The Witch who Stormed the Palace

In her quest to become the first Witch of the West, Faye must face a trial with three other wizards and defeat the Shadow Queen once and for all. 

To confirm her nomination as the first Witch of the West, Faye has been summoned to the capital. She must compete in a trial of the other three wizards—North, South, and East—but based on their frosty reception, these wizards aren’t rooting for her. To make matters worse, the Shadow Queen is imprisoned underneath the royal castle and threatening to emerge once again and reclaim her power.

As Faye starts to navigate the trial, she quickly discovers that it isn’t anything like it seems. She can hardly focus on beating the magical test, though, because between strong earthquakes and smoke rats running wild, it’s clear the Shadow Queen has a scheme up her sleeve.

How can Faye prove she deserves to take over as the Witch of the West if she can’t even protect the kingdom from a threat that’s right under her nose?

Praise for The Girl Who Kept the Castle:
“This fantastic duology starter conjures a world full of magic, mystery, and merriment, and wonderful world building puts readers in the thick of it. An utterly enchanting escapade with the promise of bigger adventures to come.” -Booklist

“Marvelous. An enchanting middle grade fantasy and excellent start to this adventurous duology.” -School Library Journal

"Descriptions of magic imbue the story with life. The book replicates the whimsy and subtle feminism of Hayao Miyazaki’s work. Bursting with empathy and magical delights.” -Kirkus Reviews

“Sharp and clever. This duology opener offers plenty of resolution, while also leaving whole swaths of storylines wide open for the second volume; readers will likely eagerly anticipate seeing what Faye will do next.” -Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Graudin offers a heartfelt romp featuring a resourceful heroine and an engrossing setting. Satisfyingly upbeat and all-around entertaining.” -Publishers Weekly