I am such a fan of R.F.Kenney’s books, and Cruel Angel absolutely did not disappoint (especially in audiobook form) This is a deliciously dark and decadent reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera… but make it poly, gothic, emotionally rich, and scorching hot. Here, the Phantom (Eric) isn’t just a tortured mystery in the shadows. He’s a genius composer, singer, and performer, equal parts obsessive and brilliant. Raul is a gifted, but struggling composer; burdened by family expectations. And Christine? She has the voice of an angel, but hasn’t yet stepped fully into her own power… until the Phantom.
And then there’s the twist I adored. Rather than Raul and Eric simply battling over Christine, this becomes something far more layered, far more dangerous… and far more delicious. So I ask what happens when two rivals stop fighting over the girl… and decide to share? Ghost pepper spice. 🌶️👻 (See what I did there?)
Yes, the heat is there (and, wow, is it there), but what I love about Kenney is she never sacrifices story for spice. There is always substance beneath the seduction. This story has character growth, emotional depth, power dynamics, jealousy, obsession, healing, and even a deeper “meaning of life” thread woven through it all.
Honestly? This was a full four-course meal:
Story = meat and potatoes
Romance = decadent dessert (Lots and lots of cake!)
And the narration? Fabulous. The cast completely embodied these characters and brought the tension, longing, possessiveness, and vulnerability to life. Audiobook listeners, do not sleep on this one.
If you love:
Enemies to lovers
Why choose / poly romance
Power-play dynamics
Fierce heroines who push back
Gothic retellings
Vampires, werewolves, witches, gods & goddesses
Celtic lore woven into romance
Dark fantasy with actual plot and heat
…this series is for you.
I do recommend reading/listening in order for the full richness of the worldbuilding, though each can stand alone. As always, Kenney proves she can deliver spice, soul, and story. Highly recommend.