This is a compelling and tragic tale of Erik’s (The Phantom’s) life from birth up to the outcome of opera house fiasco. This is still my all time favorite of the stories based upon Gaston Leroux’s classic “The Phantom of the Opera”. I have yet to find another that draws you into the tale so completely.

In this book you follow Erik as he tries to win the love of a mother who can't even offer him a kiss, to a gypsy camp where he is put in a freak show to perform, to Rome where he becomes a stone masons apprentice, Persia where he becomes a dark court magician and builds a grand palace for the Shah, Paris where he helps build the opera house, when he hears Christine sing for the first time… and the madness that follows.

One of the things I like about this book is the format. As you read the story it is divided into several parts that correspond with different phases in his life. Within each part the pov changes to a new character that Erik meets on his travels - or even Erik himself.

Love this author's books. Great read.

Story of a sensitive young girl who falls in love with a brilliant older man who is scarred both physically and emotionally. It really is an engrossing, touching novel.

Incredibly, this book is actually halfway decent. The AB books have been like crack (I know they're bad, but I can't help going for that next hit.)

This one has something approaching a plot. (The bad guys are coming to get us, but they're not doing it according to their own bad guy rules. Goddamnit. Also why?) And the sex scenes are relatively few (4-6) and largely necessary to advance the plot.

And it appears we've resolved the Question of Richard, although I've thought that before and been wrong, so who knows.

Anyway, I'm planning to reread this, to see if it could possibly be as not wretched as I thought on first reading.

BLURB
Anita Blake is about to face the challenge of her life. Into her world--a world already overflowing with power--have come creatures so feared that powerful, centuries-old vampires refuse to mention their names. It is forbidden to speak of The Harlequin unless you've been contacted. And to be contacted by The Harlequin is to be under sentence of death.

Long-time rivals for Anita's affections, Jean-Claude, Master Vampire of the City, and Richard, alpha-werewolf, will need to become allies. Shapeshifters Nathaniel and Micah will have to step up their support. And then there's Edward. In this situation, Anita knows that she needs to call the one man who has always been there for her...

Whew - well, finally, we're back to plot, though there is still some porn-y elements, Anita returns to the basics with a bang.
First of all, it's like every cool secondary character she's met pops in again - Peter and Edward and Olaf, the swanmane, the twin vampires, Bella Morte, Doyle and the cops, Marmee Dearest, the council - everybody gets a bit of a go!

less on the whole zombie raising front, which I thought was a pity - I think the first book without a single raising, but so much better than the last three/four offerings - I don't even care!

This second book introduces many other supernatual characters.

BLURB
Anita attempts to reconnect with her friends and allies after a lengthy separation, and to undo the damage caused by her absence. Even as Anita attempts to repair the damage and come to terms with her newly developing powers, she is also threatened by a series of attacks and disappearances within the shapeshifter community.

Sob, I'm basically reading porn at this point, sob. But the few elements of plot that aren't cut for graphic unnecessary sex are still compelling...