Phantasma by Kaylie Smith: A Review Bringing a Book To Life

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Phantasma by Kaylie Smith: A Review and How I Brought It Into My World

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

I picked up Phantasma by Kaylie Smith with high hopes. It had all the ingredients I love: an atmospheric setting in New Orleans, a young woman with inherited necromancy magic, a mysterious haunted mansion, and a forbidden romance with an otherworldly stranger. For the first two thirds of the book I was completely pulled in.

The story follows Ophelia, the eldest Grimm daughter, who enters a deadly competition called Phantasma to save her younger sister. Inside she strikes a bargain with the enigmatic Blackwell, a charming and mysterious Phantom, and what follows is a dark fantasy world filled with monsters, trials, and a slow burn romance that had me turning pages.

The atmosphere is where this book truly shines. Kaylie Smith creates a world that feels gothic, lush, and cinematic. 

However I have to be honest. Around the two thirds mark the story started to feel repetitive for me and I found my interest beginning to fade. The romance, which started out beautifully atmospheric and genuinely romantic, shifted into territory that was a bit too intense for my personal taste. And the level of blood and darkness in the later chapters was more than I was looking for in a read.

I finished about 80% of the book before I decided I had gotten what I needed from it. And that is okay. Not every book is for every reader and this one simply went in a direction that was not quite my style.

My rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars. A beautifully atmospheric start that lost me toward the end.

Bringing the Book Into My World

Here is my favorite part of any book review I write. I love finding the little details inside a story and making them real in my own life. Phantasma gave me several wonderful ones to work with.

The Cemetery Visit: The story touches on visiting a cemetery and this one felt very personal to me. Last summer I visited a beautiful old cemetery in Beaufort, North Carolina. I genuinely enjoy reading headstones and imagining the stories behind them. There is something peaceful and humbling about walking among them. If you have never wandered a historic cemetery I highly recommend it.

Iron Gates: The gothic iron gates in this story spoke to my photographer's eye. I actually seek out iron gates when I travel because they make the most beautiful and dramatic photographs. Next time you pass one, stop and really look at it.

Bread Pudding: This one I can actually make happen in my kitchen! Bread pudding is mentioned in the story and it feels like the perfect cozy recipe to make on a cool fall evening after a good reading session. I see a baking afternoon in my near future.

A Wine Colored Sweater: The story mentions a wine colored dress and I found myself immediately inspired by that rich deep shade. I went straight to Amazon and found the most beautiful Ivicoer Women's Long Sleeve Knit Pullover Crewneck Sweater in wine and ordered it on the spot. If you love the color as much as I do you can find it right here: https://a.co/d/0fDvlr11. Sometimes a book sends you on a little shopping adventure and I am absolutely here for it. I cannot wait to wrap up in it with a good book and a cup of tea. Now that is what I call bringing a story to life.

The Chambray Rug: This one I am admiring from a distance. A beautiful chambray rug is featured in the story and while it is a little out of my budget right now it has absolutely inspired me to think about adding some texture and warmth to my own space. Sometimes a book gives you decorating ideas even when it does not give you everything you were hoping for in the story itself.

Have you read Phantasma? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. And tell me, do you ever try to bring details from a book into your own life? I think it is one of the most fun ways to make reading feel like more than just a story.

Happy reading,
KathieyV

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