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!!🫶🏻

Phantasma is an insanely addictive read full of magic, gore and spice. A must-have read for any dark romance lover and the perfect pick for spooky season.

Set in the heart of New Orleans, in a haunted gothic manor, Phantasma is a series of trials based around each of the nine circles of hell with the ultimate prize of a Devil's Grant. Ophelia Grimm, a necromancer, enters to save her sister. With the help of a phantom, Blackwell, she navigates each obstacle whilst learning to control her own magic. But things aren't as they seem within the walls of Phantasma and secrets don't stay hidden...

I loved this book! Quite fittingly, I read the majority of it late into the night, unable to tear myself away from it's pages and the high stakes of the game. Ophelia is a great FMC and I loved seeing her becoming more confident in herself and her magic with each level and it was great to see OCD representation woven into her character. Blackwell is the hottest ghost about! The banter between him and Ophelia was electric! The chemistry off the charts, especially when his heart doesn't even beat. And dear devils, the spice!! Including a very hot blood shower scene 🥵

If you love a haunted house, deals with devils, deadly trials, blood and gore, sexy as sin spice and a (ph)anastically fuckable phantom then you need to enter the doors of Phantasma.

Thank you to Second Sky Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this stunning dark romance book 🩸👹✨

*OCD rep* horror lite* trials* ghosts, devils, phantoms* 🌶️ 🌶️ spicy * deal with a devil* necromancer * haunted mansion *set in N’awlins

Did you enjoy Caraval but wished it had ANY spice? Do you like the concept of haunted mansions and the nine circles of hell as trials for the main character to work through.

Enter Phantasma.

The spicy romance doesn’t kick in for awhile but once it does it’s nearly every other chapter. The spookiness is spookin. The gore is gory. The horror is hitting. I don’t even typically read horror so this is probably horror lite for those that get into the darker stuff.

Overall, there was decent balance between plot and spice. The banter was good between the FMC and love interest.

Only downside was that I did find the ending somewhat predictable around halfway through. Otherwise I truly enjoyed this book and for a breakout author it was pretty solid and fun to read.

I received an eARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review.

I loved this book! It was spooky and sweet, gory and intriguing and Ophelia and Blackwell were an absolute delight.

I loved Phantasma’s setting as a gothic haunted house with terrifying trials. It set the stakes high and I was concerned who would make it out of trial and honestly hoping some wouldn’t 😅

The plot was full of mysteries, why Phantasma exists, who runs it? Where’d all these Devils come from and why are they all so attractive?? Will there really be a winner, or is it a game within a game? I was left guessing the whole time with tiny reveals and breadcrumbs along the way that led to a very satisfying end ❤️‍🔥

Ophelia was such a relatable character (I mean apart from the necromancy 😂) but seeing the inside of an OCD brain bought a real human aspect to her character. Blackwell was everything, I love him, he’s everything you need.

Go on, face your fears and lose yourself in to Phantasma’s gothic fantasy world 🥀

This book was so many things that I didn’t know that I needed to come together. Fantasy but set in a mostly modern (I think turn of the century) version of our world.

I will fully admit that I was able to guess the way that it would end about halfway through the book, but that was because all of the breadcrumbs to get you there were so skillfully scattered.

The novel combines trials, forbidden romance, a realistic non-idealized depiction of neurodivergence (FMC with OCD), A+ banter, and a wonderful Gothic aesthetic to create a beautiful capital R Romantic fever dream.

Anyone who reads the novel should walk away, thinking about for what they might be willing to bargain their soul to a devil.

ARC Book Review!

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith


4.5 / 5⭐️

4 / 5 🔥


HOLYYYYY SHIT! 🤯

This books vibes immediately hooked me! It gives the feeling of the originals in a new Orleans mixed with caraval but better!

When I read caraval I was a bit confused by the order of things however Kaylie Smith has completely irradiated that issue by fully outlining phantasma before our FMC enters.
Each of the levels are well thought out and creatively moves the story forward.

The story reads very YA with a few snippets of excellently executed smut scenes. I personally would describe it as more of a gothic romance than a dark romance. Although there were themes of BDSM, captivity, and violence they all read pretty light (more of a touch on them) then previous dark romances I have read. This may be a good trial book for someone who’s interested in dark romances but isn’t sure if they can handle a heavier novel.

The twist at the end had my jaw dropping! I did not see it coming in the slightest. This is without a doubt one of the best books I’ve read this year!

This book is for you if you like :

Paranormal beings
Magic contest
OCD rep

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

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith is an amazing new romantasy that is sure to become to next, big bestseller. The story revolves around Ophelia, who, on a missing to save her sister, enters a mysterious and magical contest inside a mansion named Phantasma, She must go through deadly trials in order to win the ultimate prize: a wish for anything in the world. Along the way, she will have to deal with backstabbing competitors, Devils who try to trick her into failing, and one very handsome man named Blackwell who offers her a proposal that she can't refuse. Will Ophelia succeed in winning the competition and saving her sister, or will she succumb to the Devils and dangers of Phantasma?

Here is a beautiful excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Moonlight glinted off the gilded locket clasped around the corpse’s cold neck.
Ophelia Grimm unfastened her mother’s heart-shaped necklace with fervor before stepping clear of the spell circle and reaching beneath her loose, umber curls to secure the familiar bauble around her own throat. A shiver ran down her spine when the chilled metal settled against her skin, and her flesh prickled beneath it.
Ophelia sank to her knees on the left of her mother’s pale corpse, her sister, Genevieve, watching a few feet away in rapt silence. Tightening her grip around the silver blade in her hand, Ophelia pressed its sharp tip into the soft, ivory flesh of her inner arm. The slice was deep but precise, drawing enough blood that it dripped and pooled onto the ground before her and dyed the delicate white material of her nightgown a macabre shade of vermilion."

Overall, Phantasma is an amazing new standalone romantasy that will appeal to fans of Cavaral and Death Note. One highlight is just how overall amazing the concept was! When I read the description of the book, I knew that this book had the potential of being the next big thing, and after reading it, I'm so happy with how well-executed the story was. I love stories that are located in haunted mansions, and when you add in magic and mysteries, the story becomes so good. I could not put this book down. I had to keep reading until I finally reached the end.

Another highlight of this book is how beautiful the writing is. The prose was truly well-done, and I felt like I was transported into the world of the book, with all of its dangers and desires. One final highlight of this book is how action-packed it was. I was on the edge of my seats as I read about how Ophelia survived each of the perilous trials. Also, the ending was simply mind-blowing. My jaw dropped to the floor. That's how good it was. If the author writes any more books in the future, I will definitely add them to my TBR list. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of romantasy in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in September!