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The Sultan's Favorite: A Phantom of the Opera Story
Set in the compelling world of the Ottoman Empire, The Sultan's Favorite continues the saga of Erik from the Phantom of the Opera and his journey to a new life and a new love. The Phantom Rejected by the only woman he loved, Erik tries to leave his past behind to begin a new life working as an architect. As the years pass, he accumulates enormous wealth and finds much success. When he is summoned by the sultan of the Ottomans to build a new palace, Erik believes it will be his greatest accomplishment. Yet even in another land he cannot escape his bitterness toward the world, and when the creation of the ruler's home appears impossible, his anger only increases. But the arrival of the sultan's newest wife awakens feelings Erik thought were long dead. The Widow As widow to the ruler of Constantinople, Alexandria must marry the sultan of the Ottomans in exchange for peace. Alexandria is the sultan's third wife and soon finds that accepting her new life is much harder than she imagined. Will she ever find happiness again? When the sultan orders her to work with his architect on her new court, Alexandria discovers a man that hides not only his face, but also his heart.
- GenresRomance
444 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2009
5 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 23, 2018
Wow. When can I start again?
This is fast paced, fun and you will cry, but not who for you might think.
I questioned my own loyalty to Erik for a few moments, something I may never be able to forgive myself for.
Be familiar with Phantom and the interactions between, especially between Phantom and Christine, but also his interaction with Raoul. If you catch the undercurrent from Phantom then you will really enjoy their interactions {which are not much, but what there is I loved}.
Its very adult in nature, but if you can handle that, then you must read this one. For any Phan who has ever entertained an adult desert Phantasy.
This is fast paced, fun and you will cry, but not who for you might think.
I questioned my own loyalty to Erik for a few moments, something I may never be able to forgive myself for.
Be familiar with Phantom and the interactions between, especially between Phantom and Christine, but also his interaction with Raoul. If you catch the undercurrent from Phantom then you will really enjoy their interactions {which are not much, but what there is I loved}.
Its very adult in nature, but if you can handle that, then you must read this one. For any Phan who has ever entertained an adult desert Phantasy.
October 23, 2011
I'm actually rather shocked by the reviews of this book. I picked it up on a whim, thinking it would be a good piece of distracting fantasy, and it was anything but. It's written by a woman who doesn't understand her characters, nor the essence of character itself. Erik is written a flat caricature of poorly-executed rage, the female lead is the least interesting heroine in all of literature (and that's saying something, as the title was previously held by Bella Swan in Twilight), and the action is hardly exciting or interesting. As if that isn't insulting enough, it's written at a sixth grade level. "Don't tell, show," was apparently a concept Ms. Burnside never bothered learning. It's like someone published bad fanfiction. For comedy's sake, I do recommend getting the e-book version and ctrl-f through every instance of "... Erik cursed." It's all he seems capable of doing, and he does it at least five times at every appearance in this godawful novel.
July 21, 2019
Several Phans have been telling me how good this book is for a while now, and I finally got around to reading it. I certainly wasn't disappointed! They were right!
This book has soared up to the top of my list of phavorite phantom books. Alexandria is such a lovable character, and Erik...I LOVED how the author captured his moodiness, his temper. He's not a soft little puppy dog in this, and that is perfect because Erik isn't soft. He's the PHANTOM. He's irritable, dangerous and downright incorrigible at times. The author wasn't afraid to show that.
Part of what made this book so great to me, though, is how the author even made me feel kind of sorry for the other contender for Alexandria's heart. By all rights, we should hate the sultan. He isn't faithful. He puts his rule above her. Yet, somehow I did find myself feeling kind of sorry for him too. Maybe I saw a bit of Erik in him (which is clearly what the author intended.)
Just so very well done! A wonderfully written book.
The only issue I have is it leaves us wondering at the end. I wish there was a sequel. I have unanswered questions! Lol.
Still, a new phavorite.
