Sing The Night
By: Megan Eccles
Release Date: Oct 28 2025

4/5 stars ✨
1/5 spice 🌶️

This book has so many things going for it- beautiful prose, fantastic world building, and phantom of the opera vibes. I really enjoyed the details of this book, it made me feel as though I was actually living in the opera. Also, I enjoyed the insta-love (I know that’s not everyone’s thing) between the main characters.
Two things kept me from giving it 5 stars- one was pacing. Some of the language was repetitive and it took me about 1/3rd of the way into the book to get into it fully. The second critique is that certain things were given almost no explanation (the monarchy and the magic for example). Now this is a personal viewpoint, I am just a nerd that likes to know the mechanics and politics.
Overall it was an enjoyable read, and I can see it going far. My critiques are very minor and personalized to my taste. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC.

Sing the Night
Author: Megan Jaurequi Eccles

Selene has had a difficult childhood. Her father died prematurely, which made her an orphan.

She is taken in by the caretaker of L Opéra du Magican academy. Here she is given the opportunity to develop her magical talents.

The idea is that one of the students will work in the service of the king as the new king mage.

In order to achieve this, the students must demonstrate what they are capable of through a competition. Each of them must put together an act in which they must bring their singing to life through magic and dance, creating a kind of illusion on stage.

The rivalry escalates. Selene is starting to doubt her future more and more due to a series of fateful events...

The storyline and setting remind me a lot of the movie: The Black Swan, but with opera music vibes, and there are some similarities with the book: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

While reading there were a few things that struck me. One of the first things I ran into is that I don't really understand the magic system. There is magic, but the magic is partly an illusion which made me wonder what the actual function of magic in general is.

Another point is that the function of the monarchy is not clearly described by the author. The king is looking for a new mage, which makes him quite an important person in the storyline.

What also caught my attention is that a number of puns often recur in the text, which made some descriptions seem monotonous at times.

I found the entourage of the opera and the historical aspects very spectacular and vividly elaborated, which sometimes gave me the idea that I was actually present in the building myself.

I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Trigger warnings:
Violence, death, blood, mental illness, problematic family ties

As a Phantom of The Opera lover I wanted to love this book so badly. I loved the premise of this but the execution felt repetitive and the romance felt a little too insta-lovely for me. Vibes were sprawling and dark and delectable and our MC Selene had me genuinely rooting for her throughout the competition, but the mid-book slump really got to me with this one unfortunately as the same sequence of events was repeated again and again.

I really enjoyed this Phantom of the Opera inspired retelling! I loved the worldbuilding, how music is used to create magic and the dangerous side-effects it can cause when it goes wrong – as we learn what happens with Selene’s father. Selene’s ambition to win the L′Opéra du Magician and redeem her father’s legacy was compelling to read, especially when as more and more secrets and betrayals are revealed, the more winning L′Opéra du Magician seems unwise. I also really like how the author incorporated the famous love triangle from the musical/book into the story, with Selene effectively using both of her love interests to try and win the competition. I did feel that Selene’s first reaction to the mysterious ‘phantom’ was somewhat insta-lovey, but hey it’s YA! Also, the mirrors – if you know you know! I don’t really enjoy school or competition settings in fantasy books that much either, but this was still pretty good. If you enjoy stories about magical competitions, love triangles, music, and are a fan of Phantom of the Opera, I would definitely recommend this book! I’m looking forward to reading the sequel when it comes out.

Sing the Night is a sweeping, immersive fantasy that was pitched as "for fans of Phantom of the Opera" but it reads much closer to a retelling. It's very obvious the author has extensive experience in music, and while I also enjoyed the unique magic system, it seemed the music metaphors went a little to far. I also come from a musical background, so no one is more surprised than me that this didn't quite work for me, but after about 40% of the way through the book, it just felt overdone.

The world was INCREDIBLE. Very beautiful and interesting. The female main character's goals and obstacles were also clear and easy to connect with.

I did have a hard time believing Selene, the FMC, had literally been living in an opera house since she'd been a child and had never left... there wasn't even a strong reason given. She just agreed to be a prisoner in this place?

The plot had a similar holding pattern to Selene's circumstances. The book opens on the day of this massive magical competition and by 50% of the way through the book, we're still doing the competition. Though we know Selene's desires, and can foresee the slippery slope she starts to walk when she lets the ghost teach her dark magic, we just sort of...hang out there. Events happen, but the plot itself doesn't exactly move forward at a satisfying pace. Similarly, when she meets the ghost, I had A LOT of questions (some of which were answered, some not), but we see the same pattern of Selene going to him, learning something, and then doing his bidding before coming back. Except her lessons are all the same--there isn't much change in what he's teaching her. Only her inexplicable obsession with him.

Overall, the prose was STUNNING and the world was so unique, but the pacing and the lack of believability between Selene and the Ghost are what kept me from giving it 5 stars.

Darkly enchanting, musically magical, and dripping with gothic atmosphere—Sing the Night hits all the right notes. 🎼🩸🎭

I absolutely devoured this book. A spellbinding, Phantom of the Opera–inspired fantasy full of blood, beauty, betrayal, and longing—it had me hooked from the opening pages and left me desperate for a sequel after that ending. 👻🎶😱

Selene is a fierce and emotionally complex protagonist, driven by ambition, grief, and a desperate need to prove herself in the cutthroat world of L′Opéra du Magician. The magic system—woven through song—is gorgeously imaginative, and the entire story pulses with a sense of theatrical drama and creeping dread. The mysterious man in the mirror? Deliciously dark and hauntingly seductive. I was just as spellbound as Selene.

Eccles creates a world entirely her own—one where magic exacts a price, love is laced with shadows, and obsession simmers beneath the surface.

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish, and I’m aching for more. If you love your fantasy atmospheric, emotionally charged, and tinged with madness and mystery, this one deserves a standing ovation. 👏✨

This is a dark, political reimagining of the Phantom of the opera. Steeped in a world of mysterious monarchies and mages, where magic is solely for entertaining and nothing more.

Children with the gift are sent off to live in an opera house run by an apathetic and harsh teacher. With the end of the Kings prize mage’s retirement, comes the opportunity that they have been waiting for since childhood. The chance to compete against their fellow students, friends, family, to become the new King’s mage.

The opera itself is run almost like a black widow style academy. Where the would be entertainers are trained, not only to be the best but allowed, to slight each other, sabotage is common even so far as between siblings.
With the outcomes being either insanity, grave injury, and even death versus the opulence, luxury, power and acclaim.

The book has a lot of intricacies, and though it has almost all the same main characters, though with different names, there are vastly different plot lines.

This book asks a lot of questions: why is magic only for entertaining, what is the true purpose of the King’s mage, what other magic is out there?

This is definitely going to be a very interesting series!

The cover is stunningggggg. However, I think that's all I enjoyed about this book. I couldn't get past the writing style. It truly just isn't for me. There is a def audience for this (mature teens?) I just couldn't get into it. The execution seems to fall a little short. I found myself frustrated with the reading rather than feeling enthralled. I enjoyed the mood and the overall themes (moody, dark). I also liked the world building and systems. As I mentioned, it just fell a little short to me. I don't see myself personally snagging the book but I am thankful for the opportunity to read it.

While the book did start off kinda slow, I found myself enjoying it a lot by the 40% mark. The concept of the magic is not new but it is an interesting take on music magic. I will say I felt like this book is more of a vibes read. If you start to ask questions I think the world starts to unravel a little or at least not make much sense. Overall I enjoyed it but certainly not for those who dissect their books. I am still slightly confused on how magic is created through dance since it is mostly discussed that it is through singing, but again, if you don’t ask questions it not a terrible read.

A short synopsis:

A young girl is gearing up for her auditions to become the King’s next Mage. Where magic is only performed through dance and/or song, too tough of a lyrical choice can send a mage into a mental break. Our main character Selene knows this too well, as her father was one to go mad.

Very loose take on the Phantom of the Opera. And I mean they’re in an opera house and they mention a ghost, but the true ghost doesn’t actually do anything to give himself this name.

SING THE NIGHT was an absolute pleasure, filled with atmospheric writing, breathtaking twists, and characters I'd follow anywhere. One of my favorite reads of the year! I can't wait for the sequel.

To start, I have never seen Phantom Of The Opera but was still able to totally understand and enjoy this story. It was really very beautifully written. I loved Selene very much and following along on this crazy and treacherous journey she embarks on. Highly recommend this!

"If he were a song, she would have sung him until the world was filled with his music. If he were magic, she would have opened her mind and let him flood her until all the world was remade."

Beautiful and interesting premise, but somehow weak execution.
I liked the writing style, the dark, melancholic atmosphere with subtle gothic undertones, and the unique magic. However, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters, and the story with its shaky pacing failed to hold my attention.

The worldbuilding left me wanting more. I wanted to know more about the magic and the trials (how they work, etc). I also don't understand why becoming the King’s Mage is such a great honor when the mages in this world are just mere entertainers.

The romance was the weakest part of the book, it felt shallow and flat. There was no chemistry or tension between the characters. The main character insta lusts after the Ghost (who immediately declares that he "could never forget her"), and she's also kinda into her childhood friend Victor. Sigh, I'm not into love triangles at all.

Unfortunately, it was a mid read for me. Not a bad debut, the story definitely has potential, and I liked the vibes, but that's it.

Thank you to NetGalley and 8th Note Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

this 100% reads like a phantom of the opera fanfic.

i liked the magical elements and the writing style, but there were so many unanswered questions, especially about the whole trials thing. the worldbuilding needed way more depth for me to love this. the pacing wasn’t the best at times, felt like it dragged on a bit with the recurrent over explanations of simple things.

that said, i’m weak for a gothic mystery with hints of found family, so i couldn’t really hate it. also, i love a tortured man in books and he was by far the best part of the story for me (even though he was barely in it). i really hope we get more of his backstory in the next books. as for selene i just didn’t connect with her., she was a bit annoying and i couldn’t connect with her at all.

i have mixed feelings, but i’m still curious enough to continue with this series.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC — opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love The Phantom Of The Opera so I was super excited to read this book. I have read a few retellings of TPOTO and they have always kind of fallen flat but this is definitely one of the better ones I have read. I loved the story line and it gripped me all the way through

This was a really interesting take on competition. Deadly and intense, all she wants to do is sing and win this competition.

Sing the Night is a beautifully written retelling of the Phantom of the Opera, complete with magic, mystery, and all of the gothic vibes.

Selene is an intriguing FMC, as the orphaned daughter of the Mad Mage- Songerie’s most
prestigious and gifted magician, until he pushed himself too far and lost control of his magic- there is a constant feel of worry that she will do the same.

The magic found in the story is unique and captivating, and the author’s descriptive writing style immerses the reader in the world and sounds of the Opera. As a former choir kid, I could hear the cymbal of crashing waves and feel every staccato beat of the heart.

Between Selene’s grit and determination and the discovery of the ghost’s harrowing back story, this book was impossible to put down. The twists and turns of the plot mixed with the yearning of a slowburn, make Sing the Night perfect read for romantasy lovers.

Even with this being book 1 of the duology, I am completely hooked and already dying for the next book in the series.

This book immediately drew my attention for many reasons: the cover is absolutely stunning, the title struck a chord with me, and the description instantly had me hooked. I have always loved the Phantom of the Opera and, after reading this book, definitely picked up on the inspirational undertones. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, adding to the perfectly described gothic ambience. The romance was one that left me questioning whether or not to root for the characters. While I enjoyed the parallels to Christine and the Opera Ghost from the original work, I couldn't get completely behind their budding relationship. Otherwise, the world is amazing and the writing style is very easy to follow. I would still recommend this read for anyone who loves the classical book and wants something in a similar setting.

DNFed after the first three chapters.
The blurb really intrigued me but this read like a rough first draft. The first three chapters were full of info dumping, yet still failed to give me a basic grasp on the world and the magic. It felt very rushed. The author also over explained very obvious interactions between characters. Very disappointed as I was so excited for a Phantom Of The Opera retelling.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this eArc to review.

I enjoyed reading this book. The setting was quite unique and it was what I liked the most. It was dark and atmospheric, with some gothic undertones. The magic system was compelling and the plot was engaging. I liked the little mystery surrounding the main character and her father. As for the characters, I liked Gigi a bit more than the main character Selene, but Selene was still an interesting character. The male characters were not as intriguing as the female characters but they were fine — though I was weary of one of them especially. The romance is not the strongest but it did not bother me so that’s good.

Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Music and magic are harmoniously infused in this Phantom of the Oprea retelling.

Where music is magic and magic is entertainment Selene vies for her place as the King's Mage. Things are not what they seem when she meets the mythical opera ghost, saboteurs try to take her out and she learns chilling truths about her late father the last Kings Mage.

This retelling blends the aspects of the original novel, the aura of the musical and creates a worthy homage to both. I adore Selenes Relationships with many of the other characters especially between the two love interests Victor the sweet scallywag Prince from her past and the deliciously dangerous oprea ghost. The way we are constantly kept guessing who the villian(s) are is a particularly clever feat, is it her competition, the ghost, her mentor or the royal family.
I am throughly looking forward to the next book already.

You will love this is if you like-

🎼 Music Magic
🎵 Shadow Daddies
🎼 Found Family
🎵 Trials
🎼 Slow Burn