Before he was the phantom of the opera, he was Erik, a disturbingly gifted child, horribly disfigured from birth, who flees into a cruel world where he learns to survive at any cost.Torn between good and evil, driven to seek power as a substitute for the love he fears he can never know, Erik begins a dark journey that takes him across the face of Europe, from a gypsy cage to the treacherous court … treacherous court of Persia, and ultimately to the cellars of the Paris Opera House, where he finally learns the true meaning of love.
In its original printings in the early 1990s, Phantom sold over 80,000 copies in hardcover and over 600,000 in paperback versions. Besides English language versions, Phantom was published in Japanese, Spanish, Danish, Dutch and Swedish. The original publishers were Transworld (in the UK), Random House, and Bantam/Doubleday/Dell. The novel won the prestigious British Romantic Novel of Year in 1991.
Publisher’s Weekly called the novel “a powerful and moving tour de force . . .” and said that Kay “adds a new depth and perspective, moving well beyond the familiar boundaries of the story. . . 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 . . . ”
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This is a back story of the “Phantom” or Erik from Phantom of the Opera. This book is just as good, if not better, than the original by Gaston Leroux. It is beautifully written and will haunt you. I’m not one for romance, but the romance isn’t cheezy at all.
Erik is such a complex character and Kay does him justice. This is the only book that has EVER made me cry and I read a lot.
Don’t let that deter you, it’s definitely worth the read!
*The book is not funny, but I can’t “uncheck” that option, but it does have some funny parts!*
This book was a kick a$$ version of the Phantom of the Opera story. It was intense, realistic and lively.
An interesting take on the origins of a legendary character.
Wonderful story about the Phantom of the Opera’s life starting with his parents, their tragedy, his birth and all the events of his life. Shows why and how he became the Phantom. Ending chapters include meeting Christine at the opera and all that ensues after.
You know I loved Phantom of the opera ever since I watched the silent film. I felt very bad for Ric and what he had to deal with and at the same time I was chilled by his murderess tendencies. It left me wondering what shaped him?
Que Susan Kay’s book Phantom. Now you don’t have to wonder. It’s in every heart breaking page from the time he was born and his mother wanted him dead up until Christine breaking her promise to him and planning to run away with Raul.
This story sucks you in makes you cry and holds you captivated until you yell ‘UNCLE’ but you won’t get to that point because you gotta know what happens next.
This is the book for all POTO lovers. Read it and I promise you will re watch every phantom movie you own with new eyes.
Any fan of The Phantom of the Opera, needs to read this book.
This book is sort of a companion piece to Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. In the original novel, readers are given a bare minimum of information about the Phantom himself. In fact, we are given only his given name, Erik. In Susan Kay’s Phantom, we are given a much deeper dive into the enigmatic villain’s history. the book drags at some points, and a few times I really had to suspend my disbelief, but I still wound up enjoying it. Recommended for anyone who, like me, is a fan of the original.
As a die-hard phanatic, I enjoyed this book immensely for the way it built upon the established lore and gave us a deeper look into the tragic life of the indomitable Erik. Hands down, the best literary telling of the haunting story we all know and love.
The most romantic book ever written, full stop. It really explores the character of Erik, the Phantom, and gives us reasons (some completely understandable, others not) for his actions, even the ones that might seem the most repulsive to a “civilized” person. Who’s to say that if we ourselves were in the same position that Erik found himself in several times throughout the course of his life, we might not have behaved in the same way, and/or become just like him?
This, for me, is the DEFINITIVE story of the Phantom of the Opera. It’s absolutely brilliant from start to finish. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the story of the Opera Ghost, and even for anyone who thinks they’re not interested. Reading this could very well change their mind and make them a fan.