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The Phantom Saga #1
Angel's Mask
The timeless tale of The Phantom of the Opera brought to life as never before...
Christine Daaé arrives penniless and hopeless at the steps of the great Paris Opera House, in search of an angel. What finds her instead is a man in a mask named Erik, a tortured soul masquerading as a ghost. Fascinated by Christine, Erik dons a new mask to be close to that of the Angel of Music.
This strange patron awakens Christine's voice and soul...as well as desires she cannot understand. Their adoration growing, Erik and Christine remain separated by deception and darkness, tangled in a web of lust and lies. How far will Erik go to be close to his eager student? And will Christine be able to forgive her angel when she finally sees past his mask to the monster beneath?
The first novel in The Phantom Saga takes readers on a lush, erotic journey from the depths of Paris's catacombs to the glittering, ruthless world of the Opera's stage. Full of diverse characters, rich detail, and intoxicating romance, Angel's Mask reinvents the legend of the Phantom and Christine with passion and twists that will leave readers breathless.
For content/trigger warnings, please visit the author's website.
Christine Daaé arrives penniless and hopeless at the steps of the great Paris Opera House, in search of an angel. What finds her instead is a man in a mask named Erik, a tortured soul masquerading as a ghost. Fascinated by Christine, Erik dons a new mask to be close to that of the Angel of Music.
This strange patron awakens Christine's voice and soul...as well as desires she cannot understand. Their adoration growing, Erik and Christine remain separated by deception and darkness, tangled in a web of lust and lies. How far will Erik go to be close to his eager student? And will Christine be able to forgive her angel when she finally sees past his mask to the monster beneath?
The first novel in The Phantom Saga takes readers on a lush, erotic journey from the depths of Paris's catacombs to the glittering, ruthless world of the Opera's stage. Full of diverse characters, rich detail, and intoxicating romance, Angel's Mask reinvents the legend of the Phantom and Christine with passion and twists that will leave readers breathless.
For content/trigger warnings, please visit the author's website.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2023
142 people are currently reading
2147 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Mason
8 books76 followersJessica Mason has been a storyteller all her life, whether as an opera singer, an attorney, a journalist, or a podcaster, her passion has always been connecting with people through art and the written word.
She lives near Portland, Oregon with her wife, daughter, and corgi. When she's not writing she enjoys, travel, cooking, history and witchcraft.
She lives near Portland, Oregon with her wife, daughter, and corgi. When she's not writing she enjoys, travel, cooking, history and witchcraft.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
September 19, 2023
If you’re interested in reading this book, read until the end, please.
After a lot of time of thinking of whether or not I should read this book, I finally picked it up. I devoured it in a bit more than two weeks. Did I enjoy it? No. This book has some serious issues.
Being in the Phantom of the Opera fandom for about five months now, I know about weird/problematic adaptations very well. We all know about the good ones, the bad ones, and the controversial ones. But I’m not going to expand on that. I’m just going to leave here the fact that even the original Leroux novel didn’t have many traits a romance novel has. But I’ll respect fanfiction authors who want to write stories in which Erik ends up with Christine.
Let’s start talking about Angel’s Mask, a book that has been promoted by the author quite a lot this year and has been gaining much of an audience. I had been told that some parts of this book were going to be a little weird, but didn’t give it much thought since many pieces of POTO media are a bit weird because of its huge popularity. Most fandoms have these.
Let’s start with the characters.
I will start with minor/supporting characters and then finish with the significant ones.
First, we have the Daroga, or Shaya Motlagh, who completely goes against the Daroga’s original complexity and decides to just hate Erik. Boring. But he appears in like 5 scenes so you don’t give him much thought.
Next, Jammes, who doesn’t have any personality traits apart from being a lesbian. (I truly apologise if this comes out as homophobic. This was nowhere close to my initial intentions. If this offends anyone in the community please let me know, but I’ll expand on this point later, because it’s important to me)
Raoul. An average Raoul in an E/C story. Plain, boring and neglected. Think of Raoul from the Leroux novel, then go lower.
Julianne. Just a girl who just…had to be there for Christine to have someone to talk to. You know, a girl friend. Zero significance to the plot.
Now, to the interesting stuff. All spoilers will be marked as spoilers so that you don’t accidentally read them before reading this book.
Erik. A creep. I’m pretty convinced he spends all his day looking at Christine through that two-way mirror while she’s doing literally anything. Behaves like a creep. Gives Christine no privacy. And then, the gaslighting. Tricks Christine into believing he is her Angel of Music, sent by her dead father. He gives her singing lessons and she thinks he’s a spirit sent from God. Totally convincing. And she falls for it. He doesn’t even try to Very romantic. Also, he doesn’t hesitate to harm whoever goes in Christine’s way. I’ll expand on his relationship with Christine in a bit. He
Christine, our beloved selfless heroine from the Leroux book. No. Christine is a pick me. (do these words sound familiar?) She goes around telling people she's nobody. They ask her who she is and that is her honest and serious answer. She breaks down in tears when she realises that the angel of music will never come for her early in the book. Also, for the sake of the spice, from (estimated) page 150 all the way to the end, the only things she does are sing and (tw) . nothing else.
And of course, the book was a romance between these two beautiful characters. I almost cried in disgust.
Time for the writing. Okay, I’m not expecting every small author in the market to write like a professional. But the writing was dull and it just didn’t flow. I just wanted this to be over. Noticeable grammar and structural mistakes. Just get an editor. Having errors and correcting them during the reprint doesn’t exactly do good to you. Also, Jessica, STOP CURSING. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE USED F*** AND S*** IN THE 1880S? THAT MUCH?
I do not have enough historical knowledge to judge this part. I didn’t identify any obvious errors in the historical accuracy area. But the parts when she described operas (mostly Faust) in a boring tone, I lost it. She almost made me hate opera. I’m glad it was an “almost”. The singing lessons were just boring. Nothing more, nothing less.
Now, the awaited Erik/Christine relationship. It made me cringe to the bone. If you want a cute E/C story with some smut on the side, just open AO3 or read some other published work. This isn’t even romance. Let me explain. Romance first.(can’t believe I’m writing this at 1am.)
There is no romantic tension between the two. They never have a romantic conversation or communicate through anything else at all. Nothing. It’s just singing lessons and…well…other lessons. (heavy trigger warning for this part)
So, the points mentioned above are the so-called spice of this book. They share some “I love you”, which aren’t based on true feelings. The only thing she does for him is while the only thing he does is give her a promising career and the thing mentioned above.
Did Jessica Mason try to improve the roots of the relationship? No. Christine thinks she’s with an angel. And he doesn’t tell her just to keep her for longer. Their relationship is just deception. And towards the end of the book, he makes her feel pity for him. He forces her to return to him by being the only way for her career to continue.
I truly don’t have any more things to say about this. If you’re looking for romance, remove this from your cart, don’t pick it up at the bookstore or the library. Read something else. I beg of you.
Also, drum roll…racism. One of the main points of the book is racism. Two POC in this book. Julianne and Shaya. Both facing extreme discrimination. Totally unnecessary. Not even implied racism. She just says it. Raoul has racist thoughts towards Shaya and everyone looks down on Julianne because of her race. As a white person, I can’t understand this completely, but I am trying. I found these issues and I believe you should know.
Queer representation. Remember when I said Jammes’ only personality trait was being a lesbian? There’s a sex scene between her and Julianne and not only was this totally irrelevant to the plot, but it seems to be there just to be called as representation, while it's just a mention of a lesbian couple. Wow. Representation just for money. Well done. I feel so represented right now.
Unnecessary mentions of sex and related things all over the place. There are more conversations about this than any other topic. Too detailed as well.
Now, the promotion of this book. Jessica Mason has put a little “please check trigger warnings” sign on the description of this book. In her official website, the trigger warning page, which includes what I’ve mentioned here and marks E/C’s relationship as assault by deception, is totally out of place. No one notices it.
Continuation of the topic of promotion. Mason has called her book “a real romance”, in one of her videos on TikTok (while, on her website, she calls it assault by deception, keep that in mind) . She promotes it as a spicy retelling of POTO. Despite its lengthy page of trigger warnings. Also, her way to get more readers is magnificent. Whenever someone dares to speak about the TWs of the book, she removes their comment and blocks them. (Hey, that’s me! Good to see you again!). She accuses people of mischaracterising her book while they just state the TWs she ignores on TikTok. She has also confessed to writing gay characters just for the attention of the queer community. “Hey, I made it gayer and I want credit for it!”, as stated in the description of one of her videos.
So yeah, avoid this book. Go read something healthy and support an author that doesn’t write that. And an author who doesn’t block people who dare to disagree with her. Blocking people won’t make you gain something, Jessica. It’s almost 2am. But thanks for the traumatising. And no, I would never take down my comment.
byeee
EDIT(19/09/2023): I used a wrong word to describe the queer representation in this book, I used the word "queerbaiting", which is wrong, there is no queerbaiting here. I apologise for this. I changed those parts of the review.
After a lot of time of thinking of whether or not I should read this book, I finally picked it up. I devoured it in a bit more than two weeks. Did I enjoy it? No. This book has some serious issues.
Being in the Phantom of the Opera fandom for about five months now, I know about weird/problematic adaptations very well. We all know about the good ones, the bad ones, and the controversial ones. But I’m not going to expand on that. I’m just going to leave here the fact that even the original Leroux novel didn’t have many traits a romance novel has. But I’ll respect fanfiction authors who want to write stories in which Erik ends up with Christine.
Let’s start talking about Angel’s Mask, a book that has been promoted by the author quite a lot this year and has been gaining much of an audience. I had been told that some parts of this book were going to be a little weird, but didn’t give it much thought since many pieces of POTO media are a bit weird because of its huge popularity. Most fandoms have these.
Let’s start with the characters.
I will start with minor/supporting characters and then finish with the significant ones.
First, we have the Daroga, or Shaya Motlagh, who completely goes against the Daroga’s original complexity and decides to just hate Erik. Boring. But he appears in like 5 scenes so you don’t give him much thought.
Next, Jammes, who doesn’t have any personality traits apart from being a lesbian. (I truly apologise if this comes out as homophobic. This was nowhere close to my initial intentions. If this offends anyone in the community please let me know, but I’ll expand on this point later, because it’s important to me)
Raoul. An average Raoul in an E/C story. Plain, boring and neglected. Think of Raoul from the Leroux novel, then go lower.
Julianne. Just a girl who just…had to be there for Christine to have someone to talk to. You know, a girl friend. Zero significance to the plot.
Now, to the interesting stuff. All spoilers will be marked as spoilers so that you don’t accidentally read them before reading this book.
Erik. A creep. I’m pretty convinced he spends all his day looking at Christine through that two-way mirror while she’s doing literally anything. Behaves like a creep. Gives Christine no privacy. And then, the gaslighting. Tricks Christine into believing he is her Angel of Music, sent by her dead father. He gives her singing lessons and she thinks he’s a spirit sent from God. Totally convincing. And she falls for it. He doesn’t even try to Very romantic. Also, he doesn’t hesitate to harm whoever goes in Christine’s way. I’ll expand on his relationship with Christine in a bit. He
Christine, our beloved selfless heroine from the Leroux book. No. Christine is a pick me. (do these words sound familiar?) She goes around telling people she's nobody. They ask her who she is and that is her honest and serious answer. She breaks down in tears when she realises that the angel of music will never come for her early in the book. Also, for the sake of the spice, from (estimated) page 150 all the way to the end, the only things she does are sing and (tw) . nothing else.
And of course, the book was a romance between these two beautiful characters. I almost cried in disgust.
Time for the writing. Okay, I’m not expecting every small author in the market to write like a professional. But the writing was dull and it just didn’t flow. I just wanted this to be over. Noticeable grammar and structural mistakes. Just get an editor. Having errors and correcting them during the reprint doesn’t exactly do good to you. Also, Jessica, STOP CURSING. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE USED F*** AND S*** IN THE 1880S? THAT MUCH?
I do not have enough historical knowledge to judge this part. I didn’t identify any obvious errors in the historical accuracy area. But the parts when she described operas (mostly Faust) in a boring tone, I lost it. She almost made me hate opera. I’m glad it was an “almost”. The singing lessons were just boring. Nothing more, nothing less.
Now, the awaited Erik/Christine relationship. It made me cringe to the bone. If you want a cute E/C story with some smut on the side, just open AO3 or read some other published work. This isn’t even romance. Let me explain. Romance first.(can’t believe I’m writing this at 1am.)
There is no romantic tension between the two. They never have a romantic conversation or communicate through anything else at all. Nothing. It’s just singing lessons and…well…other lessons. (heavy trigger warning for this part)
So, the points mentioned above are the so-called spice of this book. They share some “I love you”, which aren’t based on true feelings. The only thing she does for him is while the only thing he does is give her a promising career and the thing mentioned above.
Did Jessica Mason try to improve the roots of the relationship? No. Christine thinks she’s with an angel. And he doesn’t tell her just to keep her for longer. Their relationship is just deception. And towards the end of the book, he makes her feel pity for him. He forces her to return to him by being the only way for her career to continue.
I truly don’t have any more things to say about this. If you’re looking for romance, remove this from your cart, don’t pick it up at the bookstore or the library. Read something else. I beg of you.
Also, drum roll…racism. One of the main points of the book is racism. Two POC in this book. Julianne and Shaya. Both facing extreme discrimination. Totally unnecessary. Not even implied racism. She just says it. Raoul has racist thoughts towards Shaya and everyone looks down on Julianne because of her race. As a white person, I can’t understand this completely, but I am trying. I found these issues and I believe you should know.
Queer representation. Remember when I said Jammes’ only personality trait was being a lesbian? There’s a sex scene between her and Julianne and not only was this totally irrelevant to the plot, but it seems to be there just to be called as representation, while it's just a mention of a lesbian couple. Wow. Representation just for money. Well done. I feel so represented right now.
Unnecessary mentions of sex and related things all over the place. There are more conversations about this than any other topic. Too detailed as well.
Now, the promotion of this book. Jessica Mason has put a little “please check trigger warnings” sign on the description of this book. In her official website, the trigger warning page, which includes what I’ve mentioned here and marks E/C’s relationship as assault by deception, is totally out of place. No one notices it.
Continuation of the topic of promotion. Mason has called her book “a real romance”, in one of her videos on TikTok (while, on her website, she calls it assault by deception, keep that in mind) . She promotes it as a spicy retelling of POTO. Despite its lengthy page of trigger warnings. Also, her way to get more readers is magnificent. Whenever someone dares to speak about the TWs of the book, she removes their comment and blocks them. (Hey, that’s me! Good to see you again!). She accuses people of mischaracterising her book while they just state the TWs she ignores on TikTok. She has also confessed to writing gay characters just for the attention of the queer community. “Hey, I made it gayer and I want credit for it!”, as stated in the description of one of her videos.
So yeah, avoid this book. Go read something healthy and support an author that doesn’t write that. And an author who doesn’t block people who dare to disagree with her. Blocking people won’t make you gain something, Jessica. It’s almost 2am. But thanks for the traumatising. And no, I would never take down my comment.
byeee
EDIT(19/09/2023): I used a wrong word to describe the queer representation in this book, I used the word "queerbaiting", which is wrong, there is no queerbaiting here. I apologise for this. I changed those parts of the review.
January 30, 2023
“Because I chose a fallen angel in the dark rather than a world of light with no angels at all.”
I'm just finished and Why. So. Incredible. This masterpiece is in my top of books I ever read now.
Even with my far-from-perfect English all this book I'm just enjoyed of how many feelings I have and how strong they are. I'm so in love with how author writes and an atmosphere here— I could feel it so easily.
And my beloved Eristine was so— so— I can't chose a words to say how harder I fell in love with them in this book. Their relationships such realistic and well-written I cried at every scene this was so tragic and hot and full of hope I'll not survive if they aren't endgame there.
This book deserve 10000000/5 stars or more. Must read for every E/C phan.
Can't wait for the Angel's Kiss so much!!!!
I'm just finished and Why. So. Incredible. This masterpiece is in my top of books I ever read now.
Even with my far-from-perfect English all this book I'm just enjoyed of how many feelings I have and how strong they are. I'm so in love with how author writes and an atmosphere here— I could feel it so easily.
And my beloved Eristine was so— so— I can't chose a words to say how harder I fell in love with them in this book. Their relationships such realistic and well-written I cried at every scene this was so tragic and hot and full of hope I'll not survive if they aren't endgame there.
This book deserve 10000000/5 stars or more. Must read for every E/C phan.
Can't wait for the Angel's Kiss so much!!!!
February 14, 2023
I’ve been a Phan for nearly 30 years so Phantom adaptations usually fall in one of two categories for me: makes me angry and throw the book or I’m completely obsessed and devour the book. Well, I finished this one in a day, and I am aching because it’s over. I love that the author honors the original novel, but she also makes it her own. It’s a good balance of the familiar story I love and surprising me with something new. I love the building of the relationship of Erik and Christine, and you get to know their motivations and how they end up where they are. I also enjoy the supporting characters and Christine’s friendships. It had a great ending that left me eager for the next book and wanting more but not in a frustrating way. I can’t wait to spend more time with the characters and can’t wait to see how the story unfolds, the familiar and the surprising.
January 1, 2024
I would say I'm disappointed but that would be a lie since I didn't have much hope from the start. I find it a shame that one star is the lowest rating I can give, because it doesn't even begin to equate to how I feel after finishing this book
I find it abhorrent that this book was labelled as a 'spicy, romantic retelling', because I find that 'psychological horror' is far more fitting for describing it.
I'll start off by saying that the fact that there is no trigger warning list to come with any copy of this book is extremely unfortunate and needs to be corrected straight away. I know there is a trigger list on the author's website, however not everyone upon purchasing or even gifting this product will know that and will be in for a less than pleasant surprise upon reading. I really hope this is fixed with the next book to be published and any future prints released as it is a very important issue with the topics handled in the book.
I did not find a single character in this book likeable aside from Raoul, and even then it's obvious that the author intended to push him aside or antagonise him as much as possible in favour of the main pairing of Erik and Christine.
Every character from Leroux's original novel was grossly mischaracterised. I don't know if the author was even trying to make these characters like how Leroux wrote them or instead mixing together characters personalities from many different adaptations, but either way it was shocking and distasteful, at times blatantly abhorrent. Christine isn't a heroine I would root for, just a mean pick-me girl who's single character trait is that she's a virgin- I mean a 'no body' as she likes to call herself. Raoul is barely even there, and is pushed aside completely when he is. Erik is a depraved sexual manipulator whether he knows it or not. In the rare case that the author had even bothered to include the Persian/Shaya Motlagh in a chapter, he was written as just some angry dog always barking with no bite, waving around his pistol at Erik and being the victim of subtle racist remarks. None of these characters stood out to me or were relatable in any way,
If 'historical accuracy' was the aim, then apparently that only applied to the unnecessary racism spread throughout. Now, I am not a POC myself, so I cannot speak on behalf of any POC who may read this, but I personally did not see why the author could not have written a Phantom retelling without adding blatantly racist jabs.
The first time the reader is introduced to 'Shaya Motlagh', the language used to describe him is only ever aggressive language ('spat', 'shot back', 'scowled', 'hissed', etc.), and Erik frequently makes jabs towards his race as 'witty remarks' ("They'll really let anyone in the opera these days,", "Oh, i see. You only read a report or heard a rumor. He wouldn't speak to *you*.", etc.). This happens frequently throughout the book almost EVERY TIME the Persian is so little as MENTIONED. When the Persian warns Christine about Erik towards the end of the book, Raoul immediately assumes he intends to harm Christine in some way, and Christine remarks, "Again, you rush in to save me in my hour of need." as though she were on the verge of being attacked. Frequently Shaya is referred to as 'the foreigner' 'foreign fellow' while every other character is referred to as simply their name. Not to mention how every other character never had their skin colour described apart from the only two POC characters that hold somewhat relevance, Shaya and Julianna, while everyone else is simply assumed to be white by default. Even then, each their skin tone IS described, it is using food as a comparison (olive, chestnut, etc.).
The G slur is thrown around casually by the author too. There is one scene where Erik gives Christine money to be able to afford food, and while she is outside she sees a Roma beggar woman being verbally abused by a gentleman who calls her a slur. I know for a fact that the author is not Roma herself, and that scene overall had no purpose even being there except to perhaps potray Christine as kind and compassionate as she gives the beggars woman some coins. This is the only time Christine is nice to anyone in the entire book.
The dialogue in this book was blatantly shocking, all the characters might as well have been from the modern day from just how much effing and jeffing there was going on. I highly doubt that Christine Daaé would have ever told Carlotta to 'go fuck herself'. The worst insult Erik would every be able to give someone is 'you great booby', he definitely would not say 'fuck' when describing sexual intercourse. People weren't as open about sex as people in the modern day are, and would not speak so colloquially about it. It spoils any kind of charm and just made the characters look immature.
The book has a plot (I know, what a surprise!), but unfortunately that is pushed aside in favour of Christine sticking her fingers in her nether regions while Erik strums something else other than his apollo's lyre if you know what I mean, people talking about how the entire opera house is one big orgy since everyone is screwing everyone, people talking about their sex life, or just racism. Thank god the 'spicy' scenes were barely more than two or three pages, but unfortunately they were frequent enough that it didn't even matter.
Which brings me to the point of Erik and Christine's relationship. It's disgusting how their dynamic is handed in this book compared to what it is in the original novel. In the author's website, it does mention how Erik's relationship and later sexual interactions with Christine is SA by deception. Although Christine consents, she only does so under the false belief that she is doing so for an angel her father has sent, while Erik is knowingly exploiting her vulnerability and actively encouraging her to do these things with him for his own gain. The power dynamic is far too great to ever be considered as consensual, and I found myself extremely disturbed having to read Christine's sexual interactions with Erik, and even more disturbed at just how many times it happens.
