I will say I did enjoyed some aspects to the book. Though I just found my self lost and unable to stay interested in the book. It was slow in parts and others it was so much happening I just could figure it out.
DN
I love where the author was going but sadly at 37% I DNF this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

This was an interesting twist on the gothic novel that seemed to play around with many different themes im more used to seeing in family dramas. I appreciated the unique story and elements and setting.

Castle of the Cursed is a fantasy gothic set in Spain perfect for fans of the Twilight series and haunted house stories.

Castle of the Cursed follows Estela, who goes to live in Spain with her long lost relative after a mysterious attack claimed the lives of her parents. Once at the castle, Estela quickly realizes that something dark and otherworldly lives within its walls. Estela will have to uncover the secrets of the castle and by doing so, will learn a startling truth about her family, that something supernatural may be responsible for everything.

Shadowy figures, curses, blood magic, and portals are the fantastical elements included in this story. I thought the whole storyline was interesting and the Spanish setting added an exotic feel to the gothic vibes of it all. I think the castle served as a powerful metaphor for the pressures, conditioning, and indebtedness that families can sometimes entrap themselves in. The family curse that is a big part of the story used the supernatural to talk about topics such as free will, self-empowerment, and fate. The plot became more complex as the story progressed, but at the heart of it, was an intriguing mystery that had both multi-generational and multi-dimensional aspects...quite literally.

My only critique is that the transitions between scenes could have been better as it made the writing seem choppy.

Overall Castle of the Cursed was an original gothic mystery with dark fantasy elements that tells a spellbinding story about inheritance, family, love, and sacrifice.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF @38%. I wasn't expecting gothic Twilight. It's definitely frothy, a bit overwritten, and just not for me. Others will likely enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review. This was such a gothic and dark read, I loved reading it for the fall season. The characters were also well executed and crafted. A good read.