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mglarson29's review against another edition
This is just not really for me. The writing is good but it's a little too emotionally dark for where I'm at right now.
heidikundin's review against another edition
2.0
Oof. I hate having to write bad reviews, but I honestly feel like I'm being generous with my 2-star review here.
Castle of the Cursed started out fairly strong, but by the 35% mark, I was already considering DNF-ing it (which I very, VERY rarely do), and that feeling only intensified as I kept reading. I trudged on, though, because as an ARC reviewer, I felt like I owed it to the author to see if the story improved before I gave up on it. (Spoiler alert: it did not.)
The plot is super jumpy and disjointed, and the twists feel like they're way out of left field, even for a story that's driven by the supernatural. The characters were flat, the dialogue was unnatural, and the insta-love from multiple characters was just too much for me.
I'm sure this book will find its audience, but sadly, it was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Castle of the Cursed started out fairly strong, but by the 35% mark, I was already considering DNF-ing it (which I very, VERY rarely do), and that feeling only intensified as I kept reading. I trudged on, though, because as an ARC reviewer, I felt like I owed it to the author to see if the story improved before I gave up on it. (Spoiler alert: it did not.)
The plot is super jumpy and disjointed, and the twists feel like they're way out of left field, even for a story that's driven by the supernatural. The characters were flat, the dialogue was unnatural, and the insta-love from multiple characters was just too much for me.
I'm sure this book will find its audience, but sadly, it was not for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
that_bookaholic_gal's review
3.75
The stone walls kept the cold trapped inside. She felt the chill all the way into her bones as she wandered the halls. This place felt menacing, sinister; as if it were harboring a great evil. Each hall she turned down, each door she peered into… the weight of the world seemed to be crushing her shoulders… this place claiming its stake of her soul.
Castle of the Cursed is a YA gothic fantasy following Estela after the loss of her parents as she is taken in by an estranged aunt. This aunt lives in a castle that’s been cursed for centuries and when Estela arrives she’s determined to find out what this curse is and how to break it.
I really enjoyed the gothic elements of this book and the mystery of the curse. The dark, eerie setting gave off a bit of horror vibes. I did feel the romance was a little off… a bit rushed. I felt the characters could have been developed a little more to make their connection stronger. Overall though it was a really good read.
If you’re a fan of gothic fantasies, family curses/secrets, and vampires, then you’ll want to check this one out!
Castle of the Cursed is a YA gothic fantasy following Estela after the loss of her parents as she is taken in by an estranged aunt. This aunt lives in a castle that’s been cursed for centuries and when Estela arrives she’s determined to find out what this curse is and how to break it.
I really enjoyed the gothic elements of this book and the mystery of the curse. The dark, eerie setting gave off a bit of horror vibes. I did feel the romance was a little off… a bit rushed. I felt the characters could have been developed a little more to make their connection stronger. Overall though it was a really good read.
If you’re a fan of gothic fantasies, family curses/secrets, and vampires, then you’ll want to check this one out!
honestlyyours77's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
3.25
think I may have to sit on this one to gather my thoughts so I may amend this review in a few days but here goes.
I want to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for the audio ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I’m not sure what I just listened to to be honest. This definitely was not what I was expecting from the description. This may be a very old throw back but when I read the description I got the movie “Casper” with Christina Ricci vibes but that was not at all the outcome.
The book is listed as YA/Teen, which it is as the female protagonist is turning 18 (although at the beginning and sprinkled throughout, she comes off much younger), but it doesn’t really capture that this is full on (gothic) Fantasy.
The narrator did a decent job but I think that may have added to the feeling that Estella was younger than her stated age. I also have a feeling that this book would have hit much differently had I read the prose rather than listening to it. But I think this is a me problem and others will enjoy the recording.
Overall I think that the fantasy gets too convoluted. Things are added out of left field rather than a natural build.
I do appreciate that there are trigger warnings at the start of the book for those that need them.
I rated this snack in the middle as I think those who like this type of fantasy will dig it, it just wasn’t for me. Lastly, I did enjoy the cultural connections.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
I want to thank NetGalley and St Martins Press for the audio ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
I’m not sure what I just listened to to be honest. This definitely was not what I was expecting from the description. This may be a very old throw back but when I read the description I got the movie “Casper” with Christina Ricci vibes but that was not at all the outcome.
The book is listed as YA/Teen, which it is as the female protagonist is turning 18 (although at the beginning and sprinkled throughout, she comes off much younger), but it doesn’t really capture that this is full on (gothic) Fantasy.
The narrator did a decent job but I think that may have added to the feeling that Estella was younger than her stated age. I also have a feeling that this book would have hit much differently had I read the prose rather than listening to it. But I think this is a me problem and others will enjoy the recording.
Overall I think that the fantasy gets too convoluted. Things are added out of left field rather than a natural build.
I do appreciate that there are trigger warnings at the start of the book for those that need them.
I rated this snack in the middle as I think those who like this type of fantasy will dig it, it just wasn’t for me. Lastly, I did enjoy the cultural connections.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
hailey2510's review against another edition
4.0
SO GOOD. A little dark and full of turns, this was a really great read, though not that memorable. As I was reading this, I really enjoyed it. I basically read it in one sitting, as I just couldn’t put it down. I felt that everything was very well thought out, and plot points weren’t made just to fulfill tropes. It didn’t feel like insta-love from the way it was written, but the whole book happened over two-ish weeks so I guess it was. That’s a mild issue I had since I felt like they moved way too fast, but it didn’t have any impact on my enjoyment. Such a great book! 4.5 ⭐️
eponineeurydice's review against another edition
3.0
This book was mainly confusing to me. I will attempt to get my thoughts together.
We follow a girl by the name of Estela who is preparing to stay at her family's ancestral castle. Spookiness and mysteries abound, and this also comes with discussions of boss, death, and—of course!—love.
I'll start with something good. The writing of this book was really beautiful and atmospheric. The descriptions were vivid that I felt like I was IN the castle with Estela, and the creepy vibes were most definitely achieved! The plot was gripping and I was hooked at many points throughout the book. However, there were moments that prevented me from feeling fully invested. Firstly, Bastian, my main problem. He is the love interest and I just want to say that he is definitely the "dark and questionably toxic" type. Morally grey enough to be almost indistinguishable LOL and there was just not a single quality that helped me to feel invested in their relationship. I had the major ick throughout and was cringeing at many of the descriptions and dialogue throughout. Secondly, there are a lot of double standards in the book concerning sexual assault and murder that I am just not here for LOL, it makes it very difficult to understand what the author is trying to do. I could've done without the epilogue as well; it complicated things for me and left more unresolved than I would've liked, which is the main source of my confusion; but it is a mystery, and I can absolutely understand how certain things might be murky.
This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the book; it was still really fun! The plot was compelling and well-crafted! There were just certain moments that felt questionable enough for me to not feel fully sold by the overarching ideas of the story. Still, the themes of grief and recovery were nice to see. I think this book will absolutely find its audience and deserves all the love; even if certain aspects were not my cup of tea, I still think that this book has readers who will find this perfectly aligned with their tastes. Just be warned that if you don't like shady (pun intended heehee) love interests or open endings, this may not hit as hard.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this early copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
We follow a girl by the name of Estela who is preparing to stay at her family's ancestral castle. Spookiness and mysteries abound, and this also comes with discussions of boss, death, and—of course!—love.
I'll start with something good. The writing of this book was really beautiful and atmospheric. The descriptions were vivid that I felt like I was IN the castle with Estela, and the creepy vibes were most definitely achieved! The plot was gripping and I was hooked at many points throughout the book. However, there were moments that prevented me from feeling fully invested. Firstly, Bastian, my main problem. He is the love interest and I just want to say that he is definitely the "dark and questionably toxic" type. Morally grey enough to be almost indistinguishable LOL and there was just not a single quality that helped me to feel invested in their relationship. I had the major ick throughout and was cringeing at many of the descriptions and dialogue throughout. Secondly, there are a lot of double standards in the book concerning sexual assault and murder that I am just not here for LOL, it makes it very difficult to understand what the author is trying to do. I could've done without the epilogue as well; it complicated things for me and left more unresolved than I would've liked, which is the main source of my confusion; but it is a mystery, and I can absolutely understand how certain things might be murky.
This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the book; it was still really fun! The plot was compelling and well-crafted! There were just certain moments that felt questionable enough for me to not feel fully sold by the overarching ideas of the story. Still, the themes of grief and recovery were nice to see. I think this book will absolutely find its audience and deserves all the love; even if certain aspects were not my cup of tea, I still think that this book has readers who will find this perfectly aligned with their tastes. Just be warned that if you don't like shady (pun intended heehee) love interests or open endings, this may not hit as hard.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this early copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
chyina's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Gore and Death
noreimerreason's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cressida's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.5
This book follows Estela through some traumatic points in her life, and as she makes some choices to try and reclaim parts of her life and connect to her past as she works through the grief of having lost her parents. (I'm avoiding spoilers so this description is very vague)
It's difficult for me to rate this book fairly, but I will endeavor to do so. As an adult in the place that I am, I did not enjoy this book. The biggest reveal for me was that Estrela was turning 18, as at some point in the book she shifted to being 14 in my mind. Some of the twists were well executed and I enjoyed them, but I just found that the book was written in such a fast paced way while holding your hand that the payoff wasn't there for me.
I think this book would have benefitted from slowing down to earn the relationship building and drama. Had I read closer to thirteen I would have given this four stars, it fits the bills for a lot of things I loved at that age and the hand holding would not have been as noticeable for me.
Ultimately this is not a bad book, but it has scenes to make it feel older while being written to skew younger YA.
It's difficult for me to rate this book fairly, but I will endeavor to do so. As an adult in the place that I am, I did not enjoy this book. The biggest reveal for me was that Estrela was turning 18, as at some point in the book she shifted to being 14 in my mind. Some of the twists were well executed and I enjoyed them, but I just found that the book was written in such a fast paced way while holding your hand that the payoff wasn't there for me.
I think this book would have benefitted from slowing down to earn the relationship building and drama. Had I read closer to thirteen I would have given this four stars, it fits the bills for a lot of things I loved at that age and the hand holding would not have been as noticeable for me.
Ultimately this is not a bad book, but it has scenes to make it feel older while being written to skew younger YA.
joybookish's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Castle of the Cursed really hits the mark as a gothic story. There are ghosts, forbidden blood magics, and many secrets within the old castle that has been passed down through one family for hundreds of years. Garber gave a unique spin on narration as she wove in the past and present in unique formats. She unraveled information only the moment it was necessarily, which kept me on my toes. She wrote an interesting main character, and I felt like I was really in the small Spanish town.
One problem I had is with one of the main characters, the "boy" referenced in the synopsis. If he wasn't mentioned as a boy, I never would have guessed it. Very little information was given about his appearance, and he gave off a very strong vibe of being alive much longer than our main heroine has been alive. This wasn't a major deal, but it was still enough that threw me off.
Another problem -- much larger this time -- is the plot. While the first 50% kept me utterly captivated, around 50% it started falling apart a little, and by 60% there was a huge pivot that was very off-putting. It very sudden and out of place, and I didn't necessarily enjoy where the story turned to. It did help answer questions about the plot, but it was just too out-there for me.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a gothic read and stories with huge plot twists. There is no spice, so I'd recommend to any age group. Overall a 3-star read for me.
One problem I had is with one of the main characters, the "boy" referenced in the synopsis. If he wasn't mentioned as a boy, I never would have guessed it. Very little information was given about his appearance, and he gave off a very strong vibe of being alive much longer than our main heroine has been alive. This wasn't a major deal, but it was still enough that threw me off.
Another problem -- much larger this time -- is the plot. While the first 50% kept me utterly captivated, around 50% it started falling apart a little, and by 60% there was a huge pivot that was very off-putting. It very sudden and out of place, and I didn't necessarily enjoy where the story turned to. It did help answer questions about the plot, but it was just too out-there for me.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who loves a gothic read and stories with huge plot twists. There is no spice, so I'd recommend to any age group. Overall a 3-star read for me.