Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

Phantasma Reviews

• 
  Esta

  I’ve always had a morbid fascination for stories that fling humanity into fight-to-the-death scenarios as it's the perfect showcase of our species at its most spectacularly awful and occasionally best. And clearly, I’m not alone, given the massive success of Squid Game, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, The Grace Year, The Scholomance trilogy, and even the Saw movies—not to mention several popular romantasies.
  
  Speaking of romantasy, we all know it’s a bold move to compare an adult romantasy debut to crowd favourites—expectations go through the roof and disappointment is practically a given. But the publishers here went all in comparing Phantasma to the genre giants, so, I was bracing myself for a letdown. But Phantasma stood its ground and gave my unabashed love for ACOTAR’s under-the-mountain scenes a run for their money. Here’s why:
  
  Firstly, while the romantasy genre often leans on familiar themes and tropes, and Phantasma feels familiar, it also innovates. We've got:
  
  • A gothic, paranormal New Orleans
  • A haunted house drenched in mind games, blood and terror
  • A Necromancer FMC
  • Hot ghosts
  • Secrets-betrayals-lies
  • Uniquely complicated family dynamics
  • An endearing ghost cat
  • Explorations on the afterlife, and Heaven and Hell.
  • Own Voices representation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  
  It’s fresh and compelling, and it worked for me. Your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about religious afterlife references in your fantasy—and gore that might make Tarantino look twice.
  
  Secondly, the OCD and anxiety representation isn't just tacked on, it’s central to the story and handled with haunting, beautiful, raw vulnerability, using dark fantasy as a vehicle.
  
  The games, akin to the grisly thrills of Saw or Squid Game, were a standout. With nine levels of twisted challenges, each one bringing its own brand of hellish horror, I’ll keep the details under wraps. But fair trigger warning for plenty of blood and guts, and more creative ways to die than you thought possible.
  
  Now, about the romance. I thought it was good. Who did this to you and forbidden romance vibes. It’s not a slow burn, but it also simultaneously sidesteps insta-love. I know people will want to know about the spice. Phantasma has plenty of it. The story stays centre stage, so if spice isn’t your thing, you can skim those scenes and still keep up.
  
  • Spice level: 🌶🌶.5
  • Spicy scene count: 6 spicy, 2 mild
  • Bonus points for everything being 100% consensual.
  
  Quibbles? Sure, the prose isn't flawless and some foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed, leading to predictability, but in no way did this hinder my entertainment or enjoyment. Literature is subjective, so you may perceive differently and that's all good!
  
  Finally, the cherry on top is that Phantasma is standalone, so you’re not signing your life away to another never-ending series. However, the author did tease that she/they hope readers will “return for more deliciously haunting adventures in this world,” so Kaylie Smith, please take my money, I'm ready for more. I ended up having such a good time reading this that it's getting 5 stars!
  
  My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & Second Sky/Forever for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
  
  🔹🔹🔹
  
  Heard that this was a horror romantasy reminiscent of the Saw movies and The Hunger Games mashed up with the end of ACOTAR's book one, except set in a paranormal New Orleans and I couldn't say no.
• 
  Robin

  This fed my gothic romance craving to the extreme and i need every book written by kaylie on my desk by tomorrow!!!
  
  A bloody, gothic feast of a debut, Phantasma will trap you inside its twisted walls and a manor full of secrets where bargains are struck and broken, and one necromancer will contend with its deadly competition to save her sister and receive the elusive wish granted to the surviving player. I have long been an admirer of Kaylie Smith ever since her young adult series debuted and Phantasma is quite possibly my new favorite gothic romance and book from her all in one. Combining a foreboding gothic atmosphere, a competition influenced by the nine circles of hell, and a cursed bargain with a mysterious stranger, Smith casts her shining romantasy with formidable claws. Ophelia Grimm confronts the seen and the unseen, what’s real and what isn't, and Smith enmeshes this with some stellar OCD representation. Phantasma is the very definition of having your cake and eating it too, it's smart, sexy, horrifying, rageful, and somehow all of those can coexist without being contradictory. I’m completely under Kaylie Smith’s thrall and not at all upset about it.
  
  full review to come, over on my blog
  
  thank you to netgalley for providing the arc
  
  
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• 
  liz ౨ৎ

  ➸ 5 stars

  “To those who've had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world—I'm proud of you.”

  
  
  ﹒⟡﹒a song for ophelia grim:
  who’s afraid of little old me? - taylor swift
  
  ﹒⟡﹒thank you to netgalley for the arc!
  
  ➺ trigger warnings: scenes with elements of horror, explicit sexual content, intrusive thoughts and compulsive tics.
  ↳ a complete list of possible triggers is available on the authors website!
  
  “Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game. Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.”
  
  🕯️dark fantasy romance
  🕯️forbidden romance
  🕯️forced proximity
  🕯️OCD representation
  🕯️phantom x necromancer
  🕯️trials inspired by the nine circles of hell
  🕯️haunted/gothic mansion
  🕯️who did this to you
  
  I cannot begin to describe how much I love this book… hopefully this review will do it justice! I’m sacrificing the fancy fonts so that I can write a long review since I figured out that’s what takes up all the characters; warning: this review will be LONG and contain many MANY quotes because I love them all and have to include them!! I’ll try and hold myself back :) (no I won’t)
  
  This book is one that I’ll forever think about; I have not stopped thinking about this story and these characters and I finished reading this book a while ago. As I was picking out the quotes for this review I felt every emotion that I did while reading and oh gosh I wish I could read this for the first time again! It was such an amazing reading experience! I laughed, I giggled (A LOT), I screamed (A LOT), and I cried I FELT EVERY EMOTION POSSIBLE WHILE READING THIS!!! I loved the feeling of escapism this book gave me, I was truly so invested in this story/plot and felt like I was transported into this world while reading. This book will forever hold a special place in my heart; when I tell you I sobbed at the end I mean I SOBBED because of everything that was happening and then I sobbed some more when I reached the end and read the authors note, then again when I read her letter, and then cried/laughed when I reached the acknowledgments… Kaylie Smith quickly became one of my new favorite authors instantly by the time I reached chapter two and everything at the end made me love her even more I WILL READ ANYTHING SHE WRITES AND I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK!!!! I am truly so grateful to have been an arc reader for this book, it will stay with me for a long time and I am counting down the days until the release date so I can get a physical copy, reread, annotate, and fall in love with this story all over again. (I’ll also be working on some fanart for this absolute masterpiece…) ;)
  
  · · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·
  
  “Perhaps she would always be destined for darkness no matter what she did or where she went.”
  
  ➺ ophelia grim - I. LOVE. HER. SO. FUCKING. MUCH. OPHELIA IS MY GIRL AND SHE IS THAT GIRL! My gosh I loved her humor she was so funny, sarcastic and had me laughing my ass off throughout this book! I loved reading this through her pov, I felt like I was feeling everything she was. she’s such a strong girl; I felt for her.
  
  “But she couldn’t help but feel the walls were going to close in on her long before she got the chance to escape.”
  
  Write me into this book and let me give her a hug. Seeing how having to follow her family legacy put so much pressure on her shoulders made me feel for her. Reading about her relationship with her mother really made me shed a few tears I’m not gonna lie… having freedom taken away from her is a feeling I know all too well and I just want to hug her and never let go.
  
  “I say this sincerely, you need an exorcism.”
  
  OH MY GOSH I loved how she always stood up for herself and took no ones shit! I was cheering her on anytime someone tried to cross her like yea bae you tell them! She slayed! (literally) I love her so much!!!
  
  “He’s insufferable,”
  “That seems to be the running theme with every man here.”
  
  “Men are always useless,”
  
  LIKE OKAY YOU GO GIRL!!! I literally giggled every time she put an insufferable character in their place! YOU GET EM BAE!
  
  “I’ve never felt surer about who I am than I do now,” “I know that’s strange. This is the last place I ever thought I’d find myself. But it’s true.”
  
  I literally started bawling my eyes out when she said this. My girl deserves the world and I she’d so many tears seeing her journey throughout this book and her growth.
  
  ➺ ophie & vivi - I absolutely adored them. Two sisters, one with pushed too hard and one gone unnoticed. I love how despite the way they grew up, their love for each other was strong until the end. Their interactions together made me shed a few tears (few… who am I kidding , I was full on sobbing!) I love them.
  
  · · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·
  
  “You’re…” “Um…”
  “Im what? Very handsome? The most striking person you’ve ever seen?”
  
  ➺ blackwell - OH MY GOD THIS MAN IS SO UGHHHH IM IN LOVE! MY NEW BOOK HUSBAND! THIS IS MY MAN FR!! The charming, egotistical, unapologetically flirty, sarcastic men will always do it for me I AM ON MY KNEES FOR THIS MAN SO DOWN BAD HE HAD ME BLUSHING, GIGGLING AND KICKING MY FEET EVERY. SINGLE. CHAPTER I screamed, ran laps around the room, did a backflip, (can you tell how utterly obsessed I am yet????) Forever thankful to Kaylie Smith for creating this character; lives were changed (mine) brain chemistries were altered (mine) people died (me) HES SO HOT I CANTTTT
  
  “I can hardly remember anything other than being distracted from the consuming loneliness of living eternally without a single person who knows me. Because of my limited recollection, I barely know myself.”
  
  THE ANGSTTTTT OH MY GOD I CRIED let me go inside this book and give him a hug too (idk how that would work… he’s a ghost… BUT ILL MAKE IT WORK! AND LET ME PET THE GHOST CAT WHILE IM AT IT)
  
  “I thought I told you not to follow me?”
  “I apologize if I gave you the impression that I do what I’m told.”
  
  ➺ the banter/flirting - OH MY GOD THE BANTER IN THIS BOOK WAS TOP MF TIERRRRRRR! I’ve never had so much fun reading characters back and fourths more than I did with Blackwell and Ophelia! THE FLIRTING?! It had me falling off my bed and on the floor. I cannot explain how perfect it was so I’ll let these next quotes do all the talking :)
  
  “Missed my presence already?”
  “Ah, so that’s the true distinction of a Phamtom—an ego.”
  “That, and what I’m able to do with my hands”
  
  “I don’t care if you’re already dead, I’m going to kill you again.”
  “Is this your attempt at flirting, angel?”
  “Both of my hands are wrapped around your throat!”
  “That doesn’t make it any clearer,”
  
  “You’re a menace.”
  “Only to you.”
  
  And there’s MANY more where those came from, every chapter was filled with something that gave me the biggest smile across my face and an incredible feeling I haven’t felt in a book in a while.
  
  “In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my one source of light,” “My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind.”
  
  ➺ blackwell & ophelia - Oh gosh these two. These two will forever hold a special place in my heart. They will stay with me forever; weeks have passed since I finished reading this book and I think about them every day. I hold so much love for these two characters and I am so glad to have been able to read their story and follow them on their journey. It’s such a bittersweet feeling reaching the end of a book you loved and reading the ending knowing there won’t be more, yet, this reading experience was one I’ll never forget about. This book and their love story became one of my favorites, from the very beginning, I just knew. It was perfect. In every. single. aspect.
  
  “I don’t believe in coincidences. You claim you weren’t supposed to be out that night. But you were. And you found me.”
  
  “…it seems that’s what we do. We find each other.”
  
  Something about two characters who always find their way back to each other JUST DOES IT FOR ME I eat that little trope up! It makes me giggle and feel so giddy every time! I! LOVE! IT!
  
  

  “You came.”
  “You called”

  
  
  I absolutely loved how Blackwell was always with her whenever he could; he was so reassuring towards her in such a subtle way, always having his hand on her waist or shoulder, and not only that but his WORDS! As flirty and obnoxious as he was, he was so encouraging and always believed Ophelia could accomplish anything and helped her grow in so many ways!
  
  

  “Always in threes.”

  
  
  It was the most smallest detail he noticed that really got me; always in threes. The way he just KNEW without even having to ask anything about it and would make sure she did everything in threes, completing it for her when she didn’t, JUST THE THOUGHT OF DOING THAT IN GENERAL FOR HER it’s just- I loved it. My heart quite literally melted from the amount of warmth I was feeling.
  
  “You are the closest thing I will ever get to experiencing heaven, and I’m not ready to let go.”
  
  I WILL NEVER, NEVERRRR GET OVER THEM they’re literally meant for each other! The way they make each other feel safe and less alone, how they know each other so well, how they SEE each other THEY SEE RIGHT THROUGH EACH OTHER THEY SEE EVERYTHING UGH I CANT
  
  “If there were ever a divine entity I’d worship, it’d be you.”
  “My body, your altar.”
  
  DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THE SPICE OH MY GOD! I am not usually a spice girly, usually it makes me uncomfortable or I don’t like it depending how it’s written and if I do read a book with it, it’s usually one or two chapters so this book is definitely the spiciest book I’ve ever read AND OH MY GOD IT WAS EVERYTHING I was gasping for air jaw was on my floor I giggled too much I kicked my feet IT WAS SO GOOD literally on my knees FOR THEM BOTH! people died (me)
  
  “I told you before that nothing would ever stop me from getting to you if you needed me, and that will remain true forevermore. I will tear the universe apart at its seams if I must.”
  
  THE PROTECTIVENESS THE CARE THE YEARNING THE LOVE! These are the types of love stories I adore because I fall in love with THEIR love and feel everything they’re feeling and it gives me the most happiest and joyful feeling, but not only that I also feel the angst, I feel the sadness, I cry the tears they cry and I just feel so connected to these characters. Having a book make me feel so much is one reason I love being a reader and finding these stories that I can escape to.
  
  “I will carry the memories of this time with you forevermore. The matter of my soul will always have your named etched into it.”
  
  · · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·
  
  Okay I’m going to stop blabbing now! I think it’s quite obvious how much I love this book based on how long this review is… haha… If you read it all and see this, hi! ily <3 Thank you for listening to me pour my heart out in this review and I apologize for how long it is (no I don’t I will do it again in my next review hehe)
  
  · · ────────── ·𖥸· ────────── · ·
  
  𓍢ִ໋˖ 🎪 pre-read ⊹𖧧 ࣪ - the description sounds so much like caraval and I LOVEEE caraval so I’m very excited to start this hehehehe
  
• 
  Debra

  Holy Hell, this is a bloody good book!!! I loved Kaylie Smith's writing, the vivid and detailed descriptions, the world building, the fabulous group of characters, the gothic vibe, the steamy scenes, and the element of danger. I am usually hit or miss with books in the fantasy genre, but
  Phantasma cast it's spell on me. I was addicted to this book and the characters from the very first page.
  
  Phantasma is a game held inside a haunted mansion. As with all games there are rules and in Phantasma, not following the rules can have deadly consequences. But don't worry, the rules are simple enough: stay alive and don't fall in love. If you can make it to the end, you win a prize! The prize - you get to make a wish! It had better be a good one!
  
  When Ophelia’s sister goes missing, Ophelia, a necromancer, enters Phantasma to find her. Once in Phantasma, Ophelia must complete 9 levels (like the 9 circles of hell), each one more dangerous and deadly than the last. The contestants will be up against each other, demons, various temptations, and deadly challenges. There will be only one winner. It is not for the faint of heart!
  
  Blackwell, a mysterious, charismatic, sexy and handsome man/ghost/? offers her a bargain, Ophelia decides to take him up on it. But everything is not as it seems in Phantasma!
  
  I had the pleasure of having both the physical book and the audiobook which made for pure bliss. Laura Horowitz, the narrator of the audiobook, did an amazing job. Seriously she nailed it! It was pure listening bliss. I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening to books. I am so happy that I decided to take a chance on this book, and it paid off big time! I absolutely loved this dark, fantasy romance!
  
  The characters are fantastic, as were their names. Plus, there is some great dialogue and banter in this book. Some characters are likeable, some are creepy, some sinister, some are vile, and some grew on me like a weed. Plus, Phantasma has a devilishly wonderful gothic vibe to it.
  
  Addictive, sexy, sinister, fun, entertaining and hard to put down!
  
  Highly Recommend this devilishly delightful book!
  
  Thank you to Second Sky/Forever, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
  
  Read more of my reviews at
  www.openbookposts.com 📖
  
• 
  Coffee&Cliffhangers

  The more I thought about it the more I knew I needed to give it a 5! Dark, fun, and a little spicy. 2.5🌶️
  This was my first time reading anything from Kaylie Smith, both it won't be my last. Phantasma had me excited right from the start. A deadly game trope turned enemies to lovers had me from the start. A dark fantasy that will have you holding your breath until the very end.
  Phantasma is a deadly game that lures you in with the promise of your wish coming true. But what is the catch? You must survive, and you must not fall in love. When Ophelia's sister goes missing she must enter Phantasma to find her. A maze with 9 challenges, where contestants will do anything to win, fighting a new monster at each level, killing their rivals, and even making deals with a devil. As Ophelia struggles to face each challenge she is offered a bargain for her help, and ten years of her life, he will help her clear the levels all she has to do is call his name Blackwell 3 times and he will help her clear the level. Blackwell is charming, attractive, and doesn't seem dangerous. But in Phantasma things aren't always what they seem, and losing her life isn't her only concern.
  Wow, this book was disturbing and delicious, one of my favorite reads this year!
  
• 
  Kaylie

  Dedication To those who’ve had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world⁠— I’m proud of you.
  
  Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  Spice 🌶️🌶️.5
  
  What to Expect
  🥀 Third Person POV
  🥀 Deadly Haunted House Competition
  🥀 Necromancer/Phantom Romance
  🥀 SPICE
  🥀 OCD Representation
  🥀 Secrets and Lies 👀
  
  Hello angel...
  WHAT A RIDE! My thoughts are all over the place but I will do my best to collect them before I forget them. This book had me in an absolute chokehold at the beginning. I scare (way too) easily, I hate horror and gore freaks me out BUT I was so excited to read this. This is like Caraval and A Court of Thorns and Roses but darker... and spicer (I'm just saying, we all deserve a Blackwell that knows his tongue is not just for talking 🥵). My rating to start was 5 stars, immediately, no questions asked. I was confused in the best kind of way. Literally nothing else mattered until I had answers. I also think the portrayal of OCD was perfection - the Shadow Voice was one of my favorite elements of this book.
  
  The middle bit lost me. The story was good, it's there but I was bored. As someone who does not like gore and steers away from horror and any aspect of it, I found myself wanting more! It was sprinkled in during the first portion and I felt teased - this to say, I enjoyed the way Kaylie wrote these elements... The book centers around, what is essentially, a haunted house. A group of participants partake in a game that focuses on the Nine Circles of Hell. The players stay in the house until the game is over. During their stay, as an added element of terror, they can experience 'haunts'; again, supposed to add to the overall gothic horror vibes. We are giving a taste of what one could expect from a haunting two or three times BUT the handsome, mysterious phantom that our girl Ophelia makes a deal with, takes it upon himself to "take care of the haunts" so dear Ophelia NEVER HAS TO DEAL WITH THEM AGAIN.
  “There’s another scheduled haunt going on right now,” he explained. “I took care of yours before you woke up.”
  It felt anti-climatic. I want the drama, the chaos and the unexpected and unforeseeable elements that the hauntings brought. Alas, the plot felt predictable and a bit boring. By 60% I felt this was maaaaybe a 3.5 star read (unfortunately). BUT THE SPICE DURING THIS PORTION OF THE BOOK WAS HAWT... 🥵
  
  “If there were ever a divine entity I’d worship,” he murmured, “it’d be you.” “My body, your altar,” she offered.
  
  THE ENDING! Did I predict what was going to happen? Without a doubt. Absolutely (but this is also why I do not read a lot of mystery or thrillers because I have a knack for figure out what happens. Please take this with a grain of salt as it might not be an obvious conclusion for most!!) My jaw was still on the floor when the big reveal happened and the way that Kaylie delivered it was perfection. I said this in an update and I will say it again: I am a simple soul with simple wants and am entertained easily. I jumped, squealed and giggled from pure enjoyment reading the aftermath of these games. And for that, simple scene alone, my rating went up.
  
  “In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my one source of light,” he lamented as she began to come undone. “My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind.”
  
  I am not a big fan of horror (there are horror elements in the TW list) BUT I saw a reel the author posted to IG of the aesthetics of this book and I cannot NOT read it👀
  
  ** Thank you to Kaylie Smith for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review
• 
  Samantha

  This was super fun! I was a little nervous going in, since this is a newer indie author with her first adult novel. I went in with no expectations and was pleasantly surprised with how much I liked this.
  
  The beginning was a little rough, but the plot quickly developed into something fast-paced with nonstop action. Although, I do think the word “macabre” was slightly overused- I think it showed up at least 15 times. The ending also felt a bit rushed, but tied everything up nicely. Though, I did have some leftover questions about specific aspects in the novel.
  
  Phantasma is a haunted house the mysteriously appears in different cities as a competition mimicking the nine circles of hell. If you survive all nine circles, a devil’s grant is gifted to the winner- your wish is their command with no strings attached. Ophelia enters the competition last minute after her sister disappears, thinking that this is the only place she could have gone. Ophelia experiences a real type of hell in this house and discovers truths that have been hidden for centuries. Will she find her sister and save her family from debt? Or will she succumb to the devils and their bargains?
  
  Devils, demons, phantoms, necromancers- this book has it all! To boot there’s an awesome love story that makes this the ultimate romantasy.
  
  Mental health is also acknowledged in this book. Ophelia suffers from OCD manifesting as malignant voices in her head compelling her to do things. I thought this was well done and an important lesson to readers.
  
  Overall, 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend when it comes out September 3rd.
  
  A great thank you goes out to Kaylie Smith, Forever, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Chiara

  I was very undecided what to say and what rating to give in my review. At times I felt the pace was a bit slow, I felt I didn't need to know what happened in between trials, but oh boy did I change my mind soon.
  
  I've loved everything in this book. I didn't like Ophelia at first, I felt she was too naive, and Kaylie Smith made me change my mind pretty soon. I appreciated Ophelia's journey throughout her trials in Phantasma, she changed and grew up so much. I admired her and how she managed to quiet her inner demon.
  
  Blackwell is something else. His relationship with Ophelia and how they bickered and all the banter was amazing. Any time I read a chapter with the two of them together, I had a smile on my face.
  
  The twist at the end, I saw it coming, especially since Sinclair said something very interesting about the creator of Phantasma that made pay attention, but I loved the way it was delivered and all the subsequent news!!!!
  
  Thank you NetGalley for the ARC
• 
  Lexi

  Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky/Forever for granting my request for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
• 
  talia ♡

  if twitter is correct, then this is the book which will make me fall in love with a ghost boy character, which is like…everything i’ve ever wanted in my life after noah czerny
• 
  D Amora

  “𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄’𝙢 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙜𝙤.”
  💋🩸🗡️☠️🧛🌹🎪🕯️🩸🗡️☠️🧛🌹🎪🕯️💋🩸🗡️☠️🧛🌹🎪🕯️
  
  I will try my best not to spoil since the book isn’t out yet, but if anything you better make sure this book is on your tbr or I’ll forcefully put it on there. I’m a simple girl, I loveeee stories with games in it it’s always so intriguing to me and makes the plot and romance that much more interesting.
  
  This story is dark, gothic, bloody, all in good ways though. Think of the plot of Caraval where two sister get sucked in a game, the eldest only playing to find her little sister who has kept secrets from her. This is another story with two sisters, entering a game called Phatasma. despite the similar idea, it is still veryyy different. In a way I would say this is the adult version with ghosts, vampires, devils, and necromancers. And unlike caraval, Phantasma is a game where you literally have to unalive people in order to win. Because there can only be one winner.
  
  This story is creepy, romantic, and will absolutely have you hooked.
  
  What to look forward to:
  - forbidden romance
  -MC with OCD
  -love intrest has Danny phantom vibes
  -trials in this games inspired by the nine circles of hell
  -forced proximity
  
  In terms of romance, I loved it. The Mmc was so pookie, cute and kind and literally had me on my knees. Did I mention he gives Danny phantom? There are some spicy scenes, but worry not if you don’t like spice those pages are easily avoidable and do not remove from the plot. I’m not sure if this book is considered a standalone, but given the ending of the book it definitely can be read as a standalone, but there’s definitely going’ to be more explored in this world and I can’t wait!
• 
  rena

  Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
  
  ⭐ 3.5
  
  This book entertained me when I needed the most (my phone broke)
  This was a lot of fun! I loved the atmosphere, I liked the writing and I love deadly games, especially when it's not just people-trying-to-kill-each-other and actually has some different dynamics. I would be excited and curious to see what the next level would be like.
  
  However, the romance (as always, lately) was disappointing. One of the reasons I wanted to read this was because I've always wanted to see a romance with a ghost but I needed more emotional connection before anything. I need authors to care about emotional connection like they used to, I don't care if there's destiny involved, I need to know how and why they love each other! I don't think it was instalove though, but it was a fastburn imo. They did have a nice dynamic so I wasn't so mad, I just didn't feel anything.
  
  And about the main character, I liked her most of the time but she annoyed when she went from being too innocent for the place she chose to be to being rude to Luci unprovoked because she apparently was being too innocent (?).
  
  Overall, like I said, it was such a fun book and I loved the ending! I will keep an eye on whatever the author writes next.
• 
  Athena of Velaris

  Enter into a world of opulent horror where guests compete in nine sinful trials to earn a single wish. Fail or fall in love? Death awaits.
  
  Ophelia grew up with one rule. Never make a deal with a Devil. But then her sister disappears into the treacherous world of Phantasma. Desperate, Ophelia meets Blackwell, the mysterious and attractive ghost who may be her only chance of bringing her sister home. He’ll help her win the games and find her sister in exchange for setting him free. But if she fails? Ten years of her life will belong to him. As Ophelia and Blackwell grow closer to solving the mystery, dangers stalk them in the shadows. But most dangerous of all? The love they’re starting to feel for each other.
  
  Phantasma has everything I look for in a book. The characters are incredible, the plot gripped me and didn’t let go, and the world was so beautifully horrifying that I couldn’t look away. Ophelia is an amazing main character because she’s strong without being perfect, cold without being heartless, and struggling without being redundant. When I tell you the romance in this novel is one for the record books… wow do I mean it. Blackwell and Ophelia were perfect together especially when they were fighting and I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with them as much as I have. 
  
  The story's pacing was great—fast without feeling rushed—and though the plot was predictable, I had so much fun reading that I almost didn’t care. The one thing that kept this book from being a five-star for me was the end. Everything felt too easy, especially after the incredible tension built earlier in the story, and I wanted just a little more. 
  
  That being said, Phantasma is incredible. It’s an immersive reading experience not for the faint of heart (please check the TWs) and a story I won’t soon forget. Read if you like…
  
  🩸 Forced proximity in a place trying to kill them
  🗡️ “You came?” / “You called.”
  ☠️ Ghosts and demons and things that go bump in the night
  🌹 Honest depiction of mental illness
  🎪Bloody opulence in a haunted mansion
  🕯️ Gothic horror
  🩸 A ghostly MMC who always knows exactly what to say
  🗡️ A stubborn FMC with a knack for doing the impossible
  ☠️ Hurt comfort → “Nothing is going to hurt you when I’m here.”
  🌹 “Touch her and you die.”
  🎪 Jealousy never looked so good
  🕯️A setting with hidden doorways and bloody mirrors
  🩸 Phantom of the Opera meets Caraval meets ACOTAR meets perfection
  🗡️Sisterhood that goes beyond a plot device
  ☠️ A cute little ghost cat that is also very very sinister
  🌹 New Orleans and a faintly historical time 
  🎪 “I hate that I like you so much”
  🕯️A MMC willing to beg (but only in a specific set of circumstances)
  🩸An anti-social FMC who doesn’t pretend to be sweet (“And you are?” / “Not interested in socializing.”)
  🗡️Romance that makes people better but doesn’t try to “fix” anyone
  ☠️ He uses endearments to annoy her
  🌹 He loves it when she’s a little wicked → “I want to taste your sins.”
  🎪 Forbidden love (literally—you’ll be cursed forever if you fall in love)
  🕯️"If there were ever a divine entity I’d worship,” he murmured, “It’d be you.”
  “My body, your altar.”
  
  An e-ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
• 
  Fatima

  A big thanks to Bookouture Audio and Net-galley for providing this audiobook arc!
  
  It's been a hot minute since I've enjoyed a fantasy/pnr romance lately but colour me surprised that this book was able to get me out of my romantasy/pnr funk.
  
  Phantasma follows Ophelia, a necromancer from a generation of Necromancer's, who finds herself in a bit of a financial crunch and needs to pay off a debt that her mother had taken or lose her home, Grimm Manor, to the bank. Ophelia and her sister Genevive are not sure what can be done to ensure the Manor stays in the family. The solution to this problem comes in the form of Phantasma, an event that is designed by the devil himself where participants compete for nine days in nine challenges and the winner gets their wish granted. The event is held in an abandoned locality and the participants also need to face the different entities haunting that place. Phantasma also resorts to trickery by bringing your hidden fears and nightmares to life, either to discourage you from playing the game or by forcing you to make deals with the devils overseeing the game.
  
  Genevive enters the game so that they can save the manor and Ophelia unwillingly participates to save Genevive. But fear and temptations run amok in the Phantasma. Can Ophelia save her sister and her heart and come out unscathed?
  
  I loved the narration in the Audiobook. It was well done. The narrator did a good job in voicing the different characters. The pacing of the book was also moderate. The events in the book span across nine days and entirely revolves around the game and Ophelia's development as a character. We also meet Blackwell, the MMC who has also a certain charm to him, who intrigues and infuriates Ophelia to no end. The banter and romance provided a nice built up to the spice and boy was it good!
   
  Kaylie Smith is a new to me author, so I do not have a benchmark to compare her with. But let me tell you, I liked what I read! The world building outside of Phantasma was not very elaborate but Phantasma, the event, definitely cooked. The challenges could've been a bit more enticing, and the stakes could've been a bit higher. The revelation or should I say the twist was also predictable, and I wished we could've spent more time with events that led to the origin of Phantasma.
  
  To sum up the experience, Phantasma is a good read for readers who enjoy a gothic atmospheric setting, with trials and tribulations as the main trope.
• 
  Me, My Shelf, & I

  Ya know... I'm normally not the target audience for books with covers similar to this one. But I'm a sucker for gothic, horror, smutty, and deadly competitions so I had to request this anyway.
  
  And I'm glad I did because this was surprisingly fun. You still can't convince me this isn't Danny Phantom fanfic (and see my real time conspiracy theory below)!! But I thought the couple had fun banter/sniping, the manor and its mysteries were engaging, and the horror elements were well done.
  
  I appreciate the OCD rep in this (specifically how it handled and represented intrusive thoughts) as I've not seen that rep before in a novel, but it always felt honest and not like it became a defining characteristic for the main character nor the story while still presenting a lingering threat.
  
  There were a few errors here and there (interlicking instead of interlinking, etc) and some elements that weren't as dimensional as others (Cade is basically a carbon-copy of The Hunger Games's Cato and is almost cartoonishly evil so that the reader holds no sympathy for him). But overall it didn't detract from either my enjoyment or investment in this silly little, horrorotica, Danny Phantom romantasy.
  
  TWs: snakes, bugs, spiders, blood, death, murder, mutilation
  
  Thank you to Second Sky/Forever and NetGalley for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
  ------------------------------------------------
  I'm 80 pages in and I think we finally just met the love interest??? And I have a new conspiracy theory on the inspiration!
  
  He's petting a ghost cat and described as:
  

  He had shocking white hair and bright jewel-green eyes ...The edges of his silhouette didn’t have the same haloed blue glow that the other Apparitions had; rather, there was a faint white illumination about him instead

  vs:
  

  When he first woke up, he realized he had snow-white hair
  And glowing green eyes
  He could walk through walls, disappear, and fly
  He was much more unique than the other guys

  
  
  
  Update, 2 pages later:
  HE'S A PHANTOM PHANTOM PHANTOM PHANTOM
  

  “You’re not crazy,” he agreed, gaze softening. “This is clearly your first time meeting a Phantom.”
  Phantom. That was it. No wonder he was so… solid.

  
  
  
  Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.
• 
  blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺

  DNF@37%
  This is not a bad book but it is not a book for me. While things happen all the time, I didn't find myself entertained by any of them. I was also not a fan of the FMC's interactions with Blackwell, the fact that she has barely had any contact with men prior to Phantasma (which I just think is such a tired concept and not something I like reading about), and him being a get out of jail free card for her troubles felt too convenient. These are all "me" problems; the book itself isn't bad and I think it'll find its audience among Romantasy readers.
  
  Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the ARC.
• 
  Hannah G

  Just barely 3 stars, maybe 2.8. Sadly, I think I’m the odd one out on this one. My rating feels harsh, but it wasn’t the writing, I promise! I was looking forward to this gothic romantasy about a game based off the levels of hell, but this was just not it for me.
  
  There was a heavy emphasis on the romance that felt like insta-lust; random and cheesy. I know what I should expect with a romantasy, but I was rolling my eyes and skimming the intimate scenes. I felt no real connection or even delicious tension between the FMC and MMC.
  
  I was really intrigued by the plot. The mystery of why her mom died, what her sister was hiding, who was running phantasma… but her sister’s storyline fell flat. How did she survive all the games? I wanted to DNF a few times even despite the moments of curiosity. I will say I didn’t mind how it all ended. But, I struggled finishing this book.
  
  I’m definitely not dismissing this book or author, I just think this wasn’t for me. If you’re into topics of: ghosts, necromancy, dark (but somehow this still felt light?) romances then you should give this story a try.
  
  Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
• 
  Brend

  Bitter cause I didn't get the arc, excited still cause that's just life.
  
  Sigh.
• 
  briar ˚୨୧⋆｡˚

  neither mind-blowing nor awful. it was mostly kind of whatever. but one thing that's genuinely funny to me is that his true name is blackwell. like hello? imagine a god named tommy. a fairy king named kyle. subhanallah, what happened to whimsy?
  
  i did get what i came for (caraval), and while it was far better written (hence the extra half star), it was also far less creative, plot and worldbuilding wise. which is expected when half the trials are based on the seven deadly sins, i guess. also a very generic deal with the devil + instalove romance. she doesn't know him, he doesn't remember her, and they fall in love within three days of their first meeting, tra la la. however, going through the same trauma would probably make people closer, so they're slightly more believable than other instalove plots. and the curse and the ending do add a little more substance to their relationship. the erotica was nice enough, so people into dark fantasy romance will enjoy this, i believe.
  
  as for the characters, they were very caraval coded indeed. ophelia is a domineering older sister and has an extremely rigid view of genevieve (and unlike tella, she's done nothing to be characterized the way ophelia thinks of her). genevieve is impulsive and independent and loves her sister, and these her only three personality traits. blackwell is the most generic romantasy mmc to walk the planet: hot, secretive, deep dark traumatic past, overconfident, good at fucking. all in all, i wasn't wowed by anyone, and i hated blackwell more than i hated julian and dante combined, especially with the twist at the end. (this is a normal occurrence for me with romantasy mmcs, so the rating is still three stars.)
  
  thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy.
• 
  tori

  Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for providing an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
  
  this book reminded me a lot of caraval, just a little darker. and like with caraval, unfortunely i felt pretty indifferent about it. the romance didn’t really work for me—it was too focused on the physical side, so the characters got together way too quickly, which made it hard for me to stay engaged with the rest of the book. i needed more emotional connection between the characters. additionally, there’s some things that were interesting in the worldbuilding (the devils, necromancers, ghosts and etc) and it was easy to get me to immerse in it but the plot was quite predictable, and i was able to guess the ending way ahead. still, if you’re looking for the typical YA/NA romantasy vibe, this book does the job well enough.
• 
  Leanne

  4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley, Forever, and Second Sky for this advanced copy! You can pick up Phantasma on September 3, 2024.
  
  The vibes in this book are IMMACULATE. Perfect Gothic, spooky, haunted house with a magical competition and a sexy, bargain-making ghost. Phantasma was deliciously spicy without being too much, the banter was great, and the romance fun. I'd definitely pick this one up in the fall and prepare for a fun ride.
  
  There's also great OCD rep in this book, making Ophelia's character feel realistic and understandable. I loved her growth throughout this story and how everything wrapped up in the end.
  
  If you're looking for a sexy, aged-up Caraval set in a Gothic haunted house, this is your book!
• 
  sam

  thank you Forever & Netgalley for the arc!
• 
  Julia Nash

  Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  Phantasma by Kaylie Smith is the grown up, darker love child of Caraval and Kingdom of the Wicked and I am here for it! It is truly a spellbinding tale that mixes mystery with magic
  The plot will keep readers at the edge of their seat. I really enjoyed the twists and turns. Smith’s worldbuilding is interesting as it makes the familiar unfamiliar, and her prose paints a world that is as beautiful as it is dangerous.
  While some readers might write Phantasma off as purely spice, It deals with themes of courage, sisterhood, and self-discovery that make this book so much more than just a romantasy. The protagonist suffers from OCD (although they don’t have the words to describe it as such) and it is handled with sensitivity and depth.
  Smith has created a masterpiece that will linger on my mind long after I have finished it.
• 
  McKenna

  Phantasma has two rules: 1. Stay alive. 2. Don’t fall in love.
  
  I’m UNWELL with how much I loved this book. I’m in deep, y’all. I don’t know if there’s anything out there currently that can cure the book hangover I’ve got after finishing this. Halfway through the book I found myself immediately signing up for the author’s newsletter, following her on Instagram (along with the publishers), and obsessively scouring the internet for fan art for a book that isn’t available to the general public for four more months. Good news, I found some. Bad news, I’m borderline feral for Blackwell.
  
  *Deep breath*
  
  I probably should wait longer to post a review, that way I can form coherent thoughts, make intellectual comments, and keep the fangirling to a professional level. But here I am. I’m just a girl, standing in front of the internet, begging everyone to read this book.
  
  Phantasma is a collection of all the best things. We’ve got gothic vibes, necromancers, devils, deadly contests, A HOT ASS GHOST, amazing OCD rep, a steamy romance, and that’s just to start! Also, as a treat, we’ve even got a “Who did this to you?”. Friends. The scream I scrumpt.
  
  Ophelia is an amazing FMC, her constant battle with her inner voice was heartbreaking and real. It was so rewarding to see her confidence grow as well as her magic. And Blackwell? If you’ve ever had a crush on a ghost in any form of media, this will hit home. It’s honestly everything you hoped for and more. The story is so rich and elaborate, I kept checking my progress to make sure there was more to read!
  
  Now, if you’ll excuse me. I must go back and reread this while I count the days until I have a physical copy I can mount on my wall like a trophy.
  
  Phantasma is out September 3, 2024.
  
  Thanks SO MUCH to Second Sky/Forever and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
• 
  Lydia Timpson

  Despite the overuse of the word egregious and the misspelling of the word 'maggot', this has got to be one of my favourite books of the year so far.
  Fantastic representation of someone with OCD and social issues. Brilliant banter. Exquisitely gorey and yet deliciously descriptive.
  Sibling friendship and growth. steamy and unique spicy scenes and a MMC who girls will fall for.
  This is basically putting the Hunger Games in a haunted house, making it gothic and adding ALL of the spice.
  5 stars. Instant buy.
• 
  leena.reader

  Thank you to Netgalley and to the author for allowing me access to this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
  
  « October 23: Phantasma, the Devil’s Manor, arrives in New Orleans. »
  
  « Lastly, and perhaps most important of all - fall in love within Phantasma at your own risk. »
  
  « I told you before that nothing would ever stop me from getting to you if you needed me, and that will remain forevermore. I would tear the universe apart at its seams if I must. »
  
  Rating: 4 ⭐️
  Genre: Gothic Dark Paranormal Fantasy Romance
  Format: ARC Ebook
  Pages: 462
  Spice: 3 🌶️
  POV: Third POV
  S/S: First in a series
  Check trigger warnings for any book
  
  So addicting both in the plot and characters.
  
  The New Orleans lore in this book was so interesting to read about, the degrees of paranormal beings, their roles, and their threats. The atmosphere was so spooky and done so well, I felt the mood constantly.
  
  Ophelia is a very intricate character. She deals with the pressure of her family’s expectations to uphold the Grimm legacy, whilst wanting to live her own life somehow and battling her inner demons. We see her deal with something similar to OCD throughout her life, the book, and the trials.
  
  The plot was so addicting! A Devil’s Manor that offers you a single life-altering wish when you beat every level? Run by devils who torture you just for the hell of it? The level’s challenge themselves were so intriguing, I felt as though I was there.
  
  Now, Mister Blackwell. I will be yours any day of the week, I’ll make any blood bargain with you. PLEASE GIVE ME A CHANCE!!! You’re offering me a handsome stranger with powers? Mmmhh yummy.
  
  I loved their relationship, the evolution, the banter, the tender moments, the support they gave each other, and of course, the smut.
  
  The other participants were also well-written, as they all brought something to the competition.
  
  I will say that I did guess the twist of the book but I wasn’t disappointed when I read it because it had lore behind it.
  
  I can’t wait to see book 2, which I’m guessing will follow another Grimm family member and another Phantasma resident…?
  
  Quotes (MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!!):
  
  « To those who’ve had to claw their way out of the dark and still choose to be a light in this world »
  
  « The Devil had a wicked mouth and a voice as smooth as bourbon. »
  
  « Ophelia was now the eldest Grimm. A dead mother made her much more than an orphan. »
  
  « This time, the flames were a silvery blue. Grimm Blue. »
  
  « Having any sort of power was as foreign to Ophelia as the prospect of adventure or romance. »
  
  « Well, he clearly doesn’t have a brain if he threw away his opportunity with you. »
  
  « The first was that if the dark looks at you, you never look back. That was a surefire way to be caught by a Devil. »
  
  « Souls that are dead cannot cross roses of red. »
  
  « A house of Devils is no place for an angel like you. »
  
  « A heart and a key would set me free, » it said. « But you should hope we do not meet again, angel. »
  
  « Oh, bite me, » she deadpanned. His smirk grew wider. « Is that an invitation? »
  
  « What would it be like to have someone so enraptured with you that they forgot eberything else around them? »
  
  « I don’t care if you’re already dead. I’m going to kill you again. » « Is this your attempt at flirting, angel? »
  
  « I need you to know if you were to ever let me touch you, in any way, the moment you wanted to stop - I would. No hesitation. »
  
  « Your face might be able to be replicated, but your ego can’t. »
  
  « You came. » « You called. »
  
  « There’s no article of clothing I don’t know how to take off efficiently. »
  
  « I will never beg for anything, » she said. He grinned. « Famous last words. »
  
  « next time your mind tries to convince you otherwise, remember this: there is nothing about you that I find undesirable. Okay? »
  
  « As much as it pains me to say this, » Blackwell’s voice rang out, « keep your clothes on, angel. »
  
  « I want to know everything. I want to see all the darkest corners of your mind. »
  
  « You can do anything you want, angel. I’d let you drag me to the depths of Hell right now if that would please you. »
  
  « God, » she exclaimed at the sight. Blackwell smirked. « I could get used to that name, I suppose. »
  
  « Men are always useless. »
  
  « I think you might be the closest to heaven I’ll ever get, » he whispered.
  
  Blackwell was the one to speak first. «  I fell less alone with you, too. »
  
  « I say this sincerely. You need an exorcism. »
  
  « If there were ever a divine entity I’d worship, » he murmured, « it’d be you. » « My body, your altar. »
  
  « In a different life, in a fair one, I would’ve kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust, » he vowed to her.
  
  « You’re a menace. » « Only to you. » She grinned, smug. « And it’d better stay that way, » he told her.
  
  « I never want another soul to touch you like this. Only me. »
  
  « In all the darkness, in all the loneliness, you have been my one source of light, » he lamented as she began to come undone. « My soul will go to its grave with your name echoing in my mind. »
  
  « The matter of my soul will always have your name etched into it. »
  
  « Devil. » « Angel, » he drawled. She kiss him then, long and slow, reveling in the little piece of heaven she saved from the dark depths of Hell.
  
  Leena - Leena.reader review - @leena.reader on tiktok and instagram
• 
  Nenia ✨ I yeet my books back and forth ✨ Campbell

  Holy shit this sounds amazing
• 
  Kari

  Phantasma is a wickedly dark delight that will hook you and not let you go until you’ve explored all its sinful depths. Be ready to be completely obsessed with this bingeworthy read. To start, this is definitely a dark read, so make sure you’ve checked trigger warnings before starting because it’s not for the faint of heart. Ophelia and Blackwell will capture your heart and mind as you try to decipher the truth of Phantasma’s trials. I am a complete sucker for character banter and these two had some of the best banter I’ve read in a long time. I also really loved the whole premise of the different challenges presented to the participants based on the nine circles of hell and the different skills it took to survive. This is everything I never knew I wanted in a dark romantasy and managed to elicit an extreme range of emotions while I read. I also felt the plot moved along very well with the change in challenges. This also brought forth plenty of absolutely shocking scenes and plot twists to keep you fully invested. I combo read this with the ebook and audiobook and let me tell you that audio is the way to go. Laura Horowitz will lull you in with her expert narration. You’ll tune out the outside world to listen as she takes you through the various levels of Phantasma while really bringing forth the fear, anxiety, and heart pulsing adrenaline that accompanied the story. I was so invested in her narration, that I finished Phantasma in one day. I highly encourage you to check out this story, but especially the audiobook as long as you’re okay with the trigger warnings.
  ✨
  ✨
  eARC courtesy of Second Sky and Netgalley
  ALC courtesy of Bookouture Audio and Netgalley
• 
  june

  Thank you Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for providing me an advanced copy/audiobook of Phantasma. The narrator performed the characters really well and it had a similar premise with Caraval. This book is perfect for fans who loves games set in a gothic house surrounded with supernatural elements like demons, ghosts, and necromancers. I found it really fun and entertaining, the characters, the story that dates centuries back that explains Blackwell's character really well at the end, i felt like it was rushed but it tied his backstory.
  
  The main character, Ophelia, had great rep of OCD, and her determination to keep searching for answers since she discovered the Phantasma had history tied to her family.
  
  The games, however, had potential where they're based on the seven deadly sins. It felt dragging listening to their scenes.
  
  I also loved the relationship between Ophelia and Blackwell, they had great chemistry especially when Ophelia knew the little things about Blackwell and the way Blackwell had gave her so much reassurances when the games made her paranoid, when she had intrusive thoughts, giving consent. They won't go anywhere without the each other following, uses and had reliances for each other as long as Blackwell breaks free from his tragic curse and wants to help Ophelia to find her sister and help her win the games. They wanted the best for each other, both being sacrificial and had me at the edge of my seat during the ending.
  
  Overall, I liked the book and the paranormal romance, the sibling relationships, the gothic premise.
• 
  abby

  5⭐️ Oh my gosh this book was everything! This is a dark gothic fantasy with some elements of romance as well. The setting takes place at a magical house where a competition called Phantasma occurs, and the house travels around the world for anyone to enter the game. This book specifically follows Ophelia and her journey with Phantasma. This book had twists and turns that made me just want to keep reading! With the competition there are different levels and each level corresponds with something specific. I found reading about the different challenges so interesting and I really enjoyed how they kept me guessing. The banter in this book was so good as well. This book had magic within the house but also magical being as well. If you liked the book Caraval this is similar to that but a bit more dark and twisted and so entertaining! This book was everything I was looking for!
  
  Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for this eARC for my honest opinion.