Bookfever: Audiobook Review: Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Audiobook Review: Phantom's Dance by Lesa Howard

Title: Phantom's Dance
Author: Lesa Howard
Narrator: Kai Kennicott
Publication: October 2nd 2014 by Boot in the Door Publications (first published March 1st 2014)
Genre: Young Adult ~ Contemporary
Purchase: Audible
Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Christine Dadey's family uprooted their lives and moved to Houston for her to attend the prestigious Rousseau Academy of Dance. Now, two years later, Christine struggles to compete among the Academy's finest dancers, her parents are on the brink of divorce, and she's told no one about her debilitating performance anxiety and what she's willing to do to cope with it. Erik was a ballet prodigy, a savant, destined to be a star on the world's stage, but a suspicious fire left Erik's face horribly disfigured. Now, a lonely phantom forced to keep his scars hidden, he spends his nights haunting the theater halls, mourning all he's lost. Then, from behind the curtain he sees the lovely Christine. The moldable, malleable Christine. Drawn in by Erik's unwavering confidence, Christine allows herself to believe Erik's declarations that he can transform her into the dancer she longs to be. But Christine's hope of achieving her dreams may be her undoing when she learns Erik is not everything he claims. And before long, Erik's shadowy past jeopardizes Christine's unstable present as his obsession with her becomes hopelessly entangled with his plans for revenge.

First of all, I don't usually listen to a lot of audiobooks but I do like to listen to them when they're favorite books of mine that I have read before. I don't think this review will be as long as my normal reviews because it's an audiobook and I have reviewed the story before but as far as audiobooks go, I personally think that this one was fantastic. And I'm not saying this because I loved the book when I read it. I really mean it. So, I still love the story. Still love this Christine that Lesa Howard has created, as well as Raoul. He's so adorable, isn't he? And so supportive of Christine. Going through the story again, made it stand out even more. I also ended up liking her parents more than I originally did. They do have their flaws but they were also really supportive of Christine in the end when she had horrible things happening to her.

The thing with reading or in this case listening to a story you've read before is that the details are more clear. And also, with audiobooks they're even more clear and intense because you're listening to the story, to a voice telling it, which I love. Which brings me to the narrator. I loved all the voices she did with the story. They were all different from one another, so I think she did a fantastic job. Her voice as Christine and Van were probably my favorites. And Erik... Wowza. I was warned that his voice was creepy but I didn't realize how creepy until I actually heard his more intense scenes. I loved it and it impressed me because I've listened to audiobooks before where the narrator didn't do the voices as good as Kai Kennicott did. Oh and the music was brilliant. I loved the sweet music when it was a scene between Christine and Raoul. And of course the creepier music when it was a scene between Christine and Erik. That was brilliant!

So did I love the audiobook of Phantom's Dance? Of course I did! I'd recommend it to all audiobook fans, whether or not you have read the book before. I enjoyed it immensely and am even more in love with this dark Phantom of the Opera retelling.