Shadow of the Ghost Light

by T.F. Johnson, Imogen Elvis

When the theatre burned down, it left behind more than ghosts ...

Best friends Carina and Mae are ecstatic to be performing at the newly rebuilt Angel Theatre. But disaster haunts the opening in a twist of fate, Mae is unable to take the stage, while Carina is elevated to the lead.

The new manager of the theatre, Rhett, is determined to prove himself to his distinguished family - by any means necessary. And Erik, emotionally and physically scarred from the fires of the past, desperately searches for meaning through his music.

Alongside a string of deaths at the theatre, friendships will be tested and love lost and found as the cast and crew race to discover the killer.

Romance, magic, music and murder intertwine in this fantasy retelling of The Phantom of the Opera.

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 28, 2026

About the author

TF Johnson spends her days in imaginary worlds swordfighting, defeating monsters, and talking with dragons.

TF Johnson has a degree in Interior Design, which she has never used, is addicted to chocolate and coffee, and would spend her days with her head in the clouds if she had the choice. She has an incredibly understanding husband and an English Bulldog who is the best writing companion ever – Even if she does have a habit of putting her head on the keyboard and leaving it there.

In her spare time, TF Johnson collects books to read, which is a completely different hobby to actually reading them. She has 173 books on her to-read shelf, a number which is steadily growing.

When she’s not reading or writing, TF Johnson can be found trying out new hobbies and spending time with her friends and family.

Reviews

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from the authors and I can’t say I wasn’t impressed by the book.
I loved the cover to start with and the synopsis of the book.
As I read the story I started to like particular characters and worry something was going to happen to them.
I really enjoyed the storyline, it wasn’t rushed and kept me guessing along the way

[Neli]

I WAS AGAIN AN ARC READER EEEKKKK
sorry I just really love arcs
Anyways I woke up at like 6am this morning, and it’s late rn so I will indeed be coming back tommrowow to write this review
But can I just mention now that this books concept was not AT ALL what I was expecting.
Possibly cause TF Johnson’s other books (the belladonna trilogy which is another AMAZING SERIES) was much more,,, fantasy esc? And this was more murder mystery.
But it was fun and interesting and captivating.
I also really enjoyed all our characters and different perspectives and im very excited to see the next book which will follow up these chronicles of classic stories retold.
Yeah that’s all for tonight, see you tommrowow!!

Okay I’m back.
Woo hoo I knwo round of applause
So I really enjoyed the premise of this book, it had great character building and the vibes were immaculate
I just felt that if this was a series we could have had so much more depth to these characters and the plot
Like I would of cared more about the deaths etc
Also I BELEIVE I would have enjoyed this even more if I knew what it was about
I really went in blind. Like I thought it would be more fantasy esc and it was more murder mystery esc
And I do wish we got more of the magic
Like the mages and the sparks and the trinkets. These were all really cool, but also really underdeveloped factors of the story
Like yes I knwo the trinkets were the main part… but how were they made, what’s a mage, what’s a spark?
Does this make any sense?
Sorry if it doesn’t
Anyways



PLOT
okay so we begin following the rebuilding of a theater called the angel
It burnt down In a fire and killed many people, and left many injured
So yeah we are rebuilding that
However on the opening night, the prima Donna (lead singer) left because her mum was ill
So someone else has to take over. That’s gonna be Carina and Meli.
And then also Mae, the… Madames? Sorry I do not remember her role… but yeah her daughter like sprains her ankle but because she is a spark she can’t heal it
So down a dancer as well
Uhh… all is honestly going okay
Production is good. Not great
But then one of the sit in prima Donna’s is found dead
Meli is dead
So we go on to just continue life as it is… nothing they can do.
People think it’s ghosts haunting the theater
So yeah
But then it can no longer be ignored when Francessca also turns up dead.
Two prima donnas
However, we as the readers see who it is. Carina. Carina killed both of them because she was jealous and scared
She wanted to be a great singer and they stood in her way
Uhhh
Then the theater reopens.
And then Maestro, maes godfather, also dies. He figured out it was Carina and she killed hum
However Carina tells Rhett, who also has blood on his hands from letting a man make three trinkets at once, steal king all his life force.
Yup. Mhm
So these two are a match made in heaven
So they work out a plan for Rhett to get the business back, and for Carina to refill her trinket. This trinket is what she has been using to kill and it is what makes her a great singer.
So they decide… capture a spark… or two
So they decide to kill Erik for carinas trinket, who is now a patron but is not filling in as Maestro. He also survived the first fire.
And to capture Mae for Rhett to use for his trinket business.
Well to do this, they shatter a chandelier, kidnapp Mar and Erik runs after her. Because he’s in lovvereeee
So yeah when there they are legit kidnapped and trapped.
But they manage to get out of it.
Erik had to kill Carina. And Rhett is unconscious
The only reason they are alive is because Sammie Rhett’s sister, knew he was up to something and called Kygan, an undercover cop to investigate
So they found Mae and Erik, and Sammi tells them to lie so Rhett gets locked up
So that happens
And in the end Mae leaves the angel with Erik to go work together at Blue Ribbon, and the angel turns into a travelling theater


As we can see, this books storyline was cool cause we got the perspectives of the ‘villains’ and the ‘heroes’
I really loved that aspect
I just really wish there was more world building.



CHARACTERS
okay these are always the make or break for a book. But I like all these characters, they all had a fair amount of depth and difference.


MAE
she was my favourite character.
She had so much loss plaguing her and yet she never gave up on what she wanted
She wanted to move on from the angle.
So she did
And along with that, she was a character who was unique because she was a spark
So she couldn’t heal easily, she danced amazing, and she could never really let anyone in.
Also the death of her dad and her godfather.
And the clinginess lf her mum and how Mae handled all of it. Best parts.


ERIK
Also another amazing character
His trauma with the previous fire was very real to read about
Like the hatred for smoke etc
But also his insecurities because of his scars which he only learned to love when Mae loved them
Very cute
Also his development from playboy to lover
Awwww
And how he constantly stood up for Mae.
Very cute.
I loved how everyone hated him, but how he was making them hate him because he was too scared to let them in.


CARINA
she was just a girl who wanted to get to her dreams but went about it the wrong way.
like I feel like she based her entire life wanting to live up to her mother, and when she couldn’t naturally she took the easy way out
Ina way, it’s a beautiful story of how sometimes wanting to do what’s best for the people you love can also harm th e people you love.
Like I wanting to make her dad and mum proud, she hurt Mae, and also ended up dying herself
So there is some tragic beauty to that.


RHETT
oh I hated him
From the very start.
He was so stuck up and entitled.
How he treated sammi like she was just his assistant and like he was better then her
But also seeing how he wanted to do everything for his mothers validation was sad
Because no kid should feel like they can’t do things because their parents may be diss appointed because they weren’t good enough.
So yeah That’s my take



QUOTES

“You need to live, my love. For yourself, not for anyone else.”

-UGHHH ERIK YESSSS
this is the best relationship


“Don’t cry, my angel.”

-yeah I love Erik


also yes thank you
Very greatful to be an arc reader because I love TF Johnson’s writing and the ideas.

[chapterphile · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premise was tantalising, had all the promise of a good, meaty murder mystery and then it just all fell apart.

Everyone is unlikeable. Literally everyone. It didn’t help that the way this was written meant you didn’t know who was meant to be the main characters. I was invested in exactly zero of them because of this, and because we swapped POVs so often that it got tiresome for me to even care about anyone. All the women are either catty bitches or simpering damsels. All the men are assholes, except one who is killed. We’re not given any backstory - motivations, instead so much of this story was told in impersonal dialogue heavy scenes that didn’t work well at all.

As an aside: There was so much TELLING, not enough SHOWING.

We’re introduced to way too many characters who don’t matter, who are given too much dialogue that serve no purpose at the expense of an actual good story.

The magic system is half-assed. There’s no explanation to anything, no actual world building, and (I checked) at 60% of the book a vampire is introduced, 78% a banshee is introduced - and they both never mentioned again. They’re actually a butler and a doorman(?) to the humans which makes zero sense because they’re a VAMPIRE and a BANSHEE so why would they serve a human (no, we don’t get an explanation why).

The social hierarchy is a mess because it’s never explained - like why would a theatre owner have the power to influence a Prime Minister position??? Why does a theatre manager need an extra illegal side job if this was such a sought after lucrative position? I would believe it if it was actually explained but it isn’t.

The actual time period and location is equally a mess. It feels like it should take place in an atmospheric, almost older civilisation type time period but the dialogue uses modern day language and it just took me out of it (‘don’t be an ass’). Side note - if it’s meant to be based on England/ the English it about have been ‘arse’, but I digress.

There are characters with very French names, there’s quite a bit of Paris in the way the world is described, sure but then we also have gondolas, whisky (where’s the wine??) and then some dude whose name is JUSTIN.

I know fantasy means that the author can take liberties with the world they’re building, but look. They have to actually BUILD the world and not just throw people into it and hope they vibe with it just because.

The writing itself is so disappointing. I quite like TF Johnson’s style truly, but this one really just pales in comparison. So much editing needed to be done. All the characters snap at each other so much in their dialogue - I did a search and the world ‘snapped’ is use 190+ times in the entire book. Why.

There are some phrases that were used wrongly - that should have been picked up in an alpha / beta read. The characters speak like they’re in their teens when they’re (I assume because again, we’re not given any backstory) they’re meant to be full grown adults.

Honestly - and I’m truly so sorry to have to write this, but had this been a longer book, I would have DNFed it

[Lisa Conant · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 🌟 's
Zero spice (just kissing)

Ok, so I did like this, don't get me wrong! But in the end I feel like it scratched the surface of what could've been an even emotionally deeper story. Maybe it's meant to be more light and YA.

The pacing felt off, mostly for the first 40% or so. I struggled a bit. It was more set up, and I was waiting for things to happen more. I kept waiting for more Erik. There isn't any hint of romance between Erik (our moody, scarred, former singer) and the other fmc till about 45% in. I LOVE slow burn and dug how their connection blossomed, but by the end we only get hints of their deeper feelings.

We don't explore his trauma as much as I would've liked. He gets over his insecurities of his scars too fast. He has other scars on his body (arms) but we never show that or how she handled it. Keep in mind this is PG in the romance department with only kisses. And I'm fine with that but, then I would've liked more scenes between them of emotional discovery. He's been shuddered for 8 years, his walls would not have broken completely in a few weeks.

There's 4 pov's and it's only a 350 page book. I'd love this but then even wraps up so fast in the last 30% and I felt like this was only a part one in a duology. I was sad to see its only one book because I did love the magic system, the myster/suspense and the blooming live. But it just needed to be finessed more, find more focus with so many characters and I truly think it needs another book because this felt like only touching the surface...like a set up for a truly dramatic sequel!

There lots of potential but I didn't see it fully realized. I did love Erik though and his moments of insecurity and sweetness by wanted to see more of his journey and Mae's as well as they navigate his new place in the world and Mae's abilities. How certain people are Sparks (with magic), was neat. It all wrapped up too fast though.

[Lilith's_Library_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow of the Ghost Light by T.F. Johnson and Imogen Elvis is an atmospheric and haunting tale that pulls you into a world of mystery and suspense. The writing is richly descriptive, creating a vivid landscape where every shadow seems to hold a secret, and the eerie glow of the ghost light hints at the unknown. The authors masterfully build tension throughout the story, keeping you hooked as the characters unravel the layers of their pasts and face the supernatural forces at play.

While the plot is engrossing, with its slow-burn unraveling of secrets and the palpable atmosphere, what stood out most to me was the emotional depth of the characters. Their growth and interactions felt real, grounding the story in a relatable way, even as the eerie events unfolded around them.

A notable mention is that there is no spice in this book, which I actually appreciated—it lets the mystery and suspense take center stage without any distractions, allowing the eerie atmosphere to take full effect.

I received this book personally from the authors, and I’m so glad I did! While it didn’t quite reach the five-star level for me, it was an incredibly enjoyable read, and I loved the depth of storytelling and the chilling vibes it delivered. A solid four stars, and definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys a gripping, atmospheric read without the heat.

[Kate Brasington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow of the Ghost Light is a Phantom of the Opera retelling 😩😩😩🤌 I have a special place in my heart for the Phantom of the Opera and so I was very excited to read this book and it did not disappoint!
I loved the murder mystery aspects of this book!
Mae is my favorite character I love how she preserves through everything and never gives up!
This book releases February 28th and should definitely be added to your tbr! Thank you to R&R book tours for including me in this review tour into the author for sending me a copy of their book!

[Shaina Parent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 100 stars if I could!
I already knew I'd love it because TF Johnson is MAGICAL. Evidently, Imogen Elvis is as well—I can't wait to pick up more of her books.
The second I heard about this book, when they were first starting to write it, I was so excited to read it. and my goodness, it was worth the wait!
I don't want to spoil anything, but I loved Erik right from the start and I'm so glad he got the ending he did 🥹