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.

Reviewed on 05/20/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Jennifer Young

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.

Reviewed on 02/16/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Andrea Asay

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.

Reviewed on 02/03/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Billy Burgess

Normally I am not a fan of the Phantom of the Opera, but I must say that Anne Burnside’s historical romance novel “The Sultan’s Favorite” has changed my mind. At first I was drawn to the mysterious looking cover, which captured my attention. Once I started reading this novel I soon found that I could not put it down. Anne Burnside has created a well developed novel, with well developed plots and characters. Although this is a spin off from the original Phantom of the Opera it stands well all on its own. I will guarantee that once you read the first few pages of this novel you will be hooked. Anne Burnside has placed Erick in a whole new setting, in the Ottoman Empire working as the Sultan’s personal architect. Soon he falls in love with the Sultan’s newest wife, Alexandria, widow of the ruler Constantinople. Alexandria is then kidnapped, leaving Erick to save her. What will become of them once they admit their feelings for each other?

Anne Burnside has created an alluring tale that will enthrall the reader. Although some readers may fell that Erick is portrayed as a brooding, and self loathing, I feel that it adds depth to the character. By making the characters more complex she has created a more than the stereotypical one-sided character many writer’s of spin-off portray. I think that “The Sultan’s Favorite” will be a reader favorite in the new year.

Reviewed on 01/20/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Angela Simmons

 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. 

Reviewed on 01/12/2010 by ReviewTheBook.com Member Amanda Brookhaus