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Castle of the Cursed
A delicious and dark gothic romance from bestselling author Romina Garber!
THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY…
After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.
Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.
As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized.
THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY…
After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor’s guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.
Beneath its gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents’ deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he’s been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.
As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra’s secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she’s chasing has already found her . . . and they’re closer than she ever realized.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2024
About the author
Romina Garber
15 books875 followersRomina Garber is a NYT/International Bestselling YA author who also writes under pen name Romina Russell. Born in Buenos Aires and raised in Miami, Romina landed her first writing gig as a teen—“College She Wrote,” a weekly Sunday column for the Miami Herald that was later picked up for national syndication—and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She is a graduate of Harvard College and a Virgo to the core. For more information about her books, visit www.rominagarber.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 810 reviews
December 28, 2023
Well, even though I came across a few mixed reviews, my verdict is clear: I enjoyed this spine-tingling, paranormal, twisty journey! This book is a spellbinding gothic romance that enthralls readers with a web of mystery, supernatural allure, and shadowed secrets. The narrative unfolds around Estela, plunged into the depths of her ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra, following the tragic demise of her parents. Garber paints a vivid, gothic portrayal of la Sombra, complete with hidden passages, a murky history, and an atmosphere dripping with suspense, transforming the setting into a character itself.
Estela emerges as a compelling protagonist, steering through the intricate labyrinth of family secrets with an unwavering determination to uncover the truth. Her poignant struggle with survivor's guilt, coupled with the blurred lines between reality and hallucination, lends complexity to her character, rendering her journey emotionally resonant and alluring.
The introduction of Sebastián, a silver-eyed enigma confined within the castle, injects a fascinating supernatural dimension into the narrative. The evolving relationship between Estela and Sebastián is seamlessly woven into the broader mystery, suffused with mistrust and the tantalizing thrill of the unknown.
However, the novel's elaborate plot and the abundance of secrets may prove overwhelming for some readers. While the pacing is generally well-maintained, occasional moments feel burdened by the narrative's complexity. Furthermore, the amalgamation of gothic romance and supernatural mystery, while innovative, may not entirely appease purists of either genre.
Romina Garber skillfully constructs a world both dark and enthralling, guiding readers from Estela's somber beginnings to the revelation of her Spanish heritage. Twists and turns, including the mysterious man with silver eyes, contribute to an engaging tapestry of intrigue. The slow-burning tension between Estela and the shadowy figure adds depth, while elements of jealousy with Felipe and the mysteries of the castle enhance the overall reading experience.
"Castle of the Cursed" unfolds as Estela grapples with the aftermath of a mysterious attack claiming her parents' lives, propelling her to Spain to live with a long-lost relative. The castle cradles dark secrets, supernatural forces, and a family curse interwoven with fate, free will, and self-empowerment. The Spanish setting injects an exotic flair into the gothic atmosphere, creating a mesmerizing exploration of inheritance, family dynamics, love, and sacrifice.
While the plot weaves into multi-generational and multi-dimensional aspects, smoother transitions between scenes could enhance the narrative's overall flow.
In conclusion, "Castle of the Cursed" stands as an original gothic mystery adorned with dark fantasy elements. Romina Garber crafts a captivating tale that immerses readers in a world of shadows, curses, and familial legacies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
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Estela emerges as a compelling protagonist, steering through the intricate labyrinth of family secrets with an unwavering determination to uncover the truth. Her poignant struggle with survivor's guilt, coupled with the blurred lines between reality and hallucination, lends complexity to her character, rendering her journey emotionally resonant and alluring.
The introduction of Sebastián, a silver-eyed enigma confined within the castle, injects a fascinating supernatural dimension into the narrative. The evolving relationship between Estela and Sebastián is seamlessly woven into the broader mystery, suffused with mistrust and the tantalizing thrill of the unknown.
However, the novel's elaborate plot and the abundance of secrets may prove overwhelming for some readers. While the pacing is generally well-maintained, occasional moments feel burdened by the narrative's complexity. Furthermore, the amalgamation of gothic romance and supernatural mystery, while innovative, may not entirely appease purists of either genre.
Romina Garber skillfully constructs a world both dark and enthralling, guiding readers from Estela's somber beginnings to the revelation of her Spanish heritage. Twists and turns, including the mysterious man with silver eyes, contribute to an engaging tapestry of intrigue. The slow-burning tension between Estela and the shadowy figure adds depth, while elements of jealousy with Felipe and the mysteries of the castle enhance the overall reading experience.
"Castle of the Cursed" unfolds as Estela grapples with the aftermath of a mysterious attack claiming her parents' lives, propelling her to Spain to live with a long-lost relative. The castle cradles dark secrets, supernatural forces, and a family curse interwoven with fate, free will, and self-empowerment. The Spanish setting injects an exotic flair into the gothic atmosphere, creating a mesmerizing exploration of inheritance, family dynamics, love, and sacrifice.
While the plot weaves into multi-generational and multi-dimensional aspects, smoother transitions between scenes could enhance the narrative's overall flow.
In conclusion, "Castle of the Cursed" stands as an original gothic mystery adorned with dark fantasy elements. Romina Garber crafts a captivating tale that immerses readers in a world of shadows, curses, and familial legacies.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Wednesday Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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August 22, 2024
This is the weirdest book I’ve read this year.
I didn’t hate it, I’m just weirded-out/confused. I was SO invested until page 50 - then the story took a weird turn and I just couldn’t wrap my head around anything.
The creepy vibes were intense until page 100. Then the writing switched. It was just TOO MUCH. Too over the top. It went from creepy vibes to romcom parody in the span of a few pages.
I wish there was something positive I could say about this but it had so many problems.
The FMC and the vampire fell head over heels in the span of a few days. And there was no chemistry - it was just awkward. The aunt changed personality completely and it just felt really convenient. There’s a character that’s a central point in the beginning and at some point we just don’t hear about him at all anymore. As if his usefulness was fulfilled so he was just useless to the story now lol. There’s a lot of things that happened that threw me off. Especially between the 50-100% mark.
It felt like the author started out a very serious creepy paranormal book and then decided to switch to a parody in the middle of it lol I don’t get it.
I didn’t hate it, I’m just weirded-out/confused. I was SO invested until page 50 - then the story took a weird turn and I just couldn’t wrap my head around anything.
The creepy vibes were intense until page 100. Then the writing switched. It was just TOO MUCH. Too over the top. It went from creepy vibes to romcom parody in the span of a few pages.
I wish there was something positive I could say about this but it had so many problems.
The FMC and the vampire fell head over heels in the span of a few days. And there was no chemistry - it was just awkward. The aunt changed personality completely and it just felt really convenient. There’s a character that’s a central point in the beginning and at some point we just don’t hear about him at all anymore. As if his usefulness was fulfilled so he was just useless to the story now lol. There’s a lot of things that happened that threw me off. Especially between the 50-100% mark.
It felt like the author started out a very serious creepy paranormal book and then decided to switch to a parody in the middle of it lol I don’t get it.
June 15, 2024
Gothic telenovela meets Twilight in Castle of the Cursed!
I wish I had known going in that this was intending to be over-the-top, almost campy much like a telenovela. I knew it was a darker gothic romance with vampires, but there were some twists that kind of threw me tonally until I figured out what the book was doing. I think I especially wasn't expecting it because the book begins with content warnings- the main character deals with major mental health issues including suicidal ideation, grief, etc. So it's an interesting blend of serious and over-the-top.
I liked the idea of this book, but I have mixed feelings about the structural execution. The beginning is a little rushed with a lot happening that's important, but doesn't feel like it gives us quite enough setup. Then in the later part of the book, there is a big twist that kind of info-dumps a lot of information and history with a mechanism I'm not really a fan of. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think there is a world where this could have been a much better book by seeding some of that information earlier without revealing what it actually meant. It is on the darker and sexier side of mature YA romantasy and I kind of liked the relationship element. I feel like this one is going to be polarizing, but it's decent and had even more potential. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
I wish I had known going in that this was intending to be over-the-top, almost campy much like a telenovela. I knew it was a darker gothic romance with vampires, but there were some twists that kind of threw me tonally until I figured out what the book was doing. I think I especially wasn't expecting it because the book begins with content warnings- the main character deals with major mental health issues including suicidal ideation, grief, etc. So it's an interesting blend of serious and over-the-top.
I liked the idea of this book, but I have mixed feelings about the structural execution. The beginning is a little rushed with a lot happening that's important, but doesn't feel like it gives us quite enough setup. Then in the later part of the book, there is a big twist that kind of info-dumps a lot of information and history with a mechanism I'm not really a fan of. I don't want to spoil anything, but I think there is a world where this could have been a much better book by seeding some of that information earlier without revealing what it actually meant. It is on the darker and sexier side of mature YA romantasy and I kind of liked the relationship element. I feel like this one is going to be polarizing, but it's decent and had even more potential. I received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
August 16, 2024
I really wanted to like this one. It starts out alright, has some good mental health representation in the beginning; especially when our leading girl believes she is imagining the mysterious shadow man in the castle. Unfortunately it becomes a hot mess by about 65%. By 80% calling Castle of the Cursed a hot mess is being kind. I skimmed the last 50 or so pages. Honestly I don’t think properly reading them would have helped my understanding or buy-in to the story at all.
The overall issues that sucked the life out (and not in the good dark fantasy way) of Castle of the Cursed:
1) It’s 13 days from when our gal shows up at the Castle to the end. It needed to be 13 months! Everything just happens with no foreshadowing, no change management, or even a hint of what is actually going on. Had it transpired over a longer period of time then maybe the foreshadowing needed could have happened?
2) Almost every major event feels random. Without any build-up, foreshadowing, hinting, or even an idea of the ‘magic’ until it’s dropped on top of us I found myself feeling very skeptical. I needed Nicholas Benares to ease me into some of the concepts and plot points. The ‘twists’ didn’t feel like twists where I had any chance of knowing they were coming. They felt more like an asteroid that was dropped on top of me and I was supposed to try and climb my way out of the dense material I was coated in.
3) Castle of the Cursed needed direction and purpose. Too much happens that is disconnected; but the novel doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. I’m all for genre spanning stories; but you still need to cement the story in a few places. It starts as a dark romance, gets awkward, introduces a ton of lore and magic, and suddenly we’re drowning in plot and the romance is mostly lost. Yet at the end suddenly that romance is super relevant again… it just didn’t flow or feel natural.
4) 13 days is not long enough to really know someone; never mind fall in love with them.
5) I never really felt enough of a connection with most of our characters to care if they lived or died. There are some well done aspects of a few side characters; but I needed more, especially from one of the twist defining characters.
Overall, this was a very disappointing novel. Had I not been curious to know the final ‘result’ (as it appears to be a stand alone novel) I would have DNF’d. Instead I skimmed the last few pages and brought myself to the ending; which ironically felt like it fit with the first half of the book. But somewhere between 65% and 90% all that story got lost in massive magical rules, lore, memory sequences, etc. It’s too bad as I liked some elements but overall execution is critical to the reading experience. Sadly this one lacks direction, cohesiveness, and foreshadowing.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
The overall issues that sucked the life out (and not in the good dark fantasy way) of Castle of the Cursed:
1) It’s 13 days from when our gal shows up at the Castle to the end. It needed to be 13 months! Everything just happens with no foreshadowing, no change management, or even a hint of what is actually going on. Had it transpired over a longer period of time then maybe the foreshadowing needed could have happened?
2) Almost every major event feels random. Without any build-up, foreshadowing, hinting, or even an idea of the ‘magic’ until it’s dropped on top of us I found myself feeling very skeptical. I needed Nicholas Benares to ease me into some of the concepts and plot points. The ‘twists’ didn’t feel like twists where I had any chance of knowing they were coming. They felt more like an asteroid that was dropped on top of me and I was supposed to try and climb my way out of the dense material I was coated in.
3) Castle of the Cursed needed direction and purpose. Too much happens that is disconnected; but the novel doesn’t seem to know what it wants to be. I’m all for genre spanning stories; but you still need to cement the story in a few places. It starts as a dark romance, gets awkward, introduces a ton of lore and magic, and suddenly we’re drowning in plot and the romance is mostly lost. Yet at the end suddenly that romance is super relevant again… it just didn’t flow or feel natural.
4) 13 days is not long enough to really know someone; never mind fall in love with them.
5) I never really felt enough of a connection with most of our characters to care if they lived or died. There are some well done aspects of a few side characters; but I needed more, especially from one of the twist defining characters.
Overall, this was a very disappointing novel. Had I not been curious to know the final ‘result’ (as it appears to be a stand alone novel) I would have DNF’d. Instead I skimmed the last few pages and brought myself to the ending; which ironically felt like it fit with the first half of the book. But somewhere between 65% and 90% all that story got lost in massive magical rules, lore, memory sequences, etc. It’s too bad as I liked some elements but overall execution is critical to the reading experience. Sadly this one lacks direction, cohesiveness, and foreshadowing.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
January 29, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! As part of my review, I’m giving this book 2 out of 5 stars. I honestly really wanted to like this book, the cover was super intriguing and it sounded so good, but I found myself becoming more and more disappointed as I continued to read it. The trigger warnings and content warnings at the beginning of the book were a nice heads up for what to expect outside of the synopsis and they are definitely warranted in some parts, but nothing got too dark or too… much to deter me from reading.
Before I go any further, there will be spoilers in this review, as it is tagged as such too, so just as a warning if you continue to read this (it’s quite long so I don’t blame you if you don’t). Now, I will say that as I continued to read one of the main questions I had was: what is the age of Estela? In the beginning she seems to be a young tween/teenager, but as the story progresses it seems she’s an older teenager based on some of her actions, but I can’t recall ever being told her actual age until more than halfway through the book when you find out she’s going to celebrate her 18th birthday in a few days time. This could very well just be me not paying attention or not remembering this being mentioned early on, but given some of the events of this story and Estela’s actions, I feel like her age should have been addressed a lot sooner in the book (and apologies if it was and I just completely blanked on it). Estela as a main character is actually quite interesting though. She is very flawed, she’s quite dark, she’s broken, she’s selfish and she makes mistakes. It’s nice to read a story where the main character is a woman and has all of these characteristics; they grated on my nerves sometimes, but I still found myself enjoying, for the most part, Estela.
I was not expecting the Vampire Prince aspect to happen in this story as a romance option that’s for sure or another realm either, though given how the synopsis reads, another realm isn’t too far of a stretch. I’m also not a fan of the romance in this story for the sheer reason that it took away from the plot for me; the age gap and the love interest being a vampire prince is fine, it’s just that it was all so rushed and seems so forced with no chemistry between Estela and Sebastían that took me away from it. They’ve known each other for a week and already are talking about how their feelings for each other will lead to love and then this conversation leads into a long make out session. Which, granted is pretty on brand for a teenager to think that their first feelings for someone will instantly lead to love, and especially so quickly, but for a book that’s as dark as it is and is listed as adult fantasy, I expected a little better. It’s down to just preference at this point, but personally I prefer more of a build up before any of this happens, like the characters properly getting to know each other and build a relationship over the course of a few months or longer rather than just a week. It also just really strikes me as odd and way too rushed considering a week before Estela even arrives at La Sombra and before she and Sebastían have any significant romantic interaction that Estela was mute, she wasn’t talking to anyone, she was extremely closed off and literally suicidal. Her interactions with Sebastían, in my mind, aren’t enough to warrant going from being mute and suicidal to make out sessions every night in a week’s time, talking about love and Estela calling him her boyfriend (once and completely randomly) even with everything else that’s going on. The time they’ve spent together, by the end of the book, is two weeks, two weeks and by the 13th day, Sebastían does the equivalent of his kind and proposes to Estela which then ends in them having a ritualistic ceremony (for lack of a better description) that binds them to one another; they literally get married within 14 days of knowing each other, not even Twilight was this rushed in the romance. And then, as if things couldn’t get any more rushed, the ceremony ends with them kissing, taking each others clothes off, her grabbing whatever he has between his legs (as Estela even questions if they are anatomically compatible), she asks him to kill her if her twin is even visible in her after the final battle plays out and then the chapter ends and the next begins without any mention of what just happened. The “spice,” as well as the romance is just so forced for me and just too awkward. It is just so, so, so horribly rushed that I literally laughed when the proposal, into marriage into possible sex scene happened. The “romance” in this book is just too forced for my liking and I cannot get behind it at all. There’s also a slightly spicy scene that happens later in the book (but very much so before the proposal scene) after some extremely major events happen, that just comes out of nowhere and is so unwarranted. Major spoilers, but Estela literally loses another family member and soon after finds herself in preparation for the upcoming events, but before she can properly prepare, of course, Sebastían and Estela have a little spicy moment involving ropes and then carry on as if nothing happened. I know this is the new trend with romantasy being the next big thing, but this particular “spicy” scene was so completely out of left field that I was half baffled and half sadly amused. I’m sure others will love this aspect of rushed romance between a teenager and a vampire prince and will appreciate these “spicy” scenes, but personally, it takes me out of the story completely and just comes across as being thrown in for the “spice” factor rather than that the relationship between Estela and Sebastían has grown to a point that warrants such scenes. And for anyone reading this far, the spice factor is 0.5 out of 5 stars. It really truly isn’t even all that spicy, the rope scene is the spiciest part of the whole book and is the only reason this book gets any spice rating at all.
The twist of the reveal of Estela’s uncle was so out of left field; there was no hint of an extra family member or twin brother to her aunt or anything. There was nothing leading up to the reveal to warrant it. It was just so random. It definitely has its place in the story given how the plot progresses from the big reveal, however I just wish there were more hints dropped leading up to the reveal to make it really impactful and not just coming across as totally out of nowhere. This also applies to the reveal that Estela has a twin. Now, this likely comes down to me just not cluing into things and not cluing into any possible foreshadowing that Estela does in fact have a twin, especially after the reveal that Bea and Teo are twins, but the reveal that Estela does didn’t come across well for me because of this. Maybe it’s just by the time of the reveal of Antonela I had pretty much checked out of the book, but I just didn’t feel the proper shock and awe of the twist that Antonela was the one who experienced a lot of what Estela thought she did when she was younger and that Antonela was her twin and had been sent to another realm by her uncle Teo and aunt Bea.
I found that there were some things that kept repeating that became more and more frustrating as the story continued. Like when Bea and Estela continuously try to use the syringe to restrain Teo - even after their many, many failed attempts. I can excuse the first few times as “maybe this time will work,” scenarios, but when it’s been four or five or six times or more and they continue to try it? Come on, that’s a bit excessive to keep trying the same thing when it’s clear it isn’t going to work as it hasn’t the previous times you’ve both tried. And the constant mistrust that Estela has in Sebastían. I get it, she’s broken and damaged and has lost so many people in such a short amount of time and given that her and Sebastían have only known each other for two weeks there hasn’t been enough time to properly trust each other, but the vampire literally turned his back on his own realm, as the prince! He made her his blood bound! He tells her three separate times that he’d give up everything for her, and proves it over again, and still Estela distrust him! Again, I get that this is likely because she’s 18, she’s a teenager and she’s traumatized and is dealing with so many things, but it definitely grew tiresome even though it happens over the course of two or so chapters and towards the end of the story. If anything this proves to me that this relationship isn’t actually built on anything, and is just the hormones of a teenager rather than actual emotions, but I digress.
The house actually being sentient, in a way, and being “bloodthirsty” lost me, it really did. And again, given the synopsis, it’s a dead giveaway that this was going to happen, but I did not expect it to be so literal. Same with there being all these other realms and monsters/creatures; it’s not abnormal for a fantasy novel, it’s just that, in this novel, nothing pointed to other realms and monsters/creatures for me. Obviously with Sebastían there’s the argument from the beginning that he’s from another realm, as I stated earlier in my review, but given that this version of Earth deals with magic in some regard, it’s easy to also assume that Sebastían is simply from Earth and not also from another realm. I think if there was more clues and/or lead ups to other realms existing than I probably would have been more okay with this revelation, but there wasn’t and so I felt myself become completely taken out of the book and my read when I came to this part.
The author writes in the big climactic ending (I was actually disappointed in how the final battle played out) that Estela’s “hope and resilience” are what powers she has that her twin Antonela fears, but I don’t see that at all. Literally a paragraph before this revelation, Estela is ready to give up, to let Antonela win, to let Antonela rule and create a new world on Earth all because their uncle Teo will love Antonela unconditionally while Estela has “no one.” But then Estela sees Sebastían and suddenly she’s filled with love again and remembers that Sebastían is her blood bound and that he loves her and then Estela gets up and fights against her sister again. Estela had literally given up. Like, she was done. Throwing in the towel. Admitting defeat. Fading away so that Antonela could claim her body for her own. Estela was done. By the end of the book she doesn’t have any hope or resilience, she’s just fueled by her love (regardless of my feelings on it) for Sebastían and that’s what drives her. To me, her love for Sebastían is what Antonela actually fears, not this so-called hope and resilience of Estela.
Overall, this review is largely negative and I do feel bad, but this book just wasn’t it for me. Like I said, I wanted to enjoy it, the cover is stunning, the synopsis intriguing, the concept interesting, but it all just fell apart for me as I continued to read it. I’m sure many others will enjoy this gothic, supernatural romantasy book, but unfortunately I am not one of them.
Before I go any further, there will be spoilers in this review, as it is tagged as such too, so just as a warning if you continue to read this (it’s quite long so I don’t blame you if you don’t). Now, I will say that as I continued to read one of the main questions I had was: what is the age of Estela? In the beginning she seems to be a young tween/teenager, but as the story progresses it seems she’s an older teenager based on some of her actions, but I can’t recall ever being told her actual age until more than halfway through the book when you find out she’s going to celebrate her 18th birthday in a few days time. This could very well just be me not paying attention or not remembering this being mentioned early on, but given some of the events of this story and Estela’s actions, I feel like her age should have been addressed a lot sooner in the book (and apologies if it was and I just completely blanked on it). Estela as a main character is actually quite interesting though. She is very flawed, she’s quite dark, she’s broken, she’s selfish and she makes mistakes. It’s nice to read a story where the main character is a woman and has all of these characteristics; they grated on my nerves sometimes, but I still found myself enjoying, for the most part, Estela.
I was not expecting the Vampire Prince aspect to happen in this story as a romance option that’s for sure or another realm either, though given how the synopsis reads, another realm isn’t too far of a stretch. I’m also not a fan of the romance in this story for the sheer reason that it took away from the plot for me; the age gap and the love interest being a vampire prince is fine, it’s just that it was all so rushed and seems so forced with no chemistry between Estela and Sebastían that took me away from it. They’ve known each other for a week and already are talking about how their feelings for each other will lead to love and then this conversation leads into a long make out session. Which, granted is pretty on brand for a teenager to think that their first feelings for someone will instantly lead to love, and especially so quickly, but for a book that’s as dark as it is and is listed as adult fantasy, I expected a little better. It’s down to just preference at this point, but personally I prefer more of a build up before any of this happens, like the characters properly getting to know each other and build a relationship over the course of a few months or longer rather than just a week. It also just really strikes me as odd and way too rushed considering a week before Estela even arrives at La Sombra and before she and Sebastían have any significant romantic interaction that Estela was mute, she wasn’t talking to anyone, she was extremely closed off and literally suicidal. Her interactions with Sebastían, in my mind, aren’t enough to warrant going from being mute and suicidal to make out sessions every night in a week’s time, talking about love and Estela calling him her boyfriend (once and completely randomly) even with everything else that’s going on. The time they’ve spent together, by the end of the book, is two weeks, two weeks and by the 13th day, Sebastían does the equivalent of his kind and proposes to Estela which then ends in them having a ritualistic ceremony (for lack of a better description) that binds them to one another; they literally get married within 14 days of knowing each other, not even Twilight was this rushed in the romance. And then, as if things couldn’t get any more rushed, the ceremony ends with them kissing, taking each others clothes off, her grabbing whatever he has between his legs (as Estela even questions if they are anatomically compatible), she asks him to kill her if her twin is even visible in her after the final battle plays out and then the chapter ends and the next begins without any mention of what just happened. The “spice,” as well as the romance is just so forced for me and just too awkward. It is just so, so, so horribly rushed that I literally laughed when the proposal, into marriage into possible sex scene happened. The “romance” in this book is just too forced for my liking and I cannot get behind it at all. There’s also a slightly spicy scene that happens later in the book (but very much so before the proposal scene) after some extremely major events happen, that just comes out of nowhere and is so unwarranted. Major spoilers, but Estela literally loses another family member and soon after finds herself in preparation for the upcoming events, but before she can properly prepare, of course, Sebastían and Estela have a little spicy moment involving ropes and then carry on as if nothing happened. I know this is the new trend with romantasy being the next big thing, but this particular “spicy” scene was so completely out of left field that I was half baffled and half sadly amused. I’m sure others will love this aspect of rushed romance between a teenager and a vampire prince and will appreciate these “spicy” scenes, but personally, it takes me out of the story completely and just comes across as being thrown in for the “spice” factor rather than that the relationship between Estela and Sebastían has grown to a point that warrants such scenes. And for anyone reading this far, the spice factor is 0.5 out of 5 stars. It really truly isn’t even all that spicy, the rope scene is the spiciest part of the whole book and is the only reason this book gets any spice rating at all.
The twist of the reveal of Estela’s uncle was so out of left field; there was no hint of an extra family member or twin brother to her aunt or anything. There was nothing leading up to the reveal to warrant it. It was just so random. It definitely has its place in the story given how the plot progresses from the big reveal, however I just wish there were more hints dropped leading up to the reveal to make it really impactful and not just coming across as totally out of nowhere. This also applies to the reveal that Estela has a twin. Now, this likely comes down to me just not cluing into things and not cluing into any possible foreshadowing that Estela does in fact have a twin, especially after the reveal that Bea and Teo are twins, but the reveal that Estela does didn’t come across well for me because of this. Maybe it’s just by the time of the reveal of Antonela I had pretty much checked out of the book, but I just didn’t feel the proper shock and awe of the twist that Antonela was the one who experienced a lot of what Estela thought she did when she was younger and that Antonela was her twin and had been sent to another realm by her uncle Teo and aunt Bea.
I found that there were some things that kept repeating that became more and more frustrating as the story continued. Like when Bea and Estela continuously try to use the syringe to restrain Teo - even after their many, many failed attempts. I can excuse the first few times as “maybe this time will work,” scenarios, but when it’s been four or five or six times or more and they continue to try it? Come on, that’s a bit excessive to keep trying the same thing when it’s clear it isn’t going to work as it hasn’t the previous times you’ve both tried. And the constant mistrust that Estela has in Sebastían. I get it, she’s broken and damaged and has lost so many people in such a short amount of time and given that her and Sebastían have only known each other for two weeks there hasn’t been enough time to properly trust each other, but the vampire literally turned his back on his own realm, as the prince! He made her his blood bound! He tells her three separate times that he’d give up everything for her, and proves it over again, and still Estela distrust him! Again, I get that this is likely because she’s 18, she’s a teenager and she’s traumatized and is dealing with so many things, but it definitely grew tiresome even though it happens over the course of two or so chapters and towards the end of the story. If anything this proves to me that this relationship isn’t actually built on anything, and is just the hormones of a teenager rather than actual emotions, but I digress.
The house actually being sentient, in a way, and being “bloodthirsty” lost me, it really did. And again, given the synopsis, it’s a dead giveaway that this was going to happen, but I did not expect it to be so literal. Same with there being all these other realms and monsters/creatures; it’s not abnormal for a fantasy novel, it’s just that, in this novel, nothing pointed to other realms and monsters/creatures for me. Obviously with Sebastían there’s the argument from the beginning that he’s from another realm, as I stated earlier in my review, but given that this version of Earth deals with magic in some regard, it’s easy to also assume that Sebastían is simply from Earth and not also from another realm. I think if there was more clues and/or lead ups to other realms existing than I probably would have been more okay with this revelation, but there wasn’t and so I felt myself become completely taken out of the book and my read when I came to this part.
The author writes in the big climactic ending (I was actually disappointed in how the final battle played out) that Estela’s “hope and resilience” are what powers she has that her twin Antonela fears, but I don’t see that at all. Literally a paragraph before this revelation, Estela is ready to give up, to let Antonela win, to let Antonela rule and create a new world on Earth all because their uncle Teo will love Antonela unconditionally while Estela has “no one.” But then Estela sees Sebastían and suddenly she’s filled with love again and remembers that Sebastían is her blood bound and that he loves her and then Estela gets up and fights against her sister again. Estela had literally given up. Like, she was done. Throwing in the towel. Admitting defeat. Fading away so that Antonela could claim her body for her own. Estela was done. By the end of the book she doesn’t have any hope or resilience, she’s just fueled by her love (regardless of my feelings on it) for Sebastían and that’s what drives her. To me, her love for Sebastían is what Antonela actually fears, not this so-called hope and resilience of Estela.
Overall, this review is largely negative and I do feel bad, but this book just wasn’t it for me. Like I said, I wanted to enjoy it, the cover is stunning, the synopsis intriguing, the concept interesting, but it all just fell apart for me as I continued to read it. I’m sure many others will enjoy this gothic, supernatural romantasy book, but unfortunately I am not one of them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 13, 2024
This is going to be one big spoiler so don’t read any of it if you don’t want to be spoiled.
But also, don’t read this book.
I have so many issues with this book.
Thank you to the publisher who still needs to take action of their awful employee (do better!!!) for sending me an eARC and PR package
_____________
Nope.
Rtc
But also, don’t read this book.
I have so many issues with this book.
Thank you to the publisher who still needs to take action of their awful employee (do better!!!) for sending me an eARC and PR package
_____________
Nope.
Rtc
July 27, 2024
This book started out so great. I had such high hopes! I would say the first 60% were exactly what I expected. Then the next 20% were a giant WTF, and the last 20% was borderline torture that had me wanting to rip my hair out and throw something at something with great anger and disgust.
Please see spoiler for rant. But in a nutshell, first 60% great, next 20% things got weird and last 20% made me passionately loathe the whole thing, and not in a good way.
Please see spoiler for rant. But in a nutshell, first 60% great, next 20% things got weird and last 20% made me passionately loathe the whole thing, and not in a good way.
February 27, 2024
˚｡⋆5 stars 🍒୨୧˚
⤿ the first five-star read of the year ‹𝟹
the first arc read I have ever done so besides the fact this book is the best book I have ever read, it also holds a special place in my heart ෆ
this book is life-altering.
I want this book injected into my veins because reading it simply isn’t enough if I had the chance to loose my memory and read a book for the first time again it would be this one.
I was skeptical while starting this book but damn, the first 5-star of the year!!
this book is my roman empire and i declare it as my comfort book too..
🔮 “No hay luz en Oscuro.” 🔮
imagine you are stuck in a cursed castle with ✨a hot vampire boy ✨ throw in a little mystery betrayal and secrets. Now you have this book!
🧛"And I vow not to touch you again without your consent." 🧛
he is going in my bio of favourite book bfs 💓
sebastian is one hell of an attractive dude and i swear to god while reading this I had to burry my head into my pillow and scream for 42 times (I know because I highlighted every part I screamed at).
Estela Amador Brálaga was the most interesting book girlie i have met. I felt completely bound with her ever since the first page. Girlie is relatable.
❤️🩹 “These new feelings you awaken in me are more terrifying than not knowing who I am.” ❤️🩹
it is so unrelated but this book reminds me of the song diamonds by chris travis.
and the way estela got her character development overcame every fear she had and realized the real valuable thing chefs kiss🤌🏻
˚⊹ the romance 𓍢ִ🍒
I wasnt expecting to have a lot of romance going on in here but BOY I WAS WRONG. I have a new favorite book boyfriend and the way Sebastian has me giggling and blushing and screaming is outrageous. Estela, you are one hell of a lucky girl
THE PLOT TWISTS IN THIS BOOK ATE!!!
⤿ everytime I thought I got the hang of whats going on and I finally solved it BOOM another plot hits me I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN it had me gasping and stirring an empty pot while reading because i was so caught up in it
˚⊹ to conclude 𓍢ִ🍒
umm so if you haven’t gotten the message already, it’s go read this book. and read it now. and tell me all about it. this book may not be out yet but I need a second book already. Romina Garber, you will go down in history. GO READ IT EVEN IF ITS THE LAST THING YOU WILL DO.
happy reading my dear lovely friends 🧸ྀི
⤿ the first five-star read of the year ‹𝟹
the first arc read I have ever done so besides the fact this book is the best book I have ever read, it also holds a special place in my heart ෆ
this book is life-altering.
I want this book injected into my veins because reading it simply isn’t enough if I had the chance to loose my memory and read a book for the first time again it would be this one.
I was skeptical while starting this book but damn, the first 5-star of the year!!
this book is my roman empire and i declare it as my comfort book too..
🔮 “No hay luz en Oscuro.” 🔮
imagine you are stuck in a cursed castle with ✨a hot vampire boy ✨ throw in a little mystery betrayal and secrets. Now you have this book!
🧛"And I vow not to touch you again without your consent." 🧛
he is going in my bio of favourite book bfs 💓
sebastian is one hell of an attractive dude and i swear to god while reading this I had to burry my head into my pillow and scream for 42 times (I know because I highlighted every part I screamed at).
Estela Amador Brálaga was the most interesting book girlie i have met. I felt completely bound with her ever since the first page. Girlie is relatable.
❤️🩹 “These new feelings you awaken in me are more terrifying than not knowing who I am.” ❤️🩹
it is so unrelated but this book reminds me of the song diamonds by chris travis.
and the way estela got her character development overcame every fear she had and realized the real valuable thing chefs kiss🤌🏻
˚⊹ the romance 𓍢ִ🍒
I wasnt expecting to have a lot of romance going on in here but BOY I WAS WRONG. I have a new favorite book boyfriend and the way Sebastian has me giggling and blushing and screaming is outrageous. Estela, you are one hell of a lucky girl
THE PLOT TWISTS IN THIS BOOK ATE!!!
⤿ everytime I thought I got the hang of whats going on and I finally solved it BOOM another plot hits me I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN it had me gasping and stirring an empty pot while reading because i was so caught up in it
˚⊹ to conclude 𓍢ִ🍒
umm so if you haven’t gotten the message already, it’s go read this book. and read it now. and tell me all about it. this book may not be out yet but I need a second book already. Romina Garber, you will go down in history. GO READ IT EVEN IF ITS THE LAST THING YOU WILL DO.
happy reading my dear lovely friends 🧸ྀི
November 19, 2024
3.5 stars
Wellll ... that was weird. The synopsis of Castle of the Cursed makes it seem like a pretty straightforward haunted house novel. Going into this book, I was really into the premise, and unsure as to why there were so many mixed reviews. And the start of this book is pretty basic. I really enjoyed the plot and found it easy to follow for the first third of the book. I also liked the romance - it reminded me of Crimson Peak. Then, the first twist hit. Then another, and another, and another. And all of a sudden this story had transformed into something so complex and bizzare. I understand why some people don't like how the story progressed. It is admittedly quite weird, and sometimes the plot becomes muddy. That being said, it was also so unique and intriguing. Once I wrapped my mind around the plot, I really enjoyed it. My only other complaint was that the romance felt a little rushed. Overall, I would recommend this book, but perhaps only to a certain demographic - self-proclaimed weird girls who love spooky, alien vibes.
Thank you to the publisher and MacMillan Audio for the arcs in exchange for an honest review!
Wellll ... that was weird. The synopsis of Castle of the Cursed makes it seem like a pretty straightforward haunted house novel. Going into this book, I was really into the premise, and unsure as to why there were so many mixed reviews. And the start of this book is pretty basic. I really enjoyed the plot and found it easy to follow for the first third of the book. I also liked the romance - it reminded me of Crimson Peak. Then, the first twist hit. Then another, and another, and another. And all of a sudden this story had transformed into something so complex and bizzare. I understand why some people don't like how the story progressed. It is admittedly quite weird, and sometimes the plot becomes muddy. That being said, it was also so unique and intriguing. Once I wrapped my mind around the plot, I really enjoyed it. My only other complaint was that the romance felt a little rushed. Overall, I would recommend this book, but perhaps only to a certain demographic - self-proclaimed weird girls who love spooky, alien vibes.
Thank you to the publisher and MacMillan Audio for the arcs in exchange for an honest review!
July 31, 2024
This book sounded really great. Who wouldn't want to read a gothic YA? This book had some good qualities. I think the mystery was really intriguing. The fact that the castle is a living entity, different realms, and vampire prince was really cool. The magic was really interesting too. You have dark fantasy romance aspects and the book does begin with trigger warnings.
The narrator did a great job. She didn't fall flat and even though it was one narrator I still felt like the characters were distinguished. I also appreciated that she explained the sentences in Spanish afterwords since I only know minimal.
The only thing I didn't really care for was some of the structuring in the book. It's dual timeline so some of the chapters jump right into it which can be a bit confusing. Also, there is some info dumping in some parts too which I think could have been better if it was sprinkled throughout the book. I wish it was a bit longer and more developed.
I recommend if you liked dark fantasy romance. While this is YA due to the themes and some content I'd hear more towards NA.
Thank you to macmillian audio for the gifted listeners copy
The narrator did a great job. She didn't fall flat and even though it was one narrator I still felt like the characters were distinguished. I also appreciated that she explained the sentences in Spanish afterwords since I only know minimal.
The only thing I didn't really care for was some of the structuring in the book. It's dual timeline so some of the chapters jump right into it which can be a bit confusing. Also, there is some info dumping in some parts too which I think could have been better if it was sprinkled throughout the book. I wish it was a bit longer and more developed.
I recommend if you liked dark fantasy romance. While this is YA due to the themes and some content I'd hear more towards NA.
Thank you to macmillian audio for the gifted listeners copy
September 23, 2024
Confused 2 to 2,5 stars.
The beginning,the middle of the story and the ending felt like three different books.
It took me too long to finish it.
Also I'm not really a fan of instant love stories.
The beginning,the middle of the story and the ending felt like three different books.
It took me too long to finish it.
Also I'm not really a fan of instant love stories.
October 31, 2024
I’ve seen some people describe this book as campy- and in a way they’re right! Castle of The Cursed is a gothic telanovela, in a good way. Vampires, magic, a cannibalistic castle…what’s not to like?
When Estela is the only survivor of a horrific accident that claimed her parents, she assumes that she is all alone in the world. Stuck in a treatment center, she loses even the ability to speak. Seven months after the incident, an aunt in Spain reaches out, and so Estela travels to the gothic castle their family has owned for centuries.
But things aren’t adding up. Her aunt is super tight-lipped about her family. There’s a mysterious vampire who accuses her of being the bruja who cursed him, the countless creepy books about her ancestral home in the bookstore where she has Spanish lessons, and memories of a purple room filled with black smoke. Teaming up with Sebastián, Estela is determined to get to the bottom of all of this- unbeknownst of the chilling truth behind why her parents fled with her as a child.
I found it was slow in the beginning, but once the plot started going, it really picked up!
When Estela is the only survivor of a horrific accident that claimed her parents, she assumes that she is all alone in the world. Stuck in a treatment center, she loses even the ability to speak. Seven months after the incident, an aunt in Spain reaches out, and so Estela travels to the gothic castle their family has owned for centuries.
But things aren’t adding up. Her aunt is super tight-lipped about her family. There’s a mysterious vampire who accuses her of being the bruja who cursed him, the countless creepy books about her ancestral home in the bookstore where she has Spanish lessons, and memories of a purple room filled with black smoke. Teaming up with Sebastián, Estela is determined to get to the bottom of all of this- unbeknownst of the chilling truth behind why her parents fled with her as a child.
I found it was slow in the beginning, but once the plot started going, it really picked up!
July 30, 2024
Months after inexplicably surviving a disaster on a subway train that claimed the lives of her parents and several other passengers, seventeen-year-old Estela Amador departs to Oscuro, Spain to live in the Brálaga family castle-known as la Sombra by the village residents-with her recently-discovered aunt.
I was drawn to Castle Of The Cursed by its summary and I was intially captivated by the gothic atmosphere within the castle and Estela’s nightly explorations of it. The writing is beautiful and descriptions of the architecture, of the looming gargoyles within the building, a mirrored wall and a purple room where something horrific took place all add to the novel’s gothic mood.
Even later descriptions of a garden where the plants resemble human body parts and feast upon the blood of the village’s inhabitants are fascinating. The chapter titles were also a unique touch and a nice way of connecting the occurrences in the story to Estela on a more personal level.
Unfortunately, the romance between characters, the execution of certain aspects of the story and the ending made it difficult for me to enjoy Castle Of The Cursed as much as I wanted to.
Estela is intially presented as being wholly mute and suffering from the severe trauma of her experiences, yet due to most of the story taking place rapidly over the course of thirteen days, she is dealt blow after emotional blow and yet is able to function and even fall desperately in love with the morally gray, memory-challenged and shadow-controlling vampire Prince Sebastián.
Because Castle Of The Cursed is meant for a YA audience, Estela is young and experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, I could almost excuse her shift from fear to overwhelming attraction. But Sebastián’s own attachment, going so far as to give up his chance to return to his home and his eventual decision to perform the equivalent of a vampire marriage just seemed far too much far too quickly.
The revelation of the main antagonist being Estela’s twin sister Antonela felt very jarring and while her background is somewhat sympathetic, her overall behaviors lack nuance.
But it is honestly the ending of Castle Of The Cursed that led to my disappointment. As a fan of horror, I am not always expecting happy endings. However, the final three lines of the novel were so unexpected that I went back into the previous chapter to verify if I had missed something.
When stories involve twins, there is often the trope of “good” and “evil” twins and the potential for them to switch places. Planting the seed that Antonela is actually in control of Estela’s body-despite previously depicting otherwise-as a means to shock the reader felt absolutely unnecessary.
Throughout Castle Of The Cursed, Estela grapples with PTSD, Survivor’s Guilt, Depression, Suicidal Ideation and struggles to find a reason to continue living despite her loneliness. And yet when it seems she has finally found happiness and is moving her life forward…it may be her murderous sister in her place and Estela is left permanently trapped and utterly abandoned.
It’s such an undeserved fate for the character and made even worse by the fact that the love of her life doesn’t even realize something is amiss when his “wife,” who previously and constantly requested he not murder others starts serving up criminals on a silver platter for him to slaughter.
I honestly stuggled with this review as I know that authors put so much time and care into their work and I loathe being negative. But perhaps I was just the wrong reader for this novel and nevertheless, I am very grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for providing access to this ebook.
I was drawn to Castle Of The Cursed by its summary and I was intially captivated by the gothic atmosphere within the castle and Estela’s nightly explorations of it. The writing is beautiful and descriptions of the architecture, of the looming gargoyles within the building, a mirrored wall and a purple room where something horrific took place all add to the novel’s gothic mood.
Even later descriptions of a garden where the plants resemble human body parts and feast upon the blood of the village’s inhabitants are fascinating. The chapter titles were also a unique touch and a nice way of connecting the occurrences in the story to Estela on a more personal level.
Unfortunately, the romance between characters, the execution of certain aspects of the story and the ending made it difficult for me to enjoy Castle Of The Cursed as much as I wanted to.
Estela is intially presented as being wholly mute and suffering from the severe trauma of her experiences, yet due to most of the story taking place rapidly over the course of thirteen days, she is dealt blow after emotional blow and yet is able to function and even fall desperately in love with the morally gray, memory-challenged and shadow-controlling vampire Prince Sebastián.
Because Castle Of The Cursed is meant for a YA audience, Estela is young and experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, I could almost excuse her shift from fear to overwhelming attraction. But Sebastián’s own attachment, going so far as to give up his chance to return to his home and his eventual decision to perform the equivalent of a vampire marriage just seemed far too much far too quickly.
The revelation of the main antagonist being Estela’s twin sister Antonela felt very jarring and while her background is somewhat sympathetic, her overall behaviors lack nuance.
But it is honestly the ending of Castle Of The Cursed that led to my disappointment. As a fan of horror, I am not always expecting happy endings. However, the final three lines of the novel were so unexpected that I went back into the previous chapter to verify if I had missed something.
When stories involve twins, there is often the trope of “good” and “evil” twins and the potential for them to switch places. Planting the seed that Antonela is actually in control of Estela’s body-despite previously depicting otherwise-as a means to shock the reader felt absolutely unnecessary.
Throughout Castle Of The Cursed, Estela grapples with PTSD, Survivor’s Guilt, Depression, Suicidal Ideation and struggles to find a reason to continue living despite her loneliness. And yet when it seems she has finally found happiness and is moving her life forward…it may be her murderous sister in her place and Estela is left permanently trapped and utterly abandoned.
It’s such an undeserved fate for the character and made even worse by the fact that the love of her life doesn’t even realize something is amiss when his “wife,” who previously and constantly requested he not murder others starts serving up criminals on a silver platter for him to slaughter.
I honestly stuggled with this review as I know that authors put so much time and care into their work and I loathe being negative. But perhaps I was just the wrong reader for this novel and nevertheless, I am very grateful to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for providing access to this ebook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
November 27, 2023DNF @38%. I wasn't expecting gothic Twilight. It's definitely frothy, a bit overwritten, and just not for me. Others will likely enjoy it.
August 15, 2024
Castle of the Cursed - Romina Garber. This book was so weird! The story was gothic and fabulous and had such a unique storyline. After Estela’s parents are killed, she thinks she is alone until she finds out about an aunt she didn’t know existed and who lives in a house that needs something unusual to keep it alive.
Pulling back the layers on Estela’s life was fascinating to unfold. I wasn’t a massive fan of the romance in it. I think it would have been soooo much better without it but that's a personal choice. I think the author could have gone darker and more in depth on the house and the magic and it would have been one heck of a read. 4 stars
Pulling back the layers on Estela’s life was fascinating to unfold. I wasn’t a massive fan of the romance in it. I think it would have been soooo much better without it but that's a personal choice. I think the author could have gone darker and more in depth on the house and the magic and it would have been one heck of a read. 4 stars
August 8, 2024
Wow. This was... something else: part magical realism, part gothic creepiness, part science fiction, all mixing together to create a very fevered story that was hard to follow and even harder to enjoy.
Estela spends the first 20% of the book wishing she was dead. Something awful has happened to her, and her will to stay alive just leaves. She has suicidal and harmful thoughts and urges. The mental health representation - while strong - made it difficult to connect with Estela, only because we didn't have any concept of her personality or who she is when the story begins. We go straight into her suicidal head. It was rough (and dark).
The castle, her aunt Beatriz, the spooky feel of the town, and the mysteries of the castle kept me initially interested. However, a lot of the scenes once Estela is in the castle have a stilted feeling. We jump from scene to scene with little explanation, dialogue feels out of place, and emotions crop up startlingly. There were some issues with the flow of writing.
More than that, though, was the romance and the science fiction elements that felt extremely out of place. Some people might love the dimensional twists the author takes with elements of the story, but I wholeheartedly did not. Also, regarding the romance - someone needs to put Estela back in a medical institution because she somehow equates "scary" and "wants to kill you" as "yes, I should be attracted to him." I get the whole "enemies-to-lovers, shady little love interest, dark-hearted boy who you just want to lust over" is a whole trend right now, but it did NOT work in this story.
Also, vampires (kind of). I forgot that part.
Honestly, I read about 40% and then skimmed the rest. What I saw made me glad that I didn't waste any more time on this story. Sure, the black magic finally came into play and some action went down. The romance got more graphic than a YA should. There were some plot surprises that I wish I could have been excited about cause it was actually kinda sneaky.
Less gothic, more eclectic fever-dream is what Castle of the Cursed ended up being.
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.
.
.
**content notes: death of parents (off-screen), fire, violence, blood, blood-sucking, black magic/blood magic, threats, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide (one off-screen, one on-screen but halted), depression, self-harm thoughts.
**romance notes: graphic lead up to sex, but no on-page sex that I caught. Makeouts. Kissing forcefully without consent. Partial nudity described.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the gifted ebook copy. All opinions and thoughts are fully and genuinely my own.
Estela spends the first 20% of the book wishing she was dead. Something awful has happened to her, and her will to stay alive just leaves. She has suicidal and harmful thoughts and urges. The mental health representation - while strong - made it difficult to connect with Estela, only because we didn't have any concept of her personality or who she is when the story begins. We go straight into her suicidal head. It was rough (and dark).
The castle, her aunt Beatriz, the spooky feel of the town, and the mysteries of the castle kept me initially interested. However, a lot of the scenes once Estela is in the castle have a stilted feeling. We jump from scene to scene with little explanation, dialogue feels out of place, and emotions crop up startlingly. There were some issues with the flow of writing.
More than that, though, was the romance and the science fiction elements that felt extremely out of place. Some people might love the dimensional twists the author takes with elements of the story, but I wholeheartedly did not. Also, regarding the romance - someone needs to put Estela back in a medical institution because she somehow equates "scary" and "wants to kill you" as "yes, I should be attracted to him." I get the whole "enemies-to-lovers, shady little love interest, dark-hearted boy who you just want to lust over" is a whole trend right now, but it did NOT work in this story.
Also, vampires (kind of). I forgot that part.
Honestly, I read about 40% and then skimmed the rest. What I saw made me glad that I didn't waste any more time on this story. Sure, the black magic finally came into play and some action went down. The romance got more graphic than a YA should. There were some plot surprises that I wish I could have been excited about cause it was actually kinda sneaky.
Less gothic, more eclectic fever-dream is what Castle of the Cursed ended up being.
.
.
.
.
**content notes: death of parents (off-screen), fire, violence, blood, blood-sucking, black magic/blood magic, threats, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide (one off-screen, one on-screen but halted), depression, self-harm thoughts.
**romance notes: graphic lead up to sex, but no on-page sex that I caught. Makeouts. Kissing forcefully without consent. Partial nudity described.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the gifted ebook copy. All opinions and thoughts are fully and genuinely my own.
June 9, 2024
♡𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 &| 𝐞𝐀𝐫𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰♡
3.5 🌟
-
𝑰𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝑴𝑬! This cover is just gorgeous 😍 to me! The cover peaked my interest, and I'm happy it did.
The audiobook production did a good job. The narrator, Ana Osorio, did a phenomenal job. This is mostly 90% in English and 10% Spanish! Ana did a phenomenal job translating and switching languages. Highly enjoyed the audiobook.
The storyline itself could be a little confusing because in the beginning the language switches between English and Spanish and if you don't understand spanish it could be a little difficult which I think the audiobook is a great additional to the book. It's also a slow-medium pace and could be a little dragging, but once you hit 50% of the book, the speed pick up and increased my interest in the book. I do recommend if you enjoy gothic ya romance.
-
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•duel timeline (past and present)
•gothic YA
•YA romance
•hidden secrets
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 :
•grief
•mental health issues
•death of a parent
•suicide
-
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.30
-
Thank you, Netgalley
3.5 🌟
-
𝑰𝒇 𝒋𝒖𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒃𝒚 𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒐𝒏. 𝑰𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒃𝒆 𝑴𝑬! This cover is just gorgeous 😍 to me! The cover peaked my interest, and I'm happy it did.
The audiobook production did a good job. The narrator, Ana Osorio, did a phenomenal job. This is mostly 90% in English and 10% Spanish! Ana did a phenomenal job translating and switching languages. Highly enjoyed the audiobook.
The storyline itself could be a little confusing because in the beginning the language switches between English and Spanish and if you don't understand spanish it could be a little difficult which I think the audiobook is a great additional to the book. It's also a slow-medium pace and could be a little dragging, but once you hit 50% of the book, the speed pick up and increased my interest in the book. I do recommend if you enjoy gothic ya romance.
-
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 :
•duel timeline (past and present)
•gothic YA
•YA romance
•hidden secrets
𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 :
•grief
•mental health issues
•death of a parent
•suicide
-
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 July.30
-
Thank you, Netgalley
February 25, 2024
This was the second book I’ve read by Romina Garber and the second of their books that I enjoyed and sped right through!
Castle of the Cursed has it all…gothic castles, fantasy & magic, a dash of romance, thrills and chills…you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s advised to take note of the trigger warnings.
The story follows Estella whose life is thrown off course after a mysterious tragedy occurs. She finds herself alone, navigating life in a completely different part of the world with family she didn’t know existed and a load of secrets to unravel. Overall, it was a highly entertaining book and a quick read. I’ll be recommending this to friends for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
Castle of the Cursed has it all…gothic castles, fantasy & magic, a dash of romance, thrills and chills…you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s advised to take note of the trigger warnings.
The story follows Estella whose life is thrown off course after a mysterious tragedy occurs. She finds herself alone, navigating life in a completely different part of the world with family she didn’t know existed and a load of secrets to unravel. Overall, it was a highly entertaining book and a quick read. I’ll be recommending this to friends for sure.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book.
June 25, 2024
A Dark, Romantic, and Paranormal Page-Turner!
It only took me less than 2 days to read this book, and I'm still reeling from the experience. As a fan of dark romantic, and paranormal fiction, this novel ticked all the right boxes for me. The twists and turns were expertly woven, keeping me on the edge of my seat and wondering what would happen next.
One of the unique aspects of this book is the incorporation of Spanish language and culture. As a non-bilingual reader, I was initially concerned about following the story, but the audiobook narration helped me pick up on the language and even taught me a few phrases! Bonus points for being educational and immersive.
The world-building in this novel is rich and complex, with a deep history and lore that added depth to the story. While it may be confusing for some readers, I found it to be a strength of the book. The author's writing is masterful, and I was fully invested in the world and characters.
Estela, the main character, is a powerhouse of a protagonist. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and her journey is both poignant and empowering. The unlikely bond she forms with another character is a highlight of the book, and I was rooting for her from start to finish.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance and dark fiction. Be prepared for a wild ride with plenty of surprises and a healthy dose of Spanish culture. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy - I'll be recommending this to everyone!
It only took me less than 2 days to read this book, and I'm still reeling from the experience. As a fan of dark romantic, and paranormal fiction, this novel ticked all the right boxes for me. The twists and turns were expertly woven, keeping me on the edge of my seat and wondering what would happen next.
One of the unique aspects of this book is the incorporation of Spanish language and culture. As a non-bilingual reader, I was initially concerned about following the story, but the audiobook narration helped me pick up on the language and even taught me a few phrases! Bonus points for being educational and immersive.
The world-building in this novel is rich and complex, with a deep history and lore that added depth to the story. While it may be confusing for some readers, I found it to be a strength of the book. The author's writing is masterful, and I was fully invested in the world and characters.
Estela, the main character, is a powerhouse of a protagonist. Her backstory is heartbreaking, and her journey is both poignant and empowering. The unlikely bond she forms with another character is a highlight of the book, and I was rooting for her from start to finish.
Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance and dark fiction. Be prepared for a wild ride with plenty of surprises and a healthy dose of Spanish culture. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy - I'll be recommending this to everyone!
August 18, 2024
Castle of the Cursed draws you into a gothic world with its dark, mysterious castle and eerie atmosphere. The setting is beautifully described, and Estela’s exploration of the castle’s hidden horrors had me intrigued. The gothic elements—looming gargoyles, haunted rooms, and unsettling secrets—are well-executed, creating an immersive vibe that’s perfect for a spooky read.
However, the story itself didn’t quite meet my expectations. The romance between Estela and Sebastián felt rushed, lacking the depth needed to make it convincing. The dual timelines were confusing at times, with abrupt shifts that made it hard to keep track of the story. The pacing also dragged in places, making it a bit of a struggle to stay engaged through some slower parts.
While the book had a lot of potential with its unique world and gothic tone, the execution didn’t fully deliver. If you enjoy atmospheric reads, Castle of the Cursed might be worth a try, but it left me wanting more in terms of character development and plot cohesion.
However, the story itself didn’t quite meet my expectations. The romance between Estela and Sebastián felt rushed, lacking the depth needed to make it convincing. The dual timelines were confusing at times, with abrupt shifts that made it hard to keep track of the story. The pacing also dragged in places, making it a bit of a struggle to stay engaged through some slower parts.
While the book had a lot of potential with its unique world and gothic tone, the execution didn’t fully deliver. If you enjoy atmospheric reads, Castle of the Cursed might be worth a try, but it left me wanting more in terms of character development and plot cohesion.
June 12, 2024
4.25/5
An eerie story that sucks you in. The main character, Estela faces many hardships in life and trying to solve and navigate why it may be happening to her. The story was an unexpected surprise. The magic that comes into the world is pretty well explained. I just found the main character a little lacking especially with dialogue with other people. It does start of slow but the plot does develop fairly quickly. The way the story is divided is unique and helps get to know Estella better. The ending has me wondering if there will be more and I very much hope so!
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-arc!
An eerie story that sucks you in. The main character, Estela faces many hardships in life and trying to solve and navigate why it may be happening to her. The story was an unexpected surprise. The magic that comes into the world is pretty well explained. I just found the main character a little lacking especially with dialogue with other people. It does start of slow but the plot does develop fairly quickly. The way the story is divided is unique and helps get to know Estella better. The ending has me wondering if there will be more and I very much hope so!
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-arc!
August 2, 2024
3.5 stars
Castle of the Cursed is a gothic story, complete with romance and supernatural elements. Being a YA novel, it sometimes felt a bit juvenile, especially in the romance department. However, I appreciated the world-building and the lore surrounding the castle and its history. It’s a unique gothic story that took some surprising turns.
What didn’t work for me was the romance and how the story developed after the second half. The romance lacked tension and Bastian's character depth was shallow. I wasn’t thrilled with how the story progressed because it used a trope I’m not particularly fond of. However, this is a personal preference and I can see many readers enjoying the way the story unfolds.
Overall, if you're a fan of gothic novels, this one is definitely worth checking out.
Castle of the Cursed is a gothic story, complete with romance and supernatural elements. Being a YA novel, it sometimes felt a bit juvenile, especially in the romance department. However, I appreciated the world-building and the lore surrounding the castle and its history. It’s a unique gothic story that took some surprising turns.
What didn’t work for me was the romance and how the story developed after the second half. The romance lacked tension and Bastian's character depth was shallow. I wasn’t thrilled with how the story progressed because it used a trope I’m not particularly fond of. However, this is a personal preference and I can see many readers enjoying the way the story unfolds.
Overall, if you're a fan of gothic novels, this one is definitely worth checking out.
January 9, 2024
Gothic Romance say no more. I was enthralled from the beginning and every chapter kept making me want more. The world building was exceptional and it felt like I was walking side by side with the FMC.
This novel follows Estela who discovers a whole new world when tragedy hits. A world of self discovery, found family and new friendships. All white living and navigating through a cursed house. This story was truly magical and such an enchanting book.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC.
This novel follows Estela who discovers a whole new world when tragedy hits. A world of self discovery, found family and new friendships. All white living and navigating through a cursed house. This story was truly magical and such an enchanting book.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC.
March 5, 2024
2.5 stars. I was so hopeful going into this book (copy provided through. Goodreads giveaway).
I will say the house/castle is creepy. It gives the creepy vibes I was hoping for, but the characters don’t have clear voices; the MC is a teen but doesn’t sound like one, nor does the 5 year old version of the MC seen in a flashback.
The romance feels forced at times and I just didn’t care all that much.
Pacing was odd as well.
I will say the house/castle is creepy. It gives the creepy vibes I was hoping for, but the characters don’t have clear voices; the MC is a teen but doesn’t sound like one, nor does the 5 year old version of the MC seen in a flashback.
The romance feels forced at times and I just didn’t care all that much.
Pacing was odd as well.
September 13, 2024
womp womp ... noooo :(
i really enjoyed lobizona, i plan to reread it and finish the duology soon and i'm so excited so imagine how excited i am when i get my libby hold for castle of the cursed...
where do i even begin? i couldn't tell you who this is for, it's young adult in the fact our mc estela feels like a young teenager really going through a lot but jokes on me apparently she's suppose to be 1718? okay, getting past that i think estela is an interesting character. she's flawed and has gone through horrible trauma that's completely spun her life upside down. yet, something about the writing or something made it near impossible to like, connect, or care about estela.
but i can read a book when i don't love the mc it's fine. the plot you ask, interesting. there's a family curse and a mystery estela is determined to solve. her aunt beatrice is a bit cold but who cares, spooky castle! i like the gardens and castle imagery in this story. it's gothic, can't go too wrong.
oh but sam why is it rated 2 stars then? well besides some of the weird plot decisions and overall just lack in character motives making sense, THE ROMANCE IS AWFUL! i'm so so so sorry but god it ruined this entire book for me. 13 days and they're IN LOVE!? she's a CHILD??? this would've been such a strong story if it focused on grief, gothic, family, etc etc but instead the romance was star of the show and I HATED IT! they have no chemistry, it felt so forced, and WEIRDLY SEXUAL??? like i wouldn't want to recommend this widely to young adult readers cause i, a full grown adult, couldn't deal with the spice in this (because it's not good primarily even if the insta love and having sexual desires at inconvenient times does suit a teenage mindset) it just really did not work for me and constantly through me out of the story. i LOVE romantasy and this was not a good attempt and i feel so mean for feeling this way!! this felt like a "these tropes are doing well" type of story and that breaks me heart because again i really really enjoyed lobizona! ugh my heart is broken i'm going to dive into another book and hopefully wash this bad taste out :(
i really enjoyed lobizona, i plan to reread it and finish the duology soon and i'm so excited so imagine how excited i am when i get my libby hold for castle of the cursed...
where do i even begin? i couldn't tell you who this is for, it's young adult in the fact our mc estela feels like a young teenager really going through a lot but jokes on me apparently she's suppose to be 1718? okay, getting past that i think estela is an interesting character. she's flawed and has gone through horrible trauma that's completely spun her life upside down. yet, something about the writing or something made it near impossible to like, connect, or care about estela.
but i can read a book when i don't love the mc it's fine. the plot you ask, interesting. there's a family curse and a mystery estela is determined to solve. her aunt beatrice is a bit cold but who cares, spooky castle! i like the gardens and castle imagery in this story. it's gothic, can't go too wrong.
oh but sam why is it rated 2 stars then? well besides some of the weird plot decisions and overall just lack in character motives making sense, THE ROMANCE IS AWFUL! i'm so so so sorry but god it ruined this entire book for me. 13 days and they're IN LOVE!? she's a CHILD??? this would've been such a strong story if it focused on grief, gothic, family, etc etc but instead the romance was star of the show and I HATED IT! they have no chemistry, it felt so forced, and WEIRDLY SEXUAL??? like i wouldn't want to recommend this widely to young adult readers cause i, a full grown adult, couldn't deal with the spice in this (because it's not good primarily even if the insta love and having sexual desires at inconvenient times does suit a teenage mindset) it just really did not work for me and constantly through me out of the story. i LOVE romantasy and this was not a good attempt and i feel so mean for feeling this way!! this felt like a "these tropes are doing well" type of story and that breaks me heart because again i really really enjoyed lobizona! ugh my heart is broken i'm going to dive into another book and hopefully wash this bad taste out :(
December 10, 2025
2025 reads: 344/300
2025 tbr: 60/111
content warnings: suicidal thoughts, blood, death of parent, violence
suffering from intense survivor’s guilt following a mysterious attack that killed her parents, estela accepts an invitation to live overseas with her estranged aunt at their ancestral spanish castle, la sombra. the castle harbors a wealth of family secrets, and estela begins to investigate whether her parents’ deaths could be linked to their past. she soon meets a silver-eyed boy named sebastián only she can see. as they team up to get to the bottom of things, a romance sparks between them. estela can’t shake the feeling, though, that everyone in the town of oscuro is lying...and whoever was behind the attack may be closer than she knows.
oh man, i was really hoping i’d love this one. that’s not to say it was bad, but it just could have been a lot better. the gothic vibes i was looking for were definitely there, but that was one of the few good aspects of the book. the mystery aspect was alright, though not too exciting, but i didn’t really care for the romance. i wish i had taken better notes while reading, because i know i had more nitpicks, but unfortunately i don’t remember them now. despite thinking this book was just okay, though, i would be willing to give romina garber’s books another try.
2025 tbr: 60/111
content warnings: suicidal thoughts, blood, death of parent, violence
suffering from intense survivor’s guilt following a mysterious attack that killed her parents, estela accepts an invitation to live overseas with her estranged aunt at their ancestral spanish castle, la sombra. the castle harbors a wealth of family secrets, and estela begins to investigate whether her parents’ deaths could be linked to their past. she soon meets a silver-eyed boy named sebastián only she can see. as they team up to get to the bottom of things, a romance sparks between them. estela can’t shake the feeling, though, that everyone in the town of oscuro is lying...and whoever was behind the attack may be closer than she knows.
oh man, i was really hoping i’d love this one. that’s not to say it was bad, but it just could have been a lot better. the gothic vibes i was looking for were definitely there, but that was one of the few good aspects of the book. the mystery aspect was alright, though not too exciting, but i didn’t really care for the romance. i wish i had taken better notes while reading, because i know i had more nitpicks, but unfortunately i don’t remember them now. despite thinking this book was just okay, though, i would be willing to give romina garber’s books another try.
June 6, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.
This was PERFECTION.
The gothic manor, the secrets, the magic, the monster... the romance. I loved Bastian. From the moment we meet him, I enjoyed seeing him on the page, and his mystery along with Estela's own history was fascinating to uncover.
Estela wasn't what I expected. She was smart and clever, she was filled with grief and rage and I feel like I felt her pain as she worked through her own emotions.
And that was the biggest thing for me -- the emotions I'm this book are raw. The gothic atmosphere was heavy. And la Sombra was utterly terrifying and amazing to unravel. This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in.
And I loved the audiobook narrator. They did a wonderful job bringing this world to life.
This was PERFECTION.
The gothic manor, the secrets, the magic, the monster... the romance. I loved Bastian. From the moment we meet him, I enjoyed seeing him on the page, and his mystery along with Estela's own history was fascinating to uncover.
Estela wasn't what I expected. She was smart and clever, she was filled with grief and rage and I feel like I felt her pain as she worked through her own emotions.
And that was the biggest thing for me -- the emotions I'm this book are raw. The gothic atmosphere was heavy. And la Sombra was utterly terrifying and amazing to unravel. This was a book I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in.
And I loved the audiobook narrator. They did a wonderful job bringing this world to life.
October 13, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book is definitely a wild ride - and I think it was just too much. The author clearly had so many ideas, but trying to fit them all into one book, and a pretty short book at that, just made it overwhelming. It is less than two weeks from the beginning of this story to the end - so it all happened wayyy too fast, especially the romance. With such a short timespan, there's no buildup to reveals or events, so you've got no tension. There's reveals after reveals right up until the end - literally in the last 3 lines of the book, there is another reveal, and it just all felt like shock factor rather than anything meaningful.
This book is definitely a wild ride - and I think it was just too much. The author clearly had so many ideas, but trying to fit them all into one book, and a pretty short book at that, just made it overwhelming. It is less than two weeks from the beginning of this story to the end - so it all happened wayyy too fast, especially the romance. With such a short timespan, there's no buildup to reveals or events, so you've got no tension. There's reveals after reveals right up until the end - literally in the last 3 lines of the book, there is another reveal, and it just all felt like shock factor rather than anything meaningful.
July 21, 2024
⭐️ 2 Stars
Unfortunately this book was not for me. It was overly dramatic and poorly written at the start making it difficult to get into. The pacing seemed off and chaotic at times. There was so much going on at the end, that I felt like all the elements got away from the author. I would pass on this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately this book was not for me. It was overly dramatic and poorly written at the start making it difficult to get into. The pacing seemed off and chaotic at times. There was so much going on at the end, that I felt like all the elements got away from the author. I would pass on this one.
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
July 16, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.
The cover and title, made me excited to start reading this YA book! I’m always in for a spooky read. And a dark haunted castle? Yes please!!
When I started reading, I noticed and loved the beautiful writing, the great bond the main character had with her parents and the quirky activities she did with her dad. But I also got a sense of a secret past, her parents kept hidden from her.
When the event that takes her parents from her happened at the start of the book, I was shocked and intrigued! The story kept getting more and more mysterious while Estela’s mental health got worse. I was so happy when (eventually) a family member turned up. An aunt who makes her move to a gothic castle in Spain that I loved exploring together with her, even if it was actually forbidden for her to do so. Or maybe because of it ;).
The writing stays great and there were even some very cozy small town moments in between the dark and mysterious parts but.. (this might be a minor spoiler) the moment Estela started seeing shadows in her dreams and in reality, which are supposed to be mysterious, scary and even become dangerous, and she called them “her shadow beast”felt completely ridiculous to me. She uses the name a lot from then on and it made me roll my eyes every time and it completely broke the tension. That and the pacing being more and more off, made me lose interest. The lack of believability, needed to keep taking the supposedly scary parts serious was probably the main reason I started contemplating to keep reading or not. I eventually had to DNF because I just couldn’t get that mysterious, dark and haunting vibe back, that was needed for me to really enjoy the story and take it seriously.
I didn’t rate this too low because I didn’t finish it and it did have some great writing and I really enjoyed the beginning and some parts further on but overall not a great read for me.
The cover and title, made me excited to start reading this YA book! I’m always in for a spooky read. And a dark haunted castle? Yes please!!
When I started reading, I noticed and loved the beautiful writing, the great bond the main character had with her parents and the quirky activities she did with her dad. But I also got a sense of a secret past, her parents kept hidden from her.
When the event that takes her parents from her happened at the start of the book, I was shocked and intrigued! The story kept getting more and more mysterious while Estela’s mental health got worse. I was so happy when (eventually) a family member turned up. An aunt who makes her move to a gothic castle in Spain that I loved exploring together with her, even if it was actually forbidden for her to do so. Or maybe because of it ;).
The writing stays great and there were even some very cozy small town moments in between the dark and mysterious parts but.. (this might be a minor spoiler) the moment Estela started seeing shadows in her dreams and in reality, which are supposed to be mysterious, scary and even become dangerous, and she called them “her shadow beast”felt completely ridiculous to me. She uses the name a lot from then on and it made me roll my eyes every time and it completely broke the tension. That and the pacing being more and more off, made me lose interest. The lack of believability, needed to keep taking the supposedly scary parts serious was probably the main reason I started contemplating to keep reading or not. I eventually had to DNF because I just couldn’t get that mysterious, dark and haunting vibe back, that was needed for me to really enjoy the story and take it seriously.
I didn’t rate this too low because I didn’t finish it and it did have some great writing and I really enjoyed the beginning and some parts further on but overall not a great read for me.
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