Enchantra - Book Review

 

Enchantra (Wicked Games #2)

by Kaylie Smith

What is it about:

Ready or Not meets Throne of the Fallen in a spicy, enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance, where an Italian getaway turns deadly after a young woman is trapped in her host family's cursed game.

Ready or not, the game has begun.

Genevieve Grimm has felt adrift ever since her sister became the head of the family. So when a mysterious friend of their mother's invites her to Italy, she accepts. She arrives at his grand palace, expecting passion and magic, decadence and luxury... perhaps even a midnight ball.

She doesn't expect the owner's ruthlessly handsome son to slam the door in her face. Rowin Silver is tall, dark, and exceptionally rude, and invitation or not, he demands Genevieve leave and never come back. But Genevieve follows nobody's orders, especially those of arrogant rich boys. She slips inside—and immediately discovers her mistake.

Rowin and his family are caught in an insidious game of hide and seek, where only one can win. The rest will be trapped in Hell... until the competition begins again.

Genevieve must either join the hunt or forfeit any hope of escaping. But to her dismay, her best chance of survival lies with Rowin. Since lovers may play as a pair, Rowin and Genevieve agree to form an alliance under the guise of a fake courtship. However, as they race through the game's elaborate labyrinth, trapped among gleaming gold and shining marble, their loathing gives way to irresistible attraction. Only Rowin is keeping secrets, especially when it comes to his ruthless family, and Genevieve can't help but wonder if she's trapped in two treacherous games: Enchantra and the one Rowin is playing with her heart.

What did I think of it:

I loved Phantasma so I got my trotters on the second book in this series.

And although it has lots of good stuff, it didn't reach the heights of Phantasma for me sadly enough.

I didn't much like Genevieve and Rowin.

I did enjoy reading about the weird game that was going on in Enchantra, really liked some of Rowin's siblings, liked the overall storyline, but those two... I couldn't stand them to be honest.

I had expected to dislike Ophelia as older sister and love Genevieve as younger sister when I started on the first book, because usually I find the older sister meddling and tiresome while the younger is just trying to live her life without the older sister intruding. Yeah... 

Give me Ophelia and Blackwell over these two any day!

Genevieve is too impulsive and unthinking for her own good, and Rowin is 'older sibling' at their worst even though he might not be the eldest.

I actually liked the 'worst' of his siblings more than him.

That aside, I had a great time with the action storyline and Voodoo Bride enjoyed the steamier scenes if not the romance.

I will keep an eye out for the third book, hoping against all hope it will feature my two favorite side characters from the first two books.

Why should you read it:

It's got lots of cool action and suspense.

Phantasma - Book Review

 

Phantasma (Wicked Games #1)

by Kaylie Smith

What is it about:

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.

What did I think of it:

Ever since Battle Royale (Yes, long before The Hunger Games) I've had a soft spot for stories where people have to take part in dangerous/deadly games. It's almost as good as some decent zombie mayhem. So even though I suspected it might be more romance than action I got my trotters on this book. When I finally picked it up to read for an online book club, Voodoo Bride decided to read along.

And we both had a great time with this book!

I will say I really liked Ophelia, which surprised me as she's (once again) an older sister thinking she needs to save her younger sister. But where I usually dislike those meddling older siblings who think they know better Ophelia surprised me. She doesn't think she's better. Far from it in fact, she feels like a failure, has her inner demons, and feels like she is at fault for her younger sister disappearing, hence why she enters Phantasma to find her sister.

Then there's the whole game element which was really cool and exciting. There are scheming contestants, thrilling tests, death, creepy and icky stuff, hauntings, you name it. The whole of Phantasma was really well thought out, and had me engrossed, eager to find out what would be thrown at Ophelia next.

The romance was also excellent (and super delicious according to Voodoo Bride) and we rooted for Ophelia to win both Phantasma and at love. Blackwell was a very cool character (and dreamy and yummy) who clearly has his own agenda, still we rooted for him as well.

(We could easily guess what his deal was, but if a story is as well written as this was, that doesn't really matter.)

Overall a really awesome read. We will most definitely get book two as well.

Why should you read it:

It has it all: action, romance, thrills, & mayhem.