Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
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Web ID: 19876338Ratings & Reviews
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Mysterious, Romantic, Thrilling
Two sisters who both want to save the other end up entering the same competition in New Orleans. Oh, and that competition is a haunted house run by demons that prey on the contestants' fears and it's hosted in a huge mansion they aren't allowed to explore for the first week but that shouldn't stop them, right? I had so many theories of my own reading this book and they were all wrong. I loved the intrigue, the thrill, the creativity of the challenges and how the characters overcame.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Hauntingly beautiful read!
WOW! This book was amazing! The level of detail in this book is astounding and kudo’s to Smith for making it seamless and easy to follow. The character arcs are fantastic and you really love all the characters, even the evil ones, because they make the story so complete. That Sorrow chapter? With only one sentence? THAT was prolific writing. To ensure the reader understood Ophelia’s sorrow with just one sentence. I’ve never seen anything like it. I also love that Ophelia has OCD. I love when a character has something that is not seen often in books. This is not a quick read and you need to pay attention or you’ll miss vital information, so read when you have time to really devote to it. This book is graphic so make sure you know that going in. This is an open door fantasy romance book that has the dark, southern gothic vibes is perfect for getting into that spooky season spirit or if you are looking for a book that has depth across the board.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
This was such a fun ride!
This was such a fun ride! It delivers a darkly magical world with just the right amount of drama, danger, and slow-burn romance. The vibes were very "gothic academy meets hidden powers," and I was definitely here for it. The main character had some real growth throughout the story, and while a few plot points felt a little familiar if you’ve read other fantasy academy books, the atmosphere and twists kept things fresh. I especially loved the magic and trial system. It felt unique without being overcomplicated.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Phantoms, a necromancer, and romance? Oh my!
4.5* stars. Summary: I absolutely love Phantasma!! The Gothic horror vibe with supernatural beings was wonderful, the romance was a little stiff at times, but nice and steamy, and the journey of the characters was delightful. I highly recommend Phantasma for any dark fantasy or dark romance lover; the game will not disappoint. Full review: I loved this book as much as I had hoped to! I had high hopes going in, which I thought may have been dashed on the part of the romance up until roughly between levels one and two of Phantasma. In the beginning, there really wasn't much to do with romance, and while it made much more sense later on, one of the two rules of Phantasma is to not fall in love. It felt very out of place and like the story could have done without that. Also, I absolutely love how the novel is separated by the events of Phantasma, such as the different levels and nights, and not just the chapters. It gave a nice edge to the already thrilling setting and suspense. There were times in the first half of the book where I did not like our main gal, Ophelia, too much; I felt she was quite cold and a bit mean. However, as the story went on and looking back at her growth, I better understand her mindset in the beginning, respect the growth she experienced, and I have a bit more appreciation for her harsh tone when all she was doing was protecting her heart— in more ways than with just romance. This was the author's first foray into the adult romantasy genre, and a bit of the romance and spice felt stiff. But, as the book progressed, everything felt a lot more naturally occurring and had more of its own voice. Phantasma itself and its inhabitants, scares and trials, oh! It was chef's kiss perfection! The descriptions of the more unsavory elements of this dark romance were beautiful! And according to the acknowledgement section, I'm anticipating so much more glorious bloody goodness in the next volume of the Wicked Game series, Enchantra. This is probably not for the very squeamish, however, if you want to dip your toe into something dark that still has humor— the banter between Ophelia and Blackwell had me in stitches! —and delicious romance, this would be good. One more thing, then I will summarize (which you probably already read first). Ophelia struggles with OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder. The author said that Ophelia's experience was derived from her own personal experience. They made note that OCD presents differently for everyone, and while Ophelia's experience may have seemed exaggerated, it is still very much real and not always like the movies portray the disorder. I have never been tested for OCD; however, I did feel strong kinship with Ophelia and her compulsions with little things that I do and feel. I will not lay claim to the title of having OCD, but I did feel a bit heard through Ophelia's journey and appreciated the care and openness the author took in writing her characters. Check out my bookstagram! @Witchy.Otaku
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Nice start, not so good end.
I really enjoyed this book from the beginning till about 45% in. Listen, I like spice, but I like my spice without losing the plot, and this is what this book did. The end was SO rushed, it almost felt like the author got tired of writing and threw the end together quickly. Still liked it, but I’m not in love.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Four and a Half Stars
Ever wondered what would happen if you accidentally played a game tied to the actual circles of hell and then fell in love with a ghost? No? Well, buckle up anyway—because Phantasma is here to ruin your sleep schedule in the best way. Kaylie Smith delivers a paranormal fantasy that’s equal parts creepy, chaotic, and completely captivating. Our heroine gets swept into a deadly game that’s giving serious Jumanji-meets-demon-realm energy, and then complicates things by catching feelings for a ghost who’s somehow charming and tragic. (Yes, we’re swooning over vapor now. It’s fine, who doesn't love a shadow daddy?) There’s action, twists, shadowy secrets, and just enough romance and spice to keep your ghost-loving heart full. It’s spooky without being too heavy, romantic without being cheesy, and totally bingeable. Verdict: If you like your fantasy with cursed games, otherworldly danger, and a love story that breaks the boundaries of life and death—Phantasma is your next obsession.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Phantasma is Like Fantasma for Adults
I couldn’t put it down, definitely got me out of my reading slump.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Strong FMC
I enjoyed the book's storyline. I very much like the character build of the main character. A great twist near the end of the book and looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com