. The era is depicted in a detailed but not boring or didactic way. Small details here and there draw the role of women in Spain during the Franco regime, weaving a vivid political environment and a whole world of complicated secondary characters around Erik and Christine.
In this dangerous era that brings Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich in mind, Christine is forced to enter a world of spies and double agents where everyone has his own agenda.
The suspense is built page by page, in a story that feels original yet stays true to the classic POTO scenes (the masquerade dance, the cemetery scene etc.)
Using as a colorful background a city licking its wounds after the civil war, Chapucera creates a female character that is strong and witty. Her Christine is intelligent enough to create an unbreakable code--save for Erik of course-- brave enough to put herself in danger, risk her life for the safety of others and drive Erik crazy in the meantime.
On the other hand, Erik is everything that is loved and unique in the character-- genius, talented, overprotective, obsessed, lethal, with a great sense of the macabre. At the same time, he’s very much a man in love and seeking love--only from Christine.
Combining beloved characters with excellent research and attention to detail, Chapucera has created a multi-layered novel that is a true gem.
I highly recommend this book!
Before I start my review, I think it’s fair to say what I value and seek for in a POTO novel:
-to set things right (whoever has read Leroux knows what I mean)
-to retell the story and somehow “make it new” and finally,
-to do all the above in a fun, enjoyable way.
This book delivers and adds more to the list, traits that every novel should have... like complicated characters who grow up (thankfully!) and plot!
The setting is very original. The era is depicted in a detailed but not boring or didactic way. Small details here and there draw the role of women in Spain during the Franco regime, weaving a vivid political environment and a whole world of complicated secondary characters around Erik and Christine.
In this dangerous era that brings Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich in mind, Christine is forced to enter a world of spies and double agents where everyone has his own agenda.
The suspense is built page by page, in a story that feels original yet stays true to the classic POTO scenes (the masquerade dance, the cemetery scene etc.)
Using as a colorful background a city licking its wounds after the civil war, Chapucera creates a female character that is strong and witty. Her Christine is intelligent enough to create an unbreakable code--save for Erik of course-- brave enough to put herself in danger, risk her life for the safety of others and drive Erik crazy in the meantime.
On the other hand, Erik is everything that is loved and unique in the character-- genius, talented, overprotective, obsessed, lethal, with a great sense of the macabre. At the same time, he’s very much a man in love and seeking love--only from Christine.
Combining beloved characters with excellent research and attention to detail, Chapucera has created a multi-layered novel that is a true gem.
I highly recommend this book!
November 4, 2022
Wow!!
I’ve read nearly 40 POTO fan fiction titles and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. I honestly didn’t think it would be anywhere near this good. It has danger, espionage, love, betrayal, action and more. Such a different take on a beloved story. Christine is married to Raoul and finds herself tangled with Erik who is a dangerous man and obsessed with her. She hasn’t heard from or seen her husband in two years. Is he dead? Is he safe? She tries to balance a relationship with her teacher that doesn’t skim into adultery like other women around her taking lovers and favors. Christine has no idea about other dangers around her and the people that want her hurt or dead. Really thrilling read. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one.
I’ve read nearly 40 POTO fan fiction titles and this is one of the best I’ve ever read. I honestly didn’t think it would be anywhere near this good. It has danger, espionage, love, betrayal, action and more. Such a different take on a beloved story. Christine is married to Raoul and finds herself tangled with Erik who is a dangerous man and obsessed with her. She hasn’t heard from or seen her husband in two years. Is he dead? Is he safe? She tries to balance a relationship with her teacher that doesn’t skim into adultery like other women around her taking lovers and favors. Christine has no idea about other dangers around her and the people that want her hurt or dead. Really thrilling read. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one.
July 1, 2021
Amazing Use of History to Create an Erik/Christine Romance
I read this for the second time. However, given the current political climate with Republicans threatening to install a Fascist state in the US, Americans should read about the Franco era in Spain and the starvation and military attacks on the people to remind us of how lucky we are to live in a democracy.
I read this for the second time. However, given the current political climate with Republicans threatening to install a Fascist state in the US, Americans should read about the Franco era in Spain and the starvation and military attacks on the people to remind us of how lucky we are to live in a democracy.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews