Phantom reads like fanfiction of the ALW musical. Someone was unhappy with the ending and decided to rewrite it, changing the attitudes and personalities of main players in the original to suit their fantasies. This book was written remarkably well (though, if I read the phrase "beyond imagination" or "beyond comprehension" again. . .) and is a very believable glimpse into Erik's tortured mind. However, Christine and Raoul's characters are completely awful. They are warped beyond recognition from the original and are just stupid and bland and terrible. Kay's Erik works because he is passionate and insane and violent; he's interesting, but he's not a lovable character. He's sympathetic, you want the best for him, and you root for him, but you don't like him as a person. I saw the ending coming from a mile away but it still angered me so much. Erik abused Christine and wanted to "possess" her, and even so she was so in love with him, it was disgusting; I had no idea where she was coming from. I have no problem with the concept of giving Erik a happily ever after, or changing Christine and Raoul's personalities in principle, but I think it was done rather confusingly and poorly.
That being said, this was a really really good book. It was dark, melodramatic, and romantic and obviously well thought out and researched. Honestly I enjoyed it so much that I'm tempted to give it 5 stars, but I don't think I can truly overlook how shallowly Kay portrayed Christine and Raoul.
That being said, this was a really really good book. It was dark, melodramatic, and romantic and obviously well thought out and researched. Honestly I enjoyed it so much that I'm tempted to give it 5 stars, but I don't think I can truly overlook how shallowly Kay portrayed Christine and Raoul.
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