Review - Night's Melody by Drake LaMarque

Matthieu has known Christophe since they were eight years old. The young man is more than a brother to Matthieu, who has grown to love the beautiful and talented Christophe. Lately, though, Christophe has disappeared for hours from time to time and has developed talents for more than dancing in the chorus. He finally confesses that an “angel” has been giving him lessons, although Matthieu fears that the angel is really the ghost rumored to haunt the opera. When an “accident” puts the troupe's star soprano out of action, Christophe is able to step in and give a stunning performance in her place. Matthieu is more enamored than ever, but he has a rival in the new owner of the theater, Raoul, who was Christophe's childhood friend. Both men want to keep Christophe safe but end up getting drawn into the phantom's web. Can the three of them save the phantom from his self-destructive path, or will they become victims of his madness?

This very gay, very kinky, slightly queer retelling of the classic gothic story manages to stay very close to the original plot while transforming it into an altogether different tale. Most of the characters from the book remain the same, except Christine becomes Christophe and Meg becomes Matthieu. Curiously, thinking back, I suspect there always was a kinky subtext to the original story, but it was never surfaced. The big departure from the 1910 story is that Christophe, as well as Matthieu and Raoul, fall in love with the phantom rather than reject him. In a way, this is “Phantom of the Opera” meets “Beauty and the Beast.”

Each of the four main characters is quite interesting. The point of view shifts among each of them in clearly marked sections. Christophe, who “comes out” as non-binary, is at the center of the story. They are the catalyst that draws the other three men into a polycule. However, it's Matthieu I find the more interesting person. In some ways, he's the odd man in the foursome. The character from the book he is based on is rather insignificant in that story. Eric (the Phantom) and Raoul are drawn to Christophe like moths to a flame. They both want to dominate and possess him. Matthieu wants Christophe too, but his love is based on their many years of friendship. Although it's never put this way in the story, it feels like Matthieu is the grounding force in the relationship. Without him, the other three might well spin out of control.

This book is part of a series by different authors retelling gothic horror classics with gay characters.

“Night's Melody” is available from Amazon (commissionable link).