I wanted to love Phantasma, but for some reason it just wasn’t working for me. Maybe it’s just not my cup of tea. But the combination of world and romance wasn’t working for me. Keep reading this book review of Phantasma for my full thoughts.
Summary
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
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Not going to lie, going into Phantasma at the beginning felt very much like an adult Caraval. There’s a magical game for survival and our wishes. It’s a game with fangs, deals with unintended consequences, and plenty of danger. With trials molded after hell, I did feel like this was a bit of a shallow interpretation with the layers and trials. In general, Phantasma‘s world building was a bit lackluster in places. I wanted to delve more into the trials or the elements of hell, but when I got comfortable, we’d move on. And if you asked me how the world or the magic worked, I couldn’t tell you. Secondly, the romance did not work for me.
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I did not understand their relationship at all or the initial spark which gets them together. It seemed like one more of necessity and the hot and coldness of her feelings – combined with my doubt – was incredibly frustrating. I wanted to root for them, but they seemed to have very little in common and the only thing bonding them were these trials. I enjoyed that Phantasma explores if we let these games turn us into the monsters, but it wasn’t enough to carry me through. I’m not sure if this just wasn’t for me, but it didn’t work seamlessly enough. Find Phantasma on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, & Blackwells.