˚｡⋆5 stars 🍒୨୧˚
⤿ the first five-star read of the year ‹𝟹

the first arc read I have ever done so besides the fact this book is the best book I have ever read, it also holds a special place in my heart ෆ

this book is life-altering.
I want this book injected into my veins because reading it simply isn’t enough if I had the chance to loose my memory and read a book for the first time again it would be this one.

I was skeptical while starting this book but damn, the first 5-star of the year!!
this book is my roman empire and i declare it as my comfort book too..

🔮 “No hay luz en Oscuro.” 🔮

imagine you are stuck in a cursed castle with ✨a hot vampire boy ✨ throw in a little mystery betrayal and secrets. Now you have this book!

🧛"And I vow not to touch you again without your consent." 🧛

he is going in my bio of favourite book bfs 💓
sebastian is one hell of an attractive dude and i swear to god while reading this I had to burry my head into my pillow and scream for 42 times (I know because I highlighted every part I screamed at).

Estela Amador Brálaga was thep most interesting book girlie i have met. I felt completely bound with her ever since the first page. Girlie is relatable.

❤️‍🩹 “These new feelings you awaken in me are more terrifying than not knowing who I am.” ❤️‍🩹

it is so unrelated but this book reminds me of the song diamonds by chris travis.
and the way estela got her character development overcame every fear she had and realized the real valuable thing chefs kiss 🤌🏻


˚⊹ the romance 𓍢ִ🍒
I wasnt expecting to have a lot of romance going on in here but BOY I WAS WRONG. I have a new favorite book boyfriend and the way Sebastian has me giggling and blushing and screaming is outrageous. Estela, you are one hell of a lucky girl

THE PLOT TWISTS IN THIS BOOK ATE!!!
⤿ everytime I thought I got the hang of whats going on and I finally solved it BOOM another plot hits me I COULD NOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN it had me gasping and stirring an empty pot while reading because i was so caught up in it


˚⊹ to conclude 𓍢ִ🍒
umm so if you haven’t gotten the message already, it’s go read this book. and read it now. and tell me all about it. this book may not be out yet but I need a second book already. Romina Garber, you will go down in history. GO READ IT EVEN IF ITS THE LAST THING YOU WILL DO.

happy reading my dear lovely friends 🧸ྀི

This was the second book I’ve read by Romina Garber and the second of their books that I enjoyed and sped right through!

Castle of the Cursed has it all…gothic castles, fantasy & magic, a dash of romance, thrills and chills…you’ll be on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s advised to take note of the trigger warnings.

The story follows Estella whose life is thrown off course after a mysterious tragedy occurs. She finds herself alone, navigating life in a completely different part of the world with family she didn’t know existed and a load of secrets to unravel. Overall, it was a highly entertaining book and a quick read. I’ll be recommending this to friends for sure.

This was an excellent read! This gothic horror romance reminds me a lot of what I imagine a Fourthwing/Dracula mashup might be like. I loved that the novel is set in a castle in Spain, and I definitely feel as though I got more out of the text with my basic Spanish-speaking skills. The plot and writing really draw the reader in - There was a bit of a pacing issue about 60% of the way in, but push through! The end is so worth it.

The feels this book gave me were unreal. This read is definitely in my top 10 for 2024.

After the tragic death of Estela's parents, the only family she has left to take her in are strangers to her. She's moved around her entire life, unable to put down roots and never knowing why. After strange things start happening around her after moving to her families castle in Spain, she begins to realize her parents were keeping a dark secret from her.

Estela is a strong character, and she has to be. The author really made her struggles and situation feel real and relatable. It was hard not to feel her pain over the loss of her parents.

The creep factor was wonderful. It started off small and really ramped up in the end. Romina Garber really knows how to weald a blood curdling tale with ease and gusto.

There was one thing that kinda threw me off, and is the reason I gave the book 4 stars out of 5. The odd romantic relationship that showed up out of the blue between Estela and the creepy ghost man. It threw me, I'm not going to lie. I was knee deep in the muck of horror and then out of the blue, bam, Estela wants to jump ghost man's bones.

If the author wanted to put some romance into the story, maybe don't make it an after thought.

All in all, I really enjoyed this read and would love to see what this author has to offer next.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC!

Unfortunately this story did not resonate with me and I ceased reading it at the 30% mark. The first chapter was excellent and I was immediately hooked by that premise, however, as the novel went on, I did not feel Estela’s characterization or goals came through strongly, which greatly lessened my ability to connect with her. I wished there was more emotional depth in Castle of the Cursed, and while the initial premise was fascinating, I was not able to sink into the story the way I hoped.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Romina Garber's "Castle of the Cursed" draws readers into a mesmerizing realm of dark secrets, eerie castles, and supernatural intrigue. Set against the backdrop of Estela's ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra, the story unfolds with a spellbinding allure, bringing together elements of mystery and romance that keeps you invested for the entire story. Before getting into this review, I do want to note that while the book starts off as more of a mystery/thriller, it becomes more of a romance book as the plot progresses. So, if you’re in the mood for a paranormal romance, similar to “Twilight,” then you will definitely enjoy this book!

At the heart of the story lies Estela, a young woman grappling with the aftermath of a tragic incident that leaves her as the sole survivor. Garber masterfully crafts Estela's journey, infusing it with layers of complexity as she explores her own family's history. Estela's struggle with survivor's guilt and the blurred lines between reality and illusion add depth to her character, drawing you into her haunting world. I really liked Estela’s characterization, though sometimes her actions/thoughts were a bit cliché at times.

The introduction of Sebastián, a mysterious figure with silver eyes, adds a supernatural dimension to the story. As Estela navigates the murky depths of her ancestral castle, her evolving relationship with Sebastián becomes a focal point. At times, the romance seemed to take over the book while I was more interested in the mystery/plot. The focus on the romance just wasn’t what I was expecting going into the book. And with the plot itself, the abundance of secrets was a bit overwhelming at times, making me wish someone would just tell Estela what was going on. These secrets caused the plot to drag a bit. Despite these points, Garber's atmospheric prose and richly detailed setting immerse you in a world steeped in gothic allure and supernatural intrigue. The Spanish backdrop adds a unique perspective, enhancing the story’s atmospheric charm and setting. I really enjoyed the descriptions of the setting, which really helped set the mood; the rich descriptions were perfect for a gothic romance story.

Overall, "Castle of the Cursed" stands as an engaging story with its blend of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. I would definitely recommend this book for fans of gothic romance YA books or for those wanting to get their vampire fix.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC of this book!

I devoured this gothic romance like la Sombra devours blood. Make sure to check content warnings as there are talks of survivor's guilt and suicide. After a tragic event Estela travels to live with her estranged aunt in their ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra. That's when the real mysterious stuff starts to happen. Now she must find out why her parents left Spain, what the shadow creature is and is it going to kill her, what is up with this castle, and most of all what happened to her when she was little? Great for fans of House of Roots and Ruin. The final page was a doozy and I'm going to need to talk to Romina immediately.

I feel like this book HAD potential but I was WAYYYY too short for the amount of plot pushed into it. Describing it to my boyfriend, he said it sounded like a fever dream and I would have to agree. There were so many cool concepts that raised this up to two stars, but it jumped into so many different genres in a heartbeat.
Also, can we just talk about how smart the main character is for a second? Because nothing annoys me more than a stupid narrator, but she was WAY too smart to be realistic. She just inherently knew so many things about the science fiction twists and turns that made absolutely no sense to me as the reader. From the author side, I assume this was the author trying to get information to the audience, but it absolutely has to be done in a better way to make any sense at all.
Finally… the immediate romance. Boy — where do I even start? The huge jump from meeting to the end of the story in a matter of what… days? Weeks? It made absolutely no sense.
In conclusion, had this be written as a trilogy maybe and fleshed out? I think it could have been something really interesting and unique for the genre, so it was overall very disappointing.

Estela and her parents were on the subway when she sees a strange black smoke appear, time freezes, and everyone around her drops dead. Left as the only one standing after a traumatic mass death, Estela recovers at a hospital until she hears from a long lost aunt who invites her to come live with her at her remote castle in rural Spain. What Estela doesn’t know before accepting is that the castle and the town surrounding it are shrouded in a dark history of death and mystery, and there may be something hunting her from the shadows.

This took some turns I wasn’t expecting but I think my biggest gripe is this: for most of the book she’s SEVENTEEN!!! You can’t have a seventeen year old child with an immortal
being. I really didn’t buy the love story plot line. I think this book would’ve really benefitted from it being a nonromantic thing. Additionally, while I speak Spanish, I think that many English speakers would find it a little choppy to be translating back and forth to not miss the extra bits left untranslated in the dialogue. I feel like we deserved more from Beatriz, and the epilogue was pretty unsatisfying in my opinion. The writing was good and the plot points were there, but I think it was rushed. Overall, enjoyable but could’ve been better the lore was more explained.

Part mystery, thriller, horror and supernatural, Castle of the Cursed had me hooked! I was immediately gripped by Estela’s story and found it difficult to put this book down. Seriously, how dare real life responsibilities interfere with my reading time!? I loved it when the story took us to Estela’s family’s gothic, and perhaps haunted, castle in Spain. Romina Garber created such a vivid and fantastic setting. The castle truly came to life. The dark vibes, secrets and twists worked well and it never grew to be too intense as this is a YA novel. I didn’t think the novel needed the romance storyline, but it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. This was an addicting read that I definitely recommend!

I really liked this book and it was very gothic romance/gothic horror. The author painted an amazing picture and world that was both eerie and lovable. I wish there had been even more history built in to the story and at times it felt rushed but it didn't stop me from enjoying it. It honestly felt like it had pieces of the movie Gothika with a supernatural twist,

This was a solid four-star read for me until the last sentence. It cheapened the entire book. I don't understand what purpose it serves the overall story. How does it enhance what we've read? Spoiler: it doesn't.

I did appreciate that we dove into some cosmic horror here. I truly wasn't expecting it in a YA novel that already had paranormal/gothic elements. The magic system was pleasantly creepy, and most of the plot twists well done.

This Gothic fantasy missed the mark for me, mostly because it really wasn't truly Gothic. It had some of the elements from the castle, but it was far more of a romantasy. I feel like this story tried to explore way too many fantasy tropes at once: alternate realms, vampires, witches, blood magic, it's all just too much. It doesn't feel like this story was fleshed out very well and that the characters weren't given much thought beyond how they could benefit the main character. It was confusing but also kind of boring.

Thank you so much for the ARC, NetGalley! This was a book that I really wanted to love. I was so excited based on the description and overall plot. I found myself a little overwhelmed at times and had troubles following along with the plot. I desperately wanted to know how this book ended, though! It was full of angst, tension and mystery. I liked the vampire aspect here and found the love story to be quirky but fun.

I received an ARC by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber is a contemporary YA fantasy with Gothic and horror elements. When Estela’s family and twenty-three others are killed on a subway in NewYork and she is the lone survivor, she’s sent to live with her aunt in Spain in their family castle, la Sombra. Estela struggles to adjust to her new life without her parents and in a new country where she doesn't speak the language, but the castle isn’t going to wait for her to adjust.

There’s a lot of Spanish used throughout the novel, which is great practice if you’re studying the language. Estela learns Spanish under her aunt’s instructions to become reacquainted with her ancestral hometown, Oscuro, and her own past, something that really resonated with me and my family’s experiences with language loss.

The Gothic and horror elements mostly take shape in the vampire who haunts Estela and the castle itself. I thought they were woven in in a really interesting way, particularly in how la Sombra is tied to the residents of Oscuro.

I would recommend this to readers of YA looking for a Gothic fantasy, fans of vampire romance subplots, and readers who enjoy rediscovery plotlines in their fantasy novels.

Loved this book! It was beyond creative in the world brought to life in its pages. The descriptions were vivid and at times a bit disturbing in the best way! Definitely recommend if you like a sinister light horror twist to your reads.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

DNF at 40%

For me, Castle of the Cursed had an amazing cover, an intriguing premise, and a fantastic first chapter, but it really dropped off after that. The characters felt flat to me and, despite empathizing and relating to Estela's struggle (I applaud the mental health rep), I just couldn't get myself to LIKE her. She felt like a character, not a real person. When I'm reading a book, I want to be so invested in the characters and their story that I need to put the book down after an emotional scene and come back once I've gathered myself.

I don't "see" things when I read, so it's extremely important to me that the writing draws me in and paints a vivid picture. The writing wasn't bad, but it wasn't all that great. It felt extremely childish, which contributed to the scenes being rushed (some of them—others seemed to really drag on for no reason). I'd also like to point out that at 40%, we'd just seen the same three scenes over and over again. Estela goes to the bookstore for Spanish tutoring. Estela goes home and takes/sometimes pretends to take this weird pill from Beatriz. Estela wanders around the house at night (against her aunt's wishes) and meets Silas. That's it. That's all that happens, with slight variations to the outcome of the scene and the dialogue.

What I saw of the romantic interest was not it, guys. I get the tropes we're trying to fit in here, but it wasn't working for me. Also, as soon as he started mentioning other "realms," I was out. I don't know why, but I just couldn't continue after that. I liked the direction that the novel promised to go (a supernatural YA thriller), but it seemed like it was quickly becoming a fantasy. I could be wrong, since I didn't finish it, but that's the vibe I was getting.

Beatriz. I think we're supposed to hate her, but I really hated her. Not for anything she'd done, really, just the way she was written. What little I saw of her character bugged me to no end and I still don't know why. She felt like such a card-board cut-out.

After deciding I couldn't finish it, I looked at some of the other reviews, and I am honestly glad I didn't. I'm sure the plot twists could have been handled well, but I was at 40% and there was absolutely no hint of any of THAT going on. It also indicated a further departure from the supernatural thriller I'd been expecting into full-on fantasy.

However, I will say that I adored the setting. I'm neither Spanish nor Hispanic, but I lived in Spain for several years while growing up and it's the place I consider to be home. All the foods mentioned made me so nostalgic for my favorite restaurants. I feel like she also captured the very loud, very large, very close family dynamic with the bookstore guy's family (I can't remember his name, sorry), and how odd it was for Estela's family to be so estranged.

All in all, this could have been an amazing book. But the characters were flat, the on-coming plot twists felt so random, and it didn't deliver on what it promised.

Estela tragically loses both her parents in an unexplained train accident that also takes the lives of 25 in total with her being the only survivor. 7 months after their death, Estela travels to Spain to live with an aunt she had never met. The first few pages mention how her parents shut down when Estela here asks about learning Spanish (a language they would use to communicate without her understanding) and about their life in Argentina.


The first half of the book is really good, but the second half, where it gets really fast paced, is good, but so many details that are not thoroughly explained. The twists and turns of the book are amazing. However, the concept the writer was aiming for and the horror in this book were spot on. I would give this one 4 ⭐️.

I enjoyed this book, but it felt like there was too much going on and not all of it made sense. With so much happening it became slightly confusing and I think made it harder for the author to shape up some parts. Overall, I enjoyed the story, it kept me interested.

Castle of the Cursed had a mix of genres, starting with thriller, then easing more into gothic, paranormal mystery, and adding in romance. I initially didn't like this, but then as I became more and more intrigued, it grew on me. The way Romina Garber blends it together was very well done.

It was a little overwhelming at times with the secrets. I had to take breaks to flip back and forth to get it straight, which was daunting. I don't mind flipping back and forth, but sometimes I dreaded reading it in fear that I wouldn't remember something that was about to come up.

Estela was an interesting character; she is a shell of who she was before the accident, having been numbed so much in the aftermath by pills and now she's trying to reawaken herself as she solves the mysteries surrounding her. She's bold, defiant, and felt very real for an 18 year old and Romina captured the angst perfectly.