5 YA Novels for Phantom of the Opera Fans
The Phantom of the Opera has long been one of my favorite musicals, and I rewatch it every fall. I love the music, yes, but also the story—a sweeping romance, a talented ingénue, a dark and mysterious figure and a difficult love triangle, not to mention a lush and gorgeous setting. There’s a reason it’s lasted on Broadway so long.
If, like me, you’re never going to be a soprano (apologies to my neighbors for how often they’ve heard me try to sing “Think of Me”) you can still capture the feeling of the musical with these decadent YA novels full of brooding antagonists and stunning descriptions.
Wintersong
Hardcover $19.99
Wintersong
By S. Jae-Jones
Hardcover $19.99
Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones
The Phantom was definitely a crush for me in middle school—a dark figure my little gothic self immediately fell in love with. Had I had S. Jae-Jones’ Wintersong back then, however, The Goblin King would have been a close second. Jae-Jones’ debut novel is a beautiful gothic fantasy set in 1800s Germany and following Liesl, a talented composer. When her sister is taken by The Goblin King, Liesl journeys down into his lair to save her. As she’s drawn into The Goblin King’s world, Liesl finds herself faced with difficult decisions and a surprising romance. It’s an epic tale, and what’s better, JJ slips in a lot of Phantom of the Opera references that hardcore fans will be sure to catch.
Wintersong, by S. Jae-Jones
The Phantom was definitely a crush for me in middle school—a dark figure my little gothic self immediately fell in love with. Had I had S. Jae-Jones’ Wintersong back then, however, The Goblin King would have been a close second. Jae-Jones’ debut novel is a beautiful gothic fantasy set in 1800s Germany and following Liesl, a talented composer. When her sister is taken by The Goblin King, Liesl journeys down into his lair to save her. As she’s drawn into The Goblin King’s world, Liesl finds herself faced with difficult decisions and a surprising romance. It’s an epic tale, and what’s better, JJ slips in a lot of Phantom of the Opera references that hardcore fans will be sure to catch.
RoseBlood (B&N exclusive edition)
Hardcover $18.95
RoseBlood (B&N exclusive edition)
By A. G. Howard
Hardcover $18.95
RoseBlood, by A. G. Howard
A. G. Howard is no stranger to retellings with her Splintered series, a spin on Alice in Wonderland. With RoseBlood, she returns to the Paris Opera House in a Phantom update that’s absolutely up my alley. Rune Germain’s voice is her blessing, but it’s also a curse, leaving her drained after every performance. Determined to cure her daughter, Rune’s mother ships her off to a finishing school in France—a boarding school in an opera house that supposedly used to be home to the Phantom. There she meets Thorn, a mysterious boy who could either lead her to a cure or to her death. RoseBlood evokes the lush setting and tragic figure of the original Phantom, and it’s sure to be a treat for any fan.
RoseBlood, by A. G. Howard
A. G. Howard is no stranger to retellings with her Splintered series, a spin on Alice in Wonderland. With RoseBlood, she returns to the Paris Opera House in a Phantom update that’s absolutely up my alley. Rune Germain’s voice is her blessing, but it’s also a curse, leaving her drained after every performance. Determined to cure her daughter, Rune’s mother ships her off to a finishing school in France—a boarding school in an opera house that supposedly used to be home to the Phantom. There she meets Thorn, a mysterious boy who could either lead her to a cure or to her death. RoseBlood evokes the lush setting and tragic figure of the original Phantom, and it’s sure to be a treat for any fan.
The Weight of Feathers
Hardcover $18.99
The Weight of Feathers
Hardcover $18.99
The Weight of Feathers, by Anna-Marie McLemore
One of my other favorite aspects of Phantom is the romance between Christine and Raoul. While Christine feels a dark pull towards the Phantom, it’s Raoul who ends up being her choice, and watching their sweet romance play out onstage gets me every time. Anna-Marie McLemore captures those uncertain, beautiful feelings of first love well in her novels, particularly in The Weight of Feathers. Lace Paloma is a performer in her family’s traveling show, part of their mermaid exhibition. Cluck Corbeau is from a rival family seeking their solace as tightrope walkers in the highest trees around. Each has been taught that the other is bad news, but when Cluck saves Lace’s life, she realizes they may not be so different after all. McLemore’s writing is as lovely and inviting as the Phantom score itself, and her romance is just as sweepingly epic.
The Weight of Feathers, by Anna-Marie McLemore
One of my other favorite aspects of Phantom is the romance between Christine and Raoul. While Christine feels a dark pull towards the Phantom, it’s Raoul who ends up being her choice, and watching their sweet romance play out onstage gets me every time. Anna-Marie McLemore captures those uncertain, beautiful feelings of first love well in her novels, particularly in The Weight of Feathers. Lace Paloma is a performer in her family’s traveling show, part of their mermaid exhibition. Cluck Corbeau is from a rival family seeking their solace as tightrope walkers in the highest trees around. Each has been taught that the other is bad news, but when Cluck saves Lace’s life, she realizes they may not be so different after all. McLemore’s writing is as lovely and inviting as the Phantom score itself, and her romance is just as sweepingly epic.
Strands of Bronze and Gold
Paperback $9.99
Strands of Bronze and Gold
Paperback $9.99
Strands of Bronze and Gold, by Jane Nickerson
Phantom’s arc is one of my favorites in any musical because it slowly becomes darker and more twisted. Jane Nickerson’s Strands of Bronze and Gold, a Bluebeard retelling, follows that same gnarled path. Following the sudden death of her father, Sophia Petheram receives an unexpected letter from her godfather Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, inviting her to come live with him. With few other options, Sophia accepts and makes her way to her godfather’s lavish home in Mississippi. But everything isn’t as it appears with her godfather, as charming as he is. Sophia wonders about the rumors about his former wives, all who bear an eerie resemblance to her—and all who have mysteriously vanished. As Sophia begins to unravel the threads of her godfather’s past, she finds herself in more danger than she could have imagined. With an antagonist as charming and dangerous as the Phantom, Strands of Bronze and Gold is a perfect choice for any fan intrigued by the darkness of the original tale.
Strands of Bronze and Gold, by Jane Nickerson
Phantom’s arc is one of my favorites in any musical because it slowly becomes darker and more twisted. Jane Nickerson’s Strands of Bronze and Gold, a Bluebeard retelling, follows that same gnarled path. Following the sudden death of her father, Sophia Petheram receives an unexpected letter from her godfather Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, inviting her to come live with him. With few other options, Sophia accepts and makes her way to her godfather’s lavish home in Mississippi. But everything isn’t as it appears with her godfather, as charming as he is. Sophia wonders about the rumors about his former wives, all who bear an eerie resemblance to her—and all who have mysteriously vanished. As Sophia begins to unravel the threads of her godfather’s past, she finds herself in more danger than she could have imagined. With an antagonist as charming and dangerous as the Phantom, Strands of Bronze and Gold is a perfect choice for any fan intrigued by the darkness of the original tale.
The Musician's Daughter
Paperback $8.99
The Musician's Daughter
Paperback $8.99
The Musician’s Daughter, by Susanne Dunlap
Christine’s relationship with her dead father is only slightly explored in Phantom, but it’s encompassed in my favorite song, “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.” The bittersweetness it informs her motivation towards the Phantom, as she views him as a father figure, teacher and perhaps something more. Similarly, The Musician’s Daughter follows Theresa Maria Shurman’s search for who murdered her father, an accomplished violinist. Invited by Haydn to become his assistant, Theresa’s access to the lavish world of the palace provides her a way to explore what happened to her father. But all is not as it seems, either in the palace or with Theresa’s father. As she’s drawn deeper into the mystery, Theresa soon finds her own life at risk. With a luxurious and deeply researched historical setting, The Musician’s Daughter will absolutely appeal to readers.
The Musician’s Daughter, by Susanne Dunlap
Christine’s relationship with her dead father is only slightly explored in Phantom, but it’s encompassed in my favorite song, “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again.” The bittersweetness it informs her motivation towards the Phantom, as she views him as a father figure, teacher and perhaps something more. Similarly, The Musician’s Daughter follows Theresa Maria Shurman’s search for who murdered her father, an accomplished violinist. Invited by Haydn to become his assistant, Theresa’s access to the lavish world of the palace provides her a way to explore what happened to her father. But all is not as it seems, either in the palace or with Theresa’s father. As she’s drawn deeper into the mystery, Theresa soon finds her own life at risk. With a luxurious and deeply researched historical setting, The Musician’s Daughter will absolutely appeal to readers.