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!

What a brilliantly written book!

Following the story of Ophelia on the hunt for her sister Genevive who has joined Phantasma, complete with a gruelling ten levels of challenges with only one winner. Each competitor goes against each other to beat the level, they comprise of the seven deadly sins, complete with devils, phantoms and lies.

This is so well written, you feel you are with Ophelia as she searches for her sister. She meets Blackwell on the way and their connection is a passionate one to say the least! Each stage Ophie has to complete are harder than the last, not least because she knows others lose their place in the competition. Would you rather die in the hands of Phantasma or forfeit but be cursed? What a choice!

Fans of Caraval and The Hunger Games would also love this book!

I'm a sucker for books with some sort of trials/ competition involved, so when I read the description of this, it sounded like my kind of story.

It revolves around the Grimm sisters Ophelia and Genivive, although mostly Ophelia. In New Orelans, where there are all sorts lingering in the darkness of the witching hour, we meet Necromancers, devils, and phantoms.
Ophelia enters Phantasma to find her sister and has to navigate through 9 trials based around the circles of he'll with secrets, twists, and puzzles along the way.
I'm not going to lie, I struggled at first to get into this story a little bit at first and sometimes had to read parts more than once to fully take all the information in. However, once the trials started and the pace started to ramp up, I was pulled in and couldn't put it down. I had an inkling at some of the twists coming towards the end, but that didn't really take away from my enjoyment.

Thank you the Netgalley and Second Sky, for the arc of this book for my honest review!

DNF at 45%

I really wanted to like this book, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. It wasn’t a bad book by any means, but I personally had a hard time getting into the story and connecting with the characters.

There was a lot happening, but for some reason, I kept zoning out and had to read some parts multiple times to understand what was going on.

The premise was interesting, it gave me Caraval vibes but a little darker (similar magical/mystical feel, one sister enters a game to find her sister, the events take place at night, etc).

The world seemed intriguing, with different beings like necromancers, ghosts, phantoms, etc. I would have loved to learn more about them at the beginning of the story.

Of course, I can’t comment on how the book ends, if the FMC finds her sister (probably yes), how the rest of the nights unfold, etc..

Take Caraval, mix it with Squid Games but then make it a gothic, spooky, haunted house setting, add OCD rep and spice…. you get Phantasma.
And i enjoyed every single second of it. So much, that i will be ordering a physical copy.

Phantasma is the perfect “spooky season” read!!
I genuinely can’t think (right now) of something that i didn’t enjoy in this book. Even the parts that were somewhat predictable, i still had fun reading.
I adored Ophelia, she was so well written and i loved the OCD rep.
Blackwell…don’t get me started on him. He can have my soul for free.
Also shoutout to Vivi and Poe.
Overall, i had so much fun reading this. It got me out of my reading slump!
To Kaylie Smith, thank you for sharing your story with OCD at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC!

In Phantasma, Kaylie Smith weaves a dark, thrilling tale of necromancy, sisterhood, and a deadly contest that challenges both the body and the heart. The novel introduces readers to Ophelia Grimm, a young woman faced with the impossible—saving her sister, Genevieve, by entering Phantasma, a haunted mansion where danger lurks around every corner and survival depends on wit, courage, and a willingness to face demons both literal and figurative.

The book opens with tragedy—Ophelia and Genevieve discover their mother’s death, leaving them with a crumbling legacy and an uncertain future. As the daughters of Tessie Grimm, the sisters have grown up in Grimm Manor, a historic landmark in New Orleans steeped in magic and mystery. With the manor on the brink of foreclosure, Ophelia is torn between continuing her family’s necromantic traditions or finding a way to move forward. However, everything changes when Genevieve disappears into Phantasma, a shadowy, gothic estate that appears where an old cathedral once stood.

Phantasma is no ordinary mansion. It’s a living maze of nightmares, with nine deadly challenges awaiting those who dare to enter. The prize? A single wish that can change fate. To save her sister and reclaim their home, Ophelia must survive the contest and face the twisted perils within. But Phantasma is more than just a house filled with dangers—it’s a place that tests the limits of one’s mind and heart.

Smith skillfully builds the tension as Ophelia encounters Blackwell, a mysterious and magnetic stranger who offers her a way through the trials. His bargain is simple but costly: he will help her navigate the deadly mansion in exchange for ten years of her life if she fails to keep her end of the deal. The chemistry between Ophelia and Blackwell is undeniable, even as their growing bond complicates the already perilous situation.

Blackwell, with his brooding charm and hidden motives, is one of the novel’s most captivating characters. His connection with Ophelia adds a layer of emotional complexity to the story as they both grapple with trust, survival, and the inevitable feelings that arise in such high-stakes circumstances.

Phantasma itself is a character within the story, filled with lush ballrooms and eerie corridors that twist and change, bringing demons and temptations to the fore. Each of the nine challenges is unique and progressively more dangerous, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. But what Ophelia doesn’t expect is that the challenges aren’t only physical—they force her to confront her deepest fears, desires, and even her own heart.

Kaylie Smith keeps readers guessing throughout the story. Just when you think you’ve figured out the next move, another twist comes hurtling at you. The world inside Phantasma is both enchanting and terrifying, a place where nothing is as it seems.

Phantasma is an enthralling blend of horror, romance, and dark fantasy. Kaylie Smith creates a world filled with high-stakes suspense, beautifully haunting settings, and an irresistible push-pull between Ophelia and Blackwell that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. Although the plot keeps twisting, the core of the story remains grounded in Ophelia’s journey—her quest to save her sister, her inheritance, and perhaps even herself.

For fans of dark fantasy and romance, Phantasma delivers a gripping, gothic adventure full of demons, bargains, and unexpected love. As readers follow Ophelia through her trials, they will find themselves lost in the pages of a beautifully dangerous world—just be careful not to lose your heart along the way.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Second Sky for this advanced copy! You can pick up Phantasma on September 3, 2024.

The vibes in this book are IMMACULATE. Perfect Gothic, spooky, haunted house with a magical competition and a sexy, bargain-making ghost. Phantasma was deliciously spicy without being too much, the banter was great, and the romance fun. I'd definitely pick this one up in the fall and prepare for a fun ride.

There's also great OCD rep in this book, making Ophelia's character feel realistic and understandable. I loved her growth throughout this story and how everything wrapped up in the end.

If you're looking for a sexy, aged-up Caraval set in a Gothic haunted house, this is your book!

Phantasma is a romantasy gothic romance and OMG this book was so unbelievably good, it has so many of my favorites tropes and I loved every second I spent reading it!

After the death of her mother, Ophelia follows her sister into Phantasma, a deadly competition with 9 trials resembling the 9 circles of Hell. All she wants is to find her sister which proves to be harder than she expected when staying alive becomes more and more difficult and the attraction she feels to the handsome but secretive Phantom Blackwell becomes dangerous, because the only thing forbidden in Phantasma is falling in love.

So many people say Phantasma is like an adult and dark version of Caraval and I definitely agree but I loved it so much more. The setting in a haunted manor with deadly trials was so interesting and the plot was fast paced, I was so captivated from the very first page that I read the whole book in one night. Ophelia was a really great and strong FMC, I liked how she never gave up and was willing to do anything for her sister, her struggles were written in a realistic way and she was by no means perfect but I loved her and her character development. Blackwell is the kind of morally grey, full of secrets MMC we all love and he was the perfect MMC and partner to Ophelia, I loved them together so much and was rooting for them to be together despite all the dangers their forbidden romance promised. They had such an amazing banter and their vulnerable scenes and love confessions made me swoon and the spicy scenes were *chief’s kiss*, I love them so much. I also must admit I figured out the plot twist pretty quickly on but it didn’t make the read any more enjoyable and made me even more curious how everything led to it and see some foreshadowing.

Phantasma is an amazing book that I absolutely loved and recommend to everyone. I can’t wait for more books from this author!

"My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind."

Wow, I loved this book! If you wanted a darker, spicier version of Caraval, that's what you get here. The FMC Ophelia entered a dangerous competition to find her sister who went first to save their family home.

The trials aren't for the faint of heart. Determined to succeed, Ophelia entered into a blood bargain with a powerful phantom - he helps her win, and she finds his key to free him of Phantasma or else he claims a decade of her lifespan.

This book fulfilled all of my dark, gothic dreams and I loved every second of it. Ophelia is forced to face hard truths about her family, and she has to let go of all she knew about herself in order to survive.

If you like:
- Dark, gothic settings
- Deadly competitions
- Flirty phantoms
- Unique magic systems
- A strong FMC

You'll love this one! This was a very solid 4-4.5 star read for me. The only reason I didn't rate it 5 stars is that I predicted a good portion of what would happen at the end in the very beginning of the book. There were some elements that did surprise me though! Overall I loved the book and highly recommend it (especially for the upcoming fall season).

Thanks so much for the eARC opportunity for netgalley, the publisher and the author. As always this is an honest, voluntary review.

Can I give more than 5 stars??? Maybe 5 million???? Am I a fan of gothic horror paranormal romance or am I just smitten by the amazing talent of Kaylie Smith? Maybe both?

I hardly ever read horror books because books simply don't scare me or even make me remotely anxious so the point is kind of missing in my case. But I decided to give this a shot because well, I really liked the cover and the blurb sounded interesting. It's taken me month to finally get around reading it but I'd read this again immediately.

This was so freaking amazing! I admired the New Orleans setting to start with and then add Phantasma, this gothic haunted mention what was sort of like a haunted castle from the fairs mixed with escape rooms? I was so sold! I devoured this books the same way the manor devoured the players.

I'm so in love with the characters! Where to even start? Ophelia was perfect. She's my kinda girl who might be scared, who might have doubts and anxiety but she's gonna look any literal or figurative devils (or any other threatening creature) straight in the eye and tell them to f*ck right off. Her sarcasm is top notch, she's bold, she's much more than what she thinks of herself and I adore her.

Blackwell... I can't even... he has my heart. He can have my soul, too, I offer it freely to him.

This was such an epic romance, I just want to go back and read this for the first time.

The side characters were great, too, even the bad ones I loved to hate.

Special mention to Vivi and Ophelia's sibling bond. The girls were freaking adorable and I loved every interaction between them, that even at the verge of death, they could banter with each other. Loved, loved, loved.

Gory. Funny. Smart. Thrilling. Sexy. Heart wrenching.

I squealed, I screamed, I laughed and yes, I cried, too.

One of my favourite reads in 2024.

This book was such a cool concept that left you totally in the dark about what each trial was going to hold. Each level of hell had so many interpretations and so many ways it could have played out.
I wish we had gotten to see a bit more of each level and the fears everyone had to give up to enter into the challenge but what we did get to see was very well executed.
I’ve loved her YA writing and that stands true to her NA writing. Just enough smut with a thriller/horror plot to have me eating it up.

Short Synopsis:
Ophelia enters Phantasma - a deadly contest inside a haunted house - to save her sister and her family home. She’s faces challenge after challenge with the help of Blackwell, a phantom and a deal they’ve struck.

My Thoughts:
The premise is super fun - definitely heavy Caraval vibes with paranormal romance and totally my kinda vibes. It’s perfect for fall spooky vibes.

As a big fantasy reader, I was hoping for more character development and rich backstory + world building though. Instead we got a lot of unnecessary spice. And some of the choices the characters made had me making this face: 🥴

The narrator, Laura Horowitz, was phenomenal though. I’ve been following her for awhile as she posts funny reels, and she killed it.

What You’ll Find:
🥀 Caraval meets Rhaspodic vibes
🥀Forbidden love
🥀Forced proximity
🥀Phantom/Necromancer
🥀Haunted House
🥀Gothic fantasy
🥀OCD rep

Thanks to Second Sky Books for the advance copy of this book!

PHANTASMA is a dark fantasy romance with a gothic mansion, forbidden romance with a morally grey MMC, necromancy, ghosts, bargains, OCD representation, and trials based on the nine circles of hell. Note that it's dark FANTASY and not dark ROMANCE, so there are some horror elements strewn throughout related to the magic system and trials. A lot of these elements are very much favorites of mine and this book reminded me a lot of CARAVAL x RHAPSODIC. That being said, I did think this was lacking quite a bit of depth. I really didn't feel the connection between Ophelia and Blackwell and thought there was too much of a reliance on spice, making this more of a "fine" read for me.

4.75 ⭐️s. I am so grateful to have gotten both the e-arc and advanced listener copies of Phantasma. This gave me Kingdom of the Wicked vibes, and I was absolutely here for it.

I’ve seen TikTok’s of @laura_horowitz_narrator and was so excited to have my first audiobook with her narrating. It was amazing to say the least. I immediately purchased Worthy of Fate because she narrated it also.

Ophelia’s mother has died, and now she must take over the family business as a necromancer. When her sister goes missing, she must put the Grimm house and the horrible debt behind to find her. She learns that her sister has entered Phantasma. Ophelia must now enter the deadly contest for the one wish she must have granted. Save her sister. In order to win Phantasma, she must make a bargain. Blackwell is a phantom and claims he can help her but Ophelia must give something in return. 10 years of her life. She shouldn’t trust him but there’s something that keeps drawing her to him. Read to find out if Ophelia finds her sister, discover more about Blackwell, and whether or not she lives through Phantasma.

Thank you to @netgalley @kaylsmoon @bookouture @secondskybooks for the advanced listener and reader copy of Phantasma.
#netgalley #phantasma #kayliesmithauthor #audiobook #advancedreaderscopy #advancedlistenercopy #bookstagram

"Every single second I've spent with you has reminded me what it's like to be alive. And I would trade every other soul in the world if it meant I would get to keep you forever."

This book was kind of like Caraval but paranormal and dark (and more enjoyable...) 🎪

It managed to stay fun and interesting all throughout the trials (or levels), which in themselves were really creative. The other contestants and devils played their part and had their own personalities so nothing felt like it was added just for the plot.

The smut was super good 🙌 and the jealousy too ☺️ I liked their relationship and how it evolved, it almost makes you forget it all happens in like two weeks (I still found it a bit too intense and unrealistic sometimes but oh well)

Finally a last word for the OCD representation which felt incredibly real. I don't suffer from it myself but from reading the author's note I deeply feel for anyone who does. It made Ophelia's character so much stronger and helps the reader understand her imo

[Review posted on Goodreads and a short one on Instagram]

Phantasma will trap you inside its twisted walls and a manor full of secrets, where bargains with the devil might be the only way to survive. A necromancer joins a deadly competition to save her sister, where the rules are clear:

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

This is one of the first books by Kaylie Smith that I’ve read, and the story was captivating, with lovable characters, especially Blackwell, the charming, egotistical, unapologetically flirty, and sarcastic man.

“He grasped her face in his hands: ‘In a different life, in a fair one, I would've kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust,’ he vowed to her.” This line made me want to cry in a corner.

Ophelia Grimm confronts both the seen and the unseen, unraveling secrets about her family. Her character development is strong, sassy, funny, and determined to save her sister.

Ophie & Vivi - I adored them. Two sisters: one who pushed too hard, and one who had gone unnoticed. Their bond is unbreakable, each trying to save the other.

Blackwell & Ophelia - their dynamic is incredible. They reminded me of grumpy -sunshine couples, often at each other's throats yet always drawn to each other

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

If you enjoy dark fantasy romance, forbidden love, forced proximity, phantom x necromancer dynamics, trials inspired by the nine circles of hell, and haunted/gothic mansions, this book is for you.

PHANTASMA by Kaylie Smith

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

Ophelia enters Phantasma , a deadly contest within a haunted mansion, to save her sister, but as she faces nine lethal challenges, she must navigate both the treacherous game and a dangerously tempting alliance with a mysterious phantom.

Kaylie Smith’s adult debut novel offers a thrilling dive into the darkly enchanting world of Phantasma , where every twist of a corridor could lead to either salvation or doom. Set against the backdrop of a gothic, horror-filled manor, the story immerses readers in a realm where danger and desire are intricately woven together.
From the very beginning, the book captures the imagination with its richly crafted environment— Phantasma is a labyrinthine mansion filled with lavish ballrooms, eerie creatures, and an ever-present sense of dread. The setting is not merely a backdrop but a character in its own right, evoking the haunting elegance of classic gothic novels and films.
The tension between the sisters, Ophelia and Genevieve, adds an emotional depth to the narrative. Their relationship, marked by secrets and misguided attempts at protection, is as compelling as the deadly game they are ensnared in. Smith masterfully explores the complex dynamics of sibling love and sacrifice, making their choices resonate long after the final page.
Romance is a key element of the novel, and the chemistry between Ophelia and the enigmatic Blackwell is both electric and perilous. Their interactions are charged with a tantalizing mix of attraction and distrust, elevating the stakes as Ophelia navigates the treacherous trials ahead. The intimate moments are handled with care, adding spice without overshadowing the story’s darker themes.
One of the standout aspects of Phantasma is its inventive magic system, which feels fresh and original. Although there were moments where more detailed explanations about the creatures would have been welcome, the mystery surrounding them only adds to the intrigue. The trials that Ophelia faces, each representing a different circle of Hell, are particularly well-conceived, providing a structured yet unpredictable progression that keeps the reader hooked.
Smith also deserves praise for her sensitive portrayal of OCD and intrusive thoughts, which are seamlessly integrated into Ophelia’s character. This representation adds a layer of authenticity and relatability to the story, making Ophelia’s journey all the more poignant.
The plot twist near the end is a masterstroke, carefully foreshadowed but still surprising enough to leave a lasting impact. It’s one of those moments that makes you want to revisit earlier chapters to catch the subtle hints you might have missed.
Ultimately, I would describe Phantasma as Caraval on steroids with a side of hellish delightfulness. It’s a solid entry in the adult romantasy genre, offering both heart-pounding action and emotional depth. I’ll be eagerly watching to see what Kaylie Smith delivers next.


Instagram: @librisinetenebris

Rating: 4.75 stars
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
🕯️Forced proximity
🕯️Forbidden romance
🕯️Ghost/Necromancer
🕯️Mutual pining
🕯️Cinnamon roll MMC for his FMC
🕯️“Who did this to you?”
🕯️“Touch him/her and die”
🕯️Trials/Battle Royale
🕯️Haunted Mansion
🕯️Gothic New Orleans
🕯️Disability (OCD) representation

“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.”

Y’all. This BOOK. This is everything I wanted Quicksilver to be—not that there’s anything wrong with that book, but the hype was just insane and it left me so disappointed. This book just hits. It’s like a cross between The Temptation of Magic (also a great book), Hunger Games, and A Court of Thorns and Roses, and yet it manages to be entirely its own thing. This is gonna stay with me for a minute.

We find Ophelia Grimm the night she finds her mother mysteriously dead on their living room floor in their gothic mansion in New Orleans. She’s always known she would one day have to inherit the necromancer magic that flows through the Grimm family line when her mother passed, but she hadn’t planned on it being so soon. Still, she does her duty and accepts the magic, turning her “cerulean-blue” eyes so ice-blue they are almost colorless. She also inherits, to her shock, a heap of debts her mother hadn’t told her about. To try and save their family home, Ophelia’s younger sister, Genevieve, decides to enlist herself in a trial competition called Phantasma, because the winner is granted any boon by the Prince of Devils. Ophelia chases after her sister and enlists in the same competition, planning to try and convince Genevieve to leave with her, but they’re put into separate groups and cannot meet until after they survive the seventh trial. Whilst there, Ophelia repeatedly finds herself bumping into a phantom called Blackwell, a mysterious person not enslaved by the mansion and yet not free to leave it either. They strike a deal: Blackwell will help her survive and win the trials, if Ophelia will help free him from Phantasma. If she fails, Blackwell will instead steal ten years from her lifespan.

On the surface, this book already had a lot going for it in my opinion. Gothic horror vibes, Old New Orleans, battle royale, disability representation? It sounded awesome. And it completely lives up to that expectation.

The thing was, she didn’t need Blackwell to always be her savior, but it was beginning to dawn on her that he had become her safe haven—someone who made the Shadow Voice go silent whenever he was around. And despite her injuries, and the fact that she was about to be incinerated, she didn’t want him to come save her in this moment. She wanted him to come make sure the Shadow Voice didn’t get away.

Ophelia is the kind of heroine I love reading about. I’m so sick of the badass-with-a-bad-attitude stabby FMCs that have flooded this genre lately. But even if Ophelia isn’t that, she’s also not weak or passive, or different because she’s ~not like other girls~. She’s already used to fighting her own battles every damn day against the horror of true OCD, so when she enters the mansion of Phantasma, she’s almost not sure what are figments of her own imagination and what are real terrors dragged up by the game. She’s lonely, isolated by her mother’s upbringing and her own inherent desire to hide her differences, but she’s not desperate for companionship. She’s funny and smart, and grows to be so damn strong that you can’t help rooting for her.

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

Blackwell is just about the best of every book boyfriend rolled into one. He’s funny, he’s full of himself, he’s completely enamored with Ophelia. He’s got his own tragic backstory to work through, but as the book progresses, he becomes more focused on making sure Ophelia and her sister survive even if it costs him his freedom.

“He and Blackwell are sworn enemies.”
“And you kissed them both? I would’ve never pegged you for such a drama queen, Ophie. Though, I sort of get it, the jealousy thing is even hotter than the men. Honestly, I’ve never been prouder.”

Genevieve is a fucking riot. I loved every scene with her in it. She’s the perfect supportive-but-won’t-take-your-shit younger sister, and she’s so real for that. Her relationship with Ophelia is beautiful.

The banter between Blackwell and Ophelia is always spot on, it never crosses that line into annoying or repetitive or juvenile that some romantasy books these days fail to toe. The spicy scenes, while not very numerous or particularly spicy, also thankfully never fall into cringe territory. The trials, even though there are nine of them, each modeled after the Nine Circles of Hell, don’t really ever get repetitive or drawn-out. Each are quite short, and yet the stakes just keep ratcheting up with each one. The downtime between each one was well-appreciated and felt well-earned for the characters, though sometimes dragged the pace a touch.

Issues with the story, after all these glowing commendations? Really, none. How often do I say that?? Sure, I still have no idea when/what world this story is really supposed to be taking place in. We know it’s sort of gothic New Orleans, there’s mentions of the women wearing long dresses and corsets, and carriages; but then there’s also talk of cars, V-necks plunging past belly buttons, and women with explicit sexual freedom. So it falls very much into a sort of ACOTAR-type world, where it’s loosely based on old New Orleans, but also just not. We’re left to fill in that blank on our own, but it’s such a minor thing when the rest of the world feels fairly well fleshed out. And yeah, one of the villains Cade was a bit juvenile in that he seemed to loathe Ophelia from the get-go with almost no reason, but again, could be forgive given the genres. Same goes for the speed at which our MCs fall in love. It’s not insta-love by any means, but one week? Meh. I’ll allow it. The great writing made it believable. The “twist” at the end was very easily predictable, but was executed in such a wonderful way that I don’t even care.

So yeah. Excellent, excellent book. I had a great time devouring this one in about three hours. I’m just left wanting so much more, I’m not ready to be done with these characters!!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a 19th century death game delight. The creepy gothic atmosphere was immaculate. It's so hard to hit that sweet spot of spooky and gorey with romance for me and this book was *perfect*.

Ophelia was a great female lead who didn't pretend she could handle everything by herself but was very capable of handling ALOT by herself and I admired her for that. The OCD was very relatable as well and I loved how it was written throughout the story. And she's TALL. And cold. Her attitude with the other contestants was my favourite. Someone died? Not her problem. Her wit and sarcasm know no bounds. Love her.

And Blackwell? What a beautiful witty gentleman. The white hair, emerald eyes and green dress suit combo is *chef's kiss*. And he comes with Poe, the ghost cat. Perfect.

The romance has all the green flags and witty banter with the best sexual tension, oof.

I would have loved to see more of the challenges and other contestants inside and out of them! Everyone's conclusion to the competition would have had more impact. And a chapter or two from Genevieve's pov would have been amazing.

The ending was a little predictable but wonderful and I am absolutely buying this book when it releases!!

DNF 10% in.

Thank you to Second Sky and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC and ALC.

I was intrigued by this one as I adore dark romantasy books but this one didn’t work for me. It was reading really young to me and I kept thinking the FMC was a teenager when she was 23 and when I know this book has spice it was going to be weird for me. The magic system was so vague already and while sometimes I like to not know completely what is happening I need to be engaged in the story some other way and that wasn’t happening. It was too slow while not giving me anything I got interested in. I then looked at some reviews to see if I should push through a bit more and learned it was instalust as well which when I can’t stop thinking these characters are teenagers isn’t going to go well. Overall for me it read young and it didn’t work for me.