🌪️ The Idea? Brilliant. The Execution? Ehhh… pass the wine.
Phantasma by Kylie Smith is what happens when a killer concept meets… a half-hearted execution with a dark aesthetic filter slapped on top. Kylie Smith had all the ingredients of a gothic masterpiece: cursed castle? Check. Demonic overlords with shady agendas? Check. An anxious heroine with OCD and a glitter-sister straight out of a Disney sing-along? Double check.“
And let’s not lie—the cover is a seductive little witch that convinced me this was going to be a “cozy autumn read with tea, candles, and emotional trauma.” But fate (thanks, Books&Banter book club) picked Phantasma for June. So here I am, Kindle in hand, sweating aesthetics while walking through ghostly New Orleans illusions.
🖤 Ophelia: OCD, demons, and hot boy problems
Ophelia is raised by a strict, dead-inside mother, trained to become a necromancer (as one does), and haunted by OCD—a condition that, in this book, takes the form of a literal character: Shadow Voice. Think inner critic meets demon roommate who doesn’t pay rent but sure has a lot of opinions.
This voice seems to be inspired by Rachel Gillig’s Elspeth and Nightmare dynamic from One Dark Window, except… not as haunting, not as clever, and definitely not as emotionally charged.
Genevieve, her sister, is the sunshine to Ophelia’s storm: bubbly, sparkly, and down to play the deadly game of Phantasma like it’s the Hunger Games, but make it ballroom goth. Naturally, Ophelia follows to “save her.” Sure, babe. Sure.
Then comes the mysterious stranger, of course – did you have any other expectations? – with a line plucked from the heart of Gothic poetry, and suspense takes residence
“A heart and a key would set me free,” it said. “But you should hope we do not meet again, angel.
OK, Dracula!
🕯️ Phantasma: Caraval meets Hunger Games meets… Chaos in the wardrobe
Phantasma is a deadly competition inside a shape-shifting, illusion-filled castle ruled by devils. Survive nine levels and get a wish. But first? You must pay with your biggest fear, which then boomerangs back to haunt you during the game. Concept? Genius. Execution? Insert nervous laugh.
Enter Blackwell, a ghost-boy with emotional depth and mysterious scars. He helps Ophelia through the game, and—surprise!—he’s actually the devil prince himself with amnesia. Because why not throw everything into the plot blender?
🔥 Slow-burn romance or… slow emotional whiplash?
Blackwell is a chef’s kiss. A soft Jax (Caraval fans, you know), deeply wounded but noble, with lines that make you want to tattoo his words on your soul:
“In a different life, in a fair one, I would’ve kept you until my eternal soul withered away to dust.”
Swooning? Same. But Ophelia? She’s emotionally unavailable, flirtatiously indecisive, and constantly stuck between “yes,” “no,” and “maybe if there’s no better offer.” Reading her romantic dilemma feels like watching someone spend two hours choosing between an éclair and a slice of cake—just pick one, woman.
🧠 OCD rep: smart idea, messy follow-through
Having OCD portrayed in a fantasy setting? Yes, please. Having it as a literal voice constantly undermining Ophelia? Double yes. But then… it just kind of fizzles. Instead of showing a girl battling her mental illness, we get someone who treats her intrusive thoughts like her emotional support demon.
Lowlight: At one point, Shadow Voice convinces her that Blackwell is probably having sex with a random demon lady, and asks her to knock on the bed’s headboard… because, well, compulsions. Well, it is the first time that Ophelia is shown refusing to listen to the compulsion. Nothing changes, Blackwell’s off living his best cursed life, and Ophelia is just left to realise that life goes on planet Earth and inside Phantasma.
Iconic? No. Confusing? Yes.
💜 What I loved
The mental health angle—intent gets points, even if execution stumbles.
That cover. It lied to me, seduced me, and betrayed me. I respect the hustle.
Blackwell. Boyfriend material with bite, depth, and actual emotions. He deserves better.
“You don’t need to fix yourself. You’re not broken. But it’s okay to get outside help if it gets too loud.”
Ophelia’s transformation—from “OCD shadow-puppet” to “badass demon-slayer with boundaries.” We love growth.
🫠 What fell apart
Copy-paste vibes: Shadow Voice = Nightmare (One Dark Window). The game = Caraval on caffeine. It’s giving déjà vu, not originality.
Historical inconsistency: It’s all corsets and parasols… until Ophelia throws out a sexy “Now, beg.” Girl, are you in a Jane Austen cosplay or a Wattpad smutfic?
Genevieve who? She was the reason Ophelia entered the game, and then she vanishes like a side character in an NPC side quest.
🎯 Whimsical Whispers Verdict
Phantasma by Kylie Smith is a book with a breathtaking premise wrapped in a gothic aesthetic, but it stumbles when it matters most: character development, emotional weight, and originality. It’s an easy beach read or a chill summer night escape, but don’t expect it to destroy your soul—or even dent it.
⭐️ 2.5 stars
For the potential. For Blackwell. For the OCD concept. And yes, again… for that damn gorgeous cover.
📌 Read it if you want a gothic adventure with a sprinkle of dark romance and chaotic vibes. Caraval meets Disney on Prozac.
🚫 Skip it if you crave psychological depth, actual plot originality, or a heroine who can make up her mind.
💬 Let’s talk feelings, not spoilers!
Did you read it? DNF it? Love it? Hate it? Throw it into the void with a dramatic scream? I wanna know what you felt, not what chapter X was about.
Leave a comment. Let’s start a real book conversation—not just another TikTok trend with “which boy do you want to kiss?”
And if you vibed with the review, share it. Perhaps we can revive genuine reading—the kind that gets you lost inside.
📌 Whimsical Whispers: where reading isn’t romanticized, it’s raw, bold, and unapologetically honest.
