Chateau Reverie

by Natasha Siegel

Another sweeping speculative, romantic novel from the author of As Many Souls as Stars, in which attendees of a magical auction must bid secrets in exchange for their greatest desires. Perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern or V.E. Schwab.

Reverie and Sons humbly requests your attendance at THE AUCTION OF SECRETS.

Genevieve de Vienne does not remember the journey to the Chateau Reverie. She only remembers receiving her invitation to the Auction of Secrets, writing upon it her greatest desire—to forget the woman she once loved—and setting it aflame.

Leander Sterne does not remember a life outside of the Chateau Reverie. When he receives his own invitation, he does not have any secrets to bid, but his greatest desire—his liberty—is worth risking everything. He has nothing to lose.

Alongside five fellow attendees, Leander and Genevieve must survive three nights in the Chateau in order to bid their secrets and win their hearts’ desire. But the Chateau has a mind of its own. As guests begin to disappear and Leander and Genevieve become more and more entangled, it becomes clear that the rules of the Auction might not be in anyone’s favor…and even those who win might not be allowed to leave.

Written in Natasha Siegel’s transportive, lush prose and set amidst the final days of the French Revolution, Chateau Reverie is a rococo fairytale full of horrors and both a sweeping romance and a twisting speculative mystery.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adult, Mystery

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 27, 2026

About the author

Natasha Siegel is a writer of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. She was born and raised in London, where she grew up in a Danish-Jewish family surrounded by stories.

Her UK and fantasy debut, As Many Souls As Stars, received starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly and was an Indie Next pick. Her next book, romantic fantasy Chateau Reverie, is out this October with Bloomsbury UK/William Morrow US.

Reviews

[annes_mesmerizing_books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Natasha Siegel’s books, so when I saw the ARC on NetGalley, I immediately hit the request button. I always fall for her characters, and Chateau Reverie was no exception. The premise is so good: attendees of a magical auction must bid secrets in exchange for their greatest desires.

I immediately loved Genevieve, who mourns Claire, the girl she fell in love with who tragically died, and Leander, who has lost so many memories. Their first meeting was so cute. As a lover of longing and yearning, the romance felt a bit too insta-love for me, though, and I really wished their stay at the chateau had been longer so their relationship could develop more. The same applies to the side characters, who fell a bit flat for me.

But the premise. That plot twist? What on earth was happening there? I really didn’t see it coming, even though there were so many breadcrumbs to follow. No wonder Genevieve… nope, I’m not going there because that would be spoiling.

Anyway, the premise and the plot twist definitely earn a solid four stars. But the romance and side characters are a meager three stars. So that averages out to 3.5 stars. Because I’ve loved Natasha Siegel’s previous stories so much, I’m rounding my final rating up to four stars. I might still change my mind later, though.

Thank you, William Morrow and NetGalley, for this ARC!

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[Natasha Siegel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this!

Some early copies are trickling out to reviewers now, so I thought I'd share my thoughts. I'm so excited to be bringing this weird and wonderful book to you all. CHATEAU REVERIE is about hope. It's a twisted fairytale, a daydream and a nightmare, and, above all, a love story. It's about how we let our pasts define us, and not how love redeems us--but how love can show us we're deserving of redemption.

This is very much a setup-and-payoff story, with some surprises in store that I would ask people be careful about spoiling in their own content and reviews. It does have darker themes--content warnings are available on my website!--but ultimately, this novel is a search for light in darkness, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

[Samantha Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My quote:

‘Siegel weaves romance with sinister intrigue in this dreamy Alpine fairytale. Resisting the confines of a single box, it instead pours its treasures liberally before the reader; it is at once a mystery in a haunted house, a fable, and a love story. I was utterly enchanted.’

[Liana Gold]

Your attendance is required at the auction of secrets. The attendees must bid their secrets in exchange for their greatest desires.

Genre: Sci-Fi & fantasy, romance



Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and the author, Natasha Siegel for an early copy!

Publication date: October 27, 2026

[Saray]

sounds so good!! Can't wait to read itttt!!

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I love the cover;
Second... the atmosphere in this book was honestly amazing.

The whole Chateau Reverie setting felt eerie, unsettling and almost horror-like at times, which I absolutely loved. The chateau itself felt alive in that creepy fairytale kind of way and the idea behind the Auction of Secrets was super interesting. Guests bid their (or others) deepest secrets in exchange for their greatest desires. There are strict rules, trials and consequences if those rules are broken.

Our FMC, Genevieve, receives an invitation to the auction some time after escaping the French Revolution. She’s carrying a lot of grief and anxiety after losing someone very important to her during the escape, so attending the auction was a huge step for her. But she is there with one purpose in mind.

Once at the chateau, she meets Leander, another guest and from there their story starts in very unexpected ways. I actually thought their first interaction was pretty cute. She was kinda awkward, he was slightly rude, weird-ish - cute vibes all around :))

From here on, I struggled with a bit with the execution.

I really wish we had gotten more from the side characters. Most of the other guests felt very surface level, almost like they were there mostly to fill space in the story.

I also thought the romance leaned a bit too heavily into insta-love. I understand they only spend a few days together, but the feelings developed so quickly that it was hard for me to fully connect with them emotionally. Also, it didn't help they kept repeating that they fell in love too fast (yes, we know :D).

And, like I said in the beginning, the whole "bidding with secrets" concept was SO, SO cool, especially the idea that secrets could be stolen and used, but I feel like the story didn’t explore that aspect nearly enough.

That said, I still enjoyed the experience overall, even if I wanted more depth in certain areas.

⭐ 3.75 stars (rounded up to 4)

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC.

