What do you think?
Rate this book
Haunted Florida #3
City of Spells
A haunted old Florida home. A ghostly woman in white. Witchcraft from Miami's darker side.
When a mysterious old gentleman enters Queylin Sanchez's trendy new age shop, she hopes he'll buy incense, sage, maybe a nice rose quartz pendulum for his wife. Instead, the man enlists her help getting rid of La Dama de Blanco, a ghostly woman in bloody white dress who's been haunting his 100-year-old Palmetto Bay estate.
But Queylin's rituals and spells uncover terrifying secrets hidden in the walls of the estate when she realizes La Dama de Blanco is only the beginning of the haunted home's evil legacy.
When a mysterious old gentleman enters Queylin Sanchez's trendy new age shop, she hopes he'll buy incense, sage, maybe a nice rose quartz pendulum for his wife. Instead, the man enlists her help getting rid of La Dama de Blanco, a ghostly woman in bloody white dress who's been haunting his 100-year-old Palmetto Bay estate.
But Queylin's rituals and spells uncover terrifying secrets hidden in the walls of the estate when she realizes La Dama de Blanco is only the beginning of the haunted home's evil legacy.
- GenresHorror
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2021
81 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Gaby Triana
21 books184 followersGABY TRIANA is the Cuban-American author of 25 books for adults and teens, including Moon Child, Island of Bones, River of Ghosts, City of Spells, Wake the Hollow, Cubanita, and Summer of Yesterday. Her short stories have appeared in Classic Monsters Unleashed, A Tribute to Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, A Conjuring for All Seasons, Novus Monstrum, and Weird Tales Magazine. She has co-authored ghosthunters Sam & Colby’s horror novel, Paradise Island, and edited the ghost anthology series, Literally Dead (Tales of Halloween Hauntings; Tales of Holiday Hauntings).
As a ghostwriter, Gaby has penned 50+ novels for bestselling authors in every genre. Her own books have won the IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback, and Hispanic Magazine's Good Reads Awards, and she writes under several pen names, including Gabrielle Keyes for her paranormal women’s fiction. She lives in Miami with her family and the four-legged creatures they serve.
FB: @GabyTriana.author
IG: @GabyTriana
YT: The Witch Haunt
As a ghostwriter, Gaby has penned 50+ novels for bestselling authors in every genre. Her own books have won the IRA Teen Choice Award, ALA Best Paperback, and Hispanic Magazine's Good Reads Awards, and she writes under several pen names, including Gabrielle Keyes for her paranormal women’s fiction. She lives in Miami with her family and the four-legged creatures they serve.
FB: @GabyTriana.author
IG: @GabyTriana
YT: The Witch Haunt
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 6, 2019
The book started out a bit slow, and at first, I thought the main character Queylin was irritating. She runs a new age/pagan shop in Miami, and as much as she wants to be a psychic medium, she hasn't had any luck in cultivating her abilities, so when an old man comes in asking for help in cleansing his home of ghosts, she jumps at the chance to try to prove herself. It was a brash decision to take on a job that she was utterly unqualified to perform. Her amateur flailing attempts at cleansing the home while trying to pretend to be an experienced professional were irritating to me. She was obsessed with proving herself, and as some people are wont to do, she made plenty of ill-advised decisions that made me roll my eyes. I mean, c'mon. Really??
It got much better when she clearly bit off more than she could chew with La Dama de Blanco, the Lady in White. I had my suspicions of where the story was going, and some of my guesses were right, and others were off. It was much darker than I expected, but in a terrifyingly good way. (I say 'good' only because it's fiction.) It got good, really good in the last half of the book, and I was pleased with the satisfying conclusion.
I loved the backstory of La Dama de Blanco, tragic though it was. The author described La Dama's anguish well and shared her sad story with grace. (This isn't a spoiler because ghosts tend to haunt places because of tragedy or unfinished business, and we see part of it in the prologue.) I liked the housekeeper, Lovely, despite her silence being eerie and unsettling. I'd have liked to have learned more about her and the old man's wife's backstory. I liked how the author interspersed the story with Cuban-American history, Cuban cultural influences, and the Spanish sprinkled throughout. It was another atmospheric ghost story. I'd like a nice old, creepy mansion with eerie trees of my own now, please.
I purchased City of Spells as part of the Haunted Florida ebook anthology from Amazon. All can be read as stand-alones. After finishing the set, because I loved it so much, I signed up for the author's newsletter to be informed about future work.
It got much better when she clearly bit off more than she could chew with La Dama de Blanco, the Lady in White. I had my suspicions of where the story was going, and some of my guesses were right, and others were off. It was much darker than I expected, but in a terrifyingly good way. (I say 'good' only because it's fiction.) It got good, really good in the last half of the book, and I was pleased with the satisfying conclusion.
I loved the backstory of La Dama de Blanco, tragic though it was. The author described La Dama's anguish well and shared her sad story with grace. (This isn't a spoiler because ghosts tend to haunt places because of tragedy or unfinished business, and we see part of it in the prologue.) I liked the housekeeper, Lovely, despite her silence being eerie and unsettling. I'd have liked to have learned more about her and the old man's wife's backstory. I liked how the author interspersed the story with Cuban-American history, Cuban cultural influences, and the Spanish sprinkled throughout. It was another atmospheric ghost story. I'd like a nice old, creepy mansion with eerie trees of my own now, please.
I purchased City of Spells as part of the Haunted Florida ebook anthology from Amazon. All can be read as stand-alones. After finishing the set, because I loved it so much, I signed up for the author's newsletter to be informed about future work.
May 22, 2021
Ok
Inclined the story. It was very very creepy. We still got no history on that tree and I really wanted to know more.
Inclined the story. It was very very creepy. We still got no history on that tree and I really wanted to know more.
July 8, 2021
Is it weird after reading three great ghost stories that take place in Florida that I want to visit the Sunshine State for the first time? I want to find Florida ghosts!
November 16, 2018
The third book in Gaby Triana's Haunted Florida series is the best so far! Queylin owns a store dedicated to the metaphysical and her employees all have some type of metaphysical talent. Queylin, though she is DYING to be part of the metaphysical world, does not seem to show any powers. That is, until the old man comes into her shop asking for her help to cleanse his Palmetto Bay estate of a long-present ghost, the Woman in White.
At the estate, Queylin finally manifests that which she's always wanted, and is now neck-deep in the mysteries that surround the owner of the estate, his mysteriously silent wife, and their housekeeper. As Queylin gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, she takes the reader along with her into the surprising twists and turns that make up this book.
Triana is a strong plotter and evocative storyteller. This is definitely a book you want to read with the lights on, preferably when you're not alone.
At the estate, Queylin finally manifests that which she's always wanted, and is now neck-deep in the mysteries that surround the owner of the estate, his mysteriously silent wife, and their housekeeper. As Queylin gets deeper and deeper into the mystery, she takes the reader along with her into the surprising twists and turns that make up this book.
Triana is a strong plotter and evocative storyteller. This is definitely a book you want to read with the lights on, preferably when you're not alone.
November 19, 2018
Another creepy read by Gaby Triana. If you like Rose Red, Haunting of Hill House etc. you will love this series. Story was well paced. Queylin was likable and intelligent. The back story was believable and it ended well. Not too nice and neat but just so we could see a bit of the aftermath. I love reading the books by this author. It is a nice break from romance and gives all the goosebumps of a great ghost story movie.
November 19, 2018
This deserves more than 5 stars!
Extremely entertaining and attention
grabbing! Keeps you wondering all
through the book what was going to
happen next. Absolutely love this series!
The characters and characterization is
brilliant. Great story line, very involved!
Hope there will be a book #4! Also would
love to see something that's set in St.
Augustine!! Please continue this series!! It's
absolutely wonderful!!!
Extremely entertaining and attention
grabbing! Keeps you wondering all
through the book what was going to
happen next. Absolutely love this series!
The characters and characterization is
brilliant. Great story line, very involved!
Hope there will be a book #4! Also would
love to see something that's set in St.
Augustine!! Please continue this series!! It's
absolutely wonderful!!!
November 26, 2018
So creepy, as i read in the dark...
This book had me so creeped out as I read it in the dead of night that I had to keep stopping and do something else on my phone for a few minutes to get my nerve back up to continue reading it. But it was to addictive to stop for long.
Unique well written story. Good character development. I really like this author more with each book. Just wish I'd found her after she had written many more books!
This book had me so creeped out as I read it in the dead of night that I had to keep stopping and do something else on my phone for a few minutes to get my nerve back up to continue reading it. But it was to addictive to stop for long.
Unique well written story. Good character development. I really like this author more with each book. Just wish I'd found her after she had written many more books!
November 16, 2018
This is the best one yet!!I stayed up late reading this one it's full of twists and turns all inside a haunted estate in florida.who is the woman haunting the estate after 100 years?why is she still there?the answer will totally shook you and really creep you out...
September 3, 2019
Gaby Triana
WOW WOW WOW!!! amazing 3rd book hope you add another to this series. Lost for words. This book was more Suspenseful then the last 2. Once again had me wanting more. Great great super great book. Just found another amazing author. Cant wait to read more of your other books. !!! A MUST READ !!!
WOW WOW WOW!!! amazing 3rd book hope you add another to this series. Lost for words. This book was more Suspenseful then the last 2. Once again had me wanting more. Great great super great book. Just found another amazing author. Cant wait to read more of your other books. !!! A MUST READ !!!
May 24, 2023
What Happened?! I thought I liked this author but I'm reconsidering that now.
Not gonna lie, I did NOT care for this book. At all. I like light horror focused on paranormal. The other two Haunted Florida books were decent examples of my kind of horror, despite a few plotting & pacing issues. I liked them for the creepiness & signature atmospheric nature of Gaby Triana's writing— she really brings Florida to life— & also because they were advertised as supernatural stories & that is what they were.
City of Spells started out ok, I guess. The main character is Queylin (pronounced Kay-lin), a woman who runs a new age shop in Miami despite lacking psychic powers or special abilities of her own. I mention this lack because Queylin mentions it herself. Repeatedly. She whines about how all her coworkers are special in some way besides her constantly for most of the book. It might've worked if it would've been a point for character growth or something, but it was just a complete annoyance.
I think my complete disgust with Queylin as a main character played a major role in my distaste for City of Spells. Well, that & the nonsensical plotting, the complete lack of depth to the world or characters (technically the bad guy was the most developed, & his big motive was... because the plot needed him to act that way...) & of course the fact that it isn't what it was billed as being, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Anyway, Queylin is approached by a man seeking someone to cleanse the spirits tormenting he & his wife in their home. For some ridiculous reason, instead of asking one of her supposedly actually competent coworkers who can see ghosts, read auras, etc, Queylin decides to take the job herself. She wastes several chapters worrying she's going to fail because of her lack of abilities. Cry me a freaking river! So you know you can't do it, then why not HAVE ONE OF YOUR SUPERNATURALLY TALENTED COWORKERS do it instead!!!
But no, of course she goes, & we're subjected to several chapters of nothing, while Queylin tries cleansing the home using Santeria & other spiritual tools she knows nothing about. All the while bemoaning her lack of powers... until suddenly (with no warning & no explanation) she can see a ghost! And then she sees them everywhere! THEN she whines that she wishes she'd never wanted to see ghosts, because they're scary & she doesn't understand their messages & more dumba$$ reasons.
Just to clarify, first she was miserable that she had no otherworldly powers, & now she's miserable because she inexplicably developed powers. Why did she develop them? Who knows (or cares)? Because the author wanted something about her to be interesting, maybe? Since LITERALLY her only defining character traits are whining about how useless she is, & refusing the help of people who might not be useless.
This is around the halfway point, & nothing has really happened, still no word on why she suddenly sees ghosts, but now she thinks the old man kidnapped her coworker. Only instead of going to authorities with her suspicions, or telling anyone remotely helpful (outside of her husband, who's out of town— probably to avoid her constant whining— & advises her to leave & inform police, advice she promptly ignores), she stays to find answers herself. Despite a complete lack of useful skills.
About this time, it turns into a serial killer book. The entire final third consists of one terrible Deus ex machina moment after another. I guessed the big "twist" about the old man's wife literally the first time she appears. Ghosts continue randomly popping up for no discernable purpose. It would've been better without the paranormal, billed as a thriller instead, but it tried to do both & accomplished neither.
As I said at the beginning of the review, I'm a fan of paranormal horror, but not so much real-world horror, so at this point I lost interest almost ENTIRELY. I hear more than enough terrible things people do to each other on the news; I read for fun & DON'T want to read about people's lifelike depravity. Had it been correctly marketed, I doubt I'd picked it up in the first place.
Then again, I thought I liked Triana's work. This book makes me question that. While I did finish, it's only because I HEAVILY skimmed the last 25-30%. I can't believe the same woman who wrote the absolutely brilliant book Moon Child also wrote this giant steaming turd. It's like she ran out of ideas & drunk-decided on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre/ Disney's Haunted Mansion mashup with the interesting elements of both completely written out.
Bottom line, If you are a fan of Triana's work, & you want to continue to be, then I HIGHLY suggest you DO NOT BOTHER with this one. I know it is part of a trilogy but it is an anthology, so none of the stories actually have any overlapping characters. The only thing they all have in common is being set in Florida. I'm so glad I read this on Kindle Unlimited so I didn't waste any money on it!
Not gonna lie, I did NOT care for this book. At all. I like light horror focused on paranormal. The other two Haunted Florida books were decent examples of my kind of horror, despite a few plotting & pacing issues. I liked them for the creepiness & signature atmospheric nature of Gaby Triana's writing— she really brings Florida to life— & also because they were advertised as supernatural stories & that is what they were.
City of Spells started out ok, I guess. The main character is Queylin (pronounced Kay-lin), a woman who runs a new age shop in Miami despite lacking psychic powers or special abilities of her own. I mention this lack because Queylin mentions it herself. Repeatedly. She whines about how all her coworkers are special in some way besides her constantly for most of the book. It might've worked if it would've been a point for character growth or something, but it was just a complete annoyance.
I think my complete disgust with Queylin as a main character played a major role in my distaste for City of Spells. Well, that & the nonsensical plotting, the complete lack of depth to the world or characters (technically the bad guy was the most developed, & his big motive was... because the plot needed him to act that way...) & of course the fact that it isn't what it was billed as being, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Anyway, Queylin is approached by a man seeking someone to cleanse the spirits tormenting he & his wife in their home. For some ridiculous reason, instead of asking one of her supposedly actually competent coworkers who can see ghosts, read auras, etc, Queylin decides to take the job herself. She wastes several chapters worrying she's going to fail because of her lack of abilities. Cry me a freaking river! So you know you can't do it, then why not HAVE ONE OF YOUR SUPERNATURALLY TALENTED COWORKERS do it instead!!!
But no, of course she goes, & we're subjected to several chapters of nothing, while Queylin tries cleansing the home using Santeria & other spiritual tools she knows nothing about. All the while bemoaning her lack of powers... until suddenly (with no warning & no explanation) she can see a ghost! And then she sees them everywhere! THEN she whines that she wishes she'd never wanted to see ghosts, because they're scary & she doesn't understand their messages & more dumba$$ reasons.
Just to clarify, first she was miserable that she had no otherworldly powers, & now she's miserable because she inexplicably developed powers. Why did she develop them? Who knows (or cares)? Because the author wanted something about her to be interesting, maybe? Since LITERALLY her only defining character traits are whining about how useless she is, & refusing the help of people who might not be useless.
This is around the halfway point, & nothing has really happened, still no word on why she suddenly sees ghosts, but now she thinks the old man kidnapped her coworker. Only instead of going to authorities with her suspicions, or telling anyone remotely helpful (outside of her husband, who's out of town— probably to avoid her constant whining— & advises her to leave & inform police, advice she promptly ignores), she stays to find answers herself. Despite a complete lack of useful skills.
About this time, it turns into a serial killer book. The entire final third consists of one terrible Deus ex machina moment after another. I guessed the big "twist" about the old man's wife literally the first time she appears. Ghosts continue randomly popping up for no discernable purpose. It would've been better without the paranormal, billed as a thriller instead, but it tried to do both & accomplished neither.
As I said at the beginning of the review, I'm a fan of paranormal horror, but not so much real-world horror, so at this point I lost interest almost ENTIRELY. I hear more than enough terrible things people do to each other on the news; I read for fun & DON'T want to read about people's lifelike depravity. Had it been correctly marketed, I doubt I'd picked it up in the first place.
Then again, I thought I liked Triana's work. This book makes me question that. While I did finish, it's only because I HEAVILY skimmed the last 25-30%. I can't believe the same woman who wrote the absolutely brilliant book Moon Child also wrote this giant steaming turd. It's like she ran out of ideas & drunk-decided on a Texas Chainsaw Massacre/ Disney's Haunted Mansion mashup with the interesting elements of both completely written out.
Bottom line, If you are a fan of Triana's work, & you want to continue to be, then I HIGHLY suggest you DO NOT BOTHER with this one. I know it is part of a trilogy but it is an anthology, so none of the stories actually have any overlapping characters. The only thing they all have in common is being set in Florida. I'm so glad I read this on Kindle Unlimited so I didn't waste any money on it!
February 21, 2019
I have thoroughly enjoyed taking Gaby Triana's journey through the swamps, oppressive heat, terrors and scares of the Florida she has created. In her hands, and away from the bright lights , exists a world where the normal rules simply do not apply. City of Spells was a worthy follow up to the two previous stories in that it presented yet another facet of fear. Queylin Sanchez runs a new age shop selling incense, quartz charms and all manner of items designed to appeal to those interested in the occult but when an elderly man crosses the threshold and enlists her help in ridding his home of an unwanted ghostly Woman in White, she accepts the commission and sets in motion a frightening chain of events that threaten her sanity and her life - in fact, much more than that is at stake as she unravels the sinister and disturbing truth. Full of tension, twists and steeped in atmosphere, City of Spells is a real treat to be devoured.
May 12, 2023
I had to stay up late to finish this book. It started off a little slow but escalated to a creepy spooky finish. I hope the author continues writing this series.
February 27, 2024
All three Haunted Florida books were very entertaining and kept you turning those pages. I can only hope she will write additional stories about this great haunted state!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews