Reviews - Phantasma | The StoryGraph

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16.8k reviews for:

Phantasma

Kaylie Smith

4.05 AVERAGE

booksthatmatter89's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

cheyfay1995's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

5 ⭐ s
4 🌶️s

Phantasma is a breathtaking, hauntingly beautiful story that completely swept me away. From the very first page, Kaylie Smith pulls you into a world that feels equal parts eerie and enchanting, with lyrical writing that makes every scene come alive.

The atmosphere is rich and immersive—I could practically feel the shadows clinging to the characters and the magic pulsing through the pages. What really stood out, though, was how layered the characters are. They’re complex, flawed, and achingly real, which made it so easy to get emotionally invested in their journeys.

The pacing was perfect, balancing dark tension with tender, emotional moments that kept me hooked until the very end. I loved how the themes of identity, resilience, and self-discovery were woven so seamlessly into the plot. It’s one of those rare books that lingers with you long after you’ve finished it.

Kaylie Smith has crafted a masterpiece with Phantasma—a story that feels both chilling and beautiful, heartbreaking and hopeful. If you love atmospheric fantasy with depth, heart, and unforgettable characters, this is an absolute must-read.

kaylynngros's review against another edition

3.75

I am sooooo conflicted on my feelings for Phantasma. First, I loved that it was set in New Orleans, since I’m a South Louisiana girl myself, but I desperately wish that they had more of New Orleans in it aside from surface level New Orleans mentions here and there. Second, I loved the plot for the most part. The games kept me interested enough to want to finish the book. However, I wasn’t a huge fan of the writing. It felt very clunky and messy in some parts, and it felt like bits and bobs were missing or off. I also didn’t love the significant amount of sex scenes throughout. I think she could have made it more of a slow burn to make me more invested in the romance. I did love their relationship, especially their banter, but I wanted a bit more tension and depth. Third, I was soooo disappointed in the fact that I predicted who Blackwell was pretty much immediately; it was unfortunately just a little too obvious. Fourth, as mentioned before, I loved the games and how unique they were. It resembled The Serpent & the Wings of Night, but with the unique take of the games being based off the nine layers of Hell. I think Ophelia handled herself so well and was a complete badass. Fifth, the characters were all great spans well-developed, especially Ophelia. I love the representation of OCD through her tics and the Shadow Voice. Overall, I see why Phantasma has become so popular, as it’s unique and captivating, but I think it could’ve benefited from a tad bit more depth and less spice. 3.75 stars

chunky_reads's review against another edition

4.0

medium-paced

stargoddess's review against another edition

3.5

I think I wanted to like this book more than I actually did in the end. The characters are interesting, the setting unique, and the spice is very spicy…and yet somehow I found it to be less than the sum of its parts. I struggled to maintain engagement, putting it down multiple times before ultimately finishing with more of a sense of I guess I have to find out what happens than actual desire to spend more time listening. I found a lot of the characters’ decisions frustrating and felt like things happened frequently for shock value or to prolong the plot. Overall, I think if you are a fan of this style of book, it might be enjoyable, but it was not to my taste.