I would consider this book to be a low-stakes, cozy fantasy if categorizing it as “adult” fantasy. The story lines were not grim nor graphic, and these aren't inherently bad things unless it seems as if that is what the author intended, which is how I felt here. I think these were attempts to make the book feel more adult to match the advertising, but slim plotting and the goofy writing of characters ultimately made it read rather young.

My largest issue with this book, which is a usual trend for me and won't be a negative for every reader, is struggling with a first person narrative, especially one that tends to break the 4th wall as this story does. I didn’t find Anatole to be a very engaging main character, so being stuck in his head for the story was a difficult slog for me at times. His clumsiness and constant stepping in poop (literally...) also felt like juvenile attempts at comedic relief. For someone who I'm supposed to believe cares for Tullía like a father, I found Anatole's attempts to help her very mediocre, although I will give him credit that he’s a self-admitted coward and self-preservation is a strong factor in us all. However, Tullia and Pito were twice as brave as him at less than half his age at virtually every turn. A redeeming factor for Anatole is that at least he never betrayed them, although no one really tried very hard to make him from what we were told so I guess that doesn’t mean much at the end of the day. Tullía and Pito were cute and actually getting to watch their feelings grow was sweet, although again very juvenile. There were very interesting characters buried in there, If only we had gotten more from their perspectives.

The pacing was also a long shot from what I wanted. Things took a very long time on the set up, but it did feel like it was building to an expansive world and deeper character understandings. However, when things got to the interesting parts as the three amigos were on the lamb, the plot pace started to hit an Olympic-runner sprint. I was surprised to see how far along in the progress bar I was by the time things were becoming intriguing. The most interesting part, Anatole’s immortality and what happened to him during his imprisonment, his eventual freedom and reemergence into the new world, trying to find answers about his companions who potentially escaped, and his adventures for the next 400 years. This all was summed up in about 10 pages.

Overall, for me the pacing was a miss, the characters were mid, and the setting and world building were interesting enough although pretty on pare with other fantasies set in a more realistic history such as this. I honestly think the best thing for this book would have been it simply being longer. It felt like the soul of the book was missing somewhere in the parts of the story we never got to see. I’m even okay with the ambiguous ending of not know what ever happened to Tullía, Pito, and Cuvio, I love a good ambiguous ending, but I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of an effort on the search to at least give the reader something to interpret and come to their own conclusions or speculation.

When I first read the blurb for The Magician of Tiger Castle, I was expecting a totally different book than what I received. This is partly because I didn’t realize that the prolific children’s author, Louis Sachar, writer of the beloved book, Holes, was making his first foray into the adult fantasy section of our bookstores. The other part was because I didn’t realize this book was more akin to cozy fantasy or a children’s fairytale than the usual adult fantasy books I’m used to reading. Once I adjusted my expectations to fit with the material, I came to one conclusion: this book was okay.

Anatole, our bumbling, hairless protagonist, is neither the hero nor the villain in this story; he’s simply a tea-loving, aging “magician” with severe hypohidrosis who is fairly good at making potions. (It should be noted, though, that his patrons rarely have enough patience for him to prove the latter fact.) Anatole’s predicament throughout the novel hinges on the safety of the princess and whether he will imperil her or save her. The strongest parts of this novel come from the interactions between Anatole, Tullia, and Pito, Tullia’s lover and the infamous scribe. The dialogue between them all was fun, endearing, and silly. It made them feel like a family, in a way, so there is definitely the found family element to this novel.

Another strength was Anatole’s commentary on contemporary historians and scientists, which he directed at the reader. He loved to pit his knowledge against modern day “discoveries” in a way that was both comical and entertaining. Real historical tidbits are sprinkled throughout, some modified for dramatic effect or extra humor, and I enjoyed these very much. It made me want to look up every reference to the real world and check it against fact, just for fun.

Unfortunately, the humor also failed sometimes in this novel. The callous way rape is treated like a joke left me grimacing. I knew what the author was trying to do, show how toxic masculinity ruins pretty much everything, but the near victim of this rape got a little angry about it and then let it go, as if someone violating her in the most humiliating and possibly life-altering way was nothing more than a small pustule on her skin that would eventually go away if she ignored it long enough. Add to this that she would have suffered this abuse the rest of her life, the span of which would have been likely shortened by said abuser, but she was rescued by two men at the expense of her feminine dignity, and you may have found yourself gritting your teeth exactly like I did.

In the same vein, horrific violence was treated with slap-stick humor. People are slaughtered, villages and their residents are burned, and—as you might have suspected from the title—some unlucky citizens “feed the tiger.” All of this is given to us in matter of fact prose that has all of the careful nuance of, “and then this happened.” While such deadpan delivery of details about death and gore can absolutely be well done, it’s usually a vehicle for a subtle critique of something else (corporate greed, as one example). There is no subtle message here. While toxic masculinity is being condemned in the narrative, it’s also being perpetuated by Anatole. Regardless of disastrous decisions he makes, Anatole only feels a mild sense of guilt toward those suffering around him due to his own actions, which he quickly replaces with indifference so that he can prioritize his own creature comforts. While the main villain’s ego relating to his masculinity is used for comedic effect, Anatole’s own masculine ego drives his decisions, often swaying him to take one side or another, thus affecting the entire plot of the novel. While Anatole’s cowardice, as he so often likes to remind us, is indeed a factor in the plot, so is the allure of power and the pretty girl who strokes his ego.

Overall, it took me a while to get into this book. Roughly the first third of the novel had very little happening of much significance, and I had to force myself to pay attention to the story and really focus. Much of the first third felt like little vignettes of prose, barely strung together by the overarching plot. This makes sense, of course; although there is looming doom on the horizon, Anatole lives a fairly quiet life experimenting in his lab and drinking his artisanal teas. I can appreciate a quieter story, one that’s more cozy in feel, if there’s something really interesting happening. Much of what happened in this novel, though, felt like familiar tropes recycled with little added flair, which was fine but not all that interesting. Thankfully, if readers can push through the beginning of the book, the action eventually pick ups.

Sachar’s simple, unadorned prose has been described by others as “juvenile,” which I hope they did not mean as an insult, because writing for children is an art and should be lauded and appreciated, not demeaned. At the same time, you can definitely tell who Sachar’s primary audience has been up until this point. The minimalist style in which he writes is almost too minimalist at times, often telling us instead of showing us things that should be described in more careful detail, leaving the reader to fill in many of the blanks. There are also times when the descriptions are odd or make no sense, like the way the princess’s heterochromia allows her eyes to express two different emotions simultaneously (one emotion depicted in each eye). That being said, there were several times when I appreciated the simple style, like when the jokes actually landed and the short quips felt like a comedian’s punchline.

For those wondering if they should pick up this book, I will say it might be worth the read if you enjoy morally gray characters who see themselves as the heroes of their own story. Anatole is clearly flawed, but he is also somewhat endearing. Like a true father-figure, you cringe at his mistakes, laughing at him at times, but you also hope he makes it out unscathed from the narrative, so he can continue to experiment with his potions and drink his fancy tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Louis Sachar for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was just okay for me. It had an interesting premise with the magician, Anatole, who is looking back at their life years in the future, lamenting how people now a days deem what they did as just fantastical and not based in reality. Yet for them what they were able to do was cutting edge. More importantly they are looking back at their life which occurred many years ago, so their “potions and powers” must have worked. Overall, this book is a very easy read. I do feel like it reads a bit more like a young adult book, but that isn’t that big of a deal. This book is an easy read with some fun adventures along the way.
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

Imagine "The Princess Bride" told from the perspective of Miracle Max. Anatole is a magician/physician in the little kingdom of Esquaveta who has fallen out of favor from the king because his potions and remedies aren't the miracles of turning sand into gold. Then the princess Tullia is discovered having fallen in love with a lowly scribe and not her betrothed prince, leaving him with the opportunity to try a de-love potion on her and regain favor, as well as maybe ease her own conscience since the man she loves is going to be executed for their chaste affair.

Anatole is an interesting choice for a narrator, sometimes pompous but also self-effacing at his own cowardice. He prefers not to get involved with things that don't involve his experiments of various urine/fungi/tears/poultices or interacting with his rats, but his overall passivity is not a problem when he is thrown into situations he can't control, such as dealing with the emotional Princess Tullia and the luckless scribe Pito. There is a framing device as he speaks from the "present," which already tells us that his immortality potion ends up working, and sometimes is used to explain funny terms of phrase through "translation errors" in a style that's very much in tone of "The Princess Bride" narrator. There is a wryness that permeates through the book otherwise, and simple prose that is accessible to younger readers, making it feel more like a Terry Pratchett fantasy than a J.R.R. Tolkien.

The book is divided into three parts, and for most of it the tone honestly resembles more of a Young Adult fantasy, just with an older POV character, but the plot is very much about Tullia and Pito's dynamic more than any slightly mentioned castle politics (the tiger of the title's Tiger Castle barely muster up as more than plot contrivances). When Anotle is entangled in their drama, the story flows from one crisis to another, and it was an enjoyable read. Despite the darker subject matter of plague, murder, and political marriages that do not have consensual grounding, it is equal parts bodily humor, especially since Anatole is hairless from a previous experiment gone wrong. However, the third part is titled "A Long and Drawn Out Ending" and it really feels like a warning that the denouement is going to be a lengthy disappointment.

Spoilers: Anatole is separated from Tullia and Pito, captured and thrown into the castle dungeon by the story's villain. The villain had also taken his immortality potion but is described as being killed seventeen years into Anatole's hundred year imprisonment. He gives a long list of other historical moments that led to his freedom in the present day. However, this feels like someone glossing over an overly long story in an attempt to wrap it up because they know it's not interesting, and the reader is likely to feel the same way. And to preempt anyone saying "well, children's literature needs a happy ending, adult literature can be dark" let me say that Sachar had previously given upsetting endings to characters, like Kissin' Kate Barlow in "Holes." But Anatole's imprisonment is really treated like an inconvenience, and his journey back to the castle in the present day is only there to connect him to the time when he was with Tullia and Pito. The main problem isn't that it is a bittersweet/less than happy ending, it is that Anatole is, at his base self, a passive and boring character without someone to instigate things for him. And the ending of him spending 400 years later having a mundane life is something many might wish for, but it's not a satisfying ten pages to end on.

Considering Louis Sachar wrote the best Newbery book, "Holes," as well as other humorous classics, I was excited to read his first foray into adult literature. It holds a lot of the twists and charms that makes his books so good, but I do think he is better suited to children's and young adult. There is a strong story in here, and I do think it will find some readers who are absolutely delighted by something with a low magic system and straightforward characters. I would have given it 4/5 if the ending were stronger.

Tigers are not the main focus at Tiger Castle, but their eccentric potionmaker sure is. Meet Anatole. The hairless (from a potion mishap), slightly anxious, tea-loving resident magician of the kingdom of Esquaveta. It’s a classic fantasy folktale with a sprinkle of forbidden love, mischievous magic, and unintended consequences.

This book was a delightfully low-stakes read. Firmly within the “cozy” category, but more reminiscent of 80s/90s children movies filled with princesses and adventure. Mostly comfy reading, though at times, it hints at some darker topics. The prose is easy, the tone is warm, the pacing is breezy, and the characters are charming. Tullia, our headstrong princess, and Pito, our clever scribe, make for excellent companion characters to our ingenious but clumsy magician. It’s found family in the most feel-good way.

There really is something nostalgic about it, made even more so because Louis Sachar authored some of my childhood favourites like Holes and Sideway Stories from Wayside School. Even as a kid, I recognized Sachar’s witty writing and interesting storybuilding as something special. The same tone carries forward into this, his first adult novel.

If, like me, you’re feeling weighed down by heavy, complex fantasy plots or emotionally compromising lit fic, the soft whimsy in Tiger Castle might be exactly the break that you need.

I loved this author's middle grade books but unfortunately that storytelling didn't translate for me into the adult section. This novel was objectively fine but the light kooky tone is not my preference. I wish this had gotten darker but ultimately that is not the author's fault for not writing the story I wanted.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I had high hopes for this. I've loved Sachar's other books, especially Holes and The Cardturner. But this, I felt, really fell flat. There were some interesting elements, but I never felt drawn to any of the characters, and never got pulled into the story. I think Sachar should have stayed with his strength, middle grade and YA writing.

The story is told by our main character, Anatole, recounting his time serving as a magician for King Sandro of Esquaveta. The magic he works is more along the lines of old-school alchemy; there are some flavors of magical realism in this book but no outright wizardry or spell casting.

This book is being marketed as 'Louis Sachar's first adult novel" which, honestly, I think is a disservice. It doesn't read as particularly adult, nor particularly YA, but rather as an ageless story that most people can find some entertainment value in, no matter how young or old. I felt similar while reading The Princess Bride by William Goldman. I had a very enjoyable time with this novel. There were a few emotional scenes, but I mostly found it to be a humorous adventure with plenty of heart.

Thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC!

I received a digital advance copy of The Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis Sachar via NetGalley. The Magician of Tiger Castle is scheduled for release on August 5, 2025.

Anatole is The Magician of Tiger Castle. He hasn’t been all that successful lately, so when the king instructs him to develop a potion that will ensure his daughter will marry for the sake of an alliance, forsaking the apprentice scribe she has recently fallen in love with. Anatole must choose between betraying his kingdom or the princess he loves like a daughter, or better yet, he must find a way to save them all.

This is the first adult novel by Sachar (the author of Holes). The fairy tale vibe is heavy here, both in story elements and the way they are presented. It has the feel of a middle grade novel, despite being clearly written for adults. Overall, the fairy tale feeling worked for me, with the exception of the resolution. While we see where the characters end up, the story itself felt as if it just ended with many threads dangling, before we jumped ahead to see the happily ever after. For Anatole specifically, I felt his storyline remained loose and unended, which may have been intentional, but didn’t land for me.

Throughout the story, we have many typical fairy tale friends (kings, princesses, scribes, magicians, etc.), but many of them are shifted in a way that keeps them from feeling like caricatures. Despite living in a fairy tale, they all have a certain amount of depth.

Overall, The Magician of Tiger Castle is a cozy adult fairy tale that fans of The Princess Bride would enjoy.

3.5

I was excited to hear this author was writing an adult book so I was curious about it. This book definitely reads like a children's book. They threw in some sexual innuendos I guess to make it adult which was weird because it felt like a middle grade book. The story is about a magician in the 1500s but he is telling his story in current day so clearly he lives for a few hundred years more. The wedding of the century is coming up between the princess in the kingdom he works for and a prince from another kingdom. The princess is in love with a commoner so the king and queen need the magician to stop their love so she will marry the prince. The magician has other plans though. The story is cute and a fast read. The chapters are short and I laughed out loud several times. I would maybe say YA leaning but not adult in my opinion. I did enjoy that the magician would talk to the reader, I enjoy when books do that.

-He went on to say that scribes would become like knights, only useful for pomp and ceremony. I couldn't believe that any more than I could believe that one day magicians would only be used for entertainment.

I enjoyed Sachar's first book for an adult audience, though I think it's tone is hard to nail down. It has a lot of the playful elements of his children's books and much of it feels like a book for older kids, but the non-linear plot is sophisticated beyond what most kids could follow. Anatole, Tullia, and Pico are delightful characters. We don't get a lot of character development with the villians and there are plot points that are never really tied up (what happened to Harwell?). The last part of the story felt rushed. The story is fun and clever, but lacks emotional pull for me, but I did find it a pleasant read.

Okay, so I think this was a four-star book. It's one of those books that you teeter between ratings, and I may come back and change it.

I had such a fun time reading this book; it was great. It was also really easy to read, with short, compelling chapters that kept me engaged. I really enjoyed the characters, the story, and the blurry lines between magic and science. I don't always like magic systems that aren't defined, but it fits this book so well. The ending felt like it left things open to interpretation, which is not always my favorite, but it fits. This book feels like a combination of things I've not liked previously done well (short chapters, undefined magic systems, and ambiguous endings). So, I really liked this book. And, I'll probably reread it at some point, because it's a really comforting kind of book.

So, final thoughts. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a whimsical, cozy fantasy book, with characters you love, and a world you sink into every time you pick up the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Ace for this arc!

The Magician of Tiger Castle is ideal for readers who enjoy whimsical, character-driven tales blending historical intrigue with lighthearted escapism and moral dilemmas.

I, unfortunately, don't think this one was for me. I loved the idea of an adult fantasy from Louis Sachar, but I couldn't get into the writing style. I felt like I was thrown into the world without a lot of information, and that's not a great way to pull me in. I also thought the writing seemed juvenile for a book intended for adults. I might give this another try, but for now it's a DNF.

I was excited to pick up this book, being such a huge fan of Louis Sachar's children's books, growing up with Sideways Stories as a staple on my nightstand. I am glad that Sachar is starting to test waters in adult fiction, and this was certainly a fun debut! The Magician of Tiger Castle has the edge of absurd and twisty and you would expect from his younger titles. Unfortunately it also left me feeling like it lacked depth, almost like watching a shallow and fun movie when books usually explore more of a depth of human connection. That being said, I could absolutely see this being made into a movie someday, where hopefully the tigers are more impactful than they are in this novel!

As someone who grew up absolutely devouring Louis Sachar’s books—from the quirky chaos of Sideways Stories from Wayside School to the unforgettable depth of Holes—I was thrilled to see a new title from one of my all-time favorite childhood authors. The Magician of Tiger Castle did not disappoint.

This book carries Sachar’s signature storytelling charm: layered characters, unexpected turns, and just the right blend of mystery and whimsy. It’s clear that even as he writes for an older audience, Sachar hasn’t lost that spark of unpredictability that made his children's books so magnetic. The world-building is vivid, and the plot kept me engaged from start to finish, with moments of subtle magic and philosophical insight that lingered long after I turned the last page.

While I truly enjoyed this novel, I also found myself hoping that this marks the beginning of a new era for Sachar—one where he continues to explore adult fiction with the same bold creativity and offbeat storytelling that made Wayside School a classic. I’d love to see him dive even deeper into unconventional formats or narratives that break the mold in surprising ways.

All in all, The Magician of Tiger Castle is a captivating read and a wonderful reminder of why I fell in love with Sachar’s writing in the first place. Here's to hoping there’s much more to come!

Having never read anything by Louis Sachar, I came into this tale with no prior expectations. What I found was a delightful, entertaining, whimsical, enlightening read. Facts and fiction roll around together, but you care not one whit whether what you are reading is based in fact or fiction. You are having too much fun to care.

Narrated by 400+ year old Anatole, the magician of the title, it is a tale of the wonder that was his life before he became, not immortal but definitely long lived. We meet a King and Queen, their daughter the Princess, the lowly scribe she loves, tigers in the castle moat, an evil Prince, Luigi the mouse, and a host of other agreeable characters. I smiled, I grinned, I chuckled. I desperately wanted a cup of Anatole's favorite tea. But most of all, I fell in love with the way Lous Sachar writes a tale and sets a scene without spelling every last detail out for the reader. I filled in colors and smells and facial features all on my own. If you need a book to describe in detail every little thing, then this is not for you. And that makes me sad for you.

If I could give this more than 5 stars, I would. I'll settle for a hearty 5 and a wish that everyone reads this wonderful tale.

Whimsical. Warm. Cozy. I loved The Magician of Tiger Castle. Picking up a book by Louis Sachar as an adult was absolutely what I needed at this moment.

The magician is our quirky (otherwise, he probably wouldn't be a good magician, would he?) narrator, but the story isn't about him–not really. Through his eyes, we witness a love story some 500 years ago between a princess and a scribe. Anatole has befriended them both, and tells us about them, Tiger Castle, and his own life while sitting in a coffee shop wearing jeans and a hoodie. Yes, a present-day coffee shop.

I smiled and giggled often while reading this. It's lovely. Wondrous. Especially to my fellow millennials who have fond memories of curling up to read Holes and Wayside School–add this one to your TBR pile.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

If you are a fan of Louis Sachar's humor, then this is for you. It is a more mature version of the humor that you may remember from Sideways School books or Holes and just as off beat and just a touch weird. While there is definitely a romance in this book, it is told from a 3rd party observing the individuals and in a mostly non emotional voice. It gave vibes of Princess Bride and a bit of History of the World with it's third wall breaking view of history.
Most definitely not for every reader, but those who do like it will consider it a gem.

This novel whisked me away to a fantasy realm that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. The kingdom of Esquaveta came alive with historical touches that transported me to "somewhere south of France" without ever becoming a history lesson.

What made this book stand out for me was Anatole—a magician protagonist who isn't your typical dashing hero. His journey from ridiculed court magician to someone who must make an impossible choice captivated me completely. I found something deeply satisfying about watching a character who's been dismissed by everyone except the princess find his own kind of power.

The relationships Anatole forms with Princess Tullia and the scribe created the emotional heart of the story for me. Their connections unfolded with a genuine warmth that had me rooting for this unlikely trio against the machinations of court politics. I particularly enjoyed Anatole's slightly sarcastic asides about the history of medicine—they added delightful texture to his character, revealing both his intelligence and his wry perspective on the world.

Experiencing this as an audiobook elevated the story to another dimension for me. Edoardo Ballerini's rich, textured voice became the perfect vessel for Anatole's tale—his slightly sardonic delivery of the medicinal commentary had me chuckling while folding laundry. The subtle shifts in tone between characters meant I never struggled to follow conversations, with Tullia and Anatole's voices becoming as distinct as old friends.

Ballerini's narration transformed ordinary streets into the corridors of Tiger Castle, his pacing building tension during crucial moments with remarkable effectiveness.

If you're looking for that mix of cozy, historical and fantastical—this is a must-read.

Special thanks to Penguin Random House Audio and ACE Books for my gifted copies, though all opinions expressed are entirely my own.