[Magdalena (magdal21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not joking, no one writes stories that feel more like they were made for me than Natasha Siegel. After four books and four five star reads, I know I’ll love anything she writes. Chateau Reverie absolutely proves that again.

Guenevieve, the book’s protagonist, is an aristocrat who escaped revolutionary France. She receives an invitation to a chateau run by the mysterious Lady Reverie, where guests take part in an auction and bid their secrets for their deepest desires. There, she meets Leander, a resident who was also invited to the auction. As the event draws near, more secrets come to light about both of them and the chateau itself. The book isn’t long, and readers are pulled into the action right away, though the story unfolds gradually. You shouldn’t worry if you don’t understand everything at the start. It’s best to just trust the process. What you get is a beautiful, almost fairy tale like story about star crossed love that blends a rococo aesthetic with a gothic, unsettling atmosphere.

All in all, it’s hard to talk about this book without spoilers, so I’ll just say this: it gave me the same vibes as some of my favorite novels, like The Night Circus, The White Octopus Hotel, or Strange the Dreamer. It combines all of that with an immaculate yet disturbing setting, mystery, and romance. If you like this kind of story and enjoy Natasha’s writing style, you should run to preorder this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

Chateau Reverie is excellently written and well thought out story. It is succinct, but the entire tome one is left with guessing how it going to play out.

It has been awhile since I have been so expertly hood winked in the direction the story ended up going. If you are a fan of historical fiction and Greek mythology you will not be disappointed.

Natasha Siegel expertly wove a story where you cannot simply down. The way her story telling is so unique I cannot give enough praise. I was so helplessly confused in the beginning, but in the best way possible, and by the end even she’d a tear. I cannot express enough at how impressed she managed to pull on every emotion in this rather short, but honestly whirlwind of a story. I will definitely be thinking about this for a while, aka sitting and staring at the wall.

If one is a mood reader, you should definitely read this around the fall/halloween time which is perfect for the release date of late October!

[Layla Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

ARC READ PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY

I am not sure how to review this book. I loved the story overall, but it felt like there is a lot of story missing. A lot of good story missing. The writing style also took a bit time to get used to. The premise of an auction was interesting and the love story is gripping but I feel like it all needed more time for development. Everything happened in a span of three days. There are couple of editorial mistakes between time placement and things like “a few days” when it was only a couple of days if the auction only lasted 3. But I think this is the author side in me speaking.

Over all I think it is a good whimsical mystery intertwined with some horror.

[Risa · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down


This book has a lot of potential, but so much of the execution was surface level.

I really loved the sentient setting of the chateau; however, I felt like the story couldn’t decide whether it wanted the setting to be evil or not. It was a bit too inconsistent for my liking, especially with how it treated our two protagonists differently (less harshly) than the rest of the contestants.

Speaking of the other contestants, I loved the diversity of the cast of characters. However, all the characters outside of Leander and Genevieve read like one-dimensional cardboard cut outs. They were simply there to fill space and give our main characters the tools they need throughout the story. I wish the side characters had been more fleshed out, and that their disappearances as the story went on felt less arbitrary.


When it comes to Leander and Genevieve, I really liked their individual stories and journeys. Together, however, I found their relationship to be rushed and a bit boring at times. It was obviously insta-love given they fell in love within two or three days of knowing each other, and it didn’t help (or make it any more palatable for me) that the pair repeatedly remind the reader of how quickly they’ve fallen in love.


I liked the big plot twist in the latter half of the book because I didn’t see it coming and I thought the reveal was well done! (But I will say the background on how it came to be wasn’t entirely believable to me, as I explain in the spoilers section.)


Ultimately I enjoyed myself as I was reading this novel, but there’s a good chance that I will forget about it soon enough.








NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:


First check in at 20%:
- I like the opening—poor Genevieve losing her life Claire in a carriage attack. It makes sense why she would join the Auction of Secrets, and why she doesn’t ride in carriages anymore.

- (I will say right off the bat though, I hope there’s more queer rep in the book…because it’s kind of a bummer that we killed off the woman Genevieve loves, and she’s likely going to fall for guy later on. I love bi rep, but I don’t want it to feel like a kill you gays situation either.)


- I’m surprised that her grandfather let her go though. I know he wanted her to get out of the house and meet people, but…would he think that this auction invitation was nonsense?


- Leander is an interesting character—I didn’t expect him to wake up on a grave. His desire is liberty, I assume from his mother, who I’m guessing owns the Chateau Reverie. It wouldn’t surprise me if Lady Reverie wasn’t a person at all, but an estate.
- I’m curious to know what he meant by he’s have to steal a secret from someone since he has none. I guess because he has few memories, because his mother took them?


- Ah, so it seems that Claire—that woman Genevieve loved—was her servant at one point. Good to know.


- It seems Leander’s brother Orestes is the auctioneer, and is also trapped here at the estate for some reason.

- I liked how Genevieve and Leander met in the hedge maze, and how he’s kind of standoffish/rude while she’s awkward. But I don’t love that it’s already feeling like insta-love between them. A crush is one thing, but the emotion feels too strong to start off in my opinion.

- I’m glad there are other guests, but we blew through meeting them really fast, so it was hard to remember who is who, though I like that there seems to be diversity in the group.


- 27% in: Ah okay, so Leander was brought and trapped here at the Chateau it sounds like—so it seems his mother and brother aren’t blood relatives. (Though how that was revealed was kind of obvious telling through dialogue—Leander wouldn’t need to spell that out to Orestes.)

- Also, Orestes eating that bug was creepy. He’s clearly got some creepy magical ties to the Chateau.

- I thought Orestes said earlier, before the auction began, that Leander was not his brother? Or was it the other way around? (I’m asking because now Orestes is saying he’s fond of Leander, which seems like a switch.)


Another Check in at 45%
- Leander is already saying he needs Genevieve at only 30% in? Ugh the insta-love.

- I mean, I like that Leander’s mother is basically playing with his emotions so that he’ll fall for Genevieve and steal her secret… but I still wish their relationship was more slow burn.

- I don’t like that they have the hots for each other so quickly, but I liked that as things were heating up, Genevieve said Claire’s name.


- The poor saltana wanting to aid her sick son. And her secret she’s not the child of a sultan but a bastard child is interesting.

- And that Mattias character who just said he needs to win. Very mysterious. I feel like we aren’t seeing enough of the side characters, but I like what we do see of them.



- 50%: So the sultana is missing and Ortiz turned into the clockwork for messing with the clock as punishment. Interesting.
- I understand why Leander would remember them, but I wonder why Genevieve does as well when no one else at breakfast does.


- 51%: Wait. Leander brought Genevieve to a riverbank that they could cross, and if they do, they’ll forget the Chateau without winning or losing. Then why the hell hasn’t Leander just done that on his own already???? If this would work, then he doesn’t have to win the auction to get his liberty…


- “I want you so much—after one day of knowing you.” Well, at least Leander acknowledges the insta-love…


- Ah okay—so Leander can’t actually leave as his mother would intervene. So he’s just trying to trick her into leaving then?


- 54% in: Ooh so Saliha Sultan is a Chateau servant now


- 55% in: What I’m confused about is why (the fake) Mattias Kurki told Genevieve his secret, about taking his master’s place in the competition? She didn’t ask for it. And now Mattias essentially wants to keep her quiet about it.

- Oh that’s convenient…the Lion statue came to life and ate non-Kurki before he could harm her.


- Ooh so the ballet they have to watch is Genevieve’s story with Claire, that’s rough.
- But my question is why the ballet is just her story where there’s three other contestants competing as well?


- 63% in: A bit random that Missah would go into the hedger maze now to find the center when he’s required at the banquet. It feels like a random way to assumedly get rid of him.


- 67% in: WAIT WHAT??? This isn’t Genevieve de Vienne. It’s Claire Marchand?!?!? That was a wild plot twist I was not expecting!!!


- Ah okay so before going into the carriage, they switched clothes. And then Genevieve revealed herself anyway.

- My question is: well first, are these bandits really going to stop and try to figure out which is which? Given both women said they were Genevieve at one point, and one of them is claiming that they switched clothes but could be lying, I feel like they would kill both women just to cover their bases. (And I don’t buy the explanation that Genevieve just has an aura about her that makes it obvious she is the real Genevieve.)

- And second, what was the point of switching clothing (other than to trick the reader), when the bandits were still confused, Genevieve still announced herself as the one they want, and the bandits so easily believed her?



- This twist actually makes sense of the ballet I think—with the ending, I thought it was suggested that Claire with the thorn mask was left standing. Now I understand why!


- Ah okay—so since Claire wasn’t invited, that’s why Leander was able to move her across the threshold without issue. I was wondering about what Leander had discovered from that day.


- Wait, just Leander and Claire are left at the auction? What happened to the lady in the wheelchair, she just gave up because she has a portrait of her lover? (And I still think Missah entering the hedge maze now, when he could’ve done it some other time—like Leander and Genevieve did at the beginning—is strange).
- The side characters in this book have the potential to be interesting, but they were not handled well at all. They are like cardboard cut outs that the author just knocks over with a brush of her fingers without a valid reason.


- 71% in: Interesting, so the one person who’s won an auction before is Leander. Hence why he’s not a soulless servant.
- And he’s over a century old (born into the colonies of America)…sigh, another age gap romance.
- And lonely Leander’s wish was to fall in love; so his mother has kept him here until she could find him someone…uh okay.

- To be honest, I find it hard to believe that only one person has ever won (unless there’s only ever been one auction before this one). Despite the side characters losing by pretty lame, anti-climatic means, it’s pretty damn easy to win this thing.


- So now Madame Kramarov is in the portrait with her lover…uh okay. (This ending is getting more and more unhinged. And the grim fates of all these side characters feel so unearned.)


- 75% in: chapter 21, Sex scene time. At least we waited until after the big Claire reveal for them to have sex.


- That’s nice of Leander to try and give up his wish for Claire. And for Claire to go talk to Lady Reverie to try and free both herself and Leander. (It was also clever of Claire to mention the invitation and wish were technically for Genevieve so she should be able to change hers.)

- I’m of course glad that Lady Reverie is giving Claire a chance—if Claire can find Leander, then they can leave. But it feels rather too generous of Lady Reverie to say if she fails, then Claire will leave with only memories as if she were really Genevieve and with Leander only being dream that she forgets. I think Lady Reverie should’ve said Claire has to stay forever as her daughter (like she said she should take on a daughter), which would be brutal since Lady Reverie plans to turn Leander into a stone statue.

- It’s a bit convenient that the necklace from one of the other contestants allowed Claire to distinguish the dream from reality through ...


- Also, just because the characters keep saying in the narrative that they’re shocked to have fallen in love with each other in only 2-3 days does not make the insta-love anymore believable.


- Uh…so the fake Genevieve tries to drown Claire after Claire stabs her. And then Claire stops fighting so the fake Genevieve lets her go? That’s so dumb.


- 96% in: So there’s a literal heart at the center of the hedge maze, which Leander and Claire both just happen to enter. (I like that it’s a call back to how they first met, but I still don’t understand why they entered the maze now towards the end.) And Claire was going to stab the giant heart, but decided not to for unclear reasons. And her saying she forgives the chateau led to it revealing that Leander was sleeping inside the heart.
- While I’m glad Claire found Leander, the way they reunited is dumb.


- The ending with Leander following Claire and stepping across the bridge (ready to enter their new lives) was lovely.


Overall thoughts
- I enjoyed this book overall, but I feel like a lot of this book was surface level despite having the potential to go deeper.

- All the characters except for Leander and Claire were surface level. Especially when they came to the other contestants—they felt like one-dimensional cardboard cut outs whose sole purpose was to serve the couple.

- The plot where you bid your secrets to win a wish was so compelling. And the idea of Leander having to steal one was also compelling. But we never saw that, because all the other contestants were knocked off for such arbitrary reasons.

- I liked Leander and Claire’s relationship. But again, the insta-love was not negated by the fact that the characters repeatedly reminded us that they fell in love after 2 or 3 days. If anything it made it worse to have to keep remembering how unbelievable it feels.


- Having said all of that, I did like the chateau as a setting. And the backdrop of the French Revolution was also interesting. I do wish we had done more with the sentient setting though, as it felt like it had dark undertones until we needed Leander and Claire to succeed, and then all of a sudden it was on their side. (And it was way too easy for Claire to defeat the illusions that Lady Reverie through her way.)


- All of that to say, I had a good time reading this in the moment, but it didn’t live up to my expectations and I foresee myself forgetting about this book after a while.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genevieve, a French noblewoman who escaped to the English countryside during the French revolution, accepts an invitation to an auction of secrets. She hopes to win her heart’s desire, the ability to forget the girl she once loved and lost. There, she meets Leander, a member of the “family” hosting the auction, who is competing in order to win his freedom from his “family”.

This was a beautifully written dark fantasy romance, that could also be accurately described as fitting in the horror genre given the sentient house that mind controls people who eat food it provides. It’s less challenging to read than the previous book I read and loved by Natasha Siegel, As Many Souls as Stars, being shorter and having more accessible but still literary language. I think it easily could’ve been longer, but the relatively short length (288 pages) also helps preserve some of the mystery of Leander’s past. As long as you aren’t bothered by coming out of the book with plenty of questions about it, you shouldn’t be too bothered by the length.

It’s clear from the writing in the novel that it is a retelling of Hero and Leander from Greek mythology, but it was kind of too obvious for my liking. In my opinion, it gets annoying in a retelling if the characters are repeatedly talking about the original myth and talking about how similar their situation is to the myth. It makes the characters seem more like they are pretentious than actually experiencing something deep and having authentic feelings about it. It didn’t ruin the book by any means, but I did keep on going “yes, I know this is a Hero and Leander retelling, now can we get back to the plot or how they actually feel?”, which was frustrating.

The auction event was a fascinating concept, an auction of secrets in order to grant any heart’s desire other than bringing back the dead. It was appropriately spooky, and I can see why this is releasing around Halloween. The side characters were interesting and tragic in their own ways as well (since only one person can win the auction). There was a great plot twist around 67% that I wasn’t expecting, but looking back I could see where there had been foreshadowing for revealing the truth to canny readers. I would caution anyone who has significant struggles with disordered eating or food OCD to be careful when reading this book, as the aspects where all of the food provided by the house directly is dangerous and can control the characters could be triggering.

The romance was slightly an insta-love type of romance, which could be frustrating to some readers, but it worked with Leander’s issues of having significant amnesia of his previous life and Genevieve being desperate to forget her past relationship. I disagree with the Amazon subtitle saying that it is a sapphic fairytale; Genevieve’s past relationship was with a woman and that’s important to her character, but the central relationship in the book is a F/M romance. It’s a well-written F/M romance, though.

Chateau Reverie releases October 27 from William Morrow. Thank you to NetGalley, Natasha Siegel and William Morrow for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[thebookaerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thrilled for the opportunity to early read Chateau Reverie. The synopsis alluded to such a unique read, and sounded like a book I would typically be very drawn to.

I read this in two short sittings and it’s quite enjoyable. It’s mysterious and intriguing throughout, and the answers to all of your questions are timely revealed. The story revolves around an interesting plot point, where invitees to a competition of auctioning their darkest secrets might win them the ability to have one wish granted. A wish to forget, a wish for freedom, or a wish to see a loved one again ~ sounds like something each of us might consider sparing a darkest secret for.

I loved the mystery surrounding one of the leads, Leander, in this book. What type of magical being is he? How did he become what he is? And what does he know that the other “guests” of this mysterious auction do not, and why this ultimate quest of his to win? He is a shadowy, enigmatic being and I was very drawn to him initially, but his character arc takes a bit of a turn when something like insta-love forms with Genevieve, a guest at the auction of secrets. He was a cryptic and very attractive character for me initially, but lost a bit of his allure in his pursuit of Genevieve. His initial, maybe malicious and selfish reasons for pursuing her, kept me more on the edge of my seat, than his later love interest pursuit. His dazzle and dark mystery faded just a bit for me personally, but still a very enjoyable character to engage with!

There is an excellent twist with Genevieve and the secret she intends to auction. She has hopes of winning the auction and being granted a wish to move on from a painful loss in her past. There are times where I questioned her naivety around some of the initial interactions with other guests and especially Leander, but the early twist changes your whole view of her and her motives for attending the event. She’s often almost too trusting, and I questioned if the magic of the Chateau and its Lady Reverie were acting upon her, to keep her from inquiring deeper into the truth of this secretive auction.

The imagery at the Chateau is beautiful and puzzling in itself, and the guests initial invite process is earthy and magical. Writing thoughts, or in the case of this book ~ a deep wish, and then burning the paper and sending it off into the universe feels enchanting.

I will recommend this one as there are likely to be readers who will find even more excitement about it than I, and others who may like it slightly less. I feel like this has a flavor similar to Caraval by Stephanie Garber so anyone who enjoyed that series would likely enjoy this also!

3.5⭐️

[Bonnie among the pages and chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: A Victorian fever dream Alice in Wonderland (★★★★☆)

A story built from fairy-tale logic, moonlight, mythology, and exceptionally good interior decorating. Every door leads somewhere stranger, and thankfully so does the plot.

Chateau Reverie feels like wandering through a dream stitched together from Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, classical mythology, and a lavish Victorian fairy tale. It is whimsical, enchanting, and wonderfully easy to sink into. The imagery was by far my favorite aspect of the novel. The château itself feels alive, each room unfolding into a new wonder, mystery, or impossibility. I found myself happily following the story wherever it wanted to lead me simply because exploring this world was such a delight.

The novel's dreamlike atmosphere is one of its greatest strengths. Rather than operating on strict magical rules, it embraces the logic of fairy tales and myths, where symbolism and emotion matter more than practicality. The numerous mythological references, particularly to Hero and Leander, add another layer to the story and help reinforce its feeling of existing somewhere between a dream, a legend, and a fairy tale.

My biggest reservation was the romance. The central relationship leaned heavily into instant attraction and felt more rooted in appearances than emotional development. While this didn't fully work for me, I suspect it was an intentional choice. Given the novel's mythological influences, the romance often reads more like a classical tale of fated love than a modern relationship built gradually over time. I can appreciate what the book was doing even if it isn't my preferred approach to romance.

What ultimately kept this from being a five-star read, however, was that I found myself wanting more from the historical elements. The glimpses of France and the looming French Revolution were fascinating, and I would have loved for the story to spend more time exploring them. The historical backdrop added texture and intrigue whenever it appeared, and a deeper engagement with that aspect of the novel would likely have elevated this from a great read to an unforgettable one for me.

Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed my time within the walls of Chateau Reverie. If you're looking for a whimsical, visually rich fantasy that feels like stepping into a beautifully strange dream, this is well worth the journey.

[Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit of a mixed bag for me. The concept was so interesting, and I enjoyed the writing, but there was one big thing that held me back from fully loving it: the romance.

I’ll start with the things I did like though, because there was no shortage of those. The setting was perfect for me because I always love houses/manors that have a life of their own. The quirks and ways in which the place operated were super interesting to read as well, and they really added to the atmosphere. I really liked the plot too, the whole concept of bidding secrets for desires was super compelling to read.

My favorite part started once the plot twist was revealed. Honestly, this was one of those twists that made the book infinitely better and added a whole new layer to everything that had happened. After that, the plot picked up as well, and that whole section (about the last 30%) I was glued to the book.

Now onto the reason this isn’t rated higher. I knew going in that this was a fast-burn type of romance, and I had prepared myself…or at least I thought I did. I was thinking they would fall in love over a week, but nope, it’s two days. So much of the story’s stakes stem from the romance, and will these two get to be together, but because I didn’t understand what made them come to care for each other so quickly, it fell a little flat for me personally. On the first day especially, when there’s talk of feelings and they are getting close, I was really caught up in how it had been hours that they’d met.

The only other thing that didn’t fully land for me was the side characters. I really wish they had been given a little more depth, that way I felt even more of the stakes in only one of them being able to win. One of the other contestants gets a bit of a backstory I liked, and I wish we would have gotten something similar from the others. The main guy’s brother and mother were very interesting as well, and I wish we had seen a little more of what drove them, especially the mother.

Overall, this was a fun read, but because I didn’t fully buy into the romance, I had a hard time buying into all the things that the characters did because of it. If you are someone who doesn’t mind a faster-paced romance or characters coming to love each other quickly, then I would 100% recommend this, because that was the only big thing that held it back for me.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

~🅞🅥🅔🅡🅐🅛🅛 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ . 25~

[Raven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you fo NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader's copy.

Chateau Reverie follows Geneveive de Vienne as she receives a mysterious invitation to an auction where the winner will receive their heart's desire. There, she meets Leander Stern and begins to uncover the secrets of the auction's magnificent and wonderous chateau.
While featuring an interesting premise, the plot left a lot to be desired in the send.

First, and most jarring, was that this was a romance masquerading as a mystery/thriller. Their is nothing wrong with that, but i aas expecting a grand mystery to be solved. The FMC and MMC, allegedly, fall in love within hours of meeting despite being at each other's throats in the beginning of the book. There is barely any lead up to them falling head over heels to the point that they can't keep their hands off of each other. Although the book notes the short amount of time, it still felt wildly unbelievable and the lack of growth in their relationship made me not really care whether they ended up together or not.

Second, as other reviewers have pointed out, certain elements of the plot felt like they could've taken more time to bake. I wanted more background on Orestes and Madame Reverie. What even are they? Is the chateau a force for good or evil? Why are Leander and Orestes considered special? There just didn't seem to be any satisfying answers to the mystery.

Finally, the pacing of the book just felt off mostly due to the book taking place over such a short amount of time.

That said, Chateau Reverie focuses on a whirlwind romance in an intriguing wonderland. The story was charming, the characters endearing, and the concept was original. I appreciated the historical settings, mannerisms and tidbits that made the story more believable. I also appreciated the author's attempt to create an emboldened woman character taking charge of her life during a time when women were told to make themselves as small as possible and stick to the status quo.

3/5 memorable stars 🕯🕯🕯

[Sanne Romijn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chateau Reverie is one of those books that feels less like a straightforward story and more like a dream you’re slowly trying to make sense of. From the beginning, the narrative has a slightly disorienting quality. Not everything is explained, and the rules of the world remain somewhat unclear. But rather than being frustrating, this actually enhances the experience. The dreamlike atmosphere seems very intentional, and it fits the concept of the story beautifully.

The chateau itself feels alive, subtly shaping events and guiding the participants. Combined with the idea of bidding with secrets instead of money, it creates a premise that feels both original and deeply personal. It’s mysterious, a little unsettling at times, and impossible to fully predict, which kept me turning the pages.

The writing style is lyrical and immersive, and in this case it truly works. It reinforces the hazy, almost surreal tone of the story without becoming too vague. Even when the story remains somewhat ambiguous, it feels like a deliberate choice rather than a flaw.

Both main characters go through meaningful development. Genevieve’s journey, in particular, carries a strong emotional core, while Leander’s arc adds an interesting contrast in terms of identity and memory. Their relationship develops rather quickly, but somehow that fits the overall tone of the book. The romance plays an essential role in both character growth and the outcome of the story.

There is also a twist that I didn’t see coming, but that made perfect sense in hindsight and added depth to the narrative rather than just serving as shock value. The ending was especially satisfying. It ties together the emotional and thematic threads of the story in a way that feels earned, while still maintaining that slightly dreamlike quality that defines the book.

This is a story for readers who enjoy romantasy or fantasy with a historical touch, and who don’t mind a more atmospheric, less straightforward narrative.

[Ines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of Chateau Reverie in exchange for an honest review.

This one was lovely in a lot of ways, especially the writing itself. Natasha Siegel's prose is genuinely transportive, and the descriptive passages are where the book really shines. The atmosphere of the Chateau, the details, and fashion descriptions, the dreamlike quality of it all... she does a beautiful job of setting the scene and making you feel like you're actually there. If you're someone who reads for vibes and atmosphere, there's a lot to enjoy here.

Where it fell a little flat for me was the plot. The premise is so promising: a magical auction where attendees bid their secrets in exchange for their deepest desires, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous mountain chateau in 1795 France. But the actual plot kind of just... is the premise.
There's the auction at the magical chateau, there's a slow-burn love story between Genevieve and Leander, and that's mostly it. The other attendees get introduced and then sort of fade into the background without really serving a purpose, which felt like a missed opportunity because each of them has their own secrets and desires that could have added so much depth.

Because of that, it was a bit slow and dragged in places. I stayed intrigued enough to keep going, but I wanted more from it, more tension, more stakes, more reason to care about what was happening beyond the central pairing.

One thing I loved was learning that that the post-revolution regime implemented a French Republican Calendar. Which this book uses the month of Floreal (eighth month of the French Republican Calendar, about April 20-May 19) as the time the story takes place. And it’s such a nice little detail that most authors would skip.

Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up. Lovely writing, gorgeous atmosphere, but the plot needed a bit more substance to match the beauty of the prose.

[Sarah Perissutti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genevieve de Vienne is an aristocrat living with her grandfather in England after barely escaping France during the French Revolution. In the midst of the escape, tragedy befell and Genevieve lost the love of her life and long term maidservant Claire in a brutal attack. She has been barely living for the past 5 years after Claire’s death while battling daily with her grief. When Genevieve receives a mysterious invitation to the Chateau Reverie to attend the Auction of Secrets simply by writing her heart’s greatest desire, to forget Claire entirely, on the invitation and then setting it aflame, she does not hesitate.

Genevieve does not recall how she came to arrive at the Chateau Reverie and when she arrives, she quickly realizes oddities abound. There are multiple other guests competing in the Auction of Secrets and they must face various challenges and collect secrets in order to bid for a chance to be the winner of their heart’s greatest desire.

Leander Sterne is among the guests competing in the Auction of Secrets. Leander does not remember his life outside of the Chateau Reverie and will do whatever it takes to achieve his heart’s greatest desire, his liberty from the Chateau itself.

Genevieve and Leander become reluctant allies throughout the Chateau’s competition and as the bid grows ever closer to end, and emotions evolve, they discover that their hearts’ greatest desires may not be what they initially thought.

This was my second novel I’ve read by Siegel and I am now sure that she will be an instant read author for me. Her prose and storytelling is absolutely beautiful and captivating and I would highly recommend this!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Doga Sevgi · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC!

This book has such a promising premise and so much potential, however, the execution falls short. We get a diverse cast of characters yet never really learn more about them besides surface level stuff.

Genevieve and Leander's individual story-arcs were very intriguing and I wanted to learn more in depth but once again we don't learn anything besides surface level information (this is especially true for Leander). I also had such a hard time believing in their love for each other. I'm not a fan on insta-love and these two were even going a step forward and confessing their love within 3 days -- that's just not believable in any sense to me. If anything I wished this book served to introduce the characters, go more in-depth with their stories, form a meaningful friendship between them and hint of a future romance -- that would do so much more for me. Another character I was very intrigued in was Orates who was unfortunately a shell of a character with no-depth to him.

I would have to say, I was quite happy with the bisexual representation but again I wish when we were learning about Claire and Genevieve's romantic relationship, there were mentions of how it was to be in a sapphic relationship during that time. I would have to say, I did like the plot-twist of the story and thought it made our FMC more layered in her desires.

Overall, a story with great potential but creates its own demise but keeping everything surface level. It would've been so much better if certain elements were taken out to simplify the story and create space to dive deeper in the remaining elements. It is such a shame it had so much to offer yet fell short in everything.

[Alexis Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genevieve is invited to the enigmatic Chateau Reverie, where she must navigate a reality-bending game to trade her deepest secret for her heart's desire. Among the 5 other attendees, she finds Leander, a man with no memory of a life before the Chateau and no secret to surrender (and there is nothing more perilous than someone who has nothing to lose). As the guests begin to vanish, Genevieve and Leander must endure three nights of impossible wonders and exquisite horrors to win their freedom, if the Chateau allows them to leave at all.

​Wow. This book was pure, intoxicating magic. The narrative is a labyrinthine trap, full of twists that made me feel as though I were navigating my own sentient hedge maze, with the finale waiting like a prize at its heart. The tension between Genevieve and Leander was a slow-burn shift from wary strangers to the only two people who can save one another. Their connection feels earned, they mirror each other’s desperation and longing, creating a magnetic pull that is as dangerous as it is intoxicating. I found myself clutching my kindle in anticipation, unable to look away.

​The author’s prose is emotionally evocative and florid, almost poetic. I fell for these characters and the tragic, jagged edges of their histories. I can tell that this story will linger in my mind long after the final page. It is easily one of the best things I've read this year.

​If you love Caraval or The Night Circus, this is your next obsession. It is for those who crave total immersion, who want to fall into a book and let the dark, whimsical magic consume them entirely. A masterclass in gothic romance and fairy tale dread. I would (and absolutely will) read it again.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy from William Morrow via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Release date October 27th, 2026.

I loved Siegel's historical fiction about a romance with a Jewish doctor set during the Great Fire of London (The Phoenix Bride), and I've been keeping up with her writing since then. In Chateau Reverie, Genevieve is desperate to forget her past after fleeing France during the Revolution. When she impulsively accepts a mysterious invitation, she's swept away to Chateau Reverie, where competitors gamble secrets—and their lives.

The plot and style of Chateau Reverie reminded me strongly of Morgenstern's Night Circus or Melissa Caruso's Last Hour between Worlds. It's a romance-forward story about descending into a dazzlingly fatal world filtered through lush imagery. But Chateau Reverie focused much of the plot on a romance between Genevieve and another contestant, Leander, rather than on the chateau's cruel games. Unfortunately, that romance felt paper-thin, as it leaned heavily on instant attraction. It was like watching someone whack two exquisite porcelain dolls together—very pretty, but not emotionally convincing. Meanwhile, the rest of the plot is very slight. The Chateau theoretically hosts three days of entertainments leading up to the climactic auction of secrets, but the two games on page are hardly mentioned, and there's not a sense of any real competition between the guests.

The novel leans heavily on the lovely, haunting imagery of the Chateau: the uncanny horror of food that isn't quite right, the clothes that fit too well, the roses in the garden that look a little too much like gemstones rather than a living thing. The Chateau feels like a creature that has evolved an appealing but not quite convincing lure to trap its prey. But with almost all of the book set into the magical, out of time air of the Chateau, the historical details fall to the wayside. I think the book could have been set in almost any pretty dress era without changing the plot. And the crumbs we do get about the French Revolution setting had me squinting. I wouldn't call myself an expert, but surely a teenage girl shouldn't be fleeing the guillotine in seventeen ninety unless she's been very naughty. It was a particular disappointment since the reason I enjoyed Phoenix Bride so much was its specific evocation of place.

Pretty imagery and a haunting setting, but ultimately not enough to hang an entire plot on. With the pancake-flat romance, this book was more vibes than substance.

[S.E. Bristow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book pulled me in immediately. It's gorgeous, it's fast-paced, it's immersive, and it's a beautiful love story.

Think Alice in Wonderland meets Coraline told in beautiful, tragic prose. Leander and Genevieve make for deliciously interesting main characters, so deeply intertwined in who they are and who they wish to be, and I loved them so dearly that I'm willing to forgive how quickly and deeply they fell in love. In all truthfulness, I can get behind instalove when it's told this beautifully. I've seen a lot of people complain about how quickly it happened, but honestly, after reading the book in its entirety and the explanations for both of the character's pasts, I think it makes perfect sense—it was always supposed to happen.

I agree with the sentiments that the other characters were a little flat, but I honestly never minded. The Chateau, Leander, and Genevieve were so complex and stunningly-written that I never really cared all that much about the other players anyways. Save for Orestes, of course, who was probably my favorite character despite how little we saw of him.

The ending sequence dragged just a little bit for me, but I understand why it was done, and I wish the very last scene was given just a *smidge* more time. I really want to know what would have happened even just thirty seconds later!

I had a wonderful time with this book and it was an incredibly quick read. If Goodreads allowed half-ratings, it would be a 4.75⭐️ for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

[Bama Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Chateau Reverie and was immediately hooked.

Set during the French Revolution, the novel follows Genevieve, who once lived a life of luxury in Versailles. Forced to flee for her life, she loses everything, including the love of her life, and the memory of it threatens to consume her.

When she receives a mysterious invitation to an auction at Chateau Reverie, she is offered the chance to obtain her heart’s deepest desire… at the cost of her secrets. To enter, she must write her deepest desire on a piece of paper and burn it.

Without knowing how she came to be there, she soon finds herself at an opulent yet deeply unsettling château alongside five strangers, all willing to do anything to claim what they desire most. One of the strangers, the handsome Leander, seems to know more than anyone about the strange game underway.

But before the bidding can begin, they must survive three days within the estate itself—a château that sees all, hears all, and knows all. One by one, the guests begin disappearing as it becomes terrifyingly clear that no one may survive the auction.

Natasha Siegel writes with beautifully illustrative prose that immediately immersed me in the era of the French Revolution. The novel is drenched in mystery with touches of gothic horror throughout, creating an atmosphere that feels both elegant and deeply ominous.

[Anacobelle17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a little while to get into. The historical setting and slower start made it difficult to fully connect at first, but the premise of a magical château and the mystery surrounding its inhabitants kept me invested.

The relationship between Leander and Genevieve initially caught me off guard, especially considering how much he seemed to dislike her. I really enjoyed seeing how that dynamic evolved throughout the story. The structure of the novel also reminded me a bit of Coraline, with its three acts and three opportunities to achieve a dream—only for the protagonist to discover that what she thought she wanted wasn’t truly what she needed.

The twist involving Genevieve and Claire completely surprised me, and it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the book. I also found Orestes’ storyline incredibly moving. His character left me thinking about the idea that not everyone gets a happy ending or redemption.

More than anything, this story left me with a strange feeling of loneliness and nostalgia for something that never was. It’s rare for a book to evoke such a specific emotion in me, and that’s what made it memorable.

While it wasn’t a perfect read for me, I loved Natasha Siegel’s writing style, found the premise refreshingly unique, and will definitely be reading more of her work in the future.

[Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s so much to love about this book!

The cover is eye-catchingly gorgeous! The concept is undeniably intriguing! And the writing is so lovely from the very first page!

My favorite part, however, would have to be our two protagonists: Genevieve and Leander. It was so lovely to watch their stories to finding out who they are as individuals and together as a couple unfold. They both care so deeply about what they are fighting for, yet they also find so much comfort in each other, which was so great to see.

I personally am not the biggest fan of insta-love, so that aspect bummed me out a bit. But I was able to ignore that element as I was reading, and thus I found their romance to be so touchingly sweet.

I wish we had gotten more details about the other characters, and seen them more throughout the novel. I also wish that the competition had been a bit more fleshed out (especially since the sentient chateau was such a wonderfully whimsical yet eerie setting!). But I still really enjoyed this book overall, and I would definitely recommend it to readers looking for a speculative treat!


Thank you so much to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read the eARC!

[Mia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natasha Siegel genuinely created something really special with Château Reverie. From the moment the Château is introduced, the entire book has this strange dreamlike atmosphere to it where everything feels slightly off in the best way possible. It felt like a twisted fairytale in the best way possible. The chateau feels alive, constantly shifting and hiding things from both the characters and me making figuring things out hard which allowed me to be surprised and caught off guard by all the twists and turns which had me even reading in the car before work!

It's a cute fun read yet also carries a depth to it, the emotional side of the story is all about dealing and exploring grief, struggling with identity. The references to greek myths really brought this book full circle and solidified the fantasy elements and the tragedy behind the story, allowing the romance to stand out in a purposeful way rather than this just feeling flat.

I read it over the course of 2 days any moment I got and safe to say I absolutely adored it. A atmospheric, stunningly described setting, lovable characters & full of plot twists I wouldn't have guessed! A weird and wonderful story.

Can't thank Netgalley enough for the ARC cant wait to pick this up when it gets released!
4.5/5

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Chateau Reverie is for those who enjoy finding the fury hidden beneath the façade. Siegel’s prose is lush and vibrant, the perfect vessel to convey the simultaneous beauty and horror of Chateau Reverie. Genevieve and Leander both are layered protagonists; each chapter brings a new revelation that peels their armor away. I fell in love with them as they fell in love with each other, and their parallel to the myth of Hero and Leander had me truly terrified that they would not reach their happy ending. (I won’t spoil anything here, reader, so if you’re as curious as I was, buy the book!)

I would absolutely devour a prequel story - I’m desperate to know more of Leander’s time before Genevieve’s Auction and get a deeper peek into the Chateau and its mysterious current and former occupants. Lady Reverie seems such a benevolently malicious being, and Orestes is one of my favorite characters simply because of how caring he tries to be despite his limitations.

Chateau Reverie is a brilliant mix of Caraval and Coraline; the promise of a heart’s desire at the cost of the self. Beautiful and eerie and rotten underneath. With this dark fantasy, Natasha Siegel has definitely become an autobuy author of mine.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Chateau Reverie we follow the story of two characters, Genevieve de Vienne and Leander Sterne, who both seek their hearts' desires through Lady Reverie's mysterious auction that requires them to bid their secrets. When the two come together, an emotional journey ensues, and themes of memory, grief, and who we are in the wake of those things paints a beautiful story between them.

Natasha Siegel's voice shines in this novel, capturing idyllic and rebellious 18th century England in both setting and characters while also playing into the unsettling nature of the dreamlike chateau. Even though the novel is short and spans the course of three days, I felt like both Genevieve and Leander were realistic explorations of humanity at its core, and each had great character development. If you like Howls Moving Castle and macabre imagery, I would recommend picking up this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Company for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Rachel Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
The concept of this book is fantastic: enter an auction and bid your biggest secret in order to win your deepest desire...
Natasha Siegel's writing is wonderfully detailed and poetic and really brings the magic of the Chateau to life. The book felt like a lucid dream.
The side characters were diverse and created with intention. Without giving too many spoilers: I would have liked to read a scene or two that showed what happened to some of the side characters who didn't win the auction. The Chateau has darker elements and this would have been the perfect way to explore darker themes.

The main characters (G & L) are well-rounded and interesting. I believed in their relationship and was rooting for them together and individually.

Overall, I enjoyed Chateau Reverie. The plot twists were great (didn't see them coming!) and the whole dream-like setting was something very unique and refreshing.

[Mari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so beautifully written and whimsical. I loved that the story jumps right in and really throws the reader into the madness that is the Chateau.

Genevieve arrives and just accepts the impossibilities around her, along with the others who are guests for the auction. They all are there to bid for one thing: their heart’s desire. Whoever shares the greatest secret wins the auction.

There were twists and turns, some that I didn’t expect. I think the love story portion was a little odd and too fairy tale like (who falls in love with someone they JUST met?!). But the writing made this feel like a classic. So much imagery and symbolism. And the characters were so strange; they fit right in with the atmosphere of the Chateau Reverie. Very Alice in Wonderland. I think anyone who enjoys that sort of whimsy (with a touch of thriller) would enjoy this story.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my advanced copy!