Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! As part of my review, I’m giving this book 2 out of 5 stars. I honestly really wanted to like this book, the cover was super intriguing and it sounded so good, but I found myself becoming more and more disappointed as I continued to read it. The trigger warnings and content warnings at the beginning of the book were a nice heads up for what to expect outside of the synopsis and they are definitely warranted in some parts, but nothing got too dark or too… much to deter me from reading.

Before I go any further, there will be spoilers in this review, as it is tagged as such too, so just as a warning if you continue to read this (it’s quite long so I don’t blame you if you don’t). Now, I will say that as I continued to read one of the main questions I had was: what is the age of Estela? In the beginning she seems to be a young tween/teenager, but as the story progresses it seems she’s an older teenager based on some of her actions, but I can’t recall ever being told her actual age until more than halfway through the book when you find out she’s going to celebrate her 18th birthday in a few days time. This could very well just be me not paying attention or not remembering this being mentioned early on, but given some of the events of this story and Estela’s actions, I feel like her age should have been addressed a lot sooner in the book (and apologies if it was and I just completely blanked on it). Estela as a main character is actually quite interesting though. She is very flawed, she’s quite dark, she’s broken, she’s selfish and she makes mistakes. It’s nice to read a story where the main character is a woman and has all of these characteristics; they grated on my nerves sometimes, but I still found myself enjoying, for the most part, Estela.

I was not expecting the Vampire Prince aspect to happen in this story as a romance option that’s for sure or another realm either, though given how the synopsis reads, another realm isn’t too far of a stretch. I’m also not a fan of the romance in this story for the sheer reason that it took away from the plot for me; the age gap and the love interest being a vampire prince is fine, it’s just that it was all so rushed and seems so forced with no chemistry between Estela and Sebastían that took me away from it. They’ve known each other for a week and already are talking about how their feelings for each other will lead to love and then this conversation leads into a long make out session. Which, granted is pretty on brand for a teenager to think that their first feelings for someone will instantly lead to love, and especially so quickly, but for a book that’s as dark as it is and is listed as adult fantasy, I expected a little better. It’s down to just preference at this point, but personally I prefer more of a build up before any of this happens, like the characters properly getting to know each other and build a relationship over the course of a few months or longer rather than just a week. It also just really strikes me as odd and way too rushed considering a week before Estela even arrives at La Sombra and before she and Sebastían have any significant romantic interaction that Estela was mute, she wasn’t talking to anyone, she was extremely closed off and literally suicidal. Her interactions with Sebastían, in my mind, aren’t enough to warrant going from being mute and suicidal to make out sessions every night in a week’s time, talking about love and Estela calling him her boyfriend (once and completely randomly) even with everything else that’s going on. The time they’ve spent together, by the end of the book, is two weeks, two weeks and by the 13th day, Sebastían does the equivalent of his kind and proposes to Estela which then ends in them having a ritualistic ceremony (for lack of a better description) that binds them to one another; they literally get married within 14 days of knowing each other, not even Twilight was this rushed in the romance. And then, as if things couldn’t get any more rushed, the ceremony ends with them kissing, taking each others clothes off, her grabbing whatever he has between his legs (as Estela even questions if they are anatomically compatible), she asks him to kill her if her twin is even visible in her after the final battle plays out and then the chapter ends and the next begins without any mention of what just happened. The “spice,” as well as the romance is just so forced for me and just too awkward. It is just so, so, so horribly rushed that I literally laughed when the proposal, into marriage into possible sex scene happened. The “romance” in this book is just too forced for my liking and I cannot get behind it at all. There’s also a slightly spicy scene that happens later in the book (but very much so before the proposal scene) after some extremely major events happen, that just comes out of nowhere and is so unwarranted. Major spoilers, but Estela literally loses another family member and soon after finds herself in preparation for the upcoming events, but before she can properly prepare, of course, Sebastían and Estela have a little spicy moment involving ropes and then carry on as if nothing happened. I know this is the new trend with romantasy being the next big thing, but this particular “spicy” scene was so completely out of left field that I was half baffled and half sadly amused. I’m sure others will love this aspect of rushed romance between a teenager and a vampire prince and will appreciate these “spicy” scenes, but personally, it takes me out of the story completely and just comes across as being thrown in for the “spice” factor rather than that the relationship between Estela and Sebastían has grown to a point that warrants such scenes. And for anyone reading this far, the spice factor is 0.5 out of 5 stars. It really truly isn’t even all that spicy, the rope scene is the spiciest part of the whole book and is the only reason this book gets any spice rating at all.

The twist of the reveal of Estela’s uncle was so out of left field; there was no hint of an extra family member or twin brother to her aunt or anything. There was nothing leading up to the reveal to warrant it. It was just so random. It definitely has its place in the story given how the plot progresses from the big reveal, however I just wish there were more hints dropped leading up to the reveal to make it really impactful and not just coming across as totally out of nowhere. This also applies to the reveal that Estela has a twin. Now, this likely comes down to me just not cluing into things and not cluing into any possible foreshadowing that Estela does in fact have a twin, especially after the reveal that Bea and Teo are twins, but the reveal that Estela does didn’t come across well for me because of this. Maybe it’s just by the time of the reveal of Antonela I had pretty much checked out of the book, but I just didn’t feel the proper shock and awe of the twist that Antonela was the one who experienced a lot of what Estela thought she did when she was younger and that Antonela was her twin and had been sent to another realm by her uncle Teo and aunt Bea.

I found that there were some things that kept repeating that became more and more frustrating as the story continued. Like when Bea and Estela continuously try to use the syringe to restrain Teo - even after their many, many failed attempts. I can excuse the first few times as “maybe this time will work,” scenarios, but when it’s been four or five or six times or more and they continue to try it? Come on, that’s a bit excessive to keep trying the same thing when it’s clear it isn’t going to work as it hasn’t the previous times you’ve both tried. And the constant mistrust that Estela has in Sebastían. I get it, she’s broken and damaged and has lost so many people in such a short amount of time and given that her and Sebastían have only known each other for two weeks there hasn’t been enough time to properly trust each other, but the vampire literally turned his back on his own realm, as the prince! He made her his blood bound! He tells her three separate times that he’d give up everything for her, and proves it over again, and still Estela distrust him! Again, I get that this is likely because she’s 18, she’s a teenager and she’s traumatized and is dealing with so many things, but it definitely grew tiresome even though it happens over the course of two or so chapters and towards the end of the story. If anything this proves to me that this relationship isn’t actually built on anything, and is just the hormones of a teenager rather than actual emotions, but I digress.

The house actually being sentient, in a way, and being “bloodthirsty” lost me, it really did. And again, given the synopsis, it’s a dead giveaway that this was going to happen, but I did not expect it to be so literal. Same with there being all these other realms and monsters/creatures; it’s not abnormal for a fantasy novel, it’s just that, in this novel, nothing pointed to other realms and monsters/creatures for me. Obviously with Sebastían there’s the argument from the beginning that he’s from another realm, as I stated earlier in my review, but given that this version of Earth deals with magic in some regard, it’s easy to also assume that Sebastían is simply from Earth and not also from another realm. I think if there was more clues and/or lead ups to other realms existing than I probably would have been more okay with this revelation, but there wasn’t and so I felt myself become completely taken out of the book and my read when I came to this part.

The author writes in the big climactic ending (I was actually disappointed in how the final battle played out) that Estela’s “hope and resilience” are what powers she has that her twin Antonela fears, but I don’t see that at all. Literally a paragraph before this revelation, Estela is ready to give up, to let Antonela win, to let Antonela rule and create a new world on Earth all because their uncle Teo will love Antonela unconditionally while Estela has “no one.” But then Estela sees Sebastían and suddenly she’s filled with love again and remembers that Sebastían is her blood bound and that he loves her and then Estela gets up and fights against her sister again. Estela had literally given up. Like, she was done. Throwing in the towel. Admitting defeat. Fading away so that Antonela could claim her body for her own. Estela was done. By the end of the book she doesn’t have any hope or resilience, she’s just fueled by her love (regardless of my feelings on it) for Sebastían and that’s what drives her. To me, her love for Sebastían is what Antonela actually fears, not this so-called hope and resilience of Estela.

Overall, this review is largely negative and I do feel bad, but this book just wasn’t it for me. Like I said, I wanted to enjoy it, the cover is stunning, the synopsis intriguing, the concept interesting, but it all just fell apart for me as I continued to read it. I’m sure many others will enjoy this gothic, supernatural romantasy book, but unfortunately I am not one of them.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book, I’m not usually a fan of vampires (and I’m really trying to, ever since playing Baldurs Gate 3). This book felt very fast paced which I enjoyed. The love story was a little too much of a insta love for me, but they were still cute. The storyline was interesting and was easy to follow. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

What a strange book this was. It was not at all what I was expecting and I am still not sure if I liked it lol. I will say that it was very unique in some ways but also felt a lot like some other vampire books in other ways! I was super engaged until the other worlds and dimensions were mentioned- that just seemed like too much in a book that’s was already too much.

I would like to first thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it!

"Castle of the Cursed" is a unique story that does not stick to just one genre. What first feels to be a detective novel, swiftly becomes something of a gothic romance with subtle blends of horror. Right from the start, the reader is immersed and it becomes difficult to put it down. There were certain aspects of the story that felt random and unexplained, as if I had picked up the second book of a series while not having read the first. The number of days this story occurred was unrealistic, which, in my personal opinion, took away the story's potential. If the timeline was expanded, the story would've had more room to breathe and grow into something greater. However, at the end of the day, I loved this story for its entertaining purposes and even for the romance.

The gothic vibes were really cool! And omg the plot twists were totally unexpected and good, they really elevated the story!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for giving me the chance to read an ARC of this book! I had such a fun time reading this book. It was such a fast-paced, adventurous, mysterious journey and it kept. my full attention from the second I started it. Every single time I thought I knew what was going to happen next I was proven wrong. A very great read!

A YA gothic fantasy following 17 year old Estela as she uncovers the mysteries of her past, makes new friends, and even falls in love. Her parents were nomads, never staying anywhere too long. One day, Estela is on a train of 26 people, including her parents, when the other 25 suddenly drop dead. She is institutionalized and eventually ends up going to live with an estranged aunt in Spain. Repressed memories rise to the surface and Estela works to figure out what's real and who she can trust.
For fans of vampires and insta-love. Young readers will be able to find parts of themselves in Estela as she navigates emotions and hormones, and finding where she belongs. Some of the plot is a bit predictable, but the excitement persists throughout. The pacing slows as the story progresses, but I think that's to be expected given how we start the story. Romina Garber gives trigger warnings at the start of this book - which I do recommend younger readers review. Overall, I found it to be an exciting and engaging YA gothic.

After a tragedy, Estela has to move to a family castle with an aunt she doesn't know, in a town whose language she doesn't' speak, while deep in grief and experiencing mutism. The aunt? Creepy. The castle? Creepy.

This is a rare book where I really wish I'd known MORE going into it than I did. I was completely taken in by the first few chapters. Romina Garber can write a story and she can set a mood. I was fascinated with the idea of a protagonist who can't speak.

Even during the very early US parts of the book where I didn't know the story would take place in Argentina, I wondered if this was written in translation because the phrasing and tone was very distinct and I was so there for it. (It is NOT a translation, but the author speaks several language).

Anyway, once the plot actually started moving towards the romance and 'our heroes vs those who want to stop them' things changed for me as a reader. It's funny, I don't like it when books are advertised by their tropes in theory. Yet I think if I'd known I was settling in for a YA vampire romance I'd have been able to accept the transition from big gothic mystery to more of a genre mismatch a little more easily. DNF at 40%, I peeked in at several places beyond that and the story does seem to move quite a lot and seems frankly kinda wild. But-- frankly -- I didn't have enough interest in Sebastian or the very fast love story to want to move forward.

I'd absolutely read something else from this author.

Thank you for the ARC to NetGalley & St Martin's Press.

Please note: read the content warning in the beginning of the book prior to starting to read!

Estela, the only survivor of a horrific accident, travels to live with her aunt in a Spanish castle, la Sombra. But soon after Estela arrives she realizes a silver-eyed boy she’s been dreaming of since the accident is in the castle: and only she can see him.

The opening of the story was intriguing. I found myself unable to put the book down as Estela traveled to la Sombra and met her aunt and the mysterious and sometimes creepy townspeople. Estela’s relationship with Sebastian is compelling, and each piece of the puzzle falling into place kept me reading until I reached the next reveal.

The real stars of this story are the food and the setting. Please don’t read without a snack because the incredible descriptions will make you hungry. The castle, la Sombra, is a character of its own. I loved every scene where Estela was exploring it.

I didn’t see either of the big twists in the story coming, and it gave me several jump scares. If you’ve always wanted Twilight meets Crimson Peak, you’re sure to enjoy this read.
Overall this was a darkly romantic page turner with an ending I will not forget!

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the earc.

Castle of the Cursed
by Romina Garber
Pub Date: 30 Jul 2024

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 really enjoyed Romina Garber's new title. I want to give a -SPOILER FREE- review to give anyone who reads this a good chance. It is fast paced and highly immersive. You can always count on Romina Garber to make her stories diverse and addictive (If you happened to have read Lobizona, yk) After the main character, Estela, experiences a traumatic and life altering event, she moves to Spain with a long lost aunt, to a dark ancestral castle called LA SOMBRA ( the shadow) ,where she learns she has lived in the dark about the truth of her family for too long. If you liked Starling House, this one's for you- but it is fast paced. Really hope you'll enjoy it!

Two and a half stars for this YA Gothic romance. While I really enjoyed the first 100 pages or so, as the story became more complicated my interest waned.

I feel like this book is a genre mash-up and would've benefitted from sticking to either a Gothic romance or to a horror novel. Instead there were elements of each that were rushed or not fleshed out, so the whole book felt sort of jumbled.

Characters: I really enjoyed Estela's character at the start; I think Romina Garber did a great job portraying mental illness and grief, and I was excited to follow this character as she healed through solving the mystery of her parents' deaths. Unfortunately Estela's interest in the case faded and her personality changed a bit. It felt like she went from rejecting feeling and pushing others away to forming very strong relationships quickly and heedlessly. Both her friendship with Felipe and her relationship with Sebastian felt rushed. More on that later. I enjoyed Bea even when her motives were unclear, and wish she would have played a bigger role. While Felipe was fun in that he was in turns creepy, friendly, and frustrating, Sebastian's switches in behavior toward Estela felt too abrupt.

The setting: la Sombra was delightfully creepy, but it didn't take on its own character or role like I want in Gothic books. It didn't have moods and didn't feel sentient in the way the manor in Mexican Gothic did, for example.

The romance: Sebastian and Estela's relationship felt super rushed and insta-love, and the book suffered because of it since their romance plays a HUGE part in plot points in the last third of the book. While a vampire prince transported to a new realm and a grieving investigator were intriguing as individuals, I just didn't feel any sort of connection between them.

Overall this book had a lot of potential and some fun moments, but it tried to do too much in too short a period. There was a creepy castle, murder, inter-dimensional travel, lost family members, and it wasn't tied up in a satisfactory way. Spoiler-y elements were introduced too late and without hinting, and the surprises felt like "where did that come from" rather than "ohhh I should have seen that coming."

ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.

What started as a normal day on the subway train ends in a mysterious tragedy. Estela finds herself alone, the soul survivor of the incident. Estela vows to solve the case of what happened that fateful day. As time passes though she finds herself losing a grip on what is real and not, so when the strange invitation to stay with an estranged aunt arrives she accepts. Estela’s arrival to la Sombra brings forth more mysteries and family secrets. Can the answers Estela seek be here and what dangers await her along the path to discover the truth.

Castle of the Cursed begins as a thriller that ventures into eerie paranormal castles and the supernatural. The marrying of these two worlds made for a page turning dark gothic atmosphere that was hard to put down. While I did find elements of the plot to be somewhat predictable it does become more intricate as the story unfolds, touching on some deeper subjects of family sacrifices and love. As this is a YA book there are some trigger warnings that the author does note prior to reading. Adult readers will most likely not find these triggering however the younger targeted readers will need to be prepared for them… death, loss of a parent, grief, depression, blood, and suicidal attempts. Estela begins as a questionable narrator as you wonder is all of this in her head or reality, especially once she arrives to the Spanish castle la Sombra and is seeing things no one else can. Following along with her as she search’s for answers with her silver eyed companion Sebastián was made so immersive due to Garber’s atmospheric prose that is rich, mysterious, and haunting. The setting of la Sombra in Spain provided the perfect backdrop for all the books twists, curses, and dark fantastical elements. Castle of the Cursed is vivid, moody, and filled with and all the gothic vibes needed to suspend reality. Venture into this supernatural world and let the pages describing this eerie castle and shadowy figures engulf you.

Castle of the Cursed comes out July 30th, 2024.

Thank you again NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A gothic novel that feels as tho you're in a Bram Stoker dimension.

There were lots of Spanish words incorporated, which I was taken aback. I wasn't expecting so much of it that I had to actually hop on Google Translate to figure out what was being said.

Slow start and it took a lot for me to even get actually involved in the book. I kept walking away from it and just letting it sit in my Kindle for a while. What it does make it interesting is how it can be easily related to current events in the media today that also ties in with politics.

Terrorist attacks? How the government can sway the media by stating false facts and silencing the truth from those who experienced it first hand. Then talking about mental health and how environmental factors can possibly have an effect on a person.

The story is written with depth and vivid imagery comes along as soon as Chapter 4 is started. It details Estela's family castle. It feels like a familiar excerpt from Anne Rice's interview with the vampire and some Underworld vibes intertwined with Dracula.

I like that the chapters progress with the character.

Whoa, hold onto your creepy castles, folks! Romina Garber delivers a deliciously dark gothic YA romance in "Castle of the Cursed." After a mysterious attack wipes out her parents, Estela, faced with few options when she discovers her parents are undocumented and the US government wants to keep her in an asylum, decides to stay in a Spanish castle with her estranged aunt. Spoiler alert: The castle, la Sombra, is hiding more secrets than your teenage diary.

Let me just say, this castle, la Sombra, is the real MVP. It's like it got a makeover from the gothic interior design gods. Seriously, it's THE gothic home representation with some seriously vivid, creepy characteristics, oh, and of course plenty of Sangre.

Now, onto the silver-eyed heartthrob, Sebastián. Is he Estela's knight in not-so-shining armor or just a product of her post-trauma imagination? Cue the supernatural twists, people! As they uncover family secrets, a romance sparks that's got more heat than a haunted hearth. Literally, I don't know if I've read a YA with this much spice(not a spicy pepper on the adult scale, but still notable).

But, and there's always a but, the story sometimes feels like it's caught between middle-school vibes with its plot twists and pacing and a more mature audience with its heavy topics and romance. For me the mesh felt a bit odd and at times kept me from fully enjoying the book.

Sure, there are a few quirks, but "Castle of the Cursed" is still over 4 stars in my book.

Thank you to NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Gothic Romance say no more. I was enthralled from the beginning and every chapter kept making me want more. The world building was exceptional and it felt like I was walking side by side with the FMC.

This novel follows Estela who discovers a whole new world when tragedy hits. A world of self discovery, found family and new friendships. All while living and navigating through a cursed house. This story was truly magical and such an enchanting book.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday books for providing me with an eARC.

I'm struggling to rate this. 3.5 I suppose. It may have been a bit higher if not for the last three sentences in the book which cheapened it for me.

I found the psych ward portion to be fairly unrealistic. "Estela has been placed on a seventy-two-hour watch. She is given heavy doses of antidepressants."
That's not how antidepressants work. If you're going to root a significant portion of your story in mental health, research. Antidepressants take 4-8 weeks to take full effect. You need to taper up and you need to taper down. You don't just blast someone with a high dose of antidepressants. It would be far more likely that she was given antipsychotics or benzos ffs. This is not information that's hidden in the depths. It's pretty fucking basic.

I found the story quite interesting up until probably around the 50% mark when it started to jump the shark and then continued to soar over said shark. It's a fantasy, I am aware, but it was just.. eh it felt like too much of a stretch.

The romance fell flat for me, as there wasn't really much of a build up. The bad guys were caricatures.

Still, I loved the setting, the dark mysterious castle and the quaint little town. I enjoyed the mentions of culture and food. I was intrigued by the mystery. I quite liked this book up until I hit the middle. I don't regret reading it and would certainly recommend it for a fantasy reader who wants something slightly different than what's being pumped out lately.

I can say with 100% certainty that I was kept on my toes the entire book! I was fully engrossed into what was happening with each page especially as new characters emerged and world building increased.

I was highly anticipating this book based on the blurb alone and was not disappointed one bit. The author is new to me and I cannot wait to read more by them. Castle of the Cursed is a dark, gothic paranormal romance that will keep you yearning for more as secrets and mysteries pile up and unravel beautifully.

I would recommend this book for people who enjoyed Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

So incredibly thankful for the publisher and Netgalley for gifting an e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

★★★★★ - 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber
Book 1
༘Spoiler free ༘
⭐️4.25/5
🌶️
Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery/Adventure
Multi POV
➳ The Chosen One
➳ Forbidden Love
➳ Ancient Curses
➳ Parallel Worlds
➳ Secret Family Legacy
➳ Haunted Castle 🏰
➳ Dark Gothic Aesthetic
➳ Vampires 🧛

✨“Time is a concept with which I have only recently become acquainted,” he says. “What I know of it can be summed up in a line from a book I read in this library: Being with you and not being with you is the only way I have to measure time.”✨
Nestled within the shadow of La Sombra, a castle veiled in mystery, “Castle of the Cursed” immerses readers into a realm where a suspenseful gothic romance unfolds. Estela’s parents are lost in a tragic attack, leaving her as the sole survivor, life as she knows it devoured by smoke and destiny. The castle awaits, its corridors draped in shadows that whisper long-forgotten secrets, luring you into the dark heart of the mystery.

📚📚📚

❧✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*❦*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧❧

"Castle of the Cursed" is a haunting journey into the depths of a moody Spanish Gothic landscape. Romina Garber's masterful storytelling melds gothic mystery and supernatural romance, creating a rich feast for your senses in a world pulsating with suspense. Estela and Sebastián, each carrying their own shadowed past, add depth to the atmospheric setting, and their complexities mirror the twists of the suspenseful plot. Against the backdrop of a Spanish castle built on secrets, Garber infuses tragedy, love, and ancient curses into this tale, adding a distinctive flavour the YA Fantasy genre.

Watching Estela’s transformation from a girl haunted by tragedy into a courageous force challenging fate is a breathtaking journey within the moody Spanish Gothic landscape. After being the sole survivor of the Subway 25 attack that took the lives of twenty-five people including Estela’s parents, her desire to “feel” anything is nearly nonexistent, her only tether to life curiosity about her family’s past and solving the mystery of her parents’ tragic deaths. Unraveling La Sombra’s secreta, becomes the catalyst for a transformative odyssey, reawakening Estela’s determination to not only live but love. Her strength in empathy emerges as a poignant reminder that perceived weaknesses can be our greatest strengths.

Sebastián is a vampire that awakens confined in La Sombra with all previous memories of his life missing, at the same moment as the Subway 25 attack. For months he is trapped, alone in a castle where no one can see him, and no memories of the past that brought him there. I found myself imagining what it must have been like for him when he was alone in the castle for seven months, with nothing to entertain him but the library as he sat around devouring romance novels. In losing all memories of his cold and hardened past, Sebastián is able to nurture his capacity for softness, emotional depth and compassion.

When Estela arrives, she is the only one who can see Sebastián leaving her to believe he must be a hallucination. While Sebastián is convinced she must be the witch responsible for his confinement to the castle. The two must work together to solve the mystery of the castle, and discover the true cause of the attack that took Estela’s parents’ lives. The unlikely duo make a powerful team, and as they uncover the castle’s secrets they grow closer to each other. Sebastián is like a cat toying with its dinner in his initial interactions with Estela, but curiosity soon gets the better of him as he develops a genuine connection with her. Sebastián’s cold outer shell melts with each passing day and romantic gesture he makes.

With Sebastián by her side searching for answers, Estela realises for the first time since her parents’ death that she is not alone.
There were some serious plot twists in here. Raul’s honorary thirteenth rule holds true, you really do have a better chance of solving a puzzle when you’re holding all the pieces. Romina Garber unveils new pieces to the narrative’s puzzle as the story progresses, and just when you think you have it all figured out… she takes you by surprise. The prose was lush and atmospheric with the perfect touch mystique to keep you craving more. Castle of the Cursed is a feast for your senses with vividly painted moody aesthetics and food descriptions that left me craving spanish cuisine.
I found the ending to be incredibly satisfying, while the loose ends were tied up, i appreciated the room left for future exploration.

If you like dark YA romantasy & mystery, you absolutely don’t want to miss Castle of the Cursed, releasing 30 July 2024. Mark your calendar for the gothic vampire thrill of the summer.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

💖
LIKES:
⋆ I loved the scene where he created the visually exquisite (albeit inedible) meal for Estela. Who doesn’t want to drink a wine glass of gazpacho after all? This man is the epitome of “if he wanted to he would” from quoting poetry, to resisting his vampiric nature, to building houses of manchego for Estela to eat.
⋆ I loved the flashbacks (without giving away spoilers: the magical/paranormal aspects of them were fascinating)
⋆ Raul’s Rules stole my heart. I saw them throughout the novel as the guiding force and framework for Estela’s investigative techniques. It was nice to feel her parents’ presence throughout the story despite their absence.

❤️‍🩹
DISLIKES:
⋆ I would have appreciated more of a build up between Sebastián and Estela but i’m well aware of the YA word count guidelines and sometimes there just isn’t enough room for author’s to slow things down.

⚠️This is a tale about grief. The narrative addresses suicide, mental health issues, death of a parent, sex, and violence. Please be certain you are in the right mindset to read on. ⚠️ (I personally found the chapters where Estela was the deepest in her grief to handle the dissociative aspects of PTSD and trauma very well. I found them relatable without being triggering, but please assess your personal wellbeing before reading!)

**Fantasy Scoring**
Worldbuilding ➷ ✅ 4/5
Foreshadowing ➷ ✅ 5/5
Plot ➷ ✅ 4/5
Relationships ➷ ✅ 4/5

Thank you to the Romina Garber, Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on the ARC of this book.

Castle of the Cursed is about a girl who goes through the tragic loss of her parents and other strangers around her while on a train. She battles with herself as the media strings together lies to make sense of the accident that happened. Unfortunately, what she thought she saw must have been her imagination because after her estranged aunt sent for her the man in her dreams seems to have become reality set on killing her. In the first few chapters, I struggled to get into the book because of the back-and-forth between past and present though it did give the background of the main female character. It was a slow build for me getting juicer toward the end. (TW)There are some mental health concerns with MFC which cause her to make questionable decisions while in her depression. I found the magic system interesting seeing as everything revolved around the castle and it was more about sacrifices from generations. I did like it just seemed a bit overwritten a certain points.