Phantom Song

Toccata System #2

by Kate Sheeran Swed

Angel of music. Instrument of justice.

As the fashionably veiled operatic sensation of Landry City, Claire Leroux is adored by the masses. But Claire must never let her fans discover what hides behind her mask--a body that’s half-machine and hellbent on vengeance.

Offstage, Claire hunts for the man whose violent act made her a cyborg and killed her parents. The people of Landry City might despise cyborgs, but her home is all she has left, and Claire means to protect it. Just when her double life leads her straight to the enemy’s door, an unexpected factor enters the equation: Claire’s long lost love, Isabelle Chagny.

Even if Iz can accept Claire’s transformation, Claire isn’t willing to risk her ex’s safety. But Iz and her companions are already entangled with Claire’s nemesis, and if she wants to save her home, she’ll need to decide: fight alone in the shadows to save the city that hates her, or form an alliance--and risk the only woman she’s ever loved in the process.

Inspired by Gaston Leroux’s the Phantom of the Opera, Phantom Song is the second novella in the Toccata System trilogy.

Genres: Science Fiction, Novella

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 9, 2019

About the author

Kate Sheeran Swed loves hot chocolate, plastic dinosaurs, and airplane tickets. She has trekked along the Inca Trail to Macchu Picchu, hiked on the Mýrdalsjökull glacier in Iceland, and climbed the ruins of Masada to watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea. She holds degrees in music from the University of Maine and Ithaca College, as well as an MFA in Fiction from Pacific University. Her stories are forthcoming or have appeared in the Young Explorer's Adventure Guide Volume 5, Daily Science Fiction, Electric Spec, and Andromeda Spaceways. You can find her on Twitter @katesheeranswed.

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading Phantom Song, and wow! I loved it.

I have thoroughly enjoyed both installments of the Toccata System series and I cannot wait for book three! I loved Phantom Song just as much as I loved Parting Shadows and it was so nice to spend some more time with the characters.

The focus of this novella is on Claire and Iz and what each is willing to sacrifice for the other. I loved both of these ladies so much. It makes my grumpy heart glad when I get to 'meet' a grumpy character and Claire is a wonderful one! There are chapters from both Claire and Iz's POV and as they are both so totally different from each other it made for great reading. I just could not put Phantom Song down, and I read it in one day.

What I found most intriguing was the discussion surrounding cyborgs, AIs and their rights. I felt that this complex issue is explored so well in Phantom Song.  It reminded me of Cinder (which is another Sci Fi retelling which I adored!) as both of these books pose questions that we may need the answers to sooner than we think. How do we, as humans, feel about cyborgs and AIs? Do we need to alter our definition of what it is to be human? To be alive? To have a soul? I love that we get to explore those questions and more when we read Sci Fi and more specifically in Phantom Song as it really did get me thinking.

I really don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil the plot of Phantom Song or Parting Shadows - but I would definitely recommend them both, the pacing is spot on, the writing style is wonderfully immersive, and characters are unique and flawed and relatable

[Tyffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t need much to be sold on this book—I was in the moment I realized it was a SciFi retelling of Phantom of the Opera.

But I LOVE how Kate handled this retelling!!! There enough references that I could pick out the classic Phantom story, but she melded it beautifully into her own universe with her own tech, villains, and wonderful worldbuilding. And the characters! I love the characters. I loved seeing Astra and Henry again, and Iz, and Claire is an awesome addition to the cast.

Plus, the epilogue left me itching to grab the third book immediately. 🙌🏼

I can’t wait to see where the story goes next 😍

tl;dr - With likable, relatable characters and rich SciFi elements, Phantom Song is a must read for Phantom of the Opera fans 😍

[iam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast-paced sci-fi f/f retelling of Phantom of the Opera featuring vengeful cyborgs.
What more could you possibly want?!

Content warnings include: violence, death of parents, decribtions of pain and injury, character gets unconsensually turned into a cyborg, discrimination against cyborgs, terrorism.

While Phantom Song plays directly after Parting Shadows, it has different protagonists, and references and vaguely explains the main events of the prequel. I guess it can be read as standalone, but I definitely recommend reading both in order because they are good and knowing the details definitely enriches the reading experience.

The book was easy and fast to read - I pretty much finished it in one sitting! The plot, writing and characters were engaging, and the worldbuilding, while not very elaborate, worked perfectly for the story.

Claire, the Phantom character, definitely takes the spotlight - not just because she's a famous opera singer, but also because she is the masked cyborg vigilante of the city. While Iz doesn't sound like much compared to such a résumé, she was a great character too, with discernable strengths and an important role that isn't just Claire's love interest.

Besides them, both familiar and new faces make up the important side characters, and I can't wait to hear more about the latter in future installments of the series as the overarching plot thickens.

I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

[Grace K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y'all this series...*chef's kiss*

Check out my review for book one if you haven't already. Basically, I'm obsessed with Swed's writing. It's beautiful but not flowery and it's so easy to get sucked into these books.

Now, I must admit I know next to nothing about Phantom of the Opera. Luckily, I didn't need to have any background in order to get this book! If you're a fan I'm sure some of the references will stick out to you more. For me, I just thought it was cool cyborgs & spaceships pew pew

I gave it four stars because something about this one didn't pull me in as much as the first. It's possibly because SATIS from book one is a much smaller presence here. We have the characters from book one here, but the story is now focused on (spoiler alert for book one) another SATIS girl named Claire. I liked Claire a lot and I thought her journey was super relateable (plus her relationship is so cute), I'm just not sure I totally understood the overarching plot as well in this one. It could have also been my headspace though.

Overall, I absolutely adore these books and HIGHLY recommend to any SciFi lovers! They are quick thrillers with excellent worldbuilding and a beautiful narrative voice from Swed. I already have book three in my clutches and I cannot wait to dig into it!

TLDR: If you like SciFi and classic retellings, you NEED these books!!

[C.E. Clayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret that I’ve always loved the Phantom of the Opera. I adore tragic love stories and gothic vibes. So really, this review shouldn’t surprise anyone as “Phantom Song” was inspired by the original Phantom of the Opera, and the author does some truly marvelous magic weaving in the original with the far-future world she’s built with the Toccata System. How the original phantom of the opera house is brought back with the ghost, and the Phantom Angel guarding over the city (which, honestly reminded me a bit of Batman but I kind of loved that, too) while also being the masked opera star of Landry City… This story was a perfect homage to a classic while braving its own unique path. I loved getting to know Claire, and seeing her beautiful relationship with Iz, as well as having Henry and Astra return. Plus, this book has creepy AI, murderous cyborgs, and themes of prejudice that apply to many groups and peoples today. Really, what's not to love?

I think I liked this book better than the first in the trilogy mainly because of my love of its source material, so I’ll try to separate that as much as I can in case you haven’t read Phantom of the Opera. But really, you can 1000% enjoy this book without knowing anything about the classic, or any of its on stage and silver screen adaptations. Swed does call backs to the original with some of the characters names, and the scenarios are very similar in where the Phantom dwells but with enough twists that it feels distinctly new, maintains that gothic vibe I love, and also fits in perfectly with a science fiction world with advanced technologies. Outside of the cyborgs, though, a lot of the advanced technology and even the AI systems themselves are not as present in this novella as they were in the first book, but Claire’s cybernetics, her abilities, and how she uses her technology to help people and those she cares about makes up for it, in my opinion.

Speaking of cyborgs, I LOVE how Swed treated cyborgs in her book. The fear and animosity unenhanced people treat them with and why, how unfounded it could be, but also the flip side of that coin. Like any tool, the cyborgs could use their parts for good or evil, but it depends on the person and it’s unfair to stereotype an entire population because of what they COULD do, what they MIGHT be capable of. Sound familiar? It should, these topics are everywhere in our society today, and I loved how Swed brought the themes forward without making me feel like it was 1. Taking away from the bigger plot of what Claire’s foe was doing, why, and his connection to Edward Keyes, or 2. Like I was being preached at/to. It was very well done, and I applaud the author for that!

Also, let’s take a minute to admire the contrast between all the characters, especially between Iz’s positivity and how, while she can’t disable a person as effortlessly as Claire or Astra, is still just as strong in other ways. I enjoyed Claire’s sass, especially when it was up against Astra’s cold exterior. I enjoyed how Henry was always there to help, pointing out flaws, sure, but never telling these powerful ladies what they could, or couldn’t, do. I also loved Sam’s softness and how in over his head he is 90% of the time. This was an easy story, and world, to devour and I can’t wait to see what the final installment has in store for our original cast, as well as the new characters who will be going up against the AI mastermind that is Edward Keyes; 5 stars! All the stars!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Kate Sheeran Swed for providing me an eARC copy of Phantom Song, the sequel to Parting Shadows, which I really enjoyed and also rated 4*.

Phantom Song is the direct sequel to Parting Shadows, picking up where we left Iz, Astra, and Henry, but this time the main characters are different and we follow Iz and her ex-girlfriend Claire. In all honesty I did miss the character of Astra having more of a lead role because I became hooked on her in the last book and think she is such a strong character. But saying that, I also really enjoyed the focus on Iz and Claire; Claire is a new character to us and her perspectives were really interesting, and just like Astra she is also a strong BAMF. Claire isn't a character who is born into battle like Astra, but she's had to learn to fight after an explosion almost killed her and left her a Cyborg. Cyborg's are feared and mistrusted in this world and so Claire lives in the shadows, hunting down the man that killed her parents.

I also like that we get to know Iz more and she's more developed in this story. What I enjoyed was that Iz isn't like Astra or Claire, she is normal - she hasn't been trained to fight, she doesn't have any other abilities, she is very much just normal but that isn't a weakness. Iz is kind and thoughtful, and knows how to get into people's heads with this. I really think the dynamic between Iz and Claire was well done and enjoyed seeing their interactions. Like with Astra and Henry, there is the romantic undercurrent between Iz and Claire but it never takes over the story and is never the focus, which for me is a good thing as romance isn't my favourite genre.

As with the previous story I found this story really engaging and it is such a good read. It is fast paced throughout the story and there are no filler sections. I really enjoy a story that moves at a fast pace and keeps the story going; I was utterly gripped throughout and couldn't put it down until I finished it. There are similar themes spread throughout this book of the Satis girl and Astra's desire to find them all and protect them from Keyes. The twist at the end did have me shocked because I honestly didn't see it coming and i'm excited to see where this leads.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and am really looking forward to the next installment, and finding out about the other Satis girls.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Landry City was made of music."
Music and space and a female Phantom character . . . YES!
Every time I read one of Kate's stories, I fall in love with her writing all over again. This book is such a fantastic, lyrical sci-fi Phantom of the Opera retelling. I loved every moment of this ride loaded with action AND heart, and I can't wait for the next installment in the series!

[Maraia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Hobart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
Before I dig into this, here's a warning—this is the second novella in a trilogy. I cannot talk about this in any understandable fashion without talking about a couple of the things from the first book. Most of what I want to say is no big deal, but one thing is a spoiler for an important revelation in the first book. If it were me, I wouldn't mind knowing what I'm about to say when I started Parting Shadows Still if you'd prefer to be careful—you should just go read what I had to say about Parting Shadows and move on.

ARE YOU STILL READING? GOOD
So in Parting Shadows, we hear something about a vigilante running around Landry City—Astra speculates about that vigilante being one of the SATIS girls. Also, when Isabelle goes to the Opera in Landry City, something happens that rattles her—but other events are going on which makes that not such a big deal.

Phantom Song tells us about what happened at the Opera and about the vigilante. And that's just the early chapters.

This book overlaps the events of Phantom Song but largely happens in its aftermath. We begin with a cyborg attacking a transport ship carrying a friend of Isabelle's, Claire, and her mother. Claire is injured, but her mother gets her to safety. She wakes up as a cyborg herself—it was the only way to keep her alive. We later learn that it was SATIS who arranged for that. While she waits to see how raising an assassin goes, she has one constructed, too.

Claire spends her nights as that vigilante in order to find the cyborg that attacked her family (actually, she's just hunting for the cyborg, the vigilante stuff is a side effect—but let's not get into that). During the day, she's the star of Landry City's Opera.

Astra comes looking for the vigilante—to see if she's right about the SATIS tie and to recruit some help in her efforts to stop Keyes. The two end up joining forces to take down the Cyborg first.

ON ODD PREJUDICE
For a society so run by various AIs, there is a deep-seated prejudice against humans with cybernetic augmentation—no matter the reason for it. The prejudice is so strong that hospital staff—the same people that just saved Claire's life through the implants—treat her with scorn because of them. It's powerful but makes no sense.

Then again, no one said prejudices have to make sense. The ones that seem most prevalent in human society certainly don't. So, spot on there.

Because of this hatred, Claire has to adopt a new identity and cover her cybernetic parts with long sleeves, dresses, and mask. Which works because of her new identity's celebrity, but wouldn't cut it in any other circumstance. That's a nice touch—and the lengths Claire has to go to to protect herself paves the way for a very successful way to protect her double life.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT PHANTOM SONG?
I know even less about Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera than I do, so I'm not going to pretend to be able to talk about this take on Phantom.

This is a short enough work—and so easy to spoil its own events, much less those of the prior book, that I feel like I've been unusually shallow talking about it. But that's all you're getting from me.

After doing all the heavy lifting in the first novella—setting up the rules of the world, the way AIs work, SATIS and her girls, and so on, Swed can just play in this novella. The story is more developed, she can sink deeper into the characters (having characters who have had a natural emotional development also helps), she can involve more characters and plotlines. In short, she can do more. Which leads to this being a more enjoyable read.

I don't think this works that well as an entry point into the series—it's a trilogy, that makes sense. But this is a great way to follow up on Parting Shadows and sets the stage for a big conclusion in Prodigal Storm. Which is exactly what you want in the middle book of a trilogy.

[Katherine B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Phantom of the Opera but make it gay. Oh, and it's in space too.

Not going to lie, this was my favorite book in the series (yes, I've read book three too. I'm just late posting reviews). I finished this book in about two hours. I couldn't put it down! One, I love Phantom, two, I love vigilantes, and three, who doesn't love a good story about revenge?

Picking up where Parting Shadows left off, we have Astra, Iz, and Henry trying to hunt down an individual wanting to cause harm to certain people I won't name because of spoilers. Of course, they bump into the totally awesome opera singer/vigilante, Claire (not a spoiler. It's literally in the description, people!). The four team up to save Landry City. Oh, and there's a twist in there I definitely didn't see coming. Well done, Kate! I'm going to shut up now before I give anything away.

Click here for my review on book one.

[Baj]

Conceptually, this book is pretty awesome as a sci-fi PHANTOM OF THE OPERA re-telling with intense cyborgs. However, I was not the ideal audience for the F/F romance, and that made this one hard to finish despite the great writing and cool story. The rest of this series, however, was pretty much perfect, and I highly recommend Swed as an indie author worth checking out for any sci-fi fans.

*No rating given because I have chosen to no longer rate the books of other indie authors.*

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Nonconsensual body modifications
Death of a parent

[Marie Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this continued the plot from the first book plus introduced the new characters. Claire was a great addition to the group and I'm excited for book 3

[GREGG CORDELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read.

This book was a great read and had a great storyline. There was a lot of surprises in the book .Give it a try you won't be disappointed.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good characters in an unusual story, although plenty of fighting and some mystery.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She hides behind a veil and she is a singing star who is adored by everyone. She is hiding a secret which make her can hate her. She is half cyborg and she is looking for revenge on the man who killed her parents and make her into this. Her ex love reappears. What will she do? Will she stay hidden? Will she let them help her? See what will happen

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[i_hype_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kate's second installment in the Toccata series is wonderful.

Claire is my favorite character so far in the Toccata Series. She is broken and bold. She is a shadow and an icon. She was rescued by SATIS, yet forged her own life and mission.

This is a story about triumph over tragedy, finding lost love in the ruins, and being defiant enough to hope for new beginnings.

[Pat Eroh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not for me I suppose. I did not really get into the story from the beginning and just never was able to. I love space opera and such but I suppose just not this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.