Hello book friends! I know, I know… I have not posted on this blog in forever. This time it’s not so much a motivation issue, but rather a time issue. My life is busy!! Thankfully I’m wrapping up a lot of things in my professional life, which should leave me enough time to finally pick up blogging again. Consider this review the first of many more to come!
I don’t quite remember when I requested Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, but I’m glad I ended up getting approved. This was such a fantastic and atmospheric read, I sincerely hope that you all add it to your Fall TBR. Read the content warnings below, and I’ll give you some more in-depth thoughts!
Phantasma
By Kaylie Smith
My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★Published 3 September 2024 by Forever
Fantasy | Haunted House | Romance
Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.
When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish. Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.
Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain. Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.
Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer. Her life is on the line.
But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart…
Is there a gothic shaped void in your heart after finishing The Shepherd King duology? Maybe you want to read something akin to Caraval, yet more mature and with way higher stakes? Or maybe you were just as obsessed as me with The Scarlet Veil, and have been chasing that high unsuccessfully for a full year? Well look no further my friends, because this book perfectly satisfied my craving for an atmospheric, gothic romance.
There were so many things to love here. First, it takes place in a sort of alternative New Orleans. Second, this book is about a necromancer, and there are hardly any necromancer-focused books out there. Third, most of the book takes place in the haunted mansion; Phantasma. I absolutely love haunted mansions. Romance? Also fantastic, as was the banter that came with it. And it’s forbidden!!
I really liked Ophelia as a character. She’s easy to relate to and I enjoyed reading through her journey. Despite her struggles in Phantasma, she stays true to herself and trusts her own instincts. She struggles with OCD on page quite often, and I recommend reading the author’s note going in. Even though it’s short, the author goes into why she had Ophelia’s OCD manifest the way it did in this book.
I also genuinely liked the romance. I love it when characters are drawn together for ~mysterious~ reasons. It always leaves me with so many questions and I keep wanting to read more. The idea of the nine levels of hell was awesome, too. The games were… well, let’s just say they were creative. As a visual reader, my brain had a field day conjuring up the images of bloody murder. Speaking of the writing; it was incredibly atmospheric. It truly felt like I was in Phantasma myself and I struggled to come back to reality after I finished it.
And that’s it for my review of Phantasma! I really hope y’all will pick this up this Fall. I’m super glad I got to read it early, but this one should really be read underneath a blanket while there’s a moody storm outside. Please let me know your thoughts once you’ve read it!
Find more reviews in my archive!
