*I received this book (Via eArc by Netgalley) for free from the Publisher ( St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books) in exchange for an honest review*

This novel is an absolute gem of a book that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. It beautifully weaves together gothic elements with a captivating romance that kept me hooked. The story is rich with intrigue and atmosphere, making every page a delight to read. One of the standout aspects of the book is its fascinating family dynamic and well-crafted historical setting. The way the author brings the past to life through vivid descriptions and intricate details is truly impressive. I also loved the flashbacks and the eerie red room sequences; they added a layer of suspense and mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat. The romance in this book was incredibly fun to read about. The chemistry between the characters was palpable, and their interactions were both charming and intense. The gothic vibe of the story reminded me of the classic feel of “Dracula,” while the atmospheric and thrilling elements brought to mind Kerri Maniscalco’s “Stalking Jack the Ripper” series, particularly “Hunting Prince Dracula.” Every aspect of the book worked together to create a hauntingly beautiful tale that I couldn’t put down. The suspense, the romance, and the rich history all combined to make this a truly memorable read. It was a pleasure to immerse myself in this world, and I can’t wait to add “Castle of the Cursed” to my collection when it releases. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good gothic romance with plenty of twists and turns!

Thank you so much to [ St. Martin’s Press / Wednesday Books ] and NetGalley for the ARC and I am instantly gonna purchase this when it releases.

I was super excited when I was offered a copy of Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber. Not only have I been wanting to read her work, but I am always looking for good gothic, vampire, latine fiction so to have all of that in one seemed like a great package deal. And it was, for the most part!

Despite being a gothic story, the pacing is incredibly quick. We move from scene to scene, plot to plot, in a whirlwind. Which is fitting considering this is how main character Estela experiences the world around her. After a freak and tragic accident that leaves her orphaned and internationally famous for being the sole survivor, she struggles to find her place and her reason for being. Cue one mysterious aunt from a foreign country to enter the picture and offer salvation. Things just keep happening without giving Estela, or the reader, a chance to breathe. I would’ve loved a slower pace, to settle into the beautiful gothic environment Garber created. Because it is beautiful, but we hardly see it. We have this ancient, creepy castle but it gets glossed over fairly quickly. There’s a hungry garden and we never get the chance to spend time with it.

The rush to reach the end is one of the biggest drawbacks I had. Though, perhaps it was for the best because I worry if this went on for longer, the plot might have been shakier than it already was. This was my second drawback. The first half of the novel, we have a creepy castle, a mysterious and possibly sinister aunt, and a handsome but murderous vampire, all wanting something from Estela, who only wants to recover or die. That would’ve been enough for me plot-wise. I would’ve loved to see Estela come into her own, grow into her legacy. Instead, halfway through we get thrown so much information and a completely parallel story that just bogged everything down. It stopped being Estela’s story and became someone else’s tale.

Despite the plot and pacing issues, I really did enjoy the characters! Estela was so interesting. Not only was she trying to heal from the trauma of her parents’ death and her survivor’s guilt, but also the trauma of never being able to lay down roots, make friends, and then guilt of planning to do just that and leave her parents after turning 18. Due to the aforementioned issues, we only get glimpses of that but it was enough for my heart to break for her. Then we have Felipe! I know, you’re probably wondering who the heck is Felipe? The synopsis blurb says Sebastián. WELL! Sebastián is interesting, but I don’t think we learn enough about him for me to really care that much about him. Plus, some spoilers from the second half really have me on the fence. But Felipe, a local boy that Estela befriends as she learns Spanish, gosh I really felt so bad for him. He grew up hearing so much about Estela’s family and of their legacy and history, of his family’s ties to theirs. There was a brightness that was just as deep as the darkness he held, which felt very on theme with the book itself.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber is a really quick young adult gothic romance that is enjoyable for anyone that isn’t interested in looking deeper. There are some really great characters, the romance is light and enjoyable (very surface level and fade to black sex scenes). If you’re a reader that goes for complex characters, you’ll like this! If you’re a reader that wants intense worldbuilding and a mystery you can sink your teeth into, maybe borrow this from the library. And if you saw gothic horror and wanted to give this a try, maybe don’t unless you are very young and new to both genres.

This was my second read by Romina Garber (the first being Lobizona) and it did not disappoint! I LOVE stories centering around dark, gothic houses or (in this case) castles and this hit the mark with la Sombra--a haunted, Spanish castle which houses a boy whom only our main character can see. Estela partners with Sebastian to uncover a curse that clings to the castle. The nearby villagers aren't quite right either. But this is a story about much more than just a boy and a girl and a curse. This is also a story of grief and loss as well as family and hope. There were points in the plot that felt info dumpy and rushed while others felt a little misplaced or forced. Overall, however, I found this very engaging and entertaining. I will absolutely continue to read from Ms Garber!!

After a mysterious attack claims the life of her parents, Estela moves in to her family's ancestral castle with her estranged aunt. Estela is determined to solve the mystery of her parents deaths. But of course, La Sombra, the castle, has secrets of its own. Estela beings to believe that her parents deaths are linked to old family secrets. Her investigation takes a supernatural turn when she crosses paths with a boy only she can see. And the deeper she gets into the castle's secrets, the more she is convinced that the suspect has already found her.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this e-arc.*

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC of Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

I loved the synopsis and the spooky gothic vibes it promised. Add in the multiple mysteries and not knowing who to trust and I was sold.

Once I started reading, I was hooked. I loved the story-telling, the atmosphere, the lore, and the characters. While there may not have been an unreliable narrator specifically, I enjoyed the fact that we weren't sure if we could trust people or what they were saying/their actions. I sped through this one in less than a day--and I cannot stop thinking about the ending!

If you're into romantasies, mysteries, not knowing what you can trust, or gothic atmospheres, this one is for you! And bonus -- it has witches and vampires in it.

This gothic Spanish mystery is intriguing and creepy. We follow Estela as she goes back to her ancestral Spanish castle, la Sombra, to live with her aunt after her parents pass in a mysterious tragedy. When she reunites with her aunt Beatrice, Estela knows something is wrong with the town and she sets off to find out what really happened to her parents. What she soon realizes is there is no one she can trust.
I thought this story was interesting with creepy details that held my attention. I also enjoyed that English and Spanish were both part of the dialogue with enough translations to be able to follow along that were also written naturally into the narration. The last sentence though... I'm going to need financial compensation for how emotionally invested I was because my jaw DROPPED. (Please Romina Garber give me closure)

My one critique: I wanted more real romance between Sebastian and Estela

I completely thought this book was gonna be so different from what I read so I went in with especially high expectations.
I think it may be more of a “it’s me, not you” book.

I would love to review this book but I am withholding my review in light of the SMP Boycott, and will wait to post until SMP takes action and the boycott ends.

**Features:**
- Blend of gothic mystery and paranormal normal
- Main character struggling with severe trauma and mental health issues
- Setting that feels like a character
- Uncovering family secrets that go back generations

One moment, Estela was riding the subway with her parents. The next, 25 people were dead leaving Estela the only passenger alive. As the investigation causes Estela to question everything she thought she knew, she finds herself in a downward spiral she can’t seem to stop. However, an invitation to live with a long-lost aunt in Spain might be a chance for a new start gives Estela the opportunity to find the answers she so desperately seeks. But the secrets held by Castillo Brálaga go as deep as its long history and threaten to consume the little Estela has left.

This book really delivers on the gothic vibe and there are a lot of interesting plot threads to follow as the mystery unravels. Garber does a wonderful job describing Estela’s mental health struggles, particularly at the beginning of the book. Estela’s journey to reconnect with herself feels honest and realistic despite the severity of her condition. However, there are some weird pacing choices throughout that undermines some of the great details in this book. I never really ‘questioned’ Estela’s experiences in the way I think I was meant to and the book lost its steam for me as it went on. Overall, this was a solid and enjoyable read I would recommend to readers who enjoy a more paranormal-forward take on a gothic tale.

**Doesn’t shy away from difficult topics**

It is not unusual to see a YA book start with a traumatic event. However, they rarely take the time to actually explore the toll that trauma takes on the characters in a realistic way unless it is the central focus of the story. Garber does an admirable job showing Estela’s mental/emotional spiral and the complicated journey to climb back out of that dark place. Despite the severity of these experiences, Estela never felt overly dramatic or simplified. Her brutally honest journey would definitely speak to many even though it somewhat takes a back seat in the later parts of the story.

**Loses itself a little**

This story has a powerful beginning, but it slowly loses some of its narrative impact as the story unfolds. For a number of reasons, the build up feels a bit disjointed in an unintentional way. This book really excels in the quieter moments, so it is a bit jarring when odd stylistic choices start appearing in the effort to build tension. There is quite a bit of repetitiveness throughout, but it definitely increases in the tenser sections. While not unusual in YA writing, it felt like a little too much and took me out of the story a number of times. I liked a lot of what this book was doing narratively, I just wish that it had taken its time a little more in a number of sections to give them more of an impact.

An interesting premise and solid execution! this was my first time reading this author and i will definitely be checking out more.

This is a lovely gothic tale of Estela who survives an attack that kills everyone around her. When an mysterious relative asks her to come and live with them in a castle she goes hoping to find out her families past. Instead, she finds a monster that appears only to her and comes in the night. Together they try to piece together the little she knows about her past. This book is dark and lovely. It is a quick easy read and one that teens are going to love.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber was a fun gothic horror romance story.
A riveting mystery that held my attention from beginning to end.
I thoroughly enjoyed and was hooked for the entirety of this story and can only commend the author on writing a very intriguing book.

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

This one started off strong, but then fizzled out for me. It seemed to get off track about 70% of the way in, when it almost had a completely different story within the story. I also wasn’t quite feeling the love story, either. It just didn’t feel like there was enough of a build up for the two characters to fall in love, and Sebastian never really had any redeeming qualities. It just all seemed disjointed and forced.

Honestly, I just wasn’t a big fan of this and I feel like the main character was having to deal with a lot in this story and I think the pacing was a bit strange.

*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Uhhhhhh what? I was expecting a lush setting with tons of fun rules for magic, and I got some kind of weird New Adult book with vampire romance?

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Star rating is 2.75/5 ⭐️

This book was…. A mess. The synopsis that the MC Estela travels to a mysterious castle in Spain that is a secret family legacy and tries to solve the mystery of her family’s bloody past.

There are some things, mostly at the beginning, that I really enjoyed. Estela is struggling with serious mental depression and survivor’s guilt. Her upbringing with a private investigator father and journalist mother gives her the conviction of solving the traumatic events of her past. Her investigation continues when she travels to Spain to live with her aunt in their creepy family castle. The use of trauma, and the Spanish environment, with Estela’s fish out of water conflict was intriguing.

But then suddenly there’s a mysterious beast (hunk) that Estela sees in the castle, and instead of that making things better things go off the rails. I think the issue with this book is pacing. It has way too much happening way too fast and it’s all over the place. The bulk of the book takes place over two weeks, and some crazy shit happens in two weeks. There’s some tonal inconsistencies as well, with the author struggling to stay in one lane.

This book reads super juvenile, which as YA is fine. But just be prepared for that going in. I think I’d be more forgiving as a younger and less experienced reader. The mysteries of the book kept me reading, but the answers sadly were not worth it.

This is a special edition book in an upcoming subscription box, and I’m skipping this one sadly since I ultimately did not enjoy the book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I really enjoyed this novel and even though I mistook it for a completely different vampire novel that's also coming out soon, I'm genuinely glad I requested it and was approved. The book had some pretty dark things which were mentioned on the trigger warnings page but even then I don't think I was really prepared for it. Estella's multiple suicide attempts got to me at times so those parts of the story were really hard to get through. I did enjoy Sebastian as a character too, although I felt their romance was rather fast. I never really came to like her Aunt Bea though. I understood where she was coming from and what she was trying to do to protect Estella but at the same time, I didn't feel bad when she died. I hadn't garnered enough sympathy for her for her death to really affect anything. I also fully expected for Teo to die too but... he didn't. The only plot twist in this novel that surprised me was when Felipe died. I didn't expect that and even though I didn't really care for him in the end, I was still saddened by his death.

Castle of the Cursed by Romina Garber is a gothic paranormal mystery that is unique and very interesting. It has an atmospheric setting that pulls the reader into it. It pulled me in for sure, and I just had to finish the book.

Estela loses her parents in a mysterious incident, and she is unaware of her past. She is surprised to find that she has an aunt and lives in a castle called la sombra. This castle is dark, brooding, and mysterious. More than that, Estela encounters more mysteries that are endangering her life.

This book has a lot going on. However, I not only finished it but really liked it. There are so many elements in the story that sometimes I was really not sure if I would be able to finish it. It's atmospheric, unique, and mysterious. The story is dark, though, and could be triggering for some readers, so please read the warnings that the author has shared.

3.5 Stars
THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY...
After a tragic accident that kills her parents, Estela accepts an invitation by her estranged aunt to move back overseas to her ancestral Spanish home, la Sombra.
But la Sombra holds many secrets and unlocking them might just lead her to discover the truth about her past and her parents death...

Genre - YA Gothic Fantasy Romance

I enjoyed the premise of this story but overall the execution really didn't work for me. This is going to be a chaotic review because, honestly, don't even know how I would rate this one. I didn't dislike it as a whole, at moments it was so ridiculous but not necessarily in a bad way...

The plot is campy/quirky and I actually enjoyed the chaos of that to a degree. Almost like a fever dream,

It was the relationships between our characters that really didn't work for me. I think you needed to feel the tension or at least a connection between our love interests to make this ending work and unfortunately, I felt nothing between them and therefore the ending just felt like a chaotic mess for me. Some of the jumps between chapter were slightly jarring. A few times I had to actually go back and make sure I didn't just miss a page or chapter chapter and that feeling took me out of the story a few times.

Things that I did like...
The setting/atmosphere were awesome. I could feel the vibes of the castle. It was creepy and over the top giving me camp vibes. I really enjoyed the start if this book, focusing on Estela's mental health after the loss of her parents. Her questioning her sanity upon arriving at la Sombra...but as the story progresses I felt that story line got lost and overpowered a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the eARC of this book! All opinions are my own.

Well-written, with dark suspense and vivid detail, I adored this spooky, bloodthirsty story. Estela is the sole survivor of a strange attack that took her own parent's lives. Her loss and guilt are written so poignantly, I felt that loss too. When she moves to Spain into an actual castle, albeit a very scary castle, she thinks the trauma she went through is finally making her lose her mind. She believes everyone is lying to her. There's a boy only she can see. And the house is somehow alive.

There are many plot twists in this novel and I only saw a few coming. Then there was a very BIG plot twist and I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. Without revealing any big spoilers, all I will say is don't trust anyone.

But I will also say that my favorite part of this book is the character development of Estela. Her internal struggles and growth in this are very relatable, even if her external circumstances are less realistic. The backdrop of the dark and gothic serves to intensify Estela's (and other characters) resilience and ultimately, the idea of hope.

I highly recommend this book and eagerly anticipate a sequel!