Loved every page of this Book! So far one of my favorites of 2018.

I absolutely loved THE PHANTOM'S APPRENTICE by Heather Webb. Reading this book brought back so many memories over the years tied to this musical but also to the experience I had when I first read the original. While I love anything Phantom-related, you do not need to have read the original or seen the musical to enjoy this novel. Webb has a really solid writing style and her developed characters jump off the page. You can feel every emotional struggle that Christine goes through and you can visualize every piece of scenery in this novel, which is good since they are important characters in the novel as well. The blend of illusion and music is woven beautifully through the story and the outcome was excellent. I really appreciate the research that must have gone into creating this novel and that hard work shows with every word. Excited to purchase this one for my personal library.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book and wanted to read it because of the tie-in to The Phantom of the Opera. It's an easy, enjoyable read by an author that's new to me.
The story is a retelling of the original, however, the author made the character of Christine a bit more feisty and more of a feminist. She is strong-willed in this version.
A couple sections got a bit slow but overall this was good. I love the cover, by the way!

When the story of the phantom of the opera was told, both Gaston Leroux and Andrew Lloyd Webber left out many-many details. We don’t know how Christine was hired to the opera, how the phantom discovered her or where did she live. Furthermore, her role was mainly passive, she was instructed and robbed by the phantom, loved by the vicomt, promoted by the directors – all of these are changed now.

The novel of Heather Webb made Christine the main character, the whole story was told again from her point of view. Her behavior is different as well: from a drifting, helpless girl she becomes a clever, active woman who got her own life in her own hands – as a real feminist.

Being a feminist – it would not be a problem, I welcome every independent, strong and active woman character. The problem is that it was not a coincidence that so many details were left out from the book and the musical as well – these were just not interesting enough. For example, her childhood, her father, the death of her father, where did she live – these information are simply boring. The book is full of such irrelevant details like Christine mourns, or goes to the local market to buy some food to the household(!), and we are the quarter of the book when Christine even enters the opera house…

The original story is brilliant because it’s mysterious, dreadful and romantic at the same time. The secrets are amusing, because the reader completes the story himself with his own imagination. But Heather Webb explains every unimportant detail, which takes every mystery and excitement out of the book. Nobody is interested about how did she applied for the job (participated on a casting and she was selected!), or how the phantom teaches her to sing in the dressing room (warms up her voice and practices a lot!).

There are new story-lines too, for example Christine likes to be a conjurer, even likes to be a conjurer more than a singer!… And while Erik likes to make magic too, they will hang out easily when the phantom robbed the girl. Another unrealistic line that the phantom had made public shows(!) as a conjurer before, and a beautiful woman fell in love with him! Until now we thought Eric was such an ugly guy that everybody was scared to see him, and he had to hide from people in his whole life…

In the book Christine got a scientist friend who supports her, take her to the casting and turns up regularly. The reader suspects that he is in something wrong, and well, the author created a whole new crime story around this scientist guy, Christine and Eric. And finally this strong, clever and active Christine solves every problem, and the previously unconquerable, dreadful, killer phantom will be dragged out from his opera house in handcuffs… Christine Daaé is a strong, spotless feminist in the XIX. century – but the book became just a mediocre crime.

Coming out next week. If you are a Phantom fan you will love this twisty version. If you aren't this book will make you want to watch the play. Dark and menacing at times, light and romantic at others. A wonderful story. A quick read because a reader invests quickly.

Very well written book with a strong plot. Very much worth pre ordering so it will be waiting for you on release day. Heather Webb is an author who has turned into an auto buy for me. Read her book for yourself to see what a wonderful author she is.

After reading The Last Christmas in Paris, I was excited to receive a copy of The Phantom's Apprentice. I am not familiar with The Phantom of the Opera but decided to give this one a try. I loved it! Christine was very likeable and appealing. There was a bit of mystery, romance and darkness to the story that pulled me in very quickly. I highly recommend this one!

In Heather Webb’s latest novel, she re-envisions the famous story of The Phantom of the Opera, best known as the powerful Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. In this book, Webb puts Christine Daaé more firmly at the center of the story, with a newly invented back story that reaches into Christine’s childhood to answer questions that the original French novelist Gaston Leroux left unanswered. The story, of course, is about a troubled man who falls in love with a young soprano and the lengths he will go to make her into the Paris Opera’s brightest star.

First, I should quickly mention that while I loved this book, it isn’t absolutely perfect. There were a few instances where I felt that the words or language that Webb used didn’t fit the period of the novel precisely (meaning the 1860s). These instances, however, were so very few and far between, that they didn’t distract from the book for more than an instant, and they weren’t severe enough for me to reduce my rating of this book. Despite this tiny niggle, I believe Webb succeeded in instilling a very somber, yet elegant tone to the atmosphere here with her prose. In fact, I feel Webb’s style of prose was so effective that there were times when I could almost hear some of Lloyd Webber’s haunting melodies going through my mind while I read (and maybe Webb did too).

What I really loved about this book was the things that Webb introduced here that hadn’t appeared in other versions (that I know of). To begin with, despite what seems like an initially frail character, Webb develops Christine carefully throughout the novel, into someone who slowly discovers that she has an inner strength that borders on being fierce. In fact, this is probably the most powerful part of Webb’s novel. To do this, Webb brings us back to Christine’s childhood, and her early life. This allowed Webb to invent Christine’s early friendship with Raoul, the Viscount of Chagny, and expound on that relationship (something I never understood from the musical). This, combined with the surprise ending, gives us a character that we not only love, but also admire for her ability to become something more than what the society of the time expected of her. One could almost say that this is a historical fiction, coming-of-age story.

This meant that Webb also needed to develop Erik, the phantom himself, in this novel, for without a convincing antagonist, there is no heroic side to the protagonist. I truly appreciated how Webb infused Erik with more than just being an evil, deformed creature. Webb’s phantom is terribly charming both despite and because of his cruel streak, but he’s also a very troubled person. Webb gives him far more motivation for his actions than those familiar with the previous sources ever revealed, and with that came a level of empathy that allows us to believe that Christine could care for him, through her fear, while at the same time hating him, despite understanding why he is so hateful.

Together with this, Webb also expands on all the rest of the original cast of characters. Each of these minor figures have an important role to play in the story, and Webb weaves their stories into Erik and Christine’s. Webb also seems to have included a new character, a man by the name of Delacroix, whose involvement in Christine’s life is motivated on the one hand, by his long-time devotion to Christine’s guardian Mme. Valerius, and on the other hand, his apparent academic studies to disprove that conjurors can really contact the dead and the spirit world. The addition of Delacroix adds extra twists to the story, while also injecting the elements of magicians, magic and their illusions. These connect well with how Erik succeeds in presenting himself to the Opera as a ghost.

In short, all of this made for a lusciously well-crafted story that echoes with intrigue and mystery, harmonizes with music, and sparkles with magic. Webb’s character development works expertly with her plot twists, to give us a novel that is simply enthralling and enchanting. For all this, I am enthusiastically recommending this book with a full five stars.

I love ALL things Phantom Of The Opera. I've read the original book. I've read various books based on the story. I've seen the play (numerous times). I've watched the plethora of movies and TV shows based on the book. I have worn the soundtrack out and I pretty much know every song by heart. So yea, when I saw this book up for review on NetGalley I broke a nail clicking the "request" button. And I am very glad I did because I pretty much LOVED Heather Webb's take on this classic.

~WRITING - PLOT - PACE~
The writing in this one was FANTASTIC. The pace was perfect, and I never felt the need to skim. The plot was engaging and had me hooked on the very first word. I loved the whole "illusionist" angle that the author added. As well as the whole spiritualist movement subplot. I loved the setting. It was romantic. It was suspenseful. It was just superb.


~HERO~
RAUL...I loved how the author portrayed Raul in this re-imaging. In the original, I have always found him to be a bit bland and I pretty much always wish that Christine would have stayed with the Phantom. He had a bit more personality in this book and because of that, I felt his and Christine connection more.

THE PHANTOM...yes I am putting him under the HERO section because that is usually how I view his character. In this version of the story, his character takes on a much more malevolent air. A departure from the usual tortured misunderstood soul of the original.


~HEROINE~
CHRISTINE...is the most fleshed out character in the book. In the original, she is a very naïve and easily manipulated character. That somewhat remains the same in the beginning of this one but the author does a good job of developing her character past that original naivety into a more self aware and decisive individual. I also quite liked the addition of having Christine be interested in illusion.


~SECONDARY CHARACTERS~
There were some good character additions to the original story in this one. I very much like Claudette and her friendship with Christine. Monsieur Delacroix and his hunt for the Opera ghost. Madame Valerius. These additions on top of the familiar faces we already know added some good depth to the plot and rounded out the story well.

~HEAT LEVEL~
None. It's not a romance book per se so there is no sex in it. That said, it still had a layer of romance running through it.


~ANGST LEVEL~
Low. It is somewhat angsty regarding the Phantom and his behavior. Christine and Raul's relationship got a little romance book like angsty near the end with a touch of OW drama.


~IN THE END~
I ADORED this book. It was a fabulous re-imaging of the classic. It was well written and paced. Had a well developed plot. Intriguing characters. If you are a huge Phantom Of The Opera fan like me, then I think this book would be something you would enjoy very much. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.

I loved this book!!! I have never read anything about the Phantom of the Opera before so this was brand new for me. I loved the Christine. She is smart, beautiful, and kind. I felt like I was part of the story and could see everything beautifully. I received and advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Sonnet Press. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher/author for providing a copy of THE PHANTOM'S APPRENTICE in exchange for an honest review.

I have always had an insane interest in the Phantom of the Opera. It was my grandmother's favorite musical and she passed that love down to me. I was so excited to read this book, and it far surpassed my expectations. The story follows the life of Christine Daae, as she explores the life of the opera in her early twenties, and struggles to find out what she wants out of life. She runs into a few hurdles as she begins to be haunted by a supposed ghost and her romantic interest may be interested in another, but is everything always as it seems?

Christine was just as alluring and likable as I always imagined her. She was strong, determined, beautiful and stole my heart. Webb's characterization of her was spot on in my eyes. This book had mystery, intrigue, magic, romance and secrets. What a mystical and beautiful story.

If you are not a Phantom fan, I strongly believe you will still enjoy this book. There were so many elements that will draw a variety of readers in. If you enjoyed The Night Circus I think you discover this to be a great read as well. Give it a whirl and I am sure you will find yourself falling for Christine as much as I did.

One of the best historical novels i have read in a long time, a must reas.

Lindas Book Obsession Review of “The Phantom’s Apprentice by Heather Webb

My Review of “The Phantom’s Apprentice” by Heather Webb

Bravo to Heather Webb, Author of “The Phantoms’s Apprentice” for weaving such a fantastic story combining, music, magic and mystery. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, with an essence of magicical realism thrown in.
This is sort of a re-telling of The Phantom of the Opera, with many of the similar characters, but there are differences. In this story, the reader gets to sit in the front row, and view the Paris Opera theater and its colorful cast of characters play the intense and intriguing drama concluding in a suspenseful climax.
Heather Webb describes the characters as complex and complicated. There are secrets, danger, betrayals, jealousy, threats and murder. Are any of the character really who they say they are?
Christine Daae, tries to meet her Papa’s expectations as he plays the violin that she will sing at the Great Opera. Christine’s Papa is bringing her up. Her mother had loved magic and illusion, and Christine is fond as of magic and illusion as well. When Christine’s Papa dies during a Conjurers’ show, Christine stops practicing her magic.
A friend of the family, Professor Delacroix gets Christine an audition at the Opera de Paris. Christine get to work at the Opera. The lead singer acts in a threatening manner towards Christine.
While Christine is at the Opera, she meets “The Angel of Music” She is not sure if he is real or not. He coaches and encourages her in her singing. Christine practices and becomes his apprentice. She also becomes an understudy. “The Angel of Music” becomes more demanding and possessive of Christine.
There are rumors of darkness and a Ghost or Phantom at the Opera, making threats and demands. Then there are murders. A few times someone has saved Christine after she was attacked, and when she fell. Who is her savior?
Christine sees a childhood friend, Raoul, who gifts her with a book of Magic, and seeks her company. “The Angel of Music” demands that Christine not see Raoul.
Christine finds comfort in practicing her Magic Arts. One wonders what is real and what is illusion?
I appreciate that Heather Webb, shows how a determined woman can do what she wants to do, in a man’s world. One also can see the differences of classes in society at this time, the rich and poor, the have and the have nots.
I would highly recommend this novel to those readers who love a mystery, thriller, and romantic story. There are twists and turns, excitement and adventure. I received an Advanced Reading Copy for my honest review.

This was an interesting take on a well-known story. I found myself very frustrated with Christine, but I suspect the author didn’t want to alter her character too much from the original. Still, I do wish she wasn’t so passive.

I can't stop thinking about this book...which also kept me up super late, wondering what was going to happen next. I loved Heather Webb's take on this famous story, told from Christine Daaé's point of view. It's a magical, action-packed tale, impeccably researched and thoughtfully revamped to bring new life into the story. I loved the angle of bringing in the world of the illusionist into the novel, giving Christine the chance to turn the tables on her Angel of Music. The characters are vivid and the story races through the corridors of the Opera, taking the reader on a wonderful, wild ride. What a fantastic way to start out this year's reading!

The Phantom of the Opera is one of my favorite musicals, I love historical and gothic fiction, so, of course, I absolutely had to read The Phantom's Apprentice. It was such a great reimaging of the beloved play, I enjoyed it immensely. The writing is exquisite, the descriptions of Paris and the Opera House are so vivid, I could easy picture the gorgeous setting and feel immersed in the story.

Christine was an interesting and complex heroine, the Angel of Music was a lot more disturbing than his original counterpart, and Raoul was a lot more swoonworthy. When I watched the musical I didn't find Raul's character very interesting and didn’t really care about their relationship. In The Phantom's Apprentice, Heather Webb finally does justice to Christine and Raul's love story. I was finally convinced that these two belong together. I also loved Christine's journey from a young impressionable girl to an independent woman who didn't want any men to decide her fate.

If you love historical fiction with an atmospheric setting, interesting characters, and beautiful writing, The Phantom's Apprentice is for you.

The Phantom's Apprentice is the beautifully written story of Christine Daae told in three acts. I loved watching the transformation of Christine from shy, naïve girl to a lead singer and illusionist who was not afraid to stand up for herself and those she loved. Even though we didn't learn all that much about Madame Valerius, I feel like her relationship with Christine helped her become the person she wanted to be.
I would recommend this intriguing story to fans of historical fiction who enjoy a dramatic twist on a classic story.

Being a fan of the Phantom of the Opera I was skeptical when I started reading this. I usually don’t like retelling or reinventing a beloved tale but the cover on this book made me take a chance. I am glad I did. I enjoyed that this was not written from the Phantom’s perspective but his protégé. It was nice to see another side to this wonderful tale. Even with the added characters and inconsistencies I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I would definitely recommend reading this book but also you must have an open mind.

A truly magical fictional book based on The Phantom of the Opera. I was pulled in from the very first page and did not want to put this one down. Fascinating characters with a touch of mystery. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys historical fiction with a touch of romance and a hint of mystery.

The Phantom's Apprentice was an interesting book. I love everything to do with The Phantom of the Opera and I love mysteries, so I was really excited to read this book. It was a bit different than the mysteries I tend to gravitate to, but it was an enjoyable read. All of my prior knowledge of the characters kind of detracted a little bit from the experience, but I thought the author didn't a fairly good job of making them her own. I definitely recommend this book to Phantom fans, as well as lovers of historical mysteries.