Book Review: Phantasma

Overview:

Book 1 in the Wicked Games series
Book 2: Enchantra
Book 3: Daemonica

Rating: 4/5 stars

Genre: Dark Fantasy Romance

Tropes: Gothic, Magical Bargains, “Who Did This To You”, “Touch Her and Die”, Deadly Competition, OCD Representation

Blurb:

Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules to the game: Stay alive. And don’t fall in love.

When Ophelia’s sister disappears, there is only one way to save her. Ophelia must enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize—a single wish.

Phantasma is a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, of demons and temptations. Ophelia will face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. There can only be one winner, and the other contestants will stop at nothing to eliminate their rivals.

Every day the house creates new monsters. But just as Ophelia’s fears threaten to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger 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.

Ophelia knows she shouldn’t trust him. Blackwell doesn’t seem dangerous, but appearances can be deceptive. Worse still, she feels a dark and irresistible attraction drawing them closer and closer.

Her life is on the line. But in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart . . .

Review:

Ophelia is a necromancer who enters a demon competition in order to save her sister. The competition takes place over 8 nights, with each night having a different trial based around the circles of hell / cardinal sins.

The trials get pretty twisted. And in between trials they get bombarded with haunting sand their great seat fears. Competitors have the option of backing out in between trials, making deals with demons, or dying. And people end up dying in pretty bloody ways.

Ophelia chooses to make a deal. Not with a demon, but with a ghost that is trapped in the manor, Blackwell. He helps her throughout the trials, while she searches for a way to free him. But he doesn’t just help with the trials, he also helps her in between. Ophelia suffered from OCD intrusive thoughts and compulsions. Blackwell helps banish those thoughts when he can. They end up in a physical relationship as well.


I think this was a fun read. I liked Ophelia’s character growth. I thought the romance itself could have been a little darker. Especially because I saw the big twist coming from a mile away and expected more of Blackwell.

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