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dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A hard-hitting horror novel with great romance and intriguing suspense subplots, Phantasma stands out with a thoughtful, accurately terrifying depiction of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), only falling short due to a largely mediocre ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent
Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol
Minor: Body shaming, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
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
“Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.”
What to expect:
*paranormal/gothic horror/fantasy
*phantom x necromancer
* powerful/magic-wielding FMC
*trials inspired by 9 circles of hell
*forbidden romance
*forced proximity
*who did this to you
*OCD representation
What I will start by saying is that I am a sucker for romance and that is what intrigued me after hearing about this book on social media. With gothic horror, again, we explored it in Year 9 at school but other than some dissection of poetry written by Edgar Allen Poe and Carol Ann Duffy, it was all pretty mild. I wasn't sure what to expect going into Phantasma, but it definitely did not disappoint as the perfect read for crisp mornings, yellowing leaves and spooky season!
This read was compelling with fantastic world-building, a great introduction to the plot and characters and convincing in how it spun the trials and tribulations of Phantasma. I had no idea about these "9 circles of hell" before I went in but it is not for the faint-hearted, although all were morbid and gruesome in their own way, the author was able to weave the plot within each stage and show significant character growth, the OCD representation was not just a brief mention but a very intrinsic aspect of the central character's thoughts and actions. Here though, I will mention that readers should check the trigger warnings as this read is not suitable for everyone.
The romance was gorgeous - banter, wit, sarcastic FMC and an egotistical, cocky MMC, the dialogue and interactions added to the plotline and the initial sparked made way for a gradual build up but ultimately the chemistry was undeniable. Expect spice and smut - lots of it! I would add that the writer ensured that every sexual encounter in the book was consensual.
This was an enjoyable read for me and I will admit I was a bit hesitant going in, hoping I could handle it as I am not a horror fan and never read books in that genre. If you expect that to be the main premise of this read/you are a horror fan, you might be disappointed for the same reason. That said, for me personally and any other similar readers who don't mind it not being too in your face, there was enough of an element for me to still squirm and yet able to continue reading, enjoy the read and finish the book (phew!) In parts, the read was predictable but it did not take away from my overall experience. This is a standalone and the first in the series but I am already looking forward to the next book!
I am thrilled now that the author has recently announced, Enchantra, set in the same world and due to release in April 2025! Expected more madness, mayhem and a banter-ful romance!
Trigger warnings: horror, gore, blood, injury detail, explicit sexual content. Please see the author's website for a complete list of possible triggers.
Thank you NetGalley and SecondSky Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.
What to expect:
*paranormal/gothic horror/fantasy
*phantom x necromancer
* powerful/magic-wielding FMC
*trials inspired by 9 circles of hell
*forbidden romance
*forced proximity
*who did this to you
*OCD representation
What I will start by saying is that I am a sucker for romance and that is what intrigued me after hearing about this book on social media. With gothic horror, again, we explored it in Year 9 at school but other than some dissection of poetry written by Edgar Allen Poe and Carol Ann Duffy, it was all pretty mild. I wasn't sure what to expect going into Phantasma, but it definitely did not disappoint as the perfect read for crisp mornings, yellowing leaves and spooky season!
This read was compelling with fantastic world-building, a great introduction to the plot and characters and convincing in how it spun the trials and tribulations of Phantasma. I had no idea about these "9 circles of hell" before I went in but it is not for the faint-hearted, although all were morbid and gruesome in their own way, the author was able to weave the plot within each stage and show significant character growth, the OCD representation was not just a brief mention but a very intrinsic aspect of the central character's thoughts and actions. Here though, I will mention that readers should check the trigger warnings as this read is not suitable for everyone.
The romance was gorgeous - banter, wit, sarcastic FMC and an egotistical, cocky MMC, the dialogue and interactions added to the plotline and the initial sparked made way for a gradual build up but ultimately the chemistry was undeniable. Expect spice and smut - lots of it! I would add that the writer ensured that every sexual encounter in the book was consensual.
This was an enjoyable read for me and I will admit I was a bit hesitant going in, hoping I could handle it as I am not a horror fan and never read books in that genre. If you expect that to be the main premise of this read/you are a horror fan, you might be disappointed for the same reason. That said, for me personally and any other similar readers who don't mind it not being too in your face, there was enough of an element for me to still squirm and yet able to continue reading, enjoy the read and finish the book (phew!) In parts, the read was predictable but it did not take away from my overall experience. This is a standalone and the first in the series but I am already looking forward to the next book!
I am thrilled now that the author has recently announced, Enchantra, set in the same world and due to release in April 2025! Expected more madness, mayhem and a banter-ful romance!
Trigger warnings: horror, gore, blood, injury detail, explicit sexual content. Please see the author's website for a complete list of possible triggers.
Thank you NetGalley and SecondSky Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4 ⭐️ 3🌶 CF-friendly
Phantasma is the first book in the Wicked Games series by Kaylie Smith. This dark fantasy romance has strong gothic vibes and imagery, mixed with life and death games, magic, ghosts, devils, and plenty of death and gore.
Ophelia is the heir to her family's necromancer bloodline after her mother dies suddenly. Her younger sister enters the deadly wish-granting game called Phantasma in order to pay off a family debt, but Ophelia follows after her. Blackwell has been part of Phantasma for as long as he can remember, and he offers a bargain to Ophelia to help her through the dangerous levels and cursed hallways of Phantasma to help her find her sister...for a price of course.
I will admit this book took me quite a while to get into. I really struggled to get through the chapters for quite a while. I had to make it to nearly the 50% mark before I began to actually be somewhat interested in the characters and plot. By the end I was enjoying it, but I still felt like there was just something about this book that wasn't connecting with me personally. I just can't put my finger on what it was. The writing is good, the plot is detailed and well thought out, the characters may be a bit flat at first, but you do see some character growth, in Ophelia more than the others. The spice was descent, nothing crazy or wild there, just decent. The levels she has to get through in her time in Phantasma are quite imaginative, props to the author there.
If you enjoy dark romantasy, gothic vibes, death games, curses, magic, ghosts of all kinds, devils, books with twists, turns and surprises, death and violence, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for providing and ARC copy to me in exchange for my honest review.
Phantasma is the first book in the Wicked Games series by Kaylie Smith. This dark fantasy romance has strong gothic vibes and imagery, mixed with life and death games, magic, ghosts, devils, and plenty of death and gore.
Ophelia is the heir to her family's necromancer bloodline after her mother dies suddenly. Her younger sister enters the deadly wish-granting game called Phantasma in order to pay off a family debt, but Ophelia follows after her. Blackwell has been part of Phantasma for as long as he can remember, and he offers a bargain to Ophelia to help her through the dangerous levels and cursed hallways of Phantasma to help her find her sister...for a price of course.
I will admit this book took me quite a while to get into. I really struggled to get through the chapters for quite a while. I had to make it to nearly the 50% mark before I began to actually be somewhat interested in the characters and plot. By the end I was enjoying it, but I still felt like there was just something about this book that wasn't connecting with me personally. I just can't put my finger on what it was. The writing is good, the plot is detailed and well thought out, the characters may be a bit flat at first, but you do see some character growth, in Ophelia more than the others. The spice was descent, nothing crazy or wild there, just decent. The levels she has to get through in her time in Phantasma are quite imaginative, props to the author there.
If you enjoy dark romantasy, gothic vibes, death games, curses, magic, ghosts of all kinds, devils, books with twists, turns and surprises, death and violence, then you will enjoy this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for providing and ARC copy to me in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Confinement, Grief, Death of parent, Murder
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder