Theatre de Passion: Phantom of the Night

Author Michelle M. Pillow takes the classic Phantom of the Opera theme and puts her own unique spin on it in her latest book, Theatre de Passion: Phantom of the Night.

Lily Graye fell in love with Jude Livingston at the age of eleven. He was her brother’s best friend and the man her young heart trembled for. However, his life is cut short one night when Jude, along with her brother Sethan, attends a party and are murdered. Her father is also murdered and Lily is left alone in the world, an orphan. She moves to live with her Aunt Isabelle at the Pavilion, where she is a rising star in the world of the stage. Lily loves the Pavilion, even though it holds many mysteries for her, including the presence of her benefactor, a man who has always protected her, cosseted her, and helped her to become the best actress she can be. Lily doesn’t know who he is, but she is very thankful for the help he has provided during the past twelve years.

When a new patron of the Pavilion wants to meet her, Lily is shocked. Peter Verona looks just like Jude! But Jude is dead… and Peter is alive and seems very attracted to her. Peter has his own secrets though and knows he can’t be with Lily. There is too much holding him back from making her his. And then there’s the mysterious Phantom who Lily is becoming increasingly attracted to. The world of the Pavilion has always been filled with mysteries, thrills and chills, but with the entrance of Peter into her life, Lily is about to be changed in a way she never thought possible.

Michelle M. Pillow crafts another spectacular and moving love story. The past is never quite dead in the world of the theater and as Lily is soon to find out, there is more magic to be found in the Pavilion than even she thought possible. I really enjoyed the way Ms. Pillow added her own special touch to what is a very well known story. There are some predictable parts, but there are also some big surprises in store for the reader as they follow Lily into the very heart of the theater’s mysteries. The exciting plot developments far out weigh some of the predictability of the story, so don’t be worried readers. Ms. Pillow excels yet again at what is the first in the Theatre de Passion series. This paranormal story has something in it for everyone: love, villains, a masculine and loving hero, and an intriguing ambiguity to keep you spellbound to the pages.

Reviewed by: Sarah W