Play with the Phantom by Amanda Richardson is the second book in the Midnight Series, a series of interconnected standalones that play with the dark romance genre. I loved Dance with the Devil, the first book in the series, so when I received an advanced reader copy of this book, I dropped everything to read.
This book is morally questionable in all the right ways, and not for the faint of heart. It’s an age-gap, stalker romance with elements of dubious consent and lots of kinky spice. Play with the Phantom is a dark romance in its themes, but like its predecessor, it doesn’t quite fit the typical violent mold of the genre, which makes for an intriguing journey.
Ari Clarke has been with her boyfriend Asher for two years, but something is still missing. No matter how hard she tries to teach him how Asher has no interest in truly satisfying her. He’s stable and predictable, but Ari is hopelessly bored. That is until mysterious letters start showing up at her house.
Then, on a weekend retreat with Asher’s family, she discovers a secret he’s kept hidden for their entire two-year relationship. Turns out, he has an identical twin brother. Asher’s twin, Maddox, is his opposite in almost every way, but Ari can’t help the electric draw she feels towards Maddox.
He doesn’t expect me to be easy. He just wants me to be real.
Ari is an anxious eldest daughter, who just wants someone who not only understands her but will put in the effort to take care of her. Maddox is an ex-con and a man who takes control. He puts her first, even when they’ve just met and their relationship, while forbidden in many ways, strikes a perfect balance.
There’s something so compelling about stalker romances. Having a dangerous stalker is a nightmare for women in reality, but so many of us love reading books that turn that around into something unspeakably sexy. It’s a way of reclaiming something traumatic and making it something that brings joy instead. I don’t necessarily fully understand it, but I enjoy the hell out of it nonetheless.
Richardson immediately sets the tone for this book by opening with a sexual moment, and things gear up dramatically from there. There is an element of dubious consent, with twins involved you can imagine that there could be some mistaken identity coercion. If you’re concerned, the trigger warnings have more detail. It might be best to peruse them anyway for this one.
There is an element of the forbidden and the taboo, but with all the kinky accouterments here, the underlying theme is a woman who deserves better and a man who is determined to give her everything she deserves.
Play with the Phantom is chaotic, messy, and filled with interpersonal drama in a way that had me grinning from ear to ear and kicking my feet. I was only 30 percent into this book when I added it to my favorites list for the year, and by the end, it had fully cemented its spot. If you’re a dark romance reader, you will love this book.
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