Challenge Corner discussion

Caraval meets Throne of the Fallen in this spicy dark romantasy where a necromancer needs help from a dangerous phantom to win a deadly competition, only to find their partnership puts her at risk of breaking the game’s most vital rule: don't fall in love.

When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.

The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win... if her fears don’t overtake her first.

When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.

Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.

To Pg 57: I started this one the other night and was quickly pulled in. (view spoiler)[What a set-up, just jumping in after Ophelia finds their Mom dead. The relationship between the sisters is def giving me Kingdom of the Wicked vibes. I'm so excited to get further in, but may not have more time until this weekend. (hide spoiler)]

To pg 84, or Ch 11: Ohhhh, I love that Ophelia has entered (view spoiler)[Phantasma now and that they actually stay at the gorgeously gothic property! It's very Paranormal Big Brother!!! And a ghost cat named Poe! OMG 😄 (hide spoiler)]

To Pg 115, or Ch 14:(view spoiler)[Here we go!!!! Level One spunds like a maze with a minotaur, but I'm not sure. I wonder if everyone will survive? Their devil host Kel serms pretty enchanting 😍 (hide spoiler)]

Can't wait to start this one!

To Pg 148, or Ch 18: (view spoiler)[Blood bargain made!!! I totally would have made that deal too. Even just to have an ally for the challenges ahead will be so worth it. (hide spoiler)]

Jamie wrote: "Can't wait to start this one!"

I am so invested! 😄😝

megs_bookrack wrote: "I am so invested! 😄😝"

That's good to know, because I've been itching for a good fantasy!

To Pg 201: Wow, okay, this is a first. I've never seen the old (view spoiler)[acid rain falling from the ceiling excuse to get (hide spoiler)] someone's clothes off!!

To Pg 290:(view spoiler)[Well, we now know who Gabriel is. For a moment, I thought it was going to be revealed that Blackwell was Gabriel 😆🤢 Thank God not! This Gluttony challenge does seem the most dangerous yet! Not sure Rebecca is gonna make it out ⚒️ (hide spoiler)]

To Pg 319: (view spoiler)[I hope Blackwell can be freed from this place, bc clearly they're in love no matter how much Ophelia wants to deny it!! (hide spoiler)]

To Pg 379: (view spoiler)[We've made it to level 6, so much has happened. Ophelia revealed her power of invisibility to everyone in level 5. We've learned more about her parents and their curse, and now apparently, Ophelia and Blackwell are on the outs. We'll see for how long... (hide spoiler)]

To Pg 460: 😲
(view spoiler)[WTF! Gagged. (hide spoiler)]

Oh, hahaha, I actually finished this one the 26th, but completely forgot to update. This was so compelling. I loved the competition aspects, the gothic atmosphere and the romance. I can't wait for the 2nd book -- even though it sounds more like a companion novel than a continuation of this story.

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RESTARTING MARCH 30TH, 2025


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Starting this today!

starting too!

starting now!

I have heard raving about her portrayal of OCD.
I will say, this will be a deciding factor for me. I have first hand experience of real OCD and none of the books I've read so far have actual OCD in them. I always knock off 1 star for that.
Let's see, I do have high hopes.

Laura Horowitz narration is >>>>>
🤌🏻🤌🏻🤌🏻

Grace wrote: "I have heard raving about her portrayal of OCD.
I will say, this will be a deciding factor for me. I have first hand experience of real OCD and none of the books I've read so far have actual OCD i..."

Ahhh okay page 1 and I can already tell this aspect will be perfection!!

I plan on starting this tomorrow! A little nervous because this is another fantasy series that I am giving a second chance to. The first time I tried to read it, the writing style didn't pull me into the story the way that I hoped it would. Fingers crossed that this works out for me because I really want to be able to join in on the Enchantra hype train when it releases!

Do we know how old Genevieve and Ophelia are?

Allie wrote: "I plan on starting this tomorrow! A little nervous because this is another fantasy series that I am giving a second chance to. The first time I tried to read it, the writing style didn't pull me in..."

Did you read Caraval and enjoy it?
I can already feel the same vibes but make it more mature and more macabre rather than colourful.

Yes! I noticed this tendency as well. It will certainly be interesting to see how it progresses with more pressure and stress being put on Ophelia.

I don't think we know how old either of them are but I certainly may have missed it.

I know that Ophelia is 23 but I'm unsure about Genevieve

Grace wrote: "Allie wrote: "I plan on starting this tomorrow! A little nervous because this is another fantasy series that I am giving a second chance to. The first time I tried to read it, the writing style did..."

I did enjoy Caraval when I read it but my reading taste has definitely changed since then. If I reread Caraval now I'm unsure if I would still enjoy it like I did when I read it the first time. I have heard that it is darker than Caraval which made me curious enough to pick it up.

that is totally fair
and yes so far (reached chp 7) it has similar vibes, or rather layout for the world-building and story bones, but a completely different story and definitely darker and more mature

=> chp 8

(view spoiler)[I love that even in this aspect she is able to show OCD
“I’ve never seen anyone with such a number of possible fears. It’s a wonder you’re able to sleep, with such darkness crawling in the shadows of your mind.”

I'm even more intrigued that we didn't learn what her biggest fear was.

also why does she have several suitcases?? (hide spoiler)]

End of Chapter 29 - The narrator is killing it! I'm ready to listen to anything she does.

(view spoiler)[Chapter 2 - Curious why she feels that this isn't the last time she'll talk to her mother, as if she thinks she'll return somehow but I'm not sure why.

The author's writing of Ophelia and her OCD is amazing! You can feel it. The voice in her head is incredibly dark but so accurate! The self-imposed time limits and the belief that if you don't do what the voice is saying, something bad will happen—ugh. I feel for her.

Chapter 4 - Loving the sass we get from her sister but her sister taking out money, forging her mom's signature is interesting.

Her sister clearly has a lot more going on than Ophelia thinks.

I am completely in love with Blackwell! I have no idea how this is going to go, considering he's a phantom and can't leave, or so they say, but I love him. It's interesting the way they need to help each other through this. The way he's stuck there eternally unless he can find a way but can't remember how to get out is cruel haha. He certainly needs her just as much as she needs him to make it through these trials.

Why am I loving the nickname Angel?! Haha.

She has some incredible powers!

Obviously curious about who Gabriel is. We've heard nothing about their father and I'm wondering if that's who this is.

Also, what is up with her sister? Looking forward to seeing how all of this unfolds. (hide spoiler)]

Ok, I'm excited to hear this with the narrator because she is amazing. You are going to LOVE the Lady of Darkness series. I listened to every word in that series because of how good she was lol

Amazing! I have the whole series for Lady of Darkness ready to go! I'm excited to listen to that one.

I'm going to be starting this shortly. I decided to read a mafia/mob book before doing another fantasy so quick lol

But I'm excited to listen to this one!

Woohoo! Glad you're joining in.

I'm personally really enjoying it. It's got some serious Caraval vibes (I know you haven't read it), but it kind of has what I was missing in Caraval.

It's darker, gothic and less whimsical (with some spice)!

Brittni I didn't read your entire comment because I didn't reachp chp 29 yet
but
I have to say
(view spoiler)[The angel nickname is making me weak! hahahaha from the first time he said he got me (hide spoiler)]

Caraval was way too YA for me so I'm glad this sounds more adulty lol

Far more adulty hahaha.

Jamie wrote: "Ok, I'm excited to hear this with the narrator because she is amazing. You are going to LOVE the Lady of Darkness series. I listened to every word in that series because of how good she was lol"

I'm obsessed with the Lady of Darkness series! I need to finish so I can start the Legacy series but I'm intimidated because I read it a long time ago so I would have to restart from the beginning because I probably wouldn't remember anything just jumping in from where I left off. I second that the audiobook narrators are fantastic in Lady of Darkness! I didn't know that Phantasma had the same narrator. Definitely considering going the audiobook route now. When I tried to read it the first time it was an ebook so maybe it would be better if I switched up formats?

Laura does an incredible job in narration!!

in chp 11
(view spoiler)[so I have been thinking he's not a phantom but a devil or even higher, or else why do we have entire hierarchy in the beginning? (hide spoiler)]

I love their banter

Ok, well, I wanted to do more updates as I went but here we are.

Finished
(view spoiler)[Wow. This was so much fun!

