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Reviews for Abendlied

by Jennifer Linforth

Review Date: Jan 22, 2010
 

Erik and Anna are on the run from Raoul's hunters, accused of multiple murders, including, Phillipe de Chagny, brother to Raoul. Christine fights her attraction to her Angel of Music, wanting a life with Raoul, her son Andre, and the daughter she is carrying. Anna, also pregnant, must fight for not only her life, but a life with Erik. Forces conspire to destroy any chance at happiness Anna and Erik can have.

For anyone who never understood Christine choosing Raoul over the Phantom, Jennifer Linforth's second entry in her Madrigal series, is a welcome treat. I've hated Christine ever since reading The Phantom of the Opera for the first time, not understanding how Christine couldn't see the man behind the mask. Anna is the heroine fans have been waiting for, flawed like Erik but strong and loving enough to lift him from his madness. Abendlied was an anxiously awaited sequel, but once I got it, I put off reading it, savoring each page, knowing that I could only read it for the first time once. Jennifer Linforth's latest work is sweet and tender, dark and decandent, a treat to be reached for again and again. For anyone who read Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera and wanted more, this is the book for you!
 

5 Stars

After Christine’s confession, Raul hires Loup to find the Phantom (Erik.) Raoul is convinced Erik killed his brother Philippe de Chagny even though evidence proves his brother’s death is an accident. Loup agrees to hunt down Erik, but the man has his own personal agenda. He will hunt the Phantom, but his main goal is to capture Anna, the woman with Erik. Her crime was committed when defending her honor and he has every intention to make her pay for it. Also Loup is blackmailing Christine after witnessing a transgression that will threaten the Chagny bloodline.

Christine must deal with her own demons. Is she in love with two men? She tries to hide her confusion, but Raoul senses his wife’s unrest. He loves Christine and will do anything to protect her, but his judgment is hampered by his insecurities.

As the manhunt continues, Anna fears Erik will embrace the madness that lurks beneath the surface and will never find the man in madman. Erik falls back to being The Phantom of the Opera and seeks out Christine. Her shocking confession may destroy his relationship with Anna. Erik recalls his association with Comte Philippe de Chagny and what his friendship meant to him, but will the memories be enough to heal him?

Ms. Linforth has written another noteworthy tale about the Phantom. Anna and Erik must learn to trust each other to allow their relationship to flourish. Erik must also learn to put the past behind him before he can accept what Anna offers. In Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera, Philippe is a man of the world and doesn’t like Raoul’s attachment to Christine. Erik later drowns Philippe when the man goes looking for Raoul in the cellars of the opera house. I enjoyed how the author takes the reader back to Erik’s life below the opera house to unfold a new tale with the Phantom’s friendship with Comte Philippe de Chagny. I don’t want to reveal too much of this wonderful tale with a twist to the old story. This is the second book in the series. It does stand alone, but I believe the reader may take pleasure reading Madrigal first to thoroughly enjoy the continued tale of The Phantom of the Opera.

Karen Michelle Nutt, PRN Reviews

Copyright 2008 Leanne Burroughs