Phantasma (Wicked Games #1), by Kaylie Smith (softback, english edition)

🇬🇧 This Book Is In English

"In Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart."

Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
(Softback — Wicked Games Series, Book 1 of 2)

The dark fantasy romance where a haunted mansion, a deadly game, and a stranger you should never trust collide — and the most dangerous wish is the one you make with your heart.

When Ophelia's sister disappears, there is only one way to save her — enter Phantasma, a deadly contest inside a haunted mansion, and claim its prize: a single wish. In a maze of twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, she must face nine challenges, each more dangerous than the last. Just as fear threatens to overwhelm her, a mysterious stranger offers her a bargain. Charming, arrogant, and infuriatingly attractive, Blackwell claims he can guide her through the lethal trials ahead.

Ophelia knows she shouldn't trust him. Worse still, she can't stop herself from wanting to. Nine challenges. One wish. And a stranger she absolutely cannot fall for. The game has already begun.

Why readers can't put this down:

• 🏠 Haunted mansion setting — atmospheric, twisting, and utterly immersive
• 👤 Morally grey MMC — Blackwell is charming, dangerous, and impossible to resist
• ⚔️ Deadly trials — nine challenges with jaw-dropping twists at every turn
• 🔥 Steamy slow-burn romance — tension that ignites when you least expect it
• 🖤 Found family & OCD rep — rich, layered characters you'll follow anywhere
• 📖 512 pages — Book 1 of 2 in the Wicked Games duet

Perfect for readers who love:
Dark fantasy romance · Deadly games · Morally grey heroes · Haunted settings · Fans of Rebecca Yarros, Carissa Broadbent & Nisha J. Tuli

But what stood out wasn't the game.

It was the themes underneath.

🖤 Saving Someone You Love at Any Cost
🖤 Trusting the Wrong Person — and Finding Out They Might Be Right
🖤 Fear as Both Enemy and Compass
🖤 Found Family in the Most Unlikely of Places
🖤 The Wish You Think You Want vs. the One You Actually Need

At Dark Rose, we believe stories are often about far more than their plot.

You may never find yourself inside a haunted mansion competing in deadly trials to win a wish that could save your sister.

But you may know what it feels like to do something terrifying for someone you love, to accept help from someone you don't fully trust, or to discover that the thing you were fighting for was never quite what you imagined.

👤 Recommended Age: 18+

⚠️ Trigger Warnings:
Dark themes • Violence • Death • Explicit content • OCD representation • High-stakes danger

✨ Best for readers who love:
Dark Fantasy Romance • Deadly Games • Morally Grey MMC • Haunted Settings • Found Family • Kaylie Smith

⚠️ Probably not for readers looking for:
Standalone Stories • Low-Heat Romance • Fast-Paced Action • Simple World-Building

📚 Format & Details

• Format: Softback
• Dimensions: 129 x 198 x 36 mm
• Pages: 512
• Author: Kaylie Smith
• Series: Wicked Games, Book 1 of 2
• Publisher: Second Sky
• Published: 6 February 2025

"Welcome to Phantasma. There are only two rules. Stay alive. And don't fall in love."