“For Love of the Phantom Review
For Love of the Phantom is a sequel to Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. The original story is set in a Paris Opera house in the early 1900s and follows the story of a young orphan named Christine. She receives secret music lessons from someone she knows as the Angel of Music, who is later revealed to be the Phantom of the Opera. Christine finds herself in a love triangle with the Phantom and her childhood friend, Raoul, the Comte de Chagny. Despite the Phantom’s initial intentions to keep Christine by threatening Raoul, her compassion eventually convinces him to let them go.
SUMMARY
For Love of the Phantom picks up right where the original story ends. Christine and Raoul escape the Opera House, get married, and eventually settle in London. Meanwhile, Erik, the Phantom, fakes his own death to get away from his old adversary, the Persian, and follows Christine to London. He decides to stay hidden but close to Christine, the woman he loves.
Problems arise when Christine discovers Raoul sees her more as a beautiful possession rather than loving her for who she is. He forbids her to sing, afraid it will remind her of the Phantom, whom he despises. Christine’s idealistic view of love crumbles as Raoul disregards her wishes and she discovers his infidelity. She isolates herself, with only an elderly gardener named Peck as her friend.
There’s also a killer on the loose that the Persian suspects could be Erik. Erik, disguised as Peck, commits to protecting Christine from the murderer while keeping his identity hidden. As their story unfolds, the fate of Christine, Erik, and Raoul hangs in the balance.
WHAT ABOUT THE SOURCE MATERIAL?
I must admit, I haven’t read the original Phantom of the Opera, so my impressions are based on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage and film adaptations. Those versions left me curious about the Phantom and what happens to him after the story ends. So, when I found this highly rated sequel, I was eager to read it.
Sequels to famous novels by a different author can be a hit or miss. It’s challenging to continue a beloved story while retaining the original author’s voice. Despite not reading the original book, I feel For Love of the Phantom both succeeds and falls short in following up on the film version.
THE LOVE TRIANGLE CONTINUES…
I won’t delve too deeply into Christine, Erik, and Raoul without giving away spoilers. However, I wasn’t thrilled with how Christine and Raoul were portrayed. They lack the strong personalities they had in the film, making them less interesting in this sequel. Raoul’s selfishness feels out of character, and Christine still behaves childishly, showing little growth. Both characters engage in extramarital affairs, which quickly cools the love between them.
Erik remains the most compelling character. Although he loses some of the mystery and menace from the film, this isn’t a drawback. Christine’s compassion has given him a glimpse of normalcy, and he strives to adapt to a world that once rejected him. Erik’s genuine love and concern for Christine are inspiring, despite initially coming off as a bit obsessive.
THE ANTAGONISTS
The Persian is a unique character from the original book, and I appreciated his role in this sequel. He acts as both an antagonist and a catalyst for Erik and Christine, driving the plot forward. His determination to uncover the truth about the Phantom adds much-needed tension and urgency to the story.
I’m on the fence about the subplot involving a serial killer, hinted to be Jack the Ripper. It’s an interesting choice to blend two infamous stories, but I’m not sure it fully works.
FILM ADAPTATION
I would love to see this adapted into a film. It would differ significantly from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version, with a less theatrical setting and fewer characters. This could allow for deeper character development. Despite the differences, I’d keep the same cast from The Phantom of the Opera, even if they don’t match the book’s descriptions.
CONCLUSION
Overall, For Love of the Phantom lacks the drama, tension, and passion of the film and stage versions. While I enjoyed the romance and the conclusion, the story falters as a continuation of the original. However, as a standalone, re-imagined version of The Phantom of the Opera, I enjoyed it more. Despite my opinions, others have praised it and it seems to stay true to Leroux’s original characterizations. A second book has already been released, indicating this might turn into a series.
Content Note: Both Raoul and Christine’s affairs occur off-page. There are some graphic depictions of violence related to the serial killer subplot, but nothing overly disturbing.
