Sing me forgotten by Jessica S. Olson

Isda lives in the Channe Opera House in the city of Vaureille. She has lived here under the care of opera owner Cyril, since he rescued her 17 years ago when, as a newborn she was cast into a well for being a Gravoir.  Fendoiras and Gravoirs are disfigured mutants with the ability to access people’s memories. Isda lives a hidden life in the crypt below the opera house, her only task is to manipulate the memories of the opera goers at the end of each performance so they remember it with praise. Isda has everything she needs including a piano, music being her delight, and she uses the memories of opera audiences to mentally venture out into the world. Everything changes when a new employee, 17 year old Emric Rodin enters the opera house and Isda hears his beautiful tenor voice evoking wonderful memories in colour, memories which, for the first time include a girl like her. As their relationship develops and Isda finds out more about her powers and Cyril’s ambition we learn why people fear Gravoirs and their ability to kill. This feminist twist on The Phantom of the Opera has many references to the original story and musical but it is set in a gothic horror world gradually hinted at and slowly revealed as the story progresses with scenes of mass violence and power madness that jarred with the idea of a love story. I found Isda’s character difficult to grasp and the world in which it is set confusing with its many sub plots so when it came to the ending I didn’t care.

Themes: Fantasy, Mmemory, Love, Music, Horror.

Sue Speck