Oooook so I am a huge Phantom of the Opera fan. I got to see the show for the first time when I was 4 and I got to meet the cast after. It was the best day ever; I will never forget. Knowing that this book is a book based on that? That I knew that I had to read it.
Isda doesn’t have the greatest life. She was ruled unworthy because of her face being deformed. One day she was rescued and kept hidden as well cared for. One day while Isda is in the Opera House she hears this Janitors voice and instantly falls in love.
I just loved this story so much, there has been other Phantom of the Opera re telling’s that I have read and didn’t like because of one reason or another, this book was back with emotion I felt like I was there right along with Isda.
As the story plays out it just made me want to go and see the show again and again.

If there's one thing I love more than almost anything else, it's the Phantom of the Opera. I love, love, love Phantom of the Opera. I knew I had to read this book based on the description alone. And once I got into it, I loved it.

Isda was thrown into a well almost immediately after being born because she has the power to alter and collect people's memories when they sing. Because the elixir that makes up memories is a precious commodity in her world, she is the scourge of the earth and must be hidden. She is rescued by a man who owns an opera house, and Isda grows up in the shadows surrounded by music. She has no qualms about her lonely existence until she meets a young man who makes her heart soar when he sings. She decides she must get close to him, teach him to properly sing so he can have a chance at a role in the opera house. But once she gets to know him, and after her secret gets out, Isda has to make some heartbreaking choices. I loved this fresh fantasy take on Phantom, and fell in love with Isda.

It did take me some time to get into this story. I think I felt like there was a lot going on and I wish the magic system had been explained a little bit better (that is not the author's fault...I wish that of almost every fantasy book I read). Once I got into it though, I was hooked. I loved the gender-swap of our beloved Phantom, and I loved watching her soul turn darker as she realized that she would always be an outcast by no fault of her own. I loved the descriptions and the setting. There were plenty of Easter eggs for Phantom fans, but I also think any teen reader who loves music, fantasy, or both, will also love to be swept up in this beautiful story.

This was such a unique and interesting tale on the Phantom of the Opera. Our phantom in this case was a girl who has extra abilities. Because of her abilities, her kind are greatly feared and generally killed.

I really enjoyed the twists to the original story while still feeling similar enough to the original source material. I’m looking forward to looking into more books by this author.

This became one of my happiest surprise reads of this year.

I’ll be the first to say I was apprehensive reading this as I have never seen Phantom of the Opera before (please don’t smite me) but I’ve never been so captivated by a story.

The way that Isda is portrayed as the ‘monstrous’ female was a gender-bend
I did not see coming (I fixed myself and watched Phantom of the Opera)

This story was beautifully written like the author had abilities themselves by pulling on my heart with the young romance of a sweet monster locked in a cage and the boy who became a musical beacon for her. The magic system created was very unique to the ones I am use to reading but made the story that much more compelling.

Overall amazing read, I can’t wait for my friends to finish it too

I have no idea where to begin with Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson. I suppose I could start with the cover though! I remember the first time I saw it, thinking that it was very lovely to look at and that it definitely gave me historical vibes with the type of bottle they used, the font, as well as the gilded decorations in the top corners. I also remember wondering what the golden substance in the bottle was (and am happy to say that it’s explained in the book and I have so much appreciation for it being on the cover now)!

Additionally, I wanted to make a note about this being a YA fantasy standalone and how I think that this was the best choice for this story! It’s not that I wouldn’t have wanted to spend more time in the world, but rather I think that Olson used just the right pacing to tell the story of Sing Me Forgotten considering what happens in the story, the character arcs, etc.

Speaking of characters, I found that I wasn’t sure how I felt about any of them while reading Sing Me Forgotten, but I also think that this is okay considering the kind of story it is. If anything, my inability to understand the characters and their choices 100% added to my overall unease with the events taking place in the book as well as the somewhat dark atmosphere.

And, I can’t let you go without talking about one of the main things that drew me to Sing Me Forgotten: It’s a gender bender retelling of The Phantom of the Opera! I’ve always liked the story (or as much of it as I was exposed to through the movie with Emmy Rossum and the live video of Antonio Banderas singing the epic Phantom of the Opera song with Sarah Brightman, haha) and I really liked the idea of flipping the two main roles!

I think that Olson did that and a lot of other things really well, and I’m curious to see what she will write next. Also, I have purposefully opted to not talk about my emotions surrounding Sing Me Forgotten because I worry about spoiling things. I’m always happy to discuss these sort of things privately though if you’ve also already read the book though! My DMs on Instagram and Twitter are always open.

This gender switched Phantom of the Opera, was interesting. The magic system was unique and fascinating. This took a while for me to really get into, like over a hundred pages in. It was slow at first, but once it picked up I started to devour it. This is one of the few books were I was hoping for the main character to go dark, as it made for a much more exciting story.

Loosely inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica Olson tells the story of Isda one of a select few born with the ability to manipulate memories. Treated with contempt and fear, her kind, visually recognizable due to the unique facial features, are often killed when discovered. Though she longs to see the world outside of the snippets of memories she’s siphoned, she considers herself lucky since she was saved by the opera house owner, Cyril. Their one on one connection is disrupted when Emeric, the new janitor and a talented singer, arrives.
As Isda and Emeric grow closer, she experiences an eye-opening epiphany about not just the world outside, but also the extent of her own abilities. Cyril pushes her to go further, to create as well as take, sparking her interest in just what it is she can do. Knowing he’s kept vital information from her, she begins to pull back and keep secrets from him, her friendship with Emeric being the biggest secret of all. After conducting her own research and perusing Emeric’s memories, she soon begins to suspect Cyril’s affection may be a form of self-serving manipulation and not the fatherly love she took it for.
Slow-burn romance, years’ long betrayal, and magic combine in this indelible debut novel. As a longtime Phantom fan, I have high expectations for anything claiming to be inspired by the original, but this is the rare venture that hits the mark. The Easter egg lines from the musical are seamlessly woven into the original storyline and I felt every emotion as I flew through the pages. Hope, anger, fear for Isda and Emeric, and those flutters of first love were all present and heightened by Olson’s impeccable word choice and pacing. 4.5 stars

For fans of The Phantom of the Opera, this is a wonderful spin on the story line. The magical element put a very clever spin on the tale as well. Slow in parts but still an enjoyable read.

I LOVE a good Phantom of the Opera re-telling, and this is absolutely no exception. It pulled me in, and I enjoyed every moment of it! Definitely recommended to anyone who loves PotO, as well as magic, and a hint of villainy in the main character. (Maybe more than a hint ;D)

Read this book. Drop what you are doing and read this book. It is one of the most beautiful stories I have ever read. I have never read or seen any Phantom of the Opera retellings. The ending was perfect and bittersweet. I will be reading whatever else Jessica S. Olson writes.

**2.5 Stars**

In a world where memory altering Gravoirs are despised and killed at birth, Isda has to live in hiding since she bears the same physical deformity of her face all gravoirs do. She lives in secret under the Opera House, growing up on the music that feeds her soul. When she meets a boy who can sing better than anyone else she has heard, she makes it her mission to get him on the opera stage. But she has no idea that the people around her all have agendas to use her in ways that will throw her careful world into chaos.

I really wanted to read this book after spying the cover, it is just so pretty and eye catching and I am a total cover snob. I started the book knowing nothing about the plot except it is YA fantasy and I discovered this was a gender-swapped fantasy filled retelling of The Phantom of the Opera. Unfortunately this was not a great fit for me. There was some interesting magical components and the setting was well detailed, but I could not find myself investing in the plot.

Keep in mind that tons of other people have loved this book, especially if you are a big Phantom of the Opera fan this might be right up your alley. I just personally could not get into the story or connect to any of the characters, and the book seemed to be super long (to me, keep in mind it had roughly 330 pages but I was good to be finished around 200 pages in). The ending was incredibly bittersweet so if you are expecting a HEA this is the wrong place for you (also the ending was not completely logical and I hated it, but that is a rant for another day). I am pretty sure this is a standalone since it wrapped everything up- but if it isn't I still will not be reading another book in this world.

Wow, this book was fantastic! Magical and heartbreaking, it sweeps you into a rich and wonderful story. This book is a take on Phantom of the Opera, but with the gender roles switched. At times, it's dark and gory, but also beautiful and emotional. A wonderful story that I would definitely recommend !

What a charming book! Isda has never known a life outside of the opera house, other than what she's watched in peoples' memories. Cyril rescued her from a well where her mother had her thrown to die, since that was the fate for those born who were obviously monsters. The risk of them stealing all the memories and destroying the world was too great.

Eventually Isda meets Emeric, a janitor at the opera house with a beautiful voice. She offers to train him and pretends for them both that he has no idea what she really is. He recognizes her talent and knows she may be the one to help him achieve his dream of being on stage.

The end of the story for Isda and Emeric wrapped up quite neatly, and not entirely as I expected. I loved the fantasy element of the memory elixir and its moral and economical implications. The value of memories as liquid gold also feels quite fitting.

Overall, I'd give this book 3 out of 5 stars and recommend it for those who enjoy re-spun classics, and fantasies that wrap up rather nicely. So many fantasies I see lately are ongoing series, but this was a succinct story with a finite end.

I really wanted to like this because I am a huge fan of Phantom of the Opera. Unfortunately, this book falls under the category of "brilliant concept, terrible execution." It starts with Isda, who is just the most unrelatable character I can imagine. Nothing she does or says makes me want to emphasize with her. The story is poorly thought out.

I’m a huge fan of The Phantom of the Opera, so when I was offered the chance to read a copy of SING ME FORGOTTEN, I jumped at the opportunity. Set in a fantasy version of the gothic tale, where the Phantom is a gender-swapped young woman named Isda, SING ME FORGOTTEN was a fantastic reimagining. It took the best parts of the original canon while updating it for a modern audience.

Sing Me Forgotten is a wonderfully written, genderbent retelling of The Phantom of the Opera. This book tore my heart out, stomped on it, and then lit it on fire. The author did an incredible job with her world-building. You get swept away in the pages without feeling like a ton of information has been dumped on you. I enjoyed the banter between Isda and Emeric. Along the journey Isda finds love and contentment in herself and so much more. Once you start this book, you won't want to stop until you are finished.

I am giving this book 3.5 stars. The reason behind this is because even though the concept was unique and enjoyable I felt like something was missing from the story. The first half of it was slow and the main character Isda drove me insane with her being so wishy washy with her powers, especially when she was around Emeric. Their relationship at times felt rush and didn't feel like it added much to the story until the very end, when we get an explanation of what Emeric is and how he can help Isda. When I heard how he can help her and what he actually is I thought it was really awesome, but it was never truly explained how he works. We see a lot of it in the story about the 3 graviors and/ or fendiors from the past and how they destroyed cities with what they could do, but it was super short. I wish that was explained a lot more, because I really enjoyed learning about the 3 powerful females that took out cities and people, but we only really got maybe a page or two on them. There was just so much in this story that if fleshed out way more would have made this book more amazing and stand out more, because phantom of the opera is my favorite musicals; so to hear we have a retelling I was excited. There was just the fleshing out of tons of characters and back stories that makes it miss its point. The villain wasn't even fleshed out as much as he could have been and he was interesting, but we got VERY little about him, even at the end. All in all this book is worth 3.5 stars, only because the characters stories and the history behind graviors and fendiors were poorly written and could have seen more to add more depth to this beautiful story. Oh, and one more thing, I really wish we saw more fendiors in this story, because they sounded AWESOME and we saw hardly any.

A gender-bent retelling of The Phantom of the Opera for the YA Fantasy set. Music, magic and more.

Isda was abandoned at birth because she was seen to be one of the rare magical people who can manipulate memories. Isda has lived her whole life hidden away in an opera house, where she has developed a love of music and a talent for singing. The only person she interacts with is Cyril, the man who raised her. Cyril owns the opera house and has harnessed Isda's powers to alter how the audience remembers the performance, so that they will want to buy additional tickets so he can make more money. And then one day Isda hears a fantastic new tenor voice. It turns out it belongs to Emeric, a young man who was recently hired as a custodian at the opera house. Emeric dreams of singing professionally so Isda agrees to tutor him. When Emeric sings, Isda can see his memories it gives her hope that she can have a better, more free life. Emeric's little sister is like Isda and she grew up out in the world, not locked away. Isda begins to try to figure out how she too can have a more normal life.

