Review Detail

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.