Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
While technically a standalone, readers will benefit a lot from reading Phantasma first. Characters make significant reappearances and major plot elements will be spoiled if book 1 is not read first.
This book, while not as good as book #1 in the series, was well-written and enjoyable, with the Silver siblings adding a lot of life and dynamic personality to the cast. More than one of these new characters could star in their own sequel and I'd read it.
The Hunt, while similar on its surface to the "Phantasma magical trials manor" setup, is different enough in execution to not feel repetitive. It did leave me wanting a bit more thriller and action vibes, a la something of a Hunger Games. It ends up being less about the deadly hide-and-seek game and more about the characters' relationships with the game, andthe family's deal with the devil trapping them in an endless loop. Fortunately, the siblings and their dynamic are charming enough that I wasn't too bothered, even if the Hunt itself loses its excitement after the first few rounds.
The romance, like Phantasma, is spicy, slightly unconventional, and consistently exciting. Tropes include enemies to lovers, forced marriage, fake dating, shadow daddy, touch her and die vibes, etc. (Use your imagination about his piercings and what he can do with his extra shadow hands.) Romance, sexual tension, and spice is definitely one of Kaylie Smith's strong suits as a writer.
That being said, I was absolutely charmed by Ophelia andSalem in Phantasma, and thought the main couple in Enchantra was just okay. Their tension was great, their scenes were exciting, but I was never fully enchanted (ha!) by Rowin like I was Phantasma's MMC. I found him a bit too stoic and emotionally closed off to get really attached to. Also, Ophelia and her man's banter and domestic bliss make constant appearances in this book - and while adorable and delightful to read, it's hard not to constantly compare the two couples and MMCs.
Overall, this book remains one of the better entries in the romantasy genre I've read. It's unconventional, well-written with realistically flawed characters and complex motivations, with an exciting and compelling romance element. It just never quite hits the highs of its predecessor.
This book, while not as good as book #1 in the series, was well-written and enjoyable, with the Silver siblings adding a lot of life and dynamic personality to the cast. More than one of these new characters could star in their own sequel and I'd read it.
The Hunt, while similar on its surface to the "Phantasma magical trials manor" setup, is different enough in execution to not feel repetitive. It did leave me wanting a bit more thriller and action vibes, a la something of a Hunger Games. It ends up being less about the deadly hide-and-seek game and more about the characters' relationships with the game, and
The romance, like Phantasma, is spicy, slightly unconventional, and consistently exciting. Tropes include enemies to lovers, forced marriage, fake dating, shadow daddy, touch her and die vibes, etc. (Use your imagination about his piercings and what he can do with his extra shadow hands.) Romance, sexual tension, and spice is definitely one of Kaylie Smith's strong suits as a writer.
That being said, I was absolutely charmed by Ophelia and
Overall, this book remains one of the better entries in the romantasy genre I've read. It's unconventional, well-written with realistically flawed characters and complex motivations, with an exciting and compelling romance element. It just never quite hits the highs of its predecessor.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicide, Alcohol, Sexual harassment