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Sing Me Forgotten
Isda does not exist. At least not beyond the opulent walls of the opera house.
Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house's owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high–and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.
But Isda breaks Cyril's cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she's ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.
Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place.
Cast into a well at birth for being one of the magical few who can manipulate memories when people sing, she was saved by Cyril, the opera house's owner. Since that day, he has given her sanctuary from the murderous world outside. All he asks in return is that she use her power to keep ticket sales high–and that she stay out of sight. For if anyone discovers she survived, Isda and Cyril would pay with their lives.
But Isda breaks Cyril's cardinal rule when she meets Emeric Rodin, a charming boy who throws her quiet, solitary life out of balance. His voice is unlike any she's ever heard, but the real shock comes when she finds in his memories hints of a way to finally break free of her gilded prison.
Haunted by this possibility, Isda spends more and more time with Emeric, searching for answers in his music and his past. But the price of freedom is steeper than Isda could ever know. For even as she struggles with her growing feelings for Emeric, she learns that in order to take charge of her own destiny, she must become the monster the world tried to drown in the first place.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 9, 2021
229 people are currently reading
30690 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,194 reviews
November 23, 2021
This book is true definition of magic! This is outstanding, powerful, magical and painful because it slowly breaks your heart and makes you deeply root for the characters.
Gender switched Phantom of Opera: a monstrous girl hid behind the shadows, was born with marks on her face, using her powers connected to the enchanting magic of music, extracting memories and she falls for a sunshiny boy, wearing pendant, singing like an angel in the middle corrupt kingdom and growing threat of political angst.
Yes, this is so much more than I expected but the author is creative musician who pulls the strings of our hearts and play them gently, adroitly and passionately to compose a memorable, soul brushing, extremely emotional symphony.
She awakens so many contrast emotions at the same time: love, hate, fear, excitement, regret, disdain, shock because even though this book is poetic, lyrical, poignant, heart wrenching, it is also violent, dark, terrifying with its gory, gothic atmosphere and action packed chapters ending with blood baths.
Overall: this gives me everything I like. It’s perfectly written.
I truly loved both Isda and Emeric who sings like angel, makes homemade caramels and I also know I never forget their beautiful, intimate, powerful bounding.
No more words: I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Giving my five memorable, musical, magical stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this spectacular ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Gender switched Phantom of Opera: a monstrous girl hid behind the shadows, was born with marks on her face, using her powers connected to the enchanting magic of music, extracting memories and she falls for a sunshiny boy, wearing pendant, singing like an angel in the middle corrupt kingdom and growing threat of political angst.
Yes, this is so much more than I expected but the author is creative musician who pulls the strings of our hearts and play them gently, adroitly and passionately to compose a memorable, soul brushing, extremely emotional symphony.
She awakens so many contrast emotions at the same time: love, hate, fear, excitement, regret, disdain, shock because even though this book is poetic, lyrical, poignant, heart wrenching, it is also violent, dark, terrifying with its gory, gothic atmosphere and action packed chapters ending with blood baths.
Overall: this gives me everything I like. It’s perfectly written.
I truly loved both Isda and Emeric who sings like angel, makes homemade caramels and I also know I never forget their beautiful, intimate, powerful bounding.
No more words: I LOVED IT SO MUCH. Giving my five memorable, musical, magical stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for sharing this spectacular ARC with me in exchange my honest opinions.
June 22, 2025
[this is me, bringing attention to one of my most underrated faves]
gold rush + Dear John. I'll never emotionally recover from this.
This is a beautiful, standalone, fantasy retelling of the Phantom of the Opera that will leave you staring out the window just thinking about these sweet, poor, wonderful characters.
Pick it up, please!
gold rush + Dear John. I'll never emotionally recover from this.
This is a beautiful, standalone, fantasy retelling of the Phantom of the Opera that will leave you staring out the window just thinking about these sweet, poor, wonderful characters.
Pick it up, please!
Want to read
July 1, 20202021 seems so far away...
The cover is so gorgeous!
Listen folks, I was never a fan of the Phantom of the Opera, sorry.
That is until I heard the words gender-bent Phantom of the Opera retelling.
Now I am. *.*
The cover is so gorgeous!
Listen folks, I was never a fan of the Phantom of the Opera, sorry.
That is until I heard the words gender-bent Phantom of the Opera retelling.
Now I am. *.*
May 6, 2021
Sing Me Forgotten is one of the best books I’ve read in ages.
Having not heard much buzz about it prior to reading it, I was completely taken by surprise when I picked it up and found myself struggling to put it down and not binge it all in one sitting!
The first thing you need to know about this book is that it’s a gender-swapped retelling of “The Phantom of the Opera”. I absolutely loved the nods to the musical Jessica S. Olson scattered throughout the book: the chandelier falling and the “angel of music” scene, to name a few! Our main character, Isda, is the female version of the Phantom, and much like him, she’s a complicated character who isn’t necessarily “good”, but one you root for nonetheless.
I absolutely LOVED Isda, for so many reasons. First of all, she’s super morally grey… in the best way possible. Throughout the book, she tricks, manipulates, and hurts other characters, and while her actions were clearly wrong, I couldn’t help but understand and empathize with her anyways. The world has treated Isda with nothing but hatred, cruelty, and disgust, so how could I blame her for expressing her anger in immoral ways? I can definitely see people having negative reactions towards Isda’s character, but in my opinion, the most interesting characters are always the flawed ones. The ones that aren’t good, and not bad either, but somewhere in between. And that’s exactly the type of character Isda is!
And Isda’s not the only fascinating character in this story. Emeric, her friend-turned-love-interest, was a joy to read about as well. On the surface, he’s charming, playful, and witty, but as we dive deeper into his past, we discover just how complex and layered he really is. Cyril, Isda’s guardian and primary father figure, was extremely interesting to read about too. He was so unpredictable, and it was always a challenge to tell where his true motives lied.
Aside from the phenomenally crafted characters in this book, I was also a huge fan of the magic system. An economy that revolves around the extraction and exchange of memories is such a refreshing concept, and Olson did an absolutely incredible job of executing it. She didn’t bore us with long, tedious info-dumps, and instead delivered the information gradually, oftentimes in the form of captivating flashbacks. Only truly talented authors can develop a complicated magic system while still maintaining a fast-paced and exciting story-line, and I’m so happy to report that Olson is one of those few! Which is definitely worthy of LOTS of applause, considering that this is her debut novel!
The thing that makes Sing Me Forgotten such a special, memorable book is the addictive quality it possesses. So much happened over the course of 300 pages, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There was literally never a dull moment! I was spellbound from start to finish, and I say that with absolutely no exaggeration.
The ending of this novel hit me especially hard. Looking back on it now, I can see that it was inevitable, but it was still heart-wrenching all the same. It was somewhat open-ended, but surprisingly enough, I didn’t have a problem with that, despite being someone who usually hates vague endings. To me, the ending just worked for the story that was being told. It was satisfying (albeit tragic), and it left me with so many emotions: wonder, grief, sadness, hope…
Overall, Sing Me Forgotten is a magical, compelling, unforgettable book (which is a bit ironic, if you take its title into consideration!). It simply took my breath away, and I would trade every ounce of memory elixir in my body if I could erase the story from my mind and start it all over again for the first time (that joke probably sounded weird if you haven’t read the book… Yet another reason to go pick it up!). From here on out, I will be recommending this book to literally everyone I know, so don’t be surprised if I never shut up about it. It’s such a spectacular debut novel, and it truly deserves all the stars in the world!
I can’t wait to see what Jessica S. Olson writes next; Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be marvelous!
Having not heard much buzz about it prior to reading it, I was completely taken by surprise when I picked it up and found myself struggling to put it down and not binge it all in one sitting!
The first thing you need to know about this book is that it’s a gender-swapped retelling of “The Phantom of the Opera”. I absolutely loved the nods to the musical Jessica S. Olson scattered throughout the book: the chandelier falling and the “angel of music” scene, to name a few! Our main character, Isda, is the female version of the Phantom, and much like him, she’s a complicated character who isn’t necessarily “good”, but one you root for nonetheless.
I absolutely LOVED Isda, for so many reasons. First of all, she’s super morally grey… in the best way possible. Throughout the book, she tricks, manipulates, and hurts other characters, and while her actions were clearly wrong, I couldn’t help but understand and empathize with her anyways. The world has treated Isda with nothing but hatred, cruelty, and disgust, so how could I blame her for expressing her anger in immoral ways? I can definitely see people having negative reactions towards Isda’s character, but in my opinion, the most interesting characters are always the flawed ones. The ones that aren’t good, and not bad either, but somewhere in between. And that’s exactly the type of character Isda is!
And Isda’s not the only fascinating character in this story. Emeric, her friend-turned-love-interest, was a joy to read about as well. On the surface, he’s charming, playful, and witty, but as we dive deeper into his past, we discover just how complex and layered he really is. Cyril, Isda’s guardian and primary father figure, was extremely interesting to read about too. He was so unpredictable, and it was always a challenge to tell where his true motives lied.
