Castle of the Cursed

CASTLE OF THE CURSED is an intriguing dark fantasy. Estela has grown up on the road with her parents, but after a tragic accident leaves everyone on their subway car dead except Estela, she feels adrift. Dealing with survivor's guilt and the weight of her questions, she is institutionalized. However, when a family member she never knew existed reaches out to bring her to Spain and her ancestral home, Estela's course is altered, and she is determined to learn the secrets her parents were keeping from her and what happened on that subway.

Once at the castle of La Sombra, Estela begins to realize that there are strange forces at play. When she encounters a boy that only she can see, her questions only grow more. As she investigates, she will find herself at the center of something more dangerous and deadly than she ever could have anticipated.

What I loved: This was a twisty mystery read that keeps readers on their toes as they try to understand and solve what happened on the subway and how it ties into this mysterious castle. The town and the castle itself are very atmospheric and steeped in the lore of her family home. As the story continues, new twists and turns will continue to surprise readers as it becomes impossible to guess what will happen next.

Themes around grief, mental illness, fate, consent, morality of survival-related questions, obsession, and trust are all really thought-provoking throughout. There are several characters dealing with elements of grief, obsession, and mental illness that play out in different ways as the story continues and could lead to interesting discussions for a book group.

Estela is an interesting character who felt adrift after the loss of her parents, who were practically her whole world. She is learning to survive without them, and it is not easy for her to come to terms with her grief and loss as well as to interact with the people around her. Her aunt is effectively a stranger and does not seem to know how to relate to her, leaving her feeling even lonelier. With the intense boy in town being her Spanish tutor and the unexpected specter in the castle, she is trying to find connection even if she does not yet realize it herself. These relationships play out in very different ways with secrets and betrayals underneath it all.

The story definitely took some turns I did not expect in terms of the supernatural/paranormal, and the ways that this interacts with the castle/the way the story plays out. These ended up adding a lot to the story, as well as to the gravity of what was to come. The ending felt perfectly paced, although at the very end, there is a bit of a question that left it a little open-ended. This is vague to avoid spoilers, but it would work best for readers who don't mind a little uncertainty in the end.

What left me wanting more: The romance felt a bit rushed/flat. There was an intense connection, but there was not much build-up for it, and it would have been great to see more of the interactions that led to this intensity. On the flip side, because of this, the reader, like Estela, was left wondering how much trust she should place in it as the story plays out. There was a lot more time spent with another character (not a love interest), and it would have been helpful to have the time spent be in reverse to build this up better.

Final verdict: CASTLE OF THE CURSED is an overall compelling dark fantasy about family secrets, grief/loss, and obsession.

What worked: Intriguing paranormal world-building where a girl finds she plays a part in a tragic past. This novel introduces readers to Estela who after a horrific accident ends up in Spain with an aunt she knows nothing about. The gothic atmosphere grows with evocative hints of her true heritage. There's a cold aunt who is insistent on Estela taking a black seed instead of the meds from back in the States. A huge creepy castle with many secrets. And a shadowy personage who demands to be released from a spell. The problem is only Estela can see him.

Add to all this is the grief Estela carries from losing the only family she knew.

Lots is going on in this novel. A mystery behind the tragic death of her parents and others on a subway where only Estela survives. Why does her aunt have the blood supply of the small town? Mysterious locked rooms inside the castle. And the shadowy personage Sebastian, who she finds out is a vampire from a multi-dimensional universe.

The sinister purpose behind the castle is slowly revealed which includes Estela's part. A part she can accept or deny with deadly results.

At times the pacing slows with the telling of the castle's history and the other realm. The chemistry between Sebastian felt forced and too sudden. One minute he wants to kill Estela and the next she longs for him. Felipe, her Spanish tutor, had a stalker quality to him. Also, the reclusive uncle came out of nowhere. I felt this took away from an otherwise engaging unique paranormal tale.

Secrets, blood, and betrayals meet Estela where she needs to solve not only the mystery behind her parent's death but find hope in her future.