My daughter and I read this book together. While I enjoyed the first book, I think this one was even better! I loved that each of the characters must overcome their fears and grows through the experience.

The kingdom of Ternival breeches the divide between worlds and brings the conflict introduced in Once a Queen and more adventures to the young inhabitants of the English countryside in Sarah Arthur’s Once a Castle.

This outing in the Carrick Hall series revolves around not only the younger Addison siblings, but also new characters. Zahra brings the experiences and perspective of a Ternivali teenager to the story and Arash, grandson of the Tabari’s (my favorite secondary characters), brings his own challenges into the mix.

Full of excitement, and adventure, this is an enchanting tale that brings to mind Lewis, Tolkein, and fairytales - right from the start as Jack encounters his first giant. For fans of fantastical worlds, Once a Castle and the Carrick Hall series are books not to be missed.

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

Once a Castle is the second title in Sarah Arthur's Carrick Hall series, and it takes readers back to the adventures of the Addison siblings several years after the events of the first book, Once a Queen, took place.

Probably one of the best novels out there for fans of The Chronicles of Narnia, this series is rich in fantasy, storytelling, world building, and almost unexplainable magic. I definitely wouldn't recommend reading this particular title without having read the first book, as both Tellus and Ternival have rich histories that are built upon with information already given in the first, and I think it would be a tad confusing if you weren't already familiar with the world building.

I personally found that this one was even more of a delight than the first book was, and I loved the majority of the characters, especially Elspeth, Aurora, Jack and Georgie. While the plot moved in directions I never could have seen coming, and often it was a little hard to keep track of whose POV was whose, all in all this was a fantastic fantasy read that speaks to the notion that good will triumph over evil, but we always have to believe it will be so.

The themes of the importance of family and friendship continue with this title, and a lot of the characters learn some hard and important truths about both of these along the way. The author also incorporates weaving and tapestries as a big part of the story, and while I'm not going to spoil anything, that part of the story ended up being one of my favorites. Lastly, I can't conclude my review without mentioning how much I loved the inclusion of the Ternival fairytales mentioned many times throughout the story as that was definitely an unexpected treat.

Overall, a lovely addition tot the series, and one I enjoyed even more than the first. It'll be interesting to see where the author chooses to take the story from here, and I'm looking forward to reading book three.

Final Rating: 4/5.



Thanks so much to Waterbrook for allowing me to advance read and review this title!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Waterbrook) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Once A Castle is the second book in the Carrick Hall series. In this sequel, the evil sorceress Mindra returns, thanks to the gem dropped by Frankie in book one. As she attempts to take over the fantasy world of Ternival and turns those who try to stop her into animals a la Willow, stopping her will fall to the next generation of Frankie's family - his sisters Elspeth and Tilly, and his brothers Jack and Georgie along with a mysterious weaver girl from Ternival and the Rastegar's grandson, Arash - to save the world this time.

This was an interesting return to the world of Ternival. The feeling of a very C.S. Lewis - esque adventure tale continues. This book reads very like a Narnia sequel, and I think that was the author's intent. Mindra is our White Witch, and Frankie's family are the Pevensees. From that viewpoint, I found the book enjoyable, even though there were some small parts I didn't like. That's the way with nearly every fantasy book I read these days, however - I mostly enjoy it with the occasional small nitpick. I liked the differing POVs in this book, and enjoyed the way each character's particular arc resolved itself by the end of the book. I think that Jack, Arash, Tilly and Elspeth will make very interesting protagonists, and I will enjoy seeing where they go in the future once the third book comes out.

Thank you to Netgalley, Miss Sarah Arthur, and WaterBrook and Multnomah for the advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and all views and opinions expressed are my own.

This 2nd installment in Sarah Arthur's "Carrick Hall" series, "Once a Castle" was a is a great follow-up to "Once a Queen". Arthur has created a fantastic story and world, reminiscent of C.S. Lewis's "The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe", in this pre-teen/teen fantasy series. This is a series best read in order since events from the first book are discussed in this one. There are some of the same characters from the first book, but this one is set several years after the first but they flow together to where I don't think the story is as rich to the reader without reading in order.

