Phantasma

Wicked Games #1

by Kaylie Smith

Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game: Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart . . .

A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure from #1 New York Times bestselling author of Enchantra. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Paranormal, Fantasy Romance, Gothic

497 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Kaylie Smith is the #1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of dark fantasy romance books. She grew up in Louisiana where she frequently haunted bookstores and practiced her writing craft. Now she resides in SoCal where she lives with her dog and two cats, writes on the beach, and occasionally misses the sound of thunderstorms.

Reviews

[SK (Back for good this time? We'll see) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please note that these are my opinions and I consider it to be a fair rating. One may have the right to disagree, but kindly do so respectfully and if you have nothing but hate to comment, consider choosing not to.

Given the hype this book is receiving, I thought it would work out for me as well but I seem to be in the minority with this one. It's totally fine, if you loved it and I love that for you but there was too much that went wrong for me. I have seen a number of people claim it to be like ACOTAR x Caraval, I disagree. It's more like- Kingdom of the Wicked x Caraval x One Dark Window. All three of them never worked for me 🤡🤡 This book wishes it was like Acotar 🙄

I liked the start of this book, it's eerie and super dark goth vibes were a perfect way to grasp one's attention. The first 2-3 chapters set up a brilliantly dark atmosphere but towards the halfway of the book, I found the atmosphere to be claustrophobic. Am an immersive and visual reader, Phantasma sort of made me feel like am in a confined space and with no way out and that's no way praising the book, it was due to the way it was so poorly written. It's also slow paced.

The writing is messy. Maybe am the one with a problem who didn't really understand the stakes but to me, the whole concept seemed to have been executed in such a chaotic way, it didn't make much sense. The stakes don't seem THAT high to me despite how the author tried to make it to be. The trials bored me. I was expecting them to be so much more but except for the Lust and Fraud trial, all others just failed to keep me entertained.

But I would applaud the author for providing a good OCD representation. I have hardly read books where it's represented on such a serious note and I won't deny that the author gets it right. The intrusive thoughts are such a struggle for some with OCD and it was well portrayed.

The fmc- Ophelia, bothered me a lot. She is all over the place. I get her struggles but at the same time I don't get her attitude. She claims she cares for her sister, Genevieve, yet she hardly makes an attempt to find her. It's all about sex with Blackwell with her. She is also not a girl's girl. Her attitude towards one of the female participants is beyond appalling?? She had no reason to be a bitchy person to her and yet she was?? Why??? She also, multiple times mistreats Blackwell and all because "oh no, I don't want to get attached" but she has no shame in using him??

Blackwell surprisingly, worked out better for me but somewhere around 70% mark, I grew tired of him. It was the same thing over and over again. He's a phantom and Ophelia's boy toy. Nothing else. I liked his backstory but he's ultimately just a boy toy. His big reveal was very predictable.

The romance is probably the WORST part of this book cause it's not even romance. It's just a sex fest at any random point of time. It would put insta love to shame. There is NO emotional connection or intimacy and YET we are supposed to believe they love each other. Their first meeting goes something like this- She steps into a dark room, hears his voice and she's like OH MY WORD I wanna touch myself. Girl wtf?! They have minimal chemistry together. She is grieving one moment and in the next she's having sex. She's hurting one moment and they just decide to have sex instead of any communication? There's hardly a scene where they just talk to each other and get to know each other. But somehow their lack of intimacy selves are in love. BOOOOOOOOO! HATE HATE HATE. Their lust burned so fast, that they made for a bad romantasy couple.

The ending was decent, I found it to be a bit predictable but it sort of saved the book in a way. Yes, I would have rated it lower had it not been for that. Overall, I found the book to be overrated and undeserving of the hype. It's poorly written and I won't be continuing the series.

Thanks to beautiful Lindsey who read it with me and listened to me rant about the same few things again and again. Love ya 🩶

~•~•~

My review ends, this next bit is for my fellow Christians who are interested in reading it.

The book heavily deals with demons and devils. It also talks about selling one's soul and which is something no Christian would take lightly. Reading it might trigger and convict, so please proceed with caution. There's also talk of Heaven and Hell but unlike the Biblical faith, in the book it's all works based. Like what sort of deeds you do in your life decide where you go, and this again, is very contradictory to the Christian faith. Kindly take note of that. The romance is between a devil and a necromancer. It's much darker than what one might anticipate. So, as a Christian if these areas are sounding heavy just based on my review, the actual content is heavier.


~•~•~
Have heard it's like ACOTAR x Caraval.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just want to start by saying - I think this book will find it's people in the romantasy genre but I'm not it's people.

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 2 𝓐𝓽 𝓛𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓭 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓼 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

₊⊹⁀➴ ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

Set in New Orleans, and told in third person POV - we follow Ophelia who has just taken over the family role as a Necromancer after her mother’s death. Less than a few hours later, she realizes their ancestral home is under debt and at risk of being taken from her.

Her younger sister, Genevieve, decides to participate in the dangerous Phantasma challenge by entering the Devil Manor. The one who clears the nine levels gets huge prize money.

Ophelia follows her sister into the manor intending to take her back home. However, there are rules to follow and deals to make before that can happen. When Blackwell (our MMC), a long-lasting resident of the manor offers help (for a bargain, of course), Ophelia wonders what it would cost her. With the attraction between them getting stronger, there’s a lot more at stake for Ophelia...

₊⊹⁀➴ ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

ISTG- ya'll have got to be sick of me complaining when it comes to romantasy books. I swear, fantasy IS my favorite genre but I've been struggling a lot recently with romantasy.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ With Phantasma, I feel it's very romance heavy and falls a little flat in the fantasy aspects. Not to mention the insta-love and the cringe inducing sex scenes at the most ridiculous times.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Ophelia is in general a weak character. I felt she was super immature for being in her early 20s. If anything from Caraval it gives the annoying Tella vibes from book 1 lol. I wasn't a big fan of how she constantly blamed her sister for her own choices- have some accountability girlfriend.

In addition, she's not a girl's girl and was unnecessarily rude to another character, Lucy. But in the blink of an eye she's sickly sweet to Blackwell. Make it make sense. Idk, that might just be a me thing but she gave severe pick me vibes.

I did find the plot interesting and I loved the idea of deadly trials themed around the nine circles of hell. I do think the pacing overall was pretty good as well. But again, I felt like all of that took a major backseat to all the purring and 'good girling' (gag) going on.

I found the relationship/or whatever between Blackwell and Ophelia moved so fast. From hello to banging to undying love in the blink of an eye.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Blackwell overall was eww. Just gross. He's literally that guy that has a sexual innuendo/saying for anything that comes out of your mouth (he'd turn that into one too, yes) Honestly, gives 'that gross older guy that won't leave me alone vibes'.

You have this girl going through the most traumatic experiences possibly, literally witnessing the people around her dying in the worst ways imaginable, and the very next scene, before she's had a moment to process that trauma, is smut. Let's just throw everything out the window and have blood coated sex.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ It all felt misplaced and didn't flow organically to me. I get it...I absolutely get it, we're in a fictional world, this is a dark romantasy - but still, that doesn't mean that these characters can't have depth and development. I know it would have made a world of difference for me.

Ultimately, I couldn't care less about any of these characters... Except, for maybe the sister Genevieve. Since we didn't get much of her in this book, she still remains a bit of a mystery that I'd like to know more about.

I personally don't think this is highly comparable to Caraval as it lacked all of the whimsy but there are two sisters and a game. Nothing at all like ACOTAR though, I think it's more suitably in line with Kingdom of the Wicked in terms of vibes.


╰⪼ 🩸 Deadly Competitions Inspired by the Nine Circles of Hell
╰⪼ 💀Forced Proximity
╰⪼ 🩸 Morally Grey MMC
╰⪼ 💀 OCD/Anxiety Rep
╰⪼ 🩸 Forbidden romance
╰⪼ 💀 Secrets and Lies
╰⪼ 🩸 "Who did this to you"
╰⪼ 💀"Good girl"
╰⪼ 🩸Phantom x Necromancer

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve always had a morbid fascination for stories that fling humanity into fight-to-the-death scenarios as it's the perfect showcase of our species at its most spectacularly awful and occasionally best. And clearly, I’m not alone, given the massive success of Squid Game, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, The Grace Year, The Scholomance trilogy, and even the Saw movies—not to mention several popular romantasies.

Speaking of romantasy, we all know it’s a bold move to compare an adult romantasy debut to crowd favourites—expectations go through the roof and disappointment is practically a given. But the publishers here went all in comparing Phantasma to the genre giants, so, I was bracing myself for a letdown. But Phantasma stood its ground and gave my unabashed love for ACOTAR’s under-the-mountain scenes a run for their money. Here’s why:

Firstly, while the romantasy genre often leans on familiar themes and tropes, and Phantasma feels familiar, it also innovates. We've got:

• A gothic, paranormal New Orleans
• A haunted house drenched in mind games, blood and terror
• A Necromancer FMC
• Hot ghosts
• Secrets-betrayals-lies
• Uniquely complicated family dynamics
• An endearing ghost cat
• Explorations on the afterlife, and Heaven and Hell.
• Own Voices representation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

It’s fresh and compelling, and it worked for me. Your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about religious afterlife references in your fantasy—and gore that might make Tarantino look twice.

Secondly, the OCD and anxiety representation isn't just tacked on, it’s central to the story and handled with haunting, beautiful, raw vulnerability, using dark fantasy as a vehicle.

The games, akin to the grisly thrills of Saw or Squid Game, were a standout. With nine levels of twisted challenges, each one bringing its own brand of hellish horror, I’ll keep the details under wraps. But fair trigger warning for plenty of blood and guts, and more creative ways to die than you thought possible.

Now, about the romance. I thought it was good. Who did this to you and forbidden romance vibes. It’s not a slow burn, but it also simultaneously sidesteps insta-love, and there is a reason for why if you read the whole thing. I know people will want to know about the spice. Phantasma has plenty of it. The story stays centre stage, so if spice isn’t your thing, you can skim those scenes and still keep up.

• Spice level: 🌶🌶.5
• Spicy scene count: 6 spicy, 2 mild
• Bonus points for everything being 100% consensual.

Quibbles? Sure, the prose isn't flawless and I caught a few repetitions that bugged me, plus some foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed, leading to predictability, but in no way did this hinder my entertainment or enjoyment. Literature is subjective, so you may perceive differently and that's all good!

Finally, the cherry on top is that Phantasma is standalone, so you’re not signing your life away to another never-ending series. However, a second book, Enchantra, set in the same world just got announced to be published in April 2025, so Kaylie Smith, please take my money, I'm ready for more. Despite not being a perfect read, I ended up having such a good time reading this that it's getting 5 stars!

My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & Second Sky/Forever for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Wrote more about Phantasma here.

🔹🔹🔹

Heard that this was a horror romantasy reminiscent of the Saw movies and The Hunger Games mashed up with the end of ACOTAR's book one, except set in a paranormal New Orleans and I couldn't say no.

[Ayman · Rating 4 out of 5]

standing ovulation or whatever they say these days 😍😍

god i fucking loved this book. it’s literally adult Caraval and i ate this shit up. my eyes were glued to the page. the plot? the tension? the chemistry? the twists? the turns? all had me gasping for air like i’m on life support and they just pulled the plug.😭

the minute Blackwell showed up my clothes disappeared. lmaoo just kidding. unless… but damn this man is SO fine.
“if there were ever a divine entity, I’d worship, it’d be you.” reading that felt like surviving a plane crash. #ineedhimsobadly 😖

“you are the only thing that’s ever made me feel even a semblance of hope in this eternity of hell. The dream I’ve been looking for—the one to wake me up. The thought of wasting another second when I will lose your forever in only three days has ruined me. You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let it go.” mountains fell and oceans created tsunamis and volcanoes erupted when i read that.

i loved the way this was written. it really fed my brain reading the entire book from Ophelia’s pov. i related to a lot of her fears and insecurities. i’m here thinking, “did the author steal my diary or something?” cuz my did i just read the story of my life? i love her and Blackwell’s dynamic. the tension was too hot on the pages. my hands burned. that ending was fucking genius! my heart was full of glee. i’m even more excited to read the next book in the series following her sister.

my only qualm is that i felt is got sexy too soon. i didn’t expect them to jump each others bones until i was at least 45% in. i believe this would’ve been perfection if slow burn was a plot device used throughout the book. like imagine they finally give it and its like 30% of the story left. but ok whatever im pleased overall

[Ali Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not expect for this to be a 5 star read but it was!! I was at 4.5 stars until the end, & then the ending pushed it up to a 5 star read. There are so many things I loved about this book...

1. it was SOOO atmospheric. The gothic vibes were immaculate and everything from the outfits to the creepy manor descriptions felt so immersive
2. The romance🥵 The spice was spicing! And the two main characters had such good chemistry and banter.
3. The plot! I loveee a good competition in a book. This one felt very Caraval vibes with this magical competition but the creepy hellish challenges made it really unique.
4. the ending! Um woah🤯 & that's all I'll say

A very cool book! Especially for fall.

[Heather Mclarry · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not give two shits about what was happening lol. I don’t always hate insta love/attraction but the relationship here genuinely didn’t work for me


Technically a dnf but I got 75% through so I’m gonna review.

[Sara Carrolli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️!!! 💀

[Yana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ LISTEN, I went through so much during this book, like I liked it and then I didn’t and then I CRIED AT THE END?!? Like wtf just happened to me?!? The plot twist, plot twisted

[Brooke Averick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book that begs the age-old question…am I DUMB or was that ending BAD?

[anh · Rating 1 out of 5]

1 star

This book follows Ophelia and her sister Genevieve who face a nightmare after discovering their mother brutally murdered. With no time to grieve, Ophelia inherits her mother’s death-driven magic and the crushing debt on their home. To save her sister, who enters a deadly competition called Phantasma, Ophelia must compete herself. In the cursed manor filled with dangerous demons and temptations, Ophelia battles through nine treacherous floors. She reluctantly teams up with Blackwell, a stranger who claims he can help her, even as a dark attraction grows between them. With her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia must confront her fears and survive the deadly challenges of Phantasma.

➸ Finally fucking free from this GODAWFUL experience! I picked this up because of all the hype, and, of course, it’s spooky season. But let me just say: NO. Save yourselves—this book is NOT worth the hype at all.

The beginning was painfully weak. I was ready for chills and thrills, but instead, I got a total snooze fest. The gothic vibe was there, but it felt like a boring paint-by-numbers spooky story. I kept waiting for something—ANYTHING—to happen that would pull me in, but I was just left hanging.

I wanted to dnf this so many times, but I was determined to give it a fair shot and see what all the hype was about. I thought it might get better, that maybe it would finally deliver on the promise of all that hype. Spoiler alert: IT DID NOT. It just kept dragging on leaving me more and more annoyed with every page.

Ophelia was just an insufferable and terrible fmc. For someone in her twenties, she was incredibly immature, especially when she blamed her younger sister Genevieve for her own choices.

The whole plot is supposed to be about Ophelia trying to find her sister, but halfway through, it feels like it gets totally lost because she’s too busy fucking Blackwell. 🤡

But what really got under my skin was how she treated other women. Ophelia was just plain rude to female characters who hadn’t done anything even remotely annoying for her to act like that. Watching her throw shade was so frustrating! Women should be lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. The fact that she wasn’t a girl’s girl made it hard for me to connect with her at all. If the female lead can’t back up her fellow girls, that’s a big NO from me. And the way she acted like a total sweet-faced angel towards Blackwell? Made me want to BARF. 🤮

But at the same time, she treated him pretty poorly! She’d hook up with him and then casually drop lines like “no attachments,” only to bang him shortly after. It was so confusing and frustrating to read about. One minute, she’s acting like she doesn’t want anything serious, and the next, she’s using him like he’s her personal safety net. It felt like this never-ending cycle where she’d call him when she needed physical comfort, then push him away the second things got too real. And somehow, we’re all supposed to believe they’re falling MADLY IN LOVE in the span of 1 WEEK??? It made ZERO sense. Their “romance” felt so shallow.

And that’s not even the worst part! Ophelia is competing in a competition where she witnesses some pretty gruesome and terrible things happening to people around her, and after dealing with all that trauma, what does she do?? You guessed it!! She goes off and fucks Blackwell again.💀 It’s like how can she even process all that chaos and trauma and then go straight into fucking AGAIN?? It felt so out of touch with the gravity of everything she was going through.

Blackwell is so icky I really don’t understand how this guy is the mmc that people were swooning over. What is the appeal? Personally, I didn’t find him attractive at all. His banter with Ophelia was so ass it was more annoying than anything else.

Let’s be real: just because a guy can turn everything into a sexual innuendo doesn’t mean he’s charming or desirable-it just makes him DIGUSTING! At this point, I don’t think there was a single conversation between them that didn’t revolve around sex. That’s not playful or cute it is just downright NASTY.

I was really hoping for some depth in their interactions like maybe a bit of genuine connection between Blackwell and Ophelia but instead it felt like I was hit with a nonstop stream of crude comments that just turned me off completely.

In romantasy books, I judge their quality by how exciting the stakes are. Unfortunately, the competition in this one was ridiculously underwhelming. I didn’t feel any anxiety or excitement about people fighting for their lives- it was just boring. I started skim-reading after 70%, especially the smut, because what's the point of reading smut between characters I couldn’t give two shits about??

I absolutely HATED this book. I went in expecting something thrilling and captivating, but instead, I got a boring, messy story with characters I couldn’t connect with. I'm sorry but I do not get the hype AT ALL.

[Emmy Rosam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it weird to have feelings for a fictional phantom??? (Asking for a friend 🫢)


The most atmospheric fantasy romance, perfect for spooky season. Kingdom of the wicked meets adult Caraval. Loved it. 4.25 ⭐️

[Marianna Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!

Oh my goodness I loved this book! Such and easy fast paced read to get lost in, ate and left no crumbs.

This is a dark gothic fantasy romance with all the spooky fall vibes! Our FMC Ophelia is a Necromancer and she has to enter a haunted house competition and survive the 9 levels of hell!! Yup, trials in a haunted house…. Sign me the fuck up! And in order to survive and save her sister she needs the help from our PHANTOM MMC… who will absolutely have you giggling and kicking your feet the entire time!

I’m this book you get:
- forbidden romance
- Phantom/Necromancer romance
- FMC with OCD
- Trials inspired by the 9 circles of hell
- Haunted house competition
- Forced proximity
- Fantasy version of New Orleans setting

I need to start off with my favorite part about this book that actually brought me to tears on multiple occasions because of how hard it hit home for me. And that’s the Obsessive Compulsive Disorder representation in this book. As someone who has struggled immensely with crippling OCD since the age of 11, I’ve never read a book that articulates so accurately how truly debilitating this mental illness can be. There were so many points where I actually had to take a break from reading because Ophelia’s inner monologue made me feel like someone pulled out the inner workings of my brain and turned them into words on paper. OCD is so incredibly misunderstood and gets thrown around so much in society and I’ve struggled my whole life to properly explain how I feel like I’m a slave to my own mind without people looking at me like I’m crazy. Yet after 16 years, this one book was the first thing to truly make me feel like I’m not alone…. Sappy I know but I feel like I know this author on a soul level now and just want to give her the biggest hug 😭😭

Not only was I able to relate to Ophelia on such a personal level but I also just adored her as a character in general! She goes through so much growth in such a short period of time and is strong and not afraid to speak her mind. Oh and don’t even get me started on our MMC Blackwell…. That man. The mouth on that man!! He is the biggest flirt and had me giddy every time he opened his mouth! I now have a crush on a ghost and I’m not mad about it.

The romance was chefs kiss! The chemistry and tension was immaculate and I absolutely loved their sarcastic dynamic! They both had a sense of humor and don’t even get me started of the BANTER!!!!

The plot was so engaging and had me incapable of putting this book down! I’m a sucker for trials of done right and oh THESE WERE DONE RIGHT!

Why this wasn’t quite 5 stars for me is because of the ending. I felt like it was a bit rushed and everything seemed to be resolved really quickly and easily. It was also a bit predictable but at the end of the day none of that kept me from having the BEST GOD DAMN TIME and I cannot recommend this book enough!

This book is also a standalone!! Though it is going to be a part of an interconnected standalone series you will get this couples completed story from start to finish! it’s perfect if you need a break from a series! And I cannot wait to get Ophelia’s sisters book next year!!

[cherie ^_-★ (on a break) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars ⭐️
⤷ spoiler-free review!! ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪

well… i finally finished this book, and it was kind of a miss for me unfortunately 😭 the beginning was intriguing, but it quickly became repetitive and boring. ophelia would go through the trial for the day (the trials were pretty unique, but they didn’t evoke any thrill for me), then she and blackwell would argue during their free time and hook up right after, rinse and repeat. their relationship was definitely insta-lovey/lusty as well, and i couldn’t feel any chemistry between them at all.

that said, i really liked blackwell and how he accepted ophelia for who she was, and the ending definitely caught me by surprise. the way OCD was portrayed in this book was very well-executed too. overall, this book was just okay, but as always, i’ll be continuing this series and reading the second book when it comes out 🤷🏻‍♀️

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ quotes i loved from this book:

"Ophelia. You don't need to fix yourself. You're not broken. But it's okay to get outside help if it gets too loud."

“What do you want?”
“I want you to let me see you. All of you. There is nothing I have seen yet that has made me look away. No atrocity you could commit to make me not want you like this. No matter how forbidden. I want to know everything. I want to see all the darkest corners of your mind. I want to taste your sins.”


pre-read 💀🌹❤️‍🔥:

will this book be a hit or miss for me? stick around to find out!! 😂

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fed my gothic romance craving to the extreme and i need every book written by kaylie on my desk by tomorrow!!!

A bloody, gothic feast of a debut, Phantasma will trap you inside its twisted walls and a manor full of secrets where bargains are struck and broken, and one necromancer will contend with its deadly competition to save her sister and receive the elusive wish granted to the surviving player. I have long been an admirer of Kaylie Smith ever since her young adult series debuted and Phantasma is quite possibly my new favorite gothic romance and book from her all in one. Combining a foreboding gothic atmosphere, a competition influenced by the nine circles of hell, and a cursed bargain with a mysterious stranger, Smith casts her shining romantasy with formidable claws. Ophelia Grimm confronts the seen and the unseen, what’s real and what isn't, and Smith enmeshes this with some stellar OCD representation. Phantasma is the very definition of having your cake and eating it too, it's smart, sexy, horrifying, rageful, and somehow all of those can coexist without being contradictory. I’m completely under Kaylie Smith’s thrall and not at all upset about it.

full review to come, over on my blog

thank you to netgalley for providing the arc

Bookstagram | Blog

[Deepak · Rating 1 out of 5]

Alright, let me cook this bullshit to death and burn this pathetic existence that shouldn’t even be called a book, with my hateful ass words of course.

This was a fucking insult to my eyes and my time.

Double damage they say 🤦‍♂️

The hype? Don’t believe it for a second.

Phantasma is cringe overloaded fest that tries extremely hard to mimic the allure of dark romances, but fails miserably, awfully so.

The idea and concept had potential but the plot, banter, and utterly kid like romance? Stupid, dumb, and both 🤌

Here, let me introduce you to this bonafide dumbass lady - FMC Ophelia.

Ohphelia? More like Oh she is dumb.

Apparently she is extremely family oriented that she bravely agrees to step into this circus game of death inducing trials to save her precious sister - but then becomes cluelessly obsessed with a phantom that she forgets all about her sissy to begin with 💀.

So much for saving the family legacy, and also her sister is boring as shit and probably even more intolerable. Fuck both of them 🫶

Now meet Blackwell, this supposed broody powerful phantom - but when it comes to Blackwell, I’ll just call him, well. pathetic.

My guy literally is obsessed with Ophelia and claims to never have been connected with a lady as intensely just because she wears a necklace ☠️. I’m not making this up lmfao.

Yeah no spoilers but let’s just say the twist is the stupidest shit ever.

These two horrendous ass people or whatever you want to call these disgraces were never in love and had no development of a romance, it was lust at first sight - which could have been saved with well written smut but it was so bad I was laughing at it all along 😂.

How FUCKing hilarious.

By the way these two horny crazed idiots are thinking about ravaging each other in the middle of the circus trials where everything is at stake. From beginning to end, there is also a scene where they are fucking in the same presence as the sister 🙃

No valid substance. No fire smut. And no good thing in this book.

Don’t compare this to anything good.

I read this on Kindle Unlimited for free, and I feel offended somehow - cause I can’t take back the breathes I wasted while reading such nonsensical words.

Lemme save y’all, don’t read this - enjoy 😍

[Alyssa Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was SO good! The atmosphere!! The vibes!! Blackwell!! Seriously so good.

I went into this with such high expectations after hearing so many great things and I’m so glad it lived up the hype. It was so different from other fantasy (romantasy?) books I’ve read! I know a lot of people compare this to Caraval but I haven’t read that series yet (I definitely need to if it has the same vibes though!) Enjoyed it so much and I’m so happy I finally read it after having it on my tbr for so long!

Also, wanted to mention that I loved the OCD representation in this book. As someone who suffers from very severe OCD, I found many parts of this book so relatable and I love seeing authors incorporating more real life experiences like this into characters and books. 🖤

“𝓣𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓸'𝓿𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓬𝓵𝓪𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓲𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓼𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓫𝓮 𝓪 𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭—𝓘'𝓶 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓭 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾.”

[shanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

DANNY PHANTOM IS THAT YOU???

[Linz_loves_books (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a rant review so I am going to try and keep it short!
I believe I am going to be in the minority with this one. I do feel people will love this book but unfortunately I am not one of those people. These are my personal opinions when it comes to the book, you might read it and love it. I was so excited to read this book, the cover and the synopsis was giving me the perfect vibes for the season. The book opened up with so much potential and I could not wait to dive in further and see where this magical book was going to take me.

This follows two sisters whose mother passes away as the story begins. The eldest and our FMC, Ophelia decides to take over family magic and legacy, even though she does not want to. Her sister wants nothing to do with the magic. After finding out their house was going to be taken by the bank because of their mother's debt, the younger sister decides to enter the wicked and deadly game of Phantasma. When Ophelia finds out her sister ran off to Phantasma she decides to follow her, entering into the game herself to get her sister back.

Okay so this book had the potential to be amazing! It felt like it was going to be original and something new. However, after reading further I felt the book was Caraval, The Kingdom of the Wicked, and One dark window. I felt so many similarities from other books that eventually I zoned out because nothing really felt original. Ophelia went into the game to save her sister and then the whole plot dissapeared turning into a whole book of nothing but instalust and then we were brought back to the plot at the very end. I enjoyed a few of the chapters on the trials, those were a little unique but other than that I found myself skimming and could not connect to the characters at all. This book was a struggle for me to get through unfortuantely.

Thank you to my SK bestie for buddy reading with me. If you want a more thorough review on how I feel please go read SK's review because that pretty much sums it up!


✨❤️Buddy reading with my SK bby!❤️✨

Pre-Read Review: I have had a book hangover since reading the Darkverse series so I need something to help! Hoping this is it!🤞

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

➸ 5 stars

“To those who've had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world—I'm proud of you.”

﹒⟡﹒a song for ophelia grim:
who’s afraid of little old me? - taylor swift

﹒⟡﹒thank you to netgalley for the arc!

➺ trigger warnings : scenes with elements of horror, explicit sexual content, intrusive thoughts and compulsive tics.
↳ a complete list of possible triggers is available on the authors website!

“Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.”

🕯️dark fantasy romance
🕯️forbidden romance
🕯️forced proximity
🕯️OCD representation
🕯️phantom x necromancer
🕯️trials inspired by the nine circles of hell
🕯️haunted/gothic mansion
🕯️who did this to you

I cannot begin to describe how much I love this book… hopefully this review will do it justice! I’m sacrificing the fancy fonts so that I can write a long review since I figured out that’s what takes up all the characters; warning: this review will be LONG and contain many MANY quotes because I love them all and have to include them!! I’ll try and hold myself back :) (no I won’t)

This book is one that I’ll forever think about; I have not stopped thinking about this story and these characters and I finished reading this book a while ago. As I was picking out the quotes for this review I felt every emotion that I did while reading and oh gosh I wish I could read this for the first time again! It was such an amazing reading experience! I laughed, I giggled (A LOT), I screamed (A LOT), and I cried I FELT EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE WHILE READING THIS!!! I loved the feeling of escapism this book gave me, I was truly so invested in this story/plot and felt like I was transported into this world while reading. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart; when I tell you I sobbed at the end I mean I SOBBED because of everything that was happening and then I sobbed some more when I reached the end and read the authors note, then again when I read her letter, and then cried/laughed when I reached the acknowledgments… Kaylie Smith quickly became one of my new favorite authors instantly by the time I reached chapter two and everything at the end made me love her even more I WILL READ ANYTHING SHE WRITES AND I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! I am truly so grateful to have been an arc reader for this book, it will stay with me for a long time and I am counting down the days until the release date so I can get a physical copy, reread, annotate, and fall in love with this story all over again. (I’ll also be working on some fanart for this absolute masterpiece…) ;)

· · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·

“Perhaps she would always be destined for darkness no matter what she did or where she went.”

➺ ophelia grim - I. LOVE. HER. SO. FUCKING. MUCH. OPHELIA IS MY GIRL AND SHE IS THAT GIRL! My gosh I loved her humor she was so funny, sarcastic and had me laughing my ass off throughout this book! I loved reading this through her pov, I felt like I was feeling everything she was. she’s such a strong girl; I felt for her.

“But she couldn’t help but feel the walls were going to close in on her long before she got the chance to escape.”

Write me into this book and let me give her a hug. Seeing how having to follow her family legacy put so much pressure on her shoulders made me feel for her. Reading about her relationship with her mother really made me shed a few tears I’m not gonna lie… having freedom taken away from her is a feeling I know all too well and I just want to hug her and never let go.

“I say this sincerely, you need an exorcism.”

OH MY GOSH I loved how she always stood up for herself and took no ones shit! I was cheering her on anytime someone tried to cross her like yea bae you tell them! She slayed! (literally) I love her so much!!!

“He’s insufferable,”
“That seems to be the running theme with every man here.”

“Men are always useless,”

LIKE OKAY YOU GO GIRL!!! I literally giggled every time she put an insufferable character in their place! YOU GET EM BAE!

“I’ve never felt surer about who I am than I do now,” “I know that’s strange. This is the last place I ever thought I’d find myself. But it’s true.”

I literally started bawling my eyes out when she said this. My girl deserves the world and I she’d so many tears seeing her journey throughout this book and her growth.

➺ ophie & vivi - I absolutely adored them. Two sisters, one with pushed too hard and one gone unnoticed. I love how despite the way they grew up, their love for each other was strong until the end. Their interactions together made me shed a few tears (few… who am I kidding , I was full on sobbing!) I love them.

· · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·

“You’re…” “Um…”
“Im what? Very handsome? The most striking person you’ve ever seen?”

➺ blackwell - OH MY GOD THIS MAN IS SO UGHHHH IM IN LOVE! MY NEW BOOK HUSBAND! THIS IS MY MAN FR!! The charming, egotistical, unapologetically flirty, sarcastic men will always do it for me I AM ON MY KNEES FOR THIS MAN SO DOWN BAD HE HAD ME BLUSHING, GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER I screamed, ran laps around the room, did a backflip, (can you tell how utterly obsessed I am yet????) Forever thankful to Kaylie Smith for creating this character; lives were changed (mine) brain chemistries were altered (mine) people died (me) HES SO HOT I CANTTTT

“I can hardly remember anything other than being distracted from the consuming loneliness of living eternally without a single person who knows me. Because of my limited recollection, I barely know myself.”

THE ANGSTTTTT OH MY GOD I CRIED let me go inside this book and give him a hug too (idk how that would work… he’s a ghost… BUT ILL MAKE IT WORK! AND LET ME PET THE GHOST CAT WHILE IM AT IT)

“I thought I told you not to follow me?”
“I apologize if I gave you the impression that I do what I’m told.”

➺ the banter/flirting - OH MY GOD THE BANTER IN THIS BOOK WAS TOP MF TIERRRRRRR! I’ve never had so much fun reading characters back and fourths more than I did with Blackwell and Ophelia! THE FLIRTING?! It had me falling off my bed and on the floor. I cannot explain how perfect it was so I’ll let these next quotes do all the talking :)

“Missed my presence already?”
“Ah, so that’s the true distinction of a Phamtom—an ego.”
“That, and what I’m able to do with my hands”

“I don’t care if you’re already dead, I’m going to kill you again.”
“Is this your attempt at flirting, angel?”
“Both of my hands are wrapped around your throat!”
“That doesn’t make it any clearer,”

“You’re a menace.”
“Only to you.”

And there’s MANY more where those came from, every chapter was filled with something that gave me the biggest smile across my face and an incredible feeling I haven’t felt in a book in a while.

“In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my one source of light,” “My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind.”

➺ blackwell & ophelia - Oh gosh these two. These two will forever hold a special place in my heart. They will stay with me forever; weeks have passed since I finished reading this book and I think about them every day. I hold so much love for these two characters and I am so glad to have been able to read their story and follow them on their journey. It’s such a bittersweet feeling reaching the end of a book you loved and reading the ending knowing there won’t be more, yet, this reading experience was one I’ll never forget about. This book and their love story became one of my favorites, from the very beginning, I just knew. It was perfect. In every. single. aspect.

“I don’t believe in coincidences. You claim you weren’t supposed to be out that night. But you were. And you found me.”

“…it seems that’s what we do. We find each other.”

Something about two characters who always find their way back to each other JUST DOES IT FOR ME I eat that little trope up! It makes me giggle and feel so giddy every time! I! LOVE! IT!

“You came.”
“You called”

I absolutely loved how Blackwell was always with her whenever he could; he was so reassuring towards her in such a subtle way, always having his hand on her waist or shoulder, and not only that but his WORDS! As flirty and obnoxious as he was, he was so encouraging and always believed Ophelia could accomplish anything and helped her grow in so many ways!

“Always in threes.”

It was the most smallest detail he noticed that really got me; always in threes. The way he just KNEW without even having to ask anything about it and would make sure she did everything in threes, completing it for her when she didn’t, JUST THE THOUGHT OF DOING THAT IN GENERAL FOR HER it’s just- I loved it. My heart quite literally melted from the amount of warmth I was feeling.

“You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let go.”

I WILL NEVER, NEVERRRR GET OVER THEM they’re literally meant for each other! The way they make each other feel safe and less alone, how they know each other so well, how they SEE each other THEY SEE RIGHT THROUGH EACH OTHER THEY SEE EVERYTHING UGH I CANT

“If there were ever a divine entity I’d worship, it’d be you.”
“My body, your altar.”

DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SPICE OH MY GOD! I am not usually a spice girly, usually it makes me uncomfortable or I don’t like it depending how it’s written and if I do read a book with it, it’s usually one or two chapters so this book is definitely the spiciest book I’ve ever read AND OH MY GOD IT WAS EVERYTHING I was gasping for air jaw was on my floor I giggled too much I kicked my feet IT WAS SO GOOD literally on my knees FOR THEM BOTH! people died (me)

“I told you before that nothing would ever stop me from getting to you if you needed me, and that will remain true forevermore. I will tear the universe apart at its seams if I must.”

THE PROTECTIVENESS THE CARE THE YEARNING THE LOVE! These are the types of love stories I adore because I fall in love with THEIR love and feel everything they’re feeling and it gives me the most happiest and joyful feeling, but not only that I also feel the angst, I feel the sadness, I cry the tears they cry and I just feel so connected to these characters. Having a book make me feel so much is one reason I love being a reader and finding these stories that I can escape to.

“I will carry the memories of this time with you forevermore. The matter of my soul will always have your named etched into it.”

· · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·

Okay I’m going to stop blabbing now! I think it’s quite obvious how much I love this book based on how long this review is… haha… If you read it all and see this, hi! ily <3 Thank you for listening to me pour my heart out in this review and I apologize for how long it is (no I don’t I will do it again in my next review hehe)

· · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·

𓍢ִ໋˖ 🎪 pre-read ⊹𖧧 ࣪ - the description sounds so much like caraval and I LOVEEE caraval so I’m very excited to start this hehehehe

[Madison Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

this had the makings to be a 5 star, the story was so unique & the romance honestly ateee. i will forever recommend this & be sad this book didn’t find me at the right time to reallllly be into it ❤️‍🩹 4.25!

[ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

[Ri ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

“Never ever make any deals with a Devil. Not unless you wanted to lose your soul.”

A gothic mansion of wild fantasies and haunting illusions, a deadly game, a necromancer and a hot and forbidden ghost—one rule: don’t fall in love in Phantasma.

This book is deliciously and eerily captivating. The plot is intriguing, and Kaylie's lush description of an eerie and gothic atmosphere created the enchanting, hypnotizing, and adventurous experience in Phantasma. Kaylie's narrative beautifully and intricately blended the fantasy elements and romance together, while dynamics between Ophelia and Blackwell unfolds with careful complexity. The grueling levels of Phantasma were unique, and I had a terrific time reading every level.

“Soft hearts don’t survive here.”
“What kinds of hearts do?”
He leaned down until their eyes were level. “Hearts with teeth.”

Ophelia, the eldest Grimm daughter, is bound to her legacy as the necromancer of New Orleans and Grimm Mansion—a destiny she’s known her whole life. But she’s haunted by shadows in her mind, fearful of failing this one task and disappointing the Grimm legacy. I love how the author explored OCD, subtly weaved it into Ophelia’s character to build a fierce, strong yet a soft-hearted female lead with realistic traits. Through her journey in Phantasma, and with Blackwell’s help, Ophelia discovers pieces of herself. She finds strength, bravery, and self-assuredness, and I enjoyed watching her growth throughout the book.

“I may never be rid of my inner demons, but for this single sliver of time, whenever we were together, you made them quiet. I was able to hear myself for once.”


