Book Review: The Phantom's Apprentice by Heather Webb

DESCRIPTION: 
In this re-imagining of Phantom of the Opera, meet a Christine Daaé you’ve never seen before…

Christine Daaé sings with her violinist father 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 Opéra de Paris—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.









REVIEW: 
I caught wind of Heather Webb's THE PHANTOM'S APPRENTICE  at the 2017 Historical Novel Society Conference in Portland. A devout cover slut, I was immediately smitten with the jacket design, but I was equally intrigued by the premise of the narrative and couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy. Did the novel live up to my expectations? That is an interesting question.  THE PHANTOM'S APPRENTICE  exists within Leroux's canonical universe, but it is independent of his voice. That fact threw me as I feel the magic of retellings rests in how the inspired work echoes the tones of the original. I thought Webb's interpretation intensely creative and appreciated the historical details she folded into the narrative, but I struggled with how completely her voice tonally overshadowed his. In terms of content, however, Webb hit the nail square on the head. Leroux capitalized on contemporary interest in the spiritualist movement with the original work. Webb expands on this idea by exploring the emotions of the movement's patrons and the means by which those emotions were exploited. I also love the voice Webb gifted Christine. Mrs. Daaé is a passive and easily manipulated character under Leroux's pen, but she becomes a far more assertive and astute personality under Webb's. The character tried my patience at times, but I certainly appreciated the ideas that shaped her make-up and the contemporary relevance those afforded.  Webb's foray into the world of illusion is also worthy of note. The novel takes place during a fascinating period in the developmental timeline of stage magic. Though the techniques she illustrates are not refined by today's standards, I found the technical descriptions of Erik's illusionary innovations engaging and couldn't help falling in love with Webb's authentic portrait of the magician's craft.


Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Obtained from: Netgalley