This was the perfect boom since I was looking for something dark and magical. It was such an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put it down.

This book was SO immersive, once I started I simply couldn't stop. One of the things I liked most while reading was FMC, Ophelia. She’s so funny and easy to love, I laughed a lot with her and with the dynamic between her and Blackwell. The romance in this book was top tier, the banter got me giggling and kicking my feet most of the time!

If you liked Caraval but want something more dark, I highly recommend this one. Thank you NetGalley for the arc! :)

The cover and blurb really pulled me in to reading this book. But I did not expect to be so obsessed with it! This book was intense, dark, addictive and simply perfection!

I really liked how the book started. The world building was really good and it gave us plenty of story building up to Phantasma. It made me feel a bit on edge (in a really good way!) because I was wondering what was going to happen and how anything was going to happen.

I loved reading about Phantasma, it was a dark, enamouring world. There’s a lot that goes on within the world but none of it is the same. It’s so creative!

I also found that blackwell’s character was very mysterious and intriguing. To start off with, there’s not a lot known about his character but I love a mysterious man so I was obsessed with him quickly. Hehe

I would honestly really recommend this book. I was obsessed from the first chapter and loved every moment of it!

Where to start with this novel? It can literally live rent-free in my head for the rest of eternity (as long as I get to steal Blackwell from Ophelia!)! I loved everything about this novel, and literally every time I got my critical cap on to try and find areas of improvement, the author literally read my mind and by the next page was like BAM, here it is. I cannot fault this book in the slightest and will be getting the paperback as soon as it comes out! I really feel like I won the ARC lottery with this one, and the author has created a crazy fangirl who will happily shout out about this novel to anyone!

So why did I like it?

*Set of challenges based on the nine circles of hell. And when I say they are creative – they are creative! I got AIB vibes, hunger game vibes – it was on the edge of your seat kind of reading

*Main female character – she’s sassy, can tango with devils, knows how to ask for what she wants – I bow down to her (although I will be stealing her beau). I also really appreciate the OCD rep – it had a creative spin to it (told via a voice in her head), and as someone who doesn’t live with OCD, it really helped me empathise with those who do and appreciate what they go through.

*Blackwell – the ghostly love interest. I didn’t think ghosts would be my thing, but apparently this one is. He’s the right mix of cheeky, spicy and romantic. Give me. Will willingly make a devil’s pact if I get some of those spice scenes to myself!

*Fast-paced – the book moved! I managed to read this in three nights, and probably would have finished sooner if I wasn’t sleep deprived with a newborn.

*Tropes – forbidden romance, forced proximity, “good girl” – yes please!

I can count on one hand the number of novels I’d re-read (I’m a notorious one read only kind of person) and rave about to others – this book is joining those select few!

I’ll happily walk through those nine levels of hell, if I could make a wish with the head devil at the end, and demand the author writes more now! Run, don’t walk to pre-order this book!

Ophelia must enter a dangerous contest in order to win a wish that will save her sister.
It took a few chapters for me to really get into the story, but once I did, I wasn’t able to put it down! Ophelia had such great character growth. Blackwell was such a great character but it’s hard for me to put into words why without spoilers. The chemistry between the two leads was just… perfect.
A beautifully dark gothic fantasy with spice, perfect for fans of Caraval.

4 stars on StoryGraph

Phantasma is a fun, spicy debut romantasy standalone novel that is sure to interest fans of the genre who are looking for a dark, creepy twist.

I thought the premise was interesting. We have the trope of “trials” that our main character is forced into, but with the twist of them being based on the nine circles of hell. I also really liked the magic system and how intertwined it was with the trials themselves.

I did enjoy Blackwell and Ophelia’s journey and their relationship was a ton of fun to read. Their dynamic is comforting, which was a nice foil to the horror setting for the book.

The best part by far was Ophelia and the depiction of OCD. This was such a well done take and something I haven’t seen in a romantasy novel before. The anxiety and tension that this detail adds and how Ophelia grows and changes while handling her OCD really brings this book to the next level and helps it stand out from many other books I’ve read.

What I really did want, and why this was a 4 star read for me, was just a little more depth. I wanted to understand a bit more about the side characters and their arcs. Even at times Blackwell and Ophelia’s feelings felt rushed. If there was a little more time fleshing out the character moments I would have bumped up the score for sure! There were times where just a little more time to let things settle and sync in would have been great.

Overall, this was a fun story, and worth a read if you’re looking for creepy romantasy book!

Phantasma is a beautifully written, stunning gothic romantasy. I absolutely loved this book! When Ophelia's sister disappears, she realizes the only way to save her is to enter Phantasma - a deadly game based on the nine circles of Hell. With her sister's life on the line, Ophelia cannot afford to be distracted. Unfortunately, the charming and arrogant Blackwell has a different idea. To make it to the end of the game, Ophelia will need Blackwell's knowledge of the house and the different levels; however, such information does not come cheap. If Ophelia cannot uphold her end of the deal, she will forfeit ten years of her life to Blackwell. With her life at a stake, Ophelia must battle monsters, survive fatal obstacles, and resist her dark desires.

I seriously loved everything about this book! To begin with, the setting is spectacular. I could vividly imagine every aspect of this haunted mansion that creates its own horrors. The house had everything one would expect is a gothic mansion: huge chandeliers, secret passages, large libraries, and resident ghosts. Next, the challenges, based on the nine circles of Hell, were all very creative and progressively got more horrifying. I definitely had nightmares after reading about some of the levels. Finally, the characters were all well-developed and interesting. I enjoyed getting to know Blackwell's history right alongside Ophelia. Phantasma is easily one of my favorite books of 2024! Definitely a five-star read!

God, I am never going to recover from this book; I just know that the book hangover to come is absolutely going to ruin me— like I am unwell; just thinking about good this is! I went to sleep after finishing it and I woke up thinking about Blackwell and the ending— please, please bury with this book because I fear, I am in love with the Devil/Phantom and I'm never going to shut up about it.

A gothic romantasy I'll take 14 of those, right now, because I'm addicted!

The first few chapters really had me feeling uncertain, because I wasn't quite sure if I was following the story, but I’m so glad that my curiosity got the better of me, because things started to pick up when Phantasma, a deadly game that plays on your worst fears, with the promise of your most desired wish coming true was introduced.

I can't even begin to put into words the roller coaster of this book; the tension, the twists and turns that literally had me holding my breath until the VERY last page— like I was so close to thinking that this wasn't going to be a HEA, and in fairness, I think how it ended was left quite open, so can only hope that there is another book to follow.

I really loved Ophelia, she started off being quite sheltered and meek, but she really came into herself once she entered Phantasma. The OCD and anxiety representation was phenomenal, for that alone, I'd give it all the stars.

Blackwell: he had no business being as funny as he was, especially with his charming arrogance and quick wit, when it came to Ophelia. Never would I have thought I'd be here obsessing over a ghost, but here we are. I'm not mad about it, because Casper the friendly ghost was always my favourite movie to watch growing up! I just knew that there was more to Blackwell than he let Ophelia believe, but never couldn’t quite put my finger on it, and I would have never of predicted just how connected he was to Phantasma. The tension between them both was so criminally good; I didn't want for it to end, and she brought him to his knees, literally and figuratively, god I am never going to recover from it, I swear.

I'd like to thank Second Sky/Forever, Net Galley and Kaylie Smith eternally for the e-ARC, this is my honest review.

Tropes

Forbidden romance
Forced proximity
Mental illness rep (Anxiety/OCD)
Gothic vibes
Paranormal romance: witches, ghosts, devils
Touch her and die vibes
Dark Fantasy
Phantom MMC
Necromancer FMC
"good girl"

Thank you Second Sky and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own! What a thriller! In order to save her sister Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a game in which she’ll face nine challenges that become more and not dangerous. Her competitors will stop at nothing to win. Because, you see, the prize is a single wish. When Ophelia meets a mysterious stranger who offers her a deal, can she trust him? Blackwell, the man, is attractive and doesn’t seem dangerous. But things can be misleading. The rules of the game state to stay alive and not to fall in love. Could her connection to Blackwell be her downfall? Or will she win and be granted her wish? A thrill ride from start to finish that I couldn’t put down! If you like horror and gore mixed with a little romance and spice you’ll love this! Kaylie Smith creates a dark and creepy atmosphere that will be you into the games and on the edge of your seat! Highly recommend!

Thank you Second Sky/Forever for sending me an arc through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

I'm OBSESSED with this book and it'll forever live in my mind rent free.

As someone with OCD, I can't tell you how much this book means to me. Ever since I was a child, I had thoughts in my head that'd tell me to do something in a specific way, to reach somewhere within a time limit, to count everything I saw, to sort things a certain way… or something bad would happen. It's gotten much better in my adult life, but I could perfectly relate to Ophelia, so thank you, Kaylie, for being vulnerable and sharing your experience with OCD through this book.

I loved the concept of Phantasma and that it was inspired by the nine circles of hell. The choice of supernatural beings and magic and the gothic vibes were amazing – I've never read something like that before. The pacing was perfect. While the 9 levels of Phantasma kept me on my toes, I also liked the slow and vulnerable moments between Ophelia and Blackwell. Blackwell was a great and unique mmc. Don't get me wrong, I do like a dark-haired shadow daddy, but having Blackwell as mmc was refreshing. Ophelia's character development was amazing. I loved how strong she became and learned to face her demons. The spice level was 2.5-3, which was just the right amount for me. Even though I predicted the plot twist, the ending still managed to surprise me and was very well thought out.

Overall. it was a dark, sensual, bloody, fascinating, intriguing and entertaining story you need to read if you like romantasy.

Oh hey it’s meeeeeee I’m reading this for work! Aaaaaaand there's a character limit on reviews here are some more words

Despite the promising setup, I didn’t enjoy it as much as expected. If this book weren’t an ARC, would probably have considered DNFing it. At first, I thought it was because I needed time to get through the beginning but actually the boredom lingered during quite a big part book. But wanting to write a proper review, I forced myself to continue, and I am actually glad I did. I did enjoy though most of the time the dynamics between Ophelia and Blackwell, a mysterious stranger who offers her a risky bargain. Their interactions and banter made the book more enjoyable to me.
The end of the book is where Phantasma truly shines. I found it well-crafted, making the earlier boredom worth enduring.
I was surprised by the amount of spicy scenes in the book. I had expected just one or two, but there were more than anticipated but they don’t dominate the plot. They could be removed without detracting from the storyline.

Overall, Phantasma has a lot of elements that should have made it a compelling read for me. Trials, romance, high stakes… But I found myself lacking interest. I do understand though why a lot of people would like this book. I truly loved the ending and would give this book 3,5 stars (the rating might seem high because of what I said, but expect from the boredom, I don't really have anything else to complain about and I was really hooked whilereading the ending).

If the author writes another book in this universe, I would probably read it. There’s enough promise in the world-building and characters to pique my interest for a potential continuation.

One word - A-MA-ZING! I’ve read loads of books based on concept of nine levels of hell but this one just stunned me. First of all, the chemistry between the characters is chefs kiss, this shadow daddy will not disappoint you. Second of all, the world building in this book is just so exquisite that you just submerge yourself in it, believe it and loose yourself there. I love loved loved the fact that it’s seems to be a stand-alone because it was just the right amount of everything and you’re satisfied with how it ended. Highly recommend!

This book felt like a dark version of caraval in Some ways and I absolutely loved caraval. This book had the perfect gothic vibes. I enjoyed the characters. Blackwell and Ophelia were amazing. The game was perfectly thought out and written. I would love to read more from this world and I can’t wait to see what Kaylie has next!

I'm not into a dark fantasy, but I was looking for anything that would pique my interest. This was not a book I particularly enjoyed. The plot is becoming increasingly muddled, and the fl goal is uncertain.⠀
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The concept is intriguing; it reminds me of Caraval mixed with the Hunger Games. So Ophelia attends a tournament in a demon castle to find her sister, who has mysteriously vanished. Throughout the competition, she faces challenges that remind me of Harry Potter like a gigantic snake appears, followed by a sword, which she stabs lol ⠀
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I found it difficult to connect with the characters, and despite my best efforts, I was unable to finish the book. I was already annoyed with the plot and main characters. Why was Ophelia so convinced that her sister would take part in the tournament from the start? Why doesn't she look for her friends' places first? Blackwell then asked Ophelia what she desired if she won. Rather than asking for her sister's return, she asked that their family bills be handled 😅🤣⠀
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However, I'd want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ARC. This book was not for me, but I will keep reading dark fantasy in the hopes of finding one for me.

This book was disappointing to me. I thought it would be a better written book but it really wasn't. I would not recommend this book unless you really want a wattpad fantasy read.

This had EVERYTHING I was looking for in a spooky read. This was a gothic, BLOODY VALENTINE masterpiece! This had EVERYTHING I was looking for in a spooky read--a phantom love interest, trials (to the death) based on the seven levels of Hell, necromancer magic, mystery, and a haunted house with a personality and history of its own.

"A house run by Devils is no place for an angel like you."

I had so much fun reading this, and think it would be perfect for readers who are looking for a spooky, spicy romp with a charming enigmatic love interest (Blackwell, who did I mention is a ghost?!) and a loyal, responsible heroine (Ophelia) who would do anything for her sister. On a more serious note, I really appreciate that the author wrote a main character who struggled with OCD (and it wasn't something that is miraculously fixed). As someone who has OCD, even though it's expressed differently, it was honestly so validating to read a character who had her own struggles with compulsions. There is so much potential for spin-offs, and I can't wait to devour them all...

"I want to taste your sins."

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was A RIDE AND A HALF, or a hoot and a half as they may say in Texas. I had a great time with this story and I hope to see more from Kaylie Smith in the future!

Ophelia is a necromancer and she enters the mysterious Phantasma competition to track down her sister. Phantasma is a series of mysterious challenges based on vices. It's gory and there are interfering ghosts messing with the contestants. Ophelia meets Blackwell, a sexy ghost with a memory issue, who begins to help her through the competition in exchange for her help looking for a key he needs.

As an OCD girlie, I appreciated the way Ophelia's OCD was represented and handled.

It was a unique, fun book and I'd definitely read more if this became a series

Firstly, i would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book before it's release date!

I think most of the things that troubled me about this book is more related with connection than anything. For example, I really thought that the plot was good and somehow creative but the whole reading just didn't click for me. I was expecting to be more immersed into the world but this story really didn't amuse me, and the same goes to the characters.

I usually like characters with Ophelia's kind of personality, too responsible and somehow being a little rude/grumpy sometimes but i don't know how to put into words how she was upsetting me and how i was struggling to feel something about her (when she wasn't annoying me) but i felt nothing. Her sister also was some of the biggest issues in this book (even in if her scenes in Phantasma are minimal) but I'm not surprised at all since i hate the typical younger sister stereotype which traits are being immature and act without a second thought, actions which most of the time weighs on the FMC's life. The love interest was also a big NO for me since i felt very aloof towards him.

The romance didn't give me a single spark and was a little disappointing, specially because I felt that was more lust than anything.

Despite all my words the book is not bad, I just think that it wasn't made for me. But I'm sure will be a wonderful experience for a bunch of people.

Two and a half stars.