Anyone who knows me even a little bit could tell you what my favorite musical is: Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Naturally, I was instantly excited by A. G. Howard's book RoseBlood as soon as I saw the cover. My anticipation only grew once I read the synopsis and learned it was something of a retelling/sequel to Gaston Leroux's original book, which inspired the musical. So, I immediately bought it, and it has been taunting me from my bookshelf until I finally had time to read it.
Rune Germaine has a voice unlike any other teenager, comparable to an angel's, but with one caveat: every performance leaves her sick and drained. While most people around her consider her voice a gift, Rune wants nothing to do with it because of past tragic events. In an effort to cure the affliction by providing creative direction, Rune's mother sends her to a French boarding school, RoseBlood, housed in an old opera house rumored to have been the inspiration for the setting of Gaston Leroux's famous novel. Upon arrival, Rune starts to suspect there is something otherworldly at RoseBlood, tied to the mysterious boy only she has seen roaming the grounds.
Meanwhile, Thorn has been tasked by Erik, the Phantom, to grow close to Rune and lead her down a very specific path that will end with her destruction. Having pledged his allegiance to the Phantom years before after a haunted childhood, Thorn is prepared to do whatever he says—until he meets Rune and feels an undeniable connection to her. As the two of them grow closer and Rune begins to feel cured of her illness, Thorn must decide whether to remain loyal to the only father he's ever known or save Rune.
Most of the issues I had with this book are mainly personal preferences and have little literary merit, such as the over-dramatic lines. As a fantasy YA book with a bit of a "Chosen One" narrative, it is only natural that Rune goes through the usual realization that she is at the center of some sinister plot and must uncover all the secrets to stop it. However, at times it felt like I was being hit over the head with unnecessarily dramatic paragraphs such as:
It's time to figure out why this overpowering ability to sing—that once brought me so much satisfaction—is gnawing away at me like a sickness. I need to know why I'm broken, so I can fix myself. . . then I can finally look forward to my future. Because I'm starting to realize there's something worse than stepping up and facing your fears—and that's living as if you're already dead. (77)
Another thing that tripped me up while reading was the point of view changes. The book is told through both Rune and Thorn's POVs, but instead of alternating chapters, the shifts usually occur within a chapter. Rune's POV is told in the first-person present while Thorn's is in the third-person past, so that helps to distinguish them, but it was still jarring and difficult to get used to at first.
Lastly, the pacing seemed a little too fast. Things happened, or relationships developed quicker than I expected. It seemed as though Rune and Thorn had just met in one chapter, and in the next, they had already fallen in love. Granted, some details of their backstories play a hand in their accelerated relationship, but it still felt a little unearned.
Overall, however, I did enjoy this book. Rune and Thorn are compelling characters with complicated pasts that made me feel for them. The adherence to The Phantom of the Opera lore is comforting while expanding upon it and becoming its own story. Tidbits of the Phantom's plan are dropped throughout the story, which captured my attention and made me want to keep reading to find out how it would all come together. I was rooting for Rune and her friends, hoping everything would work out in their favor. The fantastical elements were an enticing bonus I wasn't expecting.
Most of my issues with the book are probably the result of my unreasonably high expectations for the book due to my fierce love of the musical. I still enjoyed reading every page, and I expect many YA fantasy readers will as well. I rate RoseBlood by A. G. Howard 4/5 stars.
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