To promote a book with this kind of disturbing content without a trigger list online as a 'spicy retelling' is disgusting, especially considering the amount of minors within the Phantom of the Opera fandom who are likely to stumble across it. This is not romance. This is not 'dark romance' or 'forbidden romance' or whatever the hell it may be marketed as.
I would not be surprised if this review gets struck down by the author like she has done so many times before when called out about the contents of her work and her behaviour when faced with criticism. I won't be silent about just how upset and disgusted I am that I wasted my time with this book, and in particular how it is marketed.
I would not recommend this to anyone I know. I will not be reading any other books within the phantom saga, and if I do, I certainly would not pay money for it.
I personally recommend adjustments to be made in the future regarding a trigger warning list to be included within the book itself and a change in marketing and how the book is promoted. Sorry if this review is seen as 'aggressive', I prefer the term 'honest'. Sometimes the truth is hard, and here is my truth: I didn't enjoy this book, but hey, at least my friends got a funny live running commentary from me as I read it.
I find it abhorrent that this book was labelled as a 'spicy, romantic retelling', because I find that 'psychological horror' is far more fitting for describing it.
I'll start off by saying that the fact that there is no trigger warning list to come with any copy of this book is extremely unfortunate and needs to be corrected straight away. I know there is a trigger list on the author's website, however not everyone upon purchasing or even gifting this product will know that and will be in for a less than pleasant surprise upon reading. I really hope this is fixed with the next book to be published and any future prints released as it is a very important issue with the topics handled in the book.
I did not find a single character in this book likeable aside from Raoul, and even then it's obvious that the author intended to push him aside or antagonise him as much as possible in favour of the main pairing of Erik and Christine.
Every character from Leroux's original novel was grossly mischaracterised. I don't know if the author was even trying to make these characters like how Leroux wrote them or instead mixing together characters personalities from many different adaptations, but either way it was shocking and distasteful, at times blatantly abhorrent. Christine isn't a heroine I would root for, just a mean pick-me girl who's single character trait is that she's a virgin- I mean a 'no body' as she likes to call herself. Raoul is barely even there, and is pushed aside completely when he is. Erik is a depraved sexual manipulator whether he knows it or not. In the rare case that the author had even bothered to include the Persian/Shaya Motlagh in a chapter, he was written as just some angry dog always barking with no bite, waving around his pistol at Erik and being the victim of subtle racist remarks. None of these characters stood out to me or were relatable in any way,
If 'historical accuracy' was the aim, then apparently that only applied to the unnecessary racism spread throughout. Now, I am not a POC myself, so I cannot speak on behalf of any POC who may read this, but I personally did not see why the author could not have written a Phantom retelling without adding blatantly racist jabs.
The first time the reader is introduced to 'Shaya Motlagh', the language used to describe him is only ever aggressive language ('spat', 'shot back', 'scowled', 'hissed', etc.), and Erik frequently makes jabs towards his race as 'witty remarks' ("They'll really let anyone in the opera these days,", "Oh, i see. You only read a report or heard a rumor. He wouldn't speak to *you*.", etc.). This happens frequently throughout the book almost EVERY TIME the Persian is so little as MENTIONED. When the Persian warns Christine about Erik towards the end of the book, Raoul immediately assumes he intends to harm Christine in some way, and Christine remarks, "Again, you rush in to save me in my hour of need." as though she were on the verge of being attacked. Frequently Shaya is referred to as 'the foreigner' 'foreign fellow' while every other character is referred to as simply their name. Not to mention how every other character never had their skin colour described apart from the only two POC characters that hold somewhat relevance, Shaya and Julianna, while everyone else is simply assumed to be white by default. Even then, each their skin tone IS described, it is using food as a comparison (olive, chestnut, etc.).
The G slur is thrown around casually by the author too. There is one scene where Erik gives Christine money to be able to afford food, and while she is outside she sees a Roma beggar woman being verbally abused by a gentleman who calls her a slur. I know for a fact that the author is not Roma herself, and that scene overall had no purpose even being there except to perhaps potray Christine as kind and compassionate as she gives the beggars woman some coins. This is the only time Christine is nice to anyone in the entire book.
The dialogue in this book was blatantly shocking, all the characters might as well have been from the modern day from just how much effing and jeffing there was going on. I highly doubt that Christine Daaé would have ever told Carlotta to 'go fuck herself'. The worst insult Erik would every be able to give someone is 'you great booby', he definitely would not say 'fuck' when describing sexual intercourse. People weren't as open about sex as people in the modern day are, and would not speak so colloquially about it. It spoils any kind of charm and just made the characters look immature.
The book has a plot (I know, what a surprise!), but unfortunately that is pushed aside in favour of Christine sticking her fingers in her nether regions while Erik strums something else other than his apollo's lyre if you know what I mean, people talking about how the entire opera house is one big orgy since everyone is screwing everyone, people talking about their sex life, or just racism. Thank god the 'spicy' scenes were barely more than two or three pages, but unfortunately they were frequent enough that it didn't even matter.
Which brings me to the point of Erik and Christine's relationship. It's disgusting how their dynamic is handed in this book compared to what it is in the original novel. In the author's website, it does mention how Erik's relationship and later sexual interactions with Christine is SA by deception. Although Christine consents, she only does so under the false belief that she is doing so for an angel her father has sent, while Erik is knowingly exploiting her vulnerability and actively encouraging her to do these things with him for his own gain. The power dynamic is far too great to ever be considered as consensual, and I found myself extremely disturbed having to read Christine's sexual interactions with Erik, and even more disturbed at just how many times it happens.
To promote a book with this kind of disturbing content without a trigger list online as a 'spicy retelling' is disgusting, especially considering the amount of minors within the Phantom of the Opera fandom who are likely to stumble across it. This is not romance. This is not 'dark romance' or 'forbidden romance' or whatever the hell it may be marketed as.
I would not be surprised if this review gets struck down by the author like she has done so many times before when called out about the contents of her work and her behaviour when faced with criticism. I won't be silent about just how upset and disgusted I am that I wasted my time with this book, and in particular how it is marketed.
I would not recommend this to anyone I know. I will not be reading any other books within the phantom saga, and if I do, I certainly would not pay money for it.
I personally recommend adjustments to be made in the future regarding a trigger warning list to be included within the book itself and a change in marketing and how the book is promoted. Sorry if this review is seen as 'aggressive', I prefer the term 'honest'. Sometimes the truth is hard, and here is my truth: I didn't enjoy this book, but hey, at least my friends got a funny live running commentary from me as I read it.
January 27, 2024
This book is so cool, because it really captures a *feel* that isn’t as common in historical romance anymore. It’s big, audacious, and super swoony and romantic. Erik is desperate broken obsession goals and I loved how thirsty and clingy he was.
Will definitely read on in the series! And may I just say I am jelly that singers make each other come just by singing to each other.
Will definitely read on in the series! And may I just say I am jelly that singers make each other come just by singing to each other.
May 14, 2023
Definitiv eines der besseren Retellings der Geschichte des "Phantoms der Oper", wobei dies allerdings nur der erste Teil einer Reihe ist. Im Gegenzug bekommen wir als Leser:innen aber einiges von der Vorgeschichte vorgesetzt, die sowohl bei Leroux als auch im Musical nicht erzählt werden. Einige Aspekte hat die Autorin modernisiert, darunter auch die körperliche Beziehung zwischen Christine und Phantom, die immer nur angedeutet wurde... Wer sich fragt, was gelaufen sein könnte, bekommt hier auf jeden Fall eine Antwort, ohne dass es in billige Erotik abdriftet.
January 12, 2023
Happy sigh
I love when authors take the time to build the E+C relationship, the teaching and the conversations instead of just jumping straight into the triangle conflict. Can't wait to keep reading!
I love when authors take the time to build the E+C relationship, the teaching and the conversations instead of just jumping straight into the triangle conflict. Can't wait to keep reading!
October 18, 2025
I've read this so many times now, but it's been a while and despite the fact that no one cares lol, I wanted to rewrite my reviews for this series now that the third book has been released.
first of all I like the pacing of this retelling, in comparison to others. she gives time to each section of the story and beginning her retelling 3 months before the events of GL's tpoto. so we actually see how christine come to work in the opera house and why Erik was first so entranced by her of all people.
I loved the sense of tragedy and hope in every one of their interactions. of course when it came to Christine's inevitable disillusionment, the unmasking scene was fantastic. so unbelievably sad. and I love how the author weaves in so well the seeds of Eriks past and of course shows us how this has impacted him (broken him) before we know of it.
I first read this when I started out in the fandom, and I saw the story so differently then. while I know that Christine shouldn't have/couldn't have ended up with Erik in the end. But I still kind of wanted her to. And this author does this without sacrificing the characters or the story
The story makes room for possible retellings as Gaston leurex novel is written as a sort of fake true crime story, he's only writing what he believed happened, based on some biased sources and none of which were the voices of those at the center of the events.
this is a retelling of the original though it does take inspiration from some other adaptations. but truly it's a love letter to the story.
The controversial element of the book was the authors handling of poc characters and the inclusion of racism. the argument is that the characters who are poc seem to be included for tocanism. and they are here to simply serve the main character. but honestly I don't see what Julianne does that meg giry doesn't do in most adaptations or fanfics. in fact in the whole trilogy she's a pretty major character. I do think that the language used to describe her is unnecessary and really outdated (descriptions of her skin colour using food) and the amount of racist slurs aren't necessary either and are just used to set the scene (of their being such animosity for those who are "different" - like erik) or signpost readers to whom they should root against. but there are other way to do this. you can show racism without using slurs.
anyways, it's not for everyone and it has it's flaws. some of which I'm not well informed enough about to fully critique. but as a retelling of one of my favourite stories it stands up. however it's not really a romance book, if U like dark romance maybe. so keep that in mind
first of all I like the pacing of this retelling, in comparison to others. she gives time to each section of the story and beginning her retelling 3 months before the events of GL's tpoto. so we actually see how christine come to work in the opera house and why Erik was first so entranced by her of all people.
I loved the sense of tragedy and hope in every one of their interactions. of course when it came to Christine's inevitable disillusionment, the unmasking scene was fantastic. so unbelievably sad. and I love how the author weaves in so well the seeds of Eriks past and of course shows us how this has impacted him (broken him) before we know of it.
I first read this when I started out in the fandom, and I saw the story so differently then. while I know that Christine shouldn't have/couldn't have ended up with Erik in the end. But I still kind of wanted her to. And this author does this without sacrificing the characters or the story
The story makes room for possible retellings as Gaston leurex novel is written as a sort of fake true crime story, he's only writing what he believed happened, based on some biased sources and none of which were the voices of those at the center of the events.
this is a retelling of the original though it does take inspiration from some other adaptations. but truly it's a love letter to the story.
The controversial element of the book was the authors handling of poc characters and the inclusion of racism. the argument is that the characters who are poc seem to be included for tocanism. and they are here to simply serve the main character. but honestly I don't see what Julianne does that meg giry doesn't do in most adaptations or fanfics. in fact in the whole trilogy she's a pretty major character. I do think that the language used to describe her is unnecessary and really outdated (descriptions of her skin colour using food) and the amount of racist slurs aren't necessary either and are just used to set the scene (of their being such animosity for those who are "different" - like erik) or signpost readers to whom they should root against. but there are other way to do this. you can show racism without using slurs.
anyways, it's not for everyone and it has it's flaws. some of which I'm not well informed enough about to fully critique. but as a retelling of one of my favourite stories it stands up. however it's not really a romance book, if U like dark romance maybe. so keep that in mind
January 2, 2025
Cheesy, but in a good way
I am not the biggest Phantom of the Opera fan out there, but of course I know the musical and also I read the OG novel at some point.
This adaptation is interesting because it is not meant as a "retelling" in the way that most retellings put a new spin on an old tale.
Instead, this is an earnest, close adaptation, but with more meat to it and with a more modern approach to storytelling. It was more engaging to read than the original novel.
I loved the fact that the author knows her operas because I actually frequent the opera and I know most of the pieces that were mentioned. Bonus!
This novel has been criticized for the heroine being a naive or maybe even a dimwit. It's true! But I also think it's somewhat necessary for her to be a gullible fool to make this story work.
Moving on to the sequel now ...
I am not the biggest Phantom of the Opera fan out there, but of course I know the musical and also I read the OG novel at some point.
This adaptation is interesting because it is not meant as a "retelling" in the way that most retellings put a new spin on an old tale.
Instead, this is an earnest, close adaptation, but with more meat to it and with a more modern approach to storytelling. It was more engaging to read than the original novel.
I loved the fact that the author knows her operas because I actually frequent the opera and I know most of the pieces that were mentioned. Bonus!
This novel has been criticized for the heroine being a naive or maybe even a dimwit. It's true! But I also think it's somewhat necessary for her to be a gullible fool to make this story work.
Moving on to the sequel now ...
June 9, 2025
If you’re a Phantom of the Opera fan (sorry, a *Phan*), this steamy reimagining of the story you know and love will either be a swing or a miss for you.
For me, it was both. I’m obsessed with this novel and heartbroken that it doesn’t live up to its potential.
Let’s start with this novel’s warm, dazzling soul: Erik and Christine’s relationship. It’s been a LONG time since I was this excited about a fictional romance.
One of many features that distinguishes this “Phantom” adaptation from others is that Erik’s love for Christine doesn’t begin at first sight. In fact, at first sight, he barely finds Christine physically appealing! It isn’t until some time later, after her melancholy and loneliness fully capture his curiosity, that he’s struck by her singing voice, which inspires fixation, then love, then lust. I love that this novel begins at a slow burn, then turns up the heat at just the right time.
And speaking of heat, this book got so hot it practically combusted in my hands, but not in an overly vulgar way. The intimacy is more emotional than explicit. Even a scene as removed as Erik commanding Christine to climax as he watches her explore her body from the other side of a one-way mirror, then coming completely untouched himself, conveys the merging of two souls into one. This isn’t smut for smut’s sake, ladies and gents. Each intimate scene is integral to the story and to Erik and Christine’s evolving relationship.
Here’s another one of this adaptation’s distinguishing characteristics I loved: it was written by an actual classically trained opera singer! Every detail of Erik and Christine’s lessons is beautifully authentic, reminding me of my days studying in New York City with Met Opera alums (past life; don’t ask), and the featured operas and arias reflect/foreshadow the story in ways only someone who’s inhabited the opera world could portray so accurately. I loved it.
Unfortunately, in spite of all the butterflies “Angel’s Mask” unleashed in my belly, that’s the extent of my praise.
I appreciate that the author went out of her way to people the opera house with a diverse ensemble cast: the stable hand, the dressers, the ballerinas, the patrons, the managers, etc. It enlivens the opera house’s ecosystem and reinforces Christine’s and Erik’s places in it. However, I wish those characters were better developed. They lean toward caricatures: the Black best friend, the disillusioned libidinous woman, the racist white aristocrat, the *classist* white aristocrat, the dumpy working-class woman, etc.
And yet, this ensemble cast barely includes Meg and Madame Giry, who are only mentioned a few times in passing despite clearly knowing a ton about Erik. I hope they feature more heavily in the sequels, because it doesn’t make sense to sideline them in favor of other secondary characters who don’t influence the plot whatsoever.
Speaking of other characters, Raoul was disappointing (and racist, for some reason?). The sole thing he and Christine have in common is their past, and it couldn’t be more obvious that they love only the idea of each other. Thus, their interactions are thin and insubstantial, which leads to a weak love triangle. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author’s first draft didn’t include Raoul at all, and she haphazardly shoehorned him into the second draft just to stay faithful to the source material.
Overall, as far as self-published debut novels go, this one is beautiful and earnest. Books two and three of this series are in transit to my home now (and book four hits Amazon in July!). I’m holding out hope that they amend some of the issues I took with book one.
For me, it was both. I’m obsessed with this novel and heartbroken that it doesn’t live up to its potential.
Let’s start with this novel’s warm, dazzling soul: Erik and Christine’s relationship. It’s been a LONG time since I was this excited about a fictional romance.
One of many features that distinguishes this “Phantom” adaptation from others is that Erik’s love for Christine doesn’t begin at first sight. In fact, at first sight, he barely finds Christine physically appealing! It isn’t until some time later, after her melancholy and loneliness fully capture his curiosity, that he’s struck by her singing voice, which inspires fixation, then love, then lust. I love that this novel begins at a slow burn, then turns up the heat at just the right time.
And speaking of heat, this book got so hot it practically combusted in my hands, but not in an overly vulgar way. The intimacy is more emotional than explicit. Even a scene as removed as Erik commanding Christine to climax as he watches her explore her body from the other side of a one-way mirror, then coming completely untouched himself, conveys the merging of two souls into one. This isn’t smut for smut’s sake, ladies and gents. Each intimate scene is integral to the story and to Erik and Christine’s evolving relationship.
Here’s another one of this adaptation’s distinguishing characteristics I loved: it was written by an actual classically trained opera singer! Every detail of Erik and Christine’s lessons is beautifully authentic, reminding me of my days studying in New York City with Met Opera alums (past life; don’t ask), and the featured operas and arias reflect/foreshadow the story in ways only someone who’s inhabited the opera world could portray so accurately. I loved it.
Unfortunately, in spite of all the butterflies “Angel’s Mask” unleashed in my belly, that’s the extent of my praise.
I appreciate that the author went out of her way to people the opera house with a diverse ensemble cast: the stable hand, the dressers, the ballerinas, the patrons, the managers, etc. It enlivens the opera house’s ecosystem and reinforces Christine’s and Erik’s places in it. However, I wish those characters were better developed. They lean toward caricatures: the Black best friend, the disillusioned libidinous woman, the racist white aristocrat, the *classist* white aristocrat, the dumpy working-class woman, etc.
And yet, this ensemble cast barely includes Meg and Madame Giry, who are only mentioned a few times in passing despite clearly knowing a ton about Erik. I hope they feature more heavily in the sequels, because it doesn’t make sense to sideline them in favor of other secondary characters who don’t influence the plot whatsoever.
Speaking of other characters, Raoul was disappointing (and racist, for some reason?). The sole thing he and Christine have in common is their past, and it couldn’t be more obvious that they love only the idea of each other. Thus, their interactions are thin and insubstantial, which leads to a weak love triangle. I wouldn’t be surprised if the author’s first draft didn’t include Raoul at all, and she haphazardly shoehorned him into the second draft just to stay faithful to the source material.
Overall, as far as self-published debut novels go, this one is beautiful and earnest. Books two and three of this series are in transit to my home now (and book four hits Amazon in July!). I’m holding out hope that they amend some of the issues I took with book one.
June 1, 2023
I absolutely loved this book and can not wait for the others to come out. I devoured it in a day, I couldn't put it down. I can just tell by reading it the amount of time, care, and research that was put in to it. Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite pieces of media of all time, from the book, to the movies, to Broadway, and this book is one of my favorite pieces of phantom media ever!
Read
April 25, 2024Look am I proud I read this? No. Was it amazing? Also no. Did I freaking love it and pretend it’s 2004 again? Yes.
January 1, 2025
I like where this is going. Christine should have figured out that he wasn't an actual angel 😇 but this fits with the nice Gothic themes. This retelling is totes needed in the world.
September 9, 2025
5 stars for the audiobook (and for the author singing some of Christine’s opera pieces, like I was surprised and shook by that).
I could tell the author did a lot of research on 1880s Paris, and that alone gets 5 stars aswell. The whole story was very cinematic and well researched. That also gets 5 stars from me.
My main issue with this book were the characters, they all came off very two dimensional.
Christine’s characterization killed this book for me. She’s aged up a bit to her early 20s in this book whereas in the original story she is a teenager. However, she still acts like she’s 15 in this book 🫡. Her naïveté killed me. How does a 20+ year old woman who has traveled most of Europe with her late father act like she knows nothing about people or the world? Nuts. I get in the original story that she’s naive as her father died when she was very young and she spent most of her life at the Paris Opera, so she knows nothing else. In this it just doesn’t make any sense.
My biggest “what the h$ll” moment of this whole book was when she unveils the Phantom’s face and is all like “why did you ruin my fantasy of you being an angel 🫡”. Like girl you believed what you wanted to believe, part of this is on you. Also she’s a fricken adult! I feel like she blames the Phantom for 100% of the deception, but she believed it when there was a lot evidence to the contrary. A lot of obvious evidence. Part of it’s on her for wanting to believe the lie.
Don’t get me started on Raoul’s characterization, the author clearly hates him, so she made him a 2D racist, classist hack. I would have appreciated a bit more duality from him, so he would have some depth to his character. His character was basically retconnned into being a Tamlin.
Erik was mostly fine, I just wish he would have been a bit more mysterious. He comes off as a big softy in this book, tbh I would have appreciated a bit more subtly and bad assery on his part. I know he’s supposed to be a bit of a pitiable character, but he came off kind of like a pathetic incel rather than the opera ghost of legend. I didn’t need Gerard Butler’s angry, tough man Phantom, but less “poor old me” would have been great. I would have liked more manipulation and intrigue, which would have set up for a better book 2. It would have provided his character with more depth too.
It’s not terrible and it’s probably the best phantom of the opera retelling that I’ve ever read. I would def recommend this for just the vibes alone, but if you’re looking for a dark gothic romance, I would look elsewhere.
I might read book 2, or listen to it if it comes out in audiobook format.
I could tell the author did a lot of research on 1880s Paris, and that alone gets 5 stars aswell. The whole story was very cinematic and well researched. That also gets 5 stars from me.
My main issue with this book were the characters, they all came off very two dimensional.
Christine’s characterization killed this book for me. She’s aged up a bit to her early 20s in this book whereas in the original story she is a teenager. However, she still acts like she’s 15 in this book 🫡. Her naïveté killed me. How does a 20+ year old woman who has traveled most of Europe with her late father act like she knows nothing about people or the world? Nuts. I get in the original story that she’s naive as her father died when she was very young and she spent most of her life at the Paris Opera, so she knows nothing else. In this it just doesn’t make any sense.
My biggest “what the h$ll” moment of this whole book was when she unveils the Phantom’s face and is all like “why did you ruin my fantasy of you being an angel 🫡”. Like girl you believed what you wanted to believe, part of this is on you. Also she’s a fricken adult! I feel like she blames the Phantom for 100% of the deception, but she believed it when there was a lot evidence to the contrary. A lot of obvious evidence. Part of it’s on her for wanting to believe the lie.
Don’t get me started on Raoul’s characterization, the author clearly hates him, so she made him a 2D racist, classist hack. I would have appreciated a bit more duality from him, so he would have some depth to his character. His character was basically retconnned into being a Tamlin.
Erik was mostly fine, I just wish he would have been a bit more mysterious. He comes off as a big softy in this book, tbh I would have appreciated a bit more subtly and bad assery on his part. I know he’s supposed to be a bit of a pitiable character, but he came off kind of like a pathetic incel rather than the opera ghost of legend. I didn’t need Gerard Butler’s angry, tough man Phantom, but less “poor old me” would have been great. I would have liked more manipulation and intrigue, which would have set up for a better book 2. It would have provided his character with more depth too.
It’s not terrible and it’s probably the best phantom of the opera retelling that I’ve ever read. I would def recommend this for just the vibes alone, but if you’re looking for a dark gothic romance, I would look elsewhere.
I might read book 2, or listen to it if it comes out in audiobook format.
April 14, 2024
I can't remember the last time a book hooked me in so deeply that I finished it in less than a day. Angel's Mask was impossible for me to put down -- maybe it's the ghost of the fangirl in me that has never truly wanted to give up her obsession with the dark romance of the Phantom and his Opera. Jessica Mason gives depth and history to Leroux's original tale, finally providing the backstory of how Erik became Christine's Angel of Music in the first place.
I found the addition of new characters charming and it was nice to see some diversity injected into the story as we learned more about them. The book is, at heart, a romance and I am reviewing it as such -- the story is simple but enchanting and every time I began to set the book down to turn my attention elsewhere I found myself picking it right back up again with the promise of "just one more chapter!"
In full disclosure I read the Kindle version of the text and my only complaint is that this version is in need of a second edit. There were a handful of uncorrected typos, forgotten words and grammatical errors but not enough to distract from the story.
If you're a fan of the Phantom I highly suggest this retelling. I can't wait for the next book to release in July.
I found the addition of new characters charming and it was nice to see some diversity injected into the story as we learned more about them. The book is, at heart, a romance and I am reviewing it as such -- the story is simple but enchanting and every time I began to set the book down to turn my attention elsewhere I found myself picking it right back up again with the promise of "just one more chapter!"
In full disclosure I read the Kindle version of the text and my only complaint is that this version is in need of a second edit. There were a handful of uncorrected typos, forgotten words and grammatical errors but not enough to distract from the story.
If you're a fan of the Phantom I highly suggest this retelling. I can't wait for the next book to release in July.
December 31, 2024
Well this was good enough for me :D
February 9, 2025
5 Glorious Stars
I'm never going to heaven, but that's okay as long as there's an Erik wherever I end up.
This is easily one of the best romantic-retellings of the Phantom of the Opera I've ever read 😫 hello? Why didn't I know about this until now? I can't even remember how I got a copy? Must have been the Phantom's doing 🛐 I'm deciding to believe because this book revived my obsession for this character. What do we call ourselves? I vote for Carlotta's Tormentors🙋🏻♀️
From the Phantom's characterization to the intricate world that was the Opera, coupled with some snippets of ballet history, this story was perfection.
This whole book is nothing short of an experience for musical geeks who are completely consumed by symphonies and the meaning behind these. While reading, I took the time and listened to the many opera numbers mentioned here as background music, and I LOVED every second of it.
If you're a fan of PotO, a fan of opera, or even just music and the depthness of it, you'll love this one. It had everything! EVERYTHING you could hope for in a romantic tale of this character and more.
Angel's Mask was a love letter to classical music, reminding us of the many powerful emotions it can evoke.
I'm running to get the next one 🏃🏻♀️ 💨
I'm never going to heaven, but that's okay as long as there's an Erik wherever I end up.
This is easily one of the best romantic-retellings of the Phantom of the Opera I've ever read 😫 hello? Why didn't I know about this until now? I can't even remember how I got a copy? Must have been the Phantom's doing 🛐 I'm deciding to believe because this book revived my obsession for this character. What do we call ourselves? I vote for Carlotta's Tormentors🙋🏻♀️
From the Phantom's characterization to the intricate world that was the Opera, coupled with some snippets of ballet history, this story was perfection.
This whole book is nothing short of an experience for musical geeks who are completely consumed by symphonies and the meaning behind these. While reading, I took the time and listened to the many opera numbers mentioned here as background music, and I LOVED every second of it.
If you're a fan of PotO, a fan of opera, or even just music and the depthness of it, you'll love this one. It had everything! EVERYTHING you could hope for in a romantic tale of this character and more.
Angel's Mask was a love letter to classical music, reminding us of the many powerful emotions it can evoke.
I'm running to get the next one 🏃🏻♀️ 💨
August 29, 2023
It was everything that I've ever wanted from the original story. The tension between Christine and Erik, the angst, the whole plot - just perfect 😭 And as a proud Raoul hater I'm honestly glad that he was tossed aside lol
August 19, 2023
I was kindly sent this book by the author Jessica and oh my gosh! Her books consumed my life! I highly recommend this series! Jessica made me become more obsessed with the Phantom of the Opera! Yall I knew her book was going to be amazing even after the first couple pages. I never really say this about movies but this books is 100 times better than the movie! This books gives us everything the couldn't. It's dark, romantic, suspenseful, sad and oh so spicy! I could not put this book down! Book 1 follows our dreamer Christine and all her struggles till she makes it to the Phantoms opera house where she meets her Angel. The relationship better our Phantom Erik and Christine is intense, complex but soo romantic! This book was everything I wanted from the musical...mystery, lust, fear and love! Jessica put some much heart into this book. And yall she studied opera so I was so impressed of all her opera knowledge in her books! Yall run don't walk to to this book. Her books are a must! Get ready to go through a sexy, and romantic roller coaster! Easily a 5 star read!
April 15, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ - This book was sent to me by the author, so I was really hoping it would be good. It had a lot of potential but fell really flat for me. I am a die hard fan of The Phantom of the Opera, and yet I couldn’t stand Christine or Erik in this. Also, the 🌶️ scenes got to be really repetitive and then we didn’t even get the “grand finale” in the end (if you know what I mean). Also I know Erik is already supposed to be a problematic, morally grey character, but he made me realllllyyyyy uncomfortable in this.
Also if either of them sang while they were 🌶️💥 one more time I was gonna chuck the book out the window. Cringe.
Overall pretty disappointed.
Also if either of them sang while they were 🌶️💥 one more time I was gonna chuck the book out the window. Cringe.
Overall pretty disappointed.
February 22, 2023
It was like reading gastons version but more in depth
Though the ending is different and there are subtle differences, it was like reading a better, actually romantic version of all the phantomy stuff we love.
Though the ending is different and there are subtle differences, it was like reading a better, actually romantic version of all the phantomy stuff we love.
June 26, 2024
"But you are light, ever mine as I am yours."
Are you a neurodivergent former theater kid and a total nerd? Well, BOY OH BOY do I have your next read!
We all know the Phantom of the Opera. We all detest Rusty Raoul. You want to watch Erik and Christine do it? HERE YOU GO!
Angel's Mask gives you the cozy feeling of classic literature without an ounce of pretension. It's a well-researched Phantom story with a nuance catered to a modern audience.
Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to read Angel's Kiss IMMEDIATELY.
Are you a neurodivergent former theater kid and a total nerd? Well, BOY OH BOY do I have your next read!
We all know the Phantom of the Opera. We all detest Rusty Raoul. You want to watch Erik and Christine do it? HERE YOU GO!
Angel's Mask gives you the cozy feeling of classic literature without an ounce of pretension. It's a well-researched Phantom story with a nuance catered to a modern audience.
Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to read Angel's Kiss IMMEDIATELY.
July 7, 2023
If you really enjoy Phantom of the Opera this book is for you! I liked this book a lot! Christine has been through so much and she just needs something to believe in again when she get to the Opera in Paris. The Angel, Erik, answers her call when he is entranced by her singing. I look forward to reading the next book in the series!
September 26, 2023
I need a cold shower....this book is so hot and so swoony I almost needed to put it down but I couldn't because it's just so good I couldn't keep reading. Jessica has done something so incredible here, taking the original leroux book and making it so much MORE. I can't wait to start book two asap.
December 29, 2023
beth, read it
September 4, 2023
Angel's Mask is a spicy retelling of Phantom of the Opera, expanding on Christine's character, her desires and relationship/attraction with Erik as well as friendships outside of the romance.
I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. You can tell that the author knows the original book well and, despite being an erotica, the prose is written beautifully.
I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. You can tell that the author knows the original book well and, despite being an erotica, the prose is written beautifully.
April 22, 2024
Als fan van "The Phantom of the Opera" kon ik natuurlijk niet anders dan mijzelf onderdompelen in de wereld van "Angels Mask". Deze fan-fictie beloofde een nieuwe kijk te bieden op het geliefde verhaal, welke vooral is gericht met een einde voor de phantom lovers ;).
Het boek neemt de grote lijnen van het originele verhaal over, zij het met enkele interessante aanpassingen. Bijvoorbeeld, terwijl Christine in het originele verhaal een jonge wees was toen ze de Phantom ontmoette, is ze hier rond de leeftijd van 23, wat een andere dynamiek met zich meebrengt.
Echter, een aspect dat een beetje teleurstellend was, was de overmatige focus op "smut" vanuit het perspectief van Christine in dit eerste deel. Dit voelde niet helemaal passend aan in de beginfase van het verhaal, waarin de focus meer zou moeten liggen op het opbouwen van de mysterieuze relatie tussen Christine en de Phantom. Nu leek het puur toegevoegd te zijn om sensatie toe te voegen aan het boek. Als ik de schrijver was geweest, zou ik ervoor hebben gekozen om deze elementen te bewaren voor latere delen van de serie, waar ze misschien beter zouden passen in de ontwikkeling van de personages en hun relaties.
Desondanks was ik geboeid van begin tot eind en heb ik het boek binnen no time uitgelezen. Ik kijk dan ook vol verwachting uit naar wat de rest van de serie zal brengen.
Het boek neemt de grote lijnen van het originele verhaal over, zij het met enkele interessante aanpassingen. Bijvoorbeeld, terwijl Christine in het originele verhaal een jonge wees was toen ze de Phantom ontmoette, is ze hier rond de leeftijd van 23, wat een andere dynamiek met zich meebrengt.
Echter, een aspect dat een beetje teleurstellend was, was de overmatige focus op "smut" vanuit het perspectief van Christine in dit eerste deel. Dit voelde niet helemaal passend aan in de beginfase van het verhaal, waarin de focus meer zou moeten liggen op het opbouwen van de mysterieuze relatie tussen Christine en de Phantom. Nu leek het puur toegevoegd te zijn om sensatie toe te voegen aan het boek. Als ik de schrijver was geweest, zou ik ervoor hebben gekozen om deze elementen te bewaren voor latere delen van de serie, waar ze misschien beter zouden passen in de ontwikkeling van de personages en hun relaties.
Desondanks was ik geboeid van begin tot eind en heb ik het boek binnen no time uitgelezen. Ik kijk dan ook vol verwachting uit naar wat de rest van de serie zal brengen.
June 4, 2023
Can forgiveness be found within when your love has lied?
Can you let go of your love if or when they do not wish to stay?
“Angel’s Mask” is the first book in a saga that reimagines the classic ghost story “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux. Jessica Mason has brought us back to the Paris Opera house to witness and learn the story of how Christine and the mysterious Opera Ghost ‘Erik’ first meet. Truly an entertaining and engaging book to read filled with tension, romance, and character growth. The fluid transition between perspectives serve as a means to help us learn and understand the hearts and minds of these characters. All of the details woven within this book further shows us just how well researched and how much love was put into the making of this book.
If you’re a ‘Phan’ of this tale, I cannot recommend this book enough. If you have however, read this novel previously, be on the look out for Jessica Mason’s continuation “Angel’s Kiss” set to be released in mid July.
Can you let go of your love if or when they do not wish to stay?
“Angel’s Mask” is the first book in a saga that reimagines the classic ghost story “The Phantom of the Opera” by Gaston Leroux. Jessica Mason has brought us back to the Paris Opera house to witness and learn the story of how Christine and the mysterious Opera Ghost ‘Erik’ first meet. Truly an entertaining and engaging book to read filled with tension, romance, and character growth. The fluid transition between perspectives serve as a means to help us learn and understand the hearts and minds of these characters. All of the details woven within this book further shows us just how well researched and how much love was put into the making of this book.
If you’re a ‘Phan’ of this tale, I cannot recommend this book enough. If you have however, read this novel previously, be on the look out for Jessica Mason’s continuation “Angel’s Kiss” set to be released in mid July.
July 26, 2023
This book exceeded my expectations and fleshed out a whole new spicy depth to the classic tale of The Phantom of the Opera. It also helps illustrate the complex workings of the Opera house, which I really enjoyed!
I really appreciated how much the author took care in researching period specific attire and environment. Plus, taking care of the main story and incorporating elements around it to help the flow of the smut and story 😀
I usually am irritated with Christine by midway through a book or movie, but Jessica Mason's Christine is a complex and multi-dimensional character. Plus, her perspective, in contrast to the Phantom's, was a great insight for readers to get the WHOLE story.
I am a huge fan of the Phantom of the Opera, so of course, I will be reading the next book in this saga, and I am looking forward to it!
I really appreciated how much the author took care in researching period specific attire and environment. Plus, taking care of the main story and incorporating elements around it to help the flow of the smut and story 😀
I usually am irritated with Christine by midway through a book or movie, but Jessica Mason's Christine is a complex and multi-dimensional character. Plus, her perspective, in contrast to the Phantom's, was a great insight for readers to get the WHOLE story.
I am a huge fan of the Phantom of the Opera, so of course, I will be reading the next book in this saga, and I am looking forward to it!
June 29, 2023
Angels Mask Book One Of The Phantom Saga by Jessica Mason is an intriguing and provocative tale loosely based on Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera. The characters are well developed and extremely interesting. There are also a lot of new characters with their own stories. Christine is strong and can hold her own, but she still has a kind, endearing and and has a loving heart. Erik is kinder and more broken, but his obsession with Christine is just as strong. The romance between will make you swoon. And while Erik's interactions with the Daroga are few, they are quite comical. This is by far one of the best retelling of the Phantom novels I have read.
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