Unmasqued: An Erotic Novel of The Phantom of The Opera (ARC)
2 journalers for this copy...
One of the world's most beloved stories as it has never been told before, Unmasqued is a novel of breathtaking historical erotica.
His exquisite obsession... Christine Daaé heard rumors of the hideous Phantom said to haunt the great Opera House in 19th-century Paris. But its youngest and brightest star knows something no one else does—the truth. For in the darkness she thrills to the deep velvet timbre of his arousing voice, and quivers to the soft strokes of his leather-gloved fingers. He is real. Her inspiration. Her Musique d'Ange. Her liberator.
Her erotic awakening... Condemned to the catacombs below, Erik has desired his obsession from the shadows, careful to keep his identity, and his secret, in the dark. Only he understands Christine's extraordinary talents and her beauty. Only he can pleasure her like no man has before. But his sensual power comes with a price—and a risk to everyone who stands between them. For Christine too is succumbing to her most forbidden and dangerous desires—and to the Phantom who's making them all come true.
I read through the reviews over at Amazon and was surprised at the number of negative reviews complaining about the sex. Sheesh, it's an Erotic novel people! That's why the word is part of the subtitle even! Though from that same vantage point, I actually found the sex scenes a little lukewarm and only mediocre for my taste. This wasn't the spicy hot erotica I usually find like in Ellora's Cave or Black Lace books. Granted they were explicit, but in my opinion, more along the lines of what you find in an erotic romance as opposed to full-out erotica. But I suppose that's how she got published with a major publisher instead of an Erotica-specific one such as Ellora's Cave or Black Lace. I'm not faulting her in any way for this, simply stating the facts.
I really did enjoy this take on Phantom though, taking it at face value. Sure, I think it could've been a little hotter on the sex as I already stated. ;) But I enjoyed the fleshing out of the various characters: Christine Daaé, Madame Giry, and especially Erik. I loved how the author really made you feel for Erik! She also managed to make the Comte de Chagny, Raoul's brother Philippe, look like a real asshole, while leaving you with a sort of indifferent attitude towards the Raoul himself. So her words and story did a good job of evoking plenty of emotion. :)
The pacing of the story was quite good as well. There was a good mix of action with the sex scenes placed appropriately throughout. Going in, I was afraid the sex would seem contrived, randomly inserted and disjointed from the rest of the story, but that wasn't the case at all. All the sex was woven in with the rest of the action, which in turn was woven into the standard Phantom story we all know and love.
Most excellent work, Ms. Gale! Bravo!
This is now reserved for purple-pixie, who won it in the Naughty November Erotica Swap on BookObsessed.
Released 16 yrs ago (12/3/2007 UTC) at BookObsessed Swap in USPS, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Mailed to purple-pixie, who won it in the Naughty November Erotica Swap on BookObsessed, on 03-Dec-2007 via USPS First Class Mail International. (Customs Tag # LJ 211 461 729 US