What do you think?
Rate this book
Carrick Hall #2
Once a Castle
Worlds collide and lives are changed as portals between our reality and the magical land of Ternival fray in the spellbinding sequel to Once a Queen, called "a fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era" by National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins.
Several years after Eva Joyce and Frankie Addison discovered the existence of portals to other worlds—and the kingdom of Ternival, where Eva's grandmother once reigned as queen—Frankie's younger siblings, together with some new friends, make discoveries that will change their lives, and at least two worlds, forever.
Jack, Tilly, and Elspeth Addison just want to stay out of trouble (well, kind of . . . usually), but trouble keeps finding them. Jack stumbles upon an actual, literally larger-than-life giant in his favorite valley; Tilly nearly runs over a mysterious stranger (and her cat); and Elspeth’s weaving lessons take a very unexpected turn.
Meanwhile, Arash, a newcomer to the Addisons’ English village, tries to discover the secret his grandfather is hiding while keeping his own secrets from everyone—and the sudden appearance of a sinister woman who does things that look suspiciously like magic is not helping matters. And Zahra, a Ternivali teenager, faces a crisis in her world, but before she can put things right, she's rudely catapulted into the weirdest place she's ever seen—where everyone seems to think she's the weird one. Soon things are as tangled as Elspeth's worst weaving, and the teens must discover if they can bridge their differences and find, in themselves and each other, what it takes to put things right. Because it's not only their lives at stake, but the fate of their home—and of more than one kingdom.
Several years after Eva Joyce and Frankie Addison discovered the existence of portals to other worlds—and the kingdom of Ternival, where Eva's grandmother once reigned as queen—Frankie's younger siblings, together with some new friends, make discoveries that will change their lives, and at least two worlds, forever.
Jack, Tilly, and Elspeth Addison just want to stay out of trouble (well, kind of . . . usually), but trouble keeps finding them. Jack stumbles upon an actual, literally larger-than-life giant in his favorite valley; Tilly nearly runs over a mysterious stranger (and her cat); and Elspeth’s weaving lessons take a very unexpected turn.
Meanwhile, Arash, a newcomer to the Addisons’ English village, tries to discover the secret his grandfather is hiding while keeping his own secrets from everyone—and the sudden appearance of a sinister woman who does things that look suspiciously like magic is not helping matters. And Zahra, a Ternivali teenager, faces a crisis in her world, but before she can put things right, she's rudely catapulted into the weirdest place she's ever seen—where everyone seems to think she's the weird one. Soon things are as tangled as Elspeth's worst weaving, and the teens must discover if they can bridge their differences and find, in themselves and each other, what it takes to put things right. Because it's not only their lives at stake, but the fate of their home—and of more than one kingdom.
416 pages, Paperback
First published February 11, 2025
36 people are currently reading
3,843 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Arthur
24 books346 followersSarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker, Christy Award finalist, and author of numerous books for teens and adults, including the bestselling ONCE A QUEEN, the first in her acclaimed Carrick Hall Novels. Among other nerdy adventures, she has served as preliminary fiction judge for Christianity Today’s Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival in northern Michigan, and co-directs the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats. She lives in Lansing, Michigan with her husband and two preteen sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
November 4, 2024
Once a Castle is a spellbound adventure into a fantasy realm mirroring the worlds of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis, rife with magic and whimsy, the second book of the Carrick Hall series is a whirlwind of adventure, taking readers into the world of Ternival that Sarah Arthur teased in the first book, Once a Queen.
I loved the first book in this series dearly and was honored to be able to read an advanced copy of this book, where I found myself craving more in Once a Queen, Once a Castle delivered. No longer craving and yearning for the magical world of Ternival, in Once a Castle the magic is thrust into the real world, and the promises made by the enchantress Mindra in the first book come to fruition.
While this novel deviates from the original in pacing and tone, we are thrust into the world years after Eva finds herself at Carrick Hall, we follow the younger characters now grown up as they embark on their own adventure in the magical world that the estate has such a strong connection to.
When Jack and Arash discover a castle on a hill and a giant asleep at its walls on the summer solstice, they realize the stories they grew up with might be. They are thrown into a journey neither of them are prepared for, along with Jack’s siblings, Lord Edward’s children Charles and Aurora, and Zhara a girl from Ternival.
The children need to find a way to get their friends back and stop Mindra from reclaiming the throne.
The entire time I was reading this I was enraptured. It is fast-paced and full of genuine real world struggles. The challenges plaguing these children back home are still prevalent in the mystical world they travel to, it’s not simply an escape like how it felt in Once a Queen. While it is whimsical and magical, there is real healing that takes place here. The layers that unravel as this story went on captivated me, and I gasped aloud multiple times.
If you liked Once a Queen, you will absolutely love Once a Castle. I mean that with my entire being.
I loved the first book in this series dearly and was honored to be able to read an advanced copy of this book, where I found myself craving more in Once a Queen, Once a Castle delivered. No longer craving and yearning for the magical world of Ternival, in Once a Castle the magic is thrust into the real world, and the promises made by the enchantress Mindra in the first book come to fruition.
While this novel deviates from the original in pacing and tone, we are thrust into the world years after Eva finds herself at Carrick Hall, we follow the younger characters now grown up as they embark on their own adventure in the magical world that the estate has such a strong connection to.
When Jack and Arash discover a castle on a hill and a giant asleep at its walls on the summer solstice, they realize the stories they grew up with might be. They are thrown into a journey neither of them are prepared for, along with Jack’s siblings, Lord Edward’s children Charles and Aurora, and Zhara a girl from Ternival.
The children need to find a way to get their friends back and stop Mindra from reclaiming the throne.
The entire time I was reading this I was enraptured. It is fast-paced and full of genuine real world struggles. The challenges plaguing these children back home are still prevalent in the mystical world they travel to, it’s not simply an escape like how it felt in Once a Queen. While it is whimsical and magical, there is real healing that takes place here. The layers that unravel as this story went on captivated me, and I gasped aloud multiple times.
If you liked Once a Queen, you will absolutely love Once a Castle. I mean that with my entire being.
January 7, 2025
Once a Castle was a fabulous addition to the Carrick Halls series. I powered through this book in less than a day and was hooked from the start. I loved the nostalgic fairy tale feel, and it feels so "C. S. Lewis-y" to me that I can't help loving it. I highly, highly recommend to younger readers; it is so clean and safe and yet so enthralling. I was right in the world of Ternival with the characters, rooting for Arash and Elspeth and Tilly and Jack. I loved tha character development and the real family dynamics. Everyone misses real family dynamics in books, but this was done so well. I enjoyed the changed this marked from the first book, which was more whimsical, whereas this one was more fantasy and...somehow different. I also LOVE the cover! Well done, Sarah!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
February 21, 2025
This is a terrific sequel to Sarah Arthur's "Once A Queen". While the influence of both Lewis and Tolkien still underlays the world of Ternival in this second book, with this sequel Sarah Arthur really comes into her own as a fantasy worldbuilder. There are still parallels, but they are largely minor or superficial, which I only saw because I'm so familiar with the worlds of Narnia and Middle-Earth, such as the three jewels in some ways like the silmarils (but in other ways very different). Mindra is tormented by possessing them much like Morgoth, for example. I was a bit surprised by the sidelining of Eva to a minor role after such a big role in the first book, but I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the others more fully as they came into their own stories. Great book!
February 24, 2025
We pick up 5 years after the events of Once Upon a Queen. This one fully commits to the Narniaesque theme. We follow Frankie’s siblings and friends through their magical discoveries and finally get to travel to another world! The first book was good but this sequel surpasses it! Highly recommend this series to any fan of C.S. Lewis.
February 4, 2025
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Once a Castle by Sarah Arthur is the third person multi-POV YA contemporary fantasy sequel to Once a Queen. A few years after the previous book, Eva and Frankie are happily dating and living their lives with the knowledge that there is another world out there. But it’s Frankie’s younger siblings, a young girl from Ternival, and a young man with connections to both who we follow this time.
One of the things I thought was really cool was how, despite this grand adventure that Eva and Frankie had in learning more about the truth of Ternival, the rest of the world is fairly unchanged. Most of Frankie’s siblings don’t believe Ternival is real and it’s not like Eva was going to go to the press and tell them that her grandmother was once one of three queens in a magical realm. The world keeps turning as if none of the first book ever happened. It’s a side of portal fantasies we don’t often get to see because the fantasy is often the adventure, not what happens after in the world at large.
Of the three POVs, I think Zahra was my favorite. She’s spent her whole life in Ternival with the stories of the three queens in ways that none of the other characters did and it’s through her that we get a new perspective on not only her world but also ours when she goes through the portal. Arash was definitely a close second for my favorite POV, though. His connection to both worlds is slowly revealed over time and I liked how his connection was revealed via language and stories and the experience of being othered by the people around him.
The worldbuilding of Ternival gets more focus in this book because we get to spend more time within the world. There’s giants, dwarves, a centaur, and magic and a war looming on the horizon as a powerful witch seeks to take back control. The stories mentioned in Zahra’s POV are told in full in the back of the book as little extras and I highly recommend reading them after finishing the book because they add an entire layer of ‘what is mystical? What is a prophecy? What was meant to be an oral history?’
Content warning for depictions of discrimination
I would recommend this to fans of Once a Queen and readers looking for a Narnia-esque portal fantasy
Once a Castle by Sarah Arthur is the third person multi-POV YA contemporary fantasy sequel to Once a Queen. A few years after the previous book, Eva and Frankie are happily dating and living their lives with the knowledge that there is another world out there. But it’s Frankie’s younger siblings, a young girl from Ternival, and a young man with connections to both who we follow this time.
One of the things I thought was really cool was how, despite this grand adventure that Eva and Frankie had in learning more about the truth of Ternival, the rest of the world is fairly unchanged. Most of Frankie’s siblings don’t believe Ternival is real and it’s not like Eva was going to go to the press and tell them that her grandmother was once one of three queens in a magical realm. The world keeps turning as if none of the first book ever happened. It’s a side of portal fantasies we don’t often get to see because the fantasy is often the adventure, not what happens after in the world at large.
Of the three POVs, I think Zahra was my favorite. She’s spent her whole life in Ternival with the stories of the three queens in ways that none of the other characters did and it’s through her that we get a new perspective on not only her world but also ours when she goes through the portal. Arash was definitely a close second for my favorite POV, though. His connection to both worlds is slowly revealed over time and I liked how his connection was revealed via language and stories and the experience of being othered by the people around him.
The worldbuilding of Ternival gets more focus in this book because we get to spend more time within the world. There’s giants, dwarves, a centaur, and magic and a war looming on the horizon as a powerful witch seeks to take back control. The stories mentioned in Zahra’s POV are told in full in the back of the book as little extras and I highly recommend reading them after finishing the book because they add an entire layer of ‘what is mystical? What is a prophecy? What was meant to be an oral history?’
Content warning for depictions of discrimination
I would recommend this to fans of Once a Queen and readers looking for a Narnia-esque portal fantasy
February 8, 2025
I liked "Once a Queen," the first book in this series, but I loved "Once a Castle." It was fast-paced and full of mishaps, adventures, and action. The story did jump between a lot of characters, but I found myself quite invested in all of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this young adult portal fantasy that's in dialogue with earlier children's stories, especially "The Chronicles of Narnia" series. I read a digital review copy of this book.
December 29, 2024
I read this hoping that the Narnia-alikeness would morph into something new and fresh but, well, no. There's even a "Eustace". Sigh.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
March 1, 2025
Having read Once a Queen a year ago, I was eagerly anticipating the follow up. And gosh, this second in the series is wonderfully special. There is no sluggish sequel anywhere to be found in this rollicking adventure.
We return to Upper Wolvern, where we left it in the first story, only this time some strange things are happening. Giants are inadvertently appearing and there are strong murmurings of the return of an evil witch, Mindra, to the land of Ternival and she seeks the Children of Tellus who hold the keys to her ongoing reign, a crown and some jewels that have been lost for eons.
With a cast of many delightful humans, mythical beings (who doesn't love a centaur named Lord Starwise) and creatures, some with fantastical names, we are thrown between the world we know and the mystical worlds of Ternival and Mesterra. How one moves between these worlds is another one of Arthur's wonderful imaginative inventions.
