Castle of the Cursed

by Maggie Lynn

She’ll do anything to escape.
He’ll do anything to keep her.

Azalea
I shouldn’t be here—bound to this castle by a curse that is acting as a payment for a debt I never earned. And no matter what light Prince Braxton tries to paint himself in, I can see him for the beast he truly is. One I plan to rid myself of. That is why, one way or another, I’m finding a way to break this curse and leave this castle.

Braxton
She is ethereal. Even as she despises my very existence, I can’t help but be enchanted by her. Azalea is mine. That will never change, no matter how hard she tries to break this curse. I can only hope that she never learns the truth that binds her to this castle. Then, she will surely see the full extent of the monster I’ve become. She can hate me all she wants, but one thing is certain—I’m never letting her leave.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fiction, Romance, Fantasy Romance

405 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2025

About the author

Maggie has dreamed of being an author since she first brought pen to paper and let her imagination run wild. When she’s not reading or writing, she usually has a case of the travel bug, and loves exploring new countries (which tends to bring a new round of inspiration to her writing). She has always been an avid believer that reading gives you the opportunity to escape the real world and fall into an entirely new one, which might be why she loves fantasy so much. She resides in Illinois with her husband, Alec, baby girl, and pup, Denali (who has rightfully earned the nickname Bad Dog D).

Reviews

[Jess Hensley · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️: 4.5/5 rounded for gr
🌶️: 2.5/5

This was such a great standalone romantasy! I loved this take on curses and the love story in this (full review below)

🏰 Standalone
🏰 Beauty and the Beast retelling
🏰 Forced Proximity
🏰 Evil Witches & Curses
🏰 MMC who yearns!!
🏰 Fiery FMC

This was my first Maggie Lynn book despite having her on my TBR forever. I'm so so glad I was able to read the ARC for this, and honestly it was such a fun and romantic read! I initially thought this would be more of a spice-forward romance, but as the story unfolds it's gets so much deeper than that. This was exactly what I want in a standalone: something digestible and spicy backed by a fun and unique plot. The last 15% of this book is pure stress, and I love the way everything wrapped up. Some things felt a little rushed or glossed over, but I think that's pretty common in standalones. Overall, this is a whimsical, romantic, high-vibe read that I recommend!

[Gabi Koz · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKAY STANDALONE ROMANTASY 👏👏 4.25⭐️ !! I had a blast with this one!

A beauty and the beast retelling, (kind of) fake dating, a curse holding them in the castle, great spice, an evil witch & just the best vibes!!

4.25⭐️
3🌶️
4🧠

[Bree ♡︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓂, 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝒹𝒻𝓁𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇. 𝐼𝒻 𝓃𝑜𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝑒𝓁𝓈𝑒, 𝐼 𝒽𝑜𝓅𝑒 𝓎𝑜𝓊 𝒷𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓂.”

this stand-alone romantasy was everything i needed and more. the magic system was so much fun to learn about and the curse that we’re thrown into was unlike anything i’ve read before.

castle of the cursed is a very light beauty and the beast retelling (hello, i love!) and where i saw the similarities, i also appreciated where the author changed things up and made it her own story. the twists and revelations made me react verbally which i don’t often do with books, so that was fun to witness i think 😂

i absolutely adore azalea and braxton together AND separately. they each bring so much character and depth to the story, it’s impossible not to fall for each of them.

azalea is a stabby, stubborn, spitfire of a woman and we all know how i feel about fmcs like that (spoiler, i love them) no matter what, she always stuck to what she believed in and never let anyone else steer her in another direction. i love love love her. every time she cried, i cried, because the author just knows how to tug at my heart strings.✋🏼

braxton is the actual definition of a YEARNER. as soon as we got to his pov, everything he was feeling was so palpable and i could feel myself relating to him so much. the way he wants nothing but what’s going to be best for azalea, pls ✋🏼 you must read it to find out exactly what i mean by that.

thank you so much maggie for the opportunity to arc read for you! i always love your work and this one just climbed its way to the top. they are everything to me! 💜

[Mo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SO good! I loved the pacing of it especially for a standalone.

Cursed castle and the inhabitants are stuck to forget their memories before the curse fell upon them… except for Braxton.

The mystery that is awaiting to be solved is so beautifully written and the yearning is absolutely heartbreaking. This is like the yearning of Dracula but in a Beauty And The Beast retelling.

The banter between Azalea and Braxton were comical and petty in the beginning but their story was beautiful.

Finally, an FMC that is over 30 years old 👌🏼

Highly recommend for readers who love a good mystery, witches, curses, and deep rooted romance.

[Sue Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

really fun time, and always looking for good standalones! I do think the beginning could’ve been set up better but from middle to end, had a good time!

[Miranda Theis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I adored this Beauty and the Beast retelling! The pacing was great and made it so hard to put the book down. I loved how devoted our mmc was to the fmc.

THE YEARNING and longing 🖤

[Keke’s Kindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

🫶🏽 My review:

There’s nothing I love more than stumbling upon a new author, and on top of that, Maggie is genuinely one of the kindest, sweetest souls! I actually slid into her DMs just to talk about this book and share my reaction because I loved it that much.

This story was such a sweet love story and gave me strong Beauty and the Beast vibes mixed with 50 First Dates. As the plot unfolded, I swear I just fell harder and harder for our MMC. I absolutely loved the way he loves her—it was tender, devoted, and completely won me over.

This book is around 400 pages, and honestly, I would have happily read another 400. I’m usually not a huge standalone person because I always end up wanting more, but Maggie did such a beautiful job tying everything together that it felt complete and deeply satisfying within that space.

Can I also say I absolutely love a dual POV, where the man yearns… and boy does he!

👀 Summary:

Castle of the Cursed is a darker romance steeped in obsession, secrets, and a curse that binds two souls together whether they want it or not. Azalea is trapped inside a cursed castle, paying a debt she never chose, and she is determined to escape no matter the cost. Prince Braxton, the ruler of this haunting place, sees her as something far more dangerous than she realizes—his salvation, his downfall, and his obsession. Told through dual perspectives, this story blurs the line between captor and protector, love and control, beauty and monstrosity. As Azalea searches for a way to break the curse, the truth lurking beneath the castle’s magic threatens to unravel everything and reveal just how far Braxton is willing to go to keep her.

✨ Tropes & Vibes:

🏰 Gothic cursed castle
🔮 Dark magic & ancient curses
🖤 Obsessive, morally gray MMC
⛓️ Trapped / captive heroine
🌙 Beauty-and-the-Beast energy
🩸 Darker fantasy romance
👑 Possessive “she is mine” vibes
🌫️ Secrets, lies, and slow-burn dread
💔 Love tangled with control

😮‍💨 Quotes:

"I’ve thought about her every day since finding out what happened, and I've mourned her every day."

“I was willing to spend the rest of my life with you hating me as long as that meant spending the rest of my life with you.”

"Your tattoos?" I whisper the question, still too afraid of the truth tied to it.

"I've loved you. Unfalteringly, unwaveringly, uncontrollably, and unstoppably. No matter how many days I wake with you hating me, I have not once ever stopped loving you.”

A huge, thank you to Maggie for an ARC of this great read. I cannot wait to check out the rest of your work!

[Tarynrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.35 ✨️

Maggie Lynn has done it again😌

I absolutely loved the beauty and the beast vibes! This book felt magical but also so emotional.

I need someone who loves me the way Braxton loves Azalea 🥹

if you're looking for a fantasy romance standalone, then please pick this up because you won't regret it!

Thank you, Maggie Lynn, for the ARC❤️

[Cali Mafiaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaahhhhh this book!! It was so good!!! At first it was slow but oh my gosh after it picked up heck yes I couldn’t get enough!!!! It’s definitely worth it and aahhh soooo good!!! Must read!!!!💜🖤

[Tricia Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this author/book at a local book event! She shared that she graduated from UW-Whitewater. It’s fun and easy supporting local authors when they write great books. I really liked the Beauty and Beast retelling! I’d like to say I saw the twists coming but I truly didn’t. This was a fun read!

[Lori Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨


4 ⭐️

🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Witches
🖤 Magic
🖤 Feisty FMC
🖤 Touch her & 💀
🖤 HEA

Okay wow this book was fun, I was immediately hooked after the first chapter! I really enjoyed the banter and tension between Azalea and Braxton! The plot twists definitely keep me on my toes and made me want to keep reading.
I really enjoyed how much Braxton loved our FMC, even when she was trying to wound him with her sharp tongue 🤭

If you’re looking for a spicy, fast paced, light world building standalone this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

Thank you to the author for allowing me to ARC read and review!!

[herbookquest · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5⭐️ the beginning really sucked me in. Love the take on the curse, was really refreshing.

[Jessica Rau · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️
Castle Of The Cursed was such a fun, beautiful, and creative take on Beauty & The Beast.

Braxton has my favorite qualities in an MMC and the yearning he feels for Azalea is near palpable in each scene. He’s so down bad for her but at first glance, you only see it with his clenched fists. The way he stares at her, you know he’s in pain because he cannot have her. He’s both possessive and protective, and if all Azalea is willing to give him is her hatred then he is content to accept that from her without expecting more.

Braxton also has this dominant, domineering energy about him that I find so appealing. Yet somehow also the king of praise and verbal reassurance, what a perfect combo. How can a man be so entranced by her and yet say things like this 🫠😮‍💨:

"You sure do know how to make a guy feel special."
"I didn't realize my job was to make you feel special," I snap. I know I'm failing horribly at being nice to him, but I don't understand why he has to make it so difficult.
"It's not." Braxton leans in so close I can smell his familiar musky cologne waft around me before he says his next words. "Your job is to do whatever the fuck I tell you to." 🔥🥀

Azalea is confined to the castle without fully understanding the parameters for the curse. She blames Braxton for being trapped there with him and takes her anger out on him. She’s feisty, she’s smart, she’s loyal, and she’s confrontational. All things I love in an FMC.

The way they banter and argue with each other made this story so fun, so spicy, and hot. Watching them try to work out the mysteries of this curse was so fun as the closer they got to time being up, the more they couldn’t resist each other.

Thank you Maggie for allowing me to arc read this. I love your writing and the way you write your characters! I know whenever I read a book of yours, I will always have the best time.

[ciana · Rating 5 out of 5]

"maybe we're both different forms of beasts living in a beautiful world full of monsters.”

—

this was such a fun standalone! i’ll always love a good beauty and the beast retelling with forced proximity. the dual pov made me giggle every time it switched and i was hooked from the very first chapter.

the plot is very romance focused since everything kinda ties back to their relationship, but it works so well. the pacing was good and it balances spice, angst, yearning, and banter perfectly. braxton is so pathetically down bad for azalea and she hates him so of course i ate it up. the tension, his filthy mouth… so fun and it’s a super easy, addicting read.

there were a few typos, but since it’s indie it didn’t bother me or take me out of the story at all.

i was genuinely giggling and kicking my feet until my theory came true and i started sobbing?? so heartbreaking and devastating, ugh. the lengths he goes to for her are insane so ofc i had to add him to my book bf list.

this love story is actually so tragic and i was lowkey scared i wasn’t going to get a hea for a while, but the ending was so beautifully done. i would absolutely love a bonus epilogue just to see where they are now… pls.

if silver & blood and the silversmith had a baby, it would be this book. definitely one of my favorite standalones, so if you’re looking for a fun read with an emotional, deep love story, this is perfect!

"𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒛𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒂, 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝒊 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

[Maddy Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a decent Beauty and the Beast retelling. No furry monsters or sentient objects though, in case you were wondering. The details of the curse are a little different than the original story we know, and you slowly learn them through the course of the story.

The pacing of this story was just a little off for me, I struggled to get into the book as nothing too interesting happens until around the 30% mark. If that information had been provided a little earlier, I think I would have enjoyed the events of the first few chapters more.

There is a particularly upsetting detail near the end that feels very brushed over. We spend the majority of the book caught between hot and cold mental monologues, we couldn’t spend a little longer processing that one significant detail about the curse? Hammer it home, let us sit in it and feel it. The lack of emotional attention to this detail makes me reflect on the real purpose of this story. It seems like it was more of a lust story than a love story.

As for the romance, it was good. Entertaining. I did find myself a little annoyed with most of the actions of the MMC. But, I guess it would be hard to stay cool headed for that long.

[Chante (Chan.ReadsXO) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Castle of the Cursed as an ARC, and wow this story absolutely delivered. It has hints of a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but still stands completely on its own with fresh twists and a naturally flowing storyline. The MMC and FMC balance each other perfectly.

Braxton is every bit the Prince Charming fantasy, just with a darker, tattooed edge. And Azalea? She’s a gorgeous temptation with an attitude sharp enough to drop any man to his knees. Their dynamic is slow burn, but so worth every page. Yes, Azalea’s attitude frustrated me at times, but once everything unfolds, you realize it all has a purpose. The story wouldn’t be the same without it.

This book made me cry, laugh, and even yell “HOLD UP, WHAT?!” Maggie Lynn crafted a tale full of emotion, tension, and unexpected twists. If you want romantasy, this book delivers. And the spice? It does not disappoint.

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

⋆｡°✩ Spoiler Free Reviews ⋆｡°✩

Oh my days.. what a book. Actually WHAT A BOOK.
Okay so tropes for this one; fairytale retelling, a curse, forced proximity, amnesia, historical setting kind of? (Not set in the modern age, more fantasy setting), one sided enemies to lovers.
Smut was 2/5 on the spice scale and its a HEA for the couple.

I din’t even have words for this story. I buddy read it with a bestie at their request and wasn’t prepared for the absolute journey it took me on.. I do think if we didn’t get dual POV till around 50%, I think the reveal there would have been infinitely more powerful, but I still had a blast.

The scene setting, the lore and background, the little nuggets of truth we get throughout, like breadcrumbs leading us to the ending.. crazy. Absolutely insane in the best way.

[Rachel S · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ A great standalone! Was actually quite emotional and heart-wrenching at times. I was actually hoping to read something a bit lighter on the emotional damage, but this was the wrong choice for that! 😂 Still, I very much enjoyed it and it wrapped up nicely.

Con: the editing needs some work, numerous errors which started to get a bit annoying. I understand a small one here and there, but this was a regular thing. For example Gravesley’s name sometimes being Gravsley/Gravely, like seriously 🤦🏻‍♀️ Or a random word like “the” in the middle of a sentence 🤷🏻‍♀️ was a bit of a puzzle at times. This did not affect my overall rating though.

[Sophie Hulston · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
I am OBSESSED. What a beautiful beauty and the beast retelling!

Braxton: I love a man who yearns and is down bad but he would honestly have her hate him for over a century than have her suffering like please 😭😭 you could feel the love and angst and his want for her that had me dying for the curse to be broken

Azalea: she has been cursed to be trapped in the castle. I actually loved her so much. He told her to wear something nice to dinner so she showed up in rags 😂

I honestly was on edge at the end with the witch and everything! What a perfect ending I loved

[khubble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! The FMC was super feisty and I loved her character. The yearning was done so well too. It was the perfect blend of plot and spice. The ending was so emotional, involving a conversation I’m sure many couples have had. Some people may not understand or agree with the choices the MMC made, but I think that’s exactly why I liked it.

[Claudette Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually write full reviews, I’m more of a quick rating and move on kind of reader, but I HAD to talk about this one!!

When I say I DEVOURED this book in less than 24 hours, I mean it!! And that says a lot because with how busy I am, it normally takes me at least a week to finish even a 300-page book. But this one?! I could not put it down!

I started reading at 10pm, stayed up for four hours straight, and then woke up the next morning just to finish it before heading into work. I genuinely can’t remember the last time a book pulled me in that fast!!

If you love standalone romantasy, Beauty and the Beast retellings, a feisty FMC, a yearning MMC, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a satisfying HEA, then you’re going to love this one just as much as I did!!

[Kalin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely was hard to push through at first but once it started getting good it stayed getting good! It was full of OMG, I need answers, and didn’t see that coming! Definitely a book I would recommend!!!

[Tara N Gabrys · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes please!! I absolutely adored this book!! Braxton had me swooning on more than one occasion. and the twist got me good. I am always a sucker for a retelling and this is no exception. beautiful work.

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️ Maggie!!!!! What a cute standalone beauty and the beast retelling! I love me some yearning and a man who would wait that long for a woman has a spot on my book boyfriend roster for sure!! 🥰📖

Perfect cozy romantasy if you need something fun to gobble up!!!

Congrats on another amazing book friend! 🫶

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beauty and the Beast retelling
I loved Braxton and the dual POV.

[laya · Rating 4 out of 5]

started off meh but he’s a yearner so it’s ok lol i like them tgt 3.5

[Rebekah Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

retelling that leaves you needing all the details

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. There were highs and lows, ups and downs, it broke you then put you back together

[Rachel Clements · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the guy but that’s all I can comment on

[Andersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun little escape. A quick, standalone romance that delivers tension, sharp banter, and just the right amount of heat. It doesn’t try to be overly complicated; it just leans into the vibes, and it works.

I had a general sense of where the story might head, but there were still a few twists that caught me off guard in the best way. Those moments kept it from feeling predictable and added a little extra spark.

If you’re looking for something light, entertaining, and easy to devour without pages of heavy worldbuilding, this one hits the mark. Perfect palate cleanser energy with enough chemistry to keep things interesting.

[Tiffiny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️✨Arc Review!!! ✨⭐️
Forced proximity, one-sided enemies to lovers, st@bby fmc, morally gray mmc, touch her and ☠️

“She is my dawn and my dusk. My will and my want.”

Beauty and the Beast has alway my favorite Disney movie and Belle my favorite princess!!! Maggie Lynn did such an amazing job with this retelling! I will never stop recommending it!!