Phantasma guide: Characters, spicy scenes, game levels & more
Phantasma synopsis/summary:
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…
A Court of Thorns and Roses meets Caraval in this seductive fantasy adventure. With steamy romance, a sexy morally gray love interest, OCD rep and jaw-dropping twists, Phantasma is perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Nisha J. Tuli and Carissa Broadbent.
Phantasma characters.
Our female main character (FMC) is named Ophelia Grimm, and Phantasma is narrated in third-person from her perspective. The secondary main character is Blackwell, a Phantom, and Ophelia’s love interest. Here is the full Phantasma character list:
Ophelia Grimm
Genevieve ‘Vivi’ Grimm (Ophelia’s sister)
Tessie Grimm (Ophelia’s mother)
Hestia Grimm
Blackwell
Poe (ghost cat)
Mr Moutton
Mr Lafitte
Gabriel White
Phantasma contestants.
Lucinda (Luci) Veil
Cade Arceneaux
Leon Summers
Edna
Mason
Charlotte Williams
James
Eric
Beau
Baker Broussard
Becca
Phantasma devils.
Sinclair
Rayea
Zel
Jasper
Salemaestrus
Andrea
Phoebe
Dahlia
Drima
Devon
Get Phantasma here.
Phantasma book review.
My rating: ★★★★★
Spice level: 🌶🌶.5
2.5/5, medium spice
I’ve always had a morbid fascination for stories that fling humanity into fight-to-the-death scenarios as it's the perfect showcase of our species at its most spectacularly awful and occasionally best. And clearly, I’m not alone, given the massive success of Squid Game, Battle Royale, The Hunger Games, The Grace Year, The Scholomance trilogy, and even the Saw movies—not to mention several popular romantasies.
Speaking of romantasy, we all know it’s a bold move to compare an adult romantasy debut to crowd favourites—expectations go through the roof and disappointment is practically a given. But the publishers here went all in comparing Phantasma to the genre giants, so, I was bracing myself for a letdown. But Phantasma stood its ground and gave my unabashed love for ACOTAR’s under-the-mountain scenes a run for their money. Here’s why:
Firstly, while the romantasy genre often leans on familiar themes and tropes, and Phantasma feels familiar, it also innovates. We've got:
• A gothic, paranormal New Orleans
• A haunted house drenched in mind games, blood and terror
• A Necromancer FMC
• Hot ghosts
• Secrets-betrayals-lies
• Uniquely complicated family dynamics
• An endearing ghost cat
• Explorations on the afterlife, and Heaven and Hell.
• Own Voices representation for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
It’s fresh and compelling, and it worked for me. Your mileage may vary depending on how you feel about religious afterlife references in your fantasy—and gore that might make Tarantino look twice.
Secondly, the OCD and anxiety representation isn't just tacked on, it’s central to the story and handled with haunting, beautiful, raw vulnerability, using dark fantasy as a vehicle.
The games, akin to the grisly thrills of Saw or Squid Game, were a standout. With nine levels of twisted challenges, each one bringing its own brand of hellish horror, I’ll keep the details under wraps. But fair trigger warning for plenty of blood and guts, and more creative ways to die than you thought possible.
Now, about the romance. I thought it was good. Who did this to you and forbidden romance vibes. It’s not a slow burn, but it also simultaneously sidesteps insta-love. I know people will want to know about the spice. Phantasma has plenty of it. The story stays centre stage, so if spice isn’t your thing, you can skim those scenes and still keep up.
• Spice level: 🌶🌶.5
• Spicy scene count: 6 spicy, 2 mild
• Bonus points for everything being 100% consensual.
Quibbles? Sure, the prose isn't flawless and some foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed, leading to predictability, but in no way did this hinder my entertainment or enjoyment. Literature is subjective, so you may perceive differently and that's all good!
Finally, the cherry on top is that Phantasma is standalone, so you’re not signing your life away to another never-ending series. However, the author did tease that she/they hope readers will “return for more deliciously haunting adventures in this world,” so Kaylie Smith, please take my money, I'm ready for more. I ended up having such a good time reading this that it's getting 5 stars!
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley & Second Sky/Forever for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
View my review on GoodReads here!
Phantasma book FAQs.
SPOILER ALERT:
Some answers may spoil Phantasma if you haven’t read it already. Proceed with caution.
What are the trigger warnings for Phantasma by Kaylie Smith?
Blood and gore
Bullying and threats
Violence
Death
Depictions of the afterlife
Complicated mother and sister relationships
Substance abuse
Alcohol use
Intrusive thoughts
Death of a parent/s
Insects and reptiles
Explicit sex, nudity
Handling OCD and anxiety condition
Is Phantasma a standalone romantasy?
Yes, Phantasma is standalone romantasy, so you’re not signing your life away to another never-ending series. However, Kaylie Smith did tease that she/they hope readers will “return for more deliciously haunting adventures in this world,” in the author’s end notes, which means we have more adventures in this world to look forward to!
What is Phantasma’s age rating?
The age rating of Phantasma is 18+, there are multiple explicit spicy scenes, as well as some violence, murder, blood and gore, plus adult themes.
Is Phantasma spicy?
Yes, Phantasma is quite spicy, with multiple detailed scenes, as well as a couple of steamy scenes.
Spice level: 🌶🌶
2.5/5, medium to hot spice.Spicy scene count: 6 spicy, 2 mild
What are the Phantasma spicy chapters?
If spice isn't your thing and you'd rather skip it while still enjoying this gothic paranormal romantasy—or if you're looking to dive straight into the Phantasma spicy chapters—I've got you covered!
Chapter 20: Level two, the lust level of Phantasma (mild erotica)
Chapter 22: “Pleasure”
Chapter 26: “Taste”
Chapter 27: “New sustenance”
Chapter 32: “Distraction”
Chapter 36: “Cursed”
Chapter 39: “Something forbidden” (mild spice)
Chapter 45: “Utterly consumed”
What are the rules of Phantasma?
Stay alive; and
Don’t fall in love.
How to win the game of Phantasma
In order to win Phantasma, you must be the last person to leave, alive, after completing all nine levels.
What are the 9 levels of Phantasma?
Phantasma features nine levels, each corresponding to the nine circles of hell. Once you enter a game level, the challenge begins, and your only options for escape are winning, bargaining, or death.
Spoiler alert: Some elements of the below table may spoil Phantasma if you haven’t read it already.
| Level number | Devil’s name | Level name and theme |
| One | Zel | Limbo |
| Two | Drima | Lust |
| Three | Devon | Greed |
| Four | Jasper | Gluttony |
| Five | Rayea | Wrath |
| Six | Phoebe | Deceit |
| Seven | Unspecified | Violence |
| Eight | Sinclair | Fraud |
| Nine | Salemaestrus | Unspecified |
