I’m feeling torn on how to rate this book. I went in expecting a fantasy/sci-fi (the concept is Hannah is a girl in a modern psychiatric institution for teenagers, who is living a second life as a peasant in the 1300s) and it turned out to be quite different.

I loved that about it: I enjoy a good surprise.

The book was addictive and propulsive, with very short chapters of a few pages each. That’s not normally my style, but I got into the rhythm of it quickly.

It was an easy read with some difficult content: Patterson and Raymond look at teen suicide, mental illness, class issues, and the way our society treats people who need help.

I’m not sure how I felt about elements of the ending. One character behaves throughout in a way that made me very uncomfortable from a medical ethics perspective, and I wish that had been addressed a bit more.

However, overall I really liked the book’s themes, and Hannah as a character. So I think I’ll give this book four stars today, and keep thinking about it — I think this will spur some really interesting discussions amongst its teen audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Jimmy Patterson Books / Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for my review copy of The Girl in the Castle.

The Girl in the Castle, co-written by James Patterson and Emily Raymond, is one of the best of Patterson's current offerings. According to Patterson's biography, he spent time in his younger years in an elite mental institution as an aide. Half of the book is spent in one. Hannah the main character in the book explores the other half of the book in the castle in the 13th century. Her time there is almost as real as the time in the mental institution and both are painfully difficult. In the institution, she meets an intern doing his time in a psych ward. Jordan is handsome, attentive, and interested in Hannah. He pursues unlocking the secrets of her mysterious past. What has driven her to hide in the 13th century? Who is this mysterious young woman and how can he help her? The book was a mesmerizing look at the workings of the mind that is traumatized by horrific childhood events. Thanks to #NetGalley#TheGirlintheCastle for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Girl in the Castle is an elegantly written novel centered around a girl's exploration of herself, while also tackling topics such as mental illness, self-harm, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. The main character, Hannah, believes that she is a time traveler, but not just any time traveler, but one who is able to pass through centuries using nothing but herself. Her time travel takes her back to 1347, during which she is forced to endure starvation and a harsh winter. In addition to living in 1347, Hannah lives in a mental institution in modern-day America, diagnosed with schizophrenia. As she becomes more vulnerable and open to a newly hired intern, Jordan, the line between medieval and modern Hannah begins to blur.

I loved the writing style of this book, it was fantastic! The characters were well fleshed out, especially Hannah, who despite dealing with trauma she continues to move forward and becomes stronger because of it. I feel like this book opened my eyes on what life at a mental hospital really is like and helped me gain a valuable perspective.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Yes! This book is pure addiction! Once you start, you can not put it down! It’s thrilling, exciting, thought provoking, heart wrenching, shocking! The big twist was perfection! And ending was also powerful! I loved it!

The book’s main character name is Hannah Dory, eighteen years old, lives in two timelines. She’s called Blackbird, a starving, poor village girl living in 1347, trying to save her family and in the meantime she’s patient in Belman Psych, diagnosed with schizophrenia.

The things she’s talking about her past time line are so detailed, consisted and vivid. It’s so real! Could she time travel? Could she tell the truth from the beginning? She only needs someone to believe in her.

She’s found near Time Square, screaming at people to help her save her sister Mary as she wears only t-shirt and boots in the middle of winter. The police officers barely put her in an ambulance as she keeps attacking them.

Now she returns back to Belman Psych to be observed. She was only little child when she’s brought to there at the first time. Nobody knows about her past and it seems like she does not any family. She rejects to talk about the people she’s connected in this timeline and she insists that her real family lives at the village near the castle, suffering from poverty and hunger. Only the cold hearted Baron Joachim can help them.

Jordan Hassan is a new intern, needing extra credit to graduate from Columbia University. From the beginning he find himself drawn into Hannah. The attraction between them are undeniable and Jordan may be the first person who really wants to help her and try to find out about her past.

But he has a little time because at each second Hannah is drawn into the castle and her connection with this time line slowly fades away. He can lose her to her beloved castle forever!

Time is ticking! He needs to hurry to save her!

Well: this book great mash up of different genres including fantasy- psychological thriller- young adult romance.

I devoured in one sitting. I easily resonated with Hannah and other memorable patients of Belman Psych: Indy/ Adam and Michelle are obviously my favorites.

Overall: I loved this powerful, surprising story a lot! Don’t forget to read James Peterson’s note at the end. He gives important information about how he inspired to develop the plot of the book.

I’m adding extra half star because of brilliant unfolding of mystery and meaningful ending and rounding up my 4.5 star to 5 great mystery, great approach to mental health issues stars!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for Young Readers for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.