Demon Song
Kelsea Yu. Titan, $19.99 (176p) ISBN 978-1-83541-039-4
The Phantom of the Opera gets a grisly body horror makeover in Yu’s gripping debut fantasy. Sixteen-year-old Megan and her mother, Jia, find refuge at the Huihuang Opera House in Beijing after fleeing from her mother’s latest in a string of abusive boyfriends. Megan also finds a friend in Kristy, a glamorous and immensely talented opera singer, who awakens and supports Megan’s musical ambitions but also warns her to be careful: the old opera house has a long and violent history and preys on the young and the desperate. Though Jia insists this is a new start, the literal demons of the past are hungry for fresh meat, and it seems that Jia’s own history with the opera house is longer and more complex than Megan realized. Megan must determine exactly what she would sacrifice not merely for the security she’s always wanted but for a spot in the opera troupe. Fans of updated gothic horror will find much to enjoy in this gritty take on the sacrifices artists are willing to make for fame and fortune. Yu’s off to a promising start. (Sept.)
Details
Reviewed on: 07/02/2025
Genre: Mystery/Thriller