MMGM Review: Holidays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, , , , , , , , ,
Holidays at the Castle by Jessica Day George

Holidays at the Castle (Tuesdays at the Castle #5.5)
Jessica Day George
Bloomsbury Children’s Books
Published September 22, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Holidays at the Castle

In a special holiday addition to New York Times bestselling author Jessica Day George’s magical series, Celie celebrates winter in her beloved Castle!

After traveling to new lands and across seas, Celie is thrilled to be home at her beloved Castle for the winter holidays. From the delicious feasts and beautiful decorations to the gift exchanges and amazing magical displays, the holidays are the best time of the year! Celie can’t wait to celebrate with the rest of the Glower family and their special guests, the royals of Grath.

But the night before the festivities begin, the griffins start acting out, chasing the other animals and snapping at anyone who approaches. The holidays are meant to bring everyone together, but with all the chaos and a blizzard rolling in, will they still be able to celebrate?

My Review

I remember reading the first book in this series with my older daughter years ago. It was fun to revisit Celie and her family as they celebrate winter holidays in this book.

Fans of the series will have lots to love here. The beloved castle still finds ways to help when Celie needs it most. The large cast of family members, in-laws, and visitors makes the holiday celebration feel full and inclusive. Though the celebration isn’t called Christmas, it has many similarities, including feasting and a gift exchange that Celie especially looks forward to. The celebration also has a connection to Celie’s personal spiritual belief in a Creator God.

At 131 pages, Holidays at the Castle is a very quick read. The mystery surrounding the griffins’ wild behavior drives the story forward pretty quickly. Some of the earlier pages fill readers in on the Castle’s history and Celie’s family’s adventures from other books in the series. Though this book will be enjoyed more as part of a series, I think it could be read and enjoyed alone as well.

All in all, this is a nice winter adventure that will be perfect on a chilly evening.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 11.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
References to her older siblings’ wedding plans or relationship intentions.

Spiritual Content
The story contains mythical creatures like griffins and unicorns. The castle has some magical abilities. References to a Creator God and celebration of faith.

Violent Content
Griffins start attacking one another and other animals.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

I’m sharing this post as part of a weekly round-up of middle-grade posts called Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday. Check out other blogs with posts about middle-grade books today on Marvelous Middle-Grade Mondays at Always in the Middle.

Review: Revenants Return by James Riley

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Middle Grade 8-12, ,

Revenants Return (The Dragon’s Apprentice #2)
James Riley
Labyrinth Road
Published February 23, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Revenants Return

The fate of magic rests in the hands (and claws) of a cranky dragon, a feisty apprentice…and a prince who may not be all he seems? Get ready for the sequel to the New York Times bestselling hilarious fantasy adventure in the new series from the author of the Story Thieves.

You were warned to stay away from THE DRAGON’S APPRENTICE. It was forbidden for a good reason, as it told the story of a village girl named Ciara finding her own book of magic and learning spells from a dragon of all things. These are dangerous ideas, and no one should be allowed to see them.

Fortunately, Ciara’s story didn’t end there, or she might have doomed us all. No, thankfully, a true hero to the Draconic Empire, Prince Aiden, has come to Ciara’s village to stop her and her teacher, Scorch the dragon. The prince, like his father the Emperor, is a powerful magic-user. And Aiden uses his power to keep us safe from strange, forbidden books. If anyone can stop Ciara from teaching others magic and therefore summoning the horrible Revenants that once defeated the Dragon Mage herself, it’s the Empire’s beloved prince.

Let’s just hope that Ciara can’t spread her knowledge of magic before the prince can find her and put an end to her evil deeds once and for all…

My Review

Ciara and her magic teacher, Scorch, continue their adventure in this second installment of the series. The story begins very close to where the first book ended, with Ciara’s village still recovering from the machinations of the Warden’s rule. Like the first book, the chapters in this one open with a quote from Bianca’s journal hinting at the scenes to come. Ciara remains impulsive and quick to (humorously) insult anyone she perceives is trying to hurt the people she loves.

One interesting plot element emerges when Ciara supercharges a truth spell, which leads to unplanned results. Scorch reminds Ciara that the spell will only highlight when someone repeats something they know is a lie. If someone believes in what they’re saying, the truth spell won’t flag it as false, even if the statement is factually untrue. Scorch tells Ciara that sometimes people believe a lie because it’s less painful than facing the truth. Ciara learns an awful lot about what that means before the story concludes.

The plot is fairly fast-paced, keeping readers moving from one obstacle to the next. At 240 pages, it’s a pretty quick read, too.

All in all, this is a nice continuation of a series that will interest fantasy fans. My youngest reader is absolutely hooked on the series and already anxious for the third book, which doesn’t come out until November 2026.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
None.

Spiritual Content
Some characters can use magic. One character is a dragon.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. One character uses magic to threaten or control others.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I borrowed a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own.

Review: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

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Walk Two Moons
Sharon Creech
HarperCollins
Published October 6, 2009

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About Walk Two Moons

“How about a story? Spin us a yarn.”
Instantly, Phoebe Winterbottom came to mind. “I could tell you an extensively strange story,” I warned.
“Oh, good!” Gram said. “Delicious!”
And that is how I happened to tell them about Phoebe, her disappearing mother, and the lunatic.

As Sal entertains her grandparents with Phoebe’s outrageous story, her own story begins to unfold — the story of a thirteen-year-old girl whose only wish is to be reunited with her missing mother.

In her own award-winning style, Sharon Creech intricately weaves together two tales, one funny, one bittersweet, to create a heartwarming, compelling, and utterly moving story of love, loss, and the complexity of human emotion.

My Review

This book has been on my reading list for YEARS. I’ve heard so many great things about it, and wanted to read it for so long. I recently went through some drama with my Amazon account, and couldn’t access any of my Kindle books, but I had this one as a Nook ebook, so I figured it must be time to read it.

The story starts very much in the middle of Sal’s life. After her mom’s death nearly a year earlier, she and her dad moved to a new town, and now she’s on a road trip with her paternal grandparents to visit her mom’s grave. It’s a long car trip, so she tells her grandparents the story of her best friend in her new town to pass the time.

Setting up the story this way means juggling a lot of different timelines and revealing a lot of information quickly. I thought the pacing of these reveals and the control of the different timelines (the car trip, Sal’s year in the new town, and her memories of her mom) was really nicely done. I didn’t feel confused or overwhelmed by the information, and it felt pretty close to how a kid of Sal’s age might talk about things.

It’s also kind of a weird story, which I loved. Sal’s grandparents are funny. They have their rituals and ways of doing things, which sometimes Sal finds endearing. Sometimes it’s clear their habits annoy her.

I also liked the way that the stories come full circle and connect. Sal begins to see beyond her grief over her mom’s death. She starts to see her father’s grief, and starts to understand her friend Phoebe’s feelings about her mom, too. I loved how the story pulled all those threads together. The story balances the humor and grief elements really well.

I will definitely be reading more books by Sharon Creech, and I do recommend this one for readers who enjoy emotional books.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 10 to 14.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Sal has a crush on a boy from her class. They have a few near misses with kissing.

Spiritual Content
Sal prays to the trees. Her logic is that sometimes God might be far away, but there’s always a tree nearby.

Violent Content
References to the death of a parent. (Death not shown on scene.)

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Review: Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo

Blogger's Favorites, Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , ,

Cursed Ever After
Andy C. Naranjo
Farrar, Straus, and Giroux
Published June 30, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Cursed Ever After

Cursed Ever After is a dazzling romantic fantasy debut brimming with snark, humor, and banter-filled romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.

Risa Porto is a Bad Thing born on a Bad Day and cursed with Bad Luck. After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, she longs for escape. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.

Sort of.

Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: escort Prince Javi―the youngest, handsomest, and least significant prince―through the dark (and deadly) Bosque to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle against greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant―and Risa’s own curse.

Most unfortunate of all…

She is not immune to Javi’s charms and has a highly irritating urge to kiss the prince. Though, surviving the darkest corners of the Bosque is only the beginning. If Risa is to hold up her end of a witch’s bargain, she’ll need a lot more than luck on her side to untangle the web of lies threatening the kingdom. Is Risa willing to pay the price of happily ever after? What if the only person she’s meant to save is herself?

Don’t miss this action-packed, Latinx subverted fairytale!

My Review

I had so much fun reading this book. While it might be a stretch to compare the story to The Princess Bride, I absolutely see the comparison to Once Upon a Broken Heart. It’s got more humor and lightness than Once Upon a Broken Heart, but the characters carry the same sense of approaching doom throughout the story.

While some of the revelations in the story didn’t come as a surprise to me, I had a great time reading the story start to finish. The narrative is a bit playful, gently poking fun at fairytale tropes. Risa and Javi banter back and forth almost constantly, which never got old to me. I loved her pragmatic personality and his starry-eyed dreaminess.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted, engaging romp through a fantasy story world, definitely grab this book. I suspect this one will be on my list of favorites for the year.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 13 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Infrequent use of profanity.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing.

Spiritual Content
Some characters have the ability to perform magic and cast or undo curses.

Violent Content
Situations of peril. Attempted kidnapping. One scene shows guards murdered by assassins.

Drug Content
One character is given an intoxicating substance.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Espíritu by Aiden Thomas

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Young Adult/Teen 12-18

The Cemetery Boys: Espíritu
Aiden Thomas
Feiwel & Friends
Published September 8, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About The Cemetery Boys: Espíritu

Julian used to be a ghost and now he can’t stop seeing them.

Ever since being sacrificed as part of a forbidden ritual, Julian has been able to see and communicate with the spirits of passed brujx. And that would be okay, if it allowed him to be part of his new boyfriend’s community. But Julian’s also seeing other things: shadows in the corner of his eyes, glowing eyes in the dark, and “dark spots” on people – gaping, black gashes that are somehow wrong. He did ask his new magical boyfriend about it, but Yadriel has never heard of anything like it either, and he’s so busy with his new Brujx responsibilities, trying to figure out where all the new malingos are coming from, that Julian hates for his problems to ruin what little time together they have.

Then, a strange new brujx shows up. Ángel, as a nonbinary brujx, can heal the living and release the dead, but more than that, they can also see the same dark spots as Julian. Despite Yadriel’s reservations, Julian eagerly accepts their help. But, Ángel’s ruthless methods feel wrong to Julian, who wants to move away from hurting others.

With the shadows growing darker, and the discovery of a gaping dark spot on his friend Luca, Julian has to decide who he wants to put his trust in, and just how far he’s willing to go to save what is his.

My Review

Revisiting the story world introduced in The Cemetery Boys was such a treat. I enjoyed seeing more of Julian’s family life and getting to know Yadriel and Maritza better, too.

The chapters alternate between Julian and Yadriel’s perspectives, keeping us connected to what’s happening in both boys’ heads. Julian and Yadriel are already in a romantic relationship, so the story doesn’t circle around whether they’ll get together. The dual narrative keeps their connection central and creates sweet moments amid rising tension about disappearing ghosts and growing shadows.

Julian is part of a family unit made up of his older brother and his close friends who live together. They are still adjusting to a new routine now that Julian is in a relationship that involves spending a lot of time with Yadriel’s family, doing things they’re not invited to participate in. Julian senses their growing frustration and has to find a new way to stay connected with his family and his new community. I really appreciated the way the story explored those relationship questions. It felt very organic. I think those components will resonate with readers, many of whom are themselves learning to navigate shifting connections and relationships.

I also enjoyed the story’s fantasy elements and the descriptions of the celebrations. I loved revisiting the ghostly story world that Thomas created in The Cemetery Boys. I’m looking forward to reading more of their work.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 14 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
Strong profanity used somewhat frequently.

Romance/Sexual Content
Kissing. One couple falls asleep together.

Spiritual Content
Inspired by the celebration of Día de Muertos. Some characters can see and interact with ghosts and other spiritual powers.

Violent Content
Situations of peril.

Drug Content
None.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Cursed Princess Club: Vol. 1 by LambCat

Book Review and Content, Fantasy, Graphic Novel or Adaptation, Young Adult/Teen 12-18, , , , , , , , , ,

Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1: A WEBTOON Unscrolled Graphic Novel
LambCat
WEBTOON Unscrolled
Published January 3, 2023

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Cursed Princess Club, Vol. 1

Just because you’re cursed doesn’t mean you’re not special.

Meet Gwendolyn, the youngest princess of the Pastel Kingdom. Despite her big heart and love for baking, Gwen is living proof that royalty doesn’t always have it all—unlike the typical fairytale princess, or other princesses in the Pastel Kingdom, Gwen isn’t particularly attractive. While her sisters have woodland creatures do their hair and makeup, and flowers blossom wherever they sleep, the youngest princess is just a bit . . . different.

When her father proposes marriage for Gwen and her sisters in hopes of building an alliance with the Plaid Kingdom, Gwen’s heart shatters when she overhears Prince Frederick call her “ugly.” Ashamed and overwhelmed, she runs away into the forest, where she discovers the twisted and enchanted world of the Cursed Princess Club—and her life will change forever.

Outcast by society, the Cursed Princess Club are a ragtag crew of misfits and cursed princesses who have banded together to form their own friendship circle. One where they are seen, supported, and appreciated—warts and all. With Gwen joining the crew, she embarks on her own journey to find community and embrace her uniqueness.

This volume collects episodes 1 to 34 of the enchanting WEBTOON series.

My Review

I heard about this series through an author that I really like. I can’t remember where I saw the endorsement, though. It might have even been in the acknowledgements at the back of the endorsing author’s book? I sincerely can’t recall. At any rate, I decided to check out the series.

The subverted tropes are a lot of fun. Instead of the cursed princesses being victims awaiting rescue, they’ve formed a club in which they support one another and celebrate other parts of their lives. Gwen’s two sisters and brother all have very fairytale princess qualities to them. Her oldest sister, Maria, is followed by birds and other cute forest animals who help her brush her hair and do her makeup. She’s also a talented singer. Wherever Lorena, the middle daughter, goes, flowers spring up. She’s gifted at combat skills and other types of movement. Both are classically beautiful.

Jamie, the only prince in the family, is also very pretty. In fact, he’s often mistaken for a princess, and he doesn’t seem to mind this at all. Gwen, the youngest daughter, looks different from her siblings. Her hair is stringy, and her skin is kind of a pale green. Her small irises and pupils make her eyes look very different than her siblings, too.

The girls learn they’re betrothed to three handsome princes, which is great news, until Gwen hears the youngest prince call her ugly to his brothers. His words cut her pretty deeply, and she worries about what will happen if her family hears that he said this awful thing to her. She doesn’t want to ruin her sisters’ happiness or her dad’s political maneuvers.

Both the princes’ dad and the princesses’ dad are very tropey. The girls’ father wants to shelter them and imagines base motives for anyone who so much as glances their direction (something even the guards are not permitted to do). The boys’ father leans hard into some toxic masculinity, forcing the boys to do pushups when they fail to obey strict rules, and tasking them with manual labor to toughen them up.

Gwen meets the cursed princesses and joins the group, where the other girls teach her about self-love and embrace her despite her insecurities. The first volume introduces the club members, but doesn’t deeply explore any of their histories.

The exaggerated expressions and humorous references to fairy tale tropes make this book a lot of fun to read. The series is very binge-worthy, so be prepared for the need to hustle out to grab the next book when you’ve finished this one.

Content Notes

Recommended for Ages 12 up.

Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.

Romance/Sexual Content
Some flirty comments and very vague references to sex/romance.

Spiritual Content
Some princesses have magical curses on them, such as having empty holes for eyes. People wonder if Gwendolyn is a witch because of how she looks.

Violent Content
Gwendolyn overhears someone call her ugly, and it deeply hurts her.

Drug Content
Someone offers Gwendolyn alcohol, which she refuses because she’s underage.

Note: This post contains affiliate links, which do not cost you anything to use but help support this blog. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.