December 27, 2021

BOOK TOUR + REVIEW: Phantoms by Michael Leon and Chrissie Anthony

                 

Hi all! I'm pleased to help Goddess Fish Promotions with their review tour for Phantoms by Michael Leon and Chrissie Anthony. Please check out the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post to enter the giveaway - the author is giving away a $20 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Also - for those who are interested in reading the book, it is available on Kindle Unlimited (as of December 2021). 

Check out the other tour hosts here: https://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2021/08/review-tour-phantoms-by-michael-leon.html

About the Book:

Get your copy of the book on Bookshop.org

*Please note - this post contains affiliate links, from which we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you) if you make a purchase

The legend lives on in Phantoms… as modern day Phantom of the Opera, Eric Destler, plots to take over and rule the Palais Garnier with La Divina, the world-famous soprano, Carlotta Caccini, as his queen. But at every turn he is thwarted by his nemesis, the original Phantom of the Opera, now the Opera Ghost. Phantoms is set in the dark underground of the famous Paris Opera House and the stage above, where Guiseppi Verdi’s famous opera, Macbeth is being rehearsed. It is about parallel worlds, where opera imitates life with potentially catastrophic results. This is a tale about many phantoms – the real, imagined and ethereal – that haunt us all. And about the phantoms who live in the darkest recesses of the mind, often lurking behind beautiful facades. A world where some masks can’t be seen.

Excerpt

Kill your own, kill your own, kill your own, repeated in Erik's ear until he could not distinguish his oubliette from the torture chambers he endured in another life. Sweat trickled from his forehead on to the barrel of his sniper rifle. He felt the dampness on his trigger finger as he began to squeeze the loaded killing machine. The image of Christine in yellow dress, then Rose in blood red gown, filled the telescopic site. Kill your own filled his mind as Erik slowly capitulated to the torment of his past. He was in the kill spot, ready to murder for the Captor, waiting for the singer below to reach the highest crescendo before he would light the Garnier with a single deadly flash. 


The moment arrived, but suddenly all light from below was extinguished, leaving Erik in the darkest of spaces. He released his finger from the rifle trigger. All he could hear was the sounds of people scurrying somewhere out in the darkness. Was he back in the Captor's prison? He could not be sure, as the muffled sounds tortured his mind. Endless nights he had sat in his small prison hearing the sounds of voices coming close. Sometimes they stopped at his prison, but mostly they went to others claiming their prey, before the sounds of terrified pleas cried out into the unending night.


Then all went quiet around him. His dark memories faded, before the momentary peace gave way to real whispers that echoed in the confines of his oubliette. Had someone gained access to his private lair, he wondered, before shaking his head in disbelief. No one had his capabilities to scale such formidable terrain. And yet the whispers continued. At first, he could not make out the words as they seeped into his secret dungeon like a gathering fog, but then the whispers grew louder, demanding his attention.


“My opera house, my rules. My opera house, my rules.” A challenge repeated over and over. Erik wanted to squeeze the trigger and end his torment, but doubt clouded his mind. He dropped the rifle to his side. He would wait until the opening night to enact his bloody vengeance.


Review of Phantoms by Michael Leon and Chrissie Anthony

Rating: 3.5 Stars

Release Date: April 5, 2018

Format: eARC

Publisher: Australian Inspiration


Sing once again with me, a strange duet…


Michael Leon’s take on Gaston Leroux’s Phantom of the Opera is dark and enchanting; the author pulled me into the world of the Paris Opera House and I simply couldn’t leave until the end of the show (though the second act, Chandelier, is set to make its debut in early 2022). 


The author did a great job putting their own spin on the original story. I loved the ambiance and the feel of the book. Michael Leon didn’t need audible music to create the same vibe that the stage performance provides (though that totally would have been a bonus - if this gets made into an audiobook in the future, I would love to have music in the background of the narration). The plot was also a highlight. It was fun to try and figure out the mystery, and follow all the twists and turns. The connection with Macbeth in the story was quite intriguing, as Phantom of the Opera and Macbeth are both very dark stories. 


There were a couple of minor issues with the story that made me unable to give the book a full five stars. They might be off-putting to some, but despite the hiccups, Phantoms never lost my interest. For example, there was a disconnect for me with the chronological setting. On one hand, the story has an older historical feel to it (akin to the setting of the original story). On the other hand, there were recent technological advancements like cellphones and microphones and earpieces being whipped out by characters which became jarring. I was never able to clearly envision what time period the book was set in while I read. 


I would recommend this book to fans of the original story, as well as those who love reading darker mysteries with paranormal elements. While this book will certainly appeal to fans of Phantom of the Opera, prior knowledge isn’t necessary to enjoy the story. I’ve only watched the performance once or twice, I’ve never read the original book, and I had no issue with understanding any of the references the author brought up. 


Thank you to the authors and Goddess Fish Promotions for allowing me to read a complimentary review copy of Phantoms as part of my participation in their virtual tour. I appreciate the opportunity immensely! Please note - I voluntarily read and reviewed Phantoms. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.




About the Author: 

Michael Leon is an explorer, writer and author of the new novel, Sentient. Professionally trained in international trade, Michael has spent the last decade reading and writing SFF novels about new worlds to be explored in the future. His latest work, Sentient, imagines Earth in the year 2120. Michael has travelled extensively around Europe, walking the paths of his characters from the famous European opera houses in Phantoms to the mountain tops of Switzerland in Emissary. For more information, go to his web site: www.michaelleon.com.au

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7 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Of course! It was my pleasure. I always enjoy working with Goddess Fish Promotions :)

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  2. Thanks to Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog for hosting this stop on my tour. Thanks also, for the review and your generous comments.

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    1. Of course! It was my pleasure :) I enjoyed reading the book, and I look forward to when Chandelier comes out later this year

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  3. I enjoyed the excerpt, Michael and I enjoyed following the tour and learning about Phantoms, which sounds like a brilliant read and I love the cover! Good luck with your book and I hope the tour was a success! Thanks for sharing it with me! Thanks Eye-Rolling Demigod for sharing your review! Have a happy & successful New Year!

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    1. Hi Stormy! Thanks so much for following the tour! I appreciate your positive feedback and support!

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    2. Thank you for taking the time to read my review, Stormy, and a happy new year to you as well! :)

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