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Phantom's Kiss: Shadowlands Heat, Book I
Twenty years ago, Detective Bridget Campbell spoke the truth—and it nearly destroyed her.
As a rookie cop, she witnessed her partner die in a gang war driven by magic. No one believed her. Declared unstable, she was forced into psychiatric care and warned never to speak of it again.
Now, a body has been found in a Toronto drug den, burned from the inside out with no trace of fire. It’s a case that defies logic—and it brings Bridget face to face with Moric Ashwood, a dangerously compelling man who claims to be a detective from a parallel world. He won’t show his badge, but he knows things no one should, and he’s not afraid to get under Bridget’s skin in more ways than one.
Moric is hunting a magical cartel that traffics in enchanted apps—digital drugs that hook non-magical users. Bridget wants nothing to do with his world—or him—but when a second body appears with unmistakable magical wounds, she has no choice but to let him in.
What begins as a grudging partnership quickly ignites into something far more volatile. Bridget and Moric clash at every turn—until the sparks between them erupt into passion neither of them can deny. But when they're kidnapped by the very cartel they're hunting, and only Bridget can break the magical binding holding them captive, trust becomes the most dangerous element of all.
In a city where magic hides in the shadows and desire can be deadly, Bridget must face her past, embrace the impossible… and risk everything for a man who may not belong in her world at all.
As a rookie cop, she witnessed her partner die in a gang war driven by magic. No one believed her. Declared unstable, she was forced into psychiatric care and warned never to speak of it again.
Now, a body has been found in a Toronto drug den, burned from the inside out with no trace of fire. It’s a case that defies logic—and it brings Bridget face to face with Moric Ashwood, a dangerously compelling man who claims to be a detective from a parallel world. He won’t show his badge, but he knows things no one should, and he’s not afraid to get under Bridget’s skin in more ways than one.
Moric is hunting a magical cartel that traffics in enchanted apps—digital drugs that hook non-magical users. Bridget wants nothing to do with his world—or him—but when a second body appears with unmistakable magical wounds, she has no choice but to let him in.
What begins as a grudging partnership quickly ignites into something far more volatile. Bridget and Moric clash at every turn—until the sparks between them erupt into passion neither of them can deny. But when they're kidnapped by the very cartel they're hunting, and only Bridget can break the magical binding holding them captive, trust becomes the most dangerous element of all.
In a city where magic hides in the shadows and desire can be deadly, Bridget must face her past, embrace the impossible… and risk everything for a man who may not belong in her world at all.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2025
5 people are currently reading
1008 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Llamrei
35 books59 followersLisa Llamrei crafts urban romantasy where gods walk among us, love defies destiny, and magic lingers in the shadows of the modern world. A lifelong storyteller and traveller, she draws inspiration from myth, culture, and the places where reality blurs into legend. Her novel Feather of Ma’at was a finalist for the Chaucer Award for Early Historical Fiction in 2024. She is the author of Daughter of Sekhmet and Carriers, with many more tales to come.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 3, 2025
A murder mystery with a paranormal twist.
The plot was enjoyable and trying to solve the mystery right along with the characters was half the fun. I've never read a mystery like this before and that made it hard to put down. Murder, magic, and mystery with a side of romance... what's not to like?
There were a few typos but not enough to take away my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to the author and goodreads for the giveaway.
The plot was enjoyable and trying to solve the mystery right along with the characters was half the fun. I've never read a mystery like this before and that made it hard to put down. Murder, magic, and mystery with a side of romance... what's not to like?
There were a few typos but not enough to take away my enjoyment of the book.
Thank you to the author and goodreads for the giveaway.
January 15, 2026
Good story
I liked this book and enjoyed the little romance among the murders. I like paranormal so this was a nice blend of that and mystery.
I liked this book and enjoyed the little romance among the murders. I like paranormal so this was a nice blend of that and mystery.
January 14, 2026
This is a Goodreads Giveaway
Phantom’s Kiss is an ambitious start to a new urban fantasy series that leans heavily into "romantasy" territory. While it offers a unique magical concept, its execution occasionally trips over its own rapid pacing.
The standout feature of this book is the "digital drugs" plot. Lisa Llamrei creates a fascinating, dark underworld where magical apps hook non-magical users, causing visceral, internal-burn fatalities. The procedural aspect—watching Detective Bridget Campbell try to apply logic to these impossible crimes—is genuinely engaging. Moric Ashwood, the "detective" from a parallel dimension, serves as a great foil to Bridget’s skepticism, and their fish-out-of-water dynamic provides some much-needed humor amidst the darker elements.
The chemistry between Bridget and Moric is undeniable, and for readers looking for immediate "heat," this book delivers. However, the transition from professional partners to passionate lovers happens almost overnight. Bridget is introduced as a hardened, no-nonsense detective, but her character development feels slightly sidelined once the romance takes center stage. I would have preferred a slower burn to make their eventual union feel more earned.
The world-building of the "Shadowlands" is rich and promising, but the final third of the book feels like a sprint. The kidnapping subplot and the reveal of Bridget’s hidden magical potential are resolved so quickly that the emotional impact is somewhat muted. There are moments where the plot relies on "convenient magic" to solve high-stakes problems, which can be a bit of a letdown for fans of tighter mystery structures.
Phantom’s Kiss is a "fun, action-packed, and steamy" read that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance who don't mind a fast-moving plot. It sets up a large, intriguing world, and while it has some first-book-in-a-series growing pains, the unique premise of trans-dimensional cartels makes it worth a look for urban fantasy fans.
Phantom’s Kiss is an ambitious start to a new urban fantasy series that leans heavily into "romantasy" territory. While it offers a unique magical concept, its execution occasionally trips over its own rapid pacing.
The standout feature of this book is the "digital drugs" plot. Lisa Llamrei creates a fascinating, dark underworld where magical apps hook non-magical users, causing visceral, internal-burn fatalities. The procedural aspect—watching Detective Bridget Campbell try to apply logic to these impossible crimes—is genuinely engaging. Moric Ashwood, the "detective" from a parallel dimension, serves as a great foil to Bridget’s skepticism, and their fish-out-of-water dynamic provides some much-needed humor amidst the darker elements.
The chemistry between Bridget and Moric is undeniable, and for readers looking for immediate "heat," this book delivers. However, the transition from professional partners to passionate lovers happens almost overnight. Bridget is introduced as a hardened, no-nonsense detective, but her character development feels slightly sidelined once the romance takes center stage. I would have preferred a slower burn to make their eventual union feel more earned.
The world-building of the "Shadowlands" is rich and promising, but the final third of the book feels like a sprint. The kidnapping subplot and the reveal of Bridget’s hidden magical potential are resolved so quickly that the emotional impact is somewhat muted. There are moments where the plot relies on "convenient magic" to solve high-stakes problems, which can be a bit of a letdown for fans of tighter mystery structures.
Phantom’s Kiss is a "fun, action-packed, and steamy" read that will appeal to fans of paranormal romance who don't mind a fast-moving plot. It sets up a large, intriguing world, and while it has some first-book-in-a-series growing pains, the unique premise of trans-dimensional cartels makes it worth a look for urban fantasy fans.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews