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A review by rnilky
Phantom by Greer Rivers
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Phantom | Greer Rivers - 2.5 stars
-Enjoyability- 2.5 / 5
Phantom is your typical dark romance retelling. As such it falls into the same pitfalls as other books of the same genre do. I found that Phantom focused more on the relationship of the characters over the plot. Because of this, I also felt that the pacing was somewhat odd. My favourite parts of the book however, were the portrayal of mental illness (which I found relatable to an extent) and the portrayal of the villain.
-Spice- 2 / 5
Now that I've had time to think over my feelings of the book, I've come to the conclusion that it honestly wasn't that spicy. There were certainly a handful of sex scenes but I can't remember any of them being particularly raunchy. I will say that the author was rather creative with the smaller details and I found that there were kinks that I hadn't seen mentioned in other books too frequently. Remember to read the trigger warnings beforehand! There were a couple of things in particular that my friend wasn't super fond of and I'm sure others wouldn't enjoy the surprise of.
Admittedly, I haven't delved too deep into the realm of dark romance, as I typically enjoy YA Romantasy more. Because of this, I am hesitant to recommend or not recommend this book. Therefore, I would rather compare it to other books I've read in hopes of giving you a more thorough understanding of where I'm coming from.
If you liked A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair, I think it is likely you will like this book. The circumstances regarding the male characters are relatively similar, although Phantom lacks any of the more fantastical elements. The female characters aren't as similar, but I don't think that'll ruin the experience. Phantom delves into slightly darker concepts than I remember A Game of Fate doing, so once again, I implore you to look at the trigger warnings before reading.
On the other hand, if you liked Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton, I would be hesitant to recommend Phantom. Haunting Adeline was much darker and the sex scenes were better. That is really the only reason for my hesitancy, as many of the individuals I see looking for dark romance, are typically looking for something darker and sexier than the last. If that is the case for you, you will not find it in Phantom. If that isn't the case, then I would say that you're welcome to give it a try and there is certainly potential that you will enjoy it.
Ultimately, I think Greer Rivers has potential and I expect massive improvement over time. Once I've dug through the trenches of my TBR, I would love to pick up Rouge to see how it compares to Phantom.
Sending much love to everyone,
rnilky
-Enjoyability- 2.5 / 5
Phantom is your typical dark romance retelling. As such it falls into the same pitfalls as other books of the same genre do. I found that Phantom focused more on the relationship of the characters over the plot. Because of this, I also felt that the pacing was somewhat odd. My favourite parts of the book however, were the portrayal of mental illness (which I found relatable to an extent) and the portrayal of the villain.
-Spice- 2 / 5
Now that I've had time to think over my feelings of the book, I've come to the conclusion that it honestly wasn't that spicy. There were certainly a handful of sex scenes but I can't remember any of them being particularly raunchy. I will say that the author was rather creative with the smaller details and I found that there were kinks that I hadn't seen mentioned in other books too frequently. Remember to read the trigger warnings beforehand! There were a couple of things in particular that my friend wasn't super fond of and I'm sure others wouldn't enjoy the surprise of.
Admittedly, I haven't delved too deep into the realm of dark romance, as I typically enjoy YA Romantasy more. Because of this, I am hesitant to recommend or not recommend this book. Therefore, I would rather compare it to other books I've read in hopes of giving you a more thorough understanding of where I'm coming from.
If you liked A Game of Fate by Scarlett St. Clair, I think it is likely you will like this book. The circumstances regarding the male characters are relatively similar, although Phantom lacks any of the more fantastical elements. The female characters aren't as similar, but I don't think that'll ruin the experience. Phantom delves into slightly darker concepts than I remember A Game of Fate doing, so once again, I implore you to look at the trigger warnings before reading.
On the other hand, if you liked Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton, I would be hesitant to recommend Phantom. Haunting Adeline was much darker and the sex scenes were better. That is really the only reason for my hesitancy, as many of the individuals I see looking for dark romance, are typically looking for something darker and sexier than the last. If that is the case for you, you will not find it in Phantom. If that isn't the case, then I would say that you're welcome to give it a try and there is certainly potential that you will enjoy it.
Ultimately, I think Greer Rivers has potential and I expect massive improvement over time. Once I've dug through the trenches of my TBR, I would love to pick up Rouge to see how it compares to Phantom.
Sending much love to everyone,
rnilky