The Review

If you enjoyed Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic or the moody allure of Twilight, Romina Garber’s Castle of the Cursed is the next book to add to your list. It’s a deliciously dark gothic telenovela brimming with vampires, curses, family secrets, and a sentient, cannibalistic castle. Yes, you read that right—the house eats.

The novel is a spellbinding gothic romance and supernatural mystery wrapped into one. Estela, our protagonist, is thrown into a whirlwind of grief, family secrets, and chilling supernatural elements after the tragic deaths of her parents. Her story begins in the depths of survivor’s guilt so profound it threatens her grasp on reality. After a stint in a treatment center, Estela is invited to live with her estranged aunt in Spain, in their ancestral castle, la Sombra.

But la Sombra is no ordinary castle. It pulses with dark energy, hides labyrinthine secrets, and seems to have a sinister will of its own. The setting is as much a character as any of the people in the story, and Garber paints it vividly—a gothic dreamscape dripping with suspense.

The pacing is a slow burn at first, but once the plot takes off, it barrels forward with all the twists and turns of a high-stakes telenovela. From long-lost uncles to cursed family histories, it’s a whirlwind of drama, magic, and intrigue. Estela’s emotional journey is raw and compelling, though her relentless curiosity sometimes leads to frustrating decisions. But isn’t that quintessentially teenage? Her character’s flaws make her relatable, even as they make you want to shout, “Don’t go into the creepy room!”

Overall, Garber excels at blending genres, though purists of gothic romance or supernatural mysteries might not fully embrace the mash-up. Still, the fusion works if you like over-the-top drama and campy fun (Death Becomes Her/Beetlejuice/Heathers). The romance, while charming, veers slightly into “insta-love” territory, but it’s tempered by the mystery and the stakes surrounding Sebastián’s curse.

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Short Review (AKA TLDR)

I received a free copy of this novel on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you liked Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic (and/or Twilight), you will love this paranormal, Young Adult, gothic telenovela – and I mean telenovela.

Romina Garber’s novel address a lot of serious topics such as grief, survivor’s guilt, suicide, death of a parent and mental health issues. Though the messaging is deep, the story is surprisingly camp and not to be taken too seriously. Just go along for the ride.

At every turn, we learn something new about Estela, her family, or la Sombre. This could become overwhelming to some readers. However, if you view each chapter as an episode of a telenovela, it’s a lot easier to jump from a spooky and mysterious town, to enemies to lovers, to a long lost uncle just showing up doing magic.

Estela is also completely infuriating. She doesn’t listen to any of the rules and then wonders why bad things happen. Ugh. Teenagers.