Aside from the phenomenally crafted characters in this book, I was also a huge fan of the magic system. An economy that revolves around the extraction and exchange of memories is such a refreshing concept, and Olson did an absolutely incredible job of executing it. She didn’t bore us with long, tedious info-dumps, and instead delivered the information gradually, oftentimes in the form of captivating flashbacks. Only truly talented authors can develop a complicated magic system while still maintaining a fast-paced and exciting story-line, and I’m so happy to report that Olson is one of those few! Which is definitely worthy of LOTS of applause, considering that this is her debut novel!
The thing that makes Sing Me Forgotten such a special, memorable book is the addictive quality it possesses. So much happened over the course of 300 pages, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. There was literally never a dull moment! I was spellbound from start to finish, and I say that with absolutely no exaggeration.
The ending of this novel hit me especially hard. Looking back on it now, I can see that it was inevitable, but it was still heart-wrenching all the same. It was somewhat open-ended, but surprisingly enough, I didn’t have a problem with that, despite being someone who usually hates vague endings. To me, the ending just worked for the story that was being told. It was satisfying (albeit tragic), and it left me with so many emotions: wonder, grief, sadness, hope…
Overall, Sing Me Forgotten is a magical, compelling, unforgettable book (which is a bit ironic, if you take its title into consideration!). It simply took my breath away, and I would trade every ounce of memory elixir in my body if I could erase the story from my mind and start it all over again for the first time (that joke probably sounded weird if you haven’t read the book… Yet another reason to go pick it up!). From here on out, I will be recommending this book to literally everyone I know, so don’t be surprised if I never shut up about it. It’s such a spectacular debut novel, and it truly deserves all the stars in the world!
I can’t wait to see what Jessica S. Olson writes next; Whatever it is, I’m sure it will be marvelous!
March 28, 2021
꧁ 5 STARS ꧂
GUYS I FINISHED THIS BOOK AND I- DSJHFGDKGHSD IM IN LOVEE!!
if you like VERY MORALLY GREY characters, magic, and romantic pining... this book is for you.
i've never watched or read phantom of the opera, so i'm not sure how many similarities there are. but i'm 99% the fendoir and gravoir things weren't in the original phantom of the opera. nonetheless, i really liked how this story was structured! the prose was beautiful, and the characters were *chef's kiss*. AND THE ENDING- THIS IS THE BEST STANDALONE ENDING I'VE EVER READ. I AM IN LOVE WITH THE RESOLUTION OF THE STORY. THE ARC IS EXQUISITE. AND ISDA JUST PERPETUATES THE "a hero would sacrifice you to save the world, but a villain would sacrifice the world to save you" VIBES AND I ADORE IT. WOMEN SAVING MEN >>>
oh and side note, i really loved how the conflicts were placed in the story. the first "big" conflict happened at 57%, but it just kept going and escalating. every time i think that the book should be wrapping up, a bigger conflict happens. I AM AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT SO MUCH THAT I AM FALLING OFF.
and emeric... DJGHSFLKJ I LOVE THIS PURE CINNAMON BUN PLSSS I WANT TO GIVE HIM A BIG HUG. THEIR ROMANCE IS SO ADORABLE AND ALSO IT HAS THE BREAKUPS AND MAKEUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. AND DKSFJAKJF I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH HOW I ADORE THIS DYNAMIC!!!
(cue whitney screaming in the background because the bEAUTY OF THIS QUOTE!!!!)
ok i don't have enough comprehensible brain cells to write a proper review, but just trust me when i say that YOU NEED TO READ THIS. i very rarely give books 5 stars but I AM COMPLETELY ENAMOURED WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THIS STORY, THE CHARACTERS, EVERYTHING. my heart? belongs to the operahouse now.
(thank you chelsea from books forward for the eARC! all opinions are very much my own.)
꧁ find me at my socials ꧂
insta | tiktok | youtube | twitter | blog
GUYS I FINISHED THIS BOOK AND I- DSJHFGDKGHSD IM IN LOVEE!!
if you like VERY MORALLY GREY characters, magic, and romantic pining... this book is for you.
i've never watched or read phantom of the opera, so i'm not sure how many similarities there are. but i'm 99% the fendoir and gravoir things weren't in the original phantom of the opera. nonetheless, i really liked how this story was structured! the prose was beautiful, and the characters were *chef's kiss*. AND THE ENDING- THIS IS THE BEST STANDALONE ENDING I'VE EVER READ. I AM IN LOVE WITH THE RESOLUTION OF THE STORY. THE ARC IS EXQUISITE. AND ISDA JUST PERPETUATES THE "a hero would sacrifice you to save the world, but a villain would sacrifice the world to save you" VIBES AND I ADORE IT. WOMEN SAVING MEN >>>
oh and side note, i really loved how the conflicts were placed in the story. the first "big" conflict happened at 57%, but it just kept going and escalating. every time i think that the book should be wrapping up, a bigger conflict happens. I AM AT THE EDGE OF MY SEAT SO MUCH THAT I AM FALLING OFF.
and emeric... DJGHSFLKJ I LOVE THIS PURE CINNAMON BUN PLSSS I WANT TO GIVE HIM A BIG HUG. THEIR ROMANCE IS SO ADORABLE AND ALSO IT HAS THE BREAKUPS AND MAKEUPS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN. AND DKSFJAKJF I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH HOW I ADORE THIS DYNAMIC!!!
"you are a song. one composed of a thousand different instruments all perfectly harmonizing into the melody they were crafted to create. a masterpiece."
(cue whitney screaming in the background because the bEAUTY OF THIS QUOTE!!!!)
ok i don't have enough comprehensible brain cells to write a proper review, but just trust me when i say that YOU NEED TO READ THIS. i very rarely give books 5 stars but I AM COMPLETELY ENAMOURED WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THIS STORY, THE CHARACTERS, EVERYTHING. my heart? belongs to the operahouse now.
(thank you chelsea from books forward for the eARC! all opinions are very much my own.)
꧁ find me at my socials ꧂
insta | tiktok | youtube | twitter | blog
May 27, 2021
2.5 stars
If you should know anything about my reading tastes, it is that I love retellings. Historical retellings, fairytale retellings, classics retellings, mythology retellings? I eat them up. I am quite picky though when one of my favorite classics is being retold. Sing Me Forgotten is a retelling of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, unfortunately I have read a better one, which is called RoseBlood written by A.G. Howard.
I am fully aware that this a debut, still an editor somewhere thought it was a good idea to publish this:
Please let that sink in. Some of the lines here just aren't that great and remind me of early 2010s YA cliches (there is a 'she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding' but worded slightly differently, for example). Again, to some extent I expected Olson to not have a fully developed writing style, since this is a debut (and not the worst one I've read by a long shot), but I really wish a more thorough editing would have occurred.
The way The Phantom of the Opera is retold here is actually quite clever, so Olson got major points form me on that: she takes this idea of the Phantom's hideous face, ethereal manner, and wonderful voice and creates a magic system around it. To be fair, the world building wasn't exactly great because it took me over a third of the book to understand gravoirs and fendoirs, but the concepts themselves were interesting. The world operates on elixirs of Memory which can be extracted due to the gravoirs and fendoirs, unfortunately, in the past, they abused their power and now are marginalised/murdered. Cyril, the manager of the Opera, keeps Isda, the main character, secret because of this. Olson did a great job of integrating this fantasy element seamlessly into the story.
On a side note, there were a bunch of references to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical as well: Isda goes full on "sing for me" mode, when she wears white someone tells her she looks like an "angel of music" etc. Were they corny sometimes... yes, but at least I chuckled when I came across them.
The great downfall of the novel is exactly what makes RoseBlood the better retelling, in my opinion: the romance is thrust upon you from nowhere and you're expected to really care about it vehemently as it is where most of the emotion of the novel comes from. Problem is, the characters are into each other from scene 1, which occurs early on too. Therefore you don't really have any time to attach yourself to Isda and Emeric as their own people. Since I didn't care about them I found myself more invested in other aspects of the novel (like the world and Cyril), which weren't really expanded upon as much as I would have liked. (also the resolution is rushed for shock value, which left me feeling like "huh?")
What I can say is this: Sing Me Forgotten is addicting, fun, and easy to read. It is also quite short, so I think it is the perfect 'fun' read for someone who is in a reading slump. And whereas I'd really advise the reader to know the source material when reading RoseBlood , that is absolutely not a requirement for this novel.
Olson is coming out with A Forgery of Roses next year, also a retelling (of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Jack the Ripper). I'll definitely check it out, though I am cautiously excited. I think that many of my qualms with this novel will be resolved with the next release because I expect that Olson will grow as a writer with each release :)
If you should know anything about my reading tastes, it is that I love retellings. Historical retellings, fairytale retellings, classics retellings, mythology retellings? I eat them up. I am quite picky though when one of my favorite classics is being retold. Sing Me Forgotten is a retelling of Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, unfortunately I have read a better one, which is called RoseBlood written by A.G. Howard.
