Phantasy - the sequel to Progeny

[Madame le Courayer]

I read this practically the moment I finshed Progeny and I have to say I now know why it was called "Phantasy" Isn't it just about every phan girl's 'phantasy' to be the reincarnation of Christine Daae and be haunted by Erik's spirit? It must be Becky Meadows'.

The story is modern and about a young couple, Catherine (who is the rein. of Christine) and Charles (who is, yes, a very ooc Raoul)
Anyway Catherine is obsessed with anything Phantom related, has gone to see the ALW play about a hundred times and talks to a portrait of MC she has hanging in her study, and yes he's dressed as the Phantom.
Soon the portrait become all too lifelike and Cathy's psychic friend Sabine (Meg) is convinced something's going on that's not of this world. Their investigations lead them to discover that Raoul, Christine and the Phantom were not fictional characters and that they really did live, and with the help of a hypnotist, a trip to Paris, and Erik and Christine's great-great-grandson (who is way hot) they get to the bottom of the mess and it ends as happily as the first book.
Yeah.
Amusing but not brilliant. Be prepared for some major eye-rolling. Favorite scene? Where they deliberately scare Cathy half to death by tying her to a chair, blindfolding her and then leaving her alone; the theory being that if she's scared enough it will "bring Erik out" so they can exorcise him. Not the best idea since he's already pretty ticked off at the lot of them (except of course Cathy since she's Christine). :rolleyes:

[Star18]

Yeah, I read this a few years ago (when I was still in my 'phangirl' phase) I'f just finished reading Progeny, Phantom, Phantom of Paris, and Journey of the Mask, and I eventually had to read Phantasy online because they wanted too much for it on Amazon.

Did I love it? No. Did I like it? *shrugs* Eh, I guess it was alright. The concept certainly was intriguing- reincarnation and the like. I found it creative of Meadows to make a modern day couple the reincarnation of Christine and Raoul- and come up with an explanation as to why Catherine is so 'obsessed' with the musical POTO. Like You said Hannah, I think this was Meadow's secret desires manifesting here. (But then I can't talk cos there was a time when I would have found it all pretty romantic myself, but one moves on...)

There were a few parts that seemed pretty contrived to me. And whether in Progeny or Phantasy, I never liked the way that Meadows portrays her Christine or Raoul characters- Christine is way too emo- I keep waiting for the soap opera music to come on every time she starts crying (which happens ALOT in Meadows' books) and Raoul is in both books too sandpapery (if that makes any sense) I will give Meadows her props on one thing though, and that is her characterization of Erik. His character is solid and verrrrry believable, even if he borders a little on the demoniac and maniacal in Phantasy. (But I guess that was the point, wasn't it?)

There were a few moments of dry humor for me in this book: (and anyone who had read it will know what I'm talking about)

*When the picture of Erik (the famous one of Michael Crawford) seems to smile or live. I only say this because ever since reading the book I've never looked at that picture the same since....

*When Erik's spirit substitutes himself in the Charles/Raoul character's position when he and Catherine/Christine are...in the middle of an intimate act, we'll call it.

*And near the end when Erik's spirit 'tortures' Charles by making him view a rather awkward scene. (For those who haven't read the book, just think about it for a moment, and you should be able to figure it out anyway.....Yeah. That.) It almost amused me as much as Erik's 'finger of pain' in Progeny. LAWLS!!!! That was sooooo funny.

Overall, a decent read. For the dreamy eyed phangirl, it's a dream come true. As a general read, it's amusing and certainly intriguing. I have to confess that sometimes I go back to read bits and pieces online if only to make me smile.

[Madame le Courayer]

*When the picture of Erik (the famous one of Michael Crawford) seems to smile or live. I only say this because ever since reading the book I've never looked at that picture the same since....

Yes, yes...I have this pic in my room and I must say that I have to turn it around during...uh...those awkward moments...

We agree then...her portrayal of Erik is five stars. The rest? Blah.

[Christine Daaé]

I remember reading this a couple of years ago, and it was pretty godawful. Catherine was a whiny, obsessive phangirl; Charles was a total jerk. Sabine was okay, I suppose, as the Meg role.

What was with the random Russian lifetime thrown in? What purpose did it have?

All in all, it was terrible. No wonder it was a self-published thing.

~ Zelda

[Madame le Courayer]

One redemtive quality that got me through to the end of this book was the side romance of Sabine and Christian (that aforementioned way-hot great-grandson of Erik's) Yeah. ;)
I love Erik's comment to Christian: "You always did have your mother's turn."
That was rich.