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From School Library Journal --------------------------- Gr 7 Up—Rune Germain has sung opera since she was four years old, as her her played arias on his violin. She sings beautifully, and often the music becomes so strong that it bursts out of her, but each performance leaves her feeling ill, especially following her her's death. After Rune has a devastating encounter with a boy at a party, her mother sends her to her aunt's music conservatory, RoseBlood, near Paris, hoping that it will cure Rune of her "affliction." The school has a past that es Rune. Originally a theater modeled after the one in ton Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, the building burned down and has been partially rebuilt with funds from an anonymous benefactor. At RoseBlood, Rune experiences cruelty from jealous classmates, but she also makes good friends, and at night, lovely violin music lulls her to . Then, in a secret encounter, she meets violin-playing Etalon, who helps her understand the mysteries surrounding the school as well as her own identity. In a complex interweaving of teen school story, romance, and horror, the novel combines Phantom narrative elements with a cast of energy-sucking psychic vampires. Rune is a multifaceted, artistic character whose actions and reactions feel believably young adult as she confronts questions about family secrets and heredity. This is an accomplished undertaking, although the slow reveal may fail to engage some readers, especially those unfamiliar with the source material. VERDICT A good purchase for paranormal romance collections, and the connections to a classic work of literature add appeal.—Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas, Denton Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) Review ------ "A rich, atmospheric story that readers will be hard-pressed to put down." (Kirkus) "This is an accomplished undertaking... A good purchase for paranormal romance collections, and the connections to a classic work of literature add appeal." (School Library Journal) "Part vampire lore and part love story, this will appeal to those who enjoyed titles like Beautiful Creatures and Vampire Academy." (School Library Connection) "The mysteries and the ingenious ties to Leroux’s work are enough to attract plenty of fans, and the lush, details complete the atmospherics of the neogothic settings." (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books) Read more ( javascript:void(0) ) See all Editorial Reviews ( /dp/product-description/1419719092/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books&isInIframe=0 )