Where to start on this book? I normally wouldn’t read a book like this, but I am so glad I did! This book takes you through a journey with Estela and Sebastian trying to figure out her family legacy and what draws them to the castle. This books includes it all! It has romance, gothic feel, mystery, murder, and more. Definitely adding this to five star reads for 2024. 😊

“…I’ve felt like I’m missing a kind of anchoring to the world that others are born with.”

“Castle of the Cursed,” by Romina Garber

Estela is now an orphan after her parents died in a mysterious accident in a train station. After being stuck in a mental hospital, Estela is being sent to her only living relative all the way to Spain. The town, her aunt, and the spooky castle she now lives in only give Estela more questions to her current reality.

I loved this book so much. The Spanish lore and setting were so unique from anything I’ve read. The characters were interesting, and the mental illness aspect of the MC was relatable. Romina Garber writes in a way that when I was reading it the descriptions of scenes were so easy to picture that the movie my head made was so good. I loved every second of the book and can’t wait to read more of Romina Garber’s books. 5 out of 5 stars.

-Spanish Heritage
-Ghosts/Vampires
-Magic
-Orphan
-Enemies To Lovers
-Who Done It
-Slowburn
-Curse/ Chosen One

Thank you for the ARC.

4 stars closer to 3.5,

Thanks to NETGALLEY and Wednesday Books for eARC

This is a gothic blend of scifi, fantasy/romantasy (hetero), and supernatural. It's told in first person POV through Estela (17, then 18, female), with time-jumps and flashbacks. We also get a quick blurb in third POV through Estela and Sebastián (second main), and her dad's list of rules for investigating sprinkled between chapters. It's set in New York, Washington DC, and northern Spain, where the fictional castle and town are. Since Estela doesn't know Spanish at first, we are treated the same; little to no translations that then expand as Tela begins to learn the language. I thoroughly enjoy when the author does this in things! What I found, was that I loved the author's wit and creativity. I think that Villain no.2 was sometimes comedic in said villainy and a bit unhinged, which was jarring or icky at times, but them aside, the characters are mostly likable, the book fairly enjoyable. Is the romance dramatic? Yeah, but I kept reminding myself that Estela is still a teenager, one who has been traumatized, at that. It helped pacify myself for the most part, heh. The lore and Garber's writing style kept me going. A lot of twists in this one, too!

A heads up, this is not a standalone, since at the time of this review, it is not presented as a series or duology.

TRIGGER WARNINGS! - Content warning note from author in the very beginning.

This book was an insta-request for me the second I read the blurb. Gothic castles, supernatural elements, and romance? YES PLEASE. The romance drives more of the plot than I was expecting going in, but honestly, I think that only made me enjoy the story more. By the end, I was dying to uncover the mysteries with Estela. Overall, a wholly enjoyable read for me!

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Castle of the Cursed is a dark gothic romance with a lot of supernatural elements. Estela is the only survivor of a subway accident that killed 25 people including her parents. Dealing with mental health issues and trauma, Estela is in a treatment facility when her aunt sends for her to come to Spain. Her new home in Spain is full of secrets and a horrible darkness along with a mysterious, smoky figure named Bastion. While learning Spanish, Estela begins to uncover secrets about her home and her family. Evil comes to play and Estela’s life is on the line. Unpredictable and thrillingly dark, I read this story in one day as I became entranced in Estela and Bastion’s story. This is the third book I have read by this author and they all have been enjoyable and interesting to firmly add this author’s new releases to my must read shelf. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a free review copy from NetGalley.

This book unfortunately wasn’t for me. I wasn’t expecting a vampire plot line from the synopsis. The romance felt forced from the start. I made the decision to DNF at 38%

˚｡⋆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.