Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of The Phantom of The Opera

Erotic & evocative

In 1887 Paris, Raoul de Chagney vows to make the star of the Opera House Christine Daae his lover. However, Christine is already in love with her secret muse Erik, who hides in the shadows of the Opera House and wears a masque so she will never see his face. In the dark, visages do not matter when they touch, but when they do not she imagines all sorts of horror. When she finally unmasques her beloved, she is shocked, but her love for him is deep and strong.-------------- When Raoul¿s brother Philippe takes an interest in Christine, he is not a love sick patron begging favors. Soon after his entry into Christine¿s life, someone kills a woman at the Opera House with the rumored Phantom being the culprit. An arsonist sets the Opera House ablaze forcing Erik and Christine to flee into the night. However, the de Chagney brothers catch them and take them prisoner. While Erik is tormented with his helplessness, Raoul and Philippe do what they want to Christine.---------- UNMASQUED is an erotic version of the Phantom of the Opera with a strong emphasis on the theme of the original tale as to who is the monster. Christine is a wonderful protagonist whose love for her mentor is so powerful she would give up stardom to live in the catacombs beneath the city to be with him. Erik is also a fabulous character as he tenderly makes love to his cherished Christine, but rejects her sacrificial proposals. The siblings are obviously the monsters of UNMASQUED as they take what they desire with no care about hurting others. Colette Gale provides an entertaining erotic version of the classic that the audience will enjoy if they can adjust to this rendition.------ Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

review by kerilynn

never really read an erotic book other than some of anne rice's work, and enjoyed it very much. it kept you wanting to know what could happen next. i like erik to be stronger than he was in this book but all in all well done. my only real problem with this book was the very end when she tried to make it out to be that the story was real and that they were friends with lon chaney. other than that it was a good read if you want to get hot under the collar.

What do you mean not everyone wants to have sex with a psychotic stranger with a rope fetish?

The author and the publishing company need to issue formal apologies to their female readers (not that it wasn't an assault on my refined masculine sensibilities!) since they imagine this sort of demeaning filth is what satisfies them. To listen to the message they're giving out, every woman's fondest dream is to be helpless, psychologically manipulated and raped. There's something seriously wrong with that.

This book isn't about wild, wanton and kinky sex. In certain doses, some of that can be fun. It was a fabulous thought, both scandalous and exciting, that the proper Madame Giry had a lot more going on under those petticoats than she let on! But there's a difference between Madame Giry having a good tumble in Box Five and Carlotta being chained and tortured for Philippe's enjoyment. And that's exactly what it was: abuse.

Unmasqued only achieves in turning Phantom phans away in disgust.

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HOT!!

If you like erotica, this is hot!!

Out with the old and In with the different.

This book isn't one that follows the old story of Phantom but it's one that leaves anyone who is wanting to see a new side of the story. Why couldn't the Phantom be misunderstood and yearning to find his way out of darkness and pain. Christine being raised in a place where sex was around her and remain virginal is not realistic. There are stories about how men of certain social standings could have committed heinous acts and get away with them is still something seen present-day. With that said, there is no reason to look at this book as a new and very different take on a classic piece of literature. It has been re-told on so many levels why not one more style. My only dislike was how abrupt the ending came and like most, I would of enjoyed having a little more story about the love story that finally came to be. I know that I am not alone when I say that the Phantom is one of the more erotic characters in literature next to Dracula. I can't speak for others but it's the mysterious darkness of being with the forbidden side of self that intrigues and captures my imagination. It's one story to go with so many versions so why not give it a look, it's a story that some, like myself, have always wondered about with the characters involved.

could have been so much better

I was so disappointed in this book, I was expecting a great love story between the two main characters and some great sex! That is not what this book is about, there was too much turmoil between them and they dont actually wind up together until literally the second to last page because she keeps choosing someone else, that part of the book never really made any sense by the way. And there were many disturbing scenes. For instance, the lenghty part explaining how several characters are trapped in a house and forced to perform sexually against their will, but somehow its implied that they like it. There were also several parts that bordered on rape and literally whipping someone in the groin, and the people having their privates whipped like it...ugh. I had to skip over the parts that implied rape, they were just too disturbing. I really wonder if I read the same book as the rest of the reviewers...

How it should've ended

I loved this book. How many times have you seen the movie, play, or read the book and gone yeah she was so in love with the phantom?...I love that Cristine was more mature than was portrayed or less naive...The whole plot followed so closely with the play but I definitely liked how this one ended. I loved the sexy scenes, because I'm sorry but the Phantom of the Opera is the hottest musical I've ever seen. I just love that Gale was able to infuse the wonderful play/movie/book with such wondrous sensual detail and ended it much better than the movie/play/book would have you believe.

This book should be pulled

As an avid Phantom Phan, I have to say I am disgusted at how out of character the characters are, and just how much like a bad porno movie this book is. Anyone who is a true Phantom Phan will agree. This book is a disgrace, and needs to be taken off the shelves. Erik is and always will be a living corpse. Christine will always be an innocent 20 year old. NO AMOUNT OF HORRID PUBLISHED FANFICTION WILL CHANGE THIS. If I could give this book a negative number of stars, I would.

A reviewer

I love the plot! Every twist and turn left me unable to put this book down. Aside from slightly repetitive writing and a couple of unecessary scenes, this book is incredible. This is my favorite telling of the phantom of the opera so far, and I have seen and read many variations.

