This was like an adult, horror version of Caraval with a much less annoying main character. Phantasma is a competition of sorts, where many people enter to play but only one can win. There are 9 levels (compared to the Nine Circles of Hell), and in each level you either beat it, make a bargain with a devil to escape, or you die. Last person standing basically gets a wish.

Ophelia has no interest in Phantasma, seeing how her mother has just died and she has inherited her necromancer powers. All Ophelia wants it to figure out how to keep the family business going. But when she discovers that her younger sister Genevieve has run off to join the game, she feels like she has to follow and convince her to leave. Maybe she *should* accept the help of the mysterious Blackwell....

I enjoyed this much more than I expected to. I liked how their family history was used, and the different competitions they had to do were creative. There are good gothic vibes, and the push and pull between Ophelia and Blackwell was nice. It might have been nice to have spent more time with Genevieve before she disappears into Phantasma, but then we get to learn things about her along with Ophelia. I look forward to picking up the next book!

This Romantasy book is everything!!

This is book 1 in a series but this book is a stand alone that has an HEA. This book was fast paced and full of action, tension, chemistry, and a story that had me on the edge of my seat from page one to the very last page. I devoured this book. I didn't want to put it down because I had to find out what was going to happen next.

Ophelia finds her mom's body and immediately has to take on the family's necromancy powers. Then things get worse when she learns her and her sister are about to lose the house because of a loan her mom took out and never told them about. When Ophelia realizes her sister went to Phantasma (A spooky manor full of devils and ghouls that is set up like the circles of hell), she decides she has to enter the competition to the death to try and protect her sister. Once inside Phantasma, Ophelia has a run in with Blackwell who wants to help her with the tasks and challenges in exchange for her finding the key that will release Blackwell from the prison that is Phantasma.

Book 2 of this series is Ophelia's littler sister, Genevieve's story and I can't wait. The writing was phenomenal. I also did a tandem read with the audiobook (Purchased myself) and the e-book (ARC provided by Second Sky Publishing and NetGalley) and I highly recommend the audiobook as well. The performances by the narrators was phenomenal!

If you like dark fantasy, fantasy romance, tension, and books that include deadly trials, I highly highly highly recommend this book!!!

I loved two big elements of this book but they just didn't connect together to bring home a 4th star. The atmosphere created and the spicy relationship was excellent, but the plot of the Phantasma games fell through.

Ophelia has entered a magical competition hosted by a mansion of devils called Phantasma. Each night, the competitors enter a game based on one of the 7 deadly sins. In between each level, Ophelia and the others are contained within a haunted mansion where their greatest fear are brought to life. Whoever survives all the haunting and levels will win the Devil's promise to grant any wish. Everyone else either dies or sell their soul to the Devil to be spared.

Ophelia is only there to find her impulsive sister and escape. She makes a bargain with a Phantom to help him escape this purgatory if he helps her cheat through the levels. But this is no Casper, the friendly ghost. Blackwell is hot as hell, and as tensions rise the pair become far more familiar with each other than anticipated.

There is a lot of lore: necromancy (similar to Ghost Whisperer), ghosts and devils. The variety in tests was really creative. I also loved the characters. Ophelia and Blackwell have very well developed personalities. Their interactions were snarky, filled with lust and felt very much like true love.

Unfortunately, these great elements felt very disconnected. The first part is written like a horror novel, then it switches into a romantasy style. And the ending was softer than I expected.

Because Blackwell is helping Ophelia, most of the plot development is him explaining things to her. He's not a mansplainer, but it made the story more passive.

All in all, a fun romantasy-esque read with a horror-inspired ambience. I would like to see the next book be more solidly in the soft or edgy side of romance and maintain that level of angst throughout.

Phantasma had me from the cover, stunning! We follow Ophelia immediately after the death of her mother, her sister disappears. Immediately Ophelia seeks to find her any way possible. She quickly finds her way to a cursed manor, in which she must compete in order to find her sister. What will happen in this deadly competition, if you dare to enter.

This story had me from the first page. I highly recommend going in this story blind, as I did. This story had such a fast pace that had me turning pages and not wanting to put this book down. Such a great atmospheric spooky vibe with mysteries and terror on all sides. I was drawn in with the high stakes and deadly competition. I was immediately drawn into Ophelia’s personality and her dark shadow, dare I say relatable. The relationships in this were relatable and very cut throat while others were bleeding heart enthralling. This story had it all and found it to be such a fun ride. I squealed, laughed, gasped, and cried. I immediately bought a copy for myself and pre-ordered the next in the series. Thank you to Netgalley and Forever publisher.

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

4.5 STARS

This one is PERFECT for spooky time, aka right now, it’s got ghosts, a gothic mansion and the levels of Hell. And the plot! Who doesn’t love a deadly game…?

SIGN ME UP!!

I really enjoyed the writing and story that Kaylie told. It gave me everything that I didn’t know I wanted and I was EATING it up. Perfect for those paranormal lovers with ghosts and demons. And if you want a standalone with a HEA this one is it! I do wish that it was a series but only because I want more but at least a character in this one gets their own story in the next one.

AND I CANT WAIT FOR APRIL!!

(arc review)

Phantasma is hands down the best book I’ve read this year! I binged the audiobook because I literally could not stop—it was so gripping. The dark, sexy romance between Ophelia and Blackwell had me hooked from the start. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the spice? Absolutely perfect! As someone with OCD, I was blown away by the amazing representation of Ophelia’s struggle with the shadow voice, which added so much depth to her character.

Set in the cursed world of Phantasma, where not all is as it seems, the stakes are as high as the twists are wild. Just when you think you’ve figured it out, the story pulls you deeper. “The only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart,” and I lost mine to this book. Hold on for the ride of your life—this romantasy is achingly beautiful, sexy, and full of surprises!

Yes, yes, 100% yes! Just chef’s 💋 Absolutely unique take on the whole trials type genre. A paranormal house with a game each level representing the 9 levels of hell run by devils. Cutthroat contestants, wicked scheming devils. Strong FMC. I’ve never seen a necromancer character presented in this way. Plenty of angsty hot spice & a jaw dropping ending that had me kicking my legs and pounding my chair like WHAT! This is a darker romantasy, so as always check your triggers. As for me I can’t wait to see what else is in store for this series!

I need a few minutes to calm down from this book, it needs a HUGE spice warning - colour me flustered. I devoured this book the same way Ophelia was devoured! I LOVED everything about this book, from the gorgeous cover to the words that flowed inside. It had me hooked line and sinker.

Don't be thinking this was just a spicy book with romance thrown in, no no no no no no, as we travel through the Nine circles of hell, there are some brutal and I do mean brutal deaths! Some were so deserved, there were so many awful creatures (I can't even think of them as humans) who were trying to win the prize in Phantasma. They made the devils look almost friendly! One word = Cade The descriptions were detailed and the deaths were so creative, I have to say!

This book gave me Big Brother feels, mixed in with Survivor, and Squid Games to say the least, in how the levels progressed. The "tasks" they had to complete, obviously were not in the same capacity - unless we suddenly see people running from swinging axes, or stone columns dropping by. (Well maybe Squid Games) Ophelia mesmerised me, with her backstory, how she ended up in Phantasma, her sister, and the chapter we learn about the "Creator" too.

The narrator was just fantastic, although, how she narrated those scenes - hats off to her!

I was here for all of it! I can't tell you enough how much I loved this book!

These characters will definitely make you squirm, cheer, and get a little hot under the collar. It is such a wild ride and I was obsessed - I just want to read the next book now!

DNF at 10%

I’ve read so many fantasy books over the years (and quite frankly, books in general) that I know what voices I like on writing. I know what does and doesn’t work for me, and can tell within mere chapters if something will not work with me. I only made it about 4 chapters into this book because the writing style was not clicking with me. This is totally a me situation! I also didn’t find myself gripped by the story or having any interest in our main character, Ophelia. I could already tell that I would likely not connect with her for the majority of the book.
I’m unsure if I would ever read a book by Kaylie Smith again if her writing style is the same in her future novels.
As it is, this is more of a me issue, and I didn’t read enough of the novel to talk about anything else.

Soon after the unexpected death of their mother, necromancer Ophelia Grimm’s sister disappears & to save her, Ophelia must enter & win Phantasma, a deadly contest held inside a haunted mansion. Nine levels of the players' worst fears have to faced alongside deadly temptations offered by the resident devils. Ophelia is offered help by a Phantom named Blackwell - he will help her pass the trials if she will help him escape from Phantasma for good. Can Ophelia trust him? Can she save her sister or will she lose her forever?

Great concept - I absolutely loved the idea of the creepy mansion & the trials being linked to the seven deadly sins. I also liked the descriptions of the fashion although I'm not sure what time this is set as the clothes suggested 19th century, but the language & behaviour seemed more modern. I didn't like that the trials soon became a backdrop to the romance & feel there should have been a better balance.

For me, there wasn't enough build-up to feel the chemistry between Ophelia & Blackwell, it was very much instalove, or I should say, instalust. Now, a well-written spicy scene can complement a romance plot but for me this was too much. After the third or fourth very graphic sex scene, it all became just a bit tedious. I felt like the kid in 'The Princess Bride' complaining "They're kissing again!" - I just wanted to get back to the trials but then it all just fizzles out with no real "ta-da" ending & the twist was obvious to me from the start.

The author can write & the trials plot could have been perfection, but I felt short-changed with how it took such a backseat to the romance. I seem to be an outlier though & most readers really enjoyed the book so if you don't mind spicy scenes then don't let me put you off. 3.5 stars (rounded up).

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Second Sky/Forever, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

✨ Dark Gothic Paranormal Romance
✨ Necromancer x Ghost
✨ Close Proximity
✨ Forbidden Spicy Romance
✨ Deadly Competition
✨ Similar to Squid Games and Saw level of competition and gore
✨ Mental Health Rep

This was a dark fantasy ride that I couldn’t get enough of! It’s such a unique concept with the nine levels of hell competition that’s run by Devils themselves in a haunted house full of ghosts and fears. This was a bloody and cutthroat good time with a hot and heavy forbidden romance thrown in! I loved the mental health rep also, with Ophelia dealing with an obsessive compulsive disorder and a manipulative voice in her head. It was interesting how her mental health played a huge part in the book and gave you insight to why she did things they way she did.

And Ophelia and Blackwell together were straight fire! 🔥 Their relationship was magnetic and a little volatile but I enjoyed every interaction! I’d say this book was 3.5-4 🌶️ and a 5⭐️ read

Thank you so much to Forever Pub for the advanced copy! 🖤

This book was absolutely incredible!! It had everything I could want in a dark, Gothic, almost horror-like romance. It was gruesome, twisted, intensely suspenseful, and packed with steamy, spine-tingling moments.
If you’re into deadly magical trials and haunted mansions you’re going to eat this up!

And the setting? New Orleans, steeped in dark magic, devils, ghosts, ghouls, basically all the spooky vibes you could ask for. It’s the perfect read as we move into the Halloween season.

The story wraps up with a happy ending, and can be read as a standalone but it also sets the stage for the next book, which will focus on a different couple.

A freaking five Star Read!!!
What's better than starting the month with a 5 star read?!!

I'm obsessed with Blackwell and Ophelia <3
I STARTED THIS YESTERDAY AND JUST COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN!! It was THAT GOOD
From the start to the very end it was amazing. I loved it so much. It was a perfect Romantasy book. And I need Blackwell rn.

Thank you nerd fam, second sky books and Netgalley for the E-arc.

A necromancer who enters a “rumored” competition to find her sister and ends up in an alliance with a hot phantom, makes a great story! The setting of an old gothic manor in New Orleans made the scenes so spooky. The twists were perfect and I hate to admit that I did fall in love with some of the princes of hell… like how could you not?!

PHANTASMA BY KAYLIE SMITH REVIEW 💀

Thank you to @netgalley, @secondskybooks, @kaylsmoon for the eARC in return for my honest review.

“Jealousy is a sexy color on you. Almost as sexy as blood.”

Short Summary: When her mother dies, Ophelia inherits death-drive magic and an enormous debt. Circumstances become deadly, when her sister enters a competition to try to pay off the loan. Phantasma is a competition where your actions have deadly consequences. The only way for Ophelia to save her sister is to compete and face nine floors of dark, twisted challenges. But when Blackwell, the charming, arrogant phantom offers to protect and help her - Ophelia must risk breaking Phantasma’s cardinal rule - DO NOT FALL IN LOVE.

Vibes & Tropes & Representation:
💀 Necromancer x Phantom
💀 Gothic, paranormal New Orleans
💀 Forced Proximity
💀 Haunted House Competition inspired by the Nine Circles of Hell
💀 Dark, mind games, blood and terror
💀 OCD representation
💀 Adorable ghost kitty

Overall: I absolutely DEVOURED the first half in a matter of days. Then it took 3 months to finish. I blame the reading format for this delay - an audiobook option is essential for me. I also had read Caraval (an advertised as a comp for Phantasma) 2 weeks before starting this. After discovering the option to have the ebook read aloud to me, I finished the last 30% of the book in just two days.

The premise of “a young woman must enter a competitive game in search of her lost sister” initially felt a little too close to Caraval. But the dark twists and turns of the competition pleasantly surprised me - there are real, deadly consequences to Phantasma.

Phantasma was a delicious read. Ophelia, is both flawed and haunted. The Phantom, Blackwell, is both dark and seductive. Their chemistry is off the charts from the start and their bed chemistry is spicy!

I cannot wait to listen to Phantasma with the official audiobook soon. It is the perfect read for spooky season. 💀

⭐ Rating: 4.5 Stars
📚 Wicked Games Book 1

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f paranormal romance
-forced proximity
-haunted house
-a deal with an almost devil
-trials
-OCD rep
-forbidden romance
-morally ambiguous LI
-you came, you called

Imaginitive, atmospheric, and on the edge of my seat I loved this book so much. As the story unfolded Ophelia was an incredible MC. With the burden of her past, continuing her fmaily's legacy, and protective of her younger sister she ends up thrust into the Phantasma a haunted house with trials similar to the circles of hell. In order to survive she makes a deal with Blackwell in order to survive.

Their chemistry was incredible as they both tried to fight (badly) their attraction and leaned on each other when they had no one else. Just swoony, every time she called and he came. I can't even pretend to describe this book well enough but the way her OCD was also interwoven into the story, how they both leaned on each other, and just the twists and turns. Pick this up and be ready to be unable to put it down.

➸ 𝖖𝖚𝖔𝖙𝖊:
"𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈,
𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕'𝒔 𝒘𝒉𝒚 𝒘𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏'𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏."

"𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆, 𝒊𝒏 𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒓 𝒐𝒏𝒆, 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅'𝒗𝒆 𝒌𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖
𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒖𝒔𝒕."

➸ 𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍𝖙𝖘:
I've been so drawn to gothic paranormal romances lately and this one was another that didn't disappoint. 🖤🥀

To start off with, as someone who has OCD - this spoke to my soul. My mother has the kind Ophelia deals with of needing to do things multiple times but, mine was an intense urge of cleanliness. And I know people joke about "oh I'm so OCD I need things neat and clean" but, no. Mine was scrubbing my body for 2 hours because I was convinced I would die from some disease if I didn't. Those urges - knowing they are all in your head but unable to escape them. Ophelia had my heart for that alone. Watching her struggle & fight through those urges, was beautiful to see.

And as a whole Ophelia was such a strong, fierce woman despite the times she felt useless or like a monster over her OCD and the voice it gave her in her mind. Physically, she wasn't the strongest but, mentally? Even when she didn't realize it, she was stronger than she thought.

Blackwell was everything a ghost mmc should be. I loved him from moment one. I loved their bickering, him sassing her, and his protective nature over her even early on. Can we also just talk about the mouth on him? 🥵

The deadly trials..always a favorite trope of mine. I loved the unique spin on this with it being in a haunted house with trials that mimic the 9 levels of Hell and I definitely was shocked by the secrets and where the ending went but, I loved how it was done. I was shookethed but, in the best way. The pacing, the characters, the romance and storyline - I loved it all. Definitely think this will be a fantastic story for Spooky Season. 🍂👻🖤

➸ 𝖙𝖗𝖔𝖕𝖊𝖘:
⋆ Forbidden Romance
⋆ Forced Proximity
⋆ FMC with OCD
⋆ Phantom x Necromancer (Danny Phantom MMC vibes)
⋆ Deadly Trials in a Haunted House
⋆ Standalone with Blood and Spice
⋆ Touch Her and Die

➸ 𝖗𝖆𝖙𝖎𝖓𝖌𝖘:
⭐: 𝟒.𝟓/𝟓
🌶️: 𝟑.𝟓/𝟓

This fed my gothic romance craving to the extreme, especially right in time for Halloween season!

A bloody, gothic feast of a debut,

Phantasma will trap you inside its twisted walls and a manor full of secrets where bargains are struck and broken, and one necromancer will contend with its deadly competition to save her sister and receive the elusive wish granted to the surviving player.

Phantasma is quite possibly my new favorite gothic romance and book from her all in one. Combining a foreboding gothic atmosphere, a competition influenced by the nine circles of hell, and a cursed bargain with a mysterious stranger, Smith casts her shining romantasy with formidable claws. Ophelia Grimm confronts the seen and the unseen, what’s real and what isn't, and Smith enmeshes this with some stellar OCD representation. Phantasma is the very definition of having your cake and eating it too, it's smart, sexy, horrifying, rageful, and somehow all of those can coexist without being contradictory. I’m completely under Kaylie Smith’s thrall and not at all upset about it.

"My body, your altar."
Holy moly this book had some of all that is good: suspense, romance, Victorian style fashion, ghouls, you name it.
Ophelia Grimm is a reluctant necromancer living with OCD. We follow her through the trials of Phantasma, a devil-operated tournament, in an attempt to save her sister and the family estate. While participating in Phantasma, she meets one of my personal favorite MMCs, Blackwell.
And what a waist-coasted delight this Phantom is. Their joint journey is so much fun to follow, from the puzzles to the banter, all the way to some of the most swoon worthy proclamations I have read in a long time.
"My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind." I MEAN COME ON!!
The writing is so heartfelt. I loved Ophelia's growth and acceptance of her full self and desires. I missed this book as soon as I finished it!

“…taking care of yourself first is not a sin.”

“Phantasma,” by Kaylie Smith

I loved this book so much!!!!! One of the best books I’ve read this year and definitely is a top favorite book of all time. I adored every second of this book. I loved how the mc has massive OCD and is super loyal to her family. I loved the entire plot of doing trials in a haunted mansion with ghosts and devils tormenting the contestants. I loved the mystery of her finding her sister, finding out why her mother was involved, and about Blackwell. I literally loved everything and would change a single thing. I bought a physical copy so fast lol. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Magic
-Mental Illness
-Ghosts, Devils
-Necromancers

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.