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A review by readwithnino
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
3.0
This story started so good and I was so intrigued but it went downhill even though it had potential. I wanted to love this so bad but this was Caraval with cringy smut.
I was hooked up until Ophelia enters Phantasma. After that, they lost me. I struggle to pick this book up. I honestly kept going because it was my book club pick.
I really enjoyed the trials... and sometimes Blackwell. I just couldn't get behind Ophelia and Blackwell's romance. In a matter of days she fell for him and was acting pretty stupid because of it. Not only that, but I felt she forgot about the real reason she entered Phantasma as soon as she fell for the phantom. I'm all in for a good smut scene but man, some of the smutty scenes were cringy. There for details about the sex than the plot itself.
The only side character that actually had a role in this story was Sinclair, but the rest? Thank you, next. I had no connection with any of the characters.
We didn't get much world building and background history about the Grimm family. I would've liked to learn more about the paranormal creatures and the Devils but none of that was explained.
The story ended abruptly after that predictable plot twist. It felt rushed. AND YES, you could see the plot twist from a mile away.
Overall, it wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing either. It was fun at times. I might read the sequel since it follows Genevieve instead of Ophelia but no promises.
P.S. This book has amazing and accurate OCD representation.
I was hooked up until Ophelia enters Phantasma. After that, they lost me. I struggle to pick this book up. I honestly kept going because it was my book club pick.
I really enjoyed the trials... and sometimes Blackwell. I just couldn't get behind Ophelia and Blackwell's romance. In a matter of days she fell for him and was acting pretty stupid because of it. Not only that, but I felt she forgot about the real reason she entered Phantasma as soon as she fell for the phantom. I'm all in for a good smut scene but man, some of the smutty scenes were cringy. There for details about the sex than the plot itself.
The only side character that actually had a role in this story was Sinclair, but the rest? Thank you, next. I had no connection with any of the characters.
We didn't get much world building and background history about the Grimm family. I would've liked to learn more about the paranormal creatures and the Devils but none of that was explained.
The story ended abruptly after that predictable plot twist. It felt rushed. AND YES, you could see the plot twist from a mile away.
Overall, it wasn't terrible but it wasn't amazing either. It was fun at times. I might read the sequel since it follows Genevieve instead of Ophelia but no promises.
P.S. This book has amazing and accurate OCD representation.