DNF @ 34%

This started off strong, with an interesting premise and a main character who I could relate to in a lot of ways. However, the quality of both the writing and the storytelling went downhill at around 30%, and I just could not make myself keep reading. I'm sure there's an audience for this, but I'm not it.

Castle of the Cursed is a nice blend between serious issues and the world of vampires. The romance is darker and not what I'm used to, but I still enjoyed it. The first half of the book had a lot happening and it grabbed my attention, but then the second half slightly derailed. There's a huge twist which was jaw dropping and shocking, but it also felt like a bomb went off. I would have liked the information with more of a gradual set-up rather than an information dump. Overall a very enjoyable read and I would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 4/5
I received this book for my honest opinion.

If you’re looking for a YA book that is filled with paranormal, webs of mystery, a lot of twists and turns, gothic romance this book is definitely one that you should pick up. In this book you will meet Estela whose family has perished 7 months ago and she finds out that she has 1 living relative still alive but she lives at their ancestral Spanish castle called La Sombra. Estela knows what killed her parents and 23 others was not what the authorities are saying but something else and she will do whatever she has to find out the truth. However will that truly take her down a path that has no return and is clouded in more smoke??

I thought this author did a great job with the plot, yes there are a lot of secrets and the plot does twist around a few times, but I didn’t have a hard time understanding what was going on at all. I did have to go back a few times and re read a page again just because I was like “wait! No, that didn’t just happen” but in a good way. The pace was great for the book, no info dump in the first part of the book, but throughout the book you will get more and more information. I thought the world building was excellent, when you read this book you will drag into the world and really get the feel for this spooky Spanish castle and all the secrets that it’s wanting to spill. I loved that you get a paranormal aspect in this book. I thought the characters were well developed and I found myself able to relate to Estela. Sebastian, he is a whole different story… At first I was like nope nope I don’t like you but of course the “villain” always wins over my heart about 1/4 of the way in and yup he did that in this book as well. I loved that he was all like touch her and die, yet in the start he was like I am going to kill you. 

I found that this multi-generational and multi-dimensional gothic mystery was just what I needed. I found the darker side of YA fantasy to be perfect and I thought the author did good with the trigger warnings at the start of the book. Make sure to read them before you dive into this book because it does address suicide, mental health, death of parents and grief. I also received the Audio of this book and I thought the narrator did a great job with this book. It really helped to bring the characters and the scenes to life. 

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martins and Macmillan for the opportunity to review this book.

I was initially unsure about this book. It is rather strange with the mysterious black smoke, the cursed castle in which most of the rooms are off limits, the odd behavior and rules of Aunt Bea. It was unclear early on whether the plot would become farcical or would evolve into a story worth reading. Also, the story predominately takes place in Spain, and the author repeatedly included lengthy passages in Spanish that were not translated or only partially translated. This is annoying because as a reader I know I am likely missing something important. However, as the story progresses and Estela starts to figure out what is going on with her and her unusual new home, and starts to understand strange events from her past, the story improves significantly. The story has some very creative aspects, especially the reason that Bea, who runs the village clinic, requires regular donations of blood by all the residents, and the importance of twins in the family.

"A delicious and dark Gothic romance from bestselling author Romina Garber!

THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY...

After a mysterious attack claims the lives of her parents, all Estela has left is her determination to solve the case. Suffering from survivor's guilt so intense that she might be losing her grip on reality, she accepts an invitation to live overseas with an estranged aunt at their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra.

Beneath its Gothic façade, la Sombra harbors a trove of family secrets, and Estela begins to suspect her parents' deaths may be linked to their past. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a silver-eyed boy only she can see. Estela worries Sebastián is a hallucination, but he claims he's been trapped in the castle. They grudgingly team up to find answers and as their investigation ignites, so does a romance, mistrust twined with every caress.

As the mysteries pile up, it feels to Estela like everyone in the tiny town of Oscuro is lying and that whoever was behind the attack has followed her to Spain. The deeper she ventures into la Sombra's secrets, the more certain she becomes that the suspect she's chasing has already found her...and they're closer than she ever realized."

I'm all about spooky Spanish castles.

So this book started pretty well, but then it just started to get too much and was dragging on and on . It was VERY slow and a lot of information and details that didn't quite make sense. It was very dark, and the story was interesting but just very slow. I enjoyed it , it kept me interested


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for giving the chance to read and review this book.

An engaging, gothic thriller/romance. A unique story about a family curse and the girl who is destined to break it. Would definitely recommend for readers if gothic fiction, mystery, and the supernatural.

Okay I hardly ever do this but I can't continue. I must concede and admit defeat. I can withstand much from books, but at some point I have to put my foot down and move on. I read 30% of this book and there were so many cliches that I fear the whole book is just one big cliche. The way Estela just becomes so infatuated with the vamp so quickly is not my cup of tea especially since he drank from her without her consent. Then when she asks him not to touch her without her consent he refuses. Yes, he eventually agreed to not touch her without her consent but my dude has already done the deed so he can't be redeemed in my book. He also kept threatening to kill her way too much. There was just so many problematic moments in that 30% that I read that I can't go on. Every relationship moved quickly with no real development. Not even the mystery could keep me reading.

This book was totally up my ally with its gothic creepy spooky vibe. While it did get a little “teen” at times that was totally fine with me as I actually love that kind of nostalgia. The characters were pretty interesting too and it was such a unique book - haven’t read anything like it. I too as others am a bit confused by the ending but also didn’t mind it at all. Will be recommending and adding to my library.

This is a translated version of the original review, published in spanish:

Score: 3.2 Stars.

What? will there be a new book by Romina coming out this week? Well, of course I have to read it! Thanks to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this novel.

I have always found Romina's stories entertaining and quick to read. Furthermore, I believe that she is an author whose works are perfect to read in English, especially for those who are practicing this language, since her Latin roots make the narration close enough, without abandoning the language in which it was written.

On this occasion, the author will take us to Spain, in a town called Oscuro, where we will also tour the corridors of an immense Gothic castle called “La Sombra.” Our main character is a girl who has suffered a serious accident in the subway, of which she was the only survivor. Sadly, her parents were not as lucky as she was, and now she finds herself alone in the United States, a country she considered home.

However, upon being the subject of investigation, the authorities discover that Estela is not a US citizen, but that she arrived with her parents from Spain many years ago. This is shocking for her, because she was very little when they arrived in the country, and her parents never told her the truth. Here we have the first trust conflict that the protagonist will experience in this story: Why did her parents hide the truth from her? Who are they? Was what happened in the subway really an accident? It is under these circumstances that Estela ends up in Spain, searching for her origins, for an explanation for everything that is happening. However, here we will discover that she is just another piece in a much larger chess game.

This was an entertaining read, perfect for reading during the fall and on rainy days. The gothic atmosphere of it is captivating and it has a couple of scenes that will make the hairs on the back of the readers' necks chill.

The reason I don't give this book a higher score is because I feel like the story didn't fully connect with me. I feel like maybe it's because the novel is aimed at a younger audience. I honestly feel that a younger audience could really enjoy it. In my case, I recommend it to those who are looking for a read with mysterious, suspenseful and a gothic atmosphere. Also, for those who are learning English, I consider this to be a perfect book to practice the language.

DNF @ 30%
Initially I liked this story. It was eerie and just the right amount of haunting gothic paranormal. But the moment the main character started talking again, that’s where things nosedived for me. It suddenly felt like CW attempt at making a teen gothic paranormal show. But also it felt like a dream: crazy and nonsensical. The main character was alright, but the side characters were all over the place and too much and caricature-like. I liked the idea for this story, but I think the execution could’ve been better. Do I think there’s an audience for this? Definitely. And I would recommend it to people, but it wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an advance reader copy of this book for my honest review.

No hay luz en Obscura.

Castle of the Cursed reminded me a lot of an episode of Supernatural, if the Winchesters weren’t involved. In a good way, if that makes any sense at all. Horror movie vibes abound! The FMC is the sole survivor of a highly publicized tragedy, and when she’s invited to live in an old family castle in Spain that may or may not be slightly alive, all of the family secrets her parents never told her start coming to light.
Vampires, dark magic, even darker history, and the slow process of working through grief and trauma make this book a darker read for sure, so make sure to read the Author’s Note at the front before you start.

I seriously loved this one! Highly recommend.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, all opinions are my own, and a review was not required.

Overall enjoyable read. It had a slow start but then picked up and I was very intrigued, but then it felt like twist after twist and it felt like too much was happening. I'm also confused and intrigued by the ending and what exactly it means. The writing was good, characters were good, and I really liked some of the mythical/paranormal/magical elements. It had a lot of cool parts, just a few too many for a single book in my opinion. But there's a lot to offer and a lot people will love about it.

I love classic gothic novels, so the description of this book pulled me in.
The mix of gothic and fantasy elements reminded me a bit of Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth series, but unfortunately this book doesn't go nearly as far over-the-top.
While a few times it verges on some serious vampire sexiness, overall it ends up feeling very restrained. I wanted more... more weirdness, more atmosphere, more gothic darkness.
It's a YA book, and while I often love stories marketed to young people, I guess this one was too 'teen' for me.
It wasn't bad, but I wouldn't go out of my way to read the next in the series...

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Estela goes through the tragic loss of her parents only to find she does have more living family and a home to go to. Only once, she's there, there's secrets aplenty and a language barrier in the way.

I will admit that I went into this book with high hopes of loving it. I love gothic tales. I love spooky castles. I love things that go bump in the night. What I got was those things but poorly executed. Some help was had by my already knowing Spanish since not every sentence is translated even if Estela knows what was said, but there were times where I had to re-read the Spanish to get an idea of what was being conveyed.

Then towards the end of the book, they jump the shark. If there weren't the twist and a different ending, I would have loved the book. The second half of the book, I kept going "Is it over yet?" and that's never a good sign. Estela both seemed to be her age and be a young teen at different parts, but I wonder if some of that was just her own sheltered-ish upbringing.

I didn't hate it, but I think it just wasn't well done.

I have chosen to DNF this book at 35%. It was much too slow for me and couldn’t keep my attention.
I will star rate it here on NetGalley with the average stars since that is required, and will not leave a review or rating anywhere else since I chose to DNF.
Thank you for the opportunity!

Thank you, NetGalley and Wednesday Books, for my free E-book for review.

Gothic atmosphere. Family Secrets. Curses. Supernatural. Castle of the Curse has it all, and I was captivated from the very first page.

The story begins with Estella, who is orphaned in a sudden, unexplainable tragedy that kills everyone around her except her. Thrust into a world she never knew, she finds herself reunited with an aunt she's never even heard of before. Their family home turns out to be an actual castle, and Estella struggles to navigate this strained new relationship, often rebelling against the strict rules of her new environment.

Estella's rebellious explorations of the forbidden areas of the castle lead her to a mysterious man she dubs the "Shadow Beast" - a construct of her own imagination or something more. Meanwhile, she befriends a young local named Felipe, who seems to have a deep reverence for Estella's family and their history. As they uncover the past together, Estella becomes increasingly unsettled by the secrets her parents kept from her, and what her aunt may be hiding as well.

It's these tangled webs of secrets and the gradual unraveling that kept me glued to the pages. The rich family history adds a truly unique and captivating element, going beyond what I initially expected. Estella is a wonderfully complex protagonist, her inner turmoil between fight and flight stirring up a range of emotions in me as a reader.

Despite the dark fantasy elements, the core themes of sisterhood, repressed memories, and the exploration of vengeance really resonated. And that ending - I never saw it coming! The author's bold choice left me reeling in the best way possible.

Overall, Castle of the Curse delivered a gothic, supernatural adventure that exceeded my expectations at every turn. I highly recommend this book to anyone craving an immersive, emotionally charged fantasy experience.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: July 30, 2024
After Estela’s parents are killed in a mysterious subway accident, she is sent to live with her estranged aunt in a gothic castle in Spain, named la Sombra. Suffering from survivor’s guilt and immense grief, Estela is clinging to the only thing she has left- determining what killed her parents. Surrounded by strangers in a strange place where she doesn’t speak the language, Estela begins to notice strange things about la Sombra, including a silver-eyed young man that only Estela can see. As Estela questions her sanity more mysteries about the castle pile up until the only thing Estela can do is find out the truth, even if it means risking everything she has left.
Romina Garber’s gothic, YA thriller, “Castle of the Cursed” is perfect for fans of “The Mortal Instruments” and “Twilight”. After losing everything, our young protagonist is faced with a new environment, living among strangers, where she seeks the truth of who she is and finds romance along the way. Garber fully embraces Estela’s Spanish history and culture, as many portions of the novel (mostly conversations and literature) are written in Spanish (translated to English underneath), which is both refreshing and unique. Garber fully embraces Estela as a Latinx protagonist, and this will definitely serve her well, reaching out to a more diverse YA audience.
There are many mixed reviews to this novel and I can understand why. The beginning of the novel was slow to start as I could not connect with the main character (although I felt for her) and I struggled to make sense of what was happening. The Spanish castle, however, is terribly spooky and it was the absolute perfect setting for this creepy novel. The creativity of Garber’s living, castle is unmatched. There is a vampire, of course, as well as spirit possession and alternate universes, so Garber certainly has something for everyone.
Beyond the castle itself, “Castle of the Cursed” is not particularly unique, but it was a decent read. I was invested enough in the characters by the time I got to the mid-point that I wanted to find out how they fared. A lot of the action happened in the last third of the novel, so it was an easy journey to the ending after this. I have not read Garber before, but she is a relatively new author who is just finding her footing in the world of fiction writing, but it is obvious that she is a natural writer. “Cursed” will appeal to the audience for whom Garber is targeting, and I am intrigued enough to want to read more.

Dark and creepy; I loved every part of this book. Lost love, new loves and horror combine to tear a family apart. Surprise revelations and new friends may help heal it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC copy of Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber.

So, I want to start off with the fact that I love how Romina Garber puts a little warning of grief/suicide and that there are resources for those going through these mental difficulties. I think it is so important that those resources are put into light, as many may not know that they are out there or just a reminder that there are people out there who can help. In saying this, the book is rather dark and honestly, darker than most gothic novels I've encountered and feels like this needs to be said.

Castle of the Cursed follows Estela after becoming the only survivor of an incident of unknown circumstances on a NYC metro line. From her time in a psychiatric ward to her Aunt's castle in Spain, where it seems that all these memories are starting to come back to her. Estela is also navigating the mystery behind the castle and why locals outside of the village seem to be afraid of the area. It is certainly full of secrets, especially ones around her family which made the story complex. However, I kind of figured that vampires were going to come into play after Estela learns of the place she will be moving to and then it got a little Twilighty with the romance between her and Sebastian. My honest opinion is that no romance was needed at all for this novel, it could have just stayed with the family mystery unraveling etc.,

But this is my first book by Romina Garber and I would certainly reach her other novels.