Enchantra by Kaylie Smith is a spicy fantasy romance featuring a deadly game filled with temptation. It’s the second book in the Wicked Games series. The first book, Phantasma, followed Ophelia Grimm, and now it’s her younger sister Genevieve’s turn to have her story told.
Genevieve Grimm is searching for answers after the death of her mother, and her best clue is a letter addressed to her mother from the Enchantra Estate, demanding that she come before the spring equinox. All the omens direct Genevieve to go in her place, despite the equinox having passed.
What she discovers in this mysterious estate is more than she ever could have bargained for. Genevieve finds herself trapped there, an unwilling participant in a brutal game called The Hunt, where her choices are to win or be killed.
Her only chance at surviving The Hunt is to do so as Rowington Silver’s wife. The two of them will have to convince the Devil who presides over the game that they are desperately in love. But in the tangled web of secrets in Enchantra, Genevieve can’t trust anything, even her heart.
Genevieve was such a fascinating heroine to read. She almost gives a sort of Tinker Bell energy; fiesty and fashionable, with so much attitude. Genevieve has this incredible confidence, even in the most dire of situations, that I cannot relate to in the slightest, but is so much fun to read.
She was used to doing things out of spite. Excelled at it, actually.
Rowington, a Wraith with the power of shadows, had such a great character development throughout this book. At the start, he’s your typical brooding, mysterious romantasy hero but slowly he becomes so much more than he seemed at the start.
The banter between these two was impeccable, driven by equal parts attraction and annoyance. Their relationship has a steady build-up of chemistry, and tons of sexual tension right from the start. When that tension finally snaps, the result is electric. They are so passionate, even when they’re still denying their feelings.
Enchantra is set in the Italian countryside, with a historical vibe. I loved the combination of real places and such a rich fantasy world. The magical system is clever and detailed, with plenty of darkness, but a certain amount of whimsy to balance it out.
This book has a different tone from its predecessor. Genevieve’s situation is just as dangerous as her sister’s before her, but seems less dismal somehow. It’s almost like the characters’ sparkling personalities infused themselves into the book’s style.
The structure of The Hunt gives readers bursts of action and drama, followed by moments of rest where we get to know the characters, and its the perfect way to keep us all engrossed throughout the story.
Smith’s writing is so crafty and clever, filled with intrigue, secrets, and an air of mystery. There’s a stunning plot twist at the end and a conclusion that ties it all together beautifully. This is a damn near perfect romantasy.
After reading this book, I’m really hoping that this author is planning to continue this series with Rowington’s siblings, who are the other participants in The Hunt. They were all such intriguing characters and I would love to have more of them and more of this incredible world.
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