What do you think?
Rate this book
Carrick Hall #1
Once a Queen: A Novel
CHRISTY AWARD FINALIST ECPA CHRISTIAN BOOK AWARD FINALIST READ WITH JENNA JR. SUMMER READING PICK AS FEATURED ON TODAY
In the start of a richly woven fantasy series for young readers in the grand tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia, a mysterious manor house hides the keys to shocking family secrets and rapidly fading portals to other worlds from bestselling author Sarah Arthur.
“A fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era.”—National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins
“Readers of Lewis and L’Engle, prepare to be enchanted.”—Sarah Mackenzie, author of The Read-Aloud Family
When fourteen-year-old American Eva Joyce unexpectedly finds herself spending the summer at the mysterious manor house of the English grandmother she’s never met, she soon discovers that her family, the manor staff, and even the house itself are hiding secrets.
With odd things happening in the gardens at night, Eva embarks on a search for answers. Astonishingly, she learns that the Hall’s staff believe portals to other worlds exist—though hidden and steadily disappearing—and that Eva’s grandmother was once a queen in one of those worlds. But her grandmother’s heart is closed to the beauty and pain of the past. Now it’s up to Eva to discover what really happened—and to decide if it’s possible that her favorite childhood fairy tales are true. As she starts unraveling the dangerous secrets around the grandmother who is more than she appears, Eva begins to wonder if she, too, is more than she understood herself to be.
In the start of a richly woven fantasy series for young readers in the grand tradition of The Chronicles of Narnia, a mysterious manor house hides the keys to shocking family secrets and rapidly fading portals to other worlds from bestselling author Sarah Arthur.
“A fresh, delightful new tale for our wonder-hungry era.”—National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins
“Readers of Lewis and L’Engle, prepare to be enchanted.”—Sarah Mackenzie, author of The Read-Aloud Family
When fourteen-year-old American Eva Joyce unexpectedly finds herself spending the summer at the mysterious manor house of the English grandmother she’s never met, she soon discovers that her family, the manor staff, and even the house itself are hiding secrets.
With odd things happening in the gardens at night, Eva embarks on a search for answers. Astonishingly, she learns that the Hall’s staff believe portals to other worlds exist—though hidden and steadily disappearing—and that Eva’s grandmother was once a queen in one of those worlds. But her grandmother’s heart is closed to the beauty and pain of the past. Now it’s up to Eva to discover what really happened—and to decide if it’s possible that her favorite childhood fairy tales are true. As she starts unraveling the dangerous secrets around the grandmother who is more than she appears, Eva begins to wonder if she, too, is more than she understood herself to be.
Audible Audio
First published January 30, 2024
188 people are currently reading
16068 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Arthur
26 books368 followersSarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker, Christy Award finalist, and author of numerous books for teens and adults, including the bestselling ONCE A QUEEN, the first in her acclaimed Carrick Hall Novels. Among other nerdy adventures, she has served as preliminary fiction judge for Christianity Today’s Book Awards, was a founding board member of the annual C. S. Lewis Festival in northern Michigan, and co-directs the Madeleine L’Engle Writing Retreats. She lives in Lansing, Michigan with her husband and two preteen sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews
January 29, 2024
2 stars, personally.
Once again, I have hit my characters limit here on Goodreads, so I will just be giving some highlights on the content, my thoughts, and the link to my full, very in-depth content review. Bottom-line is that I think there may be deal breakers for some families (especially those that do not like magic, disobedience not being discussed and properly handled, and/or disrespectful actions and words from a main character to parents and authority figures).
There’s a lot to unpack in this book. As always, I tried my best with listing content and details of the plot, so let’s get started.
I liked Eva (age 14) at times and discovering more about her British grandmother she’s never met, but the fantasy side of it took me a while to understand. There would be little parts that would sound like it was based off Scripture and could be an allegory, but not completely as not everything matched up to the Bible. Somethings felt allegorical, but not everything had a clear Biblical counterpart. You could definitely argue that there’s an allegory in this book, but I don’t personally feel like it was super obvious. I feel like I was hunting to find the connections like Eva was hunting to find portals until the final chapters where it’s a little clearer in the dual meanings. I do think there could be some possible confusion for younger readers though because of this and the hints to someone no longer believing in another realm that’s implied to be Heaven and that that person has to choose again to believe.
This author definitely wrote the wonder and magic of another world and just the overall whimsy magic feelings well. It reminded me of children’s books I read as a child that had similar themes and I think many will like this book because of that writing style.
I can’t blame Eva for being upset about all the secrets others are keeping and all the secret she has to keep and keep track of who knows what. I grew rather frustrated with that element as well. Some of the adults—like her mother—keep secrets from Eva partially because they don’t want to burden her with past events and partially because they didn’t want to deal with her many questions that would come after.
That said, Eva did make some poor decisions such as not listening to adults’ orders (which are usually for her safety and to not get involved in the other realm/portal hunting), blatantly disobeying their words, sneaking into locked rooms of said adults to hunt for items related to that adventure, and negatively commenting on a young teen being such a rule follower (and then complimenting him when he does break a rule). There are times she’s annoyed at her mother and grandmother and blows up at them There’s no remorse shown and it gives the impression that this is just her personality and that she knows better than the adults. She’s so eager to find out her family’s secrets and about the other world that she thinks she deserves to know about it all.
Her grandmother could be downright ugly at times, especially at a certain scene at the end. That and the grief that she and her sister have made the book very sad at times and I would give a warning for that for sensitive readers.
I will also add that this book felt much more aimed for middle-grade readers than young adult, especially because of Eva’s reactions and attitude about different things. She felt like she was twelve instead of fourteen most of the time. Even though the writing style and quality of the plot felt like it should be for middle-grade readers, I can't say I would recommend this book for that age group due to her actions and disobedience. The pacing was…different and we finally received the majority of the answers I was waiting for at about 75% into the book where things started to kick into gear.
I’m not a portal fantasy fan (it just doesn’t make sense in my brain) so because of that and not liking some of the actions of our main character, this wasn’t really my cup of tea. Those that like this type of fantasy book will probably enjoy it more than I did, but I do have a feeling that some families may pass on this book.
Some content concerns will be listed below, but please click the link to see all the content info and details about the fantasy elements in this book with spoilers properly hidden.
⚠️ Broad Content Info ⚠️
Spiritual-
There is light faith content & church going for actual Christian content;
This is a portal fantasy book meaning there are hidden entrances to other realms/worlds & this is a main focus on the book with many, many mentions of it; In the realm called “Ternival”, there’s those who are good and evil; There are gems that have power and are able to sing (when not in use and buried under the ground, their power goes stronger when rediscovered; They are also called “magic”); When those gems are touched, it can take someone into another world, *Spoiler* ; Eva has recently accepted that there are no portals to other realms, but still hopes they exist and go hunting for answers about portals when at her grandmother’s manor; Some other characters (including adults) believe in portals and some do not; A woman is confused at times of what world she is in (*Spoilers* ); Eva feels as if the stag is supposed to protect them, but her grandmother doesn’t think so *Spoiler* ; Others view the stag as very important & say to trust the stag because it’s the only thing that you can trust; *Big Spoilers* .
Negative-
Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eva often disobeys & feels no remorse for it (including her trying to hide the blush of shame that always happens when she lies, sneaking into an adult’s room to search for something, going into a room she was told not to go into, hiding an important note, lying about how she got hurt enough to need stitches and having a concussion, feeling rebellious to do something that others would not like, & running away from an adult that’s trying to catch her with good intentions); Eva lies & eavesdrops a few times; Eva keeps secrets from others because of them telling her to not do something (and then she disobeys) & because of pettiness (despite it her knowing that it makes her not a very good friend to someone); Adults tell Eva to keep their secrets & keep things from other adults (such as a housekeeper not telling Eva’s mother about an important thing); Eva gets annoyed with a boy being obedient & a rule follower (she would prefer him not to be that way and it’s evident with her comments on him being “so darned obedient” and complimenting him when he sneaks into an adult’s locked room; She apologizes a couple of times about doing something without him and later gets upset at him again); Eva is sassy towards her mother because of the secrets she keeps (including Eva telling her mother to tell her the truth or she’s pester other people until she finds out what she wants to know, her mother says she can just pester other people then); Eva blows up about her mother keeping secrets from her and her mother then shares some answers to a few of Eva’s questions; Eva feels jealous over another’s relationship with his grandparent; *Spoiler* ; Eva wonders if she’s always bound to disappoint everyone no matter what she says or does; Eva gets very mad at people keeping secrets from her and wonders if it’s because her parents didn’t want her blabbing about their secrets (when she confronts her mother with this, she is surprised and said it was not because of that but because of painful memories); Eva feels like she’s ruined everything at one point; Eva’s mother and grandmother have a strained relationship (we see this on page with jabs and sarcasm, Eva’s mother shrinking into herself when with her mother, the grandmother never contacting them in 14+ years, spiteful actions, & it's due to *Spoilers* ); Eva is embarrassed and also later annoyed by her mother (the first because of her mother’s reactions to her grandmother and the second because of Eva’s mother not liking her grandmother buying her gifts); Eva gets angry at her mother for keeping her away from her grandmother after seeing that they (Eva and her grandmother) get along well (Eva thinks it’s because of her stubbornness); Eva & her mother have a riff between them because of the strained relationship between Eva’s mother and grandmother & her mother keeping secrets; Eva’s grandmother can be rude and ugly towards others (& Eva) if they bring up about another world; *Spoilers* ; *Big Spoiler* ; Halfway through, Eva decides that she came to England to heal her grandmother’s mind and that only she could do it & has a vision of the grandmother telling everyone that she couldn’t have been healed without Eva; Eva’s mother comments that she thinks her mother “wants everyone else to feel the same kind of pain she does so that she doesn’t have to be alone in her misery”.
Sexual-
Very little: A bit of Noticing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); An accidental brush of hands that causes awkwardness and blushes & holding hands; Blushes; *Spoiler* ; A handful of mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, & dating; A mention of a broken heart; A mention of others thinking two teens could be up to someone inappropriate (does not happen).
Age Rating Recommendations
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{ Add a full star for those who enjoy portal fantasy books}
Full in-depth, content review with these parts and more:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this Advance Reader Copy for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook) for this honest review. Some minor details listed in this review may have been changed in the final version of this book.
Once again, I have hit my characters limit here on Goodreads, so I will just be giving some highlights on the content, my thoughts, and the link to my full, very in-depth content review. Bottom-line is that I think there may be deal breakers for some families (especially those that do not like magic, disobedience not being discussed and properly handled, and/or disrespectful actions and words from a main character to parents and authority figures).
There’s a lot to unpack in this book. As always, I tried my best with listing content and details of the plot, so let’s get started.
I liked Eva (age 14) at times and discovering more about her British grandmother she’s never met, but the fantasy side of it took me a while to understand. There would be little parts that would sound like it was based off Scripture and could be an allegory, but not completely as not everything matched up to the Bible. Somethings felt allegorical, but not everything had a clear Biblical counterpart. You could definitely argue that there’s an allegory in this book, but I don’t personally feel like it was super obvious. I feel like I was hunting to find the connections like Eva was hunting to find portals until the final chapters where it’s a little clearer in the dual meanings. I do think there could be some possible confusion for younger readers though because of this and the hints to someone no longer believing in another realm that’s implied to be Heaven and that that person has to choose again to believe.
This author definitely wrote the wonder and magic of another world and just the overall whimsy magic feelings well. It reminded me of children’s books I read as a child that had similar themes and I think many will like this book because of that writing style.
I can’t blame Eva for being upset about all the secrets others are keeping and all the secret she has to keep and keep track of who knows what. I grew rather frustrated with that element as well. Some of the adults—like her mother—keep secrets from Eva partially because they don’t want to burden her with past events and partially because they didn’t want to deal with her many questions that would come after.
That said, Eva did make some poor decisions such as not listening to adults’ orders (which are usually for her safety and to not get involved in the other realm/portal hunting), blatantly disobeying their words, sneaking into locked rooms of said adults to hunt for items related to that adventure, and negatively commenting on a young teen being such a rule follower (and then complimenting him when he does break a rule). There are times she’s annoyed at her mother and grandmother and blows up at them There’s no remorse shown and it gives the impression that this is just her personality and that she knows better than the adults. She’s so eager to find out her family’s secrets and about the other world that she thinks she deserves to know about it all.
Her grandmother could be downright ugly at times, especially at a certain scene at the end. That and the grief that she and her sister have made the book very sad at times and I would give a warning for that for sensitive readers.
I will also add that this book felt much more aimed for middle-grade readers than young adult, especially because of Eva’s reactions and attitude about different things. She felt like she was twelve instead of fourteen most of the time. Even though the writing style and quality of the plot felt like it should be for middle-grade readers, I can't say I would recommend this book for that age group due to her actions and disobedience. The pacing was…different and we finally received the majority of the answers I was waiting for at about 75% into the book where things started to kick into gear.
I’m not a portal fantasy fan (it just doesn’t make sense in my brain) so because of that and not liking some of the actions of our main character, this wasn’t really my cup of tea. Those that like this type of fantasy book will probably enjoy it more than I did, but I do have a feeling that some families may pass on this book.
Some content concerns will be listed below, but please click the link to see all the content info and details about the fantasy elements in this book with spoilers properly hidden.
⚠️ Broad Content Info ⚠️
Spiritual-
There is light faith content & church going for actual Christian content;
This is a portal fantasy book meaning there are hidden entrances to other realms/worlds & this is a main focus on the book with many, many mentions of it; In the realm called “Ternival”, there’s those who are good and evil; There are gems that have power and are able to sing (when not in use and buried under the ground, their power goes stronger when rediscovered; They are also called “magic”); When those gems are touched, it can take someone into another world, *Spoiler* ; Eva has recently accepted that there are no portals to other realms, but still hopes they exist and go hunting for answers about portals when at her grandmother’s manor; Some other characters (including adults) believe in portals and some do not; A woman is confused at times of what world she is in (*Spoilers* ); Eva feels as if the stag is supposed to protect them, but her grandmother doesn’t think so *Spoiler* ; Others view the stag as very important & say to trust the stag because it’s the only thing that you can trust; *Big Spoilers* .
Negative-
Eye rolling & Sarcasm; Eva often disobeys & feels no remorse for it (including her trying to hide the blush of shame that always happens when she lies, sneaking into an adult’s room to search for something, going into a room she was told not to go into, hiding an important note, lying about how she got hurt enough to need stitches and having a concussion, feeling rebellious to do something that others would not like, & running away from an adult that’s trying to catch her with good intentions); Eva lies & eavesdrops a few times; Eva keeps secrets from others because of them telling her to not do something (and then she disobeys) & because of pettiness (despite it her knowing that it makes her not a very good friend to someone); Adults tell Eva to keep their secrets & keep things from other adults (such as a housekeeper not telling Eva’s mother about an important thing); Eva gets annoyed with a boy being obedient & a rule follower (she would prefer him not to be that way and it’s evident with her comments on him being “so darned obedient” and complimenting him when he sneaks into an adult’s locked room; She apologizes a couple of times about doing something without him and later gets upset at him again); Eva is sassy towards her mother because of the secrets she keeps (including Eva telling her mother to tell her the truth or she’s pester other people until she finds out what she wants to know, her mother says she can just pester other people then); Eva blows up about her mother keeping secrets from her and her mother then shares some answers to a few of Eva’s questions; Eva feels jealous over another’s relationship with his grandparent; *Spoiler* ; Eva wonders if she’s always bound to disappoint everyone no matter what she says or does; Eva gets very mad at people keeping secrets from her and wonders if it’s because her parents didn’t want her blabbing about their secrets (when she confronts her mother with this, she is surprised and said it was not because of that but because of painful memories); Eva feels like she’s ruined everything at one point; Eva’s mother and grandmother have a strained relationship (we see this on page with jabs and sarcasm, Eva’s mother shrinking into herself when with her mother, the grandmother never contacting them in 14+ years, spiteful actions, & it's due to *Spoilers* ); Eva is embarrassed and also later annoyed by her mother (the first because of her mother’s reactions to her grandmother and the second because of Eva’s mother not liking her grandmother buying her gifts); Eva gets angry at her mother for keeping her away from her grandmother after seeing that they (Eva and her grandmother) get along well (Eva thinks it’s because of her stubbornness); Eva & her mother have a riff between them because of the strained relationship between Eva’s mother and grandmother & her mother keeping secrets; Eva’s grandmother can be rude and ugly towards others (& Eva) if they bring up about another world; *Spoilers* ; *Big Spoiler* ; Halfway through, Eva decides that she came to England to heal her grandmother’s mind and that only she could do it & has a vision of the grandmother telling everyone that she couldn’t have been healed without Eva; Eva’s mother comments that she thinks her mother “wants everyone else to feel the same kind of pain she does so that she doesn’t have to be alone in her misery”.
Sexual-
Very little: A bit of Noticing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); An accidental brush of hands that causes awkwardness and blushes & holding hands; Blushes; *Spoiler* ; A handful of mentions of boyfriends/girlfriends, dates, & dating; A mention of a broken heart; A mention of others thinking two teens could be up to someone inappropriate (does not happen).
Age Rating Recommendations
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{ Add a full star for those who enjoy portal fantasy books}
Full in-depth, content review with these parts and more:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this Advance Reader Copy for free from the Publisher (Waterbrook) for this honest review. Some minor details listed in this review may have been changed in the final version of this book.
March 17, 2024
I believe the author may have asked herself, “What would happen if Susan from Narnia were my grandmother?” Eva, a girl from America, spends a summer on her English grandmother’s estate, where she finds dryads, magic moles, and doors in the wall. Her grandmother was once a queen of another realm, but she has since lost her belief in it. Eva tries to uncover what really happened to her grandmother while dealing with aspects of grief and tragedy.
I really enjoyed this! I saw some reviews describe this as “fan fiction” for Narnia, but you know what, sometimes that’s what I need! The author tips her hat to The Chronicles of Narnia as well as to the works of Lord Dunsany, Tolkien and many others. In my opinion, this is the kind of Young Adult fantasy books I’d love to see more of: exploring the childlike wonder and delight of joy and magic.
Content: There is magic present in the book, similar to how it is presented in The chronicles of Narnia. Eva’s mom has a strained relationship with Eva’s grandmother, and the two often are at odds. Eva witnesses her grandmother’s severe grief and perhaps depression over certain tragic events in the past. Eva often disobeys her mother and grandmother who want to protect her from finding the magic “beyond the door.” Eva and her family go to church and one of the characters wants to be a theologian when he grows up. Eva has to learn the consequences of some of the choices she makes and asks for forgiveness from others.
I really enjoyed this! I saw some reviews describe this as “fan fiction” for Narnia, but you know what, sometimes that’s what I need! The author tips her hat to The Chronicles of Narnia as well as to the works of Lord Dunsany, Tolkien and many others. In my opinion, this is the kind of Young Adult fantasy books I’d love to see more of: exploring the childlike wonder and delight of joy and magic.
Content: There is magic present in the book, similar to how it is presented in The chronicles of Narnia. Eva’s mom has a strained relationship with Eva’s grandmother, and the two often are at odds. Eva witnesses her grandmother’s severe grief and perhaps depression over certain tragic events in the past. Eva often disobeys her mother and grandmother who want to protect her from finding the magic “beyond the door.” Eva and her family go to church and one of the characters wants to be a theologian when he grows up. Eva has to learn the consequences of some of the choices she makes and asks for forgiveness from others.
February 2, 2025
2 stars - It was okay. I was excited about reading this book and had high hopes but it just didn't work for me.
What I enjoyed: The author essentially creates a dual timeline by inserting a page of fairy tale lore (created for this book) between each chapter. I appreciated the creativity of this device and the story within a story. The setting was lovely and the supporting characters added depth to the book and helped the story along. The author references other books (Secret Garden, Narnia, Enchanted Castle, etc.) to help her readers know the tradition in which she's writing.
Since the author quotes C.S. Lewis a couple of different times, and uses the train crash device -like in The Last Battle - I can best describe what I didn't like about this book by quoting from Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe:
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
SPOILERS
There's just not enough that's made right in this book. Eva (the main character) has a family that keeps a lot of secrets. We never get a true resolution between Eva's mother and grandmother or between Eva and her mother. The appearance of the Stag doesn't really fix anything. When Eva (the main character) finally makes it to the other world, (way too briefly!) instead of spending time there and becoming part of that story, she's just sent back to this world with a mission to fix something here. But, despite her efforts, nothing is fixed; nothing is changed. The villain is not vanquished. The magic is not recovered. In the end we have a couple of elements resolved but there's still more questions left unanswered.
The story overall moved very slowly and I had to make myself finish it.
What I enjoyed: The author essentially creates a dual timeline by inserting a page of fairy tale lore (created for this book) between each chapter. I appreciated the creativity of this device and the story within a story. The setting was lovely and the supporting characters added depth to the book and helped the story along. The author references other books (Secret Garden, Narnia, Enchanted Castle, etc.) to help her readers know the tradition in which she's writing.
Since the author quotes C.S. Lewis a couple of different times, and uses the train crash device -like in The Last Battle - I can best describe what I didn't like about this book by quoting from Lewis in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe:
“Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.”
SPOILERS
There's just not enough that's made right in this book. Eva (the main character) has a family that keeps a lot of secrets. We never get a true resolution between Eva's mother and grandmother or between Eva and her mother. The appearance of the Stag doesn't really fix anything. When Eva (the main character) finally makes it to the other world, (way too briefly!) instead of spending time there and becoming part of that story, she's just sent back to this world with a mission to fix something here. But, despite her efforts, nothing is fixed; nothing is changed. The villain is not vanquished. The magic is not recovered. In the end we have a couple of elements resolved but there's still more questions left unanswered.
The story overall moved very slowly and I had to make myself finish it.
January 28, 2024
so so slow, uneventful, kept going for more thinking maybe the next chapter will be the one something will happen and no still nothing ☹️
June 6, 2024
Read this one slooowwwly!
I first met Sarah Arthur more than 20 years ago, when I interviewed her for The Detroit Free Press about her book, Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings. As a journalist specializing in covering religious and cultural diversity, I have always loved this cross-over genre in publishing that blends pop-culture with biblical wisdom. As a child, I read the founding book in this genre, Robert Short's The Gospel According to Peanuts, which debuted in 1965 and went on to sell more than 10 million copies.
I also grew up reading the novels of Madeleine L'Engle, C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and other writers who shaped Sarah's life and vocation. So, in many ways, we are kindred spirits. And that's why I enjoyed her new Once a Queen so much that I read it very, very slowly. That's really the most important point I want to make in this review, recommending her novel to friends on Goodreads. I was trained, as a teenager, in speed reading, which has served me wonderfully well as a journalist, but I also treasure very, very slow reading.
Coincidentally, I began reading Sarah's novel about the same time I agreed to participate in a "group read" of the boxed set of Tolkien books that begins with The Book of Lost Tales, Part One. Talk about a slooowww read! I say that affectionately. I happen to love making my way paragraph by paragraph through the dense thickets of these Tolkien books that were assembled from fragments of Tolkien manuscripts by his son Christopher. When I pick up Tolkien, I am stepping from the daily pace of my life as a writer, editor and journalist on deadline into a completely different realm.
The same is true of Once a Queen—and, I hasten to add, even though Sarah has labored over this novel to give it the mystic aura of another time, another world, right down to some passages of stilted speech and eccentric, mythic names, her novel is smooth sailing compared with the Tolkien Book of Lost Tales. Sarah's novel is a real page-turner, compared to the density of that Tolkien boxed set.
Nevertheless, I kept stopping myself from racing through Once a Queen, because I just loved the experience of spending another 20 or 30 minutes in her worlds—and she is, indeed, giving us "worlds" plural—all of which open up from a mysterious English estate.
Now, this may seem like a puzzling review of the novel, because I'm not revealing many details in this overview. That's by intention. The basic story is simple: A curious girl travels from America with her mother to a family estate in the UK. She meets colorful and eccentric friends and family—especially a mysterious grandmother who may—or may not—be living in more than one mystical realm at the same time.
Going beyond that description, I think, would offer too many spoilers—except that I can credit Sarah with an oddly effective narrative technique of telling this story backwards and forwards at the same time. By that I mean: There are alternate chapters moving along two different timelines. One set of chapters carry this American girl, Eva Joyce, through her life-changing adventure of digging backwards into the deepest secrets of her family in this grand old manor house where they come together. Alternating with those chapters are much shorter mythic stories that sketch a cosmic creation cycle that moves forward through time. By the end of the book, the two timelines connect. I should also say that it was those short myths, interspersed with the more current chapters about Eva Joyce, that felt very much like Tolkien's bits and pieces in The Book of Lost Tales. The YA-style chapters about Eva Joyce reminded me more of the beloved novels of the late Madeleine L'Engle—who is one of Sarah's most important vocational mentors.
I don't use the verb "love" lightly. I did feel myself falling in love with this tale. As I took my late-afternoon coffee break each day—for 20 minutes or so—I would open up this paperback and immerse myself in these two parallel worlds Sarah is weaving in these pages.
That's the best way I can provide a unique perspective on this 5-star novel: I'm urging readers to get a copy and not wolf it down in a couple of days. Savor this novel. Enjoy it sloooowwwwly. Let its truly healing wonders wash over you in little spells for as many days as you can manage before you reach the last page.
And, then? Then, go follow Sarah online because she's already got another novel in this genre in the pipeline.
I can't wait.
July 25, 2023
"Once a Queen" by Sarah Arthur is a captivating and enchanting young adult fantasy novel that weaves together family secrets, mysterious manor houses, and portals to other worlds. The story follows fourteen-year-old Eva Joyce, an American girl who unexpectedly spends her summer at the English manor house of her grandmother, whom she has never met. As Eva delves into her family's history and the secrets hidden within the manor, she discovers a world of magic and fairy tales that may be more real than she ever imagined.
The book's premise immediately draws readers into the intriguing mystery surrounding Eva's parents' estrangement from her grandmother and the peculiar occurrences within the manor's gardens at night. As Eva seeks answers, she forms close bonds with the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and the gardener's grandson, Frankie. These characters add depth and warmth to the narrative, guiding Eva on her quest to uncover the truth about her family and the enchanting world that once existed.
The author skillfully integrates elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama, creating a well-rounded and immersive reading experience. The concept of portals to other worlds adds an extra layer of intrigue and excitement, keeping readers engrossed in the unfolding plot.
One of the strengths of the novel is its exploration of themes such as family relationships, grief, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. Eva's journey is not only a quest for answers about her grandmother's past but also a coming-of-age tale as she grapples with the idea of growing up and leaving behind the fairy tales and magic of her childhood.
Sarah Arthur's writing is vivid and evocative, painting a richly detailed world that readers can easily envision. The seamless blending of real-world settings with elements of fantasy adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it a memorable and engaging read.
While "Once a Queen" is a young adult novel, its themes and storytelling are likely to resonate with readers of all ages. It successfully captures the essence of wonder and magic that is often associated with classic fairy tales while adding a fresh and contemporary twist.
In conclusion, "Once a Queen" is a delightful and compelling young adult fantasy novel that effortlessly transports readers into a world of mystery and enchantment. Sarah Arthur's skillful storytelling, memorable characters, and exploration of profound themes make this novel a standout addition to the genre. Whether you're a young adult or an adult reader who enjoys tales of magic, family secrets, and coming-of-age journeys, this book promises an immersive and rewarding reading experience.
The book's premise immediately draws readers into the intriguing mystery surrounding Eva's parents' estrangement from her grandmother and the peculiar occurrences within the manor's gardens at night. As Eva seeks answers, she forms close bonds with the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and the gardener's grandson, Frankie. These characters add depth and warmth to the narrative, guiding Eva on her quest to uncover the truth about her family and the enchanting world that once existed.
The author skillfully integrates elements of fantasy, mystery, and family drama, creating a well-rounded and immersive reading experience. The concept of portals to other worlds adds an extra layer of intrigue and excitement, keeping readers engrossed in the unfolding plot.
One of the strengths of the novel is its exploration of themes such as family relationships, grief, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. Eva's journey is not only a quest for answers about her grandmother's past but also a coming-of-age tale as she grapples with the idea of growing up and leaving behind the fairy tales and magic of her childhood.
Sarah Arthur's writing is vivid and evocative, painting a richly detailed world that readers can easily envision. The seamless blending of real-world settings with elements of fantasy adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it a memorable and engaging read.
While "Once a Queen" is a young adult novel, its themes and storytelling are likely to resonate with readers of all ages. It successfully captures the essence of wonder and magic that is often associated with classic fairy tales while adding a fresh and contemporary twist.
In conclusion, "Once a Queen" is a delightful and compelling young adult fantasy novel that effortlessly transports readers into a world of mystery and enchantment. Sarah Arthur's skillful storytelling, memorable characters, and exploration of profound themes make this novel a standout addition to the genre. Whether you're a young adult or an adult reader who enjoys tales of magic, family secrets, and coming-of-age journeys, this book promises an immersive and rewarding reading experience.
April 4, 2024
Another reinterpretation of the Narnia books, beautifully written but weak in pacing and world building.
I loved the feel of this book, largely due to the lovely writing and to the well-used but also always lovable general premise behind it.
It’s tempting to recommend this for younger readers because it’s engaging and has no inappropriate content, but the pacing is pretty slow, and the magic isn’t especially well-rendered. I think it’s more likely that this book will hold the attention of an adult reader than a teen or young reader, though I can’t imagine a content issue for any age group.
The trouble with trying to reimagine a Narnia-like plot is that if the world building isn’t top notch and immersive, the fantasy elements of the book are bound to disappoint. This one takes too long to get through the portal, and once we’re there it’s unimpressive. The quest (if you want to call it that) also feels fairly low stakes, and lacks the excitement needed to make up for the very thin sense of place.
Interestingly, the setting for the real world parts of the book is fine—no, better than fine, actually—which is both odd for a fantasy book and also partially feels like it saves the novel from an atmospheric perspective while at the same time making the flaws in the fantasy realm all the more frustrating and apparent.
Still, it’s a sweet, cozy read with no real fatal flaws. A bit disappointing if you need your magic to sparkle and enthrall, but far from the worst portal magic fantasy you’ll encounter.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I loved the feel of this book, largely due to the lovely writing and to the well-used but also always lovable general premise behind it.
It’s tempting to recommend this for younger readers because it’s engaging and has no inappropriate content, but the pacing is pretty slow, and the magic isn’t especially well-rendered. I think it’s more likely that this book will hold the attention of an adult reader than a teen or young reader, though I can’t imagine a content issue for any age group.
The trouble with trying to reimagine a Narnia-like plot is that if the world building isn’t top notch and immersive, the fantasy elements of the book are bound to disappoint. This one takes too long to get through the portal, and once we’re there it’s unimpressive. The quest (if you want to call it that) also feels fairly low stakes, and lacks the excitement needed to make up for the very thin sense of place.
Interestingly, the setting for the real world parts of the book is fine—no, better than fine, actually—which is both odd for a fantasy book and also partially feels like it saves the novel from an atmospheric perspective while at the same time making the flaws in the fantasy realm all the more frustrating and apparent.
Still, it’s a sweet, cozy read with no real fatal flaws. A bit disappointing if you need your magic to sparkle and enthrall, but far from the worst portal magic fantasy you’ll encounter.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 25, 2024
4.5 stars
“What we thought was the final chapter is merely the prologue. Think of all the chapters you have yet to tell…”
I don’t normally read fantasy but I am a sucker for well-written stories and if they give off Narniaesque vibes, all the more so. So I jumped at the chance to read Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur, and I’m so glad I did! It’s deliciously reminiscent of all the best fairy tales and great classics such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew, The Enchanted Castle, and The Secret Garden while retaining a marvelous flavor all its own.
Fourteen-year-old Eva Joyce travels from Connecticut to England with her mother to meet her grandmother for the first time. She’s not sure what kind of reception they’ll get but she’s certainly not expecting the manor house to hold so many secrets. And it’s not just the people of the house who are keeping secrets but also the house itself. Stags and centaurs and dryads, oh my! And much to Eva’s surprise, much of the strange happenings seem to be tied to her grandmother – a woman of mercurial moods, great heartache, and… a regal past? I loved watching Eva and her new friend Frankie try to figure out the truth that all the adults – and the house – are carefully guarding, because I was trying to do the same. I was completely caught up in the magic of it all – the story within a story (which was so cleverly woven into the fabric of the actual story that I was convinced it was a real book and unashamedly went searching for it on Google), the search for the portal to another world, the mysterious stag, and all the other fun elements that made this a book I devoured as quickly as possible.
“Ah, my dear. That is the gift and the burden of it. The only story we’re given is our own.”
