I just finished Phantasma by Kaylie Smith, and wow—this book completely pulled me in from the start. As the first installment in the Wicked Games series, it blends dark fantasy, romance, and a deadly competition in a way that had me hooked. I love stories with high stakes and a touch of necromancy, so I knew this would be right up my alley. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
The story follows Ophelia, a necromancer who’s trying to survive after her mother’s brutal murder. With a huge debt looming over her and her sister to protect, she enters Phantasma—a deadly game set in a cursed manor, where contestants must fight their way through nine floors of brutal challenges to win a single wish. Along the way, she meets Blackwell, a mysterious and charming competitor who offers to help her. Their partnership is full of tension, attraction, and the ultimate risk—falling for each other in a game where love is against the rules.
I absolutely loved the fast-paced storytelling and the dark, eerie atmosphere. The competition felt intense, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. Plus, the romance between Ophelia and Blackwell had me completely invested. That being said, I did wish the New Orleans setting played a bigger role in the story, and some of the plot twists felt a little predictable. But even with those minor critiques, I found myself completely immersed in the world.
Overall, Phantasma was an exciting, emotional, and addictive read. It had the perfect mix of danger and desire, and now I’m desperate for the next book in the series. If you love dark fantasy with high stakes and a swoon-worthy romance, I highly recommend picking this one up!