This was a fun ride. I am not a huge Phantom of the Opera fan, but I still enjoyed this book. There were some plot holes for me but I was able to suspend disbelief for most of them. Overall, this is a good addition to the YA fantasy drama.

3.5 stars

Sing Me Forgotten is a gender flipped Phantom of the Opera retelling with a magic system that is centered on memory and memory manipulation. I was obsessed with Phantom of the Opera growing up and so I appreciated all the little nods to the source material.

"They think they can keep me here. That the iron and stone will intimidate me. That the darkness will break me. They forget I was raised in the darkness, that I’ve been imprisoned my whole life. They can threaten me with blade or poison or death, but they cannot make me afraid."

Our main character is Isda, who has spent her life lurking in the catacombs of the Channe Opera House. Opposite her is Emetic (a mod to Eric, maybe?) Who she takes under her wing and tutors so that he can audition for the Opera’s current play, Le Berger. The other main character is Cyril, the Opera Manager who rescued Isda from drowning in a well as a baby. I liked Isda as a character, her voice was easy and her characters flawed but relatable.

"They all think you’re a monster, but you don’t want to hurt anyone. You simply want to live."

I enjoyed Emeric and Isda’s relationship. I was worried since Sing Me Forgotten is a standalone, the development of their relationship would be rushed or too”insta-lovey” for my taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found Isda’s motivations for getting close to Emeric compelling and Emeric to be a completely, delightful cinnamon roll of a character. He even is described as smelling like caramel- I rest my case.

"Because I’ve been waiting my whole life to have someone care for me in this way. And I feel how much he cares for me as deeply as I feel his kisses burning their way along my jaw. I’ve longed for this forever. Hungered for it. Craved it. Now that I have it, I know I shouldn’t keep it. For all his words, he has not seen the corruption of my soul. The beast who burns me from the inside out. The fury that lives deep in my veins."

At the center of the novel is Isda’s longing for freedom and acceptance. It is difficult to ignore the obvious social commentary that Olson weaves into the story is clear. My heart ached for Isda as she slowly found her voice and began to question the only life she had ever known.

"I do not know where I will go. I do not know what will happen next or how I will survive . But I do know that wherever I go and whatever happens, I will meet it with both eyes open. Because now not only am I the performer, but I am the director and the maestro of my own life. And though I may spend the rest of that life cherishing the memories of what I have lost here, I won’t let my past stop me from living."

My one complaint the book was that I didn’t really feel truly infested until the last fourth of the book when things go absolutely bananas. The last fourth of the book flew by so fast with so much happening and I really appreciated Olson’s choice to end the novel the way she did. I kind of expected it because I know how Phantom of the Opera ends but it was so satisfying.

Overall, I gave this 4.5🌟 and would recommend it to those who love Phantom of the Opera or fantasy novels with a musical element.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the chance to read this book!

Isda is one of the few magical people able to manipulate memories when people sing and sh was saved by Cyril, the opera house's owner. Beyond its walls she doesn't exist, but inside she and Cyril made a deal: she has sanctuary in exchange of using her power to keep ticket sales high and stay out of sight. But everything changes when she meets a charming boy, Emeric Rodin, with a powerful voice and memories that could help her. Looking for a chance of freedom, battling her feeling for him, Isda will soon discover the price of taking charge of her own destiny.

Sing me forgotten is a very peculiar story, filled with interesting and captivating characters, intriguing powers and mysteries. I loved the way the author characterized and described the scenes, because everything is lush and evocative, intense and it made me feel like I was there with them. Isda is a compelling main character, stubborn, brave and I love how the author talked about her life, powers, relationships in their intricacies.
The atmosphere is brilliant, the character well written and I really was hooked since the very beginning.