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Nominee for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards
Wicked Games #1
Phantasma
Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen in this spicy dark romantasy where a necromancer needs help from a dangerous phantom to win a deadly competition, only to find their partnership puts her at risk of breaking the game’s most vital rule: don't fall in love.
When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.
The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win... if her fears don’t overtake her first.
When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.
Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.
When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.
The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win... if her fears don’t overtake her first.
When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.
Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.
512 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2024
About the author
Kaylie Smith
7 books1,392 followersKaylie Smith is a writer and lover of all things magical and fantasy. She grew up in Louisiana where she frequently haunted bookstores and practiced her writing craft. After getting her BFA, she decided to fully pursue her dream of being an author and writing books in the romantasy genre. Her first series, the HEARTLESS FATES trilogy published from Disney Hyperion and her adult romance debut, PHANTASMA, is out September 2024. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found at home with her Australian Shepherds, talking to ghosts, or dusting her growing collection of knitted frogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 10,101 reviews
September 26, 2024
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.
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.
October 1, 2024
4.5 ⭐️!!! 💀
November 2, 2024
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.
Technically a dnf but I got 75% through so I’m gonna review.
September 28, 2024
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
˗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
September 25, 2024
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.
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.
September 24, 2024
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 ⭐️
The most atmospheric fantasy romance, perfect for spooky season. Kingdom of the wicked meets adult Caraval. Loved it. 4.25 ⭐️
November 10, 2024
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 didn’t. 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 disgusting! 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% in, especially the smut, because what’s the point of reading smut between characters I couldn’t care less 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 understand the hate, but I don’t get the hype around it at all.
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 didn’t. 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 disgusting! 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% in, especially the smut, because what’s the point of reading smut between characters I couldn’t care less 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 understand the hate, but I don’t get the hype around it at all.
July 1, 2024
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
Follow me on Instagram
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
Follow me on Instagram
October 6, 2024
2.5⭐️
September 28, 2024
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!🤞
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!🤞
June 24, 2024
➸ 5 stars
﹒⟡﹒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!
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!
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
“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
October 30, 2024
4.5 stars
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.
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.
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 🤎
“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 🤎
September 10, 2024
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!!
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!!
October 18, 2024
“But most of all she shed tears for herself. And the soft heart she would never have again.”
ㅤ ㅤ ✦ . ⁺ . ━ 3.7-4.0 ☆ ━ . ⁺ . ✦
ㅤ (normally a 3☆, but I just had too much fun)
ㅤ ╰┈➤˗ˏˋㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
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 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!
ㅤ ㅤ ✦ . ⁺ . ━ 3.7-4.0 ☆ ━ . ⁺ . ✦
ㅤ (normally a 3☆, but I just had too much fun)
ㅤ ╰┈➤˗ˏˋㅤmight contain spoilers ❗
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 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 ⛧
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!
October 29, 2024
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 😍
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 😍
Currently reading
November 8, 2024pre-read 💀🌹❤️🔥:
will this book be a hit or miss for me? stick around to find out!! 😂
will this book be a hit or miss for me? stick around to find out!! 😂
September 16, 2024
DANNY PHANTOM IS THAT YOU???
September 20, 2024
4.5⭐️ “And then you found me. Because it seems that’s what we do. We find each other.”
🥹
Delicious. No notes. This could very much be a mood rating, but I don’t care 🤭😭
Full Review:
I definitely enjoyed this as a spooky read. Not terrifying, but very classically Halloween-ish with all the trimmings - necromancers, devils, haunted manors, ghouls, ghosts, phantoms…the whole lot. All classic things that have been done before, but with some romance.
The story is told from a third POV narrator. We start off introduced to Ophelia “Ophie” and Genevieve “Vivi” Grimm, daughters of a necromancer, Tessie Grimm, living in a New Orleans Manor. Ophelia is the main character, but I love the focus on the two sisters before we’re introduced to the MMC or any romance. It felt like a slow start (positive), allowing time to settle into the story and the world.
The meat of the book concerns the Devil’s Manor - Phantasma. Phantasma moves between states, magically appearing to hold a competition consisting of 9 rounds that reflect the 9 circles of hell. Win Phantasma and you get granted a wish from the devil. Guess who enters Phantasma despite all the warning signs? Ophelia.
Ophelia: I really liked her. Although annoying at times, it didn’t take much for her to suck it up and get on with things. To be honest I don’t even know if I loved Ophelia as a character herself? It’s likely I loved what her character meant and represented. There is a really clever manifestation of OCD in this book. Trying to be spoiler light so won’t go into too much detail. But I really appreciated it.
Blackwell: an actual Phantom of the devil’s manor…he’s stuck in Phantasma, with gaps in his memory meaning he cannot remember how to break free or what he needs to look for to break the tether to the manor. I’m sorry, Blackwell may have been a bit too cheesy at times but that ghost was CHARMING 🫠🫠. He had the banter, the golden retriever energy, and the confidence! He also had WORDS ⤵️
“You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let it go.”
Decent spice, decent love declarations, and a decent twist at the end 👌🏾 also, It’s an interconnected standalone so no cliffhanger!
————————————————
“What a phantasmagoria the mind is and meeting-place of dissemblables!” ― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
In need of something spooky and warmmmmm💀
🥹
Delicious. No notes. This could very much be a mood rating, but I don’t care 🤭😭
Full Review:
I definitely enjoyed this as a spooky read. Not terrifying, but very classically Halloween-ish with all the trimmings - necromancers, devils, haunted manors, ghouls, ghosts, phantoms…the whole lot. All classic things that have been done before, but with some romance.
The story is told from a third POV narrator. We start off introduced to Ophelia “Ophie” and Genevieve “Vivi” Grimm, daughters of a necromancer, Tessie Grimm, living in a New Orleans Manor. Ophelia is the main character, but I love the focus on the two sisters before we’re introduced to the MMC or any romance. It felt like a slow start (positive), allowing time to settle into the story and the world.
The meat of the book concerns the Devil’s Manor - Phantasma. Phantasma moves between states, magically appearing to hold a competition consisting of 9 rounds that reflect the 9 circles of hell. Win Phantasma and you get granted a wish from the devil. Guess who enters Phantasma despite all the warning signs? Ophelia.
Ophelia: I really liked her. Although annoying at times, it didn’t take much for her to suck it up and get on with things. To be honest I don’t even know if I loved Ophelia as a character herself? It’s likely I loved what her character meant and represented. There is a really clever manifestation of OCD in this book. Trying to be spoiler light so won’t go into too much detail. But I really appreciated it.
Blackwell: an actual Phantom of the devil’s manor…he’s stuck in Phantasma, with gaps in his memory meaning he cannot remember how to break free or what he needs to look for to break the tether to the manor. I’m sorry, Blackwell may have been a bit too cheesy at times but that ghost was CHARMING 🫠🫠. He had the banter, the golden retriever energy, and the confidence! He also had WORDS ⤵️
“You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let it go.”
Decent spice, decent love declarations, and a decent twist at the end 👌🏾 also, It’s an interconnected standalone so no cliffhanger!
————————————————
“What a phantasmagoria the mind is and meeting-place of dissemblables!” ― Virginia Woolf, Orlando
In need of something spooky and warmmmmm💀
October 5, 2024
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.
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.
November 8, 2024
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!
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!
October 19, 2024
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.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.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.
September 21, 2024
✦. ── Review ── .✦
⤷ I finished this a while back and you'd think after getting time to ponder about what this fucking shit of a book was it would get even a tiny bit better but BOY, phantasma actually has me impressed because by each passing moment I'm dying from secondhand embarrassment and CRINGE. all that potential WASTED. All those 4/5-star ratings have me baffled because where was the plot? where was the tension? where was the angst? where was anything? it was literally just instalust and then fucking and then love in like the last chapter. like excuse me? I feel like a hamster on a wheel, it's not even funny ✋🏼 I'm genuinely crying at the nonsense these 2 main characters uttered. Why was Ophelia the biggest bitch I've ever met? like ok u don't socialize but girl u doesn't hv to be so damn arrogant. And don't even get me started on Blackwell. I did love the initial idea and the world, but the execution was an utter flop. In conclusion, I hate the mmc, I hate the fmc and this book was not for me. I hope yall enjoy it way more <33
Out with the old, in with the new. Here's to better gems and 5 star reads 🫶🏼
⤷ I finished this a while back and you'd think after getting time to ponder about what this fucking shit of a book was it would get even a tiny bit better but BOY, phantasma actually has me impressed because by each passing moment I'm dying from secondhand embarrassment and CRINGE. all that potential WASTED. All those 4/5-star ratings have me baffled because where was the plot? where was the tension? where was the angst? where was anything? it was literally just instalust and then fucking and then love in like the last chapter. like excuse me? I feel like a hamster on a wheel, it's not even funny ✋🏼 I'm genuinely crying at the nonsense these 2 main characters uttered. Why was Ophelia the biggest bitch I've ever met? like ok u don't socialize but girl u doesn't hv to be so damn arrogant. And don't even get me started on Blackwell. I did love the initial idea and the world, but the execution was an utter flop. In conclusion, I hate the mmc, I hate the fmc and this book was not for me. I hope yall enjoy it way more <33
Out with the old, in with the new. Here's to better gems and 5 star reads 🫶🏼
September 20, 2024
This was FANTASTIC- perfect spooky season read!
Phantasma was an absolutely addicting story! After losing her mother our FMC Ophelia inherits her necromancy powers and a special locket she can never take off. The family unfortunately also inherits her mother's debt and Ophelia's sister runs away to a legendary game called Phantasma with hopes of winning to free their family.
Ophelia follows her to it and enters herself to stop her sister from making a huge mistake. People who enter don't always come back out, and those who do are never the same. There are very few rules in Phantasma, the biggest being don't fall in love. In Phantasma, the competitor has to go through trials based on the 9 layers of hell, while facing all manner of deadly sins. But the prize being a wish granted from the prince of devils makes it all worth it.
It has a bit of the same ambiance as Kingdom of the Feared (not wicked) or Throne of the Fallen and a bunch of spice. It's dark and gruesome with a sizzling romance I couldn't get enough of!
Phantasma was an absolutely addicting story! After losing her mother our FMC Ophelia inherits her necromancy powers and a special locket she can never take off. The family unfortunately also inherits her mother's debt and Ophelia's sister runs away to a legendary game called Phantasma with hopes of winning to free their family.
Ophelia follows her to it and enters herself to stop her sister from making a huge mistake. People who enter don't always come back out, and those who do are never the same. There are very few rules in Phantasma, the biggest being don't fall in love. In Phantasma, the competitor has to go through trials based on the 9 layers of hell, while facing all manner of deadly sins. But the prize being a wish granted from the prince of devils makes it all worth it.
It has a bit of the same ambiance as Kingdom of the Feared (not wicked) or Throne of the Fallen and a bunch of spice. It's dark and gruesome with a sizzling romance I couldn't get enough of!
November 2, 2024
4 ★
why did no one prepare me for that evil plot twist 😭
rant review with this one...
my biggest issue with this book: the insta lust. the fact after almost everytime they spoke (including the first time) she started having fantasies about him and wanted to touch herself.. excuse me? all you saw was his shadow when you met for the first time..
there was no emotional intimacy throughout this book. they didn't sit down ONCE and get to know about each other. ONE. TIME. in the span of 492 pages. they didn't get to know each other at all which really bothered me. somehow they fell in love? how? why? 😭
the main plot we follow throughout the book is how her sister entered phantasma to grant the final wish they get as a prize for completing all nine levels, and she wanted to remove there debt they got passed on from there mother's death. girl? when was Ophelia sad about her mom ONE time during this book? oh wait i don't think she had time with the amount of times they went at each other 💀
the fantasy was supposed to be high stakes as they're all competing against each other, but it didn't feel like that. i was interested in the levels at times, but the first half of the book i could have cared less about what was going on.
also, the book is super slow paced but happens in a very short amount of time. phantasma was the main point of the book, but it only lasted nine days. like how did they fall in love in a little over a week? 😭
but i do have an inhuman like obsession with blackwell. i was giggling, kicking my feet, EVERYTIME this man spoke. he is so hot.
i would recommend this book as a spooky, dark read but don't expect anything more than pyshical with blackwell and ophelia.
--
starting this because i want to finish it before november 🤭 (spoiler alert: i didnt)
why did no one prepare me for that evil plot twist 😭
rant review with this one...
my biggest issue with this book: the insta lust. the fact after almost everytime they spoke (including the first time) she started having fantasies about him and wanted to touch herself.. excuse me? all you saw was his shadow when you met for the first time..
there was no emotional intimacy throughout this book. they didn't sit down ONCE and get to know about each other. ONE. TIME. in the span of 492 pages. they didn't get to know each other at all which really bothered me. somehow they fell in love? how? why? 😭
the main plot we follow throughout the book is how her sister entered phantasma to grant the final wish they get as a prize for completing all nine levels, and she wanted to remove there debt they got passed on from there mother's death. girl? when was Ophelia sad about her mom ONE time during this book? oh wait i don't think she had time with the amount of times they went at each other 💀
the fantasy was supposed to be high stakes as they're all competing against each other, but it didn't feel like that. i was interested in the levels at times, but the first half of the book i could have cared less about what was going on.
also, the book is super slow paced but happens in a very short amount of time. phantasma was the main point of the book, but it only lasted nine days. like how did they fall in love in a little over a week? 😭
but i do have an inhuman like obsession with blackwell. i was giggling, kicking my feet, EVERYTIME this man spoke. he is so hot.
i would recommend this book as a spooky, dark read but don't expect anything more than pyshical with blackwell and ophelia.
--
starting this because i want to finish it before november 🤭 (spoiler alert: i didnt)
Shelved as 'dnf'
September 29, 2024DNF at like 7%, I'm so sorry but this book lowk highk sucks ass 😁👍 I choose happiness
August 18, 2024
Holy Hell, this is a bloody good book!!! I loved Kaylie Smith's writing, the vivid and detailed descriptions, the world building, the fabulous group of characters, the gothic vibe, the steamy scenes, and the element of danger. I am usually hit or miss with books in the fantasy genre, but Phantasma cast it's spell on me. I was addicted to this book and the characters from the very first page.
Phantasma is a game held inside a haunted mansion. As with all games there are rules and in Phantasma, not following the rules can have deadly consequences. But don't worry, the rules are simple enough: stay alive and don't fall in love. If you can make it to the end, you win a prize! The prize - you get to make a wish! It had better be a good one!
When Ophelia’s sister goes missing, Ophelia, a necromancer, enters Phantasma to find her. Once in Phantasma, Ophelia must complete 9 levels (like the 9 circles of hell), each one more dangerous and deadly than the last. The contestants will be up against each other, demons, various temptations, and deadly challenges. There will be only one winner. It is not for the faint of heart!
Blackwell, a mysterious, charismatic, sexy and handsome man/ghost/? offers her a bargain, Ophelia decides to take him up on it. But everything is not as it seems in Phantasma!
I had the pleasure of having both the physical book and the audiobook which made for pure bliss. Laura Horowitz, the narrator of the audiobook, did an amazing job. Seriously she nailed it! It was pure listening bliss. I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. I am so happy that I decided to take a chance on this book, and it paid off big time! I absolutely loved this dark, fantasy romance!
The characters are fantastic, as were their names. Plus, there is some great dialogue and banter in this book. Some characters are likeable, some are creepy, some sinister, some are vile, and some grew on me like a weed. Plus, Phantasma has a devilishly wonderful gothic vibe to it.
Addictive, sexy, sinister, fun, entertaining and hard to put down!
Highly Recommend this devilishly delightful book!
Thank you to Second Sky/Forever, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Phantasma is a game held inside a haunted mansion. As with all games there are rules and in Phantasma, not following the rules can have deadly consequences. But don't worry, the rules are simple enough: stay alive and don't fall in love. If you can make it to the end, you win a prize! The prize - you get to make a wish! It had better be a good one!
When Ophelia’s sister goes missing, Ophelia, a necromancer, enters Phantasma to find her. Once in Phantasma, Ophelia must complete 9 levels (like the 9 circles of hell), each one more dangerous and deadly than the last. The contestants will be up against each other, demons, various temptations, and deadly challenges. There will be only one winner. It is not for the faint of heart!
Blackwell, a mysterious, charismatic, sexy and handsome man/ghost/? offers her a bargain, Ophelia decides to take him up on it. But everything is not as it seems in Phantasma!
I had the pleasure of having both the physical book and the audiobook which made for pure bliss. Laura Horowitz, the narrator of the audiobook, did an amazing job. Seriously she nailed it! It was pure listening bliss. I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. I am so happy that I decided to take a chance on this book, and it paid off big time! I absolutely loved this dark, fantasy romance!
The characters are fantastic, as were their names. Plus, there is some great dialogue and banter in this book. Some characters are likeable, some are creepy, some sinister, some are vile, and some grew on me like a weed. Plus, Phantasma has a devilishly wonderful gothic vibe to it.
Addictive, sexy, sinister, fun, entertaining and hard to put down!
Highly Recommend this devilishly delightful book!
Thank you to Second Sky/Forever, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
September 24, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
I really really enjoyed it!! I genuinely thought it wasn’t that dark tho (but idk)
If you want Halloween vibes and sometimes to binge read, read this book!!
I loved Ophe and Blackwell’s relationship so much (I especially like Blackwell)
SPOILER!!!
"In a different life, in a fair one, I would've kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust”
I really really enjoyed it!! I genuinely thought it wasn’t that dark tho (but idk)
If you want Halloween vibes and sometimes to binge read, read this book!!
I loved Ophe and Blackwell’s relationship so much (I especially like Blackwell)
SPOILER!!!
"In a different life, in a fair one, I would've kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust”
November 2, 2024
➼ 4.5★
overall, this book is entertaining and intriguing. the challenges of the trials are interesting and keep you glued to the pages. the trials are not dragged too much, so they don’t bore you at all. this book is the perfect balance of romance, horror, fantasy and action. the pace is fast but not too fast, the writing is simple but i found it beautiful. the spice is very spicy🤭 i also appreciated the OCD representation which was well represented imo!
i’d definitely recommend it, however i’d suggest you to read the TWs before starting it, due to the horror elements.
please give it a chance because it’s truly worthy.
to my girl ri:
tysm for suggesting and reading this with me. i’m so happy we have the same taste in books because we always have so much fun together! i hope we’ll read more books together! ily🤧🩶
onto the next!!
”Never ever make any deals with a Devil. Not unless you wanted to lose your soul.”
╰┈➤ read this if you like:
★ dark paranormal horror vibes
★ forbidden romance
★ trial inspirited by the nine circle of hell
★ OCD representation
★ phantom x necromancer
★ haunted manor
before starting this, i’d seen so many reviews, both bad and positive. i was curious about this book because people said it gave caraval vibes, and it’s so true. let’s begin!!
➷ the story follows ophelia, a necromancer who just lost her mother due to a heart attack, and her sister, who left after their mother’s passing. ophelia worrying about her sister’s sake, starts to look into her diary and finds out geneviev is going to phantasma—a cursed manor in new orleans where people play a sort of game divided in level, each a circle of hell.
the moment she arrives, she meets the charming and arrogant phantom blackwell who offers her a bargain: free him from phantasma in exchange of his assistance during the trials. but phantasma has two rules: stay alive and don’t fall in love. will our girl ophie manage to stay alive, don’t fall in love and win the competition?
ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ophelia & blackwell🖤
ophelia is the big sister, the one who has to carry the burden of carrying the family legacy on. she’s spent her whole life following her mother’s steps and when she died, ophie found herself a little lost. since i’m a big sister, i’m familiar with the role ophie had to fulfill. she thinks she’s broken because she hears the shadow voice and because she has OCD.
little does she know, she’s also very hilarious and clever. participating at a competition like phantasma is not for the faint of heart, and she’s incredibly strong.
i’d say blackwell is a lost soul. he’s forced to work at phantasma and has holes in his memory, but despite feeling lost sometimes, he always has a quick comeback. he’s funny and charming. he has a way with words…🤭
both ophie and B have a chef kiss sarcasm what will make you laugh you ass off. their banter and tension is lovely and fun to read. their relationship is everything and i’ve loved every single moment they had together. i wouldn’t say this is a slow burn, but tbh i didn’t mind it at all. some of their interactions are entertaining, some are hot, some are heartbreaking… they helped each other so much, he was always there when she called and she put so much efforts in finding a way to help him. he always encouraged her to keep pushing and be strong, letting her know he was proud of her—something she really needed. they’re literally two halves of the same heart.
“You came.”
“You called,”
overall, this book is entertaining and intriguing. the challenges of the trials are interesting and keep you glued to the pages. the trials are not dragged too much, so they don’t bore you at all. this book is the perfect balance of romance, horror, fantasy and action. the pace is fast but not too fast, the writing is simple but i found it beautiful. the spice is very spicy🤭 i also appreciated the OCD representation which was well represented imo!
i’d definitely recommend it, however i’d suggest you to read the TWs before starting it, due to the horror elements.
please give it a chance because it’s truly worthy.
to my girl ri:
tysm for suggesting and reading this with me. i’m so happy we have the same taste in books because we always have so much fun together! i hope we’ll read more books together! ily🤧🩶
onto the next!!
“Ophelia,” he repeated, tasting every syllable. Her name on his tongue sounded like a wicked prayer. “You are exactly the person I’ve been waiting for.”
“Are you going to need me to hold your hand while we walk through?” he taunted over his shoulder with a smirk.
“Oh, bite me,” she deadpanned.
His smirk grew wider. “Is that an invitation?”
“Soft hearts don’t survive here.”
“What kinds of hearts do?”
He leaned down until their eyes were level. “Hearts with teeth.”
“If you want to play rough,” he drawled, “I have better games we can play. Ones that involve less clothing—”
“Ugh,” she groaned, fists balling at her sides. “No wonder no one has ever been able to find what you’re looking for. You’re impossible to work with.”
“Thank you. You got me through that.” He took a step toward her, lifting her chin with his finger so he could look her square in the eyes.
“You got yourself through that. I’m proud of you.”
“I think you might be the closest to heaven I’ll ever get,” he whispered.
“You are apparently anything but forgettable.”
“Because it seems that’s what we do. We find each other.”
I know I should have enough self-control to just stay the fuck away, but 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.
“Have I ever told you how much I adore a woman who isn’t afraid to get her hands bloody?”
“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.”
“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.”
I will carry the memories of this time with you forevermore. The matter of my soul will always have your name etched into it.
September 13, 2024
➳ 4 ☆ ↴
↳ “the dark is for people who are too cowardly to face their actions in the light.”
・❥・people were presenting this as a caravel, but make it older. while i cannot speak on that because i never read that triology-- i enjoyed this. i feel like i have been reading some dumb shit recently, but this delivered everything i wanted and more. this is a dark gothic romantic fantasy that follows our main characters; ophelia and blackwell. the setting and the overall vibe of this story was so immersive and alluring. i was giggling and kicking my feet every-time ophie and blackwell were on page together.
➺ ophelia~ i love this girl so much. she is such a refreshing main female character who was so resilient and strong. i love seeing close sibling bonds in books, and this one absolutely delivers with her and genevieve. i love the different (circles of hell) she has to go through in order to make it out. she was so facetious and the OCD rep was so important.
➳ “men are always useless.” she is me, i am her.
➺ blackwell~ listen. one things for certain, two things for sure-- i am will always be down bad for a sneaky & sarcastic man. i don't even care that he is blond, send him my way please and thank you. i thoroughly enjoyed his character, and found him to be a breath of fresh air to be honest. the tension and the banter between them was everything, and his comedic timing was placed well in the story. there is obviously a *who did this to you* moment, and you already know i was sat the fuck down for that.
➳ “you came.” “you called.”
-- i am going to read ZA again, i was just doing the most with it and needed a break.
➛ new trope unlocked for me : necromancer x phantom <3
↳ “the dark is for people who are too cowardly to face their actions in the light.”
・❥・people were presenting this as a caravel, but make it older. while i cannot speak on that because i never read that triology-- i enjoyed this. i feel like i have been reading some dumb shit recently, but this delivered everything i wanted and more. this is a dark gothic romantic fantasy that follows our main characters; ophelia and blackwell. the setting and the overall vibe of this story was so immersive and alluring. i was giggling and kicking my feet every-time ophie and blackwell were on page together.
➺ ophelia~ i love this girl so much. she is such a refreshing main female character who was so resilient and strong. i love seeing close sibling bonds in books, and this one absolutely delivers with her and genevieve. i love the different (circles of hell) she has to go through in order to make it out. she was so facetious and the OCD rep was so important.
➳ “men are always useless.” she is me, i am her.
➺ blackwell~ listen. one things for certain, two things for sure-- i am will always be down bad for a sneaky & sarcastic man. i don't even care that he is blond, send him my way please and thank you. i thoroughly enjoyed his character, and found him to be a breath of fresh air to be honest. the tension and the banter between them was everything, and his comedic timing was placed well in the story. there is obviously a *who did this to you* moment, and you already know i was sat the fuck down for that.
➳ “you came.” “you called.”
-- i am going to read ZA again, i was just doing the most with it and needed a break.
➛ new trope unlocked for me : necromancer x phantom <3
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November 12, 2024⋆.˚🦋༘⋆ preread
college has been kicking me a lot and the slump is just making it worse! so i’m hoping that this book will get be out of my slump!
college has been kicking me a lot and the slump is just making it worse! so i’m hoping that this book will get be out of my slump!
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