Once a Castle

About Once a Castle

Worlds collide and lives are changed as portals between our reality and the magical land of Ternival fray in the spellbinding sequel to Once a Queen, called “a fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era” by National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins.

Several years after Eva Joyce and Frankie Addison discovered the existence of portals to other worlds—and the kingdom of Ternival, where Eva’s grandmother once reigned as queen—Frankie’s younger siblings, together with some new friends, make discoveries that will change their lives, and at least two worlds, forever. 

Jack, Tilly, and Elspeth Addison just want to stay out of trouble (well, kind of . . . usually), but trouble keeps finding them. Jack stumbles upon an actual, literally larger-than-life giant in his favorite valley; Tilly nearly runs over a mysterious stranger (and her cat); and Elspeth’s weaving lessons take a very unexpected turn.

Meanwhile, Arash, a newcomer to the Addisons’ English village, tries to discover the secret his grandfather is hiding while keeping his own secrets from everyone—and the sudden appearance of a sinister woman who does things that look suspiciously like magic is not helping matters. And Zahra, a Ternivali teenager, faces a crisis in her world, but before she can put things right, she’s rudely catapulted into the weirdest place she’s ever seen—where everyone seems to think she’s the weird one.

Soon things are as tangled as Elspeth’s worst weaving, and the teens must discover if they can bridge their differences and find, in themselves and each other, what it takes to put things right. Because it’s not only their lives at stake, but the fate of their home—and of more than one kingdom.