Reviews

YA--Phantom of the Opera fans no longer need to ponder what was in Erik's past, as Kay has created one for him in this deeply moving, poignant story. The terrible effects of a 19th-century Western society that could not accept someone different, combined with the horrible influence of drugs, prevent anyone from knowing Erik, an extremely gifted musician, architect, and magician. His character is especially well drawn in his dual roles of adored hero and hated villain. The book looks long, but pacing is rapid. The author's talent for weaving a complex tale is apparent, as the first-person narrator changes from section to section with the climaxing chapter alternating between Erik and Christine. This shows the development of Erik's character from his own point-of-view as well as that of other significant people in his life. This sad, but beautiful, novel will be especially popular with students who have enjoyed the current musical .--Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Retelling and expanding upon a well known and beloved classic is risky business, but Kay acquits herself with brio in this retelling of Gaston Leroux's 1911 tale, The Phantom of the Opera . In a powerful and moving tour de force (the American debut for this British writer whose first novel, Legacy , won the Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize and the Betty Trask Award), she adds a new depth and perspective, moving well beyond the familiar boundaries of the story. This version begins with the birth of the horribly disfigured Erik and continues into the years following his doomed romance with Christine, ending in an unexpected and triumphant redemption. The narrative encompasses Erik's disastrous formative years with his mother, his caged existence among a gypsy tribe and a period of relative happiness in Rome, where he perfects his skills as an architect and builder. He goes to Persia, where he masters his talent for torture and murder and, finally, he is involved in the construction of the Paris Opera House--and the creation of his labyrinthine world beneath that structure. Haunting and unforgettable, this is a book to be savored, a sensual and often poetic exploration of a man's internal conflict between good and evil and of a search for love amidst darkness and despair. BOMC and QPB featured alternates. (Apr.)