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, Adult, Historical Fiction, 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

[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.’

[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!

Follow me on Instagram

[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!

[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.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to hand it to this book for making me feel bad for a sentient, man-eating castle.

the writing in this was extremely lush and evocative. Natasha Siegel clearly knows her way around a sentence and her vivid prose brought the fantastical, historical atmosphere to life.

both Leander and Genevieve were interesting characters and I found myself rooting for both of them, however I’m not sure quite enough was done to explain why they fell for each other so quickly. the intensity of their romance didn’t quite match what we were shown of their connection and I felt the relationship skipped to ‘love’ rather quickly. perhaps not helped by the fact that they kept feeling the need to point out how ridiculous it was that they fell in love so fast.

I do think it probably worked within the mythic parameters of the story; the evocation of Greek myths and the references to ancient tales of tragic lovers was definitely intentional.

I appreciated how sensitively the theme of grief was treated and thought it was one of the best parts of the story.

I also found myself intrigued by a lot of the more mysterious elements of the story, but many of the questions about how the magical chateau works are left intentionally unanswered. I wasn’t necessarily dissatisfied by this as it added to the mythic quality of the setting.

I think fans of this author would enjoy this book but overall I just didn’t fully connect to it.

thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Rosie Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark fairytale of a book. It feels like a classic, something that must have been written about a hundred years ago because it’s hard to imagine a person writing it in the 2020s. But! Natasha Siegel did.

Come for the yearning, the dark fantasy plot, and the gorgeous dreamscape setting, but stay for the historic context, the touching romance and the beautiful, twisting story Chateau Reverie tells.

Outlining the plot is tricky when the story feels multi-faceted and unexpected. Genevieve is mourning Claire, who she loved but lost five years ago. So when she receives a mysterious invitation promising to give her the chance to fulfil her heart’s desire, she accepts. What follows is impossible, extraordinary and much like a dream. Memories become elusive and ever changing, and reality becomes more like Wonderland.

The Chateau itself, where the Auction of Secrets is held, is sinister and lovely in equal measure. Leander, who Genevieve meets once there, has few memories of his own to hold onto, and is a cynical counterpart to Genevieve’s sunshiney personality.

There is, of course, more than meets the eye just about everywhere in this story. By the time I reached the end I was flipping back through the book, re-reading sections from a new perspective now that I knew more.

I loved falling down the rabbit hole with this book. The romantic aspect alone was plenty to fall in love with, but the atmospheric world around the main characters was gorgeous. Outside of the (excellently written) romance fantasy tropes you might expect from such a book, there’s a mysterious, fable like quality to the story.

[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.

[emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

natasha siegel simply always delivers for me. this one felt like a true old fairy tale — the original versions, with a touch of darkness and violence. and the plot twist!!! i simply loved it. full rtc

[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.

[Hannah Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was initially drawn to Chateau Reverie by its gorgeous cover art and the intriguing premise of an auction fueled by secrets. The idea alone was enough to capture my attention: guests arrive at a mysterious château where they can bid for their heart's deepest desire, paying not with money, but with their secrets. Before beginning, I expected a dark, atmospheric story with touches of magic and a sprinkling of romance throughout. I am happy to say that the novel not only delivered on those expectations but exceeded them in many ways.
From the moment the characters arrived at Chateau Reverie, I was completely invested. The château itself is steeped in mystery, and Natasha Siegel creates an atmosphere that is both alluring and unsettling. There is a constant sense that something is lurking just beneath the surface, and that tension kept me turning pages long into the night. The story is mysterious, dark, and full of surprises—truly unlike anything I have read before.
The strongest aspect of the novel is its central concept. An auction where guests exchange their secrets for a chance at their greatest desire is irresistibly compelling. Even though it becomes clear early on that the arrangement is too good to be true, that only makes the premise more fascinating. The story continually asks an unsettling question: How far would you be willing to go to obtain the thing you want most? The auction's rules, stakes, and consequences are never fully explained, and I found that ambiguity added significantly to the intrigue. The auction remains a constant presence throughout the novel, shaping both the setting and the growing sense of unease.
That said, I found myself wishing the novel had delved even deeper into the secrets themselves. Because the auction is built around the exchange of secrets, I expected them to play a larger role in the overall narrative. The main character's secret provides an excellent twist, and the earlier revelation of one secondary character's secret was equally impactful. Both discoveries genuinely left me reeling and served as some of the book's strongest moments. However, many of the other secrets felt underdeveloped by comparison. Some characters seemed to surrender theirs too easily, while others remained mysteries by the end of the story. I would have loved to see more exploration of the consequences that came from revealing those secrets and a stronger connection between them and the larger plot.
My other critique involves the romance. While I enjoyed the romantic elements and understand why they were important to the story, I found myself wishing they had taken up slightly less space. The novel's most unique and compelling feature is the auction itself, and I would have preferred even more focus on its mysteries, mechanics, and consequences. Similarly, several of the side characters intrigued me, and I would have welcomed additional development and interaction with them.
Despite these criticisms, the novel remained completely engrossing from beginning to end. Much of that is due to the ever-present mystery surrounding the auction and the enigmatic Madame Reverie. Together, they create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty that drives the story forward and makes it difficult to put down.
When I finished the novel, my overwhelming emotion was relief. The ending provides satisfying answers while still leaving enough room for interpretation and imagination, something I always appreciate in a story like this.
Overall, Chateau Reverie is a gripping, atmospheric, and highly original novel that successfully blends mystery, dark fantasy, and romance. While I wish it had explored the secrets and consequences of the auction more deeply and devoted less attention to the romance, I was thoroughly captivated by the story, the setting, and its unique premise.

[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~

[Courtney N · Rating 5 out of 5]

… I am in awe. I can’t believe a book this spectacular exists and I got to read it with my own eyes. Dramatic? Maybe. But warranted.

5 magical, terrible, romantic, sinister and wonderful stars. I was Alice falling down the rabbit hole while reading this book and I could never tell if I wanted to go back home or stay lost forever.

I became of fan of this author last year when I read As Many Souls as Stars, which I adored. Now, this newest release by Natasha Siegel goes above and beyond any expectations. Château Reverie manages to hold universes within the pages. But not just that, she also juggles those universes in a circus made of both your wildest dreams and most fevered nightmares.

List of things that are excellent in this book

- The prose. It’s poetic and haunting. Highlightable and lingering.
- The imagery. This book was alive. I could almost be convinced the pages themselves were breathing.
- The main characters Genevieve and Leander. I found them both to be so compelling, nuanced, complex and loveable.
- The creativity. I keep making comparisons to Alice in Wonderland because it hits that same spot of this sort of creepy yet completely wondrous atmosphere, while writing in details that you couldn’t have dreamt up on your own.
- The depth. I loved that this book dug in and got emotional and gritty. It was not all bright colors and flowers and strange, horrible happenings. It covered so many emotions, especially grief, regret, fear, and love.
- The horror. I loved the subtle horror elements strewn throughout the book. (Though if you tied me down and made me pick out something for improvement, I do wish there was a bit more horror to up the intensity in some parts)
- The plot. This book could have survived on the beautiful writing alone, but the plot took it above and beyond. I was so stunned and the different routes this story took me down. Two or three turns left me staring at a wall, mouth open.

I could truly go on and on about how much I adored this. But I will leave it at this because I think this is a book that could be easy to spoil but also a book you need to read to truly know:

Château Reverie reminds me of why reading, the art of written word, are such gifts to the heart and soul.

[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.

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some houses are haunted. This one is hungry, and it sets a beautiful table.

It's the final gasp of the French Revolution, and a handful of strangers arrive at a château that should not exist, for an auction where the currency is secrets and the prize is your heart's deepest desire. Three nights. Three rules. A house that rearranges itself around your weaknesses like a lover who's been reading your diary. Even the courtyard gravel is crushed porcelain, thousands of vases pulverized so the driveway can glitter, and our heroine calls it exactly what it is: "it is ludicrous, and it is marvelous" (quoted from the ARC). That sentence is also this book.

Genevieve arrives fleeing a grief so large the story opens inside it. Leander wakes up in a shallow grave on the grounds with no memories at all. She remembers too much, he remembers nothing, and watching these two collide is the best kind of damage. The romance is felt rather than declared, all restraint and friction until it isn't, and one quiet gesture involving a figurine undid me harder than most full love scenes in this genre.

But the reason this book will stay with me is what's underneath: a real argument about whether forgetting is mercy or cowardice, and what we owe our grief. There is a twist here I refuse to breathe near. Go in as blind as you can and let the prologue lie to you honestly.

My only real note is that the middle stretch breathes a little slow before an ending that reads like a held breath. Worth it, entirely.

33/35 flames on my scale, my highest tier. I rate in flames, never stars, but if stars are the language here: all five. For readers of The Night Circus and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue who wished those books had sharper teeth.

Full review and the scene-by-scene playlist the book demanded: https://open.substack.com/pub/dragonr...

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance copy. Opinions are entirely my own.

[Briann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a fun time reading Chateau Reverie. It was an engaging read and reminded me a little of Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor and Piranesi by Susanna Clarke.

Plot Summary (for my own records): Genevieve is invited to the Chateau Reverie. There she will compete for her heart’s greatest wish – to forget Claire, her maid and lover who perished during the unrest of the Fresh Revolution. If she fails any of the games presented by the Chateau Reverie or breaks any of the rules, she will be punished. At the end, she can bid for her greatest desire with a secret. Meanwhile, Leander has been a son of Reverie for a long time. He has forgotten his past. Now, he has the chance to compete as a guest and win his freedom. The problem is he has no secrets of his own. He will have to steal one of the guests’ secrets to win. Leander is immediately drawn to Genevieve. He tries to warn her of the dangerous nature of the Chateau Reverie. Guests who break rules are consumed by the Chateau Reverie. Towards the end of the book, it is revealed Genevieve is actually Claire. She dressed like her mistress to confuse bandits, but when the time came, she could not lay down her life for Genevieve. Afterwards, Claire assumed Genevieve’s identity. By asking to forget Claire as her wish, she is asking to forget herself, a kind of suicide. Leander is devastated learning this. Claire eventually wins and changes her wish, so that her and Leander can both go free. She is given a final task of finding him within an hour’s time, which she does. The book ends on an ambiguous note of whether or not Claire and Leander will remember each other when they leave. Also, it is revealed earlier in the book that Leander is the only human to have ever one the game and gotten his wish granted (love). The Chateau Reverie imprisoned him and erased his memories until she found someone perfect for him (Claire).

[Begüm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Bloomsbury, for inviting me to read this arc in exchange for an honest opinion.

Imagine being promised your heart’s desire. That premise immediately intrigued me, and the château itself created such an atmospheric setting for the story. I also appreciated the bi FMC representation and, on a much less important but still welcome note, a light-haired MMC.
Unfortunately, the first 40% was very slow for me. I understand that the world-building is complex and needed time to develop, but it took me much longer than expected to become invested. I did consider DNFing it, although another reader’s ARC review convinced me that it was worth continuing. I’m glad I did because the story became more engaging later, and there was a genuinely good plot twist.
I liked the tension between the characters, but the romance felt too much like instalove for me. The FMC arrives at the château while grieving and falls for a man she has only known for a few days. I couldn’t get past the fact that they spent approximately three days together, because that simply wasn’t enough time for me to believe in the depth of their connection or fully root for them as a couple.
I think the romance would have worked much better if they had stayed at the château for several months, or if the story had allowed more time to pass differently within its magical setting. That would have given their relationship space to develop and made the emotional stakes feel more convincing.
Overall, I enjoyed Château Rêverie mainly for its setting, premise and atmosphere. The second half was stronger than the first, and the plot twist helped bring the story together, but the pacing and extremely fast romance stopped it from completely working for me. I liked it, but it didn’t blow me away in the way As Many Souls as Stars did.

[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.

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes given the buzz around this book and the intriguing premise. I was aware of Natasha Siegel as a sapphic writer, but failed to realise this was a m/f romance unlike her previous book.

The protagonist is a noblewoman who was ousted in the French Revolution. In her escape, her first love and lady’s maid Claire was killed. She accepts an invitation to a mysterious auction at Chateau Reverie where participants bid secrets in exchange for their heart's desire. She hopes to free herself from the grief and trauma she has been burdened by and forget Claire altogether.

At the auction she meets Leander who is captive to the evil forces within the Chateau and needs to steal a secret in order to be free.

Genevieve is instantly drawn to him, frequently fawning over how much bigger and more masculine he is compared to her previous female lover. Her past relationship with Claire is depicted as more of a close friendship between two girls who loved to dress up in pretty dresses and overall this didn’t sit right with me.

In reflecting on her past relationship there is zero exploration of the power dynamic between noblewoman and servant which seemed like a missed opportunity, especially when we learn more about Claire’s death. And for fleeing the french revolution it gives a single nod to the conditions that led to it which again felt like a missed opportunity.

At the same time this book doesn’t trust the reader at all. While another book would name the main character Leander as a nod to Greek mythology, this one directly addresses this and explains the myth to make sure everyone is on the same page. I was shocked at how often something would be revealed, then pages later the revelation would be stated again in a more direct way just to make sure you didn’t miss it.

The side characters/other participants of the Auction were a joke. They had no depth and existed only to push Genevieve forward in the plot. The horrors they experience therefore fall really flat because who even are these people and why should we care?

The horror elements overall are weak and toothless, Genevieve never feels like she is in actual danger and there is 0 tension despite the unique setting which had a lot of potential. It felt like we were constantly told how dangerous and evil the place was but it never actually felt that way to me. The lady of the chateau also completely failed to deliver as the malevolent force we were told she was.

I think this would probably appeal to someone who wants an easy straightforward romantasy with a dark aesthetic but unfortunately it fell really flat for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[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.