Oh Kaylie, the wicked games you played with us...

Just when I thought we'd seen your best in Phantasma, along comes Enchantra toppling it's predecessor clean off its pedestal!

I don't know about anyone else, but I absolutely loved it! The games, the world building, all of it!

Great energy, fantastic characters and a spellbinding read to boot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for providing the ARC.

As someone who loved Phantasma, I was eager to get my hands on its sequel. And this book definitely lives up to the high expectations that were set with Ophelia's story.

Genevieve was getting to know in Phantasma as someone who is headstrong and stubborn, and can almost be a bit of a thorn in Ophelia's side with some of her antics. In this story, we see that a lot of that behavior is attention seeking, especially as she tries to uncover more information about her family and her mother, who neglected her when she was younger. This quest accidentally gets her wrapped up in a game that is in some ways more deadly than Phantasma ever was and the only way to get through it is to survive.

I really appreciated the difference in characters between Ophelia and Genevieve. Where Ophelia was all logic, Genevieve relied heavily on emotions and her gut feelings to make decisions. She's smart and punky, and has a difficulty keeping her mouth shut when she could benefit from doing so. And Rowin really and truly met his match with her, enough to drive it up a tree.

But their story was fun to read and engage with, and the story behind Enchantra was also interesting. Without giving too much away, I do think that Genevieve and Rowin work well together, probably moreso than Ophelia and Salem. But that also might be because I enjoyed Genevieve as a character more.

Definitely read this one if you loved the first one!

Marriage of convenience? Devils’ playground? Broody groom? Feisty heroine? Say less.

This book is darkly delicious in all the best ways. We pick up shortly after Phantasma—Ophelia’s in devilish domestic bliss while Genevieve is spiraling, searching for answers about their mother’s past. That search lands her smack in the middle of a twisted, high-stakes game where the only way out is to marry a wraith who is desperate for his own escape. No big deal. Oh—and the estate? A looking glass for devilish spectators in the Silver family’s annual hunt. No one’s leaving untouched.

Last year, I fell hard for Phantasma, and Enchantra might be even better. I tore through the e-ARC and audiobook like my soul depended on it. Wickedly atmospheric, sexy as hell, and packed with tension that lingers—this book is gothic paranormal romance perfection.

Those who like their stories sexy, spooky, and just a little unhinged…welcome to Enchantra.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc and audio-arc. I love being able to listen and read at the same time.

What do demonberries, crows, and a deadly masquerade have in common?

They all want to ruin Genevieve Grimm’s life.

Rule #1: Don’t eat the demonberries.
Rule #2: Don’t fall for the broody, tatted, pierced MMC.
Rule #3: Anyone still inside Enchantra whose last name isn’t Silver when the Masquerade ends will face Knox’s wrath.

What a wild ride! Just when I thought the Grimm sisters’ adventures had wrapped up… NOPE! While in Rome, Genevieve finds herself being stalked by crows—a whole murder, to be exact.

With a mysterious invitation addressed to her mother in hand, Genevieve sets off to find Enchantra. But the answers she seeks aren’t the ones she finds. Instead, she lands smack dab in the middle of the Hunt—a deadly game with high risk and an even higher reward.

Just how far would someone go to uncover the truth? And how much further would they go for love? You can never trust your heart inside Enchantra, after all…

Huge thanks to Kaylie Smith, Second Sky Publishing, and NetGalley for gracing my digital library with an ARC. This was such a fun read!

“Rings. Weddings. Devils. Games. It’s all too much. I wanted to find a companion to talk to about my childhood trauma, not a husband.”
—
Rating: 4.5 ✨
Smut: 🌶️
—
Genevieve Grimm goes looking for belonging & her true self in Italy. After receiving a mysterious invitation, she gets all of that and more within the walls of Enchantra.

This read is instantly intriguing. From Italy to the gothic manor of Enchantra, I was yet again mesmerized by the world that Kaylie Smith created. I appreciated that Enchantra was its own story, including elements overlapping with Phantasma, but enough to make it entirely new and refreshing. Most refreshing was easily the Silver family dynamics. I would gladly binge 600+ page books about each Silver sibling. Yes, including Grave!! Speaking of siblings, I was so happy to get some Ophie and Salem cameos ♥️

Onto the main star of the show though: Genevieve Grimm, THE WOMAN SHE IS 😩
Her inner dialogue, her hilarious sassiness and the way she both protects her heart but can’t help fall for Rowin made her so easy to love. I wish we got to dive into her childhood trauma and feeling like the odd one out but her arc was still fantastic!

As for Rowin, I loved him more and more as things got realer between him and Vivi. His “my wife” moments, possessiveness and huge shadow daddy vibes were everything I needed in the love interest🥵 and his familiar? I am obsessed with Umbra I fear!

I also HAVE to mention Sevin’s hot take on insta-love:
“We’re certainly capable of hating someone in a short period of time—on sight, even. I don’t see why love should be any different”

I sat with my book for a little while after that just basking in the way he perfectly described how humans have such volatile emotions and there’s actually such a beauty in the insta-love trope, even though it wasn’t a favourite of mine in the past!

I was slightly confused by the ending and wanted a bit more from it, but I am super excited about the somewhat open-ended way it left off. If there are any more books in this series, I will be eating them right up!!

Overall, what a fantastic sequel in the Wicked Games series. Kaylie Smith is officially an auto-read author for me 😍

And if you love:

🥀 Gothic setting
🥀 Complex family dynamics
🥀 Sassy FMC x secretly loves when she doesn’t listen to him MMC
🥀 Marriage of convenience
🥀 The movie knives out

Then this one is for you♥️

I am sending a ginormous thank you to Forever, Second Sky and NetGalley for gifting me this e-arc🥹

Enchantra is mine! I'm keeping it all to myself because I'm obsessed and selfish. Nothing to see here, people…

Genevieve is trying to find herself after the events of Phantasma. She needs to get away! After reaching out to a mysterious friend of her mother's, she accepts an invitation to their Tuscan villa, Enchantra, only to find herself trapped in the middle of an insidious game called the Hunt. The Silver family must compete in their yearly tournament, which pits each family member against one another for the amusement of a devil. Genevieve is now caught up in a cat-and-mouse game that can only end one way for her, death. Her only chance of survival lies in teaming up with the infuriatingly handsome Rowin Silver. With his enticing tattoos and lickable lip ring, surviving him could very well be her toughest challenge.

Fantastic!! Absolutely fantastic!! Once again, Kaylie created a world that had captivated me completely. I was so enamored with the story, even more so the Silver siblings. I'm praying to all the book gods that Kaylie is planning a book for each sibling because I'm half in love with them already. It was gothic perfection. It was enticing, sensual, and gripping, and I lapped it up. This is fast becoming one of my favorite series!

Are you kidding me?! I thought Phantasma was the best book I’ve read, but Enchantra just hit it out of the park! An enchanted game of hide and seek, with a guy you just met and had to get married to to survive!

I LOVED Phantasma, and I never would have thought that the sequel would be ❤️‍🔥 EVEN BETTER ❤️‍🔥

Oh my god, I loved this one so much. Genevieve and Rowans banter and chemistry, the siblings and their relationship and the paranormal and the gothic setting = perfection 🔥

Even if Phantasma had similar themes of self-discovery and finding your own path, I was equally enthralled in Genevieve's story as Ophelias. And who would have thought a game of hide and seek could be as entertaining as this one?

Shadow tattoos and piercings everywhere 🤪

Thank you thank you thank you for this arc @netgalley @secondskybooks

I can't wait to see what more Kaylie Smith has in store for us in the future 😈

“𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅. “𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒗𝒆, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒎𝒆.”

Let me start by saying that I LOVED Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, so I was incredibly excited to read the second book of the Wicked Games Series, Enchantra, and she's done it again. This book was impossible to put down, and I loved the dynamic between Vivi and Rowin. Kaylie was able to take the "game" theme in a completely different direction than the first book, so it did not feel repetitive and I never knew what would happen next. I also enjoyed so many of the side characters from this family. Perfection. Thank you Netgalley and the team from The Second Sky & Forever Publicity for providing me with an eARC in return for my honest review.

First, very much an adult book, the spice is explicit. A lot of fun to read, with fun humour and banter to lighten the story, which might have been quite dark otherwise. Sequel or second part of a fantasy duology (book one is Phantasma). The stories are connected but are separate stories with a similar feel. This part is about the sister, Genevieve Grimm, this time. The enemies to lovers theme is a major direction in the story. It reminded me of the book Inheritance games, and the film Ready or Not. But it’s not a retelling of these, it has its own entertaining fantasy world setting and feel. Thank you to Second Sky/Forever and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I looove this book.

I would love to know what it is that Kaylie Smith puts in to these, as both Phantasma and Enchantra are addicting. They’re books you may finish reading, but you’re never finished with them. It sticks around. I find myself consumed with thoughts of Phantasma and Enchantra. The characters end up feeling like home.

Enchantra is a fantastic read, and I love how it follows on from the first book seamlessly while also making a mark on its own. It’s a standout. Genevieve Grimm did not come here to be looked over or tossed aside, again. She’s very much the protagonist of her own story, and she’ll have you know it. I bloody love her. I love how she’s confident but she also is battling with a lot of insecurities inside — something I think a lot of people can relate to. The show we put on for others isn’t often who we are behind that mask. Parts of it, yes, but not all. I love Vivi’s determination and her grit and her cleverness (even if at times some of her decisions may not have been the wisest ones…).

I loved Rowin too, especially his love for his family and his desire to do the right thing by Vivi even if to the world he’s presenting a grump, unfeeling jerk. I loved how romantic he was and how supportive and uplifting he was of Vivi. The whole romance was lovely, and there are so many scenes I’ve got quotations pulled from because they just made my heart burst from the pure romance of it all.

The whole cast of this novel was fantastic. I loved the Silver siblings, and how even in their fighting and murdering of each other, they were fighting FOR each other. They’re certainly in the running for the most dysfunctional family award! I really loved Corvin, Sevin and Ellin in particular (I even warmed up to Grave at the end!) and I loved how in their own little ways they took Vivi in to their family as much as they could possibly allow, and the small moments of sibling banter. Also, I need to mention Umbra. I love her.

The plot was fantastically intriguing and I liked how it tied in to the first book. Although Vivi didn’t get hardly any of the answers she was looking for when she originally set out, which is a bit disappointing, I suspect this will be a plot thread that’s continued to be pulled — I hope. I suspect the next book is going to follow a Silver brother so we may not get much of the Grimm sisters…but who knows. This is just my speculation.

(There were several times I picked up on little seeds for another sequel, but one at the end has made me fairly confident on who and what we are going to get and I am excited!!!!)

I enjoyed the trials and how each one was unique. I saw Smith say she was inspired by the film Ready or Not, and that really came through in a fun way! I thought each trial was quite fast paced and intense, although I do wish sometimes the outcomes were a bit different (i.e., Vivi didn’t end them near to death lol. But then as she’s mortal fighting immortals who have been doing this for decades, we can accept it).

I found a few little inconsistencies in here / plot things that I couldn’t understand why they weren’t mentioned sooner i.e., with Salem. Additionally, I felt some of the outcomes from these weren’t the most cohesive, they made sense but didn’t make sense at the same time? It’s hard to say too much without a spoiler. Howver, for a few of the other things I did read an advanced copy and therefore this could’ve been changed upon publication (or it was just me being a doughnut).

I loved seeing more glimpses at Ophie and Salem. I also really just adore Salem and Vivi and how they’ve become besties / brother & sister and how he’s constantly so fond of her and protective but exasperated at the same time. When he’s had enough of intimidating Rowin, I think they’ll have a lot to talk about.

4.75 stars rounded up.

➸ 4 stars

“For the brave souls who burned the bridges between themselves and their demons. And for those still trying to light the match—we’ll wait for you.”

﹒⟡﹒thank you to forever publishing for the advanced readers copy!

➺ trigger warnings: sexual content, death, blood, light gore, drug references, alcohol use, self-harm, and drink spiking with a magical aphrodisiac.
↳ a complete/in-depth list of possible triggers is available on the authors website!

“Ready or not, the game has begun.”

💜 marriage of convenience
🍇 shadow mmc/sunshine fmc
🗡️ deadly game of hide and seek
💜 touch her and die
🍇 she’s a talker & he lives in complete silence
🗡️ masquerade ball and hedge mazes
💜 curvy fmc representation
🍇 enchanted italian estate setting
🗡️ seven cursed siblings

EEEEEEE this book was SO FUN!!!! i loved being back in this world and revisiting these characters as well as meeting all the new ones!!! kaylie smith did such an amazing job with this sequel and i will literally read EVERYTHING she writes!!!! this book was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it did not disappoint. i was beyond excited to dive into it!!! i loved the plot, the game was so entertaining, THE CHARACTERS!!!! oh how i love the silver siblings and i can’t wait for more!!!! THE ENDING?! jaw DROPPED and air was GUSPED. i was literally on the edge of my seat and WOW was it good!!!! THE OPHELIA AND BLACKWELL CAMEO OH I SQUALEDDDDDD i love them sm im so happy we got some crumbs of them and i ate up every single one!!!! anyways!!! i loved this book, it was so much fun, and i can’t wait for everyone to obsess over rowin and vivi as much as i did!!!!

a full, in-depth review is available on my goodreads!

I have been won over by this series, Phantasma was incredible and this was everything I wanted in a second book!
I’m so glad we got a whole Genevieve book, she’s a fab FMC - sassy, strong, no bs! I usually shy away from a female main character when they are described as strong but still need a man to save them, but Genevieve is the perfect “I’ll do this on my own” gal I needed! Rowin as well, swooning 😍
I loved the games and twists the characters played through, it’s very reminiscent of the magic of Caraval but spicier and more brutal. I seriously can’t get enough of Kaylie Smith and her incredible writing!

Thank you to @netgalley @secondskybooks @kaylsmoon and @readforeverpub for my copy 💜

Enchantra was pure chaotic, romantic, spooky fun and I ate it up in one sitting. Genevieve is the snarky, no-nonsense FMC of my dreams, and throwing her into a cursed game of hide-and-seek in a haunted Tuscan estate with a broody shadow wraith husband? Say less. The banter? Elite. The tension? Unholy. The romance? Slow burn perfection. It’s giving murdery found family, secret passageways, fake dating, and just enough creepy magic to keep it dark and delicious. Honestly, I didn’t think Kaylie Smith could top Phantasma, but this might be my new favorite.

YES, all things yes to this book. 6 star read. I absolutely loved the story and the chemistry between the characters. Dare I say this was better than Phantasma. If you loved the first book you are going to go wild for Enchantra!

Let me start out by saying when I first started this book I was not aware this was a second instalment of a series and once I realised it I still decided to read this without reading Phantasma. I was able to read this without reading the first book, yes there is a bit of backstory that I am sure will make more sense reading Phantasma but it was doable. I will definitely go back and read the first book and I am sure will help connect even more the story to me.

I loved this book, it was such a great read. I loved the banter between Rowin and Genevieve, their time together was so much fun to read, it made it easy to devour the book. I hope in the future books we get to see more of the Silver siblings as I was loving that dysfunctional family and I want to learn more about them all. The Hunt chapters were very fast paced and made the story move along and kept it interesting.

This is my first truly 5 stars read of this year, it was not rounded, and so far my favourite read of the year.

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The love I have for this book, these characters and this whole world is unparralled.Genevive immediately became a favourite character of mine in Phantasma so I have been so excited to get to this one.

I screamed when I received and arc so massive thank you to Netgalley and readforeverpub and secondskybooks for allowing me to have an early copy.

I devoured this book. Genevive is the most sassy snarky character, I love her and her humour. I love how she doesn’t allow anyone off with the sass especially if they piss her off. She is an absolute baddie and I want to be her best friend.

The banter between Rowin and Genevive was top tier.The tension and the chemistry that had right from the beginning was hot hot hot and I loved watching them slowly learn to trust one another to survive these terrifying games.

The games were excellent. I loved how they were all plays on childhood games but with a dark murdery twist. I loved watching them unfold. The setting of this book was also perfection just like in book one. It was dark, gothic and I loved every second of it. I want to go visit The Silvers property to possibly find my own mysterious man hiding in the shadows.

The Silvers family is the most chaotic family I have ever read. They are the epitome of dysfunctional. It was hilarious to watch them all interact.

This book explores really important topics such as loving yourself, trusting yourself, allowing yourself to open up to others even though you don’t want to be hurt, heartbreak, grief, trauma and so much more. I loved all of these discussions and it was perfect. This book left things a little open ended which makes me believe we may get more books in this world which would be absolute perfection.

Damn, if only I could use more stars to rate this masterpiece- cuz 5 won’t cut it. Oh my LORD how I loved this book!!! I had the pleasure of simultaneously listening to the ALC, and reading the ARC, and this immersive experience was absolutely mind blowing. I didn’t want it to end, and tried to make it last as long as possible. I’m already feeling bereft without these characters and this beautiful world. 😩 Phantasma has been my entire personality since I read the arc last year. I still think about it constantly, and I’ve never been able to shake it. And I’m not sure what sorcery Kaylie is dabbling in, but I somehow loved Enchantra even more! And that’s truly saying something.

This story picks up after the events of Phantasma, and centers around Genevieve Grimm, who has accepted an invitation from a mysterious friend of her mother’s. She travels to the estate of Enchantra, hoping to find answers about her mother‘s death, and perhaps become acquainted with some kindred spirits. But Genevieve unknowingly traps herself in the cursed mansion, and is forced to partake in a deadly game, along with a family who has been stuck in a never ending loop of torment.

Genevieve must team up with the insufferable Rowin, who makes her blood boil… for several different reasons. They have to convince everyone that they’re in love, and holy hells this was absolutely delicious. 🥵 Guys- the freaking BANTER!! I simply passed away from their heated exchanges. As they maneuvered their way from one game to the next, their attraction and bond grew deeper, and it was equal parts heartwarming, and hot as hell. I loved watching two characters, with walls built around themselves, slowly let their guards down and develop mutual trust. The way they found solace and comfort in each other was fcking beautiful.
And I fell in love with every one of Rowin’s siblings. Their dynamic was pure gold- they bickered, and viciously competed against each other, but you could still feel the love. And the way Genevieve slid seamlessly into this found family situation just melted my heart. 🥹

The tension. The enemies to lovers. The fake relationship that turned into so much more. The action and clever games. The chemistry and SPICE!! 💀 I just can’t say enough about this book, and I’m already chomping at the bit to be back in this world. If you haven’t read Phantasma yet, get on that STAT, then dive into this beauty. I envy anyone who gets to read these books for the first time.

This was so FUN!! I had no idea how this would move away from Phantasma but still keep the same energy but this was done perfectly.

kaylie you cooked this like a 7 course meal and i'm out here begging for more!!
thank you for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!!!

Phantasma was probably one of my favorite books of 2024. It was exactly the kind of book I wanted and needed and reading it was everything. I was therefore really looking forward to this book and I was even more excited when I was invited by Second Sky to download a digital arc through Netgalley. I was doubting if I'd start reading right away, but eventually I waited until release week so I could post this review on release date.

Let me start with stating that this book is once again an amazing rollercoaster filled with magic, emotions, deadly challenges and demons. I flew through this book and every day I was already looking forward to the next reading session to continue this story. That's mostly because the dynamic between all the characters is amazing. Those relationships, both the romantic one and the familial ones, are complicated and therefore really interesting.

The reason why I didn't love this book as much as the first one is the pacing, though. It's hard to explain, but the underlying mystery felt way less prominent. Our heroine is only focussed on surviving the game and the issue of the existence of the game and how to end it felt like an afterthought. After finishing the book I understand why: This is totally gonna be a thing in one of the future books in the series, but the missing of such a prominent mystery was taking away one aspect I loved so much in the first book.

Luckily there was more than enough to make up for it! I loved the familiars in this book (and thank you to everyone involved in convincing the author to not kill any of them). They clearly had their own personalities and it was so easy to root for the heroine when she was clearly having such a strong bond with them. I also loved the ideas of the games being used as entertainment for the underworld. Especially because we read what it did with the characters.

The last few chapters of the book also made me tear up. They were so cute! I can't wait for the next book in this series!