Full disclosure, this is my first gothic romance book but my third book by Kaylie Smith. Did I read it purely because I love Kaylie Smith's writing style and characterization? Yes. Was I disappointed? Not even a little bit. There was enough mystery and thrills to keep the blood pressure up and a true love story between Blackwell and Ophelia. There was a touch of instalove in my opinion but the world building kept me engrossed in the plot.

The premise of this book sounded really interesting but I ended up not loving the execution. I had a hard time empathizing with the sisters.

The book follows Ophelia, who is desperate when her sister mysteriously disappears. To save her, Ophelia must navigate the treacherous challenges of Phantasma, a deadly contest set within a haunted mansion. Phantasma is no ordinary mansion; it is a labyrinthine maze filled with twisting and haunted hallways and lurking demons and phantoms. Ophelia will face nine challenges to find her, paying homage to Dante's nine circles of hell. She makes a deal with a phantom named Blackwell to help her through the trials for ten years of her life.

Is it a trope or just real life that sisters are opposites? The dynamic of the sisters being different helped in their character development and the understanding of why and how they reacted to the events in the book. Ophelia is determined and motivated to find her sister. Considering the loss of her mother, I could relate to her wanting to hold on to her sister no matter the cost. She pushes through many of her fears and complex emotions, challenging her and representing the bond of their relationship.

On the other hand, Blackwell blurs the lines between ally and adversary. Despite her instincts warning her of his hidden agenda, Ophelia is drawn to him. I was engaged in the tumultuous relationship between Ophelia and Blackwell. The book is centered on trust, inner turmoil, and betrayal. She finds out details of her family history and how the choices she must make could affect the fates of everyone involved.

The setting of the supernatural and gothic horror mansion added to the story's suspense and built a splendid dark fantasy tale. I love a book with a map. It's not a geographical map, but describing and classifying the demons and ghosts was very helpful. One more side note,
I loved that the characters talked about the struggle of curly hair in the humidity of the South. It was a nice touch, and I 100% related to it.

This book is a must-read for fans of deliciously dark fantasy romance and psychological thrillers.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever.

This isn’t the kind of book I’d usually read but the premise drew me in and it did not disappoint. I loved the characters and they kept me engaged and desperate to find out what would happen to them. The writing was stunning - eerie and built up this intense atmosphere that kept me immersed in the world. I’m excited to read more from the author in the future!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc! My full, in-depth review is up on my Goodreads!

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

🕯️dark fantasy romance
🕯️forbidden romance
🕯️forced proximity
🕯️OCD representation
🕯️phantom x necromancer
🕯️trials inspired by the nine circles of hell
🕯️haunted/gothic mansion
🕯️who did this to you

I cannot begin to describe how much I love this book… hopefully this review will do it justice!

This book is one that I’ll forever think about; I have not stopped thinking about this story and these characters and I finished reading this book a while ago. As I was picking out the quotes for this review I felt every emotion that I did while reading and oh gosh I wish I could read this for the first time again! It was such an amazing reading experience! I laughed, I giggled (A LOT), I screamed (A LOT), and I cried I FELT EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE WHILE READING THIS!!! I loved the feeling of escapism this book gave me, I was truly so invested in this story/plot and felt like I was transported into this world while reading. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart; when I tell you I sobbed at the end I mean I SOBBED because of everything that was happening and then I sobbed some more when I reached the end and read the authors note, then again when I read her letter, and then cried/laughed when I reached the acknowledgments… Kaylie Smith quickly became one of my new favorite authors instantly by the time I reached chapter two and everything at the end made me love her even more I WILL READ ANYTHING SHE WRITES AND I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! I am truly so grateful to have been an arc reader for this book, it will stay with me for a long time and I am counting down the days until the release date so I can get a physical copy, reread, annotate, and fall in love with this story all over again. (I’ll also be working on some fanart for this absolute masterpiece…) ;)

I love those books that feel self-indulgent while still being well-written, fun, and featuring a great protagonist. It was such a thrilling escapist adventure filled with ghostly haunts, magical trials and LIBRARIES WITH HIDDEN CORRIDORS!!!!!

What more do you want, honestly?

Things I loved: the atmosphere of the mansion, Ophelia's growth - embracing her flaws and darkness and standing up for herself - the romance, the pace of the trials balanced with character growth and the unfolding romance.

I loved the Gothic horror aspects, and YA-esque magical trials, and the hotter scenes made me feel something which is rare these days. I feel like a lot of books don't develop tension recently so it was great to find a story where the couple act like adults.

The spice was so good! This book is mysterious and dark and such a delight to read. I’ll always be down for competition type books and this one delivers in such a cool way.

This book is such a vibe!
New Orleans gothic Victorian vibe!

Kaylie Smith has given us a glimpse into her own struggles and inner demons. The main character (Ophelia) displays ocd like tendencies and Kaylie has written it so elegantly into the daily life of her character blending it beautifully with the theme of the book.

Sometimes we just need a little affirmation. Some times we just need someone to burn down the world for us. Sometimes we need to be told we are right even when we are wrong and this book is all of that and more!
Can we say praise kink????? 🥴😉

This is an example of fantasy done right. Perfect simple world building, beautiful story telling, character building, and foreshadowing. The words just flew off the page at me.

Ophelia is a sheltered but stubborn young woman who has recently come into her power. Now with the weight of her new responsibilities she must learn to navigate the world and not allow her inner voices to dictate her decisions.

Unfortunately for Ophelia her decision have always been made for her. Even now with all her new found power she must find a way to show everyone that she is capable of choosing for herself.

She set out to save her sister from a twisted fate and sure death. Along the way Ophelia finds herself, with the help of a devilishly handsome phantom “Blackwell” 😈👻

Ophelia strikes a deal with Blackwell to help her navigate the twisted game known as Phantasma. A game of nine levels each one intended to take her life. She must survive long enough to find her sister.
Little does she know…… Blackwell likes to play games of his own 🤤.

Navigating the maze that is Phantasma, the roller coaster of emotions, the agony of her inner demons and the freight train known as Blackwell Ophelia has a lot on her plate. But let’s not fret Blackwell is sure to lick it clean 👅.

I'm a sucker for trials, a gothic setting, and creepy characters. This was a hit for me, I loved the fmc and related to her. Blackwell, the mmc was swoon worthy and their banter was top tier. I loved the setting being in New Orleans as well. 10/10 would recommend.

This book was everything I didn't know I needed. It reminds me of a gothic Hunger Games set in a haunted mansion in New Orleans but with necromancers, ghosts, devils, witches, vampires, etc. The story follows Ophelia, a necromancer, who comes into her powers after the death of her mother. After her mother's death, she discovers secrets involving her mother that her younger sister has kept from her. A confrontation results in Ophelia entering a deadly competition, Phantasma, to find and save her sister. In Phantasma, Ophelia meets Blackwell, a phantom, who helps her through the competition in return for 10 years of her life. Phantasma has nine levels that competitors must pass and each one is conducted by a devil and matches the nine circles of hell such as greed, lust, etc. If a competitor makes it through all nine levels, they will be granted one wish.
This book was so so good. I don't even know how to get into it without giving things away. There are no cliffhangers and it has a good ending. It was such a fun read and I can't wait for the next book.

I'm still new to the fantasy romance genre, but I'm starting to think dark fantasy/paranormal romance involving a ghostly MMC and a mortal human FMC is my thing!

Ophelia and Blackwell are beautifully written characters in a fantastically written forbidden romance book. The vibe I got was Hunger Games meet ghosts and devils but with a lot more blood and gore, and involving the 9 Circles of Hell. And the spicy/steamy scenes! Perfection! And there's a lot of them, too!
Ophelia's mother unexpectedly passes away and it is up to Ophelia to take on the family business of being a Necromancer. But when her sister Genevieve disappears, Ophelia finds her diary and realizes she's run off to compete in Phantasma, the traveling manor that appears in random cities for those to compete in exchange for a prize of your choosing. But it's not just any game or manor. Ever evolving corridors, battles to the death, and ghosts that haunt you throughout it. Ophelia just wants to find her sister and set her free, but when she encounters and Phantom named Blackwell who offers her a deal she can't refuse, their story is set in motion.

My synopsis cannot do it justice. The first couple chapters are rather dull, but important. Do not stop after a few pages. Continue reading. Buy this book, read it thoroughly and do not skim. While I did get this as a digital copy, I will be buying a physical copy of this book when it is published. This is now one of my new favorite books.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ophelia and Blackwell are adorable.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was enticing and the spice was very good indeed. (There was quite a bit of spice 🥵)

The magic, devils, phantoms, and Nine Circles of hell inspired games was so fun to read. Genevieve, Jasper and Poe were nice little additions to the story. Even the other competitors, it was fun to read how they all either won or lost each round.

I would have liked to learn more about the Voice but I loved Ophelia's journey thanks to Blackwell. I absolutely loved his banter, his teasing, his everything really ❤️ New book Boyfriend ❤️

The ending was a bit predictable but I didn't care at all, I loved it! A brilliant Standalone from an author I haven't read from before, I will be reading everything she writes from now on.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately it was just not for me, I was not a big fan of the romance between the two characters, and a lot of the trials kinda just reminded me of Danganronpa. Although I will say the paranormal aspects of the main character’s abilities was cool, normally I don’t see that too often in books.

I absolutely loved this book!

Had me gripped from the very beginning all the way to the end. Thank you for giving me the chance to read this!

DNF@37%
This is not a bad book but it is not a book for me. While things happen all the time, I didn't find myself entertained by any of them. I was also not a fan of the FMC's interactions with Blackwell, the fact that she has barely had any contact with men prior to Phantasma (which I just think is such a tired concept and not something I like reading about), and him being a get out of jail free card for her troubles felt too convenient. These are all "me" problems; the book itself isn't bad and I think it'll find its audience among Romantasy readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.

Phantasm is tension fueled story. Ophelia and the rest of the chapters are incredibly unique and feel like real people, when reading. Even with the more sexual scenes in the book, majority of the tension comes from the action and mystery aspects of the story. Even with the story being in third person point of view, I still believe this story is relatively easy to follow along. This story is great for someone looking for something fuel by the supernatural, tons of acting and mystery. Along with flustering sex scenes, and a beautiful show of sisterhood. I will highly recommend Kaylie Smith's book.

Rating: 4.5🌟
Spice: 3🌶️

Tropes/Themes:
- Dark Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
- Standalone!
- Gothic, fantasy, historical New Orleans
- Phantom MMC
- Necromancer FMC
- She makes him beg on his knees
- Haunted mansion
- Deals with the Devil
- Deadly trials
- Mental illness rep (OCD/Anxiety)
- Forced proximity
- Forbidden romance
- “Good girl”

I downloaded this book solely based on the cover (which is gorgeous BTW), and I’m so glad I did!

Phantasma follows Ophelia, a necromancer living in an alternate-version of New Orleans. The book begins with the death of her mother, and as the eldest daughter, Ophelia now must take over the family necromancy business. However, Ophelia soon discovers her mother’s debts, something her younger sister, Genevieve, has been hiding from her as well. The two sisters get into an argument, and Genevieve disappears soon afterwards. Ophelia discovers that Genevieve may have entered into a deadly competition, known as Phantasma, with each level mimicking a stage of Hell. The winner is granted the ultimate prize - a Devil’s favor. In order to rescue her sister, and save her family from debt, Ophelia enters the competition as well.

Upon entering Phantasma, the handsome phantom Blackwell offers Ophelia a deal - Find his heart and key, and he’ll help Ophelia through each deadly trial while helping to find her sister. However, if Ophelia fails to find the heart and key, then Blackwell will take 10 years of Ophelia’s life (that’s IF she doesn’t die during the competition).

I have had a ‘love/hate’ relationship with standalone fantasy books lately because I find that most have too many things going on (in terms of the plot and romance) to be all tidied up in just one book. It was NOT the case with this book at all!

The plot for ‘Phantasma’ was simple and concise, without too much world-building (and I mean this in the BEST way possible). It didn’t focus on too many different storylines or characters all at one time, and this made for a complete, and satisfying ending without too many questions being left unanswered. There is still more to explore in this world, but the author wrote this book in a way that left readers curious and excited for what may be coming next with some of the side-characters that were introduced.

I loved Ophelia as our FMC, and the depiction of her OCD/anxiety was done with care. Ophelia starts off as a bit meek and reserved, but she quickly becomes a strong, outspoken woman that stands up for herself. The romance between Ophelia and Blackwell happens quickly. I classify their romance as medium-burn, but would not disagree if someone said it was insta-love…. Personally, I feel like given the circumstances of how they met, and the fact that Ophelia realizes she could die at any moment during the trials AND that she’s never fully lived her life the way SHE wanted to (she’s been trained by her mother to be/act a certain way), it fit with her overall character development of her “taking charge” of her life. She really had a “You only live once” mentality while in Phantasma. However, there is still SO MUCH TENSION between Ophelia and Blackwell, and their relationship was far from being superficial or purely physical… they really did start to care about one another. Blackwell even starts having conflicting feelings about the deal he offered, and Ophelia wants Blackwell to be free of Phantasma.

The plot was a perfect blend of action and romance, though I did think some of the plot/story was predictable, I DID NOT see the twist or reveal at the end (but had suspicion that one of the characters was more than meets the eye). The way Genevieve was “found” or re-introduced was a bit anti-climatic, and though it was the main reason Ophelia entered the competition, I was more invested with Ophelia’s quest in finding Blackwell’s heart and key than the two sisters reunion.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It has definitely become one of my favorite reads so far this year, and I’ll be recommending it to anyone who will listen 😅🤩.

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I really loved the story line, it was exciting and intriguing with just enough romance. However, I I thought how she ended up in phantasma was a little cliche and you could tell from the start that Blackwell was obviously the prince of devils. The games in phantasma were interesting but not as scary or horrifying as I thought they’d be. I also didn’t like how she barely helped him look for the heart and key. Their romance just took off and the rest of the book was about their love story. Overall I thought it was an exciting read and I’d definitely read more books in the series.

loved loved LOVED this book! the romance was top notch and the plot was so dark and gripping. i am so excited for the next one!

Ophelia a necromancer from new Orleans gets sucked into a dangerous game, Phantasma, when her sister goes missing. She finds herself competing in a dangerous competition where the winner can have any desire met.
There were many things that I found enjoyable. Amongst them the author created a lush world of intrigue where nothing is as it appears. The imagery was gruesome which matched the gothic setting. Ophelia was at times nieve, but was never a pushover. Her relationship with her sister was very relatable as someone with their own sister.
This story was definitely a romantasy. What I mean by this is that it was romance heavy with plenty of spice as well. It was hot 🔥🔥🔥. Kaylie knows how to write a good sex scene.
If you like any of the things I've mentioned this is the book for you. It's a fun adventure with plenty of romance