Thank you @NetGalley for early access in exchange for an honest review!

Diving back into the amazing wicked games series by Kaylie Smith with a focus on Ophelia’s sister Genevieve, you are immediately drawn into the mystery and magic of the world again!

I loved Phantasma and was dying to read this and it absolutely lived up to and exceeded my expectations! Genevieve becomes a much more well rounded and interesting character than who we saw in Phantasma and seeing her journey through the trials and world of Enchantra was exciting, engaging and so fun!

I loved the side characters and the world that was built as well, overall already one of my favourite reads of 2025!

#netgalley #ARC

I know it's been a while since the release, and this is an ARC review, but I had some personal commitments due to which I couldn't read this before release day. That and being a mood reader took me a while to come back to this.

Sadly, Enchantra wasn't as enjoyable as Phantasma, which was one of my top reads of 2024. I'd been eagerly waiting for Genevieve's book to get her story, but this was rather underwhelming and didn't give me the answers I was looking for.

Genevieve Grimm is a specter, but she's always hidden her magic and never truly felt curious to learn more. That was until she entered Phantasma and had to rely on her magic to survive. The experience leaves her with the need to know more about herself and find others similar to her. She finds a lead when she comes across a correspondence between her mother and a mysterious friend—Barrington Silver. Feeling confident that this is her chance to find out more about her mother and, by extension, herself, she reaches out to him and gets an invite to visit.

When she does arrive, however, she's denied entry into the mansion by the owner's son, Rowington Silver. Determined not to leave without getting her answers, she uses her magic to enter Enchantra, not knowing that once she enters, the only way out is to win 'the hunt'—a vicious game of hide-and-seek between the Silver siblings that ends with only one winner. Stuck in Enchantra with no way out but through, her only chance at survival is to team up with Rowin and play the game as a couple.

I didn't really like Genevieve's character. She was fierce, yes, but most of the time she was just being really stubborn for no reason and getting into trouble. I get that she wasn't happy with the situation, but her reaction to everything started getting on my nerves real quick. There's being badass, and then there's being petulant. Vivi was the latter. Also, I get that she had a traumatic experience with her ex, but I didn't feel like it warranted such a visceral reaction from her every time.

Rowington Silver was an okay MMC. There wasn't much about him that made him stand out. Not even his multiple piercings could make him more interesting for me. I did, however, feel bad for him for all that he had to go through during each hunt and the kind of distance it had created between him and his siblings. He felt a lot of guilt and pain for letting his siblings suffer while also feeling helpless and desperate with each failed attempt to find a cure to save his mother.

The rounds of the hunt weren't as challenging and anxiety-inducing as they had been in book one. Vivi and Rowin spent most of their time hiding during the hunt and talking, so it didn't feel as intense as book one.

The romance didn't really work for me given how things had started off between them—the animosity, the forced nuptials, their personalities (mainly Genevieve), and the number of secrets Rowin kept from her. It just didn't seem believable that they fell so deeply in love over the course of one week, especially knowing Genevieve's past experience and how deeply that had impacted her. I did enjoy the spice, which was good but didn't overwhelm the plot. Just sufficient.

The end of the hunt seemed rushed and anticlimactic. I thought there would be a more dramatic and diabolical plan to gain the upper hand over Knox, but that part just seemed hasty and confusing. After everything that Knox had put them all through, I wanted the climax to be more satisfying.

Although the whole idea of Enchantra and 'the hunt' had me excited, especially after reading Phantasma, there were quite a few things that just didn't add up or felt unresolved, which made the whole experience feel underwhelming. I'll get into detail about what felt amiss for me, and there are spoilers, so avoid them if you plan to read this book.

<spoiler>We never get more information regarding Tessie Grimm from Barrington Silver. Given that that was the whole reason behind why Genevieve was writing to him and traveled all the way to meet him. Genevieve wanted to learn why her mother had treated her the way she had growing up. It's also said by Barrington that if Tessie did behave in such a way towards her, it didn't mean she didn't love her, but there must've been a reason that was in play well before she was even born, but this was never elaborated. This feels like a vital revelation for Vivi to know so she could get her closure.

Had Tessie tried to help Barrington with the loopholes in Knox's games? How did they know each other? How close were they for him to be so saddened by her demise? We also never found out how the rest of the Silver family were familiar with Tessie. What role did she play in their lives? What did Grave mean when he said, "Why is our father writing to her again?" Why was that an issue? Their reactions to the news of her death left me just as confused as Vivi about their relationship with her. Why did Vivi not get more answers about her mother from any member of the Silver family?

Why was Rowin seeking Ophelia's help with the matter of the Crimson Rot? What help could she have given him as a necromancer? Was there some lead Rowin wanted her to look into? Was he asking for her help because her mother had also helped him previously in some capacity?

I thought the fact that Vivi declined Knox's offer to give her the cure in exchange for that deal would be brought up later with Rowin, if only to try to pit them against each other and test their bond during the hunt.

Grave was a Void Wraith who could manipulate time in small intervals and was over two and a half centuries old. So when he uses this ability to try to kill Vivi, she somehow escapes him by projecting her magic (whatever that means). He said he's never in all his time seen any specter do that with their magic. Now I have no idea what that means or why it was rare or important because it was never explained, nor was it used in the future chapters during the hunt or against Knox.</spoiler>

I did love the Silver family and their dynamics even as they were forced to be pitted against each other time and time again. Each character was unique in their own way, and I especially loved Sevin and Ellin. These two were my favorite side characters. I can't not mention Umbra. She was just so precious, and her bond with Vivi was just adorable.

I'm not sure if all the other Silver siblings will be getting a book, but I think, given that ending, the next book is about Sevington Silver, so I'm very invested.

Thank you to Kaylie Smith, Second Sky, and Forever Publishing for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

100000/10, Kaylie Smith knows what she's doing when it comes to a dark and spooky paranormal romance...especially when it comes to writing a FMC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc of this book. I got an advance copy of Phantasma, as well, and absolutely loved it but this one just didn’t hit the mark for me. I had a hard time getting invested in the story and feeling that the romance was genuine. It felt like a lot of information was jammed into the very beginning of the book and it didn’t feel organic. Overall, i just felt it was okay and not a wow book for me.

Vivi is just the right amount of smartmouthed and such a troublemaker. Rowin doesn't need to match her energy nor does he try to cage her. He is just proud of her and she is a bright Summer day on the creek.

The family is hilarious and as much as they play the game, they love each other very much. Their traditions are exactly what one could hope to find in a hellish house like Enchantra.

Do yourself a favour and read this book. And if you haven't, read Phantasma too. There won't be any regrets.

Full disclosure, I read Phantasma and was not a fan. The only saving grace of that book was Ophelia's younger sister, Genevieve. So when I found out the next book focused on Genevieve, I decided to read it despite not wanting anything further to do with Phantasma. Overall, this ended up being a good choice on my part!

Enchantra still has its problems. The author overdid it with how bratty Genevieve was. I get it, she's independent and no one (no man) will tell her what to do. However when your life is at stake, maybe it should only take 3 times to tell you to do something and not 27. It was so overdone in the beginning that my enthusiasm for the book was dwindling quickly. This was not the Genevieve I followed from Phantasma. This Genevieve was too stubborn for her own good, whiny, and honestly kind of dumb. It took about a third of the book for her to snap out of it and start acting like a normal human being. It was a reluctant snapping out of, more like a "well I guess I have to listen to him...for my safety," but at least it was something.

But Enchantra had something in spades that Phantasma did not, which is what ultimately made me stick with the book and enjoy my time with it...the characters! The Dash-ington family members were all unique and interesting! I would read several novellas about each of them. In fact I was disappointed I didn't get more time with them. I think the author's character writing and development was so much better in this one overall. Not only were the side characters better fleshed out, but I didn't feel like our two mains were cardboard cutouts. Rowin had a personality and motivations for his actions. Seeing his different relationships with his family members was fun and gave a lot of depth to his character. And once Genevieve got over her initial uber brat phase, she showed a very clever, thoughtful, and kind side, which I think ended up saving the family in the end. However no one beats Sevin. Sevin deserves his own...something. Long live Sevin. Runner-up is Ellin.

Also, I thought the games in Enchantra were more interesting. I thought the stakes were higher and the pacing was better. Some of the games chosen in Enchantra were a little uninspired, especially ones where the characters could literally just hide for most of the night, but I think ultimately it lead to more intense moments when someone was inevitably hunted down. I feel like Phantasma desensitized you to the violence quickly, whereas Enchantra drew it out and gave you a false sense of safety.

Overall, after a rough start, I had a fun time! The writing is tight, and the pacing is quick. The end gives a hint as to what the third book is about. I can't say I'm super excited about the topic, but I'm coming back for the third one anyway.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC — my emotional state has not recovered.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A dazzling, dangerous ride through illusions, longing, and the messiest fake dating scheme of all time.

Welcome to Enchantra.
There’s only one rule: Never trust your heart.
Well, I trusted my heart and now I’m wrecked.
Enchantra is a jaw-dropping fantasy filled with:
-A cursed mansion dripping in secrets and illusions
-Deadly games and even deadlier chemistry
-A heroine with grit, grief, and serious main character energy
-One morally gray, emotionally stunted love interest (we love to see it)
-Fake dating that is so fake it's actually real and everyone knows it

Genevieve is the kind of protagonist who refuses to sit back and let fate win — even when fate is literally a haunted magical competition. And Rowin? He’s the kind of disaster man who says “don’t fall in love with me” while smirking in a candlelit corridor. The tension between them had me screaming into my throw blanket.
What Kaylie Smith does brilliantly is combine aching romance, high-stakes action, and worldbuilding that feels rich, magical, and just the right amount of unhinged. This sequel doesn’t just build on the first book — it devours it whole and levels up in every way.

Perfect for fans of:
-Romantic tension you can cut with a dagger
-Mansions that try to kill you
-Found family, forbidden secrets, and forced proximity with a side of "accidental feelings"

Verdict:
Enchantra is wicked, romantic, and wildly entertaining. I was on edge, in love, and emotionally compromised from page one. Fans of fantasy romance — this one’s for you.

This book took me so long to get through. I have been putting off writing this review but I feel obligated to follow through after getting an eARC (thank you to the publisher). Phantasma blew me away, in my top 10 reads of last year and I was really looking forward to this sister's story. This felt like a first draft fever dream, I was kind of confused and yet also uninterested. I did not like the pacing of at least the first 60% at all and sparing spoilers some decisions of of the characters also stopped making sense. I also didn't get sold on the romance of this either which I am still in shock about.

What a fun book! I was really excited to read this, after the amazing time I had reading Phantasma, and it didn't disappoint.

I am in love with the world; it is gothic, mysterious and dark. It also had the same feeling as Phantasma, but at the same time it felt quite different and unique.

There was a nice balance of plot, romance and smut. I loved the premise of the games and it was quite jarring seeing all the brothers fighting to the death.

I really liked Genevieve; she was a confident and strong woman.
The relationship between Genevieve and Rowin was sweet and hot at the same time.
I loved all of the side characters (Rowin´s family); they all had really amazing personalities and little quirks and flaws that make them really unique.

The ending was very tense and I was so anxious throughout the last chapters.
I am so excited for the possibility of more books in this world, and I can't wait to read them.

Quotes:
“She’d long given up the hope that someone with a white horse would ever come to save her. But that didn't mean she couldn't be the knight in shining armor for herself. For them.”

“I want you to know, I really would have waited for you, right here, forever if that's what it would have taken. I would have stood in this spot until I could no longer distinguish my own soul from the shadows. Until your light came back to me.”

I went into this book expecting it to be a fun romp that I wouldn’t get too caught up in. Turns out I was wrong because I spent two straight days devouring this story and want nothing more than my memory erased to read it again.

Dare I say I enjoyed this one more than Phantasma?!
Go in blind and I promise you'll love every second. This is a book I wish I could read for the first time again. I cannot wait for more from Kaylie Smith!

✨Review ⬇️✨

🐦‍⬛ Enchantra 🐦‍⬛
By Kaylie Smith

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A honeymoon in a mansion, but it's a a deadly game....

🖤 “Shadows can only be seen in the presence of light”

💕 The Wicked Games, is one of my favorite standalone but interconnected Romantasy series! Please may I have some more?!
Book 1: Phantasma is about Ophelia
Book 2: Enchantra is about Genevieve
Book 3: ?!?!?!?!?

♥️ A mix of all my favorite things: enemies-to-lovers, fantasy, Italian getaway in an enchanted mansion, deadly games, and family curses.

💬 Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

✨ Read this if you like:
💍 fake marriage
👻 shadow wraith MMC
☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
💀 Deadly games
🪄 Enchanted mansion

This book left me breathless and craving the next chapter in this twisted, passionate world. It’s a beautifully crafted romantasy that I fell in love with completely.

Well . This is just the book I needed. This was the perfect combination of slow burn and insta-love. I liked it way more than book one and can't wait to see who the story will revolve around next.

📖Genevieve has always lived in her sisters shadow, and has decided to try to make her own path. After Some exchanges of letters from a man from her deceased mothers past, she decides to pay them a visit. What she doesn't realize is she's falling into yet another devils game... But this one requires her to marry a man who she just met for her survival and freedom.