This book has soared up to the top of my list of phavorite phantom books. Alexandria is such a lovable character, and Erik...I LOVED how the author captured his moodiness, his temper. He's not a soft little puppy dog in this, and that is perfect because Erik isn't soft. He's the PHANTOM. He's irritable, dangerous and downright incorrigible at times. The author wasn't afraid to show that.
Part of what made this book so great to me, though, is how the author even made me feel kind of sorry for the other contender for Alexandria's heart. By all rights, we should hate the sultan. He isn't faithful. He puts his rule above her. Yet, somehow I did find myself feeling kind of sorry for him too. Maybe I saw a bit of Erik in him (which is clearly what the author intended.)
Just so very well done! A wonderfully written book.
The only issue I have is it leaves us wondering at the end. I wish there was a sequel. I have unanswered questions! Lol.
Still, a new phavorite.
August 15, 2012
The Sultan's Favorite by Anne Burnside is only the third or fourth work of fiction I have read that is based on Gaston Leroux's original Phantom of the Opera and is a continuation of the storyline. Compared to other works I have read in this genre (including the Madrigals trilogy by Jennifer Linforth and Susan Kay's Phantom) I found this novel to be a little disappointing.
First, let me start off with some of the positives - for there WERE plenty of good things about this book too. I enjoyed the setting of Persia, especially as a departure from traditional storylines that usually feature Erik (The Phantom) at the Opera Garnier or a variation of it. The setting also ties in nicely with a piece of information we are furnished with in the original novel - namely that Erik's past involved Persia and he was occupied as an architect.
Second, the plot was well-thought out and engaging. The author clearly made every effort to tie up loose ends and keep everything connected in logical sequence.
For the most part I also liked the rich cast of characters. As in other Phantom spin-offs we are reunited with Christine and Raoul, although this takes place for plot reasons more than halfway through the book. We also meet the enigmatic Persian or Daroga as he is called (again, true to the original book). We also meet a vast array of characters from the Middle East and Persia itself, including the Sultan and his three wives - the third Alexandria is the title "favorite," and also becomes Erik's love interest.
Here are some of the problems I had with the book. First (and this is my biggest issue) although the setting is a nice departure from other Phantom tales, this is also its weak point because as most Leroux purists will tell you it is made clear in the original novel by the Persian that Erik was forbidden to return to Persia after fleeing under penalty of death. He was told not to return by the Sultan himself who wanted Erik put to death because of the knowledge he had of the secrets surrounding the Sultan's new palace.
So this of course begs the question, why would Erik return to Persia (as indicated by Burnside) after his heartbreaking experiences with Christine Daae and the Paris Opera? Maybe a new Sultan was in charge at this point? If so, this should be made clear.
Secondly, although I like themes that feature inequalities between men and women and between slave and owner for the sake of pointing out societal wrongs, I dislike sermonizing. At times the constant reminders of the inequalities between the sexes in Persia was overbearing. For example, just the mere fact that Alexandria cannot choose whom to marry or that she cannot read would have been enough. There didn't seem to be a need to include some terrible scenes involving the "second" wife being raped and brutalized because she fell into disfavor with the Sultan or for that matter involving Alexandria being chained like a dog to the seat of the throne when a secret bookcase is revealed.
The examples above provide a nice segue into my third issue with The Sultan's Favorite. Yes, it is authentic to let the reader know about the brutality of the Persian empire at this time in history but the violent scenes (particularly the sexually violent) were so numerous they became more gratuitous than meaningful. In short, I don't mind a little brutality to make things seem authentic but it was overdone here.
Also, the portrayal of just the violence and cruelty of Persia seemed one-sided. If this is all it can be noted for, I am sure Erik would not have wanted to come back (or for that matter, go there to begin with).
If there is a sequel to Sultan, I am not sure I will read it unless some of these discrepancies are amended.
First, let me start off with some of the positives - for there WERE plenty of good things about this book too. I enjoyed the setting of Persia, especially as a departure from traditional storylines that usually feature Erik (The Phantom) at the Opera Garnier or a variation of it. The setting also ties in nicely with a piece of information we are furnished with in the original novel - namely that Erik's past involved Persia and he was occupied as an architect.
