Review/Giveaway: The Phantom's Apprentice by Heather Webb

In this re-imagining of Phantom of the Opera, meet a Christine Daaé you’ve never seen before… Christine Daaé sings with her violinist Papa in salons all over Paris, but she longs to practice her favorite pastime—illusions. When her beloved Papa dies during a conjurer’s show, she abandons her magic and surrenders to grief and guilt. Life as a female illusionist seems too dangerous, and she must honor her father’s memory. 

Concerned for her welfare, family friend Professor Delacroix secures an audition for her at the Nouvel Opéra—the most illustrious stage in Europe. Yet Christine soon discovers the darker side of Paris opera. Rumors of murder float through the halls, and she is quickly trapped between a scheming diva and a mysterious phantom. The Angel of Music. 

But is the Angel truly a spirit, or a man obsessed, stalking Christine for mysterious reasons tangled in her past? 

As Christine’s fears mount, she returns to her magical arts with the encouragement of her childhood friend, Raoul. Newfound hope and romance abounds…until one fateful night at the masquerade ball. Those she cares for—Delacroix, the Angel, and even Raoul—aren’t as they seem. Now she must decide whom she trusts and which is her rightful path: singer or illusionist. 

To succeed, she will risk her life in the grandest illusion of all.

Publication Date: February 6, 2018

Sonnet Press

Paperback & eBook; 350 Pages

ISBN13: 9780999628508

Genre: Historical Fiction

*** 1/2

I love reading historical fiction off the beaten track, something unique and entertaining. I am not a big connoisseur of The Phantom of the Opera, 20 years ago I saw the musical and enjoyed it (even though the person sitting beside me huffed and puffed and obviously didn’t). My desire to read this one stands not just from the author but my interest in hearing from Christine.

The Phantom's Apprentice is a book of  illusions and manipulation. Told from Christine‘s point of view, it was interesting to see her character change as the story progresses. A young 16 year old at the beginning it's 3 years later that she begins to take control of her life, the guilt of her fathers death still haunting her.

More a mystery with its drama, intrigue and a cast of characters I wasn’t sure whom to trust (a couple I didn’t even like). The Phantom's Apprentice has an almost enchanting setting with its eerie Opera Ghost, secret underground passages, magical illusions and more. Sure to be a hit with not just Phantom of the Opera fans but those that like a good mystical mystery.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound | Kobo

HEATHER WEBB is the author of historical novels Becoming Josephine and Rodin's Lover, and the anthology Fall of Poppies, which have been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Elle, France Magazine, and more, as well as received national starred reviews.

 RODIN’S LOVER was a Goodreads Top Pick in 2015. Up and coming, Last Christmas in Paris, an epistolary love story set during WWI will release October 3, 2017, and The Phantom's Apprentice, a re-imagining of the Gothic classic Phantom of the Opera from Christine Daae's point of view releases February 6, 2018.

To date, her novels have sold in ten countries.

Heather is also a professional freelance editor, foodie, and travel fiend.

 For more information, please visit Heather's website.

You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour we are giving away two paperback copies of The Phantom's Apprentice! To enter, please enter via the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 26th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US & Canada residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

  The Phantom's Apprentice

click on banner for more stops on this tour

“Heather Webb combines music and magic seamlessly in The Phantom’s Apprentice, weaving glittering new threads into the fabric of a classic story. Romantic, suspenseful and inventive, this novel sweeps you along to its breathless conclusion.”—Greer Macallister, USA Today bestselling author of The Magician’s Lie and Girl in Disguise

“Heather Webb’s The Phantom’s Apprentice delivers a performance worthy of the Paris Opera. Unlike so many other renditions of the Phantom’s tale, Webb breathes life into Christine, so often portrayed as the helpless victim. Christine’s evolution from ‘damsel in distress’ to self-reliant woman is masterfully done, hooking the reader from the first page. Webb’s work is immersive, well-crafted, and beautifully paced. A must-read for fans of this bewitching legend!”—Aimie Runyan, author of Daughters of the Night Sky