That is, of course, until one day, she encountered a newly addition to the Opera House, one Emeric Rodin (aka the female version of Christine Daaé in case you haven’t noticed *wink*). Isda has always lived in darkness and often dreams of singing in front of the audience one day, but she knows that will never happen. After being taken in by Cyril, she helps him by manipulating the audiences’ memories at the Opera House, gaining both money and popularity for him. Like fendoirs (another type of magic inhabitant able to extract memories as an elixir) both hide underneath masks because of their facial disfigurements and are scorned by society. The mutilated face is their signature and all gravoirs are expected to be executed upon birth for fear of their powers going rogue. Unknown to others but Cyril, Isda has a secret: she is a gravoir, someone who is able to see a person’s memories and manipulate them whilst they are singing. Seventeen-year-old Isda has lived in the shadows her entire life, being discarded and left to drown at birth, she was found and raised in secret by Cyril, the owner of the Opera House in which she resides. Olson takes this classic legend and does a gender-twist containing all the elements of magic and music, bringing it to a new level as she presents a complex girl with a hidden life and magical talents before us. Despite his association with darkness, the phantom however has the voice of an angel (much to everyone’s surprise), he projects his dreams of singing in front of an audience onto Christine, his muse and his secret love.

His appearance can be identified by the white mask that covers half of his scarred face. Those of you who have watched the musical or at least aware of the story would be able to recall a certain phantom lurking in the crypts and sewers of the Paris Opera House. For those of you who are massive fans of The Phantom of the Opera story, both novel and musical (like me), get ready for a new gender-flipped version of the well renowned story!

Sing Me Forgotten by Jessica S. Olson