I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. I know that this is the first book in a series and this is where we get introduced to the world the rest of the series will be taking place in. I found myself going back and reading some passages to make sure I understood what was going on. Eva is visiting her grandmother at the family manor. This is a journey to learn about magic, secret and about family. There are parts of the book I found enjoyable, but kind of a hard book to get through. I felt there needed to be more going to keep me personally engaged in the story. It could just be the foundation for the rest of the series. I will just have to wait and see.

This one starts out very slow and confusing. I stopped at chapter 14, 24% and did not finish. I had no idea what the story of Ternivia was and why those "chapters" were separate. The story lacked character building. I didn't care about Eva or her Grandmother and there was not enough suspense to keep me reading. I stopped reading because I was bored and uninvested.

Thank you to the publisher for this eArc.

Eva Joyce is finally getting to meet her grandmother, who lives at a grand manor house in England. At 14, she’s never talked to her or even received any letters, and she knows little about the woman. But she will be spending the summer with her while her college-professor father tries to secure a permanent job at a university in Chicago.

Eva has grown up loving the fantasy stories set in the magical realm of Ternival, and she learns fairly soon after arriving at Carrick Hall that the stories have a connection to the estate. And, most surprisingly, a number of the locals who work at the manor believe the stories are true. Portals to other worlds exist, and her grandmother was once a queen in Ternival.

Now, however, her grandmother doesn’t even want to hear people talk about Ternival, and she keeps mostly to herself in the grand house. After a tragedy in her young adulthood, she has been grieving, her heart shut off from wonder and joy.

With Eva’s arrival, however, the older woman is faced with some painful memories and is clearly struggling with her past. Eva hopes she can learn the truth about what she’s heard and even find a portal to the magic world she loved when she was a child. As a teenager, she would love to enter Ternival, but she knows she’s of an age that it’s just about time to leave fairy tales behind.

But if nothing else, she wants to learn the secrets her family has kept and to bring healing to her grandmother. Just how vital it is to enter Ternival to do so is unclear.

Once a Queen has many wonderful elements that should make it a favorite, but a number of pieces were missing for me. For one, every chapter set in the “real world” alternates with a page or two of story from the fairy tale world written in the book. But each section from the fairy tale is fairly short, and it’s hard to know if the entirety of the Ternival book is presented in those snippets or if they are excerpts giving pertinent highlights. Either way, I didn’t get too caught up in that fairy tale story, which took away some of the power of what it meant in the lives of the “real world” people.

It’s also very clear the fairy tale world takes very heavily from famous, beloved works like Narnia. The author writes at the end that she grew up reading The Secret Garden, A Wrinkle in Time, Narnia, and others, and her love for those make-believe realms is evident. It just seems that this realm takes far too much from existing books, particularly Narnia. It just doesn’t feel original enough.

I also had a number of questions about how certain things worked that seemed like big issues (for me, at least). There are some holes that left me a bit confused.

Overall, however, the story is poignant and a clear homage to classics that are dear to many readers’ hearts for a reason. Its focus on the main character and her grandmother is still the most important part and a sweet one.

Once a Queen is an enchanting easy to read YA fantasy book. The main character, 14 yr old Eva, has never visited her Grandmother's estate in England. Eva and her mom visit there, and Eva find things that aren't as they may seem on the surface. Eva meets Frankie, the caretaker's grandson. The friendship that strikes up between the two of them was so much fun to watch grow. As time goes on, Eva has to try to decide if she's too old to believe in 'magic' or if all of these secrets she's discovering in her family history is truly magical. I think if you enjoyed the Chronicles of Narnia series, you would enjoy this book. For an adult it's a fast easy read. I'd happily let my Middle Grade child read this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Arthur and WaterBrook Publishing for allowing me this e-version arc to read and review.

“The Mystery of the Manor” is a well-crafted debut novel with an engaging story and approachable narrative.

Eva Joyce, a 14-year-old American girl, finds herself in an unexpected summer adventure at her English grandmother’s mysterious manor. The book skillfully mixes fantasy and mystery, appealing to readers with its fairy tale-like quality.

One notable aspect of the story is its subtle religious allegory, adding a layer of complex themes.