Second, the plot was well-thought out and engaging. The author clearly made every effort to tie up loose ends and keep everything connected in logical sequence.
For the most part I also liked the rich cast of characters. As in other Phantom spin-offs we are reunited with Christine and Raoul, although this takes place for plot reasons more than halfway through the book. We also meet the enigmatic Persian or Daroga as he is called (again, true to the original book). We also meet a vast array of characters from the Middle East and Persia itself, including the Sultan and his three wives - the third Alexandria is the title "favorite," and also becomes Erik's love interest.
Here are some of the problems I had with the book. First (and this is my biggest issue) although the setting is a nice departure from other Phantom tales, this is also its weak point because as most Leroux purists will tell you it is made clear in the original novel by the Persian that Erik was forbidden to return to Persia after fleeing under penalty of death. He was told not to return by the Sultan himself who wanted Erik put to death because of the knowledge he had of the secrets surrounding the Sultan's new palace.
So this of course begs the question, why would Erik return to Persia (as indicated by Burnside) after his heartbreaking experiences with Christine Daae and the Paris Opera? Maybe a new Sultan was in charge at this point? If so, this should be made clear.
Secondly, although I like themes that feature inequalities between men and women and between slave and owner for the sake of pointing out societal wrongs, I dislike sermonizing. At times the constant reminders of the inequalities between the sexes in Persia was overbearing. For example, just the mere fact that Alexandria cannot choose whom to marry or that she cannot read would have been enough. There didn't seem to be a need to include some terrible scenes involving the "second" wife being raped and brutalized because she fell into disfavor with the Sultan or for that matter involving Alexandria being chained like a dog to the seat of the throne when a secret bookcase is revealed.
The examples above provide a nice segue into my third issue with The Sultan's Favorite. Yes, it is authentic to let the reader know about the brutality of the Persian empire at this time in history but the violent scenes (particularly the sexually violent) were so numerous they became more gratuitous than meaningful. In short, I don't mind a little brutality to make things seem authentic but it was overdone here.
Also, the portrayal of just the violence and cruelty of Persia seemed one-sided. If this is all it can be noted for, I am sure Erik would not have wanted to come back (or for that matter, go there to begin with).
If there is a sequel to Sultan, I am not sure I will read it unless some of these discrepancies are amended.
January 12, 2010
I loved ‘The Sultan’s Favorite.’ I picked it up and didn’t set it down again until I was finished. Set in the Ottoman Empire, it delves into the culture and practices of a world that held me fascinated. The characters were enjoyable and I connected with them all. I hoped for Erik and Alexandria to be together even while I felt for the sultan and the position he was in. It was a good romance with an antagonist who is human, not just evil.
Erik, the mysterious Phantom of the Opera ghost, is running from his bitterness of his love’s rejection of him. Throwing himself into designing and building architectural masterpieces, the man in the mask is currently building the new lavish palace for the Ottoman Empires’ sultan.
During the building of the palace, Alexandria, the new widow of the ruler of Constantinople, is brought to be the third wife of the sultan. The world she finds herself thrust unwillingly into is very different than the life she had come from. While she used to be her husband’s only beloved wife, she is now the third, and the lowest of wives. The first wife proves to be friendly and welcoming, but she quickly meets the ridicule of the sultan’s second wife and harem when the sultan establishes her as his favorite wife.
Working with the sultan’s newest wife to design her court is the last thing Erik wants to do, but he is surprised to learn she is a well educated woman with a quick mind who loves to read and whose opinion was respected in her last home. As he teaches her about architecture he also sneaks her books and debates with her, treating her as an equal. He soon comes to care for her far more than he will admit.
When Alexandria is kidnapped for ransom while on a journey, Erik is the one who rides to her rescue and in the heat of the moment they reveal to each other the depths of their feelings for one another. When they try to go back to the way things were before they know it is impossible. Somehow they must find a way out of the hopeless situation.
Erik, the mysterious Phantom of the Opera ghost, is running from his bitterness of his love’s rejection of him. Throwing himself into designing and building architectural masterpieces, the man in the mask is currently building the new lavish palace for the Ottoman Empires’ sultan.
During the building of the palace, Alexandria, the new widow of the ruler of Constantinople, is brought to be the third wife of the sultan. The world she finds herself thrust unwillingly into is very different than the life she had come from. While she used to be her husband’s only beloved wife, she is now the third, and the lowest of wives. The first wife proves to be friendly and welcoming, but she quickly meets the ridicule of the sultan’s second wife and harem when the sultan establishes her as his favorite wife.
Working with the sultan’s newest wife to design her court is the last thing Erik wants to do, but he is surprised to learn she is a well educated woman with a quick mind who loves to read and whose opinion was respected in her last home. As he teaches her about architecture he also sneaks her books and debates with her, treating her as an equal. He soon comes to care for her far more than he will admit.
When Alexandria is kidnapped for ransom while on a journey, Erik is the one who rides to her rescue and in the heat of the moment they reveal to each other the depths of their feelings for one another. When they try to go back to the way things were before they know it is impossible. Somehow they must find a way out of the hopeless situation.
September 24, 2009
The Sultan's Favorite was one of the best books I've read all year. The writing was beautiful with a plot full of excitement. I was hooked by the first page and became engrossed in Erik's life. I'm sure most of you know the story of the Phantom of the Opera either from the original book or the movie. Erik was known as the "opera ghost" who falls in love with a beautiful singer named Christine. He always wears a mask since he has a "deranged face" and mostly keeps to himself until Christine comes into his life. He then kidnaps her because he wants her all to himself, but after she rejects him, he sets her free to marry someone who will make her happy. The Sultan's Favorite is based on Erik's life after his struggle with a broken heart. The novel takes place during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, which I think was in Turkey, if I'm not mistaken. The sultan of the empire is pleased with Erik's work as a talented architect and wants him to build a palace for his new third wife, Alexandria. Erik spends a lot of time with Alexandria and starts to slowly become intrigued by her. She was an educated woman from Constantinople which made her different than all the others. The Ottoman empire had strict laws that did not permit women to read or be exposed to anything educational. I really enjoyed Alexandria and Erik's relationship. At first they didn't give in to their urges since Alexandria felt bad betraying the sultan, but eventually their love for each other took over. In this book Erik has a strong personality and exudes some type of sexyness even with his mask on. I really loved the storyline and was addicted to what the outcome was going to be. However, just a warning their are sexual details and some cursing, but besides that it was an amazing read. I recommend it to all the Phantom of the Opera fans, I think you'll enjoy seeing Erik in a more confident light. Also, I love the cover, it captivated me immediately and I love how mysterious her eyes look.
January 10, 2013
I read a lot of stories, based on Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, actually, now there are 50+ books more or less related to the poor Erik the Phantom's story. So I can compare.
"The Sultan's Favorite" is not a good book. Neither as the Phantom of the Opera sequel, nor as the romance novel. It's sad, because there are not many Phantom-based books with settings different from Paris. Here we have Persia mostly.
In general, the book is poor written, each tree is signed as "a tree", with small amount of synonyms and complex sentences. The main problem (for me) is a lack of basic historic, geographical and cultural knowledge about the Orient, provided by Ms. Burnside. OK, who cares of the colour of the sun, if two people love each other. Let's forget about historical problems, especially when speaking of romance novels.
But there are problems with a plot too, and it hurts even more. The characters are plain, with stupid behavior, very poor dialogues and very booring sex scenes. There are some R-rated scenes, describing punishment too.
The most interesting characters are the sultan (who wears Christian name, I'm sorry to say) and Erik's stallion .
The main characters both are very primitive. Erik is very angry guy, who cries and curses all the time, and his lady (sultan's wife) is just... boring.
After all I found the way to amuse myself: I started reading it as a comedy. So I took some fun, that's why I'm giving it 2 stars.
"The Sultan's Favorite" is not a good book. Neither as the Phantom of the Opera sequel, nor as the romance novel. It's sad, because there are not many Phantom-based books with settings different from Paris. Here we have Persia mostly.
In general, the book is poor written, each tree is signed as "a tree", with small amount of synonyms and complex sentences. The main problem (for me) is a lack of basic historic, geographical and cultural knowledge about the Orient, provided by Ms. Burnside. OK, who cares of the colour of the sun, if two people love each other. Let's forget about historical problems, especially when speaking of romance novels.
But there are problems with a plot too, and it hurts even more. The characters are plain, with stupid behavior, very poor dialogues and very booring sex scenes. There are some R-rated scenes, describing punishment too.
The most interesting characters are the sultan (who wears Christian name, I'm sorry to say) and Erik's stallion .
The main characters both are very primitive. Erik is very angry guy, who cries and curses all the time, and his lady (sultan's wife) is just... boring.
After all I found the way to amuse myself: I started reading it as a comedy. So I took some fun, that's why I'm giving it 2 stars.
December 3, 2015
This book met my approval. Acceptable dialogue and beautiful details. Burnside's Erik is the ideal Erik in my mind. Angry yet loving, and sad. Fans will really fancy the erotic love scenes! In short, this book would probably pass Erik's test himself!
May 14, 2017
Benazeer Time wasting. The setting in the novel doesn't match the era she depicted the story in. In ottoman emripe she terribly depicted late 16s century and in Paris part (phantom of the Opera she depicted late 19s. doesn't match each other. Anne Burnside doesn't understand her character nor the essence of characters. although, it was fiction but it seems like she is disrespecting or making fun of Otman empires. There was a huge conflict in character's character Anne Burnside tried to show and Character's dialog and act that makes them feel like what writer wanted them to be. Like She tried to show and mention almost thousands time that Alexendra a very intelligent woman but her actions, reactions how she feels and acts doesn't seem like she is an intelligent woman. in fact, it shows she was weaker not only emotionally but also mentally.
In her novel, anna was talking about Ottoman king used to have more than one women at the same time. Although that was even common in the west too. kings used to have more than one women to be pleased with.
well, besides all these facts, let me admit, Novel kept me awake all night to finish against my sleep. For this reason, I can give one star. :)
In her novel, anna was talking about Ottoman king used to have more than one women at the same time. Although that was even common in the west too. kings used to have more than one women to be pleased with.
well, besides all these facts, let me admit, Novel kept me awake all night to finish against my sleep. For this reason, I can give one star. :)
February 16, 2010
Few characters stick with you even after the book is closed. The tragic hero that is Erik, from The Phantom of the Opera, is one of those characters that will revisit your heart and mind for some time to come. In Anne Burnside’s book The Sultan’s Favorite we catch up with our champion, Erik while he tries to rebuild his life after the horrifying events of the Opera Populare. This story finds Erik now in the Ottoman empire and chief architect to the Sultan.
While constructing the new palace his work is derailed by the Sultan’s newest acquisition, Constantinople and the widow of it’s ruler, his third wife Alexandria. Because of her goodness and beauty it is not long before Alexandria becomes the handsome ruler’s favorite wife. But being elevated in status does not come without it’s price, it is only by Erik’s quick thinking that an assassination attempt on Alexandria’s life is thwarted.
While Alexandria is no exception to Erik’s short temper, it is not long before the two become unlikely friends. It is Alexandria’s thirst for knowledge in a world where a women’s education is forbidden, that intrigues Erik. So when the duo is forced to work together during the construction of her opulent quarters within the new palace, he finds himself falling for this unique creature. When the Sultan takes an trip to visit his new city events turn tragic, and there is no other to call to the rescue but Red Death himself.
The Sultan’s Favorite is a story of a woman who must learn to live within her new world of rules and limitations, and our Opera Ghost’s battle with his feelings over another hopeless love affair. Anne Burnside’s depiction of Erik is one that would make Leroux proud, as she captures the fire and passion that has made The Phantom so infamous. Ms. Burnside has resurrected our love for the underdog who we love to cheer for, the monster behind the mask, and has given us another chance to see him fight for love. This book is a worthy sequel to the first novel, and a pure joy to read, and allows us to visit a character who has stolen our hearts again.
While constructing the new palace his work is derailed by the Sultan’s newest acquisition, Constantinople and the widow of it’s ruler, his third wife Alexandria. Because of her goodness and beauty it is not long before Alexandria becomes the handsome ruler’s favorite wife. But being elevated in status does not come without it’s price, it is only by Erik’s quick thinking that an assassination attempt on Alexandria’s life is thwarted.
While Alexandria is no exception to Erik’s short temper, it is not long before the two become unlikely friends. It is Alexandria’s thirst for knowledge in a world where a women’s education is forbidden, that intrigues Erik. So when the duo is forced to work together during the construction of her opulent quarters within the new palace, he finds himself falling for this unique creature. When the Sultan takes an trip to visit his new city events turn tragic, and there is no other to call to the rescue but Red Death himself.
The Sultan’s Favorite is a story of a woman who must learn to live within her new world of rules and limitations, and our Opera Ghost’s battle with his feelings over another hopeless love affair. Anne Burnside’s depiction of Erik is one that would make Leroux proud, as she captures the fire and passion that has made The Phantom so infamous. Ms. Burnside has resurrected our love for the underdog who we love to cheer for, the monster behind the mask, and has given us another chance to see him fight for love. This book is a worthy sequel to the first novel, and a pure joy to read, and allows us to visit a character who has stolen our hearts again.
February 3, 2010
The Sultan’s Favorite
BY: Anne Burnside
PUBLISHED BY: iUniverse
PUBLISHED IN: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4401-1907-1
Pages: 435
Ages: Adult
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In this sequel to Gaton Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” the phantom, Erik, is living in the Ottoman Empire. He’s working as the sultan’s personal architect. He’s still mourning the rejection of his love, Christine.
The sultan takes a third wife, Alexandria - the widow of the ruler of Constantinople, and demands Erik to make changes in the designs for the new palace. The sultan wants his new wife to have her own court.
Erik hates Ottoman Empire and the way the women and slaves are treated. He remains there to finish the palace because he believes it will be his greatest achievement. With one look at Alexandria, he knew she was unlike the sultan‘s other wives. She was smart, beautiful and independent. Erik begins spending time with her. Alexandria wants to get closer to this masked man.
Erik tries to control his ongoing feelings for her. He never thought he could ever feel this way about another woman after Christine’s rejection. Soon, he can no longer hold back his feelings. He starts a passionate affair with Alexandria.
Being a fan of the original novel, I was intrigued in reading “The Sultan’s Favorite.” After reading the first few pages, I was hooked. Author Anne Burnside has done a wonderful job in continuing Erik’s journey into this violent world of the Ottoman Empire. I was surprised to find two other characters from Gaton Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera” pop into the latter half of the book. I recommend reading this book if your fan of the original or for anyone who wants to read a good romance.
BY: Anne Burnside
PUBLISHED BY: iUniverse
PUBLISHED IN: 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4401-1907-1
Pages: 435
Ages: Adult
Reviewed by Billy Burgess
In this sequel to Gaton Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera,” the phantom, Erik, is living in the Ottoman Empire. He’s working as the sultan’s personal architect. He’s still mourning the rejection of his love, Christine.
The sultan takes a third wife, Alexandria - the widow of the ruler of Constantinople, and demands Erik to make changes in the designs for the new palace. The sultan wants his new wife to have her own court.
Erik hates Ottoman Empire and the way the women and slaves are treated. He remains there to finish the palace because he believes it will be his greatest achievement. With one look at Alexandria, he knew she was unlike the sultan‘s other wives. She was smart, beautiful and independent. Erik begins spending time with her. Alexandria wants to get closer to this masked man.
Erik tries to control his ongoing feelings for her. He never thought he could ever feel this way about another woman after Christine’s rejection. Soon, he can no longer hold back his feelings. He starts a passionate affair with Alexandria.
Being a fan of the original novel, I was intrigued in reading “The Sultan’s Favorite.” After reading the first few pages, I was hooked. Author Anne Burnside has done a wonderful job in continuing Erik’s journey into this violent world of the Ottoman Empire. I was surprised to find two other characters from Gaton Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera” pop into the latter half of the book. I recommend reading this book if your fan of the original or for anyone who wants to read a good romance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2010
The Sultan's Favorite by Anne Burnside is the single best Phantom of the Opera "sequel" I have read. Much the way Susan Kay's Phantom retold the original story in fabulous detail; Anne Burnside has opened a window into what happened to Erik after the curtain dropped in the original as well as fleshing out the character's background and giving us an insight into his thoughts.
The story opens with Erik as the architect in charge of building a fantastic palace for the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The sultan soon acquires a third wife who quickly becomes his favorite. Erik is drawn to Alexandria for her beauty as well as her intelligence and in the process of working with her on her portion of the palace, he finds himself losing his heart again. Is history destined to repeat itself or is this a woman who can finally see the true man behind the mask? Even then, how can they ever be free to be together?
The writing was riveting and I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. It had everything you could want in a book including romance, action, intrigue, mystery and suspense. The re-emergence of characters from the original Phantom of the Opera merged seamlessly with the new characters. The only fault I could find with this book is that it eventually had to end. Rarely do I read a book that once finished, makes me want to immediately reread it but The Sultan's Favorite is such a one.
There is even a glimmer at the end (at least to my mind) that a sequel to this book could be possible. If that were true, I would snatch it up in an instant (and perhaps even do a little happy dance). Regardless, this is Anne Burnside’s debut novel and I look forward to reading anything else she comes out with.
The story opens with Erik as the architect in charge of building a fantastic palace for the sultan of the Ottoman Empire. The sultan soon acquires a third wife who quickly becomes his favorite. Erik is drawn to Alexandria for her beauty as well as her intelligence and in the process of working with her on her portion of the palace, he finds himself losing his heart again. Is history destined to repeat itself or is this a woman who can finally see the true man behind the mask? Even then, how can they ever be free to be together?
The writing was riveting and I was sucked into the story from the very beginning. It had everything you could want in a book including romance, action, intrigue, mystery and suspense. The re-emergence of characters from the original Phantom of the Opera merged seamlessly with the new characters. The only fault I could find with this book is that it eventually had to end. Rarely do I read a book that once finished, makes me want to immediately reread it but The Sultan's Favorite is such a one.
There is even a glimmer at the end (at least to my mind) that a sequel to this book could be possible. If that were true, I would snatch it up in an instant (and perhaps even do a little happy dance). Regardless, this is Anne Burnside’s debut novel and I look forward to reading anything else she comes out with.
June 10, 2024
What a story! It was fast paced, and replete with intrigue and forbidden love. It was engrossing to see how Erik and Alexandria's relationship developed and how they would resolve the conflict of their love.
One thing I disliked was the way intelligence was discussed at the end. Intelligence is not limited to being book smart or being able to read.
I did feel like the writing could be more polished and fleshed out in some places with more showing rather than telling. It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story though.
One thing I disliked was the way intelligence was discussed at the end. Intelligence is not limited to being book smart or being able to read.
I did feel like the writing could be more polished and fleshed out in some places with more showing rather than telling. It didn't diminish my enjoyment of the story though.
June 26, 2009
Simply thought it was beautiful.
Ms. Burnside shows another side to Erik - darker and tougher. Then Alexandria's love changes him.
Ms. Burnside shows another side to Erik - darker and tougher. Then Alexandria's love changes him.
September 25, 2011
Book is now available online for purchase through kindle or nook.
January 28, 2016
Amazing story! Great for lovers of Erik, the Phantom of the Opera. Shows his real, angry, and sometimes psychotic character. The ending was ominous however.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews