Book Review: ‘Sing The Night’ by Megan Jauregui Eccles
Some stars burn bright. Some stars burn out. Megan Jauregui Eccles’ heroine, Selene, is told this by her mentor, and she is determined to be one of the bright stars. The brightest, in fact. Her father was the King’s Mage before he went insane and tried to kill her. Ever since that night, Selene has been determined to hold that same position and redeem her family’s name. But the competition to win that honor is a dangerous one. Selene is sure she is the best, but does that mean she can win? Find out in Sing The Night.
[Note: While I am reviewing this novel independently and honestly, it should be noted that it has been provided to me by Grand Central Publishing for the purpose of this review. Warning: My review of For Sing The Night contains some spoilers!]
A world of beauty and magic
Selene has grown up in the Opera Magique since her father died. She has thrown herself into learning the same magic that drove him insane. She has learned to use her voice and music to create beautiful illusions to delight and entertain. Now she has reached the end of her time at the Opera, she’s competing against her friends (and enemies) for the coveted position of the King’s Mage. It is all she’s ever wanted, and it’s close enough to taste.
But there’s still the competition to get through. Being the best isn’t necessarily enough when competitors sabotage each other at every turn. In the very first round of the competition, Selene falls prey to a vicious trick. Her aria that she’s worked so hard on is stolen by another magician. Selene must improvise and use music that she hasn’t practiced. It goes horribly wrong, and Selene is sure she’s lost everything already. But luckily (for her at least), another contestant is knocked out too, and Selene is able to carry on to the next round. She is more determined than ever to win, but doesn’t know how. Then she finds a secret deep within the Opera. A mirror that holds a ghost, the opera ghost that she’s been warned about her whole life. The stories claim that one girl was so afraid of him that she threw herself off the roof. But Selene isn’t afraid; Selene is intrigued and obsessed with him. Convinced that with his help, she can win, she returns to him again and again. Meanwhile, the danger all around her grows. Selene is determined to burn bright. But will she shine or burn out? Or maybe she’ll explode like a supernova?
What is hiding behind that beauty?
Selene is surrounded by danger in Sing The Night, most of which she doesn’t even see. She is well aware that magic can be dangerous. After all, her own father lost his mind and tried to kill her when she was a child. And in turn, she was forced to use magic to protect herself and kill him. Selene carries the weight of this tragedy around her neck. She wants nothing more than to redeem her father’s name and memory. And she knows how ruthless the L’Opera du Magician competition can be. Even sisters turn on each other to win.
But there is more danger than that lurking in the shadows. The opera ghost has been locked in a mirror for a hundred years, slowly losing himself to the dark. Selene isn’t afraid of him, but the last girl to find him threw herself off a roof in fear, so something sinister must be lurking in the shadows. And just what did he do to get himself banished into a mirror in the first place?
Even if the ghost isn’t a danger to Selene, and even if she can make it through the competition alive, there is still danger waiting for her. The more we see of Selene’s world, the more obvious it is that things aren’t quite what they seem. The people who are supposed to care about her keep secrets from her. And something about the King and his mages is just wrong. Selene begins to realize that things aren’t right, but she’s wanted to be the King’s Mage for so long that she isn’t sure who she is without that goal. Even when it becomes obvious that there is more to life, she can’t swerve; her course is set, and she’s determined to see it through. But will she reach the end she thinks she will, and does she even want it anymore?
An interesting mystery with a tragic ending in Sing the Night
So I quite enjoyed Sing The Night. I was pretty sure where the story was going. Then I was blindsided by a horrible ending that I absolutely hated (keep reading!). There were a bunch of loose ends, and Selene’s fate was horrific. Now, those loose ends didn’t technically need to be tied up; it just would have made a better story if they were. It felt very incomplete. But it could have been left where it was if the author wanted to.
But here’s the catch: I was under the impression that Sing The Night was a singular, one-and-done book. But after finishing the story and feeling very disappointed, I looked into it, and Sing The Night is actually the first of a series called Opera Magique. Let me tell you that made all the difference in my opinion about the ending. Now I know that Eccles will tie up her loose ends, redeem characters that need redeeming, save characters that need saving, and allow Selene to burn brighter than any star ever has. So with that in mind, pick up Sing The Night and get invested in Selene’s journey, find out just how bright she can burn, just know it’s going to take a few books to get there.
Sing The Night by Megan Jauregui Eccles is available March 10! Are you excited to read this Phantom of the Opera-inspired novel? Let us know your thoughts @bsb.insider on social media!
Book Review: The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