I can definitely see why people compare it to Caraval, but while there are similarities, Phantasma has its own distinct feel. Caraval was whimsical and very YA, whereas Phantasma is darker, gothic, and spicy. The world-building was a bit less complex, but in a way that made it easy to follow while still having depth.

The OCD representation was incredible—it’s clear the author has firsthand experience. Her notes at the end really stood out, as she shared how her own struggles with OCD shaped the story. That personal touch made it even more powerful.

The banter between Blackwell and Ophelia totally got me. I love them! While there was definitely an insta-love element, it didn’t bother me at all. By the end, it made perfect sense—after all, they had loved each other before, in a way.

I had a feeling Gabriel was her father, but wow, he killed her mother because of the games?! That’s absolutely insane and heartbreaking.

The locket twist was really well done. It was her life source, and while I feel like it took me a minute to piece it together, it was super fun. Once we learned what happened with Blackwell’s father, everything clicked. Of course, his father would make her the key he needed, forcing her to die so he could escape Phantasma.

Speaking of his father, pure evil.

The trials were intense, high-stakes, and absolutely fascinating. I loved every second of them.

Now, a few lingering questions:
• Is Gabriel still alive? He failed one of the trial levels and had an agreement with Blackwell, but what happened to him?
• The ending confused me a little. Blackwell’s father said to make him wait five centuries to meet Angel again, hoping he’d forget her. But does Blackwell actually know Ophelia is Angel? His comment at the end, about not letting his father take her from him again, had me wondering. Did he mean he wouldn’t lose another love, or does he realize who she really is?
• Now that the necklace is inactive, Ophelia is still wearing it, but it no longer holds power. Does that mean Angel has officially died? Or is this something we’ll uncover later?

Not sure if I missed something or if these answers are coming in the next book, but either way, I can’t wait to find out!

Rant over haha. (hide spoiler)]

Why am I doubting the cat? 😂

Chp 37
(view spoiler)[Is her locket they key? Or the heart? Since it has a heartbeat (hide spoiler)]

Here are my answers/thoughts to what you were asking Brittni

(view spoiler)[
So I am assuming concerning her dad we might find out more in Enchantra?
They didn't plainly say he was dead but the last contact was before he entered the last phantasma before New Orleans.
I don't think she made a big deal out of Gabriel and won't give us closure. (hide spoiler)]

(view spoiler)[
As for the king
I think he wanted someone who would never fall in love again with Blackwell
That's why he chose Hestia's line
That's first

I do think he recognises her
Because outside of Phantasma he remembers his true self and his memories, and thus he remembers Angel's soul

While he remembered her before she entered the games and when she won
He didn't remember her during
And well technically he had to "make her" fall in love with him during the games, while he knew nothing of their history, and while his father chose someone who had hatred for devils and demons engrained in them and for them NEVER to remove the locket as it was vital to her survival.

I think Ophelia is Angel
So Angel couldn't have died
Her soul would be reborn
The locket was the key holding the heart
Otherwise, any of the previous Grimm women would have been able to unlock and free Blackwell

He gave her another heart so she may live, as the original Angel's heart kept hers beating and she had to offer it
But her soul was still hers, her soul is the reborn soul of Angel and she tethered him as an anchor with her soul
You sent
I don't think the locket is anything but a trinket now.

And while they both might not necessarily know that she is a reborn Angel, she recognises his soul and he recognises hers

I think that's more powerful
Souls live in bodies and brains, but they might not be the same exact ones
It's like 2 soulmates finding each other in every lifetime, but without necessarily being the same people
Their souls are mates but their current story is different
Hence why her name is Ophelia, but for him she is heaven and an angel
She's not the same Angel, but she's his angel (hide spoiler)]

I made the mistake of starting this last night because I was up until one in the morning reading and had to force myself to put it down because I had to wake up early for work. It is a very fast paced read but it could also feel like that because I'm listening to the audio. The audio invested me more because it helped me picture the setting and delivered on the gothic vibes. I'm convinced that this narrator can do no wrong. After meeting Genevieve, I cannot wait to read her story!

Maybe this is the third time I say this but Laura is incredible.
I followed her before Phantasma and all her work is amazing

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RESTARTING OCTOBER 10TH, 2025


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Hope you guys love it as much as I did!
Obviously following through your updates

Let me know if anyone is interested in reading the second book after this one! I would love to jump into it!