This one had potential but just wasn’t for me. I’m not a much of a dark romance girl but I gave it a try and just didn’t love it. Not my cup of tea but might be perfect for others!

I picked this up when it was described as a darker caraval. I love creepy books involving games. The writing was easy to follow but not too simplex. The characters were interesting and not always doing dumb things as a plot device. It had a bit more spice than I’d normally read but it wasn’t over the top. I’m actually extremely excited to see a book 2. I loved this story all around

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I sometimes struggle with fantasy/romantasy because of the world building and writing styles. But this book truly is amazing, and I hope that it surpasses other popular books (Fourth Wing, I'm looking at you) given just how good it is.

Reasons to read this book:
Set in New Orleans in the late 1800s/early 1900s
Paranormal beings (ghosts, apparitions, phantoms, devils, necromancers, specters)
Gorgeously gothic atmosphere
OCD representation in the main character
Salaciously spicy sex scenes
A challenge/puzzle world built on the 9 circles of hell
Super hot Blackwell
Sisterly bonds
The GORGEOUS COVER!!!

Big warning though -- this is GRUESOME! If you are afraid of blood, violence, death, murder on page - then you might want to stay away.

This is perfect for spooky season, and I think it will be raved about for the coming years.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 / 5 ⭐️
If you’re looking for a spooky season romance that leans into the horror and paranormal with *excellent* spice and a cute fluffy ghost cat to boot? This is it! As far as spooky season romances go, I enjoyed this departure from the cute and embraced the path of the gore, horror, and Devils. 😈
I was so pleasantly surprised by the unfolding of this story from being plopped into the action right at the start. I love when stories start this way: no preamble, just tossing you into the story and you catch up.
The author’s incorporation of her own struggles with OCD through the main character was interesting, compelling, and endearing. I felt her catharsis through writing this character.
Don’t even get me started on Blackwell 🥰😋🥵
We get a man (phantom) who lives to eat 😉. We get hurt and comfort in many ways and multiple times, which I LOVE as one of my favorite tropes. I heavily seek out fan fiction that features this. And the level of protective and possessive while still giving her choice? 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 He has the wickedest and sweetest mouth on him, saying both FILTHY and heartbreakingly beautiful things.
Also, the Danny Phantom vibes from his description are spot on and I’m here for it!

His expression shifted into something like thoughtfulness. “What is your name?”
She stared at him for a long time, deciding if she should risk giving it over to him.
He gave a dramatic sigh. “If I give you my name first, would that help?”
“Possibly,” she answered.
“You can call me Blackwell. It’s nice to officially make your acquaintance…?”
A long pause. Then, “Ophelia Grimm.”
“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.”

“Phantasma” is a “captivating from the first page” dark romantasy book by Kaylie Smith.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Plot: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Characters: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Suspense: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Romance/spice: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

What you’ll find in this book:
⭐️ Forbidden love
⭐️ Steamy dark Romantasy
⭐️ Deadly games
⭐️ Strong Female main character
⭐️ Slow-burn Romance but quick pace book
⭐️ Jaw-dropping twists & suspense

My Review:

AMAZING! I was captivated from the first page and couldn’t put it down! Interest stayed the same throughout the book! Deliciously captivating story and characters. This book is all about how a love that looks life-threatening and totally forbidden (we talk life or death forbidden) can eventually work out. A dark life-altering romance that will keep you on your toes!

The writing style and chapter separation are so good that you go from one chapter to the other without stopping.

If you are a lover of supernatural romance and love games and puzzles as much as I do this book is totally for you. One of the best I read this year!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for my early copy. All opinions are mine and sincere.

#Phantasma #NetGalley

I’m not sure a book could surprise me as much as this one has. I absolutely judged this book by its cover and therefore put off reading it because I was scared it was going to be a poorly written dark romance, but honestly this book was wonderful. I loved the trials or everything the MC went through. I loved the steamy scenes. And I loved the writing. I regret this took me so long to get to, but I’m so thankful for the opportunity to read it and be able to praise it to other people.

While Phantasma had an intriguing concept with its deadly trials reminiscent of the nine circles of hell, it ultimately felt bogged down by a romance that overshadowed the fantasy elements. Ophelia, our main character, came across as immature and frequently blamed her sister for her own poor decisions, lacking the accountability I wanted to see.

The relationship between Ophelia and Blackwell was especially troubling. Their rapid transition from strangers to lovers was unconvincing, and the awkwardly timed intimate scenes detracted from the more serious moments of trauma and danger. It felt like the story was more focused on "romance" than on character development or the gripping plot it had set up.

There were glimpses of potential, particularly with the character of Genevieve, who remains a mysterious figure I’d like to learn more about. However, the overall execution left me wanting more depth and coherence. I wouldn’t compare it to Caraval, as it lacked that whimsical charm, and while it has dark elements, it didn’t quite resonate like ACOTAR. It’s a missed opportunity for a richer story.

I loooved this book. Starting with the characters, the mysteries, the demons and challenges and the ending, everything felt just right for me.

I was really excited to get into this book, especially after I've seen some artwork on the gram, and it did not disappoint. The story follows Ophelia as she's trying to find her sister who disappeared after a fight. Soon enough she'll be disappointed to find out that there are many things she didn't know about her sweet sibling. The clues will take her to Phantasma, a magical house filled with demons where people always risk their lives hoping that they will win the big prize, and that's where she hopes that she will find her sister. There she will face many difficulties, make some friends, and some enemies and hopefully, she will be able to find all the secrets she needs to.

Now, it sounds really bad already, but Ophelia is not you ordinary girl, she's a necromancer and she also has OCD, both things being quite important in this story and I loved how the author showed the struggles and how people deal with it everyday.

I think this book managed to stand out and had many unique elements (at least compared to what I read so far), but everything blended together really nicely and the book was easy to read

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Phantasma was SO much fun. This is a pretty dark one so be aware of the triggers before jumping in including some graphic violence during each challenge. There are different paranormal beings including witches, necromancers, devils, and phantoms, the romance was fantastic, and each level brings a new devil/challenge for the contestants to overcome.

This won't be for everyone, however, I loved it! Cannot wait for the next one

Having seen this being raved about on tiktok and instagram by early readers of the book, I knew I had to read it for myself. A book that was a mix of Caraval, Throne of the Fallen and A Court of Thorns and Roses? Count me in!

I reallllllly enjoyed it, and I loved that our FMC has OCD. I feel like you don't see that often enough in books, especially not portrayed in a way that makes you understand it a bit more, like this did.

I can't wait to get into the next book!

This book is unique and gorey and saucy and funny and scary and sad and sweet and dark and amazing. I loved every single page. This book is so unabashedly itself - is that something you can even say about books? Don’t care, I’m saying it anyway. She just leaned into the weird and rolled with it and I’m here for it. Plus the ending was so good and satisfying. I didn’t know how she was going to wrap it up and it was perfect.

⭐️ 4.25
🌶 3.5

Thank you NetGalley, Second Sky and Kaylie Smith for the free review copy.

Let the games begin! Talk about being on the edge of my seat. This book was such a fun, macabre read - perfect for spooky season.

Set in an alternate early 1900's New Orleans, Phantasma is a richly described, opulent gothic mansion that would make Dracula drool, inhabited by demons and haunted by apparitions, ghouls and phantoms. The details of the colours and textures throughout, in particular, really added an authenticity to the worldbuilding.

However, the regularly-scheduled hauntings curbed my house envy, because those ghosts aren't messing around. Their job is literally to k!ll or scare as many contestants into forfeiting as possible, using their greatest fears against them. These scenes shifted the story from paranormal fantasy to horror-esque.

Combined with the genuinely deadly and vividly described violent trials based on the 9 realms of Hell, this book isn't recommended for anyone who gets scared or squeamish easily. A lot of horrible deaths and injuries happen on page, so things do get dark. Definitely not pitch black, but darker than average.

One of the most poignant aspects was Ophelia's OCD. The personification of her inner mental voice responsible for her obsessive thought patterns and Ophelia's own feelings about her struggles with her compulsions really hit home for me. This representation was handled authentically and respectfully.

Emotionally, this book feels like a roller-coaster. One minute, someone d!es gruesomely, then the FMC and MMC are getting intimate and then it swings back to snarky banter. Personally, I loved it because it kept me on edge and nervous throughout.

Speaking of, the romance was delightful! I loved the main couple's dynamic and the spice was spicing nicely. If you like praise kinks, Dramione fanfics and the headboard scene in Silver Flames, you'll have fun. Also, this is definitely a case of insta-lust. Warning: this book is NSFW from around 20% onwards for both gore and spice.

Overall, if you love interconnected standalones, dark gothic paranormal romance combined with sadistic ghost hauntings, violent illusions conjured by a sentient mansion, menacing yet oddly charming demon hosts and an arrogantly sauve, protective, snarky phantom MMC who could be Draco Malfoy's twin, you'll probably love this book.

Now bring on book 2!

One of the best books I've read this year. A stunning depiction of OCD in a tale that is as haunting as it is romantic. The writing is breathtaking, and I felt like I was beside Ophelia in Phantasma the whole time. I'm already itching to open the pages again--and I cannot wait for the sequel!

Did I just find my favorite book of 2024?? Holy. Crap. I can’t even explain how much I loved it. Every single thing was perfect. The plot, the pacing, the characters, the ✨vibes✨ It felt like a blend of Kerri Maniscalco, Stephanie Garber, and Erin A. Craig in all the best ways. I will now be trying to convince everyone I know to read this book.

If you love gothic fantasy romance with a touch of mystery, this is a must read.

4.5 stars!
Ok. I tried a new to me author and I really liked the book! I’ll admit there were parts that dragged a bit, which made it easy for me to put down, but once I got past them, I was flying. Super fun and sexy at times. Definitely a wild ride. I’m glad I took a chance.

Best part…..IT’S A STANDALONE. Technically it’s an interconnected standalone, since there’s a second book coming next year, but it’s not necessary.

But I will definitely be reading the next one.

Gothic, horror romance? Yes, please! 🫡

Ophelia Grimm is reeling from the death of her mother, a well known New Orleans Necromancer, and the responsibility of taking on the Grimm necromancy legacy when she discovers her sister has entered a dangerous and deadly game to save the family home. Only those willing to do anything enter through the gates of Phantasma, a dark game where devils and demons haunt your every moment and put you through deadly trials and bargains in order to win one wish. Ophelia enters the game in hopes of finding her sister, and makes a deal with a Phantom, Blackwell, to get through the various haunts and trials needed to survive.

I truly enjoyed this story. It was fresh and modern but still held on to its gothic romance roots. The world was lush and immersive and the OCD rep?! By far, the best rep I’ve read for OCD (Obvs, not everyone will agree, but I found it to be extremely realistic to the point I actually had to put the book down for a bit because of the anxiety it caused in me, so check TWs). The spice was spicing, I mean, hot ghost with a cat sidekick who calls you angel… does it get any better?? There was a bit of an issue for me with Ophelia going back and forth on her relationship with Blackwell, and I wish we’d gotten more of Ophelia and her sister, but I still loved it.

My one wish was that the ending was more fleshed out. I felt there were a few unanswered questions, but I know a second book (focused on a different character) is coming soon so I’m hopeful some of those questions will be answered in that one!

Truly an amazing debut from Smith. I can’t wait for the next installment. Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary arc. All opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

🌶️ 4.5 (pages listed in order: 160-164, 189-197, 231-234, 263-265, 282, 312-314)

⚔️ 4 (read trigger warnings beforehand)

🧠 4 (FMC has OCD)

One big problem I had was with the synopsis of this book. NOWHERE did it mention this was taking place in a devils mansion. It’s not a spoiler alert or anything, but I would have like to know what I was really getting into.

Also, the romance gave off insta love at the beginning, but I definitely think it was a me problem.

Now for the good stuff!

The “games” / levels were very creative and some of the most interesting parts of the book! Also, the FMC having OCD was something that was both hard to read (bc of my anxiety issues) and a really interesting representation to read. I appreciate the author taking such care in how she portrayed each character. Everyone was very well rounded and felt like they jumped off the page!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for an (e)ARC

This is my first book by Kaylie Smith and after reading it, the rest of her backlist is also going on my to-read list! With their mother’s death, Ophelia follows her sister into a cursed manor and a competition, as they try to solve what truly happened to their mother. I sure enjoy books that have competitions, so this book caught my attention quickly along with the comparison to "Caraval". In this book, there is also a budding romance with Blackwell but I will let you read and find out those details for yourself! There is also a high stakes element to this book that had me unable to put it down until complete! Thank you to Second Sky for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

This one gave me Rhapsodic + Caraval vibes, really enjoyed!

The plot had me hooked from the start with its unique twist on a haunted house competition, and the characters were so well written. I loved the chemistry between the determined Ophelia and the mysterious Blackwell. Their relationship had just the right balance of tension and warmth, and I was rooting for them the whole time. The gothic setting and eerie challenges kept me on edge, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next.

I found myself completely immersed in this world. If you’re a fan of Caraval and looking for something a bit more adult & spicy, this is definitely one to pick up. I can't wait for the next book!

3.5 STARS
I share a birthday with this one, too, so obviously I had to read it, right?
Okay, okay, I am joking. I was curious about this one because it seemed something original. I wasn’t so sure it would be a good fit for me, mostly because it is tagged as “horror”, and this is not really my favorite genre, but I was curious because the premises were intriguing, and since this has a strong romance component I thought that it would somehow balance the horror element (it’s not that I am against it, but usually I am incredibly bored by it), and I was right. What’s more, we have a haunted mansion, and I am always intrigued by them, at least theoretically. And this seemed an interesting one, too. So I just had to try!

To me, this one didn’t read as a horror. Mind me, we have all the elements for it, a hunted mansion (and the author’s version of a hunted mansion is original! It’s not your “usual” hunted manor but it works incredibly well); demons, ghosts, and the such; some gore and a lot of blood around; trials that are inspired by the deadly sins; and some deaths. So yeah, I think that the elements are right, but the vibes are a tad different.
Mind me, the book is also quite atmospheric, so I should say that this book can be considered horror but the vibes were not right for it. Mind me, I am not complaining about it, I enjoyed this book quite a lot, I am simply saying that even if objectively it checks all the right elements, the vibes weren’t the “proper” one, and I think that this is why this book worked so well for me.

Another thing that worked pretty well for me was that, as I was saying before, the haunted mansion here is… an original one. And I loved to see how the author took a well-established trope and did something different with it! I also liked Ophelia, Blackwell, and Poe. And Genevieve, too, even if sisters in books tend to be my pet peeves. I was initially tempted to DNF this one because I wasn’t enjoying where things were going between the two sisters, but I am happy to have changed my mind and kept reading because later things get better and I would have missed out.

One thing that could have been developed a bit more, for me, was the trials. They are original and I enjoyed them, but I got the distinct feeling that they were there like an afterthought (but they are central to the plot), because they all were dramatic, yes, but, at the same time, they were a tad anti-climatic.
And the big twist wasn’t a twist, I saw that coming pretty soon (and if I saw it, everyone would see it, because usually I am the most oblivious reader ever!).

But that aside, I had fun with this book and it has some original elements that make it worth your time! Since spooky season is here (yay!!) I think this would be a good choice for it, and it came out at the right moment!