I really liked the fantasy world building with two worlds, Tellus and Ternival. This book builds slowly but when it picks up, it's very action packed. There are a lot of characters in this one compared to the first, so it took some time to connect everyone, even having just read the first book the week before I started this one. Once the story was about 1/3 of the way through, it picked up for me and I didn't want to put it down until the last page.

I liked the themes of family and found family, art with the tapestries, multiple generations worth of characters and fantastic creatures with strong personalities written into the story. There is a lot to unpack in the reading and I think anyone that read this book a second or third time would find new things to think about. There are strong faith themes throughout, with a stag being the allegory for God, like the lion was in C.S. Lewis's stories.

Readers ages 10 - adult may enjoy this story. The ending leads me to believe there will be a 3rd book and I look forward to reading it when it releases.

Thank you to WaterBrook & Multnomah for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

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

Once a Castle by Sarah Arthur is the third person multi-POV YA contemporary fantasy sequel to Once a Queen. A few years after the previous book, Eva and Frankie are happily dating and living their lives with the knowledge that there is another world out there. But it’s Frankie’s younger siblings, a young girl from Ternival, and a young man with connections to both who we follow this time.

One of the things I thought was really cool was how, despite this grand adventure that Eva and Frankie had in learning more about the truth of Ternival, the rest of the world is fairly unchanged. Most of Frankie’s siblings don’t believe Ternival is real and it’s not like Eva was going to go to the press and tell them that her grandmother was once one of three queens in a magical realm. The world keeps turning as if none of the first book ever happened. It’s a side of portal fantasies we don’t often get to see because the fantasy is often the adventure, not what happens after in the world at large.

Of the three POVs, I think Zahra was my favorite. She’s spent her whole life in Ternival with the stories of the three queens in ways that none of the other characters did and it’s through her that we get a new perspective on not only her world but also ours when she goes through the portal. Arash was definitely a close second for my favorite POV, though. His connection to both worlds is slowly revealed over time and I liked how his connection was revealed via language and stories and the experience of being othered by the people around him.

The worldbuilding of Ternival gets more focus in this book because we get to spend more time within the world. There’s giants, dwarves, a centaur, and magic and a war looming on the horizon as a powerful witch seeks to take back control. The stories mentioned in Zahra’s POV are told in full in the back of the book as little extras and I highly recommend reading them after finishing the book because they add an entire layer of ‘what is mystical? What is a prophecy? What was meant to be an oral history?’

Content warning for depictions of discrimination

I would recommend this to fans of Once a Queen and readers looking for a Narnia-esque portal fantasy

Once A Castle by Sarah Arthur is the second book in the Carrick Hall series, the story follows several characters and their adventures in Ternival, where they battle Mindra as she searches for the Gems at Carrick Hall.
I liked the sense of humor and creativity of the different storylines but often found myself a little lost trying to put it all together. It had been a while since I read the first novel and couldn't remember who most of the characters were. I felt a real connection with the first novel but couldn't find it in this second book.
I still enjoyed the world of Ternival and all the fantasy aspects which were a lot of fun. My favorite storyline was Jack and his adventure with the Giants and Mindra. The ending pulled all the storylines together and pulled the story into clearer focus for me. I would still recommend this series for fans of Narnia and The Hobbit.
Thank you to Net Galley and Sarah Arthur for this Arc. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A sequel to Once a Queen. Definitely adventure happening. This time, a different set of people are involved. Rumblings in the hills that have people wondering but a few claim it's giants. A mysterious tower appears, then disappears, under the command of someone bent on power. People from another world cross over into England and then back into their own world, take those from England with them. Can they all work together to save 2 worlds? I'm looking forward to book 3 coming out to see what adventures happen next.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Worlds collide and lives are changed as portals between our reality and the magical land of Ternival fray in the spellbinding sequel to the Christy Award finalist Once a Queen, called “a fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era” by Mitali Perkins. Will you enjoy it? Absolutely.

I love the concept, and I respect Sarah Arthur and her writings so much. In this case, I'd recommend reading book 1 first, as I hadn't and that felt like a disadvantage. I couldn't quite keep up with all the characters and figure out their relationships as much as I expected. But the writing is charming, and the theme has enough of the Narnia feels to make it a fun adventure. I'll be handing this to my teenager and recommending to my friends and their young adults.

Once a Castle is an enchanting dive into a magical realm that feels like a mix of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis—full of whimsy, wonder, and adventure! As the second book in the Carrick Hall series, it sweeps readers into the world of Ternival that was teased in Once a Queen, and oh, does it deliver!

I adored the first book, so getting to read an advanced copy of this one felt like such an honor. Where Once a Queen left me yearning for more of Ternival’s magic, Once a Castle brought it to life—and this time, it spills into the real world! The enchantress Mindra’s promises from book one take center stage, and the story shifts to a new generation of characters as they embark on their own thrilling adventure.

The tale picks up years after Eva’s time at Carrick Hall, following Jack, Arash, Lord Edward’s children Charles and Aurora, and Zhara, a girl from Ternival. When Jack and Arash discover a mysterious castle and a giant asleep at its gates on the summer solstice, they realize the stories they grew up hearing might actually be real. Together, they’re thrust into a high-stakes quest to save their friends and stop Mindra from reclaiming the throne.

I was completely hooked from start to finish. The pacing is quick, the challenges feel real, and the emotional depth is incredible. Unlike the escapism of Once a Queen, this story blends whimsy with raw, heartfelt struggles and genuine healing. There were so many gasp-worthy moments, and I found myself deeply captivated as the layers of the story unraveled.

If you loved Once a Queen, I promise you’ll adore Once a Castle just as much—if not more. It’s magical, heartfelt, and absolutely unforgettable!

I didn't feel as connected to the characters and world in this sequel as I did in the first book, but I still really enjoyed it! I loved the expansion of the otherworld and how it interacted with our reality, and the way everything came together in the end was so narratively satisfying.

I was super excited to read this book after finishing the first book. I would argue that you could almost read this one without the first book, but the nuances and connections would be somewhat lost.

Written in 3rd person instead 1st person like Once a Queen was, Once a Castle follows the adventures of the younger Addison siblings along with the Heapworth siblings and the Rastegars' grandson. There are some mentions of what had happened in the previous book sprinkled throughout.

This book felt darker in some ways, mostly because it dealt heavily with the evil sorceress and her actions, but there were some great parts with facing flaws and accepting them as well as realizing that strength comes in different forms. It may be a bit harder to keep the characters straight at first, but I enjoyed this book immensely. Now to wait for the next Carrick Hall novel.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. It definitely reminded me of the Narnia series. How good always triumphs over evil, even when the outcome looks bleak.

There is so much going on in this book! Wow!! Once you have read the first book in this series, you must read this one!!! Jack is one of the main characters in this story. And you have to love Georgie! Really, there are lots of great characters. If you love fantasy-good vs. evil-you'll love this book! Great for kids or adults.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This is the second book in the Carrick Hall series. This book takes place a few years after the first book Once a Queen. I do have to say this one seems a bit more put together than the first. The series overall gives Narnia-like vibes. I think it would be a good series for young readers, but it lacks the magic C.S. Lewis captured to hold the interest of most avid readers.

Thank you NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah | WaterBrook for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I personally had a really hard time writing a review for this book because while I enjoyed the book, the plot and the characters nothing sticks out to be as being my favorite thing about the story.

If you loved Narnia growing up this definitely brought out the nostalgia feelings and made me think of Narnia.

Overall good sequel of Once a Queen. Bit slow-ish. Too many characters in once made it bit messy. In few places feels like missing something. Interesting plot ideas and nice writing style compensate it tho.

The tone is considerably darker than that of "Once a Queen." It feels like we spend the vast majority of the book watching the villain rampage around doing horrible things to our main characters. Still, the writing remains excellent and the characterizations strong, and the story ultimately fulfilling.(And maybe the darkness makes it a good fit for the times we live in ....)

Side note: I hope we get more Lord Edward in the next book. He's an especially intriguing character. And I'm wondering how much of his characterization, if any, was based on Lord Peter Wimsey. :-)

I LOVED LOVED LOVED Once A Queen, so I was very excited to read this follow up. It can be difficult to keep track of characters and I should have reread OAQ before I started this one but I absolutely loved it. Clean storylines, characters who you can't help but root for, good versus evil...just so, so lovely! I can't wait for my daughter to be just a little older so she can read this series!