The Queen of the Night

It took me awhile to find my footing with the story - the idea of an opera that tells of the secret history of Lilliet Berne, the operatic toast of Paris seems interesting enough. But then the idea that only 4 people in the world could possibly know of her past - “one is dead, one loves her, one wants to own her. And one, she hopes, never thinks of her at all” - is all a bit too. I'm worried Chee is going to read like a gay Dickens.

But then it's circus performers, prostitutes, changing identities, reversals of fortune, grand escapes and more told with the sweep and majesty of an opera. It's a breathless adventure but Lilliet is no damsel in distress. She hurtles headlong into the story meeting folks like George Sand, Ivan Turgenev and Verdi during the time of the French Revolution along the way to becoming a massive star. Chee keeps an even hand on the wheel and prevents the entire thing from flying off the rails while indulging in some truly operatic moments.