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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this book without any preconceived notions (which I think was necessary, now seeing how TikTok extremely hyped this book up). I found it somewhat predictable and, at times, extremely cheesy, and yet I could not put it down.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Murder
Minor: Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WHAT A FUN READ!!! Perfect Halloween/spooky vibes book.
The plot
The plot
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
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.
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.
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