Enchantra (Wicked Games, #2)
Kaylie Smith
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.
“For the brave souls who burned the bridges between themselves and their demons. And for those still trying to light the match—we’ll wait for you.“ How lovely 🥹
1Your rating:
0 03.5/5. Releases 4/8/25.
—Saw trap but make it fantasy romance (actually, that's a lot to put on a book), it's not quite THAT freaky
—marriage of life-saving convenience
—when the moon hits the sky like a big pizza pie that's amore but in a weird twisty turny game of magic and mayhem (this book is set in Italy, technically)
Heat Index: 7/10
The Basics:
Genevieve Grimm, always in the shadow of her more powerful sister, embarks to a mysterious palace following her mother's death in search of answers. The issue being that the palace is actually a living, deadly, possibly eternal game tormenting the snarky and mysterious (and immortal) Rowin Silver and his family. Rowin offers Genevieve the opportunity to team up, which will involve faking a romance... With some marriage thrown in. But like, just for now, right? If they live through this, it won't stick, right? Of course, that's a BIG "if".
The Review:
I can safely say that if you loved Phantasma, you will most likely love this book. It's very much a redux of the original, but with different characters in the "game of life and death" scenario now. Also, you know. An Italian vibe.
Genevieve and Rowin are a bit rougher around the edges and snarkier than our leads were the first go, which makes for a lot of banter and tension that I wouldn't PERSONALLY call "enemies to lovers", but has its own heat. The real kick to their dynamic is the "fake dating" sensibility, which has always hit or miss for me, but Kaylie Smith milks it for all it's worth here.
Did I love Phantasma? I liked it. I think Smith has a lot of verve to her writing style that makes it brisk and fun to follow, but there was just... a depth, I guess? That was missing in Phantasma. And I can't say Enchantra really makes the novel any deeper, because it's really similar to the first book. And you know what? She knows what works for her and what works for her audience, so I really can't complain too much. I get it.
There's just a lot of potential for darkness that is sort of softened by dialogue and dynamics that ring a bit more YA than adult to me. Yes, Genevieve is twenty-two, but she is an adult... And Rowin has a lot more going on that I would expect to give him more gravitas? I also didn't super get why they had such a contentious dynamic to begin with, which is another thing that skews a little more YA to me.
I do feel it's very important for the shadow girlies to know that this does have shadow stuff. Do with what information what you will.
The Sex:
Kaylie Smith continues to write good sex scenes—nothing super crazy, but for sure hot. I'd kind like them to get a bit crazier, but I think that's my general sentiment on this series: could be crazier. Might benefit from being crazier!
Conclusion:
Were my socks knocked off? Not exactly. Do I think socks will be knocked off if you're the right audience? Yes. Did I have a fun and fancy free time? Yes.
Thanks to Second Sky/Forever and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinoins are my own.
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