Blackwell, the sexy and mysterious ghost aka the phantom. With gaps in his memory and a penchant for insidious bargains, Blackwell is charming, funny, and cocky in the best way. I was captivated by him instantly; there’s something undeniably attractive about his character that’s impossible to resist. From his words to his actions, everything about him had me swooning. His enigmatic past and centuries-long entrapment in Phantasma made him even more intriguing. I loved his devotion to Ophelia, especially in how he helped her recognize her own strength and self-worth. He is a green flag through and through.

“In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my one source of light,” he lamented as she began to come undone. “My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind.”


Blackwell and Ophelia are a perfect match. While their connection begins with insta-lust, I loved how their feelings deepened as they spent more time together. Their witty banter and forced proximity heightened the palpable tension, magnifying the electric chemistry between a necromancer and a phantom. Their dynamics were captivating, especially in how they were eager to help one another. Blackwell guiding Ophelia in discovering her new abilities, while she did everything in her power to free him from Devil's Manor. Their relationship encompasses not only physical attraction but also a profound emotional and soulful connection.

She buried her face into the crook of his throat. “You came.”
“You called,” he answered.

“I will carry the memories of this time with you forevermore. The matter of my soul will always have your name etched into it.”

The ending was perfectly crafted. However, I wished for more of Ophelia and Blackwell in the epilogue. I was able to predict most of the plot twists, but they were still great, even with their predictability. I'm excited for Genevieve's story and relieved that she did not tried to pull Donatella in the end.

If you enjoyed Caraval and are in the mood for some gothic, haunted vibes this spooky season, Phantasma is the perfect read!

💌 To my girl Giuls,

Looks like we found another man to obsess over—and this time, it’s a ghost. No surprise there! I had such a great time reading this book with you and coming up with our crazy, chaotic theories about the plot twists and everything. We definitely need to do more of these buddy reads together!

————————
here we go again 😗 buddy reading this with giulss 🤎

[Uswah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shockingly, surprisingly, unexpectedly, astonishingly, and astoundingly, I enjoyed the book! 🫣🫣

“To those who’ve had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world⁠—”

The book started off interestingly, and I was immediately hooked. The concept was excellent, and I was excited to find out what would happen next. When Blackwell made his entrance, Oh. My. Gawd! 👀 There was a mystery that kept me engaged, and I love making guesses (nothing new) and failing miserably (also nothing new) 😌🙂‍↕️. Lmaooo not true 😭 —I do make accurate guesses (sometimes)! 😭 Welllllll 👀, I thought Blackwell was Gabriel 😃 (atp, I can’t help but laugh at myself—help 😭), and yes, that guess was wrong! 😃 He turned out to be someone else, and EXCUSE ME—HELLO? I genuinely didn’t expect him to be “HIM.” 👀🤭

Before starting this book, my expectations were low because some people didn’t seem to love it, so I was a bit scared. However, as you know I started my review with "shockingly,blah blah blah shii" I have to say I enjoyed it! In the middle, a few scenes were pretty lackluster 🫤, and tbh, I skimmed through some of the “YKW” scenes. But when I reached the end—WOAH! It took a thrilling turn! 👀

I was going to give it 3 stars, but that ending proved its worth to me. 😌
Was it good? Yes.
Was it great? Yes.
Was it amazing? Sorry, no.

So if you’re thinking of starting this book, maybe keep your expectations low—this could be a “maybe” read.

Oh, and I always forget to mention it:
‼️CHECK THE TW BEFORE STARTING THIS BOOK‼️

I’m really excited to read Genevieve's story next 😆
Ophie (Ophelia) and Blackwell were great characters for me. 🤭♥️ (btw, Ophelia's character is quite savage, though a bit annoying in YKW scenes 😭).
________________________________

Pre-read

Let’s see… The story looks interesting 👀

[évieane · Rating 4 out of 5]

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ━ 3.9-4.1 ☆ ━ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍ (normally a 3☆, but I just had too much fun)
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ╰┈➤˗ˏˋㅤmight contain spoilers ❗

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍re-read ⪼ ┆19-May-2025┆
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⤿ wanted to start reading Enchantra, but ended up re-reading this instead because I missed my babies so much! Blackwell, you are even hotter when I read about you a second time, darling! 😩


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I will just start my review by making it very clear that you should definitely take whatever I am saying here with a grain of salt. This book came to me when I was about to go into a very bad book hangover and it was just the very simple, easy-to-read and fun book that I needed to bring me back in full force. Therefore, as I usually write my reviews entirely based on how I feel while reading a book, I can admit that I just had really much fun while reading this.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I saw a lot of mixed reviews about it, but I think what I did right when picking up this book was that I went into it with the correct expectations and was, therefore, able to fully enjoy it. What I mean by this is that, just like with Caraval or The Night Circus, I knew that this is a book mainly for the vibes; so don't go into it expecting some epic action, some incredible world-building, or some really well-developed and incredibly relatable characters with profound feelings, because you will be left disappointed. Go into this with the expectations of a really easy-to-read book, with some funny banter, really nice Gothic vibes, and tons of vivid imagery and you might even find this book entertaining.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ “But most of all she shed tears for herself. And the soft heart she would never have again.”

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ First and foremost, I want to make everyone aware of the fact that this book deals with a lot of religious terms and aspects. I am a Christian myself and you might find yourself triggered by some of the elements and ideologies from this book. Therefore, if you know this is something that might trigger you in any way, I would recommend not reading this.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ "Phantasma" is the name of the deadly and sinful games that two sisters enter in order to discover some twisted secrets about their lives that their mother kept hidden from them even until her very death. Genevieve is the free-spirited, straightforward, and friendly little sister that runs away and takes her chances in the game despite their mother's warning, therefore forcing her sister, Ophelia to follow her. Ophelia, of course, by being the older sister, is the one who was also charged with carrying on their family's legacy, which made the Grimm women known for their special abilities: necromancy.
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ In her quest to look for her sister, Ophelia stumbles over the mysterious, handsome, and flirty Blackwell, one of the phantoms tied to Phantasma and its manor, who, in the very demeanour belonging to a true evil, Gothic spirit, offers Ophelia a bargain: he will help her through all the 9 nights of Phantasma's trials and to look for her sister, while she will help him track the key to his freedom from the games. Shall she fail, the cost will be ten years of her life, which will be transferred to him. From here on begins an entire adventure of mysteries, secrets and deceits; and, as Ophelia and Blackwell navigate each of the 9 trials inspired by the 9 circles of hell and governed by their respective devils, lust and passion might prove the biggest challenge and the hardest thing to resist. For in Phantasma love is forbidden and might you dare let your heart beat for someone else rather than only for your own survival, much deadlier secrets and horrible curses shall befall you.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Without any further ado, let's find out what I actually have to say about this book, because as I am writing this, I am still very much unsure.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ world-building, writing and action ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ As I mentioned in my very long introduction, the world-building in this novel is not some very huge, well-developed aspect of the book. You do not get any prior background for the characters, the world itself does not get much attention, since the action mainly takes place inside the Devil's Manor, and there is no information about the game itself or whatever drove the characters to certain decisions until the very end of the book, where many of the mysteries get answers. So, if you enjoy being kept in the dark and receiving minimal information about everything happening in the book you will enjoy the mystery of this story.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍I do not have anything special to say about the writing in this instance. It is very simple, nothing too flowery or too poetic, and it is mostly what you would expect from any easy-to-read book. There were some small instances where the register felt a bit strange for the actual period where the action takes place, but it was mainly enjoyable.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ As for the action in the book, I would advise to keep in mind that the entire action of the novel itself lasts for about ten days and mainly focuses only on the trials and whatever sinful and sacrilegious acts happen between the main characters. If you are asking for my opinion, I enjoyed reading about the games and their very dark, gory outcomes, but I got slightly bored of the repetitive nature of whatever was happening outside of them.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ characters ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ I can totally agree with the people that said these characters acted childish at times, and it is quite hard to resonate with them only because there is not enough background information for them and there isn't very much character development involved either. But, once again, having the correct expectations for this probably helped me know exactly what to anticipate from them; there is not a lot of emotional depth in any of the characters, and everything is mainly focused on their reactions and behaviours in certain situations.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⛧ Ophelia - I probably liked this character way more than others might for the sole reason that I found myself in her in a lot of different instances. Ophelia is a very withdrawn person, which is also due to the fact that she was heavily kept away from the world by her mother in her training to become the next family necromancer, but also due to her OCD. And here I would like to mention that this book does such an amazing job at portraying OCD through Ophelia's character. The way it is presented using all this very vivid, Gothic, and dark imagery was really beautiful, especially coming from someone who has a slight idea how these emotions and feelings are actually experienced. And it was also quite intriguing to see them presented in such a way. I can understand why many people found her character to be slightly unlikable, but I am going to be fully subjective in saying that I simply could relate to her and her actions, and therefore I might see her in a much more familiar and better light.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⛧ Blackwell - There is not a lot of depth to his character, and I would have really loved to see a bit more development and some real feelings to his character, because he ended up feeling slightly flat. He is a constant flirt whose main purpose seems to be to frustrate Ophelia again and again, but he made their banter funny and enjoyable, and I could not complain about that. I also loved the small, genuine moments between them where he knew exactly what to say to bring that peace to her and make Ophelia feel safe; and I think as a characters, he was really lovely in those moments.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ❧ Now, the aspect of romance in this book is definitely something that a lot of people were disappointed with, and I would have been too if I didn't realise from the start where this was going. So I will just say this as a warning and just to make sure that everyone starts this with the correct idea in mind: this is mostly an insta-lust, passionate fantasy; therefore, do not expect any deep feelings and sweet, lovey talks, and do not have any high expectations for a really shocking and earth-shattering love story. There is a lot of spice, some of which, I admit, was maybe a bit uncalled for in some situations, but you cannot have it all, right? Now that this was made clear, I could not even judge Ophelia for whatever it is that she was doing and feeling. If I would be sent into some deadly games and some ghostly Rowan Whitethorn would show up and beg in some really ungodly way for some really ungodly things, I would have folded in a second too. My morals are down in the ground, so don't expect anything deep from me.

ㅤㅤ ⛧ Donatella Dragna Genevieve - You already got the point from what I just did there. No need to further develop on this. She was just less annoying than Tella for me.

ㅤㅤ ⛧ Not going to mention them all, but I really enjoyed the appearances of the rest of the characters and if you go and read this, you will probably understand what I mean when I say that they were amazing in building the book itself.


ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ -ˋˏ ༻ ending and conclusions ༺ ˎˊ-

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Probably one of the things that left me wanting a bit more was the ending of the book. We finally get a rather interesting backstory for some of the characters and the events happening in the present-day, but the finale itself felt a tad rushed and even a bit sudden somehow. If you are carefully reading the book and noticing some quite obvious reactions and details hidden in some of the characters, you will undoubtedly not be surprised by the big revelations that are coming your way. However, I still quite enjoyed seeing them written on paper and I was still quite happy with what the epilogue brought us.

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ The series is definitely following the path set by the Caraval series where the second book will mainly focus on Genevieve and her story; and while this is something I didn't really enjoy in Stephanie Garber's novels, I am quite intrigued to see how the writer will handle this here. I really do hope this will not mean that Ophelia will be entirely forgotten, because I did grow kind of attached to her story and I feel like there is a lot of potential to continue it as well, but I guess I will just have to wait and see wherever this is going
ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ Expectations are important all the time and they have the capacity to influence our feelings more than we realise; and this entirely applies to books as well. My previous read was a book for which I had insanely high expectations, and that might have also been my fault, because I allowed others to create them for me. This is a mistake I did not repeat for this novel and I genuinely admit to you that I did enjoy it. So, set your expectations right, find the right time and mood for this and if you are ready for some devilishly sinful romance and some merciless, evil trials pick this up and you might enjoy it.





────────────────────────

ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ᯓ ✿ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍pre-reading ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ⪼ ㅤ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍ since this one is currently winning the What to read next? poll and I badly need to start reading something, here we go!

[Fairuz ᥫ᭡. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars — A hot mess but make it ✨aesthetically gothic✨

Let’s just say I walked into this book with a flower crown on my head, “Caraval” in my heart and expectations SKY HIGH. And then it gently slapped me with a ghost cat and said “lol no.”

BUT!!! I still had a good time okay?? Not the 5-star dark romantasy of my dreams, but definitely the type of book you read while dramatically sighing at 2AM, whispering “Blackwell, you emotionally unavailable menace…”

The Vibes? UNMATCHED.
The Romance? Messy.
The Plot? Brought a cheat sheet.
The Ghost Cat? 10/10 would adopt.

The Premise:
So we’ve got Ophelia. Sad girl with necromancer blood and OCD. Her sister runs off to join a deadly magical game and like the responsible queen she is, Ophelia follows. Phantasma is this creepy haunted mansion situation with ballrooms, monsters, spooky vibes and 9 deadly trials. Survival? Optional. Drama? Mandatory. Romance? Way too fast.

Enter: Blackwell. Charming. Arrogant. Morally grey with the face of a tortured Victorian poet.
And of course he goes: “Give me ten years of your life and I’ll help you survive.”
And she’s like: “Deal.”
AND WE’RE OFF.

Let’s talk the goods:

✧ The atmosphere?? Chef’s kiss. Dripping in drama, candlelight, haunted halls, and roses to ward off ghosts (I mean?? poetic much).

✧ OCD rep was done with care. I actually felt for Ophelia. Her spirals, her fears—her internal monologue was so raw at times I wanted to hug her through the page.

✧ Blackwell’s lines? Sir. Calm down.

“You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven.”
Me: sir pls i’m down bad but you’re not real and it’s rude

“I want to taste your sins.”
Me: i am a sin. taste me next.

✧ Poe the ghost cat. MVP. No further comments.

Now... the tea:

✧ The romance?? WAY too fast. Like, y’all just met, survived a cursed ballroom, exchanged a few insults and suddenly you're ripping each other's clothes off?? WHERE IS THE BURN. WHERE IS THE YEARNING. I wanted angst, not instant spice packet.

✧ The trials were kinda... trialing my patience. Girlie was just waltzing through them with cheat codes whispered in her ear like it was a TikTok life hack. Where’s the stakes?? Where’s the clawing-your-way-to-the-top energy???

✧ Ending was a bit huh?? Like, I think it was supposed to be a twist but my brain just went static. I need a whiteboard and conspiracy theories to make sense of it. Still gonna read the sequel though.

Final Verdict:

Was this book messy? YES.
Did I want more from it? YES.
Did I still have a fun time and giggle like a high schooler every time Blackwell said “angel”? Also YES.

If you go in expecting Caraval levels of plot and character depth, you’ll probably be disappointed.
But if you’re just here for morally grey eye candy, haunted aesthetics, and chaos—congrats, this is your poison.

Blackwell, you annoying flirt, I’ll see you in Book 2.

Rating: 3.5 stars
Spice Level: medium heat but wrong timing
Emoji Moodboard: 🌹🏚️👻🔥🖤⏳🐈‍⬛⚔️

Happy reading, my fellow haunted girlies!! — your resident chaos gremlin, Fairuz

[Jaimee Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Fun and Spicy Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was a super fun and twisty read! Swooning over our MMC, a FMC with OCD and games and trials that are actually a significant part of the story.

If you like a “good girl” vibe, the spice is for you.

I found the ending to be confusing and rushed with a great twist that was then not explained well enough to really make it a home run.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

OH YEAH THIS WAS IT. WOW.
I am obsessed.
Utterly and completely.

Danny Phantom meets haunted mansion with a deadly competition. HECK YES. So unique and a fast paced, addictive read. I loved the characters, the magic, the spice, it was all so good. And it flowed extremely well, I could not put Phantasma down.

There are three reasons I’m docking it 1⭐️ is because I wish it was more slow burn, and there were some lines I felt were a little much, and the ending felt very rushed, I wish it was drawn out a little longer, but other than that it was damn near perfect! A fantastic fall TBR spooky read for sure.

I read this so fast, call me Lightning McQueen of reading. 10/10 would recommend if you’re in need of spooky vibes for your fall TBR.

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

✩ 4.5 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Deadly Competition
➼ Forbidden Romance
➼ Morally Gray MMC
➼ Standalone
➼ Ghost Cat
➼ Sister Bond
➼ Haunted Mansion
➼ Early 1900s New Orleans
➼ Necromancer FMC
➼ Phantoms, Devils, & Witches
➼ Hidden Identities
➼ OCD Representation
➼ Gothic Paranormal Romance
➼ Third Person POV

Believe the hype! This book restored my faith in the bookish community. 😆 This was dark in the sense that there were devils and phantoms, etc. but as someone who’s not usually a fan of dark romance, I’m not sure I would categorize it as such. This was honestly a lot more romantic than I expected it to be and I thought the MMC was kind of sweet for a phantom. I mean really, is there any better verbal exchange than “You came.” “You called”? I for sure swooned! ☺️

I listened to the audiobook which I highly recommend! Laura Horowitz did a phenomenal job with the narration. This is definitely on the spicier side but the intimate scenes were well written and not overly kinky or “dark” in my opinion. Definitely a few odd circumstances due to the haunting, but it felt more like a simulation than reality to me so I wasn’t overly phased by those scenes. 🤷🏼‍♀️ IYKYK.

There are some secrets revealed at the end, but it was written in a way that avoids the miscommunication trope which I really appreciated. I hate it when an MC is unveiled to be a liar right near the end of a book so I was happy that didn’t happen here.

I also really appreciated the timing of when her sister was reintroduced to the story. The author gave the reader time to get to know her and gain more insight into their sisterly bonds and the differences in their personalities. I felt like the author laid a strong foundation for the next book to build off of. I’ve heard only great things about Enchantra! Lucky timing that I read this right as it was being released! I can’t wait to read it! 🫶🏻

Honestly, this was probably really a 4 star read, but I had a good time so it’s getting a bump. 😁

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Stepping out of my comfort zone with this one… I hate horror and I’m rarely a fan of dark romance, but I’m caving to the hype. Y’all better not be lying! 😆

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

Connect with me on Instagram

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

**4.5-stars rounded up**

What the!? Am I a Romantasy Girlie now?!?!



I am shocked, awed and quite pleased at how compelling I found Phantasma to be. I just read it to see what all the hype was about, and you know what, I get it.

This is my first real foray into the Romantasy genre, which seems to have taken the world by storm. I'm not a huge Romance Reader overall, but I do dip my toe into the pool every now and again. I feel like the other elements of this, though, are what made it a true winner for me.



By that I am referring to the creative competition and wicked gothic atmosphere. Atmosphere is my number one want out of any story and I feel like Smith nailed that here.

If you aren't aware, this story is set in a sort of alternative New Orleans where paranormal creatures and occurrences aren't outside of the realm of possibility.

We follow our MC, Ophelia Grimm, after the unexpected death of her mother, a necromancer whose magic she's now inherited. Ophelia is left with her younger sister, Genevieve, as her only family. They reside in the Grimm family home, which they discover they are close to losing due to their mother's unresolved debts.



Genevieve believes she has the solution to their problems as she enters a traveling competition known as Phantasma. The grand prize is a wish granted; she could wish for enough money to settle their debts.

The kicker is that most contestants don't make it out alive. By the time Ophelia discovers Genevieve's plans, it's too late. Her sister has already entered the game. Now Ophelia must get in as well and find her sister before it's too late.

Phantasma is a cursed manor where the contestants must reside while they compete. Think Paranormal Big Brother. Ophelia is allowed in, but will she be able to make it out?



Phantasma is made up of nine levels, each containing its own unique challenge in which the contestants compete. If Ophelia is to have a hope of finding her sister she must successfully complete each level, but dangers lay in wait around every turn of the haunted hallways.

When a charming stranger, Blackwell, assures Ophelia he can help and guide her through the levels, she knows she shouldn't trust him, but what other choice does she have?

As a being tied within Phantasma, Blackwell should know its ins-and-outs better than anyone. She's willing to take the risk in order to save Genevieve, and the burning attraction doesn't hurt matters either. As the two grow closer, Ophelia has to fight to remain focused on her task. Blackwell is quite the distraction.



I found Smith's writing so easy to read. I would find myself getting swept away into the story every time I picked it up. It was so easy to picture everything she was describing.

I loved how quickly we got to the meat of the story, with Ophelia entering Phantasma fairly quickly. I had so much fun following her journey through the competition and felt the danger increase with each passing level.

The fact that the contestants all lived together and entered each level together made for a lot of dramatic interactions amongst them. It did have a Hunger Games sort of vibe in that, in order to win, you needed others to lose.



I would say the competition, and the setting of the competition, were probably my favorite things about this novel. I did find all of that so fascinating, but I did also enjoy both Ophelia and Blackwell as characters.

There's obviously some insta-attraction between the two, but I liked how it did take some time to build up trust. It was enjoyable to watch them learn to work together; that didn't happen instantaneously. There was also some light pining and a bit of back and forth that kept me glued to the pages.

In the end, I would say I fell for them, the idea of them, and what they could provide for one another. The steamy bits were just an added bonus.



I'm so glad that I stepped outside my comfort zone for this one. I'm looking forward to the 2nd-book, and to continue on in my new Romantasy Girl era!

[nina ʚïɞ (semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars

Seeing this compared to Caraval made me kinda nervous going in because I wasn’t the biggest fan of that series HOWEVER if I had to choose between the two, I would pick Caraval 100%. At baseline, this story follows the exact same premise as Caraval but set it in a darker world filled with necromancers, ghosts, phantoms, devils, etc. Because of the very similar premise/start it ended up feeling less exciting and really lackluster for me. Sigh.

Moving forward, as much as I liked that the trials were based on the nine circles of hell, they ended up being a let down. I never felt like I was on the edge of my seat or like there were any real stakes for Ophelia. She’s the MC, so obviously we know nothing truly bad is going to happen to her, but I wanted to feel like it might or that the potential was there? Ultimately, I wanted more fire and excitement from the trials than what we got.

╰┈➤ I found myself feeling pretty bored throughout and the story just wasn’t captivating enough to hold my attention.

I thought the OCD rep was done really well here- it made Ophelia feel unique and the Shadow Voice really added to the creepy vibes for me.

Other than that though, Ophelia was not the best. I felt like she lost sight of her goal; the whole purpose of entering Phantasma was to find her sister but she immediately becomes distracted by Blackwell and well, a lot of smut ensues. Like at EXTREMELY inappropriate times. Ophelia would go through a traumatic trial to then turn around and immediately be thinking about sex.

╰┈➤ I never felt the connection between Ophelia and Blackwell. It’s all pure physicality and instalove. That’s it.

I thought the ending was fine albeit pretty predictable. Nothing to write home about. However, I am curious about Genevieve so I’ll probably be reading her book when it comes out (despite my rating on this one lol). Hoping she’ll have something more to offer.


Pre-read.
Gonna give this a go- I don’t have the highest expectations but I’m hoping it surprises me!