Castle of the Cursed Review: Beyond the Castle Walls
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THE HOUSE IS ALWAYS HUNGRY… Beneath the towering, gothic façade of la Sombra, an ancestral Spanish castle steeped in shadows and family secrets, Estela finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue and supernatural mystery. After a devastating attack claims her parents’ lives, she grapples with survivor’s guilt and the unsettling suspicion that their deaths are linked to a hidden past. Seeking solace with her estranged aunt in Spain, Estela’s world tilts further when she encounters Sebastián—a silver eyed boy visible only to her.
Unsure if he’s real or a figment of her fractured psyche, Estela reluctantly joins forces with him. As their investigation deepens, so does their forbidden romance, every touch sparking mistrust amidst the unraveling secrets of both the castle and the tight-knit town of Oscuro. With each revelation, Estela realizes the danger she faces is closer than she ever dared imagine, threatening not just her newfound love but her very existence.
Title: Castle of the Cursed
Author: Romina Garber
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Gothic, Paranormal, Mystery
Pages: 304
Star Rating: 5 stars
Spice Rating: 0 chili peppers
The Castle of the Cursed Review
I received Castle of the Cursed by bestselling author Romina Garber from Wednesday books to ARC read and review. Honestly, this book sat on my shelf until this month when I walked through my various libraries, and rooms with shelves to compile my July TBR. And now I hate that I put it off for so long because it was one of the easiest 5 stars I have given this year!
The premise wasn’t necessarily unique as a whole. An ancestral Spanish castle drawing the caretaker’s return to the home. But what it did have is that the home is carnivorous (of sorts). With part of the home being inhabitable. And family secrets in a tiny town with no church in the shadows of the land.
And it was PERFECTION!
What sets the stage for how gripping the tale will be is the prologue. It’s short, 3 pages at most but packs in setting the stage for the darkness and thrill to come. Every few chapters are headed by “Raul’s Rule” (Estela’s father) giving the general feel to the pages within that span.
“Welcome Home at Last”
The words have an eerie spooky feel that’s perfect for this gothic tale. Easily losing yourself in the words and heavy atmosphere.
Bands of excitement tighten around your chest as the story progresses. Eventually loosening a breath you didn’t know you were holding at the last page. With the siren song of the words being too tempting to ignore.
In the background of discovering what la Sombra harbors, an investigation takes place of the mysterious attack claims. This investigation ignites Estela as she (and her father) are natural private investigators. Throughout Castle of the Cursed are themes of grief, rage, and intrusive self-harm thoughts until Estela begins to see her value in the world.
Estela undergoes a profound transformation amidst the haunting Spanish Gothic backdrop. Haunted by the tragic loss of her parents in the Subway 25 attack. Struggling to connect with her emotions, she finds solace in unraveling the secrets of la Sombra. Her ancestral home, igniting a journey of self-discovery and resilience.
“The Castle Has Eyes”
As she delves deeper, her empathy emerges as a source of strength, challenging her perceived weaknesses. Meanwhile, Sebastián, a vampire awakened with no memories in la Sombra, shares a parallel journey of rediscovery. Shedding his cold past to embrace emotional depth and compassion, nurtured by the solitude of the castle’s library.
Taking second place is a gothic romance that will have you begrudgingly team Sebastián following initial reasons as to why he ends up in la Sombra.
Castle of the Cursed has excellent foreshadowing and intriguing lines formulating all sorts of questions in your mind. Craving the next piece of the puzzle wanting to slot it in to get the full picture. Like a pull that is impossible to resist.
In conjunction, Estela is an unreliable narrator creating doubt in your mind and adding to those formulating questions.
“Being with You and Not Being with You is the only way I have to measure time.”
I easily devoured this book in one sitting staying up late into the night (well technically morning) to finish the story. I just couldn’t put it down. And that ENDING. I have never-ending thoughts about the ending. Please read this so we can talk about it even dreaming about it and it being the first thing I woke up thinking! I seriously loved Castle of the Cursed. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Castle of the Cursed releases on July 30th! Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me a copy to read and review. This easily makes my favorite books of the year list! Please support your local bookstore and grab a copy.
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