Château Reverie

Today, Natasha Siegel releases her fourth novel, Château Reverie. This historical fantasy is set at a French estate in 1795, where a mysterious woman hosts auctions with a highly exclusive guest list. Genevieve de Vienne is one of the guests this time. In order to win, she must bid one secret; in exchange, she will be granted one wish, as long as it’s not resurrecting the dead. Genevieve’s biggest competition is Leander Sterne, a man who seems not to remember his own past, but knows he wants his freedom. Yet are Genevieve and Leander rivals in this auction… or allies? And as they rapidly fall in love, can they both get out of this château alive?

What I Liked:

Dreamlike setting. The titular Château Reverie feels like stepping into an otherworldly haze, or falling into Wonderland with Alice. It may seem like a grand fortress at first, but nothing is quite as it seems, and things only descend further into surreality as the hours pass. Are they in a storybook, a nightmare, a made up world of the madam’s own devising? The atmosphere here is expertly drawn.
Major secrets. Guests are here for the Auction of Secrets, and indeed, there are some surprising ones! Saying any more would be too much of a spoiler, so forgive my vagueness, but I was actually shocked at one point.
Memory and identity. Another significant theme here is your sense of self versus memory… or lack thereof. Leander has been trapped in Château Reverie for a long time, but he couldn’t say how long, or how he got there, or anything about his life before. He craves freedom and the chance to finally know himself. How does this contrast Genevieve’s wish to forget a painful event?

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The romance was too fast! I enjoyed seeing Genevieve and Leander fall for each other, and I appreciated the profound, fairytale-like quality of their romance. But they only know each other for a couple of days. Despite Genevieve’s beautiful quote about their genuine love and “concordant souls,” it’s just hard to believe in it the way readers are meant to. I wanted to, but I needed more of a foundation for this couple.

Audiobook:

Sulin Hasso lends a brilliant narration to Château Reverie. The lightness of her tone perfectly matches the book’s ethereal writing style. I also appreciated her French accent, making the setting come alive even more. This audio was a wonderful way to enjoy the book.

Final Thoughts

Château Reverie is an enchanting novel for fans of dreamlike settings, lessons learned, and a rapid romance for the ages. Natasha Siegel is an incredible writer, and I am eager to read more from her. I enjoyed The Phoenix Bride, and I can’t wait to catch up on her other novels, Solomon’s Crown and As Many Souls as Stars.

Special thanks to William Morrow, HarperAudio Adult, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy Château Reverie here – it’s available as a hardcover, ebook, and audiobook.

Château Reverie by Natasha Siegel
Audiobook Narrator	Sulin Hasso
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Fantasy
Setting	France
Number of Pages	288
Format I Read	Audiobook & Ebook (NetGalley ARCs)
Original Publication Date	October 27, 2026
Publisher	William Morrow

Official Summary

“At once a mystery in a haunted house, a fable, and a love story. I was utterly enchanted.” —SAMANTHA SHANNON, New York Times bestselling author

Another sweeping speculative, romantic novel from the author of As Many Souls as Stars, in which attendees of a magical auction must bid secrets in exchange for their greatest desires. Perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern or V.E. Schwab.

Reverie and Sons humbly requests your attendance at THE AUCTION OF SECRETS.

Genevieve de Vienne does not remember the journey to the Château Reverie. She only remembers receiving her invitation to the Auction of Secrets, writing upon it her greatest desire—to forget the woman she once loved—and setting it aflame.

Leander Sterne does not remember a life outside of the Château Reverie. When he receives his own invitation, he does not have any secrets to bid, but his greatest desire—his liberty—is worth risking everything. He has nothing to lose.

Alongside five fellow attendees, Leander and Genevieve must survive three nights in the Château in order to bid their secrets and win their hearts’ desire. But the Château has a mind of its own. As guests begin to disappear and Leander and Genevieve become more and more entangled, it becomes clear that the rules of the Auction might not be in anyone’s favor…and even those who win might not be allowed to leave.

Written in Natasha Siegel’s transportive, lush prose and set amidst the final days of the French Revolution, Château Reverie is a rococo fairytale full of horrors and wonders: both a sweeping romance and a twisting speculative mystery.

“Cinematic and lush…A fairy tale you’ve never heard before and won’t forget.” –RAINBOW ROWELL, No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of the Simon Snow Trilogy

About the Author

Credit: Alex Stevens

Natasha Siegel is a writer of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. She was born and raised in London, where she grew up in a Danish-Jewish family surrounded by stories. Her poetry has won accolades from Foyle’s and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, Solomon’s Crown, was a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice, and As Many Souls as Stars was an Indie Next Pick.