📝This book might have taken me a few days to read, but that's only because of how busy life was. I definitely could have devoured it in a day. Genevieve and Rowins witty banter had me smiling ear to ear. I also enjoyed getting to know all of Rowins characters. The slowburn was perfect, even though it happened within a week or so .. I know that would normally make it insta love... But it didn't feel like it. It felt like the perfect whirlwind romance.

Thank you so much for the ARC netgalley!
I need to own it and add it to my shelf .

Ok but how dare Smith give us all these adorable siblings and then leave me to wonder who will get the next book? Hell by the end of Enchantra I'm even team Grave redemption arc.

I loved the first book and was so excited for this one. It didn’t disappoint! It’s super spicy, full of magic, tension, and a fun enemies-to-lovers dynamic between Genevieve and Rowin. Their chemistry was off the charts, and the whole deadly game storyline kept me hooked.

Some parts did feel a bit long, but overall it was such a fun ride. If you’re in the mood for a spicy romantasy with danger, drama, and a broody love interest, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you NetGalley & Second Sky/Forever for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I fell insanely in love with Phantasma and this book was just as amazing. I am so happy I was able to get my hands on this and ended up getting a physical copy for my bookshelf as well.

5 ⭐

Another five star read for this series!
I CANNOT wait for book 3 and I am so eager to find out exactly what it's called and the cover.

I would love to pet Umbra, please and thank you.

Everything about this one was phenomenal. I felt at first like it was too similar to Phantasma and felt a little disappointed but then quickly realized, it's kind of the point especially when you're reading a series.

It ties itself all together in the end and I feel like Genevieve is a such strong character. I always felt she had a fantastic story to share with us.

I cannot wait to see wait Kaylie Smith has in store for book 3 but I sort of hope it's about Luci and Grave.

However I'd love a book about Sevin our sweet jester.

Thank you SO much to Net Galley for the arc copy of this book!

Another great book in the Wicked Games series! Though I enjoyed the first book the most, Enchantra still holds its own.

Told in third person POV, but it feels like dual-first person. This novel is about Genevieve Grimm, Ophelia's younger sister, trying to find her place in the world and finding a sense of belonging. After finding a letter from Barrington Silver that was meant for her mother, Genevieve sets off to Italy in hopes that the Silvers are similar to her and her family. But a simple letter and a very rude introduction with one of Barrington's son's, Rowington aka Rowin, sets off a chain of events that has her stuck at their manor and forced to play in another game similar to what she experienced in Phantasma. Rowin gives her an offer she cannot refuse, and they are forced to play this game with each other.

This book has a few tropes: touch her and die, fake marriage, enemies to lovers. It has lots of fantasy elements with devils, specters, and wraiths. This book does have a Ready of Not vibe (and I personally enjoyed that movie). This book does have a HEA. I don't think this book was quite as spicy as Phantasma, but it still has a few spicy scenes in it and they were incredible.

5/5

Ravens make great messengers, companions, and omens and in Kaylie Smith’s Enchantra they dragged me back into a world of bargains and deadly games. When I first read Smith's, Phantasma, last year, all I wanted was to stay firmly rooted in this world and its dazzling cast of characters. Like the gates of Phantasma, it was as if I had been granted entrance into the romantic fantasy of my dreams, gothic, bloody, and dripping with deadly bargains and forbidden romance. Little did I know I would get my wish. As soon as I heard the second book would be focusing on Ophelia’s sister, Genevieve, I knew this had the potential to be all the more, well….enchanting. Enchantra has a lot to follow up in terms of romance and general plotting, but it managed to continue Kaylie Smith’s knack for gothic atmosphere, but more baroque and purpley.

Enchantra is like Ready or Not, except it’s a marriage of convenience and now you’re trapped in a competition to the death with your new in-laws. A premise that could not have made me read this any faster than I did (one evening). I so quickly fell in love with this next iteration of the Wicked Games series, with Genevieve and Rowin and the complicated Silver family dynamics straddling the knife's edge between love and hate. What I appreciate about this sequel is how much Kaylie Smith gives space for Genevieve to have her own story, far removed from Ophelia and their New Orleans comforts. Genevieve gets to have her own love story, a perfect reflection for who she is at her core. Kaylie Smith is crazy talented and I am more than a little proud at how this series has transformed from book two to now, and of course where I can see it headed next. Thank you to Kaylie for continuing to supply the romances I crave so deeply (and for protecting Umbra).