Phantasma: A dark fantasy romance (Wicked Games, 1)

After seeing so many people raving about this book last year, I worried that it would be incredibly overhyped but I'm glad this was probably one of the easiest 5 stars I've given to a book in recent months. My only two minor criticisms is that I wish the ending had been a bit longer as it felt a little rushed at times and some of the trials felt like they were explained in an unnecessarily complicated way. After my lack of riddle solving success in ACOTAR, I didn't even attempt trying to understand the ones before each trial in this book but I liked that they were there as they helped break the monotony of dinner > demon > trial > pass out > grumpy man that seemed to be involved in each trial. I absolutely loved the OCD and anxiety rep in this book. For a while I wasn't sure if that's what it was or if it was some sort of paranormal posession as a result of her being a necromancer. While I don't have OCD, I could tell that it was written by someone with their own experiences of it in the way that it was central to Ophelia's journey through the trials and how Blackwell supported her with it rather than dismissing the shadow voice. I absolutely loved the romance that developed between Ophelia and Blackwell but I enjoyed that the first chunk of the book really focused on Ophelia and Geneveive's relationship rather than jumping straight into the romance and trials. As they only really know each other for a couple of weeks, it's definitely not a slow burn but doesn't really read as insta-lust either. While there were a few times I was just screaming at them to communicate, their chemistry overall was amazing and I loved Blackwell right from the start, even if he was a little insufferable then. The spice scenes were amazing and I loved the inclusion of explicit consent between the characters as this seems to often be missing from dark romance books. Blackwell made me laugh so many times and I hope Enchantra has the same vibes

Phantasma by Kaylie is a dark, atmospheric ride set against the backdrop of gothic New Orleans—a perfect playground for a supernatural tale that combines horror, romance, and thrilling games. The story revolves around Ophelia, a refreshingly likeable heroine, who finds herself swept into high-stakes trials with deadly consequences. Think Big Brother, but with a sinister twist, bone-chilling horror, and a sprinkle of romance that will have you swooning. Enter Blackwell—the brooding, enigmatic MMC whose sharp banter and swoonworthy lines make him impossible not to fall for. His chemistry with Ophelia is magnetic, full of wit, tension, and a dynamic that keeps you hooked. Their banter is a highlight of the book, and it makes their connection feel authentic and electric. The plot is brimming with twists, trials, and supernatural intrigue. While I originally thought I had the twist figured out, my theories spiraled into wild directions as the story unfolded. Even when the reveal came and turned out to be simpler than expected, it didn’t detract from how much fun I had trying to puzzle it out. A story that has you theorizing long after you’ve put it down? That’s the mark of a great book. Now, let’s talk spice. This book surprised me with its well-written romantic moments that felt vivid but never vulgar. Chapter 22 (you’ll know it when you get there) absolutely delivered, and the tension between Ophelia and Blackwell was nothing short of delicious. It’s worth noting that while Phantasma leans heavily into supernatural romance (or as I’m now calling it, Romatural), the horror elements were a refreshing addition. They gave the story a darker edge that set it apart from typical romantic fantasy, and I loved every eerie detail. If you enjoy the "games and trials" trope with some horror sprinkled in, this book will tick every box. Blackwell is a top-tier book boyfriend—he’s charming, mysterious, and just a little dangerous. Honestly, I’m still thinking about him (and his praise kink energy). The story reminded me a bit of One Dark Window, but I’ll say it outright: I enjoyed Phantasma so much more. It had higher stakes, better characters, and spicier moments than I anticipated. If you’re looking for something with gothic vibes, gripping supernatural elements, and a romance that will make your heart race, Phantasma is a must-read. It’s an addictive, hauntingly fun ride—and it might even nudge you into exploring more horror in your reading!

Phantasma is an entertaining dark fantasy romance filled with high-stakes trials, seductive danger, and an irresistible morally gray love interest. The haunted mansion setting is beautifully atmospheric, and the premise—a deadly contest with a wish as the prize—is the perfect setup for tension and intrigue. The chemistry between Ophelia and Blackwell is definitely a highlight, delivering plenty of spice and swoon-worthy moments. The pacing keeps things moving, and the challenges within Phantasma provide some exciting action. However, despite the life-or-death nature of the game, I never truly felt the stakes. Some of the tension was undercut by the predictability of the twists, and there were moments where characters acted out of character, pulling me out of the story. That said, Phantasma is still a fun, addictive read, especially for fans of dark romance with a gothic fantasy edge. If you're looking for an intense, steamy adventure that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this one delivers—just be prepared for some familiar tropes along the way.

Note: Listened to the audiobook, which I highly recommend as Laura Horowitz is fab and truly brings the characters to life! Even her male characters are fantastic! 💀💀💀 Premise: After the death of her mother and her sister, Genevieve goes missing, Necromancer, Ophelia, enters a deadly and hellish trial, Phantasma, to save her sister. Once there she makes a bargain with Phantom, Blackwell, to help her through the trials and in exchange she will help to save him from the games he is trapped in. But she starts to uncover secrets that her sister and mother hid from her. 💀💀💀 At first, I thought this would just be a carbon copy of Caraval, given the similar premise. But it is definitely a darker and spicier version and the actual world and games created did become really unique! What I loved: 💀 Blackwell! I now have a thing for ghosts it seems! Despite the insta-love / lust element, which I normally dislike, the chemistry between Blackwell and Ophelia was just perfect and I was completely captivated by him! Plus his Angel pet name, his jealousy / protectiveness and “good girls”. He was just… 🫠🫠🫠 💀 The trials! I’m incredibly impressed with the imagination that went into developing all the trials. Each one was completely entertaining! And the fellow competitors were well fleshed out. 💀 The spice. It’s incredible smut heavy without diluting the plot. And there’s a great push and pull tension between the characters. 💀 Potential for the next book. I will admit, I also kind of loved Sinclair. I suspect and hope he will be somehow involved in the next book. I’d love him to be a love interest the info makes me think not. But all round fab book and great start to the year! 4.5 🌟just because I was slightly lost at the start as you are just thrown into the world. And the twists were a bit predictable, albeit did not ruin my enjoyment!

So, Phantasma—the book everyone’s raving about. I’ll admit, I was curious. Turns out, Phantasma is a pretty good read, but it might feel familiar to anyone who’s read Caraval. Imagine Caraval with a darker, spicier twist, and that’s Phantasma. It’s got a magical, morbid competition, two sisters separated in a dangerous game, and a sinister love interest. Phantasma does feel like it borrows heavily from Caraval: a mysterious, magical competition, two sisters, one of whom sneaks away, and a whole lot of life-or-death stakes. Ophelia, the older and more responsible sister, enters the competition to save her younger, rebellious sister, and soon finds herself entangled with the sinister and mysterious Blackwell. There are plot beats here that will feel predictable, but the spicy, morbid twist keeps it engaging. Phantasma felt like a YA book with an adult edge—more mature themes, gore, and all the heat, but still rooted in that adventurous, whimsical atmosphere you get in young adult fantasy. The story kicks off strong, drawing readers into a world of necromancy and dark magic.I did loved the main character, Ophelia, who’s not your typical fantasy heroine. As a newly-minted necromancer, she’s grappling with powers she inherited after her mother’s death. This dark twist on magical abilities felt refreshing. Usually, we get witches or fae, but Phantasma brings in the undead and a side of danger that kept things interesting. BUT then the whole necromancy theme is gotten abandoned pretty quickly, which was pretty disappointing for me. Either way, Ophelia’s character was well done—sassy, headstrong, and uniquely flawed, with OCD quirks that made her feel real. I loved how her OCD came alive, it was a great touch! Her dynamic with Blackwell, the dark, brooding MMC, was a highlight. I only wish we’d had Blackwell’s perspective as well. It wasn’t hard to see through his mysterious facade, but getting inside his head would have added depth. Their chemistry was a nice balance of banter and heat, though Ophelia’s impulsive choices sometimes made me want to shake her. Hard. The supporting cast, though, could’ve used more attention… I would’ve loved to see more development or snarky interactions with the other contestants. The competition setting was ripe for more fun and conflict, and it felt like a missed opportunity. The story’s finale was exactly what I expected, but that didn’t make it any less enjoyable. The epilogue gave away hints pretty early on, but it still packed a punch, and I couldn’t get enough. For all the hype, Phantasma may not be groundbreaking, but it was still a captivating ride. If I had to describe it, I’d call it a spiced-up YA fantasy, and I’m definitely intrigued enough to pick up the next book. While Phantasma didn’t quite reach “dark fantasy romance” status for me, it’s a solid romantasy that leans YA in style but packs enough edge for adult readers. I’ll definitely be back for book two!

Dark fantasy with 🌶🌶🌶 spice level. Where to even start! I did not want this to end but also couldn't put it down. Devil's, phantoms, necromancy, a ghost cat, trials & competition. Ophelia Grim, haunted by an inner voice, enters Phantasma in hopes of helping her family. What ensues is a gruesome set of trials that will churn some stomachs. Deals, bargains & curses galore. Ophelia is a very strong, relatable FMC. The instant chemistry with Blackwell only intensifies as their journey continues. It will leave you hot under the collar. Exceptionally well written. An immersive, high paced, addictive & intense novel that you have to read!

After only one chapter of this book I knew I was going to love it. I was very naughty and lay in bed all day and most of the night until I finished it, then I bought the sequel, which I plan to read tonight. Having said that, I am still going to give an honest review and explain why I have only given it 4 stars. Firstly, I found the concept to be a lot like Caraval. This was ok though because this book made up for what Caraval lacked in the spice department. But...the spice parts in this I found too much. The language was a bit cringe - I hate it when the main characters in a book talk dirty to each other - its just embarrassing and I don't find it sexy at all. There was also too much of it, as if it was trying too hard, and it lost the chemistry between them for me. I like books with just a couple of intimate scenes so we get the picture but are not overwhelmed by the same moaning and gasping and screaming each other's name over and over again as they are transported to earth shattering climax's etc. It takes away the sensuality of it and becomes boring. Moving onto the characters, I loved Blackwell, and his description hooked me in lust immediately. I find I can't enjoy a book where the main male doesn't sound attractive, but this guy sounded stunning and had just the perfect amount of cockiness and banter as well which I also liked. The female though, I found her a little annoying and bossy. She also came across as quite needy, because she called him every 5 minutes as if she couldn't handle anything herself. They also fell in love way too quickly for me - I need a sensual, teasing, slow burn to find a book outstanding, although I appreciate they were only meant to be inside Phantasma for a few days. Then there was the ending - I'm not sure if I missed something but I just didn't get it. I understood the 'heart' was her locket which gave him his powers back so he could leave, but what was the key? I also didn't understand the soul of another human bit either - was Ophelia born with Angel's soul inside her and that's why he kept calling her Angel? It wasn't clear. Perhaps I skimmed the last few pages and need to go and re-read them, but it just didn't answer any questions for me. Finally, the paragraph at the start gave the whole thing away for me before even the first chapter. I don't think the author should have added that bit because I guessed what Blackwell was straight away, it was so obvious. That said, I did love the story and Blackwell and the scenery and I could not put it down, so well done to the author for the many good parts which definitely outweighed the bad.

“𝐈𝐧 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝’𝐯𝐞 𝐤𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐦𝐲 𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭” 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒓𝒖𝒍𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕, 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒍. 𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒍. All the way through I said this was going to be a strong 4 star book, but given the ending it just pushed in the 5 star region. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I couldn’t put it down, my jaw hit the floor in the last 20% of the book and I honestly could not put it down. This book gave me all the feels, jaw dropping, shocking, hot, and also laughs throughout. This would be a great spooky season book. I loved Phantasma and what lurked between the walls, it had a great storyline, very gothic, paranormal (my fave), devils, phantoms, necromancers and more. This has been my first book with OCD brought to attention and I think it was shown well in Ophelia’s character. Blackwell has my heart and he’s officially my new book boyfriend 😍 he had it bad for her and the scenes were just 👌🏽 🌶️ he definitely knows how to please his lady. -Forbidden romance -Forced Proximity -Necromancer/Phantom Romance -Dark Fantasy -Haunted House -Trials -OCD

Incorrect publisher.

I LOVED Kaylie's Smith writing. It was so immersive and the FMC felt real, flawed and painfully relatable. Her struggle to understand herself and this entity constantly living in her head were beatifully written. I absolutely devoured this book and I enjoyed how the author explained the games the FMC needed to win in order to find her sister. Last but not least the MMCC!!! I don't have words to describe how I LOVED Blackwell! Overall, Phantasma is a dark, emotional and thoughtfully written fantasy that lingers even after the last page!

Loved the book from the beginning to the end! Absolutely my top-favorite so far! :)

Loved it, almost like enemies to lovers and mostly about creatures, yes the challenge has humans in them but the necromancers, phantoms, ghosts are whole vibe 10/10

Phantasma is a captivating dark fantasy filled with mystery, suspense, and unforgettable characters. The atmospheric world-building draws you in immediately, and the story is packed with unexpected twists that keep the pages turning. The writing is vivid and engaging, creating the perfect balance of romance, danger, and intrigue. The characters are well developed, and their emotional journey adds depth to the story. Overall, this is an immersive and beautifully written novel that I highly recommend to fans of gothic fantasy and dark romance.