If I were to look up the definition of “dark paranormal spicy,” I’m pretty sure I’d find the cover of this book.

Let’s start with the “spicy” part, the easiest to explain: a black heart and an empty one, both trying to fill the void, distract themselves, and feel alive. In these scenes, there’s sweetness, but also a lot of loneliness. A sadness that comes from knowing that every touch, every kiss, is meant to mean nothing. Better to have a black heart or an empty one than a broken one, right?

Now, on to the “dark paranormal” part. Calling it urban fantasy wouldn’t be quite right, because the story doesn’t take place in the present. I’d say it’s set around the 1800s, in a version of New Orleans inhabited by both humans and paranormal creatures.

In the world of Phantasma, vampires exist (though we don’t encounter that many), but the hierarchy places Devils at the top. Kings and Princes rule over the Devils, who in turn outrank Demons, and so on down the line. We’re talking about Phantoms, Poltergeists, Ghosts, and Ghouls.

What all these paranormal species have in common is their reliance, to varying degrees, on mortals. Their survival depends on possessing human bodies or striking deals in exchange for years of life. In the New Orleans of Phantasma, you’d definitely think twice before literally selling your soul to the devil.

And then there’s Phantasma itself. It’s like an annual competition that moves around like a circus, where contestants compete for the favor of a devil.

The catch is, to reach the reward, you have to survive the dreaded nine levels.

You know Dante’s circles of hell? Well, imagine a reality show version, with Jigsaw from Saw calling the shots. Needless to say, there’s a lot of murder along the way.

That’s where the "dark" part comes in. It borders on horror and splatter, elements that fit perfectly with the Phantasma universe created by the author. I was captivated by it, and the reading experience was unique, smooth, and enjoyable. The characters won me over right away, especially Ophelia, a young and inexperienced necromancer with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. And then there’s Blackwell, the mysterious and intriguing Phantom who roams Phantasma endlessly, waiting to be set free.

Phantasma was one of my best discoveries of 2024. The author masterfully captured every emotion, giving the right weight to the details and crafting a macabre atmosphere, with the occasional hint of sinful pleasure. In a setting like this, that pleasure had a distinct taste of transgression.

I didn’t even mind the single third-person POV—which usually isn’t my favorite—because it fit so well with the story and the perspective the author intended to convey.

In short, I highly recommend it to fans of the genre who aren’t fazed by scenes full of blood, death, and destruction.

Enter the world of Phantasma at your own risk.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: Dark but light; an entertainer

New Orleans
Ophelia has just taken over the family role as a Necromancer after her mother’s death. Less than a few hours later, she realizes their ancestral home is under debt and at risk of being taken from her. Her younger sister, Genevieve, decides to participate in the dangerous Phantasma challenge by entering the Devil Manor. The one who clears the nine levels gets huge prize money.
Ophelia follows her sister into the manor intending to take her back home. However, there are rules to follow and deals to make before it can happen. When Blackwell, a long-lasting resident of the manor offers help (for a bargain, of course), Ophelia wonders what it would cost her. With the attraction between them getting stronger, there’s a lot more at stake for Ophelia.
The story comes in Ophelia’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
Well, I don’t often take big books (anything over 400 pages is a big book). This one combines horror, gothic house, and romance, so I thought, why not?
I don’t bother with the tags and comparison, so can’t say if this is like the other books or not. I prefer to read a book for what it is.
This is historical fiction set sometime when women still wore cumbersome corsets while the mode of transport included horse carriages and automobiles. A mention of the timeline would have helped.
The premise is highly intriguing. The book starts on a high, establishing that this will be a dark read. Not for the squeamish! The main characters seem interesting too.
Ophelia takes time to get used to. TBH, it’s a miracle she managed to survive so far. Since this is openly discussed by the characters, I can see it is a deliberate character arc (can’t complain). Let’s just say there is a loooot of blood.
Blackwell is your typical handsome and quirky hero with enough darkness inside. However, he manages to endear himself (faster than the FMC).
The banter between the two is fun, despite the deadpanning (more on this next). Though the love story is on a fast track, it doesn’t feel that way due to the page count and the multiple interactions between the couple.
Now, the steam is high here. 4.5+ (or more) and a fully open door. That means we have more than a handful of such scenes, with many in the middle of the book. It messes with the pacing.
While the beginning is not fast, it is not slow either. The middle, however, drags. The % doesn’t just move between 40 and 70%. After that, it picks up a steady momentum until the end. I wouldn’t mind if a couple of steamy scenes were edited out to tighten the middle.
I know some dialogue tags have to be reused but some tend to grab my attention more than others and it becomes a nuisance. The characters deadpanned seven times, which even in a 460-page book feels excessive. Unfortunately, the word caught my eye the second time, so I noticed it every damn time after that. The same with insidious which was used seventeen times (yeah, I checked). It’s not a problem if my brain misses the recurring words but it does become an issue when I spot things. Since my book is an uncorrected proof, I hope the final copy is better.
There’s a bit of mystery but the focus is mainly on steam and the horror house game. Some levels were cool!
There is an array of characters (other participants and Devils). They do their job to advance the plot and bring a change in the FMC’s arc.
The FMC’s character development is a bit wobbly but still aligns with the plot. I wish we got to see her in her actual role as a Necromancer. The MMC’s arc doesn’t have much, TBH. Once we feel who he is, nothing really changes (not even the big reveal).
Anyway, this isn’t a book to read if you want proper character development or an intricate plot. It’s what I call a masala read but with an extra dose of chili.
Did I enjoy it? Oh, yes! And don’t forget to read the author’s note.

To summarize, Phantasma is a steamy romance-filled set in a gothic house. It had quite a few triggers and descriptions of gore. However, it is not an intense read or even scary (at least for me). I intend to read the next book in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for a copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Excuse me, that was SO damn good!

From the minute I started reading Phantasma, I swept away into the heart of the French Quarter where witches, demons and necromancers are just a part of the daily living.

When their Mother dies, Ophelia inherits her mothers necromancing magic, along with her debt which threatens to leave Ophelia and her sister homeless. Seeing no way out, Ophelia follows her sister into Phantasma, a deadly game with only 2 rules.. stay alive and don't fall in love.

Whilst the romance itself isn't dark (not for me, personally) the themes are. There's plenty of action, violence and gore to go hand in hand with the overwhelming tension between Ophelia and Blackwell, the phantom who seems to be helping her in the games.

The banter between Ophelia and Blackwell had me kicking my feet and the tension was off the charts. Not me shouting "KISS HIM YOU FOOL!" at my kindle. I kind of figured where it was going towards the end so that didn't surprise me, but I absolutely adored the ending.

I feel like if Caraval met Squid Games but set it in old New Orleans, you'd have Phantasma. When I finished I simply had no words. It was simply phenomenal and even though I read it a few weeks ago, I've thought about it every day since.

If you're looking for high-stakes, action packed, spicy, horror themed romantasy then 100% you need to check out Phantasma!

Tropes:
● he falls first
● she's Grumpy x he's Sunshine
● forced proximity
● OCD representation
● gothic mansion
● "who did this to you?"

Rating 3.5

A gothic paranormal romance, Phantasma is a deadly game of who can survive its many levels of hell. It takes a bit for the romances to come into play, but once it does PHEW! Set in a gothic New Orleans mansion, the spooky vibes oozed from the pages as each chapter was a level in the competition. Then the author gave the readers a romance with a Phantom.

Blackwell, the Phantom, was surprsingly naughty with his dirty talk. He definitely fits the book boyfriend ladies will enjoy in a romantasy.

Thank you, Second Sky/Forever

⭐️4/5
🌶3/5

“A heart and a key would set me free,” it said. “But you should hope we do not meet again, angel.”
~ Blackwell

Blackwell is tangible ghost daddy... aka a Phantom. I loved this concept and found it really intriguing. Ophelia is a necromancer with a bleeding heart and taste for 'fictional men', haha.... aka Ghost Daddy.

This was like a gothic paranormal romantasy escape room. I was definitely here for it.

🩸Deadly Competition
🩸Morally Grey Ghost Daddy
🩸Memory Loss
🩸Forced Proximity
🩸Forbidden Romance
🩸Blood Bargain
🩸Problem Solving
🩸Escape room from Hell vibes
🩸Spice
🩸Banter

”I wanted to offer you my bargain then and there, but I knew I had to be patient. So, I made myself leave you, determined to give you space for the rest of the night - and then you found me. Because it seems that’s what we do. We find each other.”

In Phantasma, we enter a magical New Orleans where Ophelia Grimm must enter a deadly competition in pursuit of her younger sister and face nine trials based on the levels of Hell. It’s a compelling and bloody addition to the deadly game trope, with romance mixed in.

I think I’ll probably read whatever Kaylie Smith writes, because she has such unique ideas and there’s always something for me to relate to when it comes to all her characters. Her writing style is simple but detailed (and it reminds me a lot of my own, actually), and none of it felt superfluous. The pacing of this story was very good, and in particular I loved seeing what challenge each new trial put forward. Throughout the book, there was an undercurrent of “nothing is as it seems,” and that continued all the way to the end. I enjoyed the paranormal aspects, along with all the unsavory creatures Ophelia ran into. I couldn’t wait to read the end and figure out what was actually happening!

The reason my rating isn’t a 5 star is because of the romance, and this might just be me being really picky. This book would classify as a romantasy, and along with that genre comes a certain amount of expectations. Some of the tropes were a little on the nose, and I thought that a more slow burn between Ophelia and Blackwell would have worked better for me, letting their little moments add up until a climax. I also would have liked for the ending to be a bit more stretched out.

Now, for the OCD rep…the author states in a note that OCD is different for everyone, and that what Ophelia experiences is based on her own dealings with the condition, as well as that from friends. As someone who is undiagnosed currently but definitely has all the tells of OCD, the version depicted in the book wasn’t exactly like my own, but there were certainly things to relate to. Also, the fact that it wasn’t like my own experience isn’t a bad thing! These things contain multitudes. I really like even numbers, and Ophelia likes to tap things in counts of three, so whenever she did it, I was thinking to myself Add one more, make it square!! But I digress.

The way OCD was incorporated into this world, without any formal diagnosis, was well done, and I appreciate how open the author has been in her own experience and in portraying the condition in her novels. I’m looking forward to reading Genevieve’s own book, Enchantra, in April 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. This review reflects my honest opinions.

I was conflicted on how I felt about this book for about half of it. While I really liked practically everything going on and the characters, I somehow still felt bored reading it. But then the games really began, the sexy times kicked in, and I was finally really drawn into the story. I absolutely loved the banter and the real times between Ophelia and Blackwell. They were a great couple to read about. The author's imagination for the various levels was vivid and crazy, so that was fun too.

Ophelia takes on the role of necromancer the night her mother unexpectedly dies. It's not the life she wants but her mother has raised her her whole life to be this and she feels like she has no choice. Ophelia has a younger sister who never had the same pressure and expectations. Who has been free to live her life as she wanted. She also knew a lot more about their life than Ophelia did, and it's that knowledge that has her going to this traveling demon mansion that if you can win, you will have any wish granted. Of course Ophelia freaks out when she figures this out, and goes to join as well hoping for nothing more than to save her sister. But she gets a lot more than that in this house. Ophelia ends up learning so many secrets of her parents, so much more about her own powers, and even finds love where she never expected.

This mansion was amazing and terrifying at the same time. The contestants aren't safe anywhere and not even from each other. Each level was completely different and often so very violent. But I guess that's to be expected when they're controlled by actual devils. I liked how Ophelia was singled out by some of the devils because of her contract with Blackwell and how she would always still stand up to them. Like I said, once we get about half way thru, this story got REALLY good.

The ending was a great twist. It wasn't even something I thought of, so that was a nice treat. And it connected everything from the beginning perfectly and had this story really come full circle. I was very happy with how everything ended. The only thing that left me unsatisfied was that we never learn what that evil voice in Ophelia's head actually is. I thought for sure, by then, we would have gotten a definite answer.

If given the chance, I would probably read the next book as well with how much I ended up getting into this one.

A dark romance with deadly games, a morally grey love interest and a conundrum to solve. I felt this was reminiscent of Caraval but more sinister and a lot spicier. I loved the fast pace, the New Orleans setting, the haunted house with it's ghosts, ghouls and phantoms and I was fully invested in the romance. Perfect for spooky season!

2⭐️

Slight spoilers ahead

I so SO badly wanted to love this and it kind of had me (almost) for the first third of the book, then it just lost me. I was really intrigued by the whole premise of the games, her abilities as a necromancer etc but honestly, it was all just such a let down.

PROS
Ghosts are cool?
I enjoyed the structure of the games
‘Touch her and die’

CONS
She is NOT and I mean NOT a girls girl (like damn Ophelia was such a bitch to Lucy right from the get go for absolutely no reason but pleasant as pie if a little snarky to all the hot attractive men)
BAD disability rep - did you know you can cure OCD with just getting dicked down
The outcome to finding her sister lmao so anticlimactic - where was she? What was she even doing?
Did the games actually make any logical sense? no not really
SUPER instalove.


Also this is compared to Caraval (which I also didn't like) and it's not even comparison it is literally the same book but with ghosts and a necromancer? Like unashamedly so.


I am usually one to try find positives in books, but I am so sorry I really disliked this one.

Ugh, this book. What can I say other than chokehold . . . I was enthralled from the beginning. The vibes were off the chart, the challenges were creative/unique, and the characters were memorable. Watching our FMC descent from scared and hesitant to wrathful and unapologetic. She was just done with their sh!t. The MMC oozed charisma with a mouth that would make anyone blush but he could also be so damn caring and attentive.

The narrator was amazing - occasionally with audiobooks, the jump between genders can be an off putting but this narrator did an amazing job. I will also say that OCD is a pretty large component of this book. I was scared to read this at first because I’ve dealt with OCD since childhood - have the diagnosis, medication, therapist, and soul crushing doubt. I don’t think many people understand what it feels like to be unable to trust your own mind unless you deal with OCD. Seeing this sensation play out in the story was a good experience for me. The author address this at the end and shared her own journey - I feel seen, bonded, and will be purchasing pretty much everything she writes.

I received the ebook as an Arc from NetGalley then purchased the physical book and audiobook on mine own. Thank you NetGalley!!

I had no clue what to expect with this story as I was unfamiliar with the author. Figured I’d give it a shot and pretty much was sucked in after a few chapters. The story moved at a steady pace and the secrets being revealed made it easy to enjoy. I loved watching the story unfold although it had some moments that were a bit cringe and some dialogue that was redundant. Still, a solid read that I would encourage others to check out. I’m glad I checked this out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

I am absolutely here for hot devils and gory trials inspired by the nine circles of Hell. This is a perfect spooky season read for those who love the supernatural, some spice and horror. I’ve never read a book that had a relationship between a human (or mortal) with a supernatural being before so Ophelia and Blackwell’s encounters were a bit weird for me at first but as it got steamier I was hooked! I loved the OCD representation and the use of repetitive wording to portray how Ophelia is feeling. I am excited to read more of the series and need the next book immediately!

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC! ✨

<B>DNF @ 22%</b>

i really tried but i genuinely cannot conjure up any interest at all in the plot or characters😭 and maybe if i read more this would change but im just currently in that reading phase of "i need to be hooked right away or i will lose interest FAST" so for my own sanity and to not fall into a slump, i'm putting this on an indefinite pause (who knows, maybe if im feeling in the right mood i might give this another shot!).

i do think the concept was quite interesting and is what caught my interest (along with that gorgeous fanart), so it might just be a case of "it's me, not the book", i just wish i cared enough about the characters at least to continue. im not invested at 22% and usually that's not so much of a good sign🫣

<I>Thank you Second Sky/Forever for the ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!</i>

I absolutely loved this book! Sexy and seductive I fell in love immediately with Blackwell and loved watching Ophelia make her way through the trials of Phantasma. If you’re looking for a spooky, occult themed read for October then this needs to be added to your TBR!

Think Hunger Games mixed with some dark magic (and some say Caraval although I couldn’t possibly say as I haven’t read it yet!) and a little bit of demons and spice and this is what you’re in for.

And there are a few twisty turns on the way to keep it interesting. . .

Okay, I'm not always a romance girly. Okay, well, I am, but I seldom review them. This is a needed exception. High spice, forced proximity, hauntings, BANTER (which I adore in spades on spades). That's all I needed to be sold. I'm actually going to reread this, and that never happens. 5.

I did NOT see that ending coming! WOW!!

In Phantasma author Kaylie Smith expertly blends tension, mystery, and desire. The competition set in the haunted mansion setting was such a cool way to tell Ophelia’s story.

Ophelia’s determination to save her sister is compelling, and with each trial of the competition we we see her resilience deepen. Smith’s writing draws you in with detailed descriptions and a palpable sense of dread, making it hard to put the book down.

I loved the dynamic between Ophelia and Blackwell . Blackwell’s arrogant, seductive demeanor makes him irresistible. Just the perfect blend of cocky and talky! It was easy to see why Ophelia’ fell for him.

I really appreciated the care that the author took in shaping Ophelia’s character, particularly her OCD and inner shadow voice. It was done truthfully and in a way that is respectful to individuals living with OCD.

Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky/ Forever and Kaylie Smith for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

When I saw the cover I was already sold with this book but then I saw it’s Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen and I didn’t simply want I NEEDED this book. Ophelia did kind of annoy me with some of her decisions but also the double standards at times with her and Blackwell. But other than that I absolutely LOVED this book!

The levels of Phantasma were the most fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed the Lust level 👀 Blackwell being summoned like beetlejucie by saying his name three times was unironically funny to me. I did guess the plot twist but I didn’t care because for one, I felt smart and two I still felt the stock of the plot twist when it happened because I wasn’t fully certain.

Her sister surprisingly didn’t annoy me like Donatella did in Caraval, she was actually barely even there. I at times forgot Ophelia went into Phantasma to save her because she wasn’t mentioned much. I am so excited for the next book being from Ophelia’s sisters pov and the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

Thank you to the author for trusting me to read/review this book as an arc

I get it now. Literally, I get why so many of us are obsessing over this book. Like, I am obsessing with the book right now. I literally need the next book in the series, hopefully. And I need to let you guys know why you need to read this book immediately. 

First, this book is a truly romantasy story. It has all of the right elements in the mixes. Second, the love interest, Blackwell, was perfect and villainous in every way. A true morally gray character that we can fall more in love with. Third, the endless banter between the side characters was too funny and entertaining to read. Each of these side characters needs to have their own book. Fourth, the spicy scenes were too hot and so freaking good. I literally more, please and thank you. Fifth, the unexpected twists were so crazy good. It kept me on the edge as I kept reading on. Lastly, I love the main character, Ophelia, representation in OCD. It truly represents how someone can feel when they are faced with challenges along the way. 

I just love this book so much that I need more. Seriously, I need another book from another, hopefully.

4.5⭐️

When Ophelia enters Phantasma, she must decide if she should follow everything she knows as a necromancer or throw caution to the wind.

Trials set in a haunted mansion in New Orleans? I’m sold. Give me a female necromancer and a phantom for a love interest? Say less. I’ve described this to my friends as a more grown up, slightly darker, spicy Casper. Which is something I didn’t know I needed. I also appreciated the OCD representation in this story.

I loved Ophelia and Blackwell. There was immediately chemistry and snarky banter which I loved. I found the trials based on the nine circles of hell fascinating. And the forbidden romance between our characters was the cherry on top. We have a couple mysteries in the story. I had a feeling about one, but the other took me by surprise. The gothic feel of this story is everything I needed for autumn + spooky season vibes. The next book has already been announced and I cannot wait for it!

Thank you to Second Sky for my arc.

Rating - 3.25 stars
Thank you to Forever for the advanced copy!

Phantasma is a dark fantasy romance with gothic vibes and mystery. The story revolves around a character named Ophelia, who joins in a mysterious competition called Phantasma in search of her sister. The competition consists of a series of violent trials, and the winner is granted a wish. The book contains a lot of violent imagery and gore, and the trials are quite compelling. Overall, I found the writing to be engaging, and I was eager to unravel the mystery. The romance aspect was decent, but I didn't feel fully engaged with it. As for the plot, I felt that the execution was lacking. The pacing of the story felt off, and there were moments when the excitement leading up to each trial was insufficient. Additionally, I found the world-building to be lacking, as many things were left unexplored.

While the revelations at the end were shocking, I wasn't fully invested to fully appreciate them. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy adult romance with similarities to Caraval.