As Eva uncovers her family's secretive past and navigates strange occurrences at the manor, the narrative introduces hidden portals to other worlds, guarded by the manor’s staff, adding intrigue and wonder.

Eva learns about her grandmother’s past as a queen in one of these mystical realms, now a closed chapter in her life. The book excels in blending the ordinary with fairy tale magic, diving into themes like self-discovery, and the power of family legacies.

'The Mystery of the Manor' is a well crafted novel, ideal for middle school readers who enjoy mysteries with a supernatural twist,

This was very clearly a religious allegory, which I think is kind of annoying because there is no indication of that in the marketing.
My real problem with this is that it is just SO young. It reads almost like middle grade honestly, and that is not at all like what the description led me to believe. I know it has a 14 year old protagonist, but the whole thing felt more like it should have an 11 year old protagonist.
I think this was interesting and well written, it just wasn't for me. This book definitely has an audience, particularly for younger readers and readers who are looking for a bit more religious takes on fantasy.
It wasn't bad, just really wasn't for me.

I was instantly in love and so drawn into this story. Imagine any of the main characters from The Chronicles of Narnia are now old and their grandchild is discovering that the fairytales they grew up loving were not only true but about their grandmother. I can see these characters becoming just as beloved. I cannot wait for the next books!!!

I received this arc from Netgalley and Waterbrook & Multnomah in exchange for a fair and honest review.

How to describe this gem? Take a handful of Narnia, a twist of The Secret Garden, a dash of Madelene L’engle and you have this unputdownable YA fantasy. This has me yearning to explore all wardrobes and tapestries to double check they aren’t a secret portal to another world.

Right now this book is due for publication in January 2024 so marked your calendars because this would be a perfect read on a cozy winter day. Heads up this is the first in a series. And I seriously hope I can get access to book 2 asap.

UPDATE: added review to Barnes and Noble under username KatieSam on 1/30/24

This book first and foremost is a fantasy and inspired by fairy tale. For some that can be appealing, and it was for me to some extent too.
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Personally I skipped over the passages at the end of each chapter. Maybe I'd have got more out of the story if I'd read them too, but I enjoyed it well enough without reading them.
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Eva and Frankie were really engaging characters and watching their relationship unfold was very entertaining.
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Overall, this story was very fun, and a good time. Not necessarily my cup of tea, and not one I'd likely read again, but it was fun while I was in it.

Thank you to Waterbrook and Sarah Arthur for the opportunity to arc review Once a Queen.

A modern take on the old fantasy stories of my childhood – it stirred many happy memories of reading the greats like S Lewis during the summer holiday. Nice to see the world re-embracing this style of writing. Sarah Arthur has a very descriptive writing style that paints a very detail oriented picture into the reader's imagination of against where the adventure of the story is taking place and bring the visual embodiment of the characters to life.

The pacing of the book was a little strange for me – the books is telling a lot of different peoples’ stories with inclusion of passages from the book , characters relying their own stories to Eva and the Eva’s own adventure uncovering the mysteries of her family’s history. I felt like most of the first 75% of the book didn’t amount to much, a lot of setting up and telling the reader what’s what before finally getting to the adventure about 80%.

I’m not religious at all, but I get the tradition and the metaphors behind the imagery contained within the story. The Chronicles of Narnia were one of my favourite books as a child, but they didn’t convert me to Christianity. I think you can enjoy this book for its mystical elements, emotions and the tragic relationships between the characters without getting lost in the religious aspects.

Overall, a nice throw-back to a different time of writing and storytelling with a strange and whimsical fantasy world with nice correlations to the Chronicles of Narnia. 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3.

Once a Queen-a standalone

by Sara Arthur-debut YA

Rating: 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Publication 1/30/24 Read 1/30/24

Format: eBook, 376 pgs.

Thanks to NetGalley and WaterBrook &Multnomah for this ARC💚! I voluntarily give an honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

✔️ YA
✔️ Sci Fi/Fantasy
✔️ Magic
✔️ Family secrets
✔️Fairytale inspirations: The Chronicles of Narnia and The Secret Garden

Summary- Eva Joyce is a fourteen-year-old American girl who unexpectedly leaves her Connecticut home to spend the summer at her grandmother's (Mrs. Torstane) English manor house-Carrick Hall. Eva has a lot of questions and spends her time investigating her reclusive grandmother's life, and the strange happenings within the manor's gardens. Eva befriends the elderly housekeeper Mrs. Fealston, the gardener Stokes , and the gardener's grandson, Frankie Addison. They help guide her quest to uncover the truth about her family and the worlds that once existed.


The plot is Eva's exploration of family relationships, grief, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. Eva grapples with growing up and leaving behind fairy tales and the magic of her childhood.


Overall, Once a Queen is a compelling young adult fantasy novel that exposes other worlds of mystery and enchantment. Eva discovers family secrets and embraces a coming-of-age journey built around her grandmother's trauma and grief.

A mystery-fantasy. The writing was unique and I enjoyed the way it was told. It reminded me of the Chronicles of Narnia.

At 14, Eva Joyce has not yet let go of her belief in lands beyond a wardrobe door, when a trip to meet her grandmother in England brings about the unexpected and she begins to believe her favorite book of fairy tales might be true. Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a luminous work of Young Adult fiction and a sublime portal fantasy featuring a story within a story.

Enjoyable for teens or adults, Once a Queen is a not to be missed YA debut. A sneak peek of book 2, Once a Castle, is included.

This review refers to a digital ARC that I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Once A Queen by Sarah Arthur is a young adult fantasy that begins with a mysterious grandma, a large mansion, and a ton of secrets. It talks about magical creatures and fading portals to other worlds, perfect for fans of Narnia.

The book has a fun start, but it feels like it's just the beginning of a much bigger story. It's like the warm-up before the main event. If you like Narnia-style stories, this one might be up your alley.

The author introduces a mysterious manor, family secrets, and magical elements. While it might lack some details, it promises to explore the fantasy world more in future books.

Once A Queen is a solid start to Sarah Arthur's YA fantasy series. If you enjoy magical mysteries and are looking for a bigger adventure in the future, give it a try.

This was an enchanting story about a girl finding out wondrous secrets about her family and discovering that you can't write other peoples stories for them. Always engaging, it shows a valuable lesson for life while creating lovable characters and a truly magical world.

Thank you to Netgalley and WaterBrook & Multinomah for granting me early access to the digital unfinished copy of Once A Queen. This review is entirely my own thoughts and opinions upon finishing the unfinished copy.

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Once A Queen is the story of a girl who spends the summer with her mom at the estate of her estranged grandmother in England. Her summer is spent uncovering secrets of her family's past, their connection to another world from a fairytale she grew up loving, and attempting to help her grandmother heal from a traumatic loss in her past.

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Before I continue my review, I feel it is very important I leave this warning to potential readers, and message to the publishers.

If you're going to publish a Christian Fantasy, <i> appropriately label it as such </i>. If the rest of the publication world can take the time to add into their promotional materials warnings of triggering topics, then you can also correctly label your YA Fantasy as a CHRISTIAN YA Fantasy. Due to you not appropriately labeling your book as such, my PTSD and religious trauma was triggered. I will not be purchasing this book. I will not be recommending this book. I will not be requesting or purchasing future titles from your imprint as now I cannot trust your imprint.

So readers beware, if Christian theology is a trigger point for you, skip this book. This is a Christian YA Fantasy and should have been appropriately labeled as such.

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OVERALL: 2.5🌟
STORY: 2🌟
WRITING: 4🌟
CHARACTERS: 4🌟
ENJOYMENT: 2/10🌟 (I really should have DNF'd this book)

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STORY:

My first thoughts on the story is: WHERE IS THE FANTASY? This book is marked as a portal fantasy a-la-Narnia, but 98% of the book takes place in our world with tales from Kinchurch's fairytale in between each chapter. This is more of "What if the Susan Pevensie was traumatized post-narnia on top of losing her belief in Narnia" fanfiction. This story was less an adventure in another world portal fantasy, and more a young girl reconnecting with her traumatized grandmother and trying to heal her fractured mind through faith and believing in the other world and the white stag.

Which... as someone with diagnosed PTSD... this is a gross take to be shoving down someone's throat without any kind of trigger warnings.
1) Children should not be the bearers of adults trauma, nor be responsible for healing adults trauma. The fact this is portrayed in a positive light is sickening. The fact this is a YA book makes this even worse.
2) Healing from trauma via religious faith being portrayed to young adults is EXACTLY how religious trauma comes about. Trauma to the degree the grandmother has is healed through professional help. Ask me how I know.

Outside of that, the story was slow. Less of a fantasy and more of a mystery as Eva desperately tries to uncover all the secrets the adults are hiding from her. It was really not the story I was expecting and just continued to let me down with every chapter.

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WRITING

Arthur's writing is honestly gorgeous! She's got a great flowing prose and can switch between different styles of dialogue and writing on a dime. It certainly helped to make a slow story more engaging. She's really thought through and fleshed out the fantasy world that we got to spend 5 seconds in. It's a shame we didn't get to experience more of it when the fairytales between each chapter show a massive depth of world building done for this tale.

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CHARACTERS:

Eva was a sweetheart and a dreamer after my own heart. She's stubborn and determined and bless her soul, she really tries to do the right thing through most of this story. She takes on the task of trying to fix her grandmother's fracture mind and its sweet seeing her bond with her grandmother.

Eva's mother, I felt, was needlessly angry and cagey with information. I was right with Eva feeling left out in the cold with all the secrets swirling around her family. Her mother's treatment of her honestly made me relate even harder to Eva.

I felt for the Grandmother and her brokenness. I appreciated how her dialogue would alter depending on what state of mind she was in through out the story, helping to show her fractured-ness even more.

The rest of the characters were easy to love and helped to round out Eva's world.

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ENJOYMENT

Like I said, this book triggered my PTSD and even writing this review is getting harder as I think back over the story and instead am having trauma flashbacks. So no, I did not enjoy this story. I really should have DNF'd but I so wanted answers and was hoping <i>something</i> would happen with the fairytale world and our heroine.

Publishers, appropriately label your books.

Absolutely loved the author's writing style. The beginning instantly gave me Frances Hodgson Burnett vibes. You can definitely feel the CS Lewis influences in the story. I'm sure this was at least somewhat intentional, but the story definitely feels reminiscent (in some ways) of Susan Pevensie's story in Chronicles of Narnia.

A very solid YA fantasy with dreamy writing.

DNF at 24%

I tried I really did, I kept telling myself "one more chapter maybe something will happen then" but it's soooo slow and uneventful, we get more action from the dog in the fairytale parts than from the main story. maybe I'm just not the intended target and 13yo have more patience than I do

Can we just call a permanent end to Narnia-alikes? I have no problem with the idea of travel between worlds, or magical series written by a relative, but when the plot of that series and the sense of that world is screaming "Narnia light" can someone just stop the author?

The Narnia nonsense aside, this wasn't a bad read. More about the relationship between Eva's family and Frankie's would have been interesting. I wanted to tag along on one of the tours, learning how the public saw Carrick Hall (so many people are comparing this to, in part, <i>The Secret Garden</i> but honestly? doesn't anyone remember Mary exploring Misselthwaite Manor? More of that here, please, and less "white stag at night"). The revelations towards the end about why Eva's parents didn't spend time in England at Carrick Hall or with her grandmother were kind of shoehorned in, as were explanations for some of the other magical elements. Sigh.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a lower YA contemporary fantasy that asks what happens to the children in a portal fantasy when they are done with their adventure and return home.

American Eva Joyce and her mother fly to England to stay with Eva’s grandmother for the summer for the first time. Eva’s family loves the Ternival series, an incomplete fantasy series that has ties to her family and the staff of the estate Eva’s grandmother lives in, Carrick Hall, believe in portals to other worlds. Eva’s fascination with the stories they tell, finally getting the chance to know her grandmother, and a mysterious stag that appears at night leads her to try to find a portal of her very own.

What I liked was the generational trauma twist on portal fantasy, recognizing how grief can twist us and make us afraid of new experiences or to leave our homes while also showing how that trauma can hurt our loved ones. The grandmother feels like she stepped through time, particularly in her speech, while everyone around her feels quite grounded in 1995.

It was really cool how each chapter ended with a section from the Ternival series, reading almost like a fairy tale, and showing bits of the portal fantasy world and its history and how it relates to Eva’s grandmother.

I would recommend this to fans of portal fantasies and readers looking for a contemporary fantasy that is fairly light on the worldbuilding.