Item: Phantoms
Author: Gina

Phantoms by Michael Leon | $20 Giveaway & Excerpt

A book blog tour from Goddess Fish Promotions.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Marianne & Judy at Goddess Fish for providing me with the information for this tour.

What's in this post!

Book Details

Phantoms by Michael Leon, Chrissie Anthony
Series: Phantoms #1
Published by Australian Inspiration on 04/05/2018
Genres: Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery, Myths & Legends, Paranormal
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 376

The legend lives on in Phantoms… as the modern-day Phantom of the Opera, Eric Destler, plots to take over and rule the Palais Garnier with La Divina, the world-famous soprano, Carlotta Caccini, as his queen.

But at every turn he is thwarted by his nemesis, the original Phantom of the Opera, now the Opera Ghost. "Phantoms" is set in the dark underground of the famous Paris Opera House and the stage above, where Guiseppi Verdi’s famous opera, Macbeth is being rehearsed.

It is about parallel worlds, where opera imitates life with potentially catastrophic results. This is a tale about many phantoms – the real, the imagined, and the ethereal – that haunt us all. And about the phantoms who live in the darkest recesses of the mind, often lurking behind beautiful facades.

A world where some masks can’t be seen.

Source: Goddess Fish Promotions, Kindle Unlimited

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Excerpt from Phantoms

Erik expertly opened the champagne, then with a flourish, poured a little into each of the exquisitely hand-carved gold goblets, allowing the champagne to rise up then back, before topping them up. He handed Carlotta a goblet, picked up his own, then raised it to make a toast, but Carlotta spoke first.

“To us, to the King and Queen of the Garnier,” she toasted.

“And to the Phantom of the Opera, replied Erik, “I shall sit in his place.” Suddenly the air was rent with the discordant sounds of an organ before the ghostly apparition of a masked phantom appeared. His loud, disembodied voice echoing off the walls, “To thine own self be true.”

Erik leapt to his feet, alarmed, gesticulating wildly and startling Carlotta.

“There… there… can’t you see it?” The phantom vanished.

“You are mad!” said Carlotta, softly.

“I saw him with my own eyes.”

“Sit down, Erik. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”

Erik went to sit in Banquo’s chair again, but the ghostly apparition of a masked phantom reappeared there again. A shocked Erik stood still.

“Leave me,” shouted Erik, loudly, now in the mind and body of Macbeth, “leave me, awesome ghost!” The phantom disappeared.

“Shame, my lord!” Carlotta sang back at him, wondering what was happening, but ready to play this musical game.

Erik paced to and fro, now singing Macbeth’s part, pointing to where the phantom had been, acting as if he were truly mad. “That shadow demands blood from me, and it will have it, I swear it will have it!”

“What is wrong with you?” a now troubled Carlotta asked, clearly disturbed by seeing Erik unravel before her. Was this a performance, a scene from the opera, for her benefit?

“The Phantom of the Opera was here,” a tormented Erik cried. Carlotta stood up and breathed deeply. If it was a performance, he would have it. Reincarnated as Lady Macbeth, she faced him.

“Cowardly spirit! Your fright has created idle phantoms,” she sang, her powerful tones ridiculing him. Now wishing to end the disturbing performance, Carlotta picked up her goblet, and toasted Erik.

“René Bourdin has a rival. You never cease to amaze me, Erik.” Unsure of what had happened, he stood there, in the flickering candlelight, stunned into silence, grappling with the phantoms in his mind.

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Purchase Links for Phantoms

Amazon Bookshop/IndieBound

Kobo AppleBooks/iTunes The Book Depository

Waterstones The Wordery

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My thoughts on Phantoms

How do I describe this genre-bending novel? Is it paranormal, historical fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, futuristic, or an adaptation? Yes to all!

Fans of “Phantom of the Opera” should greatly enjoy this spin on the original.

If you aren’t familiar with the original, you will still be able to revel in the theater background, the murders, and the mystery that make up Michael Leon’s Phantoms.

While occasionally I had to pause to collect my thoughts, I never felt lost or out of touch with the book. It is a gripping story that compels you to read just one more page.

I will be reviewing book two in the series, Chandelier, in the near future. It should be a good one.

I recommend Phantoms to all lovers of murder mysteries with a paranormal twist.

I received a digital copy of the book for the tour and I read it through the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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I love my Amazon Kindle Unlimited Subscription. So many books, so little time!

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About Michael Leon

Michael Leon is an explorer, writer, and author of the new novel, Sentient.

Professionally trained in international trade, Michael has spent the last decade reading and writing SFF novels about new worlds to be explored in the future.

His latest work, Sentient, imagines Earth in the year 2120. Michael has traveled extensively around Europe, walking the paths of his characters, from the famous European opera houses in Phantoms to the mountain tops of Switzerland in Emissary.

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