This book was adorable, whimsical, and the humor is great for a middle grade audience. Charming and would recommend

Thousands of years ago the evil Shadow Queen was sealed underneath the castle and four wizards founded estates in the cardinal directions to maintain the seal. Faye has been living in Celurdur, the Wizard West's abode since she was born, but when her father unexpectedly leaves to go on an errand and the Wizard West dies in his sleep her life and the safety of the world is thrown into turmoil. Wizard West must choose an apprentice, the spells maintaining the seals must be reinforced, and Faye MUST remember, as the groundskeeper of Celerdur, not to let the cockatrice eggs to hatch.

The Girl Who Kept the Castle is a charming fantasy middle grade featuring a confident and funny heroine and a lovable cast of characters. I really enjoyed the magic system and world building. I can also tell that this will probably be a series.

When Wizard West dies, Faye (a 12 year old girl) and her other castle coworkers must help his ghost run a tournament to find his successor. However, there are darker forces at play that are trying to bring back an evil presence.

I really enjoyed this one! It takes a chapter or two to really get going, but then it is delightful. Faye was such a fun protagonist and I loved Illian too. It had really good messages about balance (but also breaking down some gender stereotypes!!). It said too be continued at the end, so I'm really hopeful we get more, or at least more within this universe!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

If I've said it once, I'll say it again. Middle Grade Fantasy books are where it is at right now! I'm so jealous I did not have these books growing up but I'm also lucky I can still enjoy them at my age. This is another example of such a great execution of a middle grade fantasy. The story line was so good and unique. I really enjoyed the set up of the four different balances of magic and the kingdom in the center to control it. The Shadow Queen was your basic villain without ever actually making an appearance. However, the threat of her return is all that is needed. The pacing of this book is excellent, especially with it being geared towards a younger crowd. I didn't want to stop and I know others will feel the same. Every word had a meaning and there wasn't a lot of history dumping on the reader where they would feel lost. This story is everything it needed to be.

Faye is our young protagonist and I absolutely adore her. It's clear why she is our main character and every choice she made had a reasoning to it. While her life is Celurdur, it is much more than that. Faye's Dad is out on an errand when everything occurs and it's up to Faye to help keep the palace in order. I think her story progression was really well done, even though she had a strong mindset at the beginning. The friendships she relies upon during the book are of such importance that the side characters shone just as brightly as Faye.

Overall, The Girl Who Kept the Castle by Ryan Graudin was such a fun read! This is another Middle Grade Fantasy books that will be a hit with the readers! And what's best is that even an adult can read along with the intended audience and enjoy it just as much. The plot and pacing of the story melded so well together that this was a book intended to be devoured. Faye is the perfect protagonist for the story with best supporting cast. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves magic, fantasy, and friendship.

We get to know Faye as the maid in the castle for the Wizard West and what a fun adventure it is, magical and wonderfully engaging!

I absolutely LOVED this book! One of my favorite cozy fantasies I've ever had the pleasure of reading. We're following the daughter of the groundskeeper for the Wizard West. In our opening scene, our main character has drawn the short straw and needs to tell the Wizard West that he is in fact.... a ghost... What follows is a whimsical story of a competition to find the Wizard's successor before his death causes a magical catastrophe for the kingdom. MAJOR studio Ghibli vibes here (one of our wizards is even named Ghibli). A lovely middle grade that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. My favorite character of all was the compost dragon who is extremely big and powerful---and spends his time eating food scraps and creating compost. Just an incredible story and I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I love any book with ghosts, and this book has ghosts, magic, wizards, and a lot of goofy elements that make for a great read!
Anyone who enjoys fantasy books will eat this up!

A big thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has the vibes of Howl's Moving Castle, and I am immediately sold.

The Girl Who Kept the Castle is a middle grade fantasy novel that is said to be Nevermoor meets Howl's Moving Castle. Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West’s groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur—the only home that Faye has ever known—will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can’t be renewed. After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen. But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest—set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she’ll need more than a mop. Will a maid’s magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?

This book is funny. This book is magical. This book is everything one ever needs in a book. So go read it now.

This book was a really fun time. The lore and the worldbuilding about how these wizards and castles came to be was quite fascinating and will definitely appeal to fantasy loving kids. Faye is quite a compelling main character. I really liked how resourceful she is and it was really clear how much she cared about her castle family and home. I also really liked all the side characters and I loved how their goals and personalities changed as the story developed. The book ended in a really nice conclusion while still building up plot threads in preparation for book two which I am very excited to read. I'd definitely give this book to kids looking for a fun magical adventure.

