I am giving this book 3.5 stars. The reason behind this is because even though the concept was unique and enjoyable I felt like something was missing from the story. The first half of it was slow and the main character Isda drove me insane with her being so wishy washy with her powers, especially when she was around Emeric. Their relationship at times felt rush and didn't feel like it added much to the story until the very end, when we get an explanation of what Emeric is and how he can help Isda. When I heard how he can help her and what he actually is I thought it was really awesome, but it was never truly explained how he works. We see a lot of it in the story about the 3 graviors and/ or fendiors from the past and how they destroyed cities with what they could do, but it was super short. I wish that was explained a lot more, because I really enjoyed learning about the 3 powerful females that took out cities and people, but we only really got maybe a page or two on them. There was just so much in this story that if fleshed out way more would have made this book more amazing and stand out more, because phantom of the opera is my favorite musicals; so to hear we have a retelling I was excited. There was just the fleshing out of tons of characters and back stories that makes it miss its point. The villain wasn't even fleshed out as much as he could have been and he was interesting, but we got VERY little about him, even at the end. All in all this book is worth 3.5 stars, only because the characters stories and the history behind graviors and fendiors were poorly written and could have seen more to add more depth to this beautiful story. Oh, and one more thing, I really wish we saw more fendiors in this story, because they sounded AWESOME and we saw hardly any.

A gender-bent retelling of The Phantom of the Opera for the YA Fantasy set. Music, magic and more.

Isda was abandoned at birth because she was seen to be one of the rare magical people who can manipulate memories. Isda has lived her whole life hidden away in an opera house, where she has developed a love of music and a talent for singing. The only person she interacts with is Cyril, the man who raised her. Cyril owns the opera house and has harnessed Isda's powers to alter how the audience remembers the performance, so that they will want to buy additional tickets so he can make more money. And then one day Isda hears a fantastic new tenor voice. It turns out it belongs to Emeric, a young man who was recently hired as a custodian at the opera house. Emeric dreams of singing professionally so Isda agrees to tutor him. When Emeric sings, Isda can see his memories it gives her hope that she can have a better, more free life. Emeric's little sister is like Isda and she grew up out in the world, not locked away. Isda begins to try to figure out how she too can have a more normal life.

This was a fun ride. I am not a huge Phantom of the Opera fan, but I still enjoyed this book. There were some plot holes for me but I was able to suspend disbelief for most of them. Overall, this is a good addition to the YA fantasy drama.

3.5 stars

Sing Me Forgotten is a gender flipped Phantom of the Opera retelling with a magic system that is centered on memory and memory manipulation. I was obsessed with Phantom of the Opera growing up and so I appreciated all the little nods to the source material.

"They think they can keep me here. That the iron and stone will intimidate me. That the darkness will break me. They forget I was raised in the darkness, that I’ve been imprisoned my whole life. They can threaten me with blade or poison or death, but they cannot make me afraid."

Our main character is Isda, who has spent her life lurking in the catacombs of the Channe Opera House. Opposite her is Emetic (a mod to Eric, maybe?) Who she takes under her wing and tutors so that he can audition for the Opera’s current play, Le Berger. The other main character is Cyril, the Opera Manager who rescued Isda from drowning in a well as a baby. I liked Isda as a character, her voice was easy and her characters flawed but relatable.

"They all think you’re a monster, but you don’t want to hurt anyone. You simply want to live."

I enjoyed Emeric and Isda’s relationship. I was worried since Sing Me Forgotten is a standalone, the development of their relationship would be rushed or too”insta-lovey” for my taste, but I was pleasantly surprised. I found Isda’s motivations for getting close to Emeric compelling and Emeric to be a completely, delightful cinnamon roll of a character. He even is described as smelling like caramel- I rest my case.

"Because I’ve been waiting my whole life to have someone care for me in this way. And I feel how much he cares for me as deeply as I feel his kisses burning their way along my jaw. I’ve longed for this forever. Hungered for it. Craved it. Now that I have it, I know I shouldn’t keep it. For all his words, he has not seen the corruption of my soul. The beast who burns me from the inside out. The fury that lives deep in my veins."

At the center of the novel is Isda’s longing for freedom and acceptance. It is difficult to ignore the obvious social commentary that Olson weaves into the story is clear. My heart ached for Isda as she slowly found her voice and began to question the only life she had ever known.

"I do not know where I will go. I do not know what will happen next or how I will survive . But I do know that wherever I go and whatever happens, I will meet it with both eyes open. Because now not only am I the performer, but I am the director and the maestro of my own life. And though I may spend the rest of that life cherishing the memories of what I have lost here, I won’t let my past stop me from living."

My one complaint the book was that I didn’t really feel truly infested until the last fourth of the book when things go absolutely bananas. The last fourth of the book flew by so fast with so much happening and I really appreciated Olson’s choice to end the novel the way she did. I kind of expected it because I know how Phantom of the Opera ends but it was so satisfying.

Overall, I gave this 4.5🌟 and would recommend it to those who love Phantom of the Opera or fantasy novels with a musical element.

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the chance to read this book!

Isda is one of the few magical people able to manipulate memories when people sing and sh was saved by Cyril, the opera house's owner. Beyond its walls she doesn't exist, but inside she and Cyril made a deal: she has sanctuary in exchange of using her power to keep ticket sales high and stay out of sight. But everything changes when she meets a charming boy, Emeric Rodin, with a powerful voice and memories that could help her. Looking for a chance of freedom, battling her feeling for him, Isda will soon discover the price of taking charge of her own destiny.

Sing me forgotten is a very peculiar story, filled with interesting and captivating characters, intriguing powers and mysteries. I loved the way the author characterized and described the scenes, because everything is lush and evocative, intense and it made me feel like I was there with them. Isda is a compelling main character, stubborn, brave and I love how the author talked about her life, powers, relationships in their intricacies.
The atmosphere is brilliant, the character well written and I really was hooked since the very beginning.

This was a wonderfully created audio! I felt completely drawn into the story. Caitlin Kelly did an excellent job narrating!

I loved the characters in the story. The MC, Isda, is the secret that doesn't exist to the outside world. She hides in the underground of the opera house, and her pain was my pain. As secrets are revealed to her about her actual magical powers and the things that have been kept hidden from her, I was sad for her, angry with her, and ready to get revenge for her!

I loved that this was a retelling of Phantom, but it had it's own magical system and story that really made it stand out from the original. The world building was great. There was a good balance of backstory at just the right times, while still moving the story forward. This is a perfect read for you if you enjoy YA stories with a magical system and a strong female lead!

This much-anticipated book does not disappoint. I heard from one of Jessica Olson's personal acquaintances how incredibly lyrical her writing is, and it's no joke--it's like poetry on the page.

This book is at its heart a love story--a Phantom of the Opera gender-bent retelling--where the phantom is a young woman seriously disfigured, who only wants to be seen for who she truly is.

You WILL cry when you read this book.

While I was provided an e-copy of this by Netflix in exchange for an honest review, I will be purchasing a hardback copy for my personal collection!

This gender swapped Phantom of the Opera was amazing! I think it did have to find its way to start out but after a few chapters it found its footing and became an outstanding story. I loved the powerful message within its pages. This story will captivate and have you spellbound until the very end.

This book is so gorgeous! The writing is beautiful, and I was swept away into Isda's world. I loved this fresh take on Phantom - the magic system is very cool and well done. Isda is a compelling and sympathetic MC and I was completely immersed and invested in her journey. Readers looking for a lush, gothic read will definitely enjoy.

OMG this book! I'm already a fan of the Phantom story, but the added element of memory magic and the lush, gothic vibes made this one of my favourite books so far this year. Isda's struggle to be more than the monster the world thinks she is and live a normal life filled with music, caramels and the boy she loves is as compelling as it is heartbreaking. And the ending? Absolutely crushed me. I reread it several times, both because it was so perfect and so utterly devastating. I'm still not sure I've recovered. This is an unbelievably complex and gorgeous debut.

This story revolves around Isda & her magical ability to alter memories of those who sing in her presence. At first, she’s using this gift to ensure opera goers have a good memory of the show and this but more tickets...a harmless trick compared to what Cyril has planned.
Isda knows the difference from right and wrong, but Cyril is like a father to her, and he’d never steer her wrong......right?

——-
Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Sing Me Forgotten was an okay story—nothing to really rave about. While reading, I figured out how the story would turn out before I got to chapter 10. I appreciate the love for music and the breakdown of how it made the main character, Isda, feel, but that's all I can say about my fascination. In reality, Isda got on my nerves midway through the story. Her actions and decision-making were very brash, and it always bit her in the ass.

I also would have loved to see more about these fendoirs and gravoirs. I think Olson did a good job explaining why gravoirs are considered the devil's spawn, but I think she missed the mark of fully building them into the story. In the entire book, I only saw 3 of these species mentioned. Having them equipped probably could have helped the world building's narrative a little better.

I never knew I needed a gender-swapped retelling of The Phantom of the Opera, but I am definitely glad I got this one! I devoured this book in one day- it was so easy to fall into the interesting and gripping story of Isda, the Opera Ghost. I love The Phantom of the Opera, so this reimagining captivated me with its clever twist on the story. The world of fendoirs and gravoirs was both fascinating and heartbreaking. With powers to access people’s memories by song, the world shuns and fears them, dooming them to either a solitary existence or death. Isda was saved from her horrible fate by Cyril, and now finds her sanctuary living in the crypt of the opera house and secretly manipulating audiences with her powers. The magic of accessing someone’s memories and life experiences through song was a beautiful and creative concept and Isda was a delightfully complex, and sometimes morally gray, character. As someone who spent her entire existence in the company of one other person, experiencing life through other people’s memories, she had a unique view of the world, and watching her finally get to discover it for herself was engrossing. The relationship between Isda and Emeric was full of great banter and moments that I loved, but it almost felt too comfortable too soon and I would have liked to get to see Isda figure out how to have a relationship with another human being after being isolated for so long. Despite that, they had a lovely connection and I loved the change he brought to her world. The plot was fast-paced, romantic, dramatic, and violent, and it never felt rushed. Every moment was fully fleshed out and was important to continue the story. This book sucked me in quickly and didn’t let go until the last page.

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson, 336 pages. Inkyard Press, 2021. $20.
Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13
BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL, HS - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Seventeen-year-old Isda lives in the shadows because she has to, but she also thrives in the background of the opera house she calls home. If she steps into the spotlight she longs for, Isda’s magical abilities would become known and execution would soon follow. However, her music and the only father she has ever known is too small of a world for Isda once she hears Emeric sing. Expanding her world to include this stranger is a risk, but Isda is willing to take it.
As is common in books, readers drop into the story moments before a catalyst for change appears in Isda’s world and she chooses to invite that change into her life. With Isda still discovering the directions her new choices can take her, her character felt erratic. Isda was warring with herself, which made her character seem inconsistent and hard for me to connect with. Once Isda embraced her change, I had an easier time enjoying the story through to its amazing end. The way Olson chose to end the story is one of my top three favorite things about Sing Me Forgotten, with another being how the magic is tied up in music. Music is powerful and vulnerable, and I love how Olson has taken the real enchantment of music and broadened it for Isda’s story. The violence rating is for blood, gun use, and murder.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Jessica Olsen has a really beautiful, lush writing style and her prose are flawless. Her characters create depth and emotion that will carry you through the story. If you loved the Phantom of the Opera, and love fantasy and retellings, this story will grab you.

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson was such a pleasant surprise. To say the least, I was intrigued the moment I heard it described as a gender switched YA fantasy retelling of The Phantom of the Opera and for the most part it really worked for me. Olson's writing style is lush and atmospheric. It's easy to fall for the characters and the musical/ memory magic system of the gravoirs. The first half of the novel are quite engaging which kept me hanging on to every word, but it does drag a little in the third quarter, but you've got that outstanding yet terribly brutal finale too. I really wanted to know more about the wider world of the novel since the story is mostly confined to the opera house. I've got to say though that the author does a marvelous job of recreating the tone of the original story, especially when it comes to Isda as the Phantom. Overall, Jessica S. Olson's Sing Me Forgotten is an impressive debut novel that's well worth your time if you're looking for an atmospheric YA retelling or if you're a fan of The Phantom of the Opera. I'm definitely looking forward to Olson's next release A Forgery of Roses due out in 2022 which is supposed to be a YA fantasy Stalking Jack the Ripper meets The Picture of Dorian Gray.

I absolutely love Phantom of the Opera and all adjacent media (the musical, Love Never Dies, the book, film adaptations, etc) so I was really looking forward to this one! It absolutely did not let me down. Isda's story is beautiful and tragic and Olson perfectly captured the feeling of being on the fringe. I'd definitely recommend this book to all other Phantom lovers out there.

Once I heard that this book was a Phantom of the Opera retelling, I was immediately intrigued. We definitely see the resemblance to the original story but it is also very much it's own story with an interesting magic system. The system was easy to follow however there were a few scenes that confused me with the specifics of it. The beginning of the book started off a bit slow but the last quarter definitely had a lot of action. I was interested in Isda and her life but at many points I didn't understand her decision making. I also enjoyed the love interest Emeric and wished we got to see more of him as it felt as their relationship was a little rushed. There were some avenues in the plot that I would have loved to explore more. I enjoyed the writing and found many quotes that I really loved. Such as "I am the Channe Opera House Ghost. Bearer of nightmares. And just as worthy to walk under an open sky as anyone else." What I most enjoyed was the atmosphere of the old opera house and the catacombs, it felt just like when I was watching the movie!

Overall it was a very unique take on Phantom of the Opera. I gave this book 3.5/5 Stars.

This is a fantastically unique fantasy surrounding singing, music, memories, an ugly/mangled protagonist, and an adorable friends to lovers relationship. The protagonist has flaws and I think that is my favourite thing about Ista. She has moments that she gives in to her anger, to her wants as opposed to what she knows will keep her safe. She is very realistic and not the typical "not like other girls" protagonist in my opinion. The magic system is fascinating and I enjoy that we learn more with the protagonist. I do think her learning of her history was slightly poorly done given that she just reads books about it, and it is basically an info dump but all in all this was fantastic!

Isda was never meant to survive past infanthood. Tossed down a well at birth for possessing the forbidden magical ability to manipulate memories while people sing, Isda was spared the owner of an opera house. Ever since, she has haunted the theatre’s halls, using her powers to keep ticket sales high in secret. But, when a charming boy named Emeric stumbles into her life, Isda finds herself breaking the very rules that have protected her for so many years. In Emeric, Isda sees a different future, one where she is free from her caged-in life. If she wants to claim this different path, though, Isda will have to become the very monster the world assumed her to be from the start.

My Recommendation-
Die-hard theatre fans absolutely need to read this magical gender-bent retelling of The Phantom of the Opera! This book would be a fantastic pick for fans of Caraval and other theatre-inspired fantasy novels!

Phantom of the Opera phans, rejoice–this is the gender-swapped Phantom retelling we’ve all been waiting for. Dark, luscious, and full of twisted magic, this story offers a fresh twist on the musical (and novel) you know and love. It takes out the love triangle, adds in a magic system rooted in the buying and selling of memory, and doesn’t shy away from the tricky blend of monstrousness and humanity that is the Opera Ghost. In other words, it tells a new tale while maintaining the best parts of the original. The end result is magical–music to my ears, if you’ll pardon the pun.

With all the fairytale retellings we’ve been getting in recent years, I have to say, it was really nice to read a retelling of something a little different–a Gothic classic and stage musical. (Side note: are musical retellings coming into vogue now? After how much I loved Only Mostly Devastated last year, a queer contemporary Grease retelling, my inner theater-kid would be thrilled to see this trend continue.) But I digress–on to this book!

The Phantom of the Opera–the person, not the story–is a complex character. Even as he is overly romanticized in the stage production, he is a truly morally gray character. He wants to be loved, but his life of hiding and being hated by the world makes him cause some truly monstrous results. He kills people. In the book, he tortures people. And people still love and sympathize with him.

In writing this story, the author did not shy away from that element. Her anti-heroine, too, is so desperate for love and freedom that she will do whatever it takes to get there. Whether that means falsifying people’s memories, driving people mad, or outright murder, she overcomes her moral qualms with a rationale of the ends justifying the means; a lifetime without any real human contact has skewed her moral compass in a slightly-off-course direction. Yet, even with her questionable choices, readers can’t help but sympathize with her underlying humanity. Morally gray women are not very common in fiction, because let’s face it–the world still likes to harbor this dichotomy of women who being either saints or villains, with very little in between. This story is one of the slowly-growing legion of books breaking that mold, and I love it for that.

The magic system in this world was also interesting. The concept of an economy based on buying and selling memories can be tricky to execute–the ethical implications, especially with regard to power imbalances that affect the lower class, have the potential to become very messy, but this story managed to at least touch on those themes. And the dichotomy of fendoirs and gravoirs–those who can extract memory elixir and those who can manipulate memories, both of whom are born with disfigured faces–was a nice touch. That said, there were some elements of the worldbuilding that were a little fuzzy for me. I don’t want to delve into spoiler territory too much, but a certain group of people was mentioned several times, but never with clear answers on what they really did.

Now, the question everyone asks: how was the romance? It was sweet. It bordered on insta-love a bit, but in the context of Isda’s character, isolated and without any real friends, that isn’t too surprising and is at least consistent with her character. Emeric is an earnest and kindhearted boy, in stark contrast to Isda’s brooding, with a fondness for making caramels and a general inquisitiveness. Though the conversations between Isda and Emeric felt rather stilted at times, the way they cared about each other was still evident. (For folks who like steaminess, there isn’t much beyond kissing/making out, just so you know.) And the ending? Oh boy, lots of feelings. I figured out where it was going relatively early, but it still hit pretty hard when I got there.

A note on the language: Olson renders the story in lovely prose with a flair for the dramatic. She weaves music-related language throughout the narration, heightening the general artistic atmosphere that pervades the book. As a singer and theory geek, there were a couple times where the terminology was used inaccurately–contrasting notes as being staccato and largo, for example (one is an articulation, the other is a tempo; perhaps she meant “legato” for the second one?), or referring to something as being a sonata and a serenade (a sonata is a purely instrumental piece, but all the other terms she used in the passage were for sung music). This is obviously super nit-picky, and most people don’t care, but still irked me a little. The words were pretty, but form taking priority over substance is…not ideal.

Finally, if you’re a huge fan of the musical like I am, you’ll also delight in how many small references to the show the author works into the story. (If you’re not, you can probably skip this bulleted list because it won’t mean much to you.) Among others:

- A nursery rhyme Isda used to love, about a girl named Charlotte (loosely referencing “Little Lotte”)
- A certain councilman named LeRoux (a nod to the author of the original novel)
- A scene inspired by “Music of the Night”
- A masquerade ball (reference is self-explanatory)
- A line where a character refers to Isda as an “angel of music”
- A brief mention of a book by someone named Andre Forbin (I can’t be sure, but it immediately made me think of Andre and Firmin, the bumbling managers of the opera house in the show)
- Of course, a chandelier drop (because let’s be real, you can’t have a Phantom story without that!)

In short: despite a few stumbling blocks, this is a memorable story full of music and moral ambiguity. Recommended for anyone who likes their YA fantasy to skew a little to the dark side, fans of Phantom of the Opera, and anyone who wants to see a badass girl burn the world to the ground in order to earn her place in the world.