I am fully aware that this a debut, still an editor somewhere thought it was a good idea to publish this:
"You are no more a monster than I. You are a song.”
Please let that sink in. Some of the lines here just aren't that great and remind me of early 2010s YA cliches (there is a 'she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding' but worded slightly differently, for example). Again, to some extent I expected Olson to not have a fully developed writing style, since this is a debut (and not the worst one I've read by a long shot), but I really wish a more thorough editing would have occurred.
The way The Phantom of the Opera is retold here is actually quite clever, so Olson got major points form me on that: she takes this idea of the Phantom's hideous face, ethereal manner, and wonderful voice and creates a magic system around it. To be fair, the world building wasn't exactly great because it took me over a third of the book to understand gravoirs and fendoirs, but the concepts themselves were interesting. The world operates on elixirs of Memory which can be extracted due to the gravoirs and fendoirs, unfortunately, in the past, they abused their power and now are marginalised/murdered. Cyril, the manager of the Opera, keeps Isda, the main character, secret because of this. Olson did a great job of integrating this fantasy element seamlessly into the story.
On a side note, there were a bunch of references to Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical as well: Isda goes full on "sing for me" mode, when she wears white someone tells her she looks like an "angel of music" etc. Were they corny sometimes... yes, but at least I chuckled when I came across them.
The great downfall of the novel is exactly what makes RoseBlood the better retelling, in my opinion: the romance is thrust upon you from nowhere and you're expected to really care about it vehemently as it is where most of the emotion of the novel comes from. Problem is, the characters are into each other from scene 1, which occurs early on too. Therefore you don't really have any time to attach yourself to Isda and Emeric as their own people. Since I didn't care about them I found myself more invested in other aspects of the novel (like the world and Cyril), which weren't really expanded upon as much as I would have liked. (also the resolution is rushed for shock value, which left me feeling like "huh?")
What I can say is this: Sing Me Forgotten is addicting, fun, and easy to read. It is also quite short, so I think it is the perfect 'fun' read for someone who is in a reading slump. And whereas I'd really advise the reader to know the source material when reading RoseBlood , that is absolutely not a requirement for this novel.
Olson is coming out with A Forgery of Roses next year, also a retelling (of The Picture of Dorian Gray and Jack the Ripper). I'll definitely check it out, though I am cautiously excited. I think that many of my qualms with this novel will be resolved with the next release because I expect that Olson will grow as a writer with each release :)
March 9, 2021
I received a DRC from Edelweiss
TW: minor self mutilation, kidnapping, addiction
3.4
Isda is a gravoir, born with facial disfigurement and the ability to see and manipulate memories when someone is singing. Gravoirs are meant to be killed as soon as they're born, but Isda was saved by Cyril, who raised her and kept her in his opera house. Every show she gives the audience memories of a far more amazing show than they actually saw- but now, with the arrival of a young tenor, that might not even be necessary. As she takes on the role as his voice teacher, under the cover of night, and begins grander missions for Cyril, she finds herself with questions she would never dared to ask.
I need to start this by saying that I'm a big fan of the book The Phantom of the Opera, as well as a big fan of the movie musical and have seen the Broadway musical twice. So that's where I'm coming from as I draw comparisons to the story.
I think as a retelling it works in a lot of ways, but fails when it comes to the emotional.
I love the concept of this so much- a magical, gender swapped Phantom of the Opera is quite honestly what dreams are made of. I love the creepy quality that comes with memory manipulation, and the whole idea of accessing those memories through hearing people sing.
Isda's relationship with Cyril and her relationship with Emeric are both interesting. You can see the blindspot with her foster father, and I think that blindspot translates well, so that the reader doesn't quite know what to think.
Her relationship with Emeric is definitely more romantic than the original Eric and Christine romance, and I appreciate Emeric's humor and the attitude he has towards Isda at large. He's an interesting character who grows in depth as you learn more about him, but he's also a really great touchstone to come back down to earth on. However, their relationship still isn't one that seems built on much than mutual respect and coincidence.
I like the world building in this book, but it needs so much more. It's so bare bones I had trouble holding on to it. I understand the whole concept of the memory elixir and how its trade is vital, but that piece standing alone doesn't really mean anything to me. I'm someone who needs lore- there's extremely little in this. It makes me care a whole lot less than I would, had I been able to feel the world was more real and the stakes genuine.
I also wasn't a fan of Isda, and wasn't a fan of the ending (which is also, in some ways, not being a fan of Isda). I know that her struggle mirrors a struggle with addiction, and she can't be entirely blamed for how she acts, but the sheer selfishness we're forced to see over and over again makes it so hard to want to root for her. She's already not a very fleshed out character, swapping her naivety with selfishness and addiction didn't make her a more tangible, or more likeable character.
I have a lot of questions when it comes to this book, but most of them didn't get answers. I also had a lot that I wanted from this book that I feel like got pushed to the side. The end result feels like a deeply honed down final draft with a lot of the whimsy and magic forgotten.
Pre-review comments under
You had me at "gender bent Phantom of the Opera" and then you bought my entire heart with memory manipulating song magic please take all of my money immediately
TW: minor self mutilation, kidnapping, addiction
3.4
Isda is a gravoir, born with facial disfigurement and the ability to see and manipulate memories when someone is singing. Gravoirs are meant to be killed as soon as they're born, but Isda was saved by Cyril, who raised her and kept her in his opera house. Every show she gives the audience memories of a far more amazing show than they actually saw- but now, with the arrival of a young tenor, that might not even be necessary. As she takes on the role as his voice teacher, under the cover of night, and begins grander missions for Cyril, she finds herself with questions she would never dared to ask.
I need to start this by saying that I'm a big fan of the book The Phantom of the Opera, as well as a big fan of the movie musical and have seen the Broadway musical twice. So that's where I'm coming from as I draw comparisons to the story.
I think as a retelling it works in a lot of ways, but fails when it comes to the emotional.
I love the concept of this so much- a magical, gender swapped Phantom of the Opera is quite honestly what dreams are made of. I love the creepy quality that comes with memory manipulation, and the whole idea of accessing those memories through hearing people sing.
Isda's relationship with Cyril and her relationship with Emeric are both interesting. You can see the blindspot with her foster father, and I think that blindspot translates well, so that the reader doesn't quite know what to think.
Her relationship with Emeric is definitely more romantic than the original Eric and Christine romance, and I appreciate Emeric's humor and the attitude he has towards Isda at large. He's an interesting character who grows in depth as you learn more about him, but he's also a really great touchstone to come back down to earth on. However, their relationship still isn't one that seems built on much than mutual respect and coincidence.
I like the world building in this book, but it needs so much more. It's so bare bones I had trouble holding on to it. I understand the whole concept of the memory elixir and how its trade is vital, but that piece standing alone doesn't really mean anything to me. I'm someone who needs lore- there's extremely little in this. It makes me care a whole lot less than I would, had I been able to feel the world was more real and the stakes genuine.
I also wasn't a fan of Isda, and wasn't a fan of the ending (which is also, in some ways, not being a fan of Isda). I know that her struggle mirrors a struggle with addiction, and she can't be entirely blamed for how she acts, but the sheer selfishness we're forced to see over and over again makes it so hard to want to root for her. She's already not a very fleshed out character, swapping her naivety with selfishness and addiction didn't make her a more tangible, or more likeable character.
I have a lot of questions when it comes to this book, but most of them didn't get answers. I also had a lot that I wanted from this book that I feel like got pushed to the side. The end result feels like a deeply honed down final draft with a lot of the whimsy and magic forgotten.
Pre-review comments under
You had me at "gender bent Phantom of the Opera" and then you bought my entire heart with memory manipulating song magic please take all of my money immediately
May 1, 2022
"Adiue, mon amour"*tears running down her face and staring at the wall for what feels like hours*
So here's the thing. I am not a huge fan of the phantom of opera and mostly because of the messed up romance and the lackluster characters. So why did I Actually add this book? I have a soft spot for music and theater, circus , masquerade and shows like this+ a good and healthy romance.
And this book gave me all of those thing in a way that shattered my heart completely and made me cry at the end. (yes, I did cry after all!🙃)
━━━✥◈✥━━━
This book was magic wrapped up in a gorgeously writing style of dear Jessica Olson. Adorned with magic and music, masquerade balls and hidden plots, Sing Me Forgotten is a lavish musical which harbors the intention of bringing the readers on a marvelous journey deep within the crypts of the Opera House. Personally, I loved the setting immensely.
The complexity of the characters and their development throughout the novel is very well done! With Isda, Olson portrays a complex character in which she is also the hero and the villain of the story. In other words, she might be the hero of her and Emeric’s story, but she is seen as the villain in others. One cannot help but feel pity for her after learning her abandonment when she was merely an infant and the lies that were being told to her, but her horrendous acts later on in the book puts her on the wrong side of history.
There was this quote that I read which said, ‘if they want me to be a nightmare, then a nightmare I shall be’ which completely captures the transition of Isda. She wasn’t always a villain, underneath her perhaps horrendous facial features, lies a normal 17-year-old young girl desperate for love and acceptance. When she met Emeric, she found the first person who embraced her as her true self. And he also understands her on a spiritual level. That is the kind of acceptance that she longs and desires for.
Emeric is the light in her darkness and in turn, she is also his saviour. With Isda’s guidance, Emeric is able to shine on the stage, living both him and Isda’s dreams. He is such a sweet boy, nice and gentle and is exceptional at making caramel candies.
━━━✥◈✥━━━
In the end, finally, Isda is free from her shackles. Away from manipulation and lies, she is ‘the director and the maestro of her own life’ now. She is The Opera Ghost and she will not be afraid anymore. and this story left an emotional impact on me, and I will definitely see what Jessica S. Olson had next.
July 30, 2021
thank you inkyard press for sending over a copy
this was enjoyable. i usually don’t like retellings but i’m a big fan of the phantom of the opera and i found this very entertaining and feel good. it’s not ground breaking but it’s good for what it is.
this was enjoyable. i usually don’t like retellings but i’m a big fan of the phantom of the opera and i found this very entertaining and feel good. it’s not ground breaking but it’s good for what it is.
April 7, 2021
Let me quickly save some of y’all time in reading this review and say that if you’re a Phan (I’m sorry) like me, you will enjoy Sing Me Forgotten! Not only is this a beautiful and well-written novel, but it is chock full of references to both the original Phantom novel and the 1986 musical, so people who love the Phantom’s tale will also thoroughly enjoy Isda’s story. As for those who are not familiar or fond of The Phantom of the Opera in any of its various forms, allow me to gush about Sing Me Forgotten to you!
In this gender-swapped re-telling of the story of The Phantom of the Opera, we enter a world in which memories are both a currency and a commodity. Sing Me Forgotten follows a young woman named Isda. Being that Isda is a gravoir—one who is able to see and manipulate the memories of others and whose face is characteristically marked by twisted skin—she is confined to the catacombs of an opera house under the protection of a man named Cyril, who is also the owner of the opera house. In this universe, we also have fendoirs who have the ability to extract memories from people. Though still treated with disdain, fendoirs are able to live in this society and practice their magic under the constraints of the elixir trade whereas gravoirs are to be killed upon birth. Within the shadows of the opera house, however, Isda is able to find sanctuary, though at the expense of not having much contact with the outside world aside from experiencing audiences’ memories each night at the end of the evening’s performance when she channels her gravoir magic at Cyril’s behest. However, Isda soon experiences excitement in her life when a new janitor is employed at the opera house: a young man named Emeric whom Isda discovers is a talented, if untrained, singer. From there, romance ensues, things burn, people die. It’s utterly perfect chaos.
I think we first need to talk about the characters because I can definitely see people having conflicting opinions about the main character in particular. For those who might not be familiar with The Phantom of the Opera, let me clarify: the Phantom is not the guy you want to root for, but who everyone nonetheless does root for. He’s temperamental, manipulative, and murders anyone who stands in his way. Much like the Phantom, Isda in Sing Me Forgotten is not necessarily the heroine you might hope for, but she’s the heroine you nonetheless find yourself loving. She’s moody and naïve, but it very much harks back to the years of grooming, manipulation, and fear that has been instilled in her. Despite these flaws, Isda is more than capable of taking the initiative to do good by others even when she has been treated as less and forced to hide for her whole life. A bit of a sidebar, but I also wanted to say how much I appreciated that Olson wasn’t afraid to go there with Isda’s physical appearance. A recurring problem I encounter in Phantom re-tellings is that the Phantom-figure’s appearance is mitigated which really just takes away from the story, in my opinion. Looking at you, Gerard Butler. I know it wasn’t your decision, Gerry, but I’m holding you accountable.
And then there’s Emeric. This playful, caramel-making smol child was the perfect opposite for Isda in every way, and I adored seeing their love story play out. The banter between the two actually reminded me a lot of Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell from Stalking Jack the Ripper, so if you love Cressworth as much as I do, you’ll most likely love Isda and Emeric’s relationship. Emeric on his own was a delight to have in the story not only for the fact that he brought some levity to the book, but his own motivations and backstory added another layer of heart and family that Isda’s own life is lacking.
I specifically also enjoyed the dynamic between Isda and Cyril, and I truly could have sat through a book that solely focused on Cyril himself, especially after that little glimpse we got into his memories toward the end.
Aside from the wonderful characters that Olson has created, I think the world-building is another aspect that she really delivered on. I found the concept of an economy built upon the exchange of memories to be not only interesting, but very unique, and I loved that this tied into singing, bringing in that aspect of music that is so crucial to The Phantom. In regards to the exchange of memories, the magic system, and the folklore included throughout the novel, I appreciated that Olson spaced out the introduction of all of these subjects rather than throwing everything at the reader all at once. One of my biggest pet peeves in writing is when authors don’t space out how they introduce the world they are creating to their readers and it feels like an assault of information. Olson was exceptional about gradually introducing information over time, and I cannot applaud that enough.
I know this may not be as interesting to people who aren’t familiar with The Phantom, but I also wanted to make note of how fun all the little easter eggs were that Olson sprinkled in in reference to the original Phantom novel, as well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. We obviously were given similar character traits, but even smaller things like names and objects were throwbacks for people who know and love The Phantom, and I had a lot of fun with finding all of those as I read!
But, okay, time to address that ending, albeit it vaguely because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I do have the sense that the ending might leave people divided on how they feel, but I personally loved. It was gut-wrenching, but it felt appropriate to me given the source material.
All of this in mind, Olson has created a lush and immersive world in Sing Me Forgotten, and I think readers will enjoy this impressive debut whether or not they have any strong connection to The Phantom of the Opera; there is something in this story for everyone!
In this gender-swapped re-telling of the story of The Phantom of the Opera, we enter a world in which memories are both a currency and a commodity. Sing Me Forgotten follows a young woman named Isda. Being that Isda is a gravoir—one who is able to see and manipulate the memories of others and whose face is characteristically marked by twisted skin—she is confined to the catacombs of an opera house under the protection of a man named Cyril, who is also the owner of the opera house. In this universe, we also have fendoirs who have the ability to extract memories from people. Though still treated with disdain, fendoirs are able to live in this society and practice their magic under the constraints of the elixir trade whereas gravoirs are to be killed upon birth. Within the shadows of the opera house, however, Isda is able to find sanctuary, though at the expense of not having much contact with the outside world aside from experiencing audiences’ memories each night at the end of the evening’s performance when she channels her gravoir magic at Cyril’s behest. However, Isda soon experiences excitement in her life when a new janitor is employed at the opera house: a young man named Emeric whom Isda discovers is a talented, if untrained, singer. From there, romance ensues, things burn, people die. It’s utterly perfect chaos.
I think we first need to talk about the characters because I can definitely see people having conflicting opinions about the main character in particular. For those who might not be familiar with The Phantom of the Opera, let me clarify: the Phantom is not the guy you want to root for, but who everyone nonetheless does root for. He’s temperamental, manipulative, and murders anyone who stands in his way. Much like the Phantom, Isda in Sing Me Forgotten is not necessarily the heroine you might hope for, but she’s the heroine you nonetheless find yourself loving. She’s moody and naïve, but it very much harks back to the years of grooming, manipulation, and fear that has been instilled in her. Despite these flaws, Isda is more than capable of taking the initiative to do good by others even when she has been treated as less and forced to hide for her whole life. A bit of a sidebar, but I also wanted to say how much I appreciated that Olson wasn’t afraid to go there with Isda’s physical appearance. A recurring problem I encounter in Phantom re-tellings is that the Phantom-figure’s appearance is mitigated which really just takes away from the story, in my opinion. Looking at you, Gerard Butler. I know it wasn’t your decision, Gerry, but I’m holding you accountable.
And then there’s Emeric. This playful, caramel-making smol child was the perfect opposite for Isda in every way, and I adored seeing their love story play out. The banter between the two actually reminded me a lot of Audrey Rose and Thomas Cresswell from Stalking Jack the Ripper, so if you love Cressworth as much as I do, you’ll most likely love Isda and Emeric’s relationship. Emeric on his own was a delight to have in the story not only for the fact that he brought some levity to the book, but his own motivations and backstory added another layer of heart and family that Isda’s own life is lacking.
I specifically also enjoyed the dynamic between Isda and Cyril, and I truly could have sat through a book that solely focused on Cyril himself, especially after that little glimpse we got into his memories toward the end.
Aside from the wonderful characters that Olson has created, I think the world-building is another aspect that she really delivered on. I found the concept of an economy built upon the exchange of memories to be not only interesting, but very unique, and I loved that this tied into singing, bringing in that aspect of music that is so crucial to The Phantom. In regards to the exchange of memories, the magic system, and the folklore included throughout the novel, I appreciated that Olson spaced out the introduction of all of these subjects rather than throwing everything at the reader all at once. One of my biggest pet peeves in writing is when authors don’t space out how they introduce the world they are creating to their readers and it feels like an assault of information. Olson was exceptional about gradually introducing information over time, and I cannot applaud that enough.
I know this may not be as interesting to people who aren’t familiar with The Phantom, but I also wanted to make note of how fun all the little easter eggs were that Olson sprinkled in in reference to the original Phantom novel, as well as the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. We obviously were given similar character traits, but even smaller things like names and objects were throwbacks for people who know and love The Phantom, and I had a lot of fun with finding all of those as I read!
But, okay, time to address that ending, albeit it vaguely because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. I do have the sense that the ending might leave people divided on how they feel, but I personally loved. It was gut-wrenching, but it felt appropriate to me given the source material.
All of this in mind, Olson has created a lush and immersive world in Sing Me Forgotten, and I think readers will enjoy this impressive debut whether or not they have any strong connection to The Phantom of the Opera; there is something in this story for everyone!
February 1, 2021
⭐ 3.75 / 5 ⭐
This beautiful gender-bent YA retelling of The Phantom of the Opera rips your heart out, sautees it with olive oil, and spits on it for good measure.
You know when you read a book, and it completely crushes you? You love it, and you hate it at the same time. You love it for all the wonderful feelings it evoked, yet you hate it for making your heartbreak, and your eyes filled with liquid sadness.
This book was that for me.
I knew after reading the synopsis that this was something I was bound to enjoy. I’ve always loved Phantom, both the Broadway and movie versions. From the moment I read the opening, this book lured me in. I was already hooked by chapter two. I loved Jessica’s writing style. There were many moments at the beginning where I felt like I was Isda. Immersive books like that are my favorite! It’s one of the things Adrienne Young (like Jessica Olson) does so well.
Isda was different from most YA heroines I’ve become acquainted with. She was beautifully flawed, and the ferocity and grit in her always surprised me when it sprang up. This girl is vicious. Her world views her as the villain in the story, and she plays upon that out of spite. She really channeled the hardcore angst of the Phantom. I was vibing.
Her banter with Emeric was really adorable too! This fluffy, caramel-scented bean was so adorable. AND I STILL AM HURTING FROM THAT ENDING. JESSICA, I DON’T THINK I CAN FORGIVE YOU.
I loved how the author wove the music into the magic system of the world, as well. It just made perfect sense for the story. It also really played upon the tones of the original world in Phantom. It was mysterious, sad, and mystifying. It read much like some of the old gothic classics.
The only thing was that ending. I won’t say more, but it HURT.
Operatic in its telling, Olson takes you on the journey that allows Isda to find love, contentment in herself, and so much more. If you want a good gut-wrenching, gothic, angsty cry (😂), this is the book for you.
Big thank you to Inkyard Press + Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book!
Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Writing Quality: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Enjoyment Level: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
This beautiful gender-bent YA retelling of The Phantom of the Opera rips your heart out, sautees it with olive oil, and spits on it for good measure.
You know when you read a book, and it completely crushes you? You love it, and you hate it at the same time. You love it for all the wonderful feelings it evoked, yet you hate it for making your heartbreak, and your eyes filled with liquid sadness.
This book was that for me.
I knew after reading the synopsis that this was something I was bound to enjoy. I’ve always loved Phantom, both the Broadway and movie versions. From the moment I read the opening, this book lured me in. I was already hooked by chapter two. I loved Jessica’s writing style. There were many moments at the beginning where I felt like I was Isda. Immersive books like that are my favorite! It’s one of the things Adrienne Young (like Jessica Olson) does so well.
Isda was different from most YA heroines I’ve become acquainted with. She was beautifully flawed, and the ferocity and grit in her always surprised me when it sprang up. This girl is vicious. Her world views her as the villain in the story, and she plays upon that out of spite. She really channeled the hardcore angst of the Phantom. I was vibing.
Her banter with Emeric was really adorable too! This fluffy, caramel-scented bean was so adorable. AND I STILL AM HURTING FROM THAT ENDING. JESSICA, I DON’T THINK I CAN FORGIVE YOU.
I loved how the author wove the music into the magic system of the world, as well. It just made perfect sense for the story. It also really played upon the tones of the original world in Phantom. It was mysterious, sad, and mystifying. It read much like some of the old gothic classics.
The only thing was that ending. I won’t say more, but it HURT.
Operatic in its telling, Olson takes you on the journey that allows Isda to find love, contentment in herself, and so much more. If you want a good gut-wrenching, gothic, angsty cry (😂), this is the book for you.
Big thank you to Inkyard Press + Netgalley for sending me an ARC copy of this book!
Overall: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Writing Quality: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Enjoyment Level: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
November 5, 2023
•✿•➳3✫
"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙄𝙛 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪"
When I found out it's a The Phantom of the Opera retelling, I was so excited and had high hopes for this one.
But sadly, it wasn't as I expected.
The concept and the idea of this were good but the execution was not.
The world building was rushed as was the chemistry between the MCs. I was confused for most of the book especially in the first half of the book.
The characters were just bland; I don't really care about them. Some insta-love happened as well.
And there's not much of a mystery aspect like you will definitely know the story line after reading a few pages in and to be honest I don't mind that kind of story but again the execution had to be really good for me to actually enjoy it.
The ending didn't even help; the whole thing ruined it. I feel like the author tried to make it "angsty" but no it just failed the whole story for me.
But still it was an okay read for me🤷🏼♀️
"𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙠𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙫𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩. 𝙄𝙛 𝙤𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪"
When I found out it's a The Phantom of the Opera retelling, I was so excited and had high hopes for this one.
But sadly, it wasn't as I expected.
The concept and the idea of this were good but the execution was not.
The world building was rushed as was the chemistry between the MCs. I was confused for most of the book especially in the first half of the book.
The characters were just bland; I don't really care about them. Some insta-love happened as well.
And there's not much of a mystery aspect like you will definitely know the story line after reading a few pages in and to be honest I don't mind that kind of story but again the execution had to be really good for me to actually enjoy it.
The ending didn't even help; the whole thing ruined it. I feel like the author tried to make it "angsty" but no it just failed the whole story for me.
But still it was an okay read for me🤷🏼♀️
March 9, 2021
Title: Sing Me Forgotten
Series: Standalone
Author: Jessica S. Olson
Release date: March 9, 2021
Cliffhanger: no
Genre: YA fantasy, retelling
I think the most dominant emotion I felt throughout this novel was disbelief. I felt disbelief over the heroine's actions and the events that occurred because of them. I kept thinking, "Is this really happening??" with a sort of disturbed, uncomfortable feeling crawling under my skin. The heroine is a bit of a sociopath. So there's that. Then there's the fact that she has many TSTL moments. Translation for the newbies: Too Stupid To Live. There are few things worse than a stupid heroine, but a stupid sociopathic killer probably wins top prize. That has to be the oddest combination I've ever heard, because if she's going to be a killer, can she at least be badass? Instead I was shaking my head more times than I can count over her gullibility.
In this gender-bent Phantom of the Opera retelling, there are two types of magic holders. gravoirs and fendoirs. gravoirs are the most powerful with the ability to suck the memory out of people and use it as a power source. They can also manipulate memories like Jedi knights. (Sorry, Star Wars nerd here) They can kill an entire village of people if they so desire by sucking out their entire memory "life force" for lack of a better phrase. fendoirs extract the elixers from people's minds. This is the substance that gives gravoirs enhanced powers and strength, and when consumed by the average person will keep their minds perfectly sharp. The poor are generally forced to give up some of their elixer in order to survive, and some sell so much that their children are erased from memory. Then there are those who sell too many memories and become walking zombies with no recollection of their own identity, doomed to shuffle through the streets, fighting to survive.
When people sing, I see their memories, starting with the newest. If I want to, I can comb backward through time, sifting through the liquid swirl of moments in their minds as though rippling my fingers through water in a creek.
Isda is a gravoir who lives in hiding in the opera house. The law states that all gravoirs must be killed at birth because society was once overtaken by the monstrous Les Trois females who killed and destroyed indiscriminately. Because of their fear that the gravoirs will grasp power again, they believe it's not safe to let them live. However, the fendoirs are enslaved and used for their powers because of the benefits that they provide. Isda was spared a quick death after being thrown in a well as a baby. The opera house owner, Cryril, fished her out and kept her underground in order to use her abilities. In addition to his personal business, he is part of the King’s Imperial Council. The council is in charge of monitoring the fendoirs and gravoirs, and they hunt anyone in hiding if they happen to escape execution.
Here comes the part that just did not add up for me. I understand that Isda is sheltered. I understand she's young and naive. BUT...her guardian is literally in charge of hunting down her kind and killing them. He doesn't hide his hatred for those like her, and yet she has blind faith in him. She honestly believes that he saved her out of the goodness of his heart and thinks of her like a daughter. Does she not understand the concept of a lie? She doesn't even question his intentions on the flimsy excuse that he couldn't bring himself to kill her after looking into her eyes as an infant. So why does he still have no qualms about all of the others? He asks her to harm people (even a child) in order to help him get promoted in the council.
Whimpers gurgle out from underneath Cyril’s desk. I glance back toward the sound. I should feel a bit more remorse for causing the child so much trauma, but I’m so high on the pride in Cyril’s expression and the satisfaction in my gut that I can barely hear the sobs.
He asks her to alter people's memory of opera performances so that people are fooled into thinking that they saw a good show, and buy more tickets. He asks her to make his superior go mad so that he may take his spot. She does all of these things with either a sliver of remorse or none at all because she's more concerned with pleasing him. What does she think is going to happen when he gets his boss' job? He will have more power and better opportunity to kill those like her! I just did not understand why she believed his blatant lies!
Cyril’s methods may be a bit extravagant at times, but it is only because he is so determined. Although giving a man hallucinations makes me a bit queasy, it does seem to be a solid plan.
Even early on, Isda shows her sociopathic tendencies. Every time she would harm someone and feel pride in herself I figured her moral code fell in a grey area and there would be some character growth by the end. She's an anti-heroine I told myself. I do get that this is a spin on Phantom of the Opera which isn't hearts and butterflies and sparkly rainbows to begin with. But I'm sorry, I could not get behind Isda or root for her. Not only because her lack of intelligence grated on me until my nerves were RAW, but she slipped slowly into homicidal maniac. One could make the argument that the townspeople deserved for her to run amuck on them because of their treatment of her kind. Killing gravoirs on sight, and enslaving fendoirs for their own personal benefit. I suppose you could say she's an unfortunate product of her environment. But on the other hand, doesn't her killing spree validate their fears? That her kind easily slips into a monstrous state that can't control their vicious impulses? She doesn't kill just out of a state of revenge. She loses control of herself and goes into a kind of frenzy that urges her to suck every last bit of life force out of people.
For all his words, he has not seen the corruption of my soul. The beast who burns me from the inside out. The fury that lives deep in my veins. This boy, with his caramels and his dimples and his lullabies, is too good for the things that lurk below my skin.
I didn't find any redeeming qualities about Isda. There were no boundaries for her. At one point she even stole some of Emeric's elixer without asking him and it didn't even occur to her that it was wrong. Emeric is her only friend-the only person who treated her with respect and doesn't take advantage of her. The fact that she could even betray him without a second thought doesn't sit well. Yes, she does make a sacrifice in the end for him, but in my mind, she was too far gone at that point to ever be redeemed. Perhaps this leans more towards horror for my taste? I cannot recommend it, but I will say that I found the magic system to be really original which is why I gave it two stars. Also, I was invested enough in the outcome to actually want to finish it, though maybe that's because it had the train wreck effect on me.
While I didn't love this one, I could see how it may be a better fit for others. If you love Phantom of the Opera, and you enjoy darker fantasies, this might be for you.
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July 26, 2020
UPDATE: Sing Me Forgotten is now available for request on NetGalley and Edelweiss!!! https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
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.
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UPDATE: aaaaaaand we have a COVER!!!
The Inkyard team totally went above and beyond with it, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out!!!
Sing Me Forgotten is officially available for preorder, and we will have ARCs (physical as well as up on NetGalley) very very soon!!!
.
.
.
I think I’ve read it enough times to mark it “read” here on goodreads! I’m so excited to share this story about monstrosity and the lengths to which people go to find their place in a world that has rejected them time and time again—and I think, at its heart, it’s a testament to the monstrosity in all of us, to the way we all at times feel like outsiders in our own worlds.
It’s got:
🖤 a monster-girl protagonist
🖤 music-based magic
🖤 creepy catacombs beneath a Paris-like city
🖤 a sunshine boy with a penchant for making homemade caramels
🖤 revenge, murder, betrayal, kissing, blood, and falling chandeliers
I can’t wait to share it with you! Cover reveal coming soon, and then ARCs!
.
.
.
UPDATE: aaaaaaand we have a COVER!!!
The Inkyard team totally went above and beyond with it, and I couldn’t be more thrilled with how it turned out!!!
Sing Me Forgotten is officially available for preorder, and we will have ARCs (physical as well as up on NetGalley) very very soon!!!
.
.
.
I think I’ve read it enough times to mark it “read” here on goodreads! I’m so excited to share this story about monstrosity and the lengths to which people go to find their place in a world that has rejected them time and time again—and I think, at its heart, it’s a testament to the monstrosity in all of us, to the way we all at times feel like outsiders in our own worlds.
It’s got:
🖤 a monster-girl protagonist
🖤 music-based magic
🖤 creepy catacombs beneath a Paris-like city
🖤 a sunshine boy with a penchant for making homemade caramels
🖤 revenge, murder, betrayal, kissing, blood, and falling chandeliers
I can’t wait to share it with you! Cover reveal coming soon, and then ARCs!
February 20, 2021
I was really excited for a Phantom of the Opera inspired tale.
This just didn't work for me; can't even narrow down why.
Totally a "it's me not you" kind of situation.
Love that cover though.
Thanks to NetGalley & Inkyard Press for my DRC.
This just didn't work for me; can't even narrow down why.
Totally a "it's me not you" kind of situation.
Love that cover though.
Thanks to NetGalley & Inkyard Press for my DRC.
May 3, 2020
If I had to describe how I feel about Sing Me Forgotten, I think this gif says it all:
I was fortunate to have worked with Jessica during PitchWars and from day 1, I absolutely fell in love with this book! I am a HUGE fan of Phantom of the Opera and I was so excited when I got my hands on this gorgeous re-telling! I have read it a few times already, but I cannot wait to read it all over again! Sing Me Forgotten is an emotional, heart-wrenching tale that is guaranteed to make you weep--much like it's classic inspiration!
The lush, atmospheric world-building and the gorgeous prose will sweep you up immediately, and the characters of Isda and Emeric will grab a hold of your heart and never let you go!
If you're looking for a book with an ambiguous, morally gray protagonist, a delightfully sweet and charismatic love interest, heart-dropping emotions and suspense, and an ending that will leave you thinking about it long after the last page is read, then Sing Me Forgotten is the book for you!
I was fortunate to have worked with Jessica during PitchWars and from day 1, I absolutely fell in love with this book! I am a HUGE fan of Phantom of the Opera and I was so excited when I got my hands on this gorgeous re-telling! I have read it a few times already, but I cannot wait to read it all over again! Sing Me Forgotten is an emotional, heart-wrenching tale that is guaranteed to make you weep--much like it's classic inspiration!
The lush, atmospheric world-building and the gorgeous prose will sweep you up immediately, and the characters of Isda and Emeric will grab a hold of your heart and never let you go!
If you're looking for a book with an ambiguous, morally gray protagonist, a delightfully sweet and charismatic love interest, heart-dropping emotions and suspense, and an ending that will leave you thinking about it long after the last page is read, then Sing Me Forgotten is the book for you!
June 10, 2022
Ever since I added this to my TBR pile, I've wanted to dive into Sing Me Forgotten. Almost two years later, I finally own the audiobook and decided to jump in. Ladies and gents, I'm say this loud and proud, I should not have waited so freaking long to jump into this book.
First off, I loved this version of The Phantom of the Opera. Then there's the magic weaved brilliantly throughout this as well. Seriously, I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and watching what they went through. Plus, it was kind of cool to see memories being extracted and interpreted.
Other than that, I liked the romance of it all as well. Isda and Emeric played their rolls perfectly throughout the entire magical adventure. The action, the magic, and everything else just made this a page turner. Or pretty hard to pause on my part.
In the end, I'm secretly kicking myself for waiting so long to read this. At the same time, I'm so happy that I knocked this off of my TBR pile.
First off, I loved this version of The Phantom of the Opera. Then there's the magic weaved brilliantly throughout this as well. Seriously, I really enjoyed getting to know these characters and watching what they went through. Plus, it was kind of cool to see memories being extracted and interpreted.
Other than that, I liked the romance of it all as well. Isda and Emeric played their rolls perfectly throughout the entire magical adventure. The action, the magic, and everything else just made this a page turner. Or pretty hard to pause on my part.
In the end, I'm secretly kicking myself for waiting so long to read this. At the same time, I'm so happy that I knocked this off of my TBR pile.
September 24, 2020
Official blurb:
Enchanting, lush, and decadent, Sing Me Forgotten had me absolutely spellbound. Olson's delivered a captivating debut that's sure to please fans of magic, romance, and ambitious heroines. This book had me up well into the night, desperate to know what would happen next.
Enchanting, lush, and decadent, Sing Me Forgotten had me absolutely spellbound. Olson's delivered a captivating debut that's sure to please fans of magic, romance, and ambitious heroines. This book had me up well into the night, desperate to know what would happen next.
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November 13, 2025
.soft dnf.
i keep forgetting to update my tabs on books, I softly didn't finish this book because I was shifting houses (back to the original one) nd i was really sick with hhw incomplete.
don't let my dnf dissapoint you, it's an interesting book, I don't remember much, but it's based of Phantom of the Opera but reversed. I don't think I will pick it up again because it was a bit bland for me.
i keep forgetting to update my tabs on books, I softly didn't finish this book because I was shifting houses (back to the original one) nd i was really sick with hhw incomplete.
don't let my dnf dissapoint you, it's an interesting book, I don't remember much, but it's based of Phantom of the Opera but reversed. I don't think I will pick it up again because it was a bit bland for me.
May 24, 2021
SING ME FORGOTTEN, by Jessica S. Olson is a "Phantom-type retelling". This is a hard one for me to rate. Honestly, I absolutely LOVED the writing, and was going with a full five stars up until about the half way point.
Then, and this is just my own opinion, things seemed to "change", and not in a gradual way. The ending just didn't work for me at all, but I've seen many others that loved it. I'm going with a 3 star rating, because I DID love the first half, and the writing style is one I enjoyed.
I would definitely read more by this author.
Then, and this is just my own opinion, things seemed to "change", and not in a gradual way. The ending just didn't work for me at all, but I've seen many others that loved it. I'm going with a 3 star rating, because I DID love the first half, and the writing style is one I enjoyed.
I would definitely read more by this author.
December 30, 2022
I am playing Midnight Rain by Taylor Swift right now because it was written for Isda and Emeric.
He was sunshine, I was midnight rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed like midnight
Let me quote the book now for reference;
He gestures at himself. “Living somewhere safe, out in the open where you could breathe fresh air. I could take you there.”
“And throw away everything we’ve worked for? Throw away the career you just launched?” I bark a laugh. “Do not make light of what we’ve accomplished by tossing it aside like it means nothing.”
Anyway, let’s go back to the review. Getting through this book was a whole thing. This was my second shot at this book and truth to be told I wish I didn’t give up at the 30% mark the first time around because everything happens after the 50% mark.
I probably liked this book after the first half because I fully understood what was going on by that time too. The world and the creatures were intriguing but they were way too confusing for me to understand and get into. However, they are dope once you fully grasp what’s happening.
This book does not only picks up after the 50% mark. It grabs you by the throat and drags you through the depths of hell in a good and exhilarating way after the 70% mark.
Moving on from the pace to the characters and their relationship. Now, even though it was insta-love between Emeric and Isda, Isda’s emotions felt real since Emeric was the first person she has ever met. It is to be expected. And Emeric is just a person who’d fall in love that fast so…
Speaking of Isda, that girl was amazing. She was what Emilia from Kingdom of the Feared wish she could be. The vengeful badass woman is Isda and Emilia can only DREAM to be on her level. I’m not even kidding. Kerri Maniscalco should read this and take some notes.
“If they want me to be a nightmare, then a nightmare I shall be.”
This review is honestly a mess and that’s because I’m in my feels. If I didn't DNF this book and did not almost give up on it by the second time I tried, THE ENDING WOULD'VE KILLED ME JESUS CHRIST! No, no it wouldn’t just kill me. It would take my beating heart right out of my chest, stomp on it, maybe pee on it a little bit, and set it on fire.
So in the end I’d recommend this book. It probably can’t help you if you’re in a reading slump because the first portion is most definitely not a “quick read” but if you are looking for an amazing fantasy and a unique world, you should check it out. And come on now, who wouldn’t want to read about a gender-bent retelling of Phantom of the Opera?
I’ll most probably give this book another go in the future after checking out the other works from the author because this book is damn impressive for a debut.
(Date started: October 16, 2022
Date finished: December 28, 2022)
---
DNF at 30%
This book was cute but it wasn't entertaining enough to get me out of my reading slump.
The writing style was nice and the world was interesting but so far, I found the characters a bit bland. I couldn't care about them enough to push myself to read this. The other reviewers loved this book though so I will probably give it another chance in the future.
(Date started: April 7, 2022
DNF date: August 17, 2022)
He was sunshine, I was midnight rain
He wanted it comfortable
I wanted that pain
He wanted a bride
I was making my own name
Chasing that fame
He stayed the same
All of me changed like midnight
Let me quote the book now for reference;
He gestures at himself. “Living somewhere safe, out in the open where you could breathe fresh air. I could take you there.”
“And throw away everything we’ve worked for? Throw away the career you just launched?” I bark a laugh. “Do not make light of what we’ve accomplished by tossing it aside like it means nothing.”
Anyway, let’s go back to the review. Getting through this book was a whole thing. This was my second shot at this book and truth to be told I wish I didn’t give up at the 30% mark the first time around because everything happens after the 50% mark.
I probably liked this book after the first half because I fully understood what was going on by that time too. The world and the creatures were intriguing but they were way too confusing for me to understand and get into. However, they are dope once you fully grasp what’s happening.
This book does not only picks up after the 50% mark. It grabs you by the throat and drags you through the depths of hell in a good and exhilarating way after the 70% mark.
Moving on from the pace to the characters and their relationship. Now, even though it was insta-love between Emeric and Isda, Isda’s emotions felt real since Emeric was the first person she has ever met. It is to be expected. And Emeric is just a person who’d fall in love that fast so…
Speaking of Isda, that girl was amazing. She was what Emilia from Kingdom of the Feared wish she could be. The vengeful badass woman is Isda and Emilia can only DREAM to be on her level. I’m not even kidding. Kerri Maniscalco should read this and take some notes.
“If they want me to be a nightmare, then a nightmare I shall be.”
This review is honestly a mess and that’s because I’m in my feels. If I didn't DNF this book and did not almost give up on it by the second time I tried, THE ENDING WOULD'VE KILLED ME JESUS CHRIST! No, no it wouldn’t just kill me. It would take my beating heart right out of my chest, stomp on it, maybe pee on it a little bit, and set it on fire.
So in the end I’d recommend this book. It probably can’t help you if you’re in a reading slump because the first portion is most definitely not a “quick read” but if you are looking for an amazing fantasy and a unique world, you should check it out. And come on now, who wouldn’t want to read about a gender-bent retelling of Phantom of the Opera?
I’ll most probably give this book another go in the future after checking out the other works from the author because this book is damn impressive for a debut.
(Date started: October 16, 2022
Date finished: December 28, 2022)
---
DNF at 30%
This book was cute but it wasn't entertaining enough to get me out of my reading slump.
The writing style was nice and the world was interesting but so far, I found the characters a bit bland. I couldn't care about them enough to push myself to read this. The other reviewers loved this book though so I will probably give it another chance in the future.
(Date started: April 7, 2022
DNF date: August 17, 2022)
January 13, 2022
I don’t have a lot of feelings for Phantom of the Opera, but I loved this gender swapped version. The characters were fantastic, I loved Isda and Emeric and I wish we could get more of them. Because their energy together was so good. They both grew a lot together and Isda grew a lot on her own as well. The world building was really good, and the magic and political systems were well done and enjoyable. I absolutely loved the magic in this book it was so intriguing and enchanting. The pacing started off slow but once we same more of Emeric, things really picked up. And the writing got even better with author being able to put more emotion into their writing. Which worked really well with the storyline and connecting with the characters. Overall, even though I don’t enjoy sad endings I loved this and I hope the author does more stories like this or another story in this world.
January 6, 2021
I have mixed feelings about this book. At the beginning, I thought for sure, this would be my first five stars book of 2021. It had a fantastic atmosphere as this book was set in an Opera. I was also listening to the perfect soundtrack for it, giving me the best experience. However, my love for this book quickly faded. This is how it went:
First 30% - 5 stars
Between 30% and 95% - 3 stars
The ending - 1 star!
So let me ask you... how should I rate this book? Because I have no clue. I'll probably stick to three stars but oh, I am so disappointed after being so hopeful in the beginning especially with that ending that made me think "Really?!" and had me check if this was indeed a standalone and not the first in a series.
In Sing Me Forgotten, you will meet Isda, a girl who has power over people's memories whenever they sing. However, in this world girls like her are called "gravoirs" and are hunted down. They are killed at birth after three Gravoirs became too dangerous a while ago. There are also Fendoirs who have powers just not as much. They are allowed to live but they aren't completely free. When she was born, Isda was thrown into a well but a man called Cyril decided to pick her up and raise her as his own as long as she kept hidden away and as long as she earned him money with her powers... When Isda meet a boy with a beautiful voice, she'll take risks that might be dangerous for her.
Overall, Sing Me Forgotten has beautiful magical moments that made me believe in its potential. I was engaged and cared for our main characters. I could be a little frustrated by Isda who took a long time for her to come out of her naive shell. Unfortunately, while I loved parts of it, this book didn't hold up like I was hoping it would. It ended up being a bit too simple while I would have loved something a bit more complex. And even though I'm a bit mad by that ending, I'm still glad I got to dive into this book and I would be curious to read any new release by this author.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
First 30% - 5 stars
Between 30% and 95% - 3 stars
The ending - 1 star!
So let me ask you... how should I rate this book? Because I have no clue. I'll probably stick to three stars but oh, I am so disappointed after being so hopeful in the beginning especially with that ending that made me think "Really?!" and had me check if this was indeed a standalone and not the first in a series.
In Sing Me Forgotten, you will meet Isda, a girl who has power over people's memories whenever they sing. However, in this world girls like her are called "gravoirs" and are hunted down. They are killed at birth after three Gravoirs became too dangerous a while ago. There are also Fendoirs who have powers just not as much. They are allowed to live but they aren't completely free. When she was born, Isda was thrown into a well but a man called Cyril decided to pick her up and raise her as his own as long as she kept hidden away and as long as she earned him money with her powers... When Isda meet a boy with a beautiful voice, she'll take risks that might be dangerous for her.
Overall, Sing Me Forgotten has beautiful magical moments that made me believe in its potential. I was engaged and cared for our main characters. I could be a little frustrated by Isda who took a long time for her to come out of her naive shell. Unfortunately, while I loved parts of it, this book didn't hold up like I was hoping it would. It ended up being a bit too simple while I would have loved something a bit more complex. And even though I'm a bit mad by that ending, I'm still glad I got to dive into this book and I would be curious to read any new release by this author.
(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)
June 29, 2021
4 stars
'But that's the problem with believing. It doesn't guarantee truth'
-Isda
What a heart-wrenching, heart breaking ending! That last scene/part when Isda walked away in that terrible weather, with all those injuries and all kept lingering in my mind! I can't help but be reminded by a lot of the kdramas I've watched when she and Emeric said their goodbyes that way!
I don't regret reading this book at all and I strongly demand a book 2!! I need the to know what happens next!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
In the ending, when Isda walked away in that snow with her hood on, I imagined her to be back in a second book with so much prowess. I don't know why. I just suddenly pictured it. Please let there be a second book.
I have to admit, when I read the plot of this book here on Goodreads, I got intrigued and asked for an ARC. (Fortunately, my request was granted. Thank you to Jessica, to Inkyard Press, and to Netgalley btw.) At first, I thought the author was using a lot vocabularies to describe one or two emotions in one scene that I kept thinking this was exaggerated. Sometimes, I would just skip some sentences when emotions are being described again. But I realized that maybe the protagonist is just the way she is and that is how the protagonist really describes her emotions because she is inclined to finery.
Then it was starting to get action-packed that I skipped my meals just to keep reading. It was a lot of suspense when Isda was trying to escape the police and at the same time having a race with the time in order to save Emeric! I kept imagining what those elixir would taste in my mouth too. Sometimes I would unconsciously open my mouth a little during the scenes where Isda was gulping elixir.. haha! Furthermore, the transition of Isda's personality from someone so gullible to a strong one is something that I can relate to.
I really hope though more scenes with Emeric were detailed in the book rather than 'practice/tutorial lessons in Isda's crypt already happened in 2 months'
'But that's the problem with believing. It doesn't guarantee truth'
-Isda
What a heart-wrenching, heart breaking ending! That last scene/part when Isda walked away in that terrible weather, with all those injuries and all kept lingering in my mind! I can't help but be reminded by a lot of the kdramas I've watched when she and Emeric said their goodbyes that way!
I don't regret reading this book at all and I strongly demand a book 2!! I need the to know what happens next!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
In the ending, when Isda walked away in that snow with her hood on, I imagined her to be back in a second book with so much prowess. I don't know why. I just suddenly pictured it. Please let there be a second book.
I have to admit, when I read the plot of this book here on Goodreads, I got intrigued and asked for an ARC. (Fortunately, my request was granted. Thank you to Jessica, to Inkyard Press, and to Netgalley btw.) At first, I thought the author was using a lot vocabularies to describe one or two emotions in one scene that I kept thinking this was exaggerated. Sometimes, I would just skip some sentences when emotions are being described again. But I realized that maybe the protagonist is just the way she is and that is how the protagonist really describes her emotions because she is inclined to finery.
Then it was starting to get action-packed that I skipped my meals just to keep reading. It was a lot of suspense when Isda was trying to escape the police and at the same time having a race with the time in order to save Emeric! I kept imagining what those elixir would taste in my mouth too. Sometimes I would unconsciously open my mouth a little during the scenes where Isda was gulping elixir.. haha! Furthermore, the transition of Isda's personality from someone so gullible to a strong one is something that I can relate to.
I really hope though more scenes with Emeric were detailed in the book rather than 'practice/tutorial lessons in Isda's crypt already happened in 2 months'
March 16, 2021
I loved this book so very much even with how heartbreakingly sad it is there was never a dull moment in this story a story about a monster girl done right. I loved the characters so much especially Isda and Emeric they fit so well together I loved Isda so much she just wanted to be free in a world that hates and fears her kind she found all of that but at a great cost she was so well written she would do anything to save the one she loves even become the monster the so many fear. I loved Emeric for how genuine he was someone that was easy for Isda to fall for and want to do anything to save the one person that has ever loved her. I really loved the story it is a gender bent Phantom of the Opera story that is a little different but oh so well written I am really looking forward to whatever else this author writes next.
June 20, 2020
I have been lucky enough to read this book several times and my jaw is still on the floor. I don't know if I'll ever recover. This book is so beautifully written and atmospheric. Each sentence is like a song that lures you in close and twinges your heartstrings.
The characters are amazing. Isda feels so real and her journey to finding herself and what she wants is heartbreaking and real. The romance *fans myself* is so good and believable as you see why both need each other so badly.
The magical aspects of this book do not disappoint, and the way Olson slowly builds the magic and everything it's capable of doing makes it easy to digest and like a puzzle you're unraveling to a giant climax.
If you love Phantom of the Opera, this book's dark song will not disappoint and the twists and nods to the original will delight you.
The characters are amazing. Isda feels so real and her journey to finding herself and what she wants is heartbreaking and real. The romance *fans myself* is so good and believable as you see why both need each other so badly.
The magical aspects of this book do not disappoint, and the way Olson slowly builds the magic and everything it's capable of doing makes it easy to digest and like a puzzle you're unraveling to a giant climax.
If you love Phantom of the Opera, this book's dark song will not disappoint and the twists and nods to the original will delight you.
October 5, 2023
Malheureusement j’ai eu un peu de mal à accrocher à ce roman. Le pitch est prometteur, l’histoire intéressante mais j’ai trouvé ça à la fois trop rapide et en même temps, il ne se passe rien… les personnages manquaient de profondeur à mes yeux, ce qui fait que je ne les comprenais pas vraiment, sans même parler de vraiment m’attacher à eux. Ça se lit bien et vite, et l’ambiance magie / musique est intéressante, ce qui a fait remonter mon ressenti sur ce livre : ça n’est pas une mauvaise lecture, j’en ressors juste sans qu’elle m’ait fait grande impression on va dire ! 🙊
April 3, 2022
Oh wow. This book broke me--I am fighting back tears as I write this.
This book is sad, and powerful, and angry. And it's also sweet and romantic and beautifully written.
At it's core, it's about sacrifice, love, and the monsters we create. Sometimes we're so scared of evil, we create evil ourselves.
I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
This book is sad, and powerful, and angry. And it's also sweet and romantic and beautifully written.
At it's core, it's about sacrifice, love, and the monsters we create. Sometimes we're so scared of evil, we create evil ourselves.
I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.
January 25, 2022
3.5 Stars ✨
I am Wrecked 😭.
This was a great YA gender-bent retelling of Phantom of the Opera. It was so bittersweet and now I am ruined !! All my feels are on the floor swimming in my tears.
I am Wrecked 😭.
This was a great YA gender-bent retelling of Phantom of the Opera. It was so bittersweet and now I am ruined !! All my feels are on the floor swimming in my tears.
August 2, 2023
From the very beginning, I found myself captivated by Isda's character and emotionally invested in her journey.
The dynamic between Isda, the protagonist, and Cyril, the antagonist, who also happened to be the opera house's white manager who saved her as a newborn, adds depth to the story. Despite Isda's formidable magical talents, Cyril's power and influence made it difficult for her efforts to go unhindered. As the antagonist, Cyril's character is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, creating intense challenges for Isda and, at times, making it tough to continue rooting for her.
One aspect that left me conflicted was the resolution of Cyril's character. Despite his wickedness, his eventual demise felt relatively simple compared to the brutal actions he had committed. This sense of unfairness lingered in my mind as the story concluded.
Nonetheless, "Sing Me Forgotten" held an irresistible allure, compelling me to keep turning pages until the very end.
Five stars.
The dynamic between Isda, the protagonist, and Cyril, the antagonist, who also happened to be the opera house's white manager who saved her as a newborn, adds depth to the story. Despite Isda's formidable magical talents, Cyril's power and influence made it difficult for her efforts to go unhindered. As the antagonist, Cyril's character is portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful, creating intense challenges for Isda and, at times, making it tough to continue rooting for her.
One aspect that left me conflicted was the resolution of Cyril's character. Despite his wickedness, his eventual demise felt relatively simple compared to the brutal actions he had committed. This sense of unfairness lingered in my mind as the story concluded.
Nonetheless, "Sing Me Forgotten" held an irresistible allure, compelling me to keep turning pages until the very end.
Five stars.
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