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The Guardian of the Opera #1
Nocturne
Set against the backdrop of 1880s Paris and the stunning Opera Garnier, The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne brings you the familiar tale from a different direction. Meg Giry met the Phantom once when she was twelve years old, a new ballet dancer lost in the Opera’s maze. Years later, when an Angel of Music offers singing lessons to her best friend Christine Daaé, Meg is sure she knows what’s actually happening. But as strange events unfold and the pieces stop adding up, Meg has to wonder if she truly understands the Phantom—or Christine.
Erik is a man of many talents and many masks, and the one covering his face may be the least concealing. The opera house is his kingdom and his refuge, where he stalks through the shadows as the Phantom of the Opera, watching over all that occurs. He never intended to fall in love; when he does, it launches him into a new symphony he’s certain can only end in heartbreak.
Erik is a man of many talents and many masks, and the one covering his face may be the least concealing. The opera house is his kingdom and his refuge, where he stalks through the shadows as the Phantom of the Opera, watching over all that occurs. He never intended to fall in love; when he does, it launches him into a new symphony he’s certain can only end in heartbreak.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 5, 2020
11 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl Mahoney
10 books27 followersCheryl Mahoney lives in California and dreams of other worlds. She is the author of the upcoming Guardian of the Opera trilogy, slated for publication in 2020, retelling the story of the Phantom of the Opera from a new direction. She is also the author of the Beyond the Tales quartet, retelling familiar fairy tales, with new twists. She is a co-author of The Servants and the Beast, and its companion piece, After the Sparkles Settled. Cheryl loves exploring new worlds in the past, the future or fairyland, and builds her stories around characters finding their way through those worlds--especially characters overlooked or underestimated by the people around them.
She has been blogging since 2010 at Tales of the Marvelous (http://marveloustales.com). Her weekly Writing Wednesday posts provide updates about her current writing, including excerpts. She also posts regularly with book and movie reviews, and reflections on reading. She has been a member of Stonehenge Writers since 2012, and has completed NaNoWriMo seven times.
Cheryl has looked for faeries in Kensington Gardens in London and for the Phantom at the Opera Garnier in Paris. She considers Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet to be life-changing and Terry Pratchett books to be the best cure for gloomy days.
She has been blogging since 2010 at Tales of the Marvelous (http://marveloustales.com). Her weekly Writing Wednesday posts provide updates about her current writing, including excerpts. She also posts regularly with book and movie reviews, and reflections on reading. She has been a member of Stonehenge Writers since 2012, and has completed NaNoWriMo seven times.
Cheryl has looked for faeries in Kensington Gardens in London and for the Phantom at the Opera Garnier in Paris. She considers Tamora Pierce's Song of the Lioness Quartet to be life-changing and Terry Pratchett books to be the best cure for gloomy days.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 6, 2020
How am I ever going to wait for the next book in the series?
March 29, 2024
3.5 or 3.75 I guess
The beginning was quite slow, but once the story actually took off, I couldn’t put it down (again). This is one of my favourite (if not my absolute favourite) story set in the world of The Phantom of the Opera, and I’m so excited to continue my re-read!
The beginning was quite slow, but once the story actually took off, I couldn’t put it down (again). This is one of my favourite (if not my absolute favourite) story set in the world of The Phantom of the Opera, and I’m so excited to continue my re-read!
June 6, 2020
What I Loved:
I love a retelling! I especially like one that comes from a story I love so much. I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera on multiple occasions, I’ve read the book multiple times, and now…my first retelling! Nocturne was a wonderful retelling that really pulled me into the story.
How I Felt:
Nocturne tells the Phantom of the Opera tale, but from the perspective of Meg Giry, a dancer and friend of Christine Daaé. I really enjoyed that this new character was added to the story. I liked her perspective and her investigative mind.
The story’s beginning had me completely pulled in. I love it when a book grabs you from the start, and this one did! Meg is lost in the depths of the Opera trying to get to dance class. I loved the way the author made me feel Meg’s emotions through this. I felt her fear and concern over being late to class, and then of being lost. Cheryl Mahoney’s writing grabbed me emotionally again and again throughout the story. She has a great way of making the reader feel what is happening!
The pace of the book was really good. There area few slow points, but overall, it was a story that flowed from one event to the next making me fly through the 357 pages.
The characters were true to the original story, yet had their own differences that made the book unique. Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, has such a love of his music. His character is mysterious and secretive, and yet there’s something that drew me to him. I really enjoyed Meg’s character. She is friends with Christine, but she really wants to be able to stand out on her own, not on the coattails of Christine’s success.
Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling! I liked the twists and turns that the story had, and the characters were wonderful!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Nocturne for readers that enjoy a story with mystery, romance, and wonderful characters! If you enjoy the Phantom of the Opera, you’ll enjoy reading this version!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 6/9/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
I love a retelling! I especially like one that comes from a story I love so much. I’ve seen Phantom of the Opera on multiple occasions, I’ve read the book multiple times, and now…my first retelling! Nocturne was a wonderful retelling that really pulled me into the story.
How I Felt:
Nocturne tells the Phantom of the Opera tale, but from the perspective of Meg Giry, a dancer and friend of Christine Daaé. I really enjoyed that this new character was added to the story. I liked her perspective and her investigative mind.
The story’s beginning had me completely pulled in. I love it when a book grabs you from the start, and this one did! Meg is lost in the depths of the Opera trying to get to dance class. I loved the way the author made me feel Meg’s emotions through this. I felt her fear and concern over being late to class, and then of being lost. Cheryl Mahoney’s writing grabbed me emotionally again and again throughout the story. She has a great way of making the reader feel what is happening!
The pace of the book was really good. There area few slow points, but overall, it was a story that flowed from one event to the next making me fly through the 357 pages.
The characters were true to the original story, yet had their own differences that made the book unique. Erik, the Phantom of the Opera, has such a love of his music. His character is mysterious and secretive, and yet there’s something that drew me to him. I really enjoyed Meg’s character. She is friends with Christine, but she really wants to be able to stand out on her own, not on the coattails of Christine’s success.
Overall, I really enjoyed this retelling! I liked the twists and turns that the story had, and the characters were wonderful!
To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Nocturne for readers that enjoy a story with mystery, romance, and wonderful characters! If you enjoy the Phantom of the Opera, you’ll enjoy reading this version!
I was provided an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.
My full review of this book will post to my blog on 6/9/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-boo...
August 30, 2020
This version interchanges Meg's point of view and a third person view of Erik's actions and feelings, with a strong lean towards the young Mlle Giry. The familiar faces appear - Christine, Raoul, Carlotta, the Persian, managers, and many more. Make no mistake that what we know happened is here to set the scene for the other two books in this series, which I will also be reading.
The author pulls from strong sources - The original book, Susan Kay's masterful reimagining, and Michael Crawford's strong, emotional turn as The Phantom. (He's my Phantom, too, with no disrespect to others playing the role). Passion for the subject is evident and beautiful.
Originally I found Meg's view to be one-track, somewhat vapid - living up to those foolish ballet girl myths, to be sure. But then, near the end of the book, this passage:
"But the Phantom was my proof that the impossible was possible, that strange and extraordinary and wonderful things could happen. If he was gone or dead, then everything magical had gone with him. The story would be over, and how could it be over when I had never had a chance to really be part of it?"
I feel this one, Meg, and suddenly the rest of her tale clicked with me, eager to read more.
The author pulls from strong sources - The original book, Susan Kay's masterful reimagining, and Michael Crawford's strong, emotional turn as The Phantom. (He's my Phantom, too, with no disrespect to others playing the role). Passion for the subject is evident and beautiful.
Originally I found Meg's view to be one-track, somewhat vapid - living up to those foolish ballet girl myths, to be sure. But then, near the end of the book, this passage:
"But the Phantom was my proof that the impossible was possible, that strange and extraordinary and wonderful things could happen. If he was gone or dead, then everything magical had gone with him. The story would be over, and how could it be over when I had never had a chance to really be part of it?"
I feel this one, Meg, and suddenly the rest of her tale clicked with me, eager to read more.
June 6, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from rockstar book tours and the author. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Nocturne
Author: Cheryl Mahoney
Book Series: The Guardian of the Opera Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Phantom of the Opera retellings
Publication Date: June 5, 2020
Publisher: Stonehenge Circle Press
Pages: 357
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, language, phantoms in the night)
Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of 1880s Paris and the stunning Opera Garnier, The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne brings you the familiar tale from a different direction. Meg Giry met the Phantom once when she was twelve years old, a new ballet dancer lost in the Opera’s maze. Years later, when an Angel of Music offers singing lessons to her best friend Christine Daaé, Meg is sure she knows what’s actually happening. But as strange events unfold and the pieces stop adding up, Meg has to wonder if she truly understands the Phantom—or Christine.
Erik is a man of many talents and many masks, and the one covering his face may be the least concealing. The opera house is his kingdom and his refuge, where he stalks through the shadows as the Phantom of the Opera, watching over all that occurs. He never intended to fall in love; when he does, it launches him into a new symphony he’s certain can only end in heartbreak.
Review: I really enjoyed this Phantom of the Opera retelling. The strength of this book was in the character development and the author did well with them. The book also had a well developed plot and I enjoyed reading this from start to finish.
However, I did feel like the world building could have been a bit better. That's really my only complaint though!
Verdict: A well done retelling.
Book: Nocturne
Author: Cheryl Mahoney
Book Series: The Guardian of the Opera Book 1
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For...: Phantom of the Opera retellings
Publication Date: June 5, 2020
Publisher: Stonehenge Circle Press
Pages: 357
Recommended Age: 16+ (romance, language, phantoms in the night)
Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of 1880s Paris and the stunning Opera Garnier, The Guardian of the Opera: Nocturne brings you the familiar tale from a different direction. Meg Giry met the Phantom once when she was twelve years old, a new ballet dancer lost in the Opera’s maze. Years later, when an Angel of Music offers singing lessons to her best friend Christine Daaé, Meg is sure she knows what’s actually happening. But as strange events unfold and the pieces stop adding up, Meg has to wonder if she truly understands the Phantom—or Christine.
Erik is a man of many talents and many masks, and the one covering his face may be the least concealing. The opera house is his kingdom and his refuge, where he stalks through the shadows as the Phantom of the Opera, watching over all that occurs. He never intended to fall in love; when he does, it launches him into a new symphony he’s certain can only end in heartbreak.
Review: I really enjoyed this Phantom of the Opera retelling. The strength of this book was in the character development and the author did well with them. The book also had a well developed plot and I enjoyed reading this from start to finish.
However, I did feel like the world building could have been a bit better. That's really my only complaint though!
Verdict: A well done retelling.
June 8, 2020
Nocturne is the beginning of Cheryl Mahoney’s series, The Guardian of the Opera. It is, also, my first introduction to her books. Even though it was over three hundred and fifty pages long, I thought it was easy to read and had no problem reading it in one day. Meg’s story was fun and entertaining from start to finish. It was a great retelling of the Phantom of the Opera.
I am giving Nocturne four stars. I am looking forward to reading the next installment from The Guardian of the Opera series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I am giving Nocturne four stars. I am looking forward to reading the next installment from The Guardian of the Opera series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
October 30, 2022
There can be few people that do not know Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom story. If you’ve read the original Gaston Leroux, you will be prepared for a more in-depth approach to the opera ghost. I enjoyed the focus on Meg Giry, the ballet dancer, and found her background beautifully rich in the development, along with that of her mother. Her obsession with the phantom has more basis than her fellow performers. She thinks she met him when she was very young, and he helped her find her way back when she got lost in the massive opera house. So she’s very protective of him, and that colours all the rest of the plot, from the way she is treated by the cast, to the friendship with Christine Daae.
I love the way the author leaves several things in doubt that might have been canon in another telling. Her descriptive powers are given full rein in the lavish spectacle of the opera house. The tensions between characters, let alone the terrors of the ghost, are well developed and sensitively handled. I’d almost forgotten some key events of other accounts as I was swept up in the new love affairs, or are they obsessions? She also gets the period right, and the relationship between Raoul and his elder brother rings true.
All in all, however much you want to stick to ‘your’ version of the phantom story, I recommend you read this one. It’s a keeper.
I love the way the author leaves several things in doubt that might have been canon in another telling. Her descriptive powers are given full rein in the lavish spectacle of the opera house. The tensions between characters, let alone the terrors of the ghost, are well developed and sensitively handled. I’d almost forgotten some key events of other accounts as I was swept up in the new love affairs, or are they obsessions? She also gets the period right, and the relationship between Raoul and his elder brother rings true.
All in all, however much you want to stick to ‘your’ version of the phantom story, I recommend you read this one. It’s a keeper.
July 9, 2020
Bravo!
A delight of a tale (told from Erik, Meg , and Commissaire Mifroid's sides), especially for a Phan! Very well written. I absolutely cannot wait for book two!
A delight of a tale (told from Erik, Meg , and Commissaire Mifroid's sides), especially for a Phan! Very well written. I absolutely cannot wait for book two!
November 25, 2021
Exploring the Phantom
In a clever retelling of the oft-told tale of the Opera Garnier and its disfigured Phantom, Mahoney begins with a bereft child-dancer, Meg Giry, who gets lost in the depths of the opulent Opera. Rescued by a charming gentleman in a mask, she begins to doubt the macabre tales told aboutt the aweful Opera Ghost. But when, years later, she befriends the beautiful, talented singer Christine Daáe, Meg's feelings begin to change.…
In a clever retelling of the oft-told tale of the Opera Garnier and its disfigured Phantom, Mahoney begins with a bereft child-dancer, Meg Giry, who gets lost in the depths of the opulent Opera. Rescued by a charming gentleman in a mask, she begins to doubt the macabre tales told aboutt the aweful Opera Ghost. But when, years later, she befriends the beautiful, talented singer Christine Daáe, Meg's feelings begin to change.…
February 9, 2023
I like the premises of Meg's POV through out the whole book. It was a little slow in the beginning, picked up towards the end.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews