3.25 stars

Fair warning, this review is really nitpicky. This is just who I am in my soul, a nitpicker. I pick nits, which is kind of gross when you think about it.

"A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists"

I haven't read Caraval, but this is nothing like ACOTAR. The romance is only semi steamy, like a fine mist of steam. The OCD rep was nice to see. It wasn't perfect for me, but I'm not going to pick that nit. My jaw didn't really drop unless you count being aghast at the ridiculous overuse (and often incorrect or technically correct but no one fucking uses it like that use) of the word insidious.

Ophelia is a necromancer from a family of necromancers. Well, she's not really a necromancer until she inherits her mother's powers, she doesn't actually do any necromancy in this book. She is able to see spirits and interact with them and a few other parlour tricks, but this book was not heavy on the necromancy.

She ends up entering some kind of game wherein there are a whole bunch of people at the start and they are slowly eliminated until just one is left to win. It's meant to be dark, and the theme is indeed dark, but it isn't terribly gory or scary or anything. I hate gore and horror and didn't bat an eye at this book. It's really mild and tame, so if you're stoked for some kind of jump scare horror situation, look elsewhere.

In the game she meets a phantom who is her romantic interest. I found the romance to be a bit meh.

The story was good enough if a bit predictable and kind of monotonous in terms of the vibe if that makes any sense. It was kind of delivered in sepia tones for me. I didn't hate reading it aside from the 21 uses of insidious.

Here are my assorted, and mostly quite petty, kvetchings (please keep in mind this is an ARC so shit can change):

"The scent of iron and salt was pungent."
Salt doesn't have a smell.

"Closing her eyes, Ophelia whispered the words of the spell she had recited every night like an unholy prayer since she had learned to speak."
Oh? Since she had learned to speak? Since she had learned to say mama? I know it's stupid but it irritates me.

"A moment later, the locket pulsed again, syncopating to the thrum within her own chest."
syn·co·pate
/ˈsiNGkəˌpāt/
verb
verb: syncopate; 3rd person present: syncopates; past tense: syncopated; past participle: syncopated; gerund or present participle: syncopating
1.
displace the beats or accents in (music or a rhythm) so that strong beats become weak and vice versa.
"soloists maintain the absolute freedom to syncopate the rhythm or break free from the beat entirely"
2.
shorten (a word) by dropping sounds or letters in the middle, as in symbology for symbolology, or Gloster for Gloucester.

Synchronizing.

"The simple cream dress their mother had been wearing the night before was long gone, now replaced with an intricate black chiffon gown that made their mother's already fair complexion look even more pallid."

That is once sentence. You don't need to say their mother twice. No one is going to be confused here.

"'Where did you meet them?' Ophelia pressed.
Genevieve's eyes slid to her sister with mirth. 'Nowhere insidious, if that's what you're wondering.'"

I am tempted to copy/paste like 10 different dictionary definitions of insidious. I cannot stress enough how much irritation this word has caused me. I was surprised to note that a few of the sources indicate that insidious can mean "intended to entrap or beguile; stealthily treacherous or deceitful; stealthy, subtle, cunning, or treacherous; awaiting a chance to entrap : treacherous; harmful but enticing : seductive; treacherous; crafty" Today, or rather a few days ago, I learned.

All of the definitions I came across listed insidious as meaning something (generally bad) that happens slowly and without notice.

There are 21 uses of insidious in this book. None of them are used in the most widely accepted definition. Most of them barely fit the far lesser used definitions. Generally speaking, in my opinion, you cannot use a word like insidious 21 fucking times in your book, sometimes twice on the same page. It's distracting. Using it just barely on the very edge of properly makes it worse. I've never seen insidious used like this before. I'm slightly torn because it's not 100% wrong, yet... I frowned at least 21 times reading this book specifically because of this single fucking word.

Similarly, I must bitch about the use of deadpan. While deadpan may be defined as:
dead·​pan ˈded-ˌpan
Synonyms of deadpan
: marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style, or expression
a deadpan comedy

I have never seen it used simply to describe dialogue delivered with a straight face. Not funny dialogue. Just dialogue. Deadpan to me is a manner in which one would deliver a joke.

"'Would you like some? It looks like you might need it.'
'No,' she deadpanned."

"'My family has a debt against our home. I need money to pay it off.'
'I'm a Ghost,' he deadpanned. "I don't have access to mortal currencies.'" <-- this one sort of works, kind of.

"'Oh, bite me," she deadpanned."

"'It means that because you selected Bloodlust as your vice, you have to drink someone's blood and let them drink yours,' he deadpanned."

"'He was trying to kill you,' he deadpanned."

"'I can't say that I do,' Blackwell deadpanned."

"'My father is a spiteful man.'
'I'm sure,' she deadpanned."

Deadpanned was only used 7 times in this book, but it felt like it was used 100 times. Much like insidious, this is not a word you should use more than 3 times in a single book, in my most humble opinion.

"'Did you think taking her away was your only punishment? That part was much too easy to be any fun,' his father carped."

carp2
/kärp/
verb
past tense: carped; past participle: carped
complain or find fault continually about trivial matters.

He said it once, and it wasn't trivial ffs.

Anyways, I'm sure a lot of people will like this. My enjoyment, however, was insidiously hampered, she deadpanned.

Wow wow wow!!! This book was incredible! 5 stars!

The main character was so relatable, I loved her spunk! And anyone who understands obsessive thoughts and compulsions will feel so seen.

The male main character was scrumptious! Totally melted. And the trials were so unique and interesting. The plot had some major twists and kept me on the edge, for sure. I love this book! Recommending it to everyone!

Phantasma is a storyline I haven’t come across before.

Haunted house + trials + family secrets + paranormal + magic + romance = a moderately paced book that is easy to get into. Even if that all sounds like a lot going on, Kaylie Smith blends it all together.

Ophelia is a likable FMC and Blackwell a very desirable love interest.

Phantasma ends clean without a cliffhanger so I will assume it will be a standalone book.

🌶️🌶️Low to moderate spice
🔪🔪🔪Moderate gore
🌎Limited world building as the majority of Phantasma is within the Phantasma house

It is written in present tense.
I would have given 5 stars if the suspense scenes were more suspenseful and for longer time periods. The trials and haunts all wrapped up pretty quick.

This fed my gothic romance craving to the extreme! It was dark, fun and just the right amount of spice. I'm thankful for getting the ARC because of this being a newer indie author, which made me a little bit nervous to read, but i am certainly glad i did! You knocked this out of the park Kaylie Smith!

Synopsis:

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion full of demons & temptations, and claim its prize—a single wish. Ophelia will face 9 challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals. Just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious and charming stranger, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is 10 years of her life. She shouldn't trust him but feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer. Her life is on the line.

Review:

I read this book in one sitting. I am not typically a fantasy reader but have been dipping my toes in the romantasy world with mixed results... but this book had me from the very first chapter with its' otherworldly characters and setting. The suspense as Ophelia went through the challenges as well as the development of the relationship between her and Blackwell kept me on the edge of my seat. There wasn't too much world building and we got straight into the story, which I think is one of the reasons this one was a win for me. Love, love, LOVED this book. Recommend to anyone who is interested in romantasy!

Thank you Forever for my digital ARC!

Ghostly Gothic Vibes ✔️ October in New Orleans ✔️ Magical Trials ✔️ Handsome Devils ✔️

Be prepared when entering the deadly Phantasma manor, you never know which devil you’ll make a deal with. Ophelia Grimm definitely wasn’t prepared for the trials and tribulations of Phantasma. The night before entering Phantasma, Ophelia’s mother passed away unexpectedly leaving everything to fall to her. Now the head Necromancer in New Orleans, Ophelia has to find her place between what her mother wanted for her and what she wants for herself. That is until Ophelia learns her sister entered Phantasma.. the game that offers the winner a granted wish from the Prince of the Devils. Once you enter Phantasma, the games begin.. but remember the cardinal rule: Never fall in love during Phantasma.

I enjoyed my time reading this so much that I never wanted it to end. The vibes were immaculate for the fall with the Ghost, Gothic manors, and eeriness of New Orleans. I really recommend reading this in October. Phantasma has everything you’d want for the perfect fall/spooky vibes.

There was OCD and Anxiety representation from our FMC. The portrayal was spot on, especially after reading the Authors Note at the end. As someone who has chronic anxiety and a mother with OCD, the representation made me feel seen and the FMC relatable. There were times it was hard reading her thoughts because they were so accurate.

The banter between Ophelia and our MMC had me giggling kicking my feet, it was so good!! The back and forth they constantly had made this read fly by so fast. The MMC gave Roman Kitt from Divine Rivals vibes but more devilish, the things that come out of this phantoms mouth!! 😮‍💨 The spice in the book wasn’t cringy as well and was added at the right times but not over done too. There was a cute cat companion, Poe, which was such an unexpected delight!

The trials were dark, gory, and everything you expect from a devil run game. If you read the Caraval series and wanted an adult version than this is it!! This is a great dark romance fantasy with all the fall vibes. I recommend checking this out even if you are slightly interested because you will be amazed!

Be warned though: Never fall in love during Phantasma

‼️CONTENT WARNINGS‼️
⚠️Mild spoilers⚠️
🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫🚫



About 75% into the book, Ophelia kisses another man because she doesn’t accept her feelings for the MMC. They didn’t go any further than touching but still unnecessary in my opinion. It added nothing to the story and made me disgusted reading that scene. I wish that scene never happened because it really did take away from my enjoyment of the book. The unnecessary drama really disappointed me because I was so into our FMC and MMC being together.. be warned if you don’t like this sort of thing in your reads..

Topes:
OCD/Anxiety rep
Magic
Who did this to you?
Paranormal beings
Deadly Trials

5.0
Gothic romance at its best. I’ve loved the creeping hauntedness of New Orleans ever since I read Interview with the Vampire. Love that this book was set in an alternate NOLA. Full of ghosts and other paranormal humans and non-humans.

Ophelia and her sister Genevieve lose their mother, get into a squabble, and enter a deadly concert in quick succession. But once Ophelia joins, the horrors are more than she expects and her intrusive thoughts do not help make it easier. She meets a ghost, Blackwell, and tries to make it through the 9 trials.

Ophelia is a complex character. She has a dee bond with her sister, but also feels the odd one out in her family. I liked how much she grew into her own person instead of the mold she felt her mother forced her into.

The romance is spicy but adds to the plot instead of replacing it. Without spoilers, it’s scorching hot at times. But all consensual and somehow sane.

Thanks to the author and Second Sky for the advance copy of this wonderful book.

I am not even sure how to give a review of this book as it made no sense to me. All I know is it is marketed as Caraval meets ACOTAR and maybe Hunger Games??? I don't know...I know I was intrigued with the main character being described as a character from the ACOTAR series, but I did not see that at all. And I apologize for this, but the MMC's name could have been better. Screaming "Blackwell" during a sex scene was so cringy. Speaking of the spicy times; those seemed so random. Don't mind the people trying to kill us, lets have sex and then deal with it. IDK, I definitely didn't "get" the plot.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Such a delightful fantasy read. Phantasma reminded me strongly of Caraval, adult version; enchanted place, family secrets, two different sisters, eerie atmosphere, illusions. With a little bit of bloody elements. The story takes place most of the time at the enchanted mansion, yet it’s not stifling. Witnessing trials based on the Nine circles of Hell while also searching for something else, it’s mid-spaced which helped with that sentiment. I liked the OCD representation, it was the first time I’ve read it depicted that way and it felt genuine. The writing style was compelling, it added to the eerie atmosphere and the magical aspect of Phantasma. I had a good time reading it and I’ll gladly read anything else the author comes up with.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 /5

I was very undecided what to say and what rating to give in my review. At the very beginning I felt the pace was a bit slow or that I didn't need to know what happened in between trials, but oh boy did I change my mind fast.

I've loved everything in this book. I didn't like Ophelia at first, I felt she was too naive, but @kaylsmoon made me change my mind pretty soon. I appreciated Ophelia's journey throughout her trials in Phantasma, she changed and grew up so much. I admired her and how she managed to quiet her inner demon.

Blackwell is something else. His relationship with Ophelia and how they bickered and all the banter was amazing. Any time I read a chapter with the two of them together, I had a smile on my face. Most importantly, how he helped Ophelia feeling less alone and cornered in her brain, was beautiful.😍

The twist at the end, I saw it coming but that was a first and a rarity for me 😂 , especially since Sinclair said something very interesting about the creator of Phantasma that made me pay attention, but I loved the way it was delivered and all the subsequent news!!!!

When I saw that this book was being marketed as similar to Caraval, I jumped at the chance to read it. It is similar in that sisters get sucked into a deadly game.

Phantasma was such a ride. I loved Blackwell - he’s got your Danny Phantom vibes and I ate it up. Ophelia was a good MC, and I like her character development. The imagery was fantastic and allows you to really imagine yourself in Ophelia’s shoes. It was also interesting to see a MC with OCD tendencies as well as a SOB inner voice (anxiety).

The only reason it didn’t get 5 stars was because of the pacing. It was a bit slow and I kept hoping it would pick up more. It definitely does, but i nearly lost interest at the beginning. The ending is a bit predictable, but that doesn’t make the book any less enjoyable.

First off a big thanks to these publishers Bookouture, Second Sky/Forever as well as to the author Kaylie Smith and NetGalley, for not only the invite to read and review it on NetGalley but also for sending me a physical ARC copy of it to read. Now on to my thoughts: what first caught my attention was the beautiful cover and second was that it was a dark fantasy romance ( which is right up my alley, but it's so much more then that one genre ,because it comes off like a dark fantasy Gothic paranormal horror romance) it has eventhing in it that I love , Vampires, ghosts, demons, Devils , wraiths and so much more, plus it takes place in New Orleans which is a place I would love to visit someday because of its history with the paranormal. And let's not for get it has 2 of my tropes. And the setting of the story give it the perfect Atmosphere, which means I didn't want to put this book down , but at the same time I kept saying to my self even though Blackwell is hot, there would be no way in the world I would step in Phantasma. The way the author brought Phantasma alive as well as her characters was done in such a way that it was like I could literally reach out and touch them or that I could hear and see what they saw , out of the characters my to all time favorite was of course Blackwell and Ophelia, and while there was some characters I couldn't stand the one that I couldn't stand the most was Ophelia's sister. Other thing I liked about this book was how the author bright to life how it was for someone who had OCD, ( in fact I think this the first book I've read where the character has OCD) , so if your looking for a book that is hard to put down, the cover is beautiful, and it's a dark fantasy Gothic paranormal horror romance and mixed in with very hot Steamy secens as well as non stop creepiness that nightmares are made of and let's not forget the creepy voice that comes out to play though out the story, then this is right up your alley

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Omg this was absolutely amazing .I devoured it in one sitting! Dark ,gothic romantasy done right. Loved the characters and the world building. I am in awe. 5 stars and definitely recommend!

I’m so in love with this book, it’s insane. As morally questionable as both Blackwell and Ophelia can be at points (and it’s always completely understandable), their relationship is based on mutual benefit and a level of mutual respect that is lacking in a lot of this genre. And how he helps her deal with her Shadow Voice?? That’s some top-tier, good boy shit. We stan a man who makes your mental health better at all times.
I absolutely love that the author was inspired by her own mental health journey and I feel like I’m truly at home in this niche of men who chase the darkness away. I’ve really narrowed in on the fact that I love dark themes and settings, but not so much dark, twisty kinds of romance. Give me a Phantom with a heart of gold and a memory problem any day.
Anyway, stepping off of my soapbox (I could go on forever): the murderhouse reality show contest that is the House of Devils is incredibly well-crafted, complete with Cade, the horrible guy who ‘isn’t here to make friends,’ and the real villain of the whole book: Leon (IYKYK).

Ya know... I'm normally not the target audience for books with covers similar to this one. But I'm a sucker for gothic, horror, smutty, and deadly competitions so I had to request this anyway.

And I'm glad I did because this was surprisingly fun. You still can't convince me this isn't Danny Phantom fanfic!! But I thought the couple had fun banter/sniping, the manor and its mysteries were engaging, and the horror elements were well done.

I appreciate the OCD rep in this (specifically how it handled and represented intrusive thoughts) as I've not seen that rep before in a novel, but it always felt honest and not like it became a defining characteristic for the main character nor the story while still presenting a lingering threat.

There were a few errors here and there (interlicking instead of interlinking, etc) and some elements that weren't as dimensional as others (Cade is basically a carbon-copy of The Hunger Games's Cato and is almost cartoonishly evil so that the reader holds no sympathy for him). But overall it didn't detract from either my enjoyment or investment in this silly little, horrorotica, Danny Phantom romantasy.

TWs: snakes, bugs, spiders, blood, death, murder, mutilation

Thank you to Kaylie Smith & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc!

it was absolutely incredible, if you loved ‘Once upon a broken heart/ Caraval’ & ‘The Serpent & the wings of night’ you’ll really love this!

It was darker than OUABH & Blackwell was just perfect 🥲 the twist at the end of this…there’s so much detail and you discover something new not long after the last thing, I really enjoyed this book & I’ll be looking at Kaylie’s other titles too!

An awesome dark fantasy novel. Ghosts, phantoms and spectres abound in this novel. If you love fantasy, gore and hot romance then this is the book for you. I loved the interaction between the main characters and the compassionate way OCD was treated. A great read.

The most addictive romantasy I have read in a long time.
I had to pick myself off the floor after finishing this book and just staring at the wall for a bit. This book is SO good.
Dark!, seductive, exciting, paranormal PERFECTION. This was the best kind of genre-bender for me - what I'd call a blend of fantasy, paranormal romance and horror. Nothing is exactly what it seems in Phantasma.
I'm predicting this will be a breakout romantasy this Fall, because the vibes are SPOOKY, dark perfection.
The author dropped the twistiest of plot twists at 90% in this book, and after picking my jaw up off the floor I was GIDDY with the new development. The plot of the book is neatly wrapped at the end of the book while leaving openings for a future series (fingers crossed!).
The mysterious, dangerous MMC with a heart of gold was lovely. The SPICE was dangerously hot. But this is my favorite FMC I've read in a very long time. Her character arc is truly brought to fruition, I loved seeing her go from timid, living in the shadows to coming into her power and beating back her inner demons, while surrounded by literal demons. Most importantly, the representation and personification of OCD in this book were deeply meaningful to me and one of the most powerful parts of this story. It blended perfectly with the haunted house vibes while demonstrating the sometimes debilitating nature of OCD. A huge thank you to the author for putting this out there.

What more can I say - I am SO grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and NEED a copy for my shelves. Will be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to READ THIS RIGHT NOW.

I absolutely loved this book. A dark romance based on the circles of hell/sins of man, portrayed as game levels in a possessed manor, with the ultimate prize; a wish granted by the prince of devils himself. We follow our main character, Ophelia, who finds herself forced into joining phantasma, in search of her sister. There’s deals with phantoms, meddlesome devils & and house working against her. There is forbidden love, in a house that is absolutely not okay with any love, ever. There is betrayals, and secrets, and lies. There is death, and mental health awareness & representation (OCD) + plenty of spice. I put all the pieces of the puzzle together at about 83%, and was correct on the outcome, but I still really enjoyed it & think it wrapped up the story nicely. Have already begun recommending to friends!

Thank you SO much to NetGalley and the author for this ARC🥀

I don’t even know where to start. I loved this story and was hooked from the very beginning! I love a good book about necromancers and magic practicing, and this did not disappoint! I loved the competition aspect of the story and mixed with paranormal shenanigans just kept me so engaged. BLACKWELL!!🫶🏻