A review by chaos_of_kati
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This whole book gives Danny Phantom with a strong sprinkle of Izzy Stevens and Danny Duquette Jr. (specifically one scene, where Danny is trying to convince Izzy, that he is real...if you know, you know 😏)

I was real close in giving this book 5 Stars, but the ending was a bit too rushed for my liking. 
However, to me it was a  refreshing spin on games and trials in a very gothic, spooky setting. 
Ophelia is a very loyal character who is struggling with her families legacy and how to carve out her own path without loosing aforementioned legacy and magic. 

I think she was a relatable character and  was particularly fascinated by her inner shadow voice. I think Kylie Smith created a great representation of someone struggling with said shadow-voices (read it till the end, cause the author explains it).
Blackwell, is a man, clearly written by a woman, lol. In other words, he is perfect. I was fascinated by his backstory and amnesia. For some reason I did not see his plot twist, even though it was quite obvious - well, in retrospective. But that's what made the book so charming. 

The spice is definitely spicing, in a mid-century, gothic kinda way. But it was hot..

I wished the ending was a bit more structured and refined. The last chapter felt rushed, and the explanation was lacking, compared to the dedication Smith put into the begging and world building of the story. 

I am excited to see where Kylie Smith is going to take us next with Genevieve's book.