In Enchantra, the second installment of Kaylie Smith’s Wicked Games series, readers are swept into a sumptuous, spell-laced world where danger wears diamonds and love can kill—or resurrect—you. Picking up the torch passed by Phantasma, Smith shifts her focus from Ophelia Grimm to her younger sister Genevieve, who is equal parts impulsive debutante and shadow-walking Specter. And what unfolds is a dazzling tale of cursed games, insatiable longing, and family legacies buried under veils of blood and enchantment.
Think Ready or Not meets Throne of the Fallen, dipped in the heady hues of gothic romance and wrapped in silken lies. The stakes in Enchantra by Kaylie Smith aren’t just survival—they’re identity, autonomy, and the terrifying cost of falling for someone who might be your doom.
The Story: From Vacation to Damnation
At the start of Enchantra by Kaylie Smith, Genevieve Grimm leaves behind the hauntings of Grimm Manor and her sister’s necromantic legacy to chase the truth behind a mysterious letter addressed to their deceased mother. The letter lures her to Italy, promising luxury and reunion—but what she finds at the estate of Barrington Silver is no opulent vacation. Instead, she is unwillingly entered into Enchantra, a hellish and seductive hide-and-seek game where the losers are cast into eternal damnation and only one player can win.
Forced to partner with the enigmatic and maddeningly gorgeous Rowin Silver—whose shadows hide more than his thoughts—Genevieve becomes entangled in a labyrinth of twisted rules, long-standing family curses, and a romance that walks the razor-thin line between desire and betrayal.
As layers of illusion peel away, Genevieve must reckon with her own hidden powers, her place within a family she never knew, and the secrets Rowin would rather keep buried—especially the one about what it means to play the game as “lovers.”
Characters: Where Darkness Courts the Bold
Genevieve Grimm
Unlike her sister Ophelia, whose narrative in Phantasma was shadowed by grief and resolve, Genevieve shines (or rather, flickers) as a Specter who hides her light behind flirtation and flamboyance. Her development in Enchantra is perhaps the novel’s most satisfying arc: from a playful runaway with hidden magic to a woman willing to burn her illusions for a chance at truth and belonging. She’s flawed, headstrong, and emotionally bruised, and that’s what makes her luminous.
Rowin Silver
Rowin is a walking riddle of jagged charm. As the reluctant heir of Enchantra and the gatekeeper to its darkest secrets, he is every bit the enemies-to-lovers archetype—brooding, brutal, and bound by duty. Yet Smith softens his edges gradually, revealing a man undone by guilt and desire. The chemistry between Rowin and Genevieve is electric, with dialogue that crackles and touches that burn, but what stands out is the emotional subtext beneath their battle of wills.
Supporting Cast
- Ellin and Sevin bring eerie energy and sharp tension to the Silver family dynamic, embodying a cruel yet captivating aristocracy.
- Barrington Silver, the estate’s enigmatic patriarch, is a spectral figure of guilt and power who deepens the story’s mythos.
- Umbra, the shape-shifting fox familiar, might just be the breakout star—mischievous, magical, and mysteriously loyal.
Themes: Bloodlines, Betrayal, and Becoming
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith is more than a spicy fantasy romance—it’s a gothic meditation on identity, memory, and legacy. Smith uses her elaborate magical system and sinister game framework to explore:
- Inheritance and Legacy: Genevieve’s journey is haunted by questions of blood, belonging, and whether her power marks her as cursed or chosen.
- Power and Consent: The rules of the game are steeped in control, forcing players to choose between manipulation and surrender—both in love and survival.
- Love as a Game: The novel toys with the romantic trope of fake dating under high-stakes conditions. But Smith injects it with genuine emotional stakes, making it a game Genevieve can’t afford to lose.
The setting—a silver-drenched villa hidden by glamours, ringed by demonberries and illusions—serves as a gothic metaphor for façades: the ones we wear, the ones we chase, and the ones we must destroy to see what’s real.
Worldbuilding: Decadent, Dangerous, and Divinely Detailed
Smith’s greatest strength lies in atmosphere. The Enchantra estate is a character in its own right: maze-like, decaying, full of whispering mirrors and silent opulence. Every corridor and cloaked painting adds to the sense that time has frozen—and something is watching.
Her magic system is well-structured and intricate:
- Specters, Wraiths, Demons, and Devils form a nuanced paranormal hierarchy.
- The Enchantra game mixes elements of folklore, ritual, and psychological horror, creating suspense akin to Crimson Peak meets The Hunger Games.
- The language barrier Genevieve effortlessly overcomes (despite not knowing it) subtly hints at ancestral ties and magical resonance—an elegant worldbuilding detail that pays off emotionally.
The Romance: Love in a Time of Treachery
This is not a story where the lovers simply kiss in the rain and ride off into safety. The relationship between Genevieve and Rowin is slow-burning and volatile, smoldering with secrets, mistrust, and a mutual need for survival. Their enemies-to-lovers dynamic is handled with both playfulness and poignancy.
What sets their romance apart:
- Consent is complex, evolving through layered power dynamics.
- Trust isn’t easily earned, which makes its eventual emergence feel earned.
- The spice is truly spicy, but never without emotional gravity.
Writing Style: Atmospheric, Lush, and Wickedly Witty
Kaylie Smith writes with a painter’s touch and a trickster’s tongue. Her prose blends sensuality with snark, lush description with razor-edged dialogue. Much like in Phantasma, she excels at:
- Evocative metaphors: “Love. Loathing. Same passion, different names.”
- Vivid sensory details: Blood-soaked halls, chilled vineyards, perfumed letters, and smoky shadows.
- Modern gothic tone: A blend of Southern charm, European folklore, and classic horror beats.
At times, the narrative edges on overindulgence—Genevieve’s internal monologues could be trimmed—but that excess feels deliberate, mimicking the ornate world she’s navigating.
What Works Brilliantly
- Unpredictable Plot Progression: The story constantly shifts through veils of illusion and layers of deception, maintaining momentum.
- Strong Series Continuity: Enchantra builds upon Phantasma‘s mythology while standing firmly on its own feet.
- Sizzling Chemistry: The romantic tension is palpable and deeply entwined with the stakes of the plot.
- Gothic Visuals: From spectral foxes to sentient chandeliers, the book is a visual feast.
Where It Falters
- Pacing Stumbles Midway: A few middle chapters meander through repetitive banter and delay key reveals.
- Some Characters Lack Depth: Secondary players like Ellin and Sevin feel underutilized despite their narrative potential.
- Genevieve’s Arc is Slower to Rise: Her transformation is ultimately rewarding, but it’s backloaded and could use earlier urgency.
Final Verdict: A Seductive Spell You Won’t Want to Break
Enchantra by Kaylie Smith is everything romantasy readers could wish for: high stakes, fierce heroines, morally grey heartthrobs, and a world where love can be your salvation—or your damnation. Kaylie Smith continues to craft gothic marvels with a painter’s eye and a sorcerer’s tongue. Though the journey at times veers into ornate indulgence, the payoff is an emotionally satisfying, darkly romantic triumph.
Whether you’re drawn to deadly games, haunted estates, or fiery romance, Enchantra invites you to take the risk.
Just remember—once you play, there’s no walking away.
Let the game begin.
If You Liked Enchantra, Try These
- Caraval by Stephanie Garber – For the twisted games and magical illusions
- Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco – For its dark romance and decadent world
- Belladonna by Adalyn Grace – For the gothic ambiance and spectral intrigue
- Trial of the Sun Queen by Nisha J. Tuli – For fans of immersive romantasy with fierce female leads