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A review by imskylow
Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
I got this from Book of the Month and had such high hopes but I had to DNF at 39%. I don't even understand what was trying to be attempted with this novel. It's set in New Orleans during a time where there are both carriages and cars on the roads where the women wear corsets and yet the characters say "fuck" pretty casually and talk as if they're from 2024 or at least the 2000s. The main character, Ophelia, signs herself up for a "who can last the longest in a haunted mansion" challenge in search of her sister, Genevieve, who ran away after a singular argument. (I actually really like their names though). I guess we're supposed to care about her? Apparently, this sisterhood of the traveling mansion is basically a gameshow with levels based on Dante's Nine Circles of Hell and is run by both devils and your average Joe of a ghoul. Only the house is often more gruesome and dangerous than it is suspenseful. I feel like the characters have a much higher chance of being mortally wounded than driven insane. Anyway, Ophelia bumps into a phantom named Blackwell (wtf kind of name is that. That's a last name) and is quite instantly smitten. She has all these warm feelings around in and feels "strangely" safe. Additionally, her heart shaped locket beats when he's near. Blackwell, is just so entirely full of himself. I don't even understand why they're attracted to each other. There's no witty banter or shared experiences that really bring them together other than the fact Ophelia is a necromancer and he wants to put his bet on her making it. Idk guys, I'm so tired of romantasy being like "I don't know why I feel this way around this person". Like, yes you do. You're horny and you're attracted to him even with his douchey personality. It's okay for a character to admit to liking someone even if it is just to themselves.
When I really had to stop reading was when the couple has acid rained down on them. Blackwell, being a phantom isn't affected, but Ophelia's clothes begin to burn and Blackwell has to help strip her out of them. (Sigh....). After the crisis is averted, she insists she still wants to continue exploring the mansion and Blackwell has to point out that sis is basically naked. Only then does she become embarrassed and tell him to look away. My eyes rolled so far back in my head I thought I almost lost them.
When I really had to stop reading was when the couple has acid rained down on them. Blackwell, being a phantom isn't affected, but Ophelia's clothes begin to burn and Blackwell has to help strip her out of them. (Sigh....). After the crisis is averted, she insists she still wants to continue exploring the mansion and Blackwell has to point out that sis is basically naked. Only then does she become embarrassed and tell him to look away. My eyes rolled so far back in my head I thought I almost lost them.