YA Review – Once a Castle – young adult fantasy

Arthur, Sarah. Once a Castle. New York: WaterBrook, 2025

A Carrick Hall novel – 2

Guide to Categories – YA Review – review of books for teens

Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will not cost you more but may pay me an affiliate fee.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Thank you for using my links.

Summary

Worlds collide and lives are changed as portals between our reality and the magical land of Ternival fray in the spellbinding sequel to the Christy Award finalist Once a Queen, called “a fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era” by Mitali Perkins.

A few years after Eva Joyce and Frankie Addison discovered the existence of portals to other worlds, 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, mostly, at least), but trouble keeps finding them. 

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 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 their stories get tangled together, and the teens must discover if they can bridge their differences and find, in themselves and one another, what it takes to put things right. Because it’s not only their lives at stake but also the fate of their home—and of more than one kingdom.

Purchase Once a Castle on Amazon – https://amzn.to/42PnkaU

My YA Review

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. 

Read more YA Review posts

Check out my lists on Benable

Do you enjoy these reviews? Want to help support this blog? You can leave a tip here. Or make any purchase on Amazon with my link.

Purchase these printable Valentine Cards in my Etsy shop.