👻 Phantasma 👻
By: Kaylie Smith

Pages: 368
Rating: 5️⃣.0️⃣
Book Goal 2025: 40/130

✨Could you have a relationship with a ghost if we lived in a world where that wasn’t weird?✨

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO READ THIS BOOK?! Yall… I had an arc copy sitting on my kindle since.. forever ago!

I just kept putting it off because she’s a little thick and sometimes I have to be in a romantasy mood! Then everyone kept raving about how much they love it… so now I have finally read it and the second one is already out. Thankfully… because PHANTASMA HAS ME IN BOOK HANGOVER. Like if I was a young single woman and I lived in this world… Blackwell could get it.

Why was every single character in this book amazing? Even if I freaking hated them… they just FIT in the story. Kaylie smith writes relatable characters and a spicy 🌶️🥵 book with PLOT.

She’s going to be an autobuy for me after this one. 😍

This was so delightful that I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. Kaylie Smith does such a good job of balancing the intrigue of a deadly game with the excitement of the MCs falling in love. I'm forever a fan now. I can't wait to read Enchantra.

Thanks to Forever and Netgalley for my ARC.

Such an amazingly well crafted and interesting book. Definitely Smith’s best so far. Ophelia felt so genuine as a character, and her connection with Blackwell was was captivating. The entire book had me on edge trying to guess what was going on and how things were going to pan out. Can’t wait to read the sequel.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith will immerse readers in a dark fantasy world. A world that is atmospheric and gothic and that forces one into high stake game of survival. A game where one needs to stay alive and most of all do not fall in love.

Phantasma is a game with two outcomes, survival or death. A game that takes place in a haunted mansion and uses your greatest fear against you.  Winning requires surviving the nine levels of the game centered around the seven deadly sins. Upon completion of the nine levels, the lucky winner's wish is granted.  Ophelia Grimm wished to find her sister and so began her journey in the high stakes game of Phantasma.


After the sudden death of their mother, Ophelia and Genevieve faced eviction from the only home they knew. As the eldest, Ophelia inherited her mother's necromancy magic which worsened her current situation. While grappling with the changes in her life her sister went missing. While trying to figure out where she could have gone, Ophelia learned that she went to take part in Phantasma. Therefore, finding her sister meant her participation in this high-stake game where survival is not guaranteed.


Prepare for a world where magic and danger abound. A world where only the mentally strong and fittest stands the chance of survival. The trials Ophelia faced tested her physical and mental capacity. Despite the dangers she faced her venture into this world brought out her inner strength and helped in honing her magical powers. She did have help though. Help that came from a phantom, (Blackwell) a resident of the haunted mansion.   Despite her initial distrust of him, Ophelia depended on his protection. This dependence would later lead to her breaking the rule of not falling in love.

The story was captivating from the intense trials faced by the participants to the romance between the main characters. Ophelia and Blackwell were an interesting pair. Their interactions delivered some interesting and intense moments. I loved the world building and how the rules of Phantasma worked. I found it unique and engaging. The secondary characters, from the mortals to the supernatural beings added to the excitement. Phantasma ended on a high and surprising note. While unexpected it left this reader happy with the outcome

This one wasn't for me. I have tried reading it several times, and I'm just not getting into it, which I'm bummed about. As a girl who loved Danny Phantom growing up, and is a big fan of ghost and ghost adjacent things, this one just hasn't hit for me. It's okay, art is art, I'm just bummed.

Thanks to NetGalley and Second Sky Books for this free copy of "Phantasma."

I wanted to read some romantasy and this looked so intriguing with its New Orleans, almost voodoo, deadly contest vibe. And fair warning, it is pretty spicy.

Ophelia has been tutored since she was small to continue the family lineage of necromancy. Her younger sister Genevieve wants nothing to do with magic.

But when their mother dies and Genevieve disappears, Ophelia finds her sister's diaries and read that she was obsessed with Phantasma - the contest that grants the winner any wish.

Ophelia thought it was just a rumor but she enters the competition, trying to find her sister. She has to survive seven levels before she can hunt for Genevieve. And each level has only three outcomes: forfeit, die, or win.

411...

╰☆☆ “𝙸𝚗 𝚊 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎, 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚏𝚊𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚗𝚎, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍'𝚟𝚎 𝚔𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚕 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚞𝚜𝚝” ☆☆╮

The opening scene in Phantasma introduces us to Necromancer Ophelia Grimm and her sister as they've just discovered the body of their deceased mother. Ophelia realizes this now makes her the head of their manor and their home run family business with all things related to the dead. She's been trained and prepared for this role by her mother since she was a very little girl and now the day has come where she must take over. Before she can get any of their matters in order however, her sister disappears without a word of her whereabouts. Ophelia searches for answers and while doing so discovers the debt the manor has incurred and that they may be losing the manor very soon. She has now inherited her family's death magic as well as the financial burden of the manor that has been left behind. Her sister Genevieve Grimm has left the manor it seems to enter a competition that may give them the opportunity to win the cash needed to save their manor. Phantasma is a competition set inside a Gothic haunted manor made up of nine floors each with a challenge designed to fatally take out those who sign up. Only one will make it out alive and to that person, a wish will be granted. Demons, Ghouls, Poltergeists, and Phantoms are only some of the entities the contestants will come across as they race to beat each other to the prize. These challenges are NOT for the feint of heart, they tap into your deepest darkest fears and then use them against you. Ophelia's entrance into Phantasma doesn't go unnoticed by the ghosts of the manor, she is an enigma they will go after if only to see what makes her different.

THOUGHTS...

The TiK Tok Girlies got this one right Book Lovers! OBSESSED is putting it lightly, I am sitting here counting down the days until April 8th for the release of ENCHANTRA! all other books will be paused while I dive back into the world of all things the Grimm sisters. If you're looking for a read that will suck you right in and make you a front row spectator to a high stakes adrenaline inducing competition, then treat yourself to the experience that is this book! Hella descriptive, I found myself squirming at some of the deaths and yet still anticipating the next challenge...not sure what that says about me. Atmosphere is a 10/10, characters 10/10, plot and intrigue also are a 10/10. What I wasn't expecting? the OCD representation to also be 10/10, as a person with OCD I have never read any character experience thoughts/compulsions I've also had. I had one of those moments while reading where I just nodded and smiled at feeling seen. Anyways, if you're here to find out about the romance and spice levels fret not! Ophelia and Blackwell will have you asking yourself if a paranormal tryst is what's missing in your life. The spice is a 10/10 between these two who found a minute between challenges and in spare rooms to get it on. Phantasma was a 5 star read for me and I just can't wait to get my hands on Enchantra to see what Genevieve gets up to in her story arc.

I was drawn into this book based on all the hype it’s getting, I was a little hesitant at first because it’s not really the genre I go for, but I had such a fun time! I loved the plot of the games and the setting was so atmospheric. Also, I loved the romance between Ophelia and Blackwell. & I can’t write a review without mentioning Poe!

I cannot wait for Enchantra!

I enjoyed this story with all the characters that were within. The main two characters were Ophelia and Blackwell.

Ophelia's sister has disappeared, and she must find her. When Ophelia finds some clue information about where her sister might have gone. She decides to go see if her sister is there. But all she finds at the place is a cat and a person named Blackwell.

Blackwell is stuck with a curse and wants to find a way to break it. So when he meets Ophelia, he decides to ask her to help him break it.

This was a fun story to read. It had action, adventure, and suspense throughout. There is a bit of a mystery within. It was fun trying to guess. This is the first in a series. The story twists and turns throughout.

I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. This is my honest, unbiased opinion.

I’ve absolutely loved it! It was a fun , atmospheric, and engaging read that kept me hooked from the start to the end! And Blackwell? I think that I have a liiiitle crush on him!

I am such a fan of Kaylie’s books! This was such a fun read and I really loved the premise. Honestly, I had no idea Blackwell was going to be the prince of devils but that was such a good way to bring the story back around. I think I would have liked to experience more of Ophelia’s necromancer side of things, it didn’t really feel like she was one, more so that she just had powers. I really loved that Genevieve had their dads powers too though. I throughly enjoyed this story and I can’t wait to read more!

I really enjoyed this book. The first few chapter setting the scene. The paranormal beings. The twists and turns within the pages. The bond of sisterhood, the tales of romance. The trials that made you sit on the edge of your seat. The ending. I felt connected to some of the characters. Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity.

The story was compelling with an easy worldbuilding and wonderful characters. I kept hearing it was like Danny Phantom and that is everything to me because I had a huge crush on Danny Phantom as a kid. It definitely lived up to expectations!!

This was DELIGHTFUL! Was such a fun dark spin on “life or death” games. Definitely not the for the faint of heart. But I loved the premise of entering into a house to play a game to win a deal with a devil.

Felt like a fun house full of horrors! The romantic spin on it kept me invested the whole time.

Dark, fun, and spicy! This book was intense and delicious and I absolutely ate it up. I thought the storyline was one of the more unique and interesting concepts that I've ever read about. There's high stakes, forbidden love, OCD representation, and steamy romance. Ophelia and Blackwell might be one of my favorite book couples ever. Highly recommend! I'm so ready for book 2! Thank you Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC!

I anm completely obsessed with this book , I was hooked from the very start , enthralled is probably the best word for it and I just didn’t want to leave the story. Kayleigh Smiths wring is wonderful , I am a huge fan of a good Gothic romance and Kayleigh has more than delivered on that. This is a must read for fans of Gothic romance and one that I thoroughly recommend

Romantasy is such a saturated market, and it's rare that I read one that completely blows me away. Phantasma was that book! I was SO obsessed throughout this - the romance was perfection, the writing so compelling and the setting and premise of Phantasma was a really great device to eke out tension throughout.

A dark fantasy horror story that grabs the reader’s attention from the start and keeps the reader entertained until the very end. A well written Fantasy story, great character development and fantastic world building. It has a dash of spice and a smidge of horror. The author is a terrific storyteller. I rave to anyone that is within earshot how this is a must read! Beautiful cover too!

Disclaimer: Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for this review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As someone who is not a huge fan of fantasy romance, I really enjoyed this. I absolutely loved the main character Ophelia and the depiction of OCD in this novel. The author did a good job of keeping you engaged and wanting to keep turning the page to find out how it ends.

**A Thrilling, Dark Romance That Will Keep You Hooked Until the Last Page**

*Phantasma* is a breathtaking and chilling dark romantasy that pulls you into a dangerous world where every step is a perilous gamble, and the stakes are higher than ever. From the very first page, this book captivates with its blend of intense world-building, high-stakes competition, and forbidden romance.

Ophelia is a protagonist you can’t help but root for—her strength and determination to save her sister from the clutches of debt and death make her journey both heart-wrenching and thrilling. The high-risk game of *Phantasma*—a deadly competition set within a hauntingly gorgeous manor filled with demons, illusions, and cruel temptations—adds an extra layer of tension that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Each floor of the manor offers new, perilous challenges that push Ophelia to the brink, both physically and emotionally.

But the heart of this story lies in the complex relationship between Ophelia and Blackwell, a mysterious phantom with secrets of his own. Their sizzling, forbidden attraction is electric, but the tension between them is more than just physical—it’s a dance of trust, betrayal, and survival. Blackwell is the kind of morally grey character you can’t quite figure out, and his chemistry with Ophelia is palpable. But in *Phantasma*, love isn’t just dangerous—it’s deadly. As their partnership grows, so does the risk of breaking the most vital rule of the game: *don’t fall in love*.

The author masterfully weaves in themes of loss, sacrifice, and the consequences of choice, all while creating a world that is as beautiful as it is deadly. Every twist and turn in the competition, every new revelation about the cursed manor, keeps you guessing. *Phantasma* is a perfect blend of suspense, magic, and dark romance that leaves you craving more.

If you love high-stakes games, a fierce heroine, and a romance that feels as dangerous as it is inevitable, this is a must-read. With its twists, turns, and emotional depth, *Phantasma* will not only leave you breathless, but it will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page.