I so wish I had more time to indulge in every magical book I come across! I have Pt. 1 of this book on my to read list someday! Where were these stories when I was growing up? Tinkerbell never really appealed to me, and I am glad I've lived long enough to find some with some real toughness to them! I think middle grade kids are going to enjoy this series. So much adventure! The book read pretty quickly and will hold a kids attention. Well written and entertaining!

This is the second book in the Cramer and Grit series. That being said, I had no problem reading this without first reading book 1. In this story, Cramer and Grit, a boy and a fae, meet Bell Daisimer when he crashlands pretty much on top of them. The three of them go to town to see the Rinka Tinka airshow. Bell is a pilot and has some history related to his most recent flying position which the reader finds out in time. Cramer is an electronic and building prodigy, while Grit is a Fae princess. They each play a large part in saving the Rinka Tinka airshow. Along the way, they meet friends and foes. who lead them on various adventures. I absolutely loved this story and as stated I have not read the first book, I will be going back to read the first and am super excited to read more of their adventures. I am giving this story a 4.5 star rounded to 5.

The Crooked Castle is just as good as The Wingsnatchers. Carmer is charming and Grit is as spunky as ever! Definitely becoming one of my favorite steam punk series!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

Carmer and Grit investigate a mysteriously magical flying circus in the follow-up to“a fun and frolicking middle-grade adventure full of enough fantasy, humor, and heart to make giddy even the most finicky reader.” (BookPage)

Shortly after saving the faeries of Skemantis, magician’s apprentice Felix Carmer III and his faerie companion, Grit, head out to see the world. They soon come across a mysteriously magical flying circus. As they get to know the outlandish world of Rinka Tinka’s Roving Wonder Show, it becomes clear there's something not quite normal about this circus or its inventor–and that recent airship disasters plaguing nearby Driftside City may have a sinister explanation.
I enjoyed this story, though it is intended for middle graders, it is quite enjoyable for older readers. Full of steampunk magic, fairies, and a fantasy circus with mysterious secrets around it. The reading is nos fast as there is quite a number of steampunk words and descriptions. If you are not acquainted with the language, it will take you some more time to read it. Though this is the second book in the series, it is completely understandable without reading the first one.
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers to send me an ARC to give an honest review.

This is one of those novels that is very challenging to review because of how much I loved it—I have absolutely no idea where to start. At the beginning of last year, I read the first book in this series, The Wingsnatchers, and it quickly ended up becoming one of my all-time favorites. The Crooked Castle was, by far, my most anticipated book of this year, and I was not disappointed in the least. This novel is equally as charming, thrilling, and heartwarming as the last. I so enjoyed returning to this beautifully crafted world and following the adventures of this incredible cast of characters. This novel is pure magic.

We begin following Carmer and Grit not long after their heroic acts in Skemantis, as they set out on their journey to see the world. Though they are pursuing adventure, it usually finds them first—and this time around, it literally comes crashing into their lives in the form of a balloon and its balloonist, Bell Daisimer. Bell joins the pair in order to get to a city where he can find the necessary parts to repair his balloon, but his stay is not quite as temporary as they all expect.

They soon discover a glider mixed up in the remnants of Bell’s balloon, and inside the glider is an exclusive invitation to Rinka Tinka’s Roving Wonder Show—a massive flying circus. Upon arrival in Driftside City, and after gaining access to the Wonder Show, it becomes apparent that there is more to this flying circus than meets the eye. Everything appears to be much more mysterious—and decidedly too magical—than they ever could have anticipated.

To top it off, they learn of a whole slew of unexplained airship disasters that have recently been plaguing the city. In their attempts to investigate just what is behind these accidents and the inner workings of the show itself, they stumble across dark secrets and a lot of wicked Unseelie fairies as they attempt to save the lives of their newfound friends, as well as their own.

I completely devoured this novel. It immediately pulled me in, swept me away on an adventure, and melted my heart once again. Taking place in a steampunk world and packed with lovable characters, amazing inventions, and enchanting magical elements, it is such an utterly charming read. The narrative is incredibly fast-paced and exciting, with new twists and turns constantly popping up. Each page makes you eager to get to the next, and I found it difficult to put down.

Reading this story was an absolute joy–there is such a nostalgic tone to it for me. It made me feel so warm and comforted, as though it had wrapped itself around me like a cozy blanket. That is the same pleasant sense so many of my favorite books from my childhood evoked, and I love that I can still reflect on and experience that today due to novels like these. I can see myself cherishing these stories for a long time.

Horwitz’s remarkable talent for storytelling stands out even more than it did before. Her description and world-building are top-notch and her words flow flawlessly from page to page. Every single part of this story is crafted so meticulously, down to the most minor details, and filled with a tone that sparks that childlike sense of wonder. She knows exactly how to unfold fascinating stories, brimming with elements similar to those of a classic tale. It is easy to see the appeal of her work and nearly impossible not to feel a connection to it on some level.

The characters are one of the most wonderful aspects of this story. Whether they are lovable or despicable, they are so vivid. I love the fact that we are able to see more of Carmer and Grit’s friendship and how it has progressed since the last novel. They are a perfect pairing and complement each other so well. And I absolutely adored the new additions to the cast, particularly Bell and another character that enters closer to the end (no spoilers!). Everyone is so fleshed out and multi-dimensional, so it is hard not to become emotionally invested in them and their lives—they will work their way into your heart.

Horwitz seamlessly captivates her readers by making her work accessible to all generations. It is hard not to get caught up in this fantastical world—the type that fuels your imagination and feeds your soul. She not only has a huge amount of talent as a writer, but she is also extremely gifted when it comes to writing fresh, unique stories that still retain that timeless, fairytale-like quality. She is truly doing what she is clearly meant to do by writing these types of novels, and I am completely blown away by what she has created.

Overall, I wholeheartedly adored this novel and never wanted it to end. It met and exceeded all of my expectations, and I was completely enthralled all the way through. Just like the previous installment, Horwitz has produced a story that—while targeted at a middle grade audience—is universally enjoyable, spanning every age group. This novel is an absolute masterpiece and will undoubtedly touch the hearts of every reader. I very highly recommend diving into this enchanting world, and I hope there will be more stories to come in the near future.

I reviewed book one of this series last Spring here. It seems like it was not that long ago, time flies in the publishing world. So- more steampunk for the win! Even usual YA readers will enjoy this story, and you don't have to read the first book if you don't want to.

Felix Carmer III and faerie princess Grit make an excellent team. Grit is no Disney Tinkerbell and Carmer is a sweet, quiet guy. You get a bit more of a peek at the faerie world and overall I thought it was just as good as the first book. I'm not sure if we'll buy it as my 12yo isn't into this kind of book- but if I see it on sale I'll buy it for myself!

Verdict- Buy

Please note that I received a free advance E ARC of this book from NetGalley without a review requirement or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that, I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

If You Only Read One Faerie Steampunk Novel This Year

Felix Carmer III and faerie princess Grit make an excellent team. Carmer isn't too "boy genius"; he's actually rather shy and quietly charming, but comes with the makings of a hero deep inside. Grit isn't at all twinkly, dippy, or a Tinkerbell-style psychotic. She's smart, observant, and just a bit careless around the edges, but also observant and shrewd. The two work well together, and the bits of teasing, and sometimes the friction, between them isn't fantasy-lite. They feel like a reliable and steadfast team. The result is very satisfying in terms of adventure characters who hold your interest.

You have a lot of faerieness, (Seelie, Unseelie, Free Folk), but it isn't played for either laughs or for twee glitter. Faeries have a complex social and political order and all of that is set out, explained, and illuminated as the plot here requires. Princess Grit is a "good guy", but that's sort of a relative term when it comes to faeries, and she can be stern, dangerous, quick to anger, and sort of scary as the occasion demands. She holds her own quite nicely in opposition to Carmer, and that hint of instability and wild magic around her adds great color and energy to the story. As I say, this isn't your Walt Disney faerie.

Carmer is also an interesting character, and a rather amiable counter to Grit. He also more or less represents the steampunk side of the equation. In that regard we get what strikes me as the right amount of steam and the proper measure of punk. It's all very interesting and clever, but not overexplained or overwhelming. Many of the exchanges between Carmer and Grit are clever, humorous, or deadpan funny, and that adds a good deal to the overall feel of the book.

The story here is a bit twisty, but easy enough for a careful reader to follow. Lots of strong secondary characters and amusing or interesting supporting characters add a good deal of flavor and color and variety to the mix. The story has lots of mystery and suspense and conflict and it moves along at a quick pace. This is the second book in the Carmer and Grit series, but the author does a nice job of filling in the action-so-far early on so it was easy for a newbie like me to pick up the thread quickly and without losing anything important.

The upshot was that I just slipped right into this book, took to the two lead characters immediately, and enjoyed the action and the thrills. I'm still not totally into faerie or steampunk, but this was a very nice reminder of how interesting and entertaining both of these styles can be. A nice find.

(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

I did not read the first book in this series, which didn't prove a problem. But I'll definitely be going back and reading it (and highly recommend starting off with book one) simply because this is such an amazing story!

When a balloon and it's rider crash into the roof, Carmer (a tinkerer) and his best friend Grit (a fairy princess) discover a glider in the wreck with an invitation to a flying circus. The two quickly discover this isn't an ordinary flying circus and fear that there might be some evil plans behind the mysterious magic connected to it.

This is sold as a read for the middle grade audience, and although fitting to the age group, it's a book which will thrill even older readers. The author does a fantastic job at bringing this magical world with steampunk elements to life. It is rich and detailed and a sheer fantasy delight. By no means does it ever talk down to readers, bur rather pulls them up into an intricate world.

Carmer and Grit make a delightful combination. While Carmer is a young inventor who keeps his head pretty much on the ground and focused, Grit follows the heart and dreams. She's a fairy princess, but by no means glittery and full of pink puffiness. She's sweet but like her name, full of grit. Simply the fact that Carmer helped her replace a lost wing through his mechanics and then the fairies added their own magic, demonstrates the closed connection and harmony these two have. The friendship isn't perfect but golden.

Dull is not a word to describe this tale. There are wonders, action, magic, evil plans, dangerous situations and adventure the entire way through. Every page shines with imagination and lures deeper into the fantastical world.

I really enjoyed the first book in the Carmer and Grit series, Wingsnatchers, so I was looking forward to reading more adventures and this second book is just as good. I like the steampunk theme of these MG stories and I just love Grit’s character, certainly not a fluttery, girly fairy, instead she’s definitely got attitude - something I can certainly empathise with! The elaborate airships are so well described I wished I could travel on one and the picture created in my head of the NYE spectacular was colourful and fantastic.