Rate: 💖💖💖💖
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Favorite Quote: “My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind.”
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith is a captivating dark romance with a surprising plot twist and a healthy dose of spice. From the very beginning, the story draws you in with its haunting atmosphere and emotionally complex heroine.
We follow Ophelia Grimm in the aftermath of her mother’s death, a loss that leaves her not only grieving, but also burdened with her mother’s powers—and her debts. Unbeknownst to Ophelia, her sister has been aware of the family’s dark secrets for quite a while and makes the decision to enter Phantasma, a dangerous game that promises the possibility of wiping away their debt. This leaves Ophelia reeling—anxious, frantic, and struggling to cope with OCD.
I want to pause and give a huge shoutout to Kaylie Smith’s representation of mental health, particularly OCD. While I don’t have it myself, I felt like the depiction was handled with care, depth, and realism. It added a layer of vulnerability to Ophelia’s character that made her all the more compelling.
Determined to protect her sister, Ophelia enters Phantasma herself. What follows is a high-stakes, heart-pounding journey through a series of increasingly dangerous trials. With the reluctant help of a Vexing (and oddly attractive) Phantom, Ophelia faces each level head-on, discovering hidden truths, and confronting enemies—both external and internal—along the way.
I’m giving this one a strong 4 stars, and honestly, that’s only because I didn’t have the chance to fully immerse myself in it (you know, new mom life!). If I’d been able to sit down and truly devour this world the way I wanted to, I’m confident it could’ve been an easy 5-star read.
If you’re into dark, twisty romances with layered characters, fierce sisterly love, and just the right touch of haunting magic, Phantasma might just be your next favorite read.