4.5⭐ | Dark, Twisted, and Utterly Gripping

Kaylie Smith’s Phantasma is a gothic romantasy that had me hooked from the first page. It’s a thrilling mix of haunting atmosphere, high-stakes trials, and a romance that burns with tension. If you love eerie settings, deadly competitions, and complex characters, this is a must-read.

Ophelia Grimm, a determined necromancer, enters a chilling competition in a haunted manor to save her sister. Each trial is inspired by the nine circles of hell and brimming with blood, betrayal, and horror. The stakes feel impossibly high, and the sense of dread grows with every page.

Ophelia’s struggles with OCD are one of the book’s standout elements. The portrayal of her intrusive thoughts and compulsions is raw and authentic, adding an emotional layer to her journey. It’s a rare and beautifully done representation of mental health in fantasy, making her character even more compelling.

Enter Blackwell—the enigmatic, flirtatious MMC who brings both heat and heart to the story. His dynamic with Ophelia is magnetic, filled with sharp banter, slow-building trust, and just the right amount of spice (