Unleash Your Inner Emo with Kaylie Smith’s Gothic Romance, ‘Phantasma’
Phantasma
By Kaylie Smith
Genres: Adult, New Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Horror
Publisher: Second Sky
Published: September 2024
Format: eBook ARC
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars
As someone who’s not *super* into horror, I admit I hesitated over Phantasm. But once the words “hot ghost” were uttered, I knew I was a goner. And LORDY am I glad my dweeby heart lost that battle. This was everything my emo, autumn-obsessed, romantasy-loving self could have hoped for.
This Ain’t the Addams Family’s Haunted House
Set in old school New Orleans, everything about the world building set the mood for this creepy competition to the death right from the start. But once Phantasma—the haunted house where competitors fight to stay alive from their worst nightmares—comes into play, shadows are filled with secrets and every corner holds a whisper of mystery. This gothic romantasy invites readers to embrace their love of the macabre and Kaylie does a fantastic job of bringing this chaotic death mansion to life.
It Was Never a Phase
For all my fellow emos who still feel the pull of black lace and the call of My Chemical Romance, Phantasma feels like a giant hug. Everything in this book from the decor, to the fashion called to my inner goth and I loved every second. Haunted house? Check. Magical murderous competition? Yep. Romance with a ghost? Heck yeah. Spicy scene in blood rain? 😈 The vibes were absolutely immaculate.
She Can Do It With a Broken Heart
Underneath all the death and gore is a wholesome story about self-discovery, love, and sisterly bonding. Both Ophelia and her sister Genevieve’s world is thrown sideways when their mother passes away at the beginning of the book. And through a series of crazy events, Ophelia ends up competing in Phantasma and discovering how strong she truly is. The contest brings her and her sister together in a way that made my only-child heart melt.
I absolutely adored Ophelia, and watching her journey of self-love and acceptance gave me all the warm fuzzies. Her struggle with OCD was so well represented and it was a joy to watch Ophelia learn to love herself over the course of the story.
And Blackwell?!? I’ve never been so in love with a fictional ghost.
“Oh angel, you have not seen even a modicum of what I am capable of.”
This is such a niche reference that only a specific audience will appreciate, but anyone who loved Meg Cabot’s Mediator series growing up as much as me will absolutely eat this sh*t up. It’s the emo, adult version I didn’t know I needed.
The Final Word
From forbidden romances to hidden betrayals, every chapter of Phantasma holds a new, exciting twist that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Kaylie Smith’s Phantasma is a celebration of all things dark, weird, and mysterious while still giving the reader a ton of heart. So, if you're someone who never quite let go of their emo phase, dive into the shadows with this gothic romance and let your inner darkness roam free.