The writing and the setting are both beautiful and richly constructed, evoking that sense of wonder that all the best fairy tales do. I highlighted so many lovely quotes that are still lingering with me even though it’s been a couple of days since I finished reading the book. The exploration of grief and loss, framed from an eternal perspective cloaked by the story of Ternival where those we’ve lost are merely hidden for now (I love that perspective!), was quite touching and well-written without being saccharine or heavy-handed. The writing voice is witty (“By chasing a magical stag in my attempts to reach another world. As one does.”) and warm, drawing you quickly into the world the author has spun into existence and keeping you there until the end. An ending which leaves me eager for the next book!
Bottom Line: Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a wonderful start to a series I didn’t know I’d been craving. Fantasy and fairy tales combine to remind readers of such beloved characters as Aslan, the kings and queens at Cair Paravel and even Mary Lennox – while still being very much its own novel – and this enchanted tale sparks the ‘what if’ imagination of young and old alike. The story within a story – Eva’s favorite childhood series – came so alive under the author’s pen that I truly thought it was real and I was fascinated with the subplot involving the author (whom I also believed was an actual person). Wonderfully quotable sentences, a richly crafted setting, moving themes, and vivid characters make this a book that you’ll want to read quickly and then read again to savor. A story that reaches a conclusion but isn’t over just yet … I can’t wait for book two!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
“What we thought was the final chapter is merely the prologue. Think of all the chapters you have yet to tell…”
I don’t normally read fantasy but I am a sucker for well-written stories and if they give off Narniaesque vibes, all the more so. So I jumped at the chance to read Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur, and I’m so glad I did! It’s deliciously reminiscent of all the best fairy tales and great classics such as The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, The Magician’s Nephew, The Enchanted Castle, and The Secret Garden while retaining a marvelous flavor all its own.
Fourteen-year-old Eva Joyce travels from Connecticut to England with her mother to meet her grandmother for the first time. She’s not sure what kind of reception they’ll get but she’s certainly not expecting the manor house to hold so many secrets. And it’s not just the people of the house who are keeping secrets but also the house itself. Stags and centaurs and dryads, oh my! And much to Eva’s surprise, much of the strange happenings seem to be tied to her grandmother – a woman of mercurial moods, great heartache, and… a regal past? I loved watching Eva and her new friend Frankie try to figure out the truth that all the adults – and the house – are carefully guarding, because I was trying to do the same. I was completely caught up in the magic of it all – the story within a story (which was so cleverly woven into the fabric of the actual story that I was convinced it was a real book and unashamedly went searching for it on Google), the search for the portal to another world, the mysterious stag, and all the other fun elements that made this a book I devoured as quickly as possible.
“Ah, my dear. That is the gift and the burden of it. The only story we’re given is our own.”
The writing and the setting are both beautiful and richly constructed, evoking that sense of wonder that all the best fairy tales do. I highlighted so many lovely quotes that are still lingering with me even though it’s been a couple of days since I finished reading the book. The exploration of grief and loss, framed from an eternal perspective cloaked by the story of Ternival where those we’ve lost are merely hidden for now (I love that perspective!), was quite touching and well-written without being saccharine or heavy-handed. The writing voice is witty (“By chasing a magical stag in my attempts to reach another world. As one does.”) and warm, drawing you quickly into the world the author has spun into existence and keeping you there until the end. An ending which leaves me eager for the next book!
Bottom Line: Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a wonderful start to a series I didn’t know I’d been craving. Fantasy and fairy tales combine to remind readers of such beloved characters as Aslan, the kings and queens at Cair Paravel and even Mary Lennox – while still being very much its own novel – and this enchanted tale sparks the ‘what if’ imagination of young and old alike. The story within a story – Eva’s favorite childhood series – came so alive under the author’s pen that I truly thought it was real and I was fascinated with the subplot involving the author (whom I also believed was an actual person). Wonderfully quotable sentences, a richly crafted setting, moving themes, and vivid characters make this a book that you’ll want to read quickly and then read again to savor. A story that reaches a conclusion but isn’t over just yet … I can’t wait for book two!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower
Read
November 29, 2023Received an ARC via NetGalley.
I’m not really sure what to make of this. I found it at points a little confusing but also, it seems to serve as more of a prequel to a different story. Not a lot happens. It feels like a lot of build up to something else. Which is fine. But it’s hard to get a full picture of where it’s going to go.
I didn’t dislike it, I don’t think it’s a bad story, I think it just wasn’t a good fit for me.
I’m not really sure what to make of this. I found it at points a little confusing but also, it seems to serve as more of a prequel to a different story. Not a lot happens. It feels like a lot of build up to something else. Which is fine. But it’s hard to get a full picture of where it’s going to go.
I didn’t dislike it, I don’t think it’s a bad story, I think it just wasn’t a good fit for me.
February 2, 2024
Another world, a family broken by secrets, a scholarly question...Once a Queen felt like it was written just for my adolescent self and I'm so glad Arthur published this book. Plus, look at the cover! Gorgeous. The symbols and material objects Arthur chose for this world tickled my fancy in the most delightful way.
I loved it. Eagerly awaiting the rest in the series!
I loved it. Eagerly awaiting the rest in the series!
October 25, 2023
I wanted to love this book, but really struggled getting into it, and it almost ended up a DNF. I found the first half especially to be tedious and not particularly exciting and think that if some of the filler were removed the book could be at least 50 pages shorter. A lot of the fantasy elements seemed to be borrowed from other stories with a lot of it seeming to come from the Chronicles of Narnia, which I love, and the resused elements just weren't as well done in my opinion. I did get more engaged in the last 3rd but I was really expecting more time in the other world, and it felt almost like it was added as a throw away at the end rather than a key plot point.
The first person narrative in some way helped as we learn about things as Eva does and so the suspense and curiosity was really what kept me reading, but I found that toward the end the narration changed from present to past tense, but only for a line or two here or there, I know that the author was intending to set up further stories with this technique but to me it just ended up being a little jarring and distracting.
The author also mentions in her interview at the end that weaving was supposed to be a key theme in this book, and although weaving is mentioned often throughout the book I don't think I would have picked it up as a key theme if I hadn't read the q&a.
I'd be interested to read the second book, simply to see if it improves on any of the above mentioned issues.
I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
The first person narrative in some way helped as we learn about things as Eva does and so the suspense and curiosity was really what kept me reading, but I found that toward the end the narration changed from present to past tense, but only for a line or two here or there, I know that the author was intending to set up further stories with this technique but to me it just ended up being a little jarring and distracting.
The author also mentions in her interview at the end that weaving was supposed to be a key theme in this book, and although weaving is mentioned often throughout the book I don't think I would have picked it up as a key theme if I hadn't read the q&a.
I'd be interested to read the second book, simply to see if it improves on any of the above mentioned issues.
I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2025
Story Enjoyment Rating: 8.5/10 Christian Faith Rating: 2/3
Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a Christian fantasy story. It's a young adult series, and this first book follows 14-year-old Eva, who is spending the summer in England at her grandmother's country estate. Eva has been living in America with her academic parents and is visiting her grandmother for the first time. She finds out that there are many old family secrets and stories from the past that no one will talk about.
This series is a portal fantasy, although this book is set mostly in the real world. There's a mystery element to the story, particularly during the parts set in this world. As Eva makes new friends, she tries to work out her family secrets and how the fantastical components fit in. I found some of the fantasy elements a bit vague and would have liked more concrete details about the world we're exploring, but hopefully that comes in later books.
I found several references back to The Chronicles of Narnia. While it's not a sequel, the many references made me think it almost could be. This first book had quite a few elements that fitted with The Magician's Nephew, the beginning book of Narnia, which made me wonder if the series will mirror Narnia's structure or just be a trilogy. I believe the author has planned at least three books, with the second one already out and the third due next January.
I enjoyed this book; it was a fun, young adult, contemporary with some mystery and fantasy woven into it. The focus is mostly on friendship, not so much on romance. It was definitely worth picking up, and I'm interested to see where the series goes, especially with the Narnia connections.
There are brief references to church and faith in the contemporary setting, but also several symbolic references and allegory tied into the fantasy elements that I could clearly see as a Christian, even though they aren't explicitly explained.
Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a Christian fantasy story. It's a young adult series, and this first book follows 14-year-old Eva, who is spending the summer in England at her grandmother's country estate. Eva has been living in America with her academic parents and is visiting her grandmother for the first time. She finds out that there are many old family secrets and stories from the past that no one will talk about.
This series is a portal fantasy, although this book is set mostly in the real world. There's a mystery element to the story, particularly during the parts set in this world. As Eva makes new friends, she tries to work out her family secrets and how the fantastical components fit in. I found some of the fantasy elements a bit vague and would have liked more concrete details about the world we're exploring, but hopefully that comes in later books.
I found several references back to The Chronicles of Narnia. While it's not a sequel, the many references made me think it almost could be. This first book had quite a few elements that fitted with The Magician's Nephew, the beginning book of Narnia, which made me wonder if the series will mirror Narnia's structure or just be a trilogy. I believe the author has planned at least three books, with the second one already out and the third due next January.
I enjoyed this book; it was a fun, young adult, contemporary with some mystery and fantasy woven into it. The focus is mostly on friendship, not so much on romance. It was definitely worth picking up, and I'm interested to see where the series goes, especially with the Narnia connections.
There are brief references to church and faith in the contemporary setting, but also several symbolic references and allegory tied into the fantasy elements that I could clearly see as a Christian, even though they aren't explicitly explained.
December 1, 2023
I had a hard time reading this book. Eva is visiting her grandmother for the first time in England. Her mother packed up and left a long time ago.. They only reason they are back is to locate something for Eva's father's research. Eva has always been fascinated with magic and other worlds, but coming to England has opened her eyes to new adventures beyond her wildest dreams. She is thirsty to explore the worlds that everyone around her seems to whisper about and her grandmother tries to deny their existence during the day, but at night Eva's grandmother transforms. This book has a lot of potential. The main story seems to be about the broken mind of Eva's grandmother and what happened in the past. It felt like there as a lot of words but no true world building. It took me to read 80% of the book before the story really got off the ground and the ending sub par. I would suggest putting more true adventure in the story instead of the constant build up to an anti-climatic end. I am really disappointed. Something was missing and I was not satisfied with this reading.
July 14, 2024
⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑✧ "𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕨𝕖 𝕒𝕣𝕖 𝕘𝕚𝕧𝕖𝕟 𝕚𝕤 𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕠𝕨𝕟." ✧ ⋆ ๋࣭ ⭑
⟡ Like many people, I picked up this book because of the title (and let's be honest that gorgeous cover).
However, I didn't find what I expected. This isn't a story of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. No, this is a story quite it's own but cleverly wrapped into a world quite similar to our own, only with a twist. A handful of people have been found in worlds unlike the earth they began on. The thing most similar to Narnia is the Stag and some of the world exploring.
⋆ I expected this to be a book about Susan, the fantasy, the train wreck, it all lines up. We find ourselves in a somewhat slow paced story smack dab in a mystery. Who is Eva's Grandmother, really? And why are so many adults keeping secrets from, Eva? What is all this talk of a real life queen?
⟡ This book is powerful. Honestly page 239 was a story changer for me, and the last 1/4 had me with goosebumps. Why? Well, I'm a human. I'm flawed, I make mistakes, but I've seen a hope and a peace that passes all understanding. This book expectantly showed me the world on a level I've not seen it before. Yes there's hope, but WE have to choose this hope. I haven't read a fantasy book with this kind of impact since reading Wishtress.
⋆ This is a book of beauty, but also of generational pain. It's a allegorical reference to the Way of Life and the messy love of a family. It's a fantastical series of a page turning mysteries and of lands unknown to many. It's a book I heartily recommend you check out. I'll definitely be checking out Once a Castle. Overall, if you're looking for a clean fantasy book this is a great one to check out. Keep in mind though that the pace is slow, and the book is a little confusing (hence the lack of the fifth star)
Content:
~Completely clean
~ Note: To families sensitive to magic, this book has a villian who is a sorceress and as so witchcraft is viewed as evil. However this book deals with traveling to other "dimensions." Magic content is pretty much the same as Narnia :)
TWs: Loss of loved ones due to tragic circumstances
Age Recommendation: 9+ (This book is slow paced but super clean so it'd be a great read aloud for any kiddos who have a hard time focusing on their own)
⟡ Like many people, I picked up this book because of the title (and let's be honest that gorgeous cover).
However, I didn't find what I expected. This isn't a story of Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. No, this is a story quite it's own but cleverly wrapped into a world quite similar to our own, only with a twist. A handful of people have been found in worlds unlike the earth they began on. The thing most similar to Narnia is the Stag and some of the world exploring.
⋆ I expected this to be a book about Susan, the fantasy, the train wreck, it all lines up. We find ourselves in a somewhat slow paced story smack dab in a mystery. Who is Eva's Grandmother, really? And why are so many adults keeping secrets from, Eva? What is all this talk of a real life queen?
⟡ This book is powerful. Honestly page 239 was a story changer for me, and the last 1/4 had me with goosebumps. Why? Well, I'm a human. I'm flawed, I make mistakes, but I've seen a hope and a peace that passes all understanding. This book expectantly showed me the world on a level I've not seen it before. Yes there's hope, but WE have to choose this hope. I haven't read a fantasy book with this kind of impact since reading Wishtress.
⋆ This is a book of beauty, but also of generational pain. It's a allegorical reference to the Way of Life and the messy love of a family. It's a fantastical series of a page turning mysteries and of lands unknown to many. It's a book I heartily recommend you check out. I'll definitely be checking out Once a Castle. Overall, if you're looking for a clean fantasy book this is a great one to check out. Keep in mind though that the pace is slow, and the book is a little confusing (hence the lack of the fifth star)
Content:
~Completely clean
~ Note: To families sensitive to magic, this book has a villian who is a sorceress and as so witchcraft is viewed as evil. However this book deals with traveling to other "dimensions." Magic content is pretty much the same as Narnia :)
TWs: Loss of loved ones due to tragic circumstances
Age Recommendation: 9+ (This book is slow paced but super clean so it'd be a great read aloud for any kiddos who have a hard time focusing on their own)
September 15, 2023
Full disclosure - I’m not religious, nor was I raised with religion. Therefore it may surprise to know that growing up, The Chronicles of Narnia was my favorite book series. To the degree that one of my daughters has the name Aravis.
The synopsis for Once a Queen (a Narnia phrase), reminded me so much of what Susan's later story might have looked like that I had to read it. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy.
YA - fantasy, combined with mystery and coming of age, Once A Queen is an enjoyable read - for young adults and up; I liked this one a lot and I’m looking forward to the upcoming titles in this series.
Recommended.
Thank you to WaterBrook and NetGalley for the DRC
The synopsis for Once a Queen (a Narnia phrase), reminded me so much of what Susan's later story might have looked like that I had to read it. I was fortunate enough to receive an advance copy.
YA - fantasy, combined with mystery and coming of age, Once A Queen is an enjoyable read - for young adults and up; I liked this one a lot and I’m looking forward to the upcoming titles in this series.
Recommended.
Thank you to WaterBrook and NetGalley for the DRC
March 14, 2024
⭐️ 3 stars
I enjoy this book but it's not exactly to my liking. The journey of Eva slowly uncovers her grandmother's secret and her curiosity about everything along with every relationship she builds starting with family and friendship is really pleasing to read about. I do have some issues, especially with the characters and world-building development but it's not really bad more like just mediocre but still acceptable. Also, it turns out there will be a book 2 soon, so I guess I'm a little bit curious about the next journey.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader copy (arc) in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoy this book but it's not exactly to my liking. The journey of Eva slowly uncovers her grandmother's secret and her curiosity about everything along with every relationship she builds starting with family and friendship is really pleasing to read about. I do have some issues, especially with the characters and world-building development but it's not really bad more like just mediocre but still acceptable. Also, it turns out there will be a book 2 soon, so I guess I'm a little bit curious about the next journey.
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader copy (arc) in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2025
I so enjoyed this audiobook. It felt like an ode to my favorite young adult fantasy novels. I enjoyed the questions and embrace of this novel that ask what could happen and who are we when our love of story intersects with our world.
March 16, 2024
After reading and listening to glowing reviews for this book, I came into it with some big expectations. I'm afraid those expectations may have affected my opinion of this book. Somehow I missed that this is NOT a story about Narnia's Susan as an old woman; rather it's more of a nod to what Susan's story might have been, done by creating an entirely new portal world and backstory. I may have enjoyed it more if I'd realized this going in.
In addition to this, though, I never felt like I connected with the characters. The protagonist, Eva, longs for a connection with her grandmother whom she'd never had a chance to know, and sometimes they get along wonderfully, but then suddenly she's completely rejected by this grandmother. Her mother refuses to tell her what's going on. There are secrets upon secrets--the family keeps some, the friends, Eva herself. Eva is constantly frustrated (understandably) that no one will tell her what her family history is, and as a reader I felt equally frustrated. Sometimes it's okay to have secrets, but not just for the sake of moving the plot forward. The reason for the secrets has to be organic to the characters.
I'm afraid I didn't buy the portal world, either, and had some difficulty following what exactly was happening in that story line. The archaic English in those scenes just increased the distance I felt to the story.
In addition to this, though, I never felt like I connected with the characters. The protagonist, Eva, longs for a connection with her grandmother whom she'd never had a chance to know, and sometimes they get along wonderfully, but then suddenly she's completely rejected by this grandmother. Her mother refuses to tell her what's going on. There are secrets upon secrets--the family keeps some, the friends, Eva herself. Eva is constantly frustrated (understandably) that no one will tell her what her family history is, and as a reader I felt equally frustrated. Sometimes it's okay to have secrets, but not just for the sake of moving the plot forward. The reason for the secrets has to be organic to the characters.
I'm afraid I didn't buy the portal world, either, and had some difficulty following what exactly was happening in that story line. The archaic English in those scenes just increased the distance I felt to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2024
I received the ARC for this book through NetGalley.
When I was a kid, I read the Narnia books, and like many girls, wondered what happened to Susan - would she ever return to Narnia after she stopped believing in it? CS Lewis even said the door was open for other writers to pick up this thread and see where it leads and try to bring her back home if they could.
I genuinely think Once a Queen is the perfect answer to that question, although in its own way. The story follows the granddaughter of the former queen of a magical otherland who chose to forget after the tragic death of her sister and their closest friends. There's so much richness in the story, and the mystery surrounding world of Ternival is so well-crafted. Not to mention that the snippets of stories from Ternival that are integrated into the story made me feel like I should have read those as a child too!
The ending left lots of room for a sequel, and the snippet I got at the very end of the ARC made me VERY keen to dip my toes back into this world in the future.
But for now, you all can experience it for the first time, and I can't wait!
When I was a kid, I read the Narnia books, and like many girls, wondered what happened to Susan - would she ever return to Narnia after she stopped believing in it? CS Lewis even said the door was open for other writers to pick up this thread and see where it leads and try to bring her back home if they could.
I genuinely think Once a Queen is the perfect answer to that question, although in its own way. The story follows the granddaughter of the former queen of a magical otherland who chose to forget after the tragic death of her sister and their closest friends. There's so much richness in the story, and the mystery surrounding world of Ternival is so well-crafted. Not to mention that the snippets of stories from Ternival that are integrated into the story made me feel like I should have read those as a child too!
The ending left lots of room for a sequel, and the snippet I got at the very end of the ARC made me VERY keen to dip my toes back into this world in the future.
But for now, you all can experience it for the first time, and I can't wait!
August 7, 2024
Wow, I just loved this. It felt fluffy and fun at the start, but grew in depth without lacking in whimsy as it moved along. I took my time with it because I really felt like I wished it could last all summer long.
August 27, 2023
"Once a Queen" is the first book in a ya fantasy series written by Sarah Arthur, currently in progress.
The story follows 14-year-old American Eva Joyce, who in 1995 unexpectedly finds herself spending the summer at Carrick Hall, the mysterious manor house of the equally mysterious English grandmother she has never met. Bewildered and curious, Eva cannot help but wonder why her parents have been so long estranged from her grandmother. When strange things start happening in the gardens at night, Eva turns to the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and the gardener's grandson, Frankie, for answers. Astonishingly, they all seem to believe that Eva's favorite childhood fairy tales are true and that her grandmother was once a queen in another world. But her grandmother's heart, after various traumatic events, is closed to the beauty and pain of the past. So now it is up to Eva to discover the truth. Can relations between Eva's family be restored? Do portals to other worlds really exist? As she searches for answers, Eva finds herself uncovering dangerous secrets and wrestling with regret for a vanishing childhood, all while facing the fear that growing up means giving up fairy tales forever.
Wow, this story moved me so much! I found it a sweet, evocative and magical read, that touched me repeatedly and kept me glued to the pages. I sensed strong references to "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis and "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, works from which the author herself claims to have been inspired, which increased my appreciation for the book even more. I admit I didn't think it could grab me so much, but instead it won me over with its tenderness and cozy atmosphere!
I liked the writing a lot! Evocative, lyrical and intense, I found it beautiful. I was fascinated by the sophistication of the words, the vivid descriptions, all without weighing down the narrative. In fact, for me, the style comes across as simple and light, extremely immediate and easy to follow. I found the descriptions really effective and incisive, carefully outlined, almost like a painting. I had no difficulty imagining the various settings and I was definitely delighted! The prose in my opinion is deep, emotionally charged and involving, so much so that I was moved to read certain scenes and yes, I cried. In general, it gave me the feeling of a fairy tale, suffused with magic and mystery, which really warmed my heart!
The setting is stunning! The story takes place mostly at Carrick Hall, an ancient and enigmatic manor house in the West Midlands, seemingly cold and gray. A huge multi-story building, full of rooms, many of them locked or empty, filled with secret passages and laden with fascinating artwork. An estate enveloped in well-kept gardens, vegetable gardens and orchards, over which stand masterpieces of topiary art, in the forms of common animals, but also more bizarre creatures such as centaurs, dryads and more. All depicted masterfully! I loved Carrick Hall, as well as the quaint nearby villages and the picturesque English countryside! It all seemed so charming, so placid, that I felt a sense of being suspended in time. I can understand how the protagonist was captivated by the landscape! A beautiful and serene place, but at the same time poignant and melancholy, which sent me into jujubes. To the setting of our world then is added that of another world, with decidedly fairy-tale and enchanted tones, which I loved very much. I found it all highly cozy and wonderful!
The plot proceeds lightly and smoothly, with short chapters that entice the reader to continue. It is not an action-packed story, but rather a story charged with feelings. It is a tale about lost and found family ties, sorrows and regrets, the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, beliefs and convictions. Added to this are the mystery elements concerning the strange phenomena occurring at the mansion and the figure of an enigmatic theologian and the fantasy element, related to the presence of portals to other worlds. Furthermore, the book becomes a kind of story within the story, with the fable of this other world. A world about which I cannot say anything, to avoid spoilers, but which I enjoyed immensely! The narration takes its time, unhurriedly, with an ending that I found satisfying. It was a story that warmed my heart, that made me feel held in a warm embrace, that for a few hours took me away from the daily grind of life and immersed me in lovely, cozy places where I felt really good. Seriously, I loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel!
I really liked Eva, the protagonist and only first-person pov! Eva is a 14-year-old American girl who, in 1995, moves from Connecticut to the West Midlands to spend the summer at Carrick Hall and meet her maternal grandmother who she has never met before. Eva is a curious and talkative young girl, nosy and full of questions, passionate about fairy tales and with a great imagination. I loved her characterization, but especially her development. Eva in fact has to face the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, and this scares her because she fears that growing up means giving up fairy tales forever. I felt particularly connected to her, to her reflections, and on more than one occasion I was moved.
But the character that affected me the most is the grandmother! I cried so much for her, because she is a woman who has been through so much and it has marked her deeply. She is such a melancholy, lonely and tormented character that I just wanted to hug her and comfort her. She is not an easy woman, her cold and sometimes brusque attitude certainly does not make her lovable, however, she moved me to the highest levels.
The rest of the secondary characters, including the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and sweet young Frankie, convinced me completely! I found them extremely comfortable and reassuring, so much so that I became attached to them. They are highly expressive characters who added to the pleasant feeling of coziness that the book conveyed to me.
All in all, I found it a delightful ya fantasy, full of feelings, enchantments and mysteries, which I recommend to lovers of the genre!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
The story follows 14-year-old American Eva Joyce, who in 1995 unexpectedly finds herself spending the summer at Carrick Hall, the mysterious manor house of the equally mysterious English grandmother she has never met. Bewildered and curious, Eva cannot help but wonder why her parents have been so long estranged from her grandmother. When strange things start happening in the gardens at night, Eva turns to the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and the gardener's grandson, Frankie, for answers. Astonishingly, they all seem to believe that Eva's favorite childhood fairy tales are true and that her grandmother was once a queen in another world. But her grandmother's heart, after various traumatic events, is closed to the beauty and pain of the past. So now it is up to Eva to discover the truth. Can relations between Eva's family be restored? Do portals to other worlds really exist? As she searches for answers, Eva finds herself uncovering dangerous secrets and wrestling with regret for a vanishing childhood, all while facing the fear that growing up means giving up fairy tales forever.
Wow, this story moved me so much! I found it a sweet, evocative and magical read, that touched me repeatedly and kept me glued to the pages. I sensed strong references to "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C. S. Lewis and "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, works from which the author herself claims to have been inspired, which increased my appreciation for the book even more. I admit I didn't think it could grab me so much, but instead it won me over with its tenderness and cozy atmosphere!
I liked the writing a lot! Evocative, lyrical and intense, I found it beautiful. I was fascinated by the sophistication of the words, the vivid descriptions, all without weighing down the narrative. In fact, for me, the style comes across as simple and light, extremely immediate and easy to follow. I found the descriptions really effective and incisive, carefully outlined, almost like a painting. I had no difficulty imagining the various settings and I was definitely delighted! The prose in my opinion is deep, emotionally charged and involving, so much so that I was moved to read certain scenes and yes, I cried. In general, it gave me the feeling of a fairy tale, suffused with magic and mystery, which really warmed my heart!
The setting is stunning! The story takes place mostly at Carrick Hall, an ancient and enigmatic manor house in the West Midlands, seemingly cold and gray. A huge multi-story building, full of rooms, many of them locked or empty, filled with secret passages and laden with fascinating artwork. An estate enveloped in well-kept gardens, vegetable gardens and orchards, over which stand masterpieces of topiary art, in the forms of common animals, but also more bizarre creatures such as centaurs, dryads and more. All depicted masterfully! I loved Carrick Hall, as well as the quaint nearby villages and the picturesque English countryside! It all seemed so charming, so placid, that I felt a sense of being suspended in time. I can understand how the protagonist was captivated by the landscape! A beautiful and serene place, but at the same time poignant and melancholy, which sent me into jujubes. To the setting of our world then is added that of another world, with decidedly fairy-tale and enchanted tones, which I loved very much. I found it all highly cozy and wonderful!
The plot proceeds lightly and smoothly, with short chapters that entice the reader to continue. It is not an action-packed story, but rather a story charged with feelings. It is a tale about lost and found family ties, sorrows and regrets, the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, beliefs and convictions. Added to this are the mystery elements concerning the strange phenomena occurring at the mansion and the figure of an enigmatic theologian and the fantasy element, related to the presence of portals to other worlds. Furthermore, the book becomes a kind of story within the story, with the fable of this other world. A world about which I cannot say anything, to avoid spoilers, but which I enjoyed immensely! The narration takes its time, unhurriedly, with an ending that I found satisfying. It was a story that warmed my heart, that made me feel held in a warm embrace, that for a few hours took me away from the daily grind of life and immersed me in lovely, cozy places where I felt really good. Seriously, I loved this book and can't wait to read the sequel!
I really liked Eva, the protagonist and only first-person pov! Eva is a 14-year-old American girl who, in 1995, moves from Connecticut to the West Midlands to spend the summer at Carrick Hall and meet her maternal grandmother who she has never met before. Eva is a curious and talkative young girl, nosy and full of questions, passionate about fairy tales and with a great imagination. I loved her characterization, but especially her development. Eva in fact has to face the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, and this scares her because she fears that growing up means giving up fairy tales forever. I felt particularly connected to her, to her reflections, and on more than one occasion I was moved.
But the character that affected me the most is the grandmother! I cried so much for her, because she is a woman who has been through so much and it has marked her deeply. She is such a melancholy, lonely and tormented character that I just wanted to hug her and comfort her. She is not an easy woman, her cold and sometimes brusque attitude certainly does not make her lovable, however, she moved me to the highest levels.
The rest of the secondary characters, including the elderly housekeeper, the gardener, and sweet young Frankie, convinced me completely! I found them extremely comfortable and reassuring, so much so that I became attached to them. They are highly expressive characters who added to the pleasant feeling of coziness that the book conveyed to me.
All in all, I found it a delightful ya fantasy, full of feelings, enchantments and mysteries, which I recommend to lovers of the genre!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.
March 28, 2025
Okay, well, here I go 😬 I have a LOT to unpack 😅
First of all, I WOULD recommend this if you enjoy fairytales, and portal fantasy, and maybe royalty and dual time periods.
I personally was expecting to enjoy this more, but I am hoping the next one answers some questions❓
My Issues:
#1 I felt like there were a lot of mysteries introduced, and almost none of them were solved? There were mysteries after mysteries, after mysteries, and there was never really a BIG reveal. (I could have been confused also because portal fantasy boggles my mind anyway 🤪)
#2 I personally didn’t feel very connected to any of the characters. I think that the author was trying to help us feel sorry for the grandmother, (which I did get a little more toward the end) but throughout the book I was really not liking her. She hid from the truth, and was friendly one second, and hurt her loved ones the next.
Eva was okay. I did understand her frustration with not knowing her families history, but she came across as defiant and a little deceitful? Yes, she could look for answers but outwardly disobeying and lying to her mom and grandmother felt a little bratty.
Eva’s mom I think I could understand the most. I know she left Eva hanging on her history, but she was just trying to prevent having family issues come up again. I think my favorite character was Aunt Bertie 🤭
#3 While reading, I was not able to connect the fairy tale to the narrative, and so I was constantly reading things twice to understand. I am not a huge fairytale fan…🤫 Sometimes they confuse me but I am working on that! 😅
First of all, I WOULD recommend this if you enjoy fairytales, and portal fantasy, and maybe royalty and dual time periods.
I personally was expecting to enjoy this more, but I am hoping the next one answers some questions❓
My Issues:
#1 I felt like there were a lot of mysteries introduced, and almost none of them were solved? There were mysteries after mysteries, after mysteries, and there was never really a BIG reveal. (I could have been confused also because portal fantasy boggles my mind anyway 🤪)
#2 I personally didn’t feel very connected to any of the characters. I think that the author was trying to help us feel sorry for the grandmother, (which I did get a little more toward the end) but throughout the book I was really not liking her. She hid from the truth, and was friendly one second, and hurt her loved ones the next.
Eva was okay. I did understand her frustration with not knowing her families history, but she came across as defiant and a little deceitful? Yes, she could look for answers but outwardly disobeying and lying to her mom and grandmother felt a little bratty.
Eva’s mom I think I could understand the most. I know she left Eva hanging on her history, but she was just trying to prevent having family issues come up again. I think my favorite character was Aunt Bertie 🤭
#3 While reading, I was not able to connect the fairy tale to the narrative, and so I was constantly reading things twice to understand. I am not a huge fairytale fan…🤫 Sometimes they confuse me but I am working on that! 😅
April 7, 2024
Note: I listened to this on audio. Please forgive any misspellings of names because I didn't see them on a page.
I first heard of this book while watching a video review of it from Lindsey from the blog Books for Christians Girls. (Here's the review she posted here on GR, including a content advisory: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
It wasn't quite her cup of tea, but some of the story elements she was describing got me curious if I might enjoy it more because I'm a bigger fan of portal fantasies.
Having now read it for myself, it actually was more enjoyable for me. I was already intrigued by the idea of the main character's grandmother having been a queen in another world in her youth. But I only got more intrigued as I kept reading I started to realize that this is basically an imagining of what happened to Susan Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia after the end of the series when her siblings died and she turned her back on Narnia. For real, y'all, the Narnia references were EVERYWHERE. Obviously, names and key details were changed to avoid this being a fanfic and make it stand on its own as its own story for people who don't know Narnia. But if you've read and know the Narnia books well, you will see it. The world of "Ternival" has a very similar origin story to Narnia. There are gems that transport people to a world between worlds the same way as the rings in The Magician's Nephew. Eva's grandmother states that she and her siblings were chasing the white stag at the end of their time in Ternival, which led them back to their own world, just like how the adult Pevensies were chasing a stag at the end of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and ended up going back home and becoming children again. Only, in Ternival, the white stag is the allegorical Christ figure rather than Aslan the lion.
I thought the author used the picture of chasing the stag quite well as a picture of pursuing Christ, trusting that He'll take us where we need to go even when we don't know what's ahead. It also worked well to show how Eva's grandmother stopped trusting the stag to lead her on the right path, so she stopped "pursuing" it, literally and figuratively. Really, it was these spiritual themