Once again Kaylie has crafted a rich, imaginative world full of vivid characters that practically leap off the page! I absolutely love the OCD rep in this book. The romance felt forced (insta-love) & the pacing was a bit slow at times, but I’m interested enough to see where the next book leads.

I loved this book. I was sold at Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen, both books I adore. I am a huge fan of tropes and their patterning as it is familiar and I love when I am able to see how they might shake out in books (a true dopamine hit). I loved the gothic atmosphere and really enjoyed plotting of the tournament style escape room. While I did not completely fall for these characters, I was content with their development. I love that Blackwell is this millennial's grown up version of Danny Phantom.

I am obsessed! This book was so satisfying in so many ways and is perfect for spooky season. I was immediately enthralled in the story and it was so well written. I love a good Gothic romance story and this one delivers. It keeps you on your toes and is a page turner with a satisfying ending. This is a must read! I cannot wait until book two.

DNF @ 56%

I really tried with this one since so many people loved it but it wasn’t going to work for me. For a Romantasy I just couldn’t care about the relationship because the FMC was honestly the worst. She was genuinely unlikeable and mean to other female characters for no reason and that’s just a no for me. The plot also didn’t work for me because the trials seemed like an afterthought.

DNF 43%, why are they having sex so early one and out of nowhere?!? Let's start with how Blackwell had no personality except being hot, broody, mysterious and amnesic sometimes. His main purpose was to help and bang the main character. Ophelia was just as stupid as Emilia in Kingdom of the Wicked so I guess that's a good comp title for you there. The ideas were good but dear Lord was this book poorly written and just bad. It had good vibes but I can't read a book on vibes alone (technically yes, but not when the characters are so shallow). I have the author's debut novel so that's not very promising.

This was an interesting premise. A set a games based on hell. Absolutely brutal how some played out but I liked the way some were structured. There was one game that was a little confusing until close to the end of the game. Main characters were okay. i liked the twist at the end and how the ending was resolved. Would be interested in revisiting this universe although I don't see how these characters could have a sequel.

This book was a fantasy version of Hunger Games. Ophelia joins a competition to save her sister. She must beat each level to move on. There is graphic conflict as the levels move on. There is also significant OCD rep with repetitive behaviors and inner voices compelling them. It can get overwhelming. The author states in the afterward that many of these are based on her own experiences with OCD, but that not all people experience it the same way.

The story was good, with some twists and unexpected happenings. Ophelia learns her own strengths, and there is an HEA. Book 2 is about her sister.

Dark and twisty and definitely simmering to spicy. Action, mystery, secrets, curses, and demons - you won't be putting this one down until the very end.

This book was enthralling and kept me going back for more. I loved the setting of New Orleans, but once the competition started... Phantasma was a setting that immersive and all encompassing. I forgot about what existed outside of the mansion in the best way! I loved the storyline, but felt the romance was a bit of a stretch. I was more focused on the competition, and seeing if the sisters would be able to find each other while inside the competition. Overall, I loved the book and would recommend it. It is a great spooky read for fall but can be enjoyed year round!

WoW what a beautiful and eye catching book cover Phantasma by Kaylie Smith is and I am so glad it caught my eye.
It took a while for me to get into this book especially as its not a book gene I would read. I am so glad I stuck with it, I really enjoyed it and enjoyed reading Phantasma - between books. This was an Amazing spooky romance.....

Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game: Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine 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.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier, than losing the main game is losing your heart . . . . . .

WoW! .

Oh my gosh! This book! I have no words to describe how amazing this book was! If you LOVE romantasy, paranormal romance, or gothic romance books pick this book up ASAP! The characters were so well developed and you rooted for all of them, well almost all of them! Such a fun and interesting story that made this book hard put down!

I received an advanced copy of *Phantasma* from NetGalley and the publisher, and I'm voluntarily sharing my thoughts in this review.

Dark romance typically isn’t my preferred genre. I’ve tried a few before, but they didn’t resonate with me, so I usually avoid books labeled as such. However, with *Phantasma* being compared to *Caraval* and having Gothic themes, I was intrigued despite my initial hesitation—and to my surprise, I ended up enjoying it.

The book starts off with a dramatic twist: Ophelia and Genevieve's mother has died, and Ophelia must inherit the family magic. (As a side note, I found the summary a bit misleading since it mentions their mother’s murder, which isn't revealed until much later in the story—feels like a spoiler upfront.) Along with the family magic, Ophelia also inherits a huge debt her mother never disclosed. To pay it off, her sister Genevieve enters the mysterious competition of Phantasma, and despite her mother’s warnings, Ophelia joins the competition as well, hoping to protect her sister. The plot echoes *Caraval* but with a darker, more sinister twist.

What really stood out to me were the dark, Gothic tones woven throughout the story. The atmosphere was intentionally eerie and unsettling, which made the reader feel like they were in a place they didn’t belong. While I wish there had been more detailed descriptions of the manor house where Ophelia stayed, the vague setting added to the story’s air of mystery and discomfort, which worked well with the overall mood.

I found the characters interesting, though not particularly compelling. I was intrigued by their backstories and quirks but didn’t feel a strong emotional connection to them. There was little character growth despite the challenges they faced. The romance between Ophelia and Blackwell was driven mostly by physical attraction, making it hard to believe in a deeper connection between them. The big reveal near the end didn’t come as a surprise, and after the slow build of the plot, the conclusion felt rushed.

Overall, I enjoyed *Phantasma*, but I would have preferred more character development and fewer intimate scenes—though perhaps that’s just my preference as someone who doesn’t usually read dark romance.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into Phantasma but I was blown away by this fun fantasy stand-alone! It took me a minute to really get into the story and understand what was happening but once we were into Phantasma itself, I was hooked! This will probably be a god to stand-along fantasy rec for me to give for a while now!

Okay so this was my first Gothic Fantasy Romance book and I did enjoy it! One surprising thing for me was having a MC with Obsessive Compulsion Disorder represented. It is so refreshing to see! And for many people it helps us understand what someone is going through and how debilitating it is!

Right from the start the storyline draws you in and doesn't let you go. The characters were well written and the chemistry, emotion and growth of the characters was so good, you don't want to put it down.

The only thing I would say is that I felt that the end was a little bit rushed and would have loved to have seen a little bit more. But overall a great read and perfect for any fantasy readers that want a little bit ( well it's not just a little) of Dark Gothic Romance.

This book was SO MUCH FUN!!

I have been in a truly devastating book slump (hence why I have barely gotten around to reading this) but I am SO glad that I decided to pick it up because it got me right out of that slump.

Smith writes in a way that is captivating and truly just a joy ride to experience. I loved the plot, the characters, but the setting and world building is what truly grabbed me by the neck from the very beginning.

I give this book 4 stars just because there was a little something missing for me, though I can’t place exactly what, but this book was the perfect read to get me out of my slump!

Woohoo this was fun! For a perfect spooky, eerie and twisty story with a side of spicy romance, look no further! For me, this lived up to the hype I've been seeing.

I ate up the gothic hunger games-esq trials which was matched with some great banter between the female main character and her love interest/guide.

I don't know why I thought this was a YA fantasy, but heads up, it's not and is very much open door spice level!

My slight criticism is that I wanted more of a sinister ending. Things wrap up a bit mushy and rather quickly. For how dark the other 90% of the book is, I was surprised it ended the way it did.

I received an advanced copy of Phantasma from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Dark romance is not usually a genre that piques my interest. I've read a couple, and they were not my cup of tea, so if a book purports to be a dark romance, I tend to steer clear. However, with its comparison to Caraval and Gothic themes, Phantasma was on my radar as something I might enjoy despite my initial hesitation due to its genre. And I enjoyed it, much to my surprise.

Phantasma starts off with a bang. Ophelia and Genevieve's mother is dead, and Ophelia has to inherit the family magic. (Side note: I will say that the summary is a little odd, as it says that their mother has been murdered, but that information doesn't come out until near the end of the book, so it's kind of a spoiler, I guess, right there for everyone to see.) On top of the family magic, Ophelia inherited her mother's debt, which she knew nothing about. Her sister enters the competition of Phantasma to try and pay off that debt, and Ophelia, going against everything her mother taught her, enters as well if only to save her sister from herself. This plot line is reminiscent of Caraval, with a darker tone and twist.

I loved the dark, Gothic vibes that permeated the entire story. Though slightly oppressing at times, I think that was the point. We weren't supposed to feel comfortable in this setting. It was meant to be off-putting and unpleasant, lending to the feeling that we were somewhere we weren't supposed to be. While I would have liked more description of the manor house Ophelia was staying at, the lack of said description made the setting more mysterious and uncomfortable, and it worked for what the story was.

I found the characters interesting, though not compelling. I wanted to learn more about them because their backstory and mannerisms interested me, but I didn't feel attached to them. Though they go through trials and tribulations, there is next to no character growth. On top of that, the romance between Ophelia and Blackwell is based purely on lust, making it hard to believe that they love each other. The reveal at the end was unsurprising and, after everything that happened, wrapped up much too quickly. For such a slow-paced book, I was astonished by how quickly everything was tied up at the end.

Overall, though, I enjoyed Phantasma. I would have liked to see more character growth and fewer sex scenes, but perhaps that's the non-dark romance reader in me talking.

If you liked Caraval but wish the magic of it all was more eerie, spooky and had dark elements and spice - then you should pick this book up! There is a great plot and it was perfect for spooky season. It definitely was darker and spicier than I was expecting so something to note! If you aren't comfortable reading about devils/demons though this book probably isn't for you. overall a decent spooky season read.

Obsessed doesn't begin to cover it. Phantasma has become my entire personality! The setting, the worldbuilding, the ROMANCE?!!!! If I could give this book ten stars, I would!! Kaylie Smith smashed this book, and I devoured it in one sitting!! I can't wait for the next installment!

Following the death of her mother and with the impending loss of their family home, Ophelia must enter the deadly Phantasma competition to save her sister.

In a haunted mansion where the only thing more dangerous than the 9 challenges are the competitors fears made manifest, she bargains with a phantom. Save him and he will save her. Fail to do so and she forfeits ten years of her life.

Against a ticking clock, suspicions, and feelings, grow as Ophelia fights Devil's and her own inner demons to uncover secrets long withheld from her.

A fantastic novel with twists and fully developed characters, this dark and twisting fantasy romance will have readers gripped from the first chapter and clamoring for the next release.

If you liked dark fantasy combined with the competition of Caraval and the inner struggle of One Dark Window, this book is a home run.

Note: the lead deals with intrusive thoughts and obsessive compulsive disorder (though not directly specified). The representation is handled in a way that demonstrates the overwhelming nature of the struggle and appears respectful.