Phantasma by Kaylie Smith

When I tell you this book catapulted me out of a reading slump. When I tell you this book hurtled me out of my reading slump with the momentum of a rocket launching into space. I mean it.

Ophelia comes from a family of necromancers. Necromancers help wayward ghosts, and act as a bridge between the corporeal plane and the Other Side.

When Ophelia realizes her mother is gone, her sister is missing and keeping secrets… and the darkness in Ophelia’s mind is beginning to wake again… she is faced with one option… enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious phantom offers her a bargain.

Charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead. All he asks in return is ten years of her life.

“How did you end up trapped here?” “That,” he said, “is the burning question, isn’t it?”

What if I just stopped this review right now and just went back to do a reread of this book? I’m about to. I’m just sitting here in shock over what I just read. It’s that good.

Ophelia has OCD tendencies, it’s great to see representation of that in a fantasy romance story.

She is also burdened by family legacy and not necessarily doing what she wants to but what she feels is required of her.

“The need to be good, to do well by everyone who had ever expected anything of her, was nestled deep inside her bones.”

Stay with me here… gothic… Squid Games. It came to mind a few times. I felt it. Experienced it. I’m here for it.

I saw something coming a mile away. Like… 50 chapters before it happened I knew…. And when it was confirmed… I literally lost. My. Mind. I went into a hysterical… screaming fit. I literally could not be consoled.

This book is so emotional. There were parts that I was literally a sobbing puddle on the floor. Boogers… snot…. Running down my face. I’ve never been so disheveled and upset and felt like I wanted to riot over the pain that was happening to these characters.

There’s some really good praise moments in this book….

“You’re doing excellent,” Blackwell praised. “Keep going.” His encouragement made her push herself harder. As much as she hated to admit it, she craved confirmation when she did something well.

There’s some good girl moments that had me shrieking like a banshee.

Blackwell is protective. Like… really protective. There’s a who hurt you moment… it’s so yummy.

When he said to Ophelia… “There’s no article of clothing I don’t know how to take off efficiently.”…. HELP.

Her Nickname is “Angel” and it makes me swoon every time he says it.

When regular guys say “I love you” but Blackwell says… “I want to see all the darkest corners of your mind.” He tilted his face up to whisper his next words right into her ear. “I want to taste your sins.”

What I think I love the most about this story is Ophelia’s growth. Watching her rise to the occasion of her life was incredible to witness and completely inspiring.

“Death she was familiar with. Living would be the real challenge.”

There’s a moment where she hears her mother tell her to “LIVE” and it was so sweet and beautiful I wept.

The lessons in this story are incredible. It’s ok to ask for help. It’s ok to take up space. It’s ok to have your own dreams. And the people who love you will love you no matter what. “She had settled into the idea that she was powerful enough to look at the dark and could handle whatever might look back.”

And the romance swept me away completely. It was beautiful, earth shattering, groundbreaking. “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.”

If you want romance that will break you apart and rebuild you. If you want strong heroes with trauma to navigate and strength to forge. If you are rooting for heroines who forge their soft hearts to become hearts with teeth… you have found the right book. #booktok #bookrecommendations #bookreview #fantasy #romance