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me. It just wasn't a story I was enjoying. There was too much magic for my taste and it didn't hold my attention. I do really love other works by Ryan Graudin and I look forward to more books by this author.

*thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review. All thoughts are my own

I have been in a lull on finding an engaging, fun, and addictive Middle Grade fantasy lately (my favorite genre). But this book totally fulfilled this yearning for me from the very first page.

Wizard West didn't seem to notice that he died. Faye, the groundskeeper's daughter, was chosen to tell him and was rewarded with a half transformation of a cat. Now with cat ears, eyes, and a tail, Faye has to help Wizard West find a successor or the magic imprisoning the evil Shadow Queen will be weakened enough for her to escape. A competition is started to choose the next Wizard West with some unexpected challenges along the way. This book was fun with great characters and I hope to find myself lost in this world again with a sequel?

A fantasy world with a Studio Ghibli feel combined with a story that focuses on good versus evil leaves the reader dealing with the effects of sexism and history.

I think there is an audience for this book, and it was a fast and fun read, but I did not find it to be especially set apart from other middle-grade fantasy. I would put a copy in my library, but I cannot see spending my meager budget on this particular title.

Overall, it was an okay book.

Thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This boo sort of reminded me of the Charlie Bone series or Harry Potter. It was filled with magic and teens have to face impossible odds to help save their home.

This was a lovely, charming story. Faye is an endearing protagonist - her ears, eyes, and tail are the envy of ten year old me, and, frankly, present day me - whose resourcefulness and bravery are a joy to see. I appreciated the options for an ending - there were a few paths I could see happening, and it kept me on my toes as to what the most likely would be.

The cast were very sweet - Faye, of course, but the Wizard was a fun character in his frustrating way, Puck was a delight (as talking cats always are!), and the prince and princess. I do wish we'd had a bit more time with some of the other characters, particularly the competing children, as they felt a bit lacking, but there's only so much you can do in a reasonably short novel, and I am glad for shorter middle grade novels - not every kid has a 400 page behemoth in them!

Thank you Ryan for reaching out for me to review this, and I look forward to the sequel!

What a whimsical novel!

We follow Faye a maid in the castle of Wizard West, one of the four wizards who maintain the balance of power in the kingdom. After Wizard West dies in his sleep and continues on with his day unknowingly as a ghost, Faye is forced to give him the news that he is no longer alive. In anger he tries to transform her into a cat, but his powers give up halfway through! Now stuck with cat ears, eyes, and tail she must aid Wizard West in hosting a very publicized tournament to choose his new apprentice while keeping his demise a secret. However, issues arise and a particularly dark spirit is set on sabotaging the tournament. Faye must do everything she can to ensure a new Wizard is chosen and can reinforce the magical foundation of her home before it crumples.

I always enjoy fantasy novels that rub up against modernization. While there are magical beasts, royalty, and swords there is also zeppelins, automobiles, and cameras. This mixing of fantastical and technological elements really aided in the whimsical nature of this book. And this was highlighted the most through the interactions Faye had with Prince Max and Princess Illian.

I loved Faye as a character so much, especially how she was the glue that kept the entire castle together. She single handedly ran the place by staying on top of her chores, solving the many problems that arose, while also completing some of the Wizard duties West found tiresome. She was quick witted, courageous, and deeply knowledgeable about every corner of the castle grounds. From compost dragons to harvesting plants to potion making, she had a solution to every question or problem that popped up. A very clever little girl that I think will be a great inspiration to many readers.

Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed.

That intriguing first line is a perfect jump start to this fantasy tale. The main character is Faye, a young maid and the groundskeeper daughter. She has been chosen to tell the wizard that he is indeed a ghost and has no magical powers left.

He responds by trying to transform Faye into a cat with disastrous results. The news gets even worse because Faye’s home, the enchanted castle of Celurdur, will fall apart soon if it’s foundation spells can’t be renewed.

Wizard West reluctantly accepts his death and hosts a competition to pick his successor. It doesn’t go well, and it’s up to Faye to work mostly behind the scenes to keep things running smoothly.

A bigger problem surfaces when she discovers a servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest that will not only destroy the castle but the entire kingdom of Solum. Faye tests her bravery by doing anything to stop the imposter and save her home.

Faye is an endearing lead and must serve under the long standing rule that girls are never to become apprentices to the land’s four wizards (North, South, East, and the ghostly West). She proves everyone wrong with her leadership prowess throughout the story.

THE GIRL WHO KEPT THE CASTLE stands tall as the first book in a to-be-continued adventure. The plot wraps up nicely leaving hints that there may be future stories. Readers will anxiously be waiting its’ arrival.

Fantasy lovers have a new friend set in an enchanting, magical setting.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE GIRL WHO KEPT THE CASTLE by Ryan Graudin

1. A great supporting cast including a talking cat. This feline has a few things on her mind and makes for a much needed friend for Faye.
2. Kind, caring, and brave make Faye one of the best lead female, fantasy characters in recent memory.
3. A dragon is always a draw and this story has a good one to entertain readers.
4. The magic is often connected to food which provide many surprises.
5. The potential apprentices vying for the chance to become the new wizard were surprisingly different and not all were your typical boy characters.

This is solidly cute. I think I would have loved it as a kid. Plucky girl, talking cat, magic. What’s not to like? Much younger book than I generally read. I prefer the old end of YA through adult books but I’m glad to have read this one. It was fun. I’d absolutely suggest this to a kid of the right age who likes fantasy books.

5 stars to this wonderful middle grade fantasy novel!

What can I even say about this book? It was everything I could have hoped for it to be! It's the kind of book I would have picked up as a child and read over and over, falling in love with the characters, the world, the magic, and the story. In fact, I'm a bit in love with it even now!
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Summary:
The Wizard West is dead, which is an inconvenience to him, and a disaster to the Wizard's Castle and the Balance of the entire kingdom. Now it's somehow up to Faye, the daughter of the groundskeeper, to hold the castle together until a successor for the Wizard West can be found. If only the Wizard himself would take the task more seriously... It's a good thing Faye has a lot of experience cleaning up magical messes because this magical mess just keeps getting bigger.
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I absolutely adored this book. The characters were wonderful and endearing, the setting was glorious (I want my own magical castle now!), and the storyline was so much fun. This book is so charming and satisfying and cozy, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone and will, in fact, be recommending it to all the middle grade fantasy readers at my library!

What worked for me:
- I know I've said it already, but the characters really helped to make this book. Faye was a fantastic main character, and I ADORE Puck, but the Wizard West was such a fantastically fun character as well, and I love the royal siblings and the castle staff (not to mention the castle itself!)
- This story was so engaging and well done. The pacing was fantastic, moving quickly without feeling rushed, and giving us time for calmer, more character focused scenes, while still keeping the flow going with rising tension.
- This world is so good. I want to see so much more of it and I really hope for a continuation of this story that takes us beyond the walls of Celurdur!
-As a long time fan of Diana Wynne Jones, a lover of Ghibli films, and a former child living in cozy fantasy worlds as often as I could, this book was so incredibly comforting and satisfying and I can't sing its praises enough.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Children's Books, and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Faye, the groundskeeper's daughter, is given the unfortunate task of telling Wizard West that he died in his sleep and is currently a ghost. This eccentric wizard doesn't take this well and instead of accepting his circumstances and helping plan his funeral, he concocts a plan to host a magical tournament to find his successor. Faye must now do her best to make sure that the wizard’s ghostly state stays secret while also circumventing any mishaps that are bound to occur in the outlandish competition. This whimsical fairy tale is full of lovable side characters like a brainiac Prince, a fierce Princess, a magical cat named puck, and Neil, the dragon who likes to eat vegetables out of the garden. While I did find that the story was a little slow to start and felt that the magic system could be expanded on, I also understand that this is a middle grade and the first book of a duology, so I am very excited to see where the next book takes the story.
If you're looking for a whimsical fantasy that gives you Howl’s Moving Castle vibes and feels like it would make a great children's movie, I think that The Girl Who Kept the Castle would be a great read.
3.75/5 stars
Thank you to Ryan Graudin and Quill Tree Books for the NetGalley ARC in exchange for an honest review

Brilliant, witty, and fun! I was hooked from the first page. I think that Graudin did such an incredible job of weaving an intriguing story while continually developing the plot. Each character is so well developed that I felt a connection to them. She provides an excellent balance of character development and fascinating plot line while building a world that I would love to visit. Fantasy is no doubt my favorite genre, but not every fantasy book makes me experience the story the way I hope for. The Girl Who Kept the Castle is so clever with fast paced excitement and higher level themes that I was excited to find out that it would have a sequel.