Arthur's imagination to conjure all she does in this story is really quite special. It has vibes of Lord of the Rings and Narnia and is especially playful in taking the reader back to those days as children when we imagined crazy worlds and their inhabitants.
The theme of community is strong. We need each other to prosper, to invade new lands, to rescue our loves from the dangers that lurk and to encourage us when we're struggling with shame and discouragement. Young and old in order to thrive and celebrating achievements and togetherness are essential.
Sarah Arthur, bravo! I'm so excited about reading the next instalment Once a Crown and seeing what capers our friends next get caught up in.
I'm feeling very blessed to have received an early review copy from WaterBrook via NetGalley, however, this has had no bearing on my review. I'm looking forward to when I can buy all three together and read them sequentially within a short period of time. What fun that will be.
We return to Upper Wolvern, where we left it in the first story, only this time some strange things are happening. Giants are inadvertently appearing and there are strong murmurings of the return of an evil witch, Mindra, to the land of Ternival and she seeks the Children of Tellus who hold the keys to her ongoing reign, a crown and some jewels that have been lost for eons.
With a cast of many delightful humans, mythical beings (who doesn't love a centaur named Lord Starwise) and creatures, some with fantastical names, we are thrown between the world we know and the mystical worlds of Ternival and Mesterra. How one moves between these worlds is another one of Arthur's wonderful imaginative inventions.
Arthur's imagination to conjure all she does in this story is really quite special. It has vibes of Lord of the Rings and Narnia and is especially playful in taking the reader back to those days as children when we imagined crazy worlds and their inhabitants.
The theme of community is strong. We need each other to prosper, to invade new lands, to rescue our loves from the dangers that lurk and to encourage us when we're struggling with shame and discouragement. Young and old in order to thrive and celebrating achievements and togetherness are essential.
Sarah Arthur, bravo! I'm so excited about reading the next instalment Once a Crown and seeing what capers our friends next get caught up in.
I'm feeling very blessed to have received an early review copy from WaterBrook via NetGalley, however, this has had no bearing on my review. I'm looking forward to when I can buy all three together and read them sequentially within a short period of time. What fun that will be.
November 24, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel to Once a Queen! It was a perfect pick up and just enthralled me all the way through! The characters were relatable, likable, and added some comical reliefs throughout! The fantasy aspects gives me all the Narinia feels, and entrances me to another land where adventure and hope abound! If you were like me, Once a Queen took a bit to get used to as the story line played out, but Once a Castle wasn't as confusing at first. There were some parts where questions arose, but they were questions that made me kept reading because I knew the answers would play out in the end. The story line builds and weaves so beautifully! Definitely worth the read if you enjoyed Once a Queen! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
February 18, 2025
The second installment in this spin-off of the Chronicles of Narnia follows the children of the Addison Family as a mysterious medieval castle suddenly appears near the home along with a wicked witch and a giant. In the meantime, a young girl from Ternival (Narnia) has stumbled into our world. It turns out the evil enchantress Mindra has returned and is determined to unite the crown and the jewels that will give her power over the lands once more. An important subplot involves Arash, a young man from somewhere in the Middle East, dealing with anti-immigrant sentiment in rural England. And over time he discovers he is connected to a family in Ternival, entrusted with rule, and very noble.
The reimagining of Narnia is fascinating. The stag that stands in for Aslan doesn't make an overt appearance here, unlike in the Narnia books, but Lewis's influence is everywhere, especially in the mockable antagonist who postures until the good folks laugh in her face (influences of some of our own leaders perhaps?). And the warning against the rise of evil rings especially true: "The more we can stay vigilant, and the more we can remind each other of what evil has done in the past--then the better chance we can have of recognizing it when it returns. For it WILL return." This monologue is delivered right after confronting a major character for his prejudice against those from other places. It's hard to miss the message. I look forward to the third book in the series.
The reimagining of Narnia is fascinating. The stag that stands in for Aslan doesn't make an overt appearance here, unlike in the Narnia books, but Lewis's influence is everywhere, especially in the mockable antagonist who postures until the good folks laugh in her face (influences of some of our own leaders perhaps?). And the warning against the rise of evil rings especially true: "The more we can stay vigilant, and the more we can remind each other of what evil has done in the past--then the better chance we can have of recognizing it when it returns. For it WILL return." This monologue is delivered right after confronting a major character for his prejudice against those from other places. It's hard to miss the message. I look forward to the third book in the series.
Read
February 22, 2025For the first third of the book, I couldn’t help but be disappointed that this series simply can’t live up to Narnia. (There are WAY too many characters at a time, for one thing!) But as imperfect as it is, I can’t help but admire the heart for Narnia that shines through. I enjoyed Barkwhistler and the Persian/weaving connections (and it was so fun to see the Daniel Nayeri shoutout in the acknowledgments.) The ending was lovely.
Want to read
February 22, 2025Recommended by Phylicia Masonheimer 2/22/2025
third person multi-POV YA contemporary fantasy.
Another reviewer's content note: depictions of discrimination
third person multi-POV YA contemporary fantasy.
Another reviewer's content note: depictions of discrimination
February 6, 2025
This 2nd installment in Sarah Arthur's "Carrick Hall" series, "Once a Castle" was a is a great follow-up to "Once a Queen". Arthur has created a fantastic story and world, reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", in this pre-teen/teen fantasy series. This is a series best read in order since events from the first book are discussed in this one. There are some of the same characters from the first book, but this one is set several years after the first but they flow together to where I don't think the story is as rich to the reader without reading in order.
I really liked the fantasy world building with two worlds, Tellus and Ternival. This book builds slowly but when it picks up, it's very action packed. There are a lot of characters in this one compared to the first, so it took some time to connect everyone, even having just read the first book the week before I started this one. Once the story was about 1/3 of the way through, it picked up for me and I didn't want to put it down until the last page.
I liked the themes of family and found family, art with the tapestries, multiple generations worth of characters and fantastic creatures with strong personalities written into the story. There is a lot to unpack in the reading and I think anyone that read this book a second or third time would find new things to think about. There are strong faith themes throughout, with a stag being the allegory for God, like the lion was in C.S. Lewis's stories.
Readers ages 10 - adult may enjoy this story. The ending leads me to believe there will be a 3rd book and I look forward to reading it when it releases.
Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really liked the fantasy world building with two worlds, Tellus and Ternival. This book builds slowly but when it picks up, it's very action packed. There are a lot of characters in this one compared to the first, so it took some time to connect everyone, even having just read the first book the week before I started this one. Once the story was about 1/3 of the way through, it picked up for me and I didn't want to put it down until the last page.
I liked the themes of family and found family, art with the tapestries, multiple generations worth of characters and fantastic creatures with strong personalities written into the story. There is a lot to unpack in the reading and I think anyone that read this book a second or third time would find new things to think about. There are strong faith themes throughout, with a stag being the allegory for God, like the lion was in C.S. Lewis's stories.
Readers ages 10 - adult may enjoy this story. The ending leads me to believe there will be a 3rd book and I look forward to reading it when it releases.
Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 13, 2025
I really enjoyed this second book in the Carrick Hall series. After reading Once a Queen I was excited to jump back into the land of Ternival and go on a journey with some old and new characters this time around.
This story definitely echoed C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia with it being a portal fantasy and following the generational characters from the main ones in book one. This story, while being whimsical and adventurous, also tackled some heavier issues such as family, friendship, the importance of asking for and extending forgiveness, prejudice and racism, learning from past history, and good vs evil. The third person perspective showed the great character growth throughout the story and had me completely invested in the story wanting to know how it would end.
If you like wholesome fantasy, winsome characters, and good vs evil then I highly recommend this book and series for you to read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
This story definitely echoed C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia with it being a portal fantasy and following the generational characters from the main ones in book one. This story, while being whimsical and adventurous, also tackled some heavier issues such as family, friendship, the importance of asking for and extending forgiveness, prejudice and racism, learning from past history, and good vs evil. The third person perspective showed the great character growth throughout the story and had me completely invested in the story wanting to know how it would end.
If you like wholesome fantasy, winsome characters, and good vs evil then I highly recommend this book and series for you to read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
February 11, 2025
Once a Castle is a delightful young adult fantasy novel. Author Sarah Arthur includes hints of the fairy tale “Jack and the Giant Slayer.” The story also reminded me of The Chronicles of Narnia.
I do not remember ever having read the first book in the Carrick Hall series but I did not feel I was missing any information as I read Once a Castle. If there is important information it would have been nice to have a “previously in the series” section at the start of the book.
The reader will notice growth in several of the characters in the story - including overcoming fears.
Once a Castle has many fantasy elements - mythical creatures, magic, a quest, and overcoming evil to name a few.
I found Sarah Arthur to be a delightful author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Once a Castle would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a K-12 Christian school library. Even though it is YA I believe it is appropriate for fifth graders and up.
I received a complimentary copy of Once a Castle. This is my honest review.
I do not remember ever having read the first book in the Carrick Hall series but I did not feel I was missing any information as I read Once a Castle. If there is important information it would have been nice to have a “previously in the series” section at the start of the book.
The reader will notice growth in several of the characters in the story - including overcoming fears.
Once a Castle has many fantasy elements - mythical creatures, magic, a quest, and overcoming evil to name a few.
I found Sarah Arthur to be a delightful author and I look forward to reading more of her work.
Once a Castle would be a great addition to the fantasy section of a K-12 Christian school library. Even though it is YA I believe it is appropriate for fifth graders and up.
I received a complimentary copy of Once a Castle. This is my honest review.
February 22, 2025
While I enjoyed the first book in this series, Once a Queen, I really adored this second book in the series! It delivered much more on the magical realms and creatures that I was hoping for when I picked up book one. The author is obviously much in love with fantasy and the classics of this genre as you can see influences from Narnia and Lord of the Rings throughout but not in a copycat kind of way.
I enjoyed that it was set within the same place as the first book but advances the time just a bit. We have some familiar characters that we get to catch up with while being introduced to new characters and getting to know some smaller side characters much better. The action and adventure centres mostly on the younger siblings of Frankie and friends but also has another POV from the world of Ternival, Zahra. She was my favourite character within the story, brave and smart and kind and I enjoyed the whole background of her story and grandfather so much as well.
This is a rich story with good pacing and filled to the brim with battles of good against evil and everything you would expect from a portal fantasy story. I would recommend this series to tweens and teens and adults alike. There really isn't anyone that I can't see enjoying this series and I can't wait to see what's next.
I received an advanced digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed that it was set within the same place as the first book but advances the time just a bit. We have some familiar characters that we get to catch up with while being introduced to new characters and getting to know some smaller side characters much better. The action and adventure centres mostly on the younger siblings of Frankie and friends but also has another POV from the world of Ternival, Zahra. She was my favourite character within the story, brave and smart and kind and I enjoyed the whole background of her story and grandfather so much as well.
This is a rich story with good pacing and filled to the brim with battles of good against evil and everything you would expect from a portal fantasy story. I would recommend this series to tweens and teens and adults alike. There really isn't anyone that I can't see enjoying this series and I can't wait to see what's next.
I received an advanced digital reader copy of this book through NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
February 3, 2025
A sequel to Once a Queen. Definitely adventure happening. This time, a different set of people are involved. Rumblings in the hills that have people wondering but a few claim it's giants. A mysterious tower appears, then disappears, under the command of someone bent on power. People from another world cross over into England and then back into their own world, take those from England with them. Can they all work together to save 2 worlds? I'm looking forward to book 3 coming out to see what adventures happen next.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
November 11, 2024
First of all , thanks to netgalley and Ms. Arthur for the opportunity to reading this ARC ahead of publishing.
Once a Crown" dives into the realm of Ternival, where magic and dangers await. The story follows various lines, who finds themselves entangled in the dangers that Mindra brings with, when she goes searching for the gems at Carrick Hall.
The narrative kicks off some years after The original book and even if I enjoy the depths of the new characters i missed more of Eva and the new relationship with Frankie.
Despite its imaginative settings and engaging premise, "Once a Crown" suffers from pacing issues. While the supporting characters are intriguing, they sometimes feel underdeveloped, leaving readers craving more backstory and motivation behind their actions.
In conclusion, "Once a Crown" presents a richly woven fantasy adventure that captures the essence of heroism, friendship. and found family However, its pacing and character development leave something to be desired, making it a solid read for fantasy enthusiasts but not an absolute must-read. Readers looking for a blend of action and magic may find enjoyment.
Once a Crown" dives into the realm of Ternival, where magic and dangers await. The story follows various lines, who finds themselves entangled in the dangers that Mindra brings with, when she goes searching for the gems at Carrick Hall.
The narrative kicks off some years after The original book and even if I enjoy the depths of the new characters i missed more of Eva and the new relationship with Frankie.
Despite its imaginative settings and engaging premise, "Once a Crown" suffers from pacing issues. While the supporting characters are intriguing, they sometimes feel underdeveloped, leaving readers craving more backstory and motivation behind their actions.
In conclusion, "Once a Crown" presents a richly woven fantasy adventure that captures the essence of heroism, friendship. and found family However, its pacing and character development leave something to be desired, making it a solid read for fantasy enthusiasts but not an absolute must-read. Readers looking for a blend of action and magic may find enjoyment.
December 1, 2024
Thanks to the publishers - WaterBrook - for sending me a copy of this book as an E-ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
It's been so long since I read book one in this series (which I believe I enjoyed) that I didn't remember anything about the characters or the world. This made this being a very confusing read and I feel like characters were being introduced left, right and centre which did not help with the confusion.
I had to put most of my time reading into figuring out who each character was, and therefore my rating will me rather low. I'm sure if you read book one and book two back to back that you get more out of it.
It's been so long since I read book one in this series (which I believe I enjoyed) that I didn't remember anything about the characters or the world. This made this being a very confusing read and I feel like characters were being introduced left, right and centre which did not help with the confusion.
I had to put most of my time reading into figuring out who each character was, and therefore my rating will me rather low. I'm sure if you read book one and book two back to back that you get more out of it.
November 12, 2024
Fantasy adventure that reads similar to Narnia. I enjoyed the book, but it did seem to have a lot going on. It takes a bit to iron out the story lines and characters and everything, but it’s an entertaining story. I’m glad that I got an advance reader copy to read.
January 26, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. It definitely reminded me of the Narnia series. How good always triumphs over evil, even when the outcome looks bleak.
February 22, 2025
Carrick Hall has been a gateway to the magic land of Ternival, but the doors have been shut for quite some time now. With the summer solstice though, a castle appears in the cliffs of the Wolverns, and the Addison children Jack, Tilly, Elspeth, Georgie, Frank and Eva, Lord Edward's kids Charlie and Aurora, Arash from the Rastegar bookshop, and a weaver-fishergirl, Zahra, from Ternival by way of neighboring Valan must overcome their own foibles and learn to trust each other if they are to have a hope of saving Ternival from the evil witch Mindra in her quest for the magic crown and jewels of Ternival.
At long last we have an adventure in Ternival, and one for nothing less than saving all of Ternival from Mindra as she seeks to reclaim the throne. The cast is huge, as we rotate primarily between following Jack, Tilly, Elspeth, plus Arash and Zahra - it makes for short, choppy chapters full of action and movement as people come together, break apart, and come back together in new groups. Secrets are much fewer in this book, with personal foibles taking a stronger center stage; foibles which each character will need to work through if they are to succeed as a group to save Ternival.
It took a little bit for me to catch the rhythm of the book, as we get launched so quickly into a lot happening. But once you’re in it, you’re in, and it’s onward and forward and don’t look back, don’t stop. Each of the main kids has their own very specific Achilles’ heel/foible to wrestle with in the story, and through the trials and experiences they have, they learn and grow quite satisfyingly. Even the one who seems the furthest from finding the right path, and seems set up to never find it, gets a fair chance to make amends and do better. The echoes I got of the Chronicles of Narnia in the first book are even stronger in this, given how the kids are thrown into such a situation and how they handle it (quite realistically and with just the right amount of meta-awareness, I might add!). But those echoes are more in the unfolding and style of the action, as I recall them years later, than the very Christian allegory Narnia is known for. There is still a bit of it with the stag/Aslan stand-in, and Mindra for the ice queen, as well as who can go to Ternival, when, and what type of circumstances open the door, but it's not as overt as in the first book.
In addition to each of the main children having to face their own difficulties, there is also an overarching theme speaking out against racism: specifically, the racism that Arash and Zahra experience at the hands of the inhabitants of England and Ternival, where each of them is considered a "foreigner" despite having grown up there. While it is a little rocky the way it is inserted, both as a "here is what racism looks like" and "here is how simple it is to not be a racist", ultimately how the anti-racism growth happens is satisfying.
I received a free eARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my rating or the content of my review.
At long last we have an adventure in Ternival, and one for nothing less than saving all of Ternival from Mindra as she seeks to reclaim the throne. The cast is huge, as we rotate primarily between following Jack, Tilly, Elspeth, plus Arash and Zahra - it makes for short, choppy chapters full of action and movement as people come together, break apart, and come back together in new groups. Secrets are much fewer in this book, with personal foibles taking a stronger center stage; foibles which each character will need to work through if they are to succeed as a group to save Ternival.
It took a little bit for me to catch the rhythm of the book, as we get launched so quickly into a lot happening. But once you’re in it, you’re in, and it’s onward and forward and don’t look back, don’t stop. Each of the main kids has their own very specific Achilles’ heel/foible to wrestle with in the story, and through the trials and experiences they have, they learn and grow quite satisfyingly. Even the one who seems the furthest from finding the right path, and seems set up to never find it, gets a fair chance to make amends and do better. The echoes I got of the Chronicles of Narnia in the first book are even stronger in this, given how the kids are thrown into such a situation and how they handle it (quite realistically and with just the right amount of meta-awareness, I might add!). But those echoes are more in the unfolding and style of the action, as I recall them years later, than the very Christian allegory Narnia is known for. There is still a bit of it with the stag/Aslan stand-in, and Mindra for the ice queen, as well as who can go to Ternival, when, and what type of circumstances open the door, but it's not as overt as in the first book.
In addition to each of the main children having to face their own difficulties, there is also an overarching theme speaking out against racism: specifically, the racism that Arash and Zahra experience at the hands of the inhabitants of England and Ternival, where each of them is considered a "foreigner" despite having grown up there. While it is a little rocky the way it is inserted, both as a "here is what racism looks like" and "here is how simple it is to not be a racist", ultimately how the anti-racism growth happens is satisfying.
I received a free eARC copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This has not affected my rating or the content of my review.
November 4, 2024
I want to thank the author and netgalley for allowing me the privilege to be able to read an ARC of this book I really appreciate it. It wasn't until I started this book that I realized they allowed me the privilege of reading the first book which from what I could remember had a similar structure to my review I'm about to make for this book. But with the previous one it was a lot harder to get through it and so I was no able to finish it before it archived in order to properly review it and I'm sorry.
In regards to this book there's a line in this book that really actually summed up this book perfectly it's not word for word as I couldn't find it again but it's a character talking about their dad saying similar to, 'dont worry dad will say a whole lot of nothing, walk around it all and they'll all forget about what they originally wanted to know' . That's kind of what this book is like. Don't get me wrong this is a good book, the writing flows everytime I'd come to an issue I still didn't want to put the book down so my general consensus is a 4.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and technically they each have their own stories with in (which is on purpose I believe once you get to the end of the book) but it's all disjointed you'll get full chapters of a character back to back and than you'll get a chapter with the previous chapter character, than a scene from another, and a scene from another. Than a new chapter will be one of the other characters, than a scene from another and so on. It's a lot. Also this is important because it drove me nuts the three times it's at least used in this book right at the beginning might I add, in all purposes for this book it should have completely been snuck and not sneaked.
Over all this book felt like I'm assuming it was suppose to maybe be intended as someone reading a child bedtime stories, with all the random switch out and the way the story goes. Everytime it stops and starts it feels like someone continuing the story another night and in some cases forgetting things that occured prior and just guessing how to keep the story going. It's not a bad book it's just set up strangely.
Thank you very much again for allowing me the opportunity to read this book I really appreciate it.
In regards to this book there's a line in this book that really actually summed up this book perfectly it's not word for word as I couldn't find it again but it's a character talking about their dad saying similar to, 'dont worry dad will say a whole lot of nothing, walk around it all and they'll all forget about what they originally wanted to know' . That's kind of what this book is like. Don't get me wrong this is a good book, the writing flows everytime I'd come to an issue I still didn't want to put the book down so my general consensus is a 4.
There are a lot of characters in this book, and technically they each have their own stories with in (which is on purpose I believe once you get to the end of the book) but it's all disjointed you'll get full chapters of a character back to back and than you'll get a chapter with the previous chapter character, than a scene from another, and a scene from another. Than a new chapter will be one of the other characters, than a scene from another and so on. It's a lot. Also this is important because it drove me nuts the three times it's at least used in this book right at the beginning might I add, in all purposes for this book it should have completely been snuck and not sneaked.
Over all this book felt like I'm assuming it was suppose to maybe be intended as someone reading a child bedtime stories, with all the random switch out and the way the story goes. Everytime it stops and starts it feels like someone continuing the story another night and in some cases forgetting things that occured prior and just guessing how to keep the story going. It's not a bad book it's just set up strangely.
Thank you very much again for allowing me the opportunity to read this book I really appreciate it.
February 7, 2025
Once a Castle is the second title in Sarah Arthur's Carrick Hall series, and it takes readers back to the adventures of the Addison siblings several years after the events of the first book, Once a Queen, took place.
Probably one of the best novels out there for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, this series is rich in fantasy, storytelling, world building, and almost unexplainable magic. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading this particular title without having read the first book, as both Tellus and Ternival have rich histories that are built upon with information already given in the first, and I think it would be a tad confusing if you weren't already familiar with the world building.
I personally found that this one was even more of a delight than the first book was, and I loved the majority of the characters, especially Elspeth, Aurora, Jack and Georgie. While the plot moved in directions I never could have seen coming, and often it was a little hard to keep track of whose POV was whose, all in all this was a fantastic fantasy read that speaks to the notion that good will triumph over evil, but we always have to believe it will be so.
The themes of the importance of family and friendship continue with this title, and a lot of the characters learn some hard and important truths about both of these along the way. The author also incorporates weaving and tapestries as a big part of the story, and while I'm not going to spoil anything, that part of the story ended up being one of my favorites. Lastly, I can't conclude my review without mentioning how much I loved the inclusion of the Ternival fairytales mentioned many times throughout the story as that was definitely an unexpected treat.
Overall, a lovely addition tot the series, and one I enjoyed even more than the first. It'll be interesting to see where the author chooses to take the story from here, and I'm looking forward to reading book three.
Final Rating: 4/5.
Thanks so much to Waterbrook for allowing me to advance read and review this title!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Waterbrook) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Probably one of the best novels out there for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, this series is rich in fantasy, storytelling, world building, and almost unexplainable magic. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading this particular title without having read the first book, as both Tellus and Ternival have rich histories that are built upon with information already given in the first, and I think it would be a tad confusing if you weren't already familiar with the world building.
I personally found that this one was even more of a delight than the first book was, and I loved the majority of the characters, especially Elspeth, Aurora, Jack and Georgie. While the plot moved in directions I never could have seen coming, and often it was a little hard to keep track of whose POV was whose, all in all this was a fantastic fantasy read that speaks to the notion that good will triumph over evil, but we always have to believe it will be so.
The themes of the importance of family and friendship continue with this title, and a lot of the characters learn some hard and important truths about both of these along the way. The author also incorporates weaving and tapestries as a big part of the story, and while I'm not going to spoil anything, that part of the story ended up being one of my favorites. Lastly, I can't conclude my review without mentioning how much I loved the inclusion of the Ternival fairytales mentioned many times throughout the story as that was definitely an unexpected treat.
Overall, a lovely addition tot the series, and one I enjoyed even more than the first. It'll be interesting to see where the author chooses to take the story from here, and I'm looking forward to reading book three.
Final Rating: 4/5.
Thanks so much to Waterbrook for allowing me to advance read and review this title!
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Waterbrook) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 8, 2024
I was given access to once a castle by Sarah Arthur through a free pre-publishing app called net gallery. All opinions here are my own. I received no compensation of any kind.
Wow.... Having had the privilege to read once upon a queen and now book number two wants a castle. I have to say Sarah Arthur does it again. She brought together the same cheerful lively cast of characters that I had the pleasure of meeting . In her book upon a queen. And I was able to take part in their adventures again in once a castle. I have to say she has done a wonderful job giving the characters proper age as they grow with wisdom and maturity without losing the child like love and innocence. That enables us all to believe in fairy tales if we only remember to listen and look in the right way. Not with our ears and eyes but with our heart. I love the fact that she has woven together these two stories and it sounds like even maybe a third together, but also within these tales is the thread of the magic of c.s Lewis's, the Lion, the witch and the wardrobe, which I thought I detected the flavor of before and now finding out. She is a fan of his and works to preserve the memory of these stories and the magic they hold to me is all the more wonderful and appropriate. To my way of thinking, this brings that old magic to the ears and eyes and imaginations of today's youth while also reawakening the imaginations of adults like myself who even at 43 Feel as excited as I did at the age of 10 when I first encountered this magic for myself.
To you Sarah Arthur, I say thank you and huzzah well done and I only hope that you will grant me the privilege of reviewing your third book now that I have the taste of its preview lingering in my imagination.
Wow.... Having had the privilege to read once upon a queen and now book number two wants a castle. I have to say Sarah Arthur does it again. She brought together the same cheerful lively cast of characters that I had the pleasure of meeting . In her book upon a queen. And I was able to take part in their adventures again in once a castle. I have to say she has done a wonderful job giving the characters proper age as they grow with wisdom and maturity without losing the child like love and innocence. That enables us all to believe in fairy tales if we only remember to listen and look in the right way. Not with our ears and eyes but with our heart. I love the fact that she has woven together these two stories and it sounds like even maybe a third together, but also within these tales is the thread of the magic of c.s Lewis's, the Lion, the witch and the wardrobe, which I thought I detected the flavor of before and now finding out. She is a fan of his and works to preserve the memory of these stories and the magic they hold to me is all the more wonderful and appropriate. To my way of thinking, this brings that old magic to the ears and eyes and imaginations of today's youth while also reawakening the imaginations of adults like myself who even at 43 Feel as excited as I did at the age of 10 when I first encountered this magic for myself.
To you Sarah Arthur, I say thank you and huzzah well done and I only hope that you will grant me the privilege of reviewing your third book now that I have the taste of its preview lingering in my imagination.
February 16, 2025
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Once a Castle is a crossworlds YA fantasy novel and the second book in a series by Sarah Arthur. Released 11th Feb 2025 by WaterBrook, it's 416 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Engaging and very well written with appealing/interesting and well wrought characters, it is purpose made for fans of old-school fantasy like C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, and maybe Diana Wynne Jones. The publisher is a Christian allied imprint, and there are some allegorical themes throughout, but that being said, it's -not- a preachy book and it can be read without the background subtext interfering with the story in any way.
This sequel follows strongly on from the first book and readers who try to read them out of order will likely find themselves struggling to pick up the threads of the narrative and figure out what's going on for a while. Also, the interrelationships and backgrounds of many of the (numerous) characters are developed in the first book and will spoil some of Once a Castle.
Four stars. It would make a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, home readers, and for a binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Once a Castle is a crossworlds YA fantasy novel and the second book in a series by Sarah Arthur. Released 11th Feb 2025 by WaterBrook, it's 416 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.
Engaging and very well written with appealing/interesting and well wrought characters, it is purpose made for fans of old-school fantasy like C.S. Lewis, Madeleine L'Engle, and maybe Diana Wynne Jones. The publisher is a Christian allied imprint, and there are some allegorical themes throughout, but that being said, it's -not- a preachy book and it can be read without the background subtext interfering with the story in any way.
This sequel follows strongly on from the first book and readers who try to read them out of order will likely find themselves struggling to pick up the threads of the narrative and figure out what's going on for a while. Also, the interrelationships and backgrounds of many of the (numerous) characters are developed in the first book and will spoil some of Once a Castle.
Four stars. It would make a good choice for public or secondary school library acquisition, home readers, and for a binge/buddy read.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 12, 2025
📖: Once a Castle- Carrick Hall #2
✍🏾 Author: Sarah Arthur, I read Once a Queen and gave it 4⭐. You should read book #1 first.
📅Publication date: 2-11-25 | Read 2-11-25
📃Format: eBook 416 pgs.
Genre:
*YA
*Fantasy
*Christian Fic
Tropes:
*coming of age
*a quest
*alternate universe
*found family
*magic
👆🏾POV: 3rd person, multiple
🌎 Setting: London to Ternival
Summary: Magic is awakened into the real world, and the predictions made by the evil enchantress Mindra come to pass. Eva finds herself back at Carrick Hall as a grad student with Frankie. This time the younger characters embark on an adventure none of them are ready for. The children must find their friends and stop Mindra.
🎭Main Characters:
*Frankie Addison-the oldest, dates Eva
* Jack Addison-13
*Tillie Addison-16
*Elspeth Addison-12
*Georgie Addison-the youngest
*Eva Joyce-Carrick Hall heiress, dates Frankie
*Arash Tabari-Professor Rastegar's grandson
*Eddie Heapworth
*Charles Heapworth-Tillie's crush
*Aurora Heapworth-Elspeth's BFF
*Zahra-the fisherman's granddaughter
🤔 My Thoughts: The challenges plaguing the children back home (being a loner/no friends, hate/racism, and poverty) follow them into the mystical world. This book is for middle schoolers but if you liked Once a Queen, you will enjoy the sequel.
Rating: 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, WaterBrook Multnomah, and Sarah Arthur for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
✍🏾 Author: Sarah Arthur, I read Once a Queen and gave it 4⭐. You should read book #1 first.
📅Publication date: 2-11-25 | Read 2-11-25
📃Format: eBook 416 pgs.
Genre:
*YA
*Fantasy
*Christian Fic
Tropes:
*coming of age
*a quest
*alternate universe
*found family
*magic
👆🏾POV: 3rd person, multiple
🌎 Setting: London to Ternival
Summary: Magic is awakened into the real world, and the predictions made by the evil enchantress Mindra come to pass. Eva finds herself back at Carrick Hall as a grad student with Frankie. This time the younger characters embark on an adventure none of them are ready for. The children must find their friends and stop Mindra.
🎭Main Characters:
*Frankie Addison-the oldest, dates Eva
* Jack Addison-13
*Tillie Addison-16
*Elspeth Addison-12
*Georgie Addison-the youngest
*Eva Joyce-Carrick Hall heiress, dates Frankie
*Arash Tabari-Professor Rastegar's grandson
*Eddie Heapworth
*Charles Heapworth-Tillie's crush
*Aurora Heapworth-Elspeth's BFF
*Zahra-the fisherman's granddaughter
🤔 My Thoughts: The challenges plaguing the children back home (being a loner/no friends, hate/racism, and poverty) follow them into the mystical world. This book is for middle schoolers but if you liked Once a Queen, you will enjoy the sequel.
Rating: 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐
🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, WaterBrook Multnomah, and Sarah Arthur for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.
February 7, 2025
Once A Castle is the second book in the Carrick Hall series. In this sequel, the evil sorceress Mindra returns, thanks to the gem dropped by Frankie in book one. As she attempts to take over the fantasy world of Ternival and turns those who try to stop her into animals a la Willow, stopping her will fall to the next generation of Frankie's family - his sisters Elspeth and Tilly, and his brothers Jack and Georgie along with a mysterious weaver girl from Ternival and the Rastegar's grandson, Arash - to save the world this time.
This was an interesting return to the world of Ternival. The feeling of a very C.S. Lewis - esque adventure tale continues. This book reads very like a Narnia sequel, and I think that was the author's intent. Mindra is our White Witch, and Frankie's family are the Pevensees. From that viewpoint, I found the book enjoyable, even though there were some small parts I didn't like. That's the way with nearly every fantasy book I read these days, however - I mostly enjoy it with the occasional small nitpick. I liked the differing POVs in this book, and enjoyed the way each character's particular arc resolved itself by the end of the book. I think that Jack, Arash, Tilly and Elspeth will make very interesting protagonists, and I will enjoy seeing where they go in the future once the third book comes out.
Thank you to Netgalley, Miss Sarah Arthur, and WaterBrook and Multnomah for the advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
This was an interesting return to the world of Ternival. The feeling of a very C.S. Lewis - esque adventure tale continues. This book reads very like a Narnia sequel, and I think that was the author's intent. Mindra is our White Witch, and Frankie's family are the Pevensees. From that viewpoint, I found the book enjoyable, even though there were some small parts I didn't like. That's the way with nearly every fantasy book I read these days, however - I mostly enjoy it with the occasional small nitpick. I liked the differing POVs in this book, and enjoyed the way each character's particular arc resolved itself by the end of the book. I think that Jack, Arash, Tilly and Elspeth will make very interesting protagonists, and I will enjoy seeing where they go in the future once the third book comes out.
Thank you to Netgalley, Miss Sarah Arthur, and WaterBrook and Multnomah for the advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and all views and opinions expressed are my own.
February 3, 2025
It continues a few years after the first book, which centered around Eva and Frankie.
This time, the rest of the Addison siblings join in the fray, with some Wolverne (and London) people.
A castle suddenly appears on the Wolverne countryside, and with it, a giant. These strange beginnings lead the Addisons and friends through portals leading to Ternival. The children find themselves in the middle of a possible comeback of the evil Mindra, as she somehow takes hold of the gems, making her much more powerful than before. Will the children of Tellus and the creatures of Ternival be able to stop her before it's too late?
It is such a great engrossing read, a definite page-turner, especially for those who love fantasy and magic. Though at first, it may seems difficult to keep track of the many children who are part of the story, it doesn't get too cofusing that one has to keep looking at the list of characters at the start of the book.
My one comment is that it was a little heavy on the "xenophobic" element that it almost becomes a subplot, when it didn't gave to be so emphasized. Otherwise, a great read.
This time, the rest of the Addison siblings join in the fray, with some Wolverne (and London) people.
A castle suddenly appears on the Wolverne countryside, and with it, a giant. These strange beginnings lead the Addisons and friends through portals leading to Ternival. The children find themselves in the middle of a possible comeback of the evil Mindra, as she somehow takes hold of the gems, making her much more powerful than before. Will the children of Tellus and the creatures of Ternival be able to stop her before it's too late?
It is such a great engrossing read, a definite page-turner, especially for those who love fantasy and magic. Though at first, it may seems difficult to keep track of the many children who are part of the story, it doesn't get too cofusing that one has to keep looking at the list of characters at the start of the book.
My one comment is that it was a little heavy on the "xenophobic" element that it almost becomes a subplot, when it didn't gave to be so emphasized. Otherwise, a great read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 9, 2025
The kingdom of Ternival breeches the divide between worlds and brings the conflict introduced in Once a Queen and more adventures to the young inhabitants of the English countryside in Sarah Arthur’s Once a Castle.
This outing in the Carrick Hall series revolves around not only the younger Addison siblings, but also new characters. Zahra brings the experiences and perspective of a Ternivali teenager to the story and Arash, grandson of the Tabari’s (my favorite secondary characters), brings his own challenges into the mix.
Full of excitement, and adventure, this is an enchanting tale that brings to mind Lewis, Tolkein, and fairytales - right from the start as Jack encounters his first giant. For fans of fantastical worlds, Once a Castle and the Carrick Hall series are books not to be missed.
This review refers to a digital copy that I voluntarily received and read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
This outing in the Carrick Hall series revolves around not only the younger Addison siblings, but also new characters. Zahra brings the experiences and perspective of a Ternivali teenager to the story and Arash, grandson of the Tabari’s (my favorite secondary characters), brings his own challenges into the mix.
Full of excitement, and adventure, this is an enchanting tale that brings to mind Lewis, Tolkein, and fairytales - right from the start as Jack encounters his first giant. For fans of fantastical worlds, Once a Castle and the Carrick Hall series are books not to be missed.
This review refers to a digital copy that I voluntarily received and read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews