Phantasma
Dark Fantasy
Forever (September 3, 2024)
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 . . .
A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.
My feelings for Phantasma by Kaylie Smith are not easy to articulate. I’ll have to break this down into sections; however, the most important thing to know is that this adventure of a book is a top-notch, 5-Star fantasy story. It’s definitely intended for adult readers who don’t mind a morally-gray female heroine. #justiceformorallygrayfemales
First, let’s talk romance…
The spice level was a lot higher than I’d expected from my first impression of the book. Ophelia dresses and presents herself as a quaint lady of New Orleans in the first few chapters. She shoulders so much responsibility as the elder daughter, and the next generation necromancer when her mother dies. When she enters Phantasma, her true persona thrives! Her heart’s desires are much darker than you’d think, and she’s quite a siren in the sheets. Make note, I was thoroughly entertained with the smutty side of Phantasma.
Now, onto the creativity of the game…
The imagination of Kaylie Smith is thoroughly impressive to say the least. There were seven levels of “h3ll” in Phantasma, each with its own devil running the game. Each of the challenges faced by Ophelia and her competitors were imaginative and quite dark. They were meant to be scary enough for contests to quit, or make a deal with the designated devil. It brought out the ruthlessness of Ophelia. In desperation to advance each level she had to make some physical and emotional sacrifices. Each level is more intense and devastating than the ones before.
What Makes Ophelia special?
It’s clearly stated in the beginning of the story that Ophelia is more than an ordinary human. Being the oldest in a family with necromancer magic, she has unusual abilities that set her apart during her challenges throughout Phantasma. Her competitors may not understand what she is, but they know she’s different and that adds more obstacles for her. Through it all, Ophelia remains one of the most confident, brave, and smart-mouthed heroines I have ever read.
This book is the first I’ve read from those I purchased at Romantasy BookCon 2024 in Orlando. During a panel at the event, the authors were asked what book that they were currently reading. Two of them said Phantasma. That was all the recommendation I needed. It was a bonus that Kaylie Smith was a signing author at the event. I’m grateful for the chance to speak with her.
Congratulations Kaylie on a successful release!
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Kristin lives in the PNW with her husband, and three kids. She loves to read YA fiction, fantasy, and romance. She enjoys a few side-hustles, including creating bookreels/booktoks for authors. The only shows she watches are re-runs, and if she’s not reading a book, she’s listening to one.