Sexy but ultimately unsatisfying

Colette Gale gives a valiant effort to inject some eroticism into the Phantom's story and in this and this alone she succeeds. The sex scenes are some of the best I have ever read. However, one must never sacrifice a good story for great sex. I disagree with her portrayal of Christine, since as we all know who have read the original novel, she was an innocent ingenue. The was the point. She was the exception to the rule and since that is how Leroux portrayed her that is the image that should be respected. She belonged to Erik and I doubt he would have allowed a props boy to touch her. Christine doesn't come through to me as the lonely, tragic girl she was but rather as a lusty tart. I enjoyed Ms. Gale's portrayal of the viscount and his brother I thought they were exceptionally drawn characters. Erik: again a disappointment. I would have prefered to see more of Leroux's Erik and not Lloyd Webber's half & half version. All in all the only reason I did not give this book only one star is because, frankly, I thought she was very imaginative with the erotic aspect of the book and I give that alone three stars. But she really should work on her story-telling. She missed the boat and boy it could been such a sail!!!!

Erotic Tale of a Classic that Unmasks the True Tale

Colette Gale 'Unmasks' the true underlying sensuality of the Phantom of the Opera story in this splendid erotic version of the beloved classic. It was not until the most recent movie release that the sensuality of the story slightly came through. Now with Ms. Gale's erotic version of the story, fans of the classic move past the basic love story of Christine Daae's struggle with her 'puppy love-type' attraction to Raoul, Viscomte De Chagny and her 'sensual love' for Erik, her Angel of Music. Ms. Gale's newest erotic version is a delight which steams with passion and many erotic scenes. It is not a version to be read by those who enjoy the story clean and sweet and are a bit squeamish about reading erotica. For the fan who has fantasized about the reality of what would have truly happened if Christine really followed her heart and sensual nature, those fans and readers will find this version to be more reality based and will thoroughly enjoy the sensuality that was felt to be left behind in other versions. Ms. Gale's beginning biographer's notes and afterward explains how much of the historical research for this book came from Christine Daae's personal diaries. Earlier versions of the story seem to skim the true reality of the time, as ladies of the theatre and opera lost their virginity at young ages and many had protectors. Men of the aristocratic classes during the historical era, in which the story takes place, were not known to marry an opera star or actor, but rather those women who could bring money, lands, and prestige to the family name. 'An Erotic Novel of The Phantom of the Opera' is a unique and spellbinding book that should not be missed by those who are fans of historical erotic romance. Well-written and researched, I look forward to Ms. Gale's next erotic work on The Count of Monte Cristo.

A reviewer

'The Phantom of the Opera' is a story that most of us know through theater or television. A few know it from the novel by Gaston Leroux which was first published in a serialized form from 1909 to 1910. Though today it is considered a classic world-wide, the novel at first sold poorly and has been out of print several times. Some of Phantom's fame is due to many successful stage and screen adaptations............................... 'Unmasqued' by Colette Gale is one of many adaptations that can be found and it follows the original idea of the story to an extent. However, this being an erotic retelling of a classic, the story does go places that your average reader might not expect. It opens with this wonderful dedication: 'To all the women who thought Christine should have stayed with the Phantom' and from the dedication page on you are pulled into a story that is vibrant and lush............................... Christine Daae came to live in the Opera House as a girl, her father having died when she was young. Before his death she showed great promise as a singer but after his death she felt that her music had somehow passed with him. In the Opera House she is quiet and shy, but most of all terribly lonely. She blossoms when the Opera Ghost, her Angel of Music, takes an interest in her voice and begins to tutor her in music and voice. .............................. Of course we know this right away to be Erik, the Phantom of the Opera. Dark, mysterious, demanding, not to mention exciting, Christine falls for him despite what lies behind the mask. Although he can not believe it at first, soon a real bond, true love, has grown between them............................... After a brilliant performance on the stage and an indiscreet meeting with Raoul, a childhood friend turned admirer, Christine is taken to the Phantom's home deep beneath the Opera House. She is gone for seven days and in that time Erik and Christine come to truly know and understand each other. But then an unthinkable and unforgivable act of Christine's wrenches them apart............................... Raoul is there to pick up the pieces when Christine returns from her dark and erotic journey. More than willing to replace whatever it is she has lost, Raoul tries desperately to please her and in the end forces her into submission. But in her heart Christine knows that Erik, the Opera Ghost, her Angel of Music, is the only man she could ever love. But can Erik forgive her curiosity? Can the two young lovers get past the skin deep passions to the true passion that lies deep in their souls? .............................. One of things that I enjoyed most, beside the shiver inducing erotic elements of the story, were the wonderful characters. It flows smoothly amongst Christine, Erik, Maude, Raoul, Carlotta, and every character in between. You are given glimpses into their lives, a look into their lovely or wicked souls their cravings and desires. The Opera House comes alive within the pages and you are treated to glittering golden scenes in the richest hues that become the backdrop for constant sexual satisfaction............................... 'Unmasqued', a retelling of a classic, is an erotic classic in its own right. Charged with erotic images, sensual passion, fiery longing, and steamy scenes on and off the stage this is a book to be devoured in one seating. Then opened again and read slowly just for the pure pleasure of it.

A BIG stretch of the imagination

I enjoyed that The Phantom was to be the hero in this version, as the recent movie version romanticized him somewhat, so it wasn't a big stretch of the imagination. But the heroine, Christine was portrayed as a very loose, and experienced girl, instead of the naive virgin. This tale did not pull me into their plight, because the sex was every other page and had little to do with the storyline or the passion between Christine and Erik. I was deeply disappointed.

Too much sex- too little plot

I am a huge Phantom of the Opera fan especialy since the recent movie. When I saw this book was for women who wanted Christine to be with Erik- I thought this is the book for me. I was however very disappointed. I found myself skipping sections. I am all for romance but it seemed like it was all sex and very little of anything else. Every character in the book was having sex.Some of those were disgusting.The author had a great idea and dropped the ball on this one. TOO bad!!

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