Phantom: Edge of the Flame

By: Kristine Goodfellow

Narrated by: Matt Jamie

Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Edge of the Flame is a twist on the tale of The Phantom of the Opera. The infamous Phantom narrates this version giving the reader a remarkable insight into the brilliant mind and tortured heart of the complex character. This engaging version keeps the integrity and chilling spirit of the original novel, but unmasks a brand new gothic love story.

Phantom: Edge of the Flame offers an alternative explanation for the shocking deeds attributed to the man known as the Phantom. A musical genius with a penchant for murder, Erik 'haunts' the opera house in the late 1800's. He becomes a recluse 'phantom' living in the bowels of the theatre. He frightens performers, extorts money from the managers and kills if his orders are not obeyed. The Phantom is filled with disdain for humanity born from a lifetime of maltreatment due to a facial deformity.

One dark night, while riding in his carriage, Erik encounters a woman and her coachman stranded on an isolated road. Erik sees murderous intent in the driver's eyes. Killing women is outside Erik's policy of acceptable murder, so he offers her a ride. Erik finds comfort in the pitch black of the carriage and eventually converses with the outgoing American. His charm, impeccable manners, and racy wit keep Olivia Weston entertained. They strike up a friendship on the long drive to Paris in the dark.

Erik pursues Olivia in a series of clandestine midnight visits and moonlit excursions. After a lifetime of solitude, the complexities of a relationship confuse Erik. He misinterprets social cues, challenges commonly accepted norms and causes serious injury to another man when he feels threatened.

When three men attack Erik and leave him for dead, he hunts them down and shows no mercy. Reeling from this huge moral setback, he begins to doubt that he can ever change. In a surge of self-loathing and contempt for mankind, he kidnaps Olivia believing she is his last chance to turn fear into love.

©2011 Kristine Goodfellow (P)2017 Kristine Goodfellow

Don't miss this Phan fiction

was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I've read my share of POTO fan fiction and I have to say that this has to be one of my favorites. This Erik has all the character hallmarks that we know: short tempered, sensitive, self-conscious and passionate. Most other books make his self-loathing so odious that you begin to wonder why you're rooting for him. This Erik was enjoyable and easier to connect with.
I generally shy away from fan fiction that deviate from the story. I read the reviews and held my breath as I read. I was ready to dislike it and swear off any books that aren't completely Erik and Christine based. I loved it. I loved Olivia and her snappy witt and charm. I found it refreshing to have the heroine be a widow in her 30s and not an inexperienced teenager like Christine.
The story was so gripping and vivid that I hardly put it down. Some hints were dropped as somewhat obvious foreshadowing but other times I tried to predict the outcome and I was blindsided. There were other times that I just smiled like an idiot because it was just a delicious story. Kristine Goodfellow did a fantastic job weaving details from the original book by Gustave Leroux and the 2004 movie with Gerard Butler. However, she did add in original details of her own to keep the story fresh.
I will go ahead and add that I listened to this story on Audible and was wonderfully wrapped in the Phantom's cocoon as the narrator told the story. His voice is the perfect blend of masculinity, gentility and mystery. I never want another narrator telling me a POTO story. I didn't care for some of his female voices and had to pretend they were more feminine but as Erik he is superb. I highly recommend this book and audiobook

Love it! Great imagination great job narrating.

This writer has a great imagination Christine Goodfellow has been one of my favorite writers for quite a few years now and to hear this book narrated made me like the book even better great job to the narrator and the author thanks for allowing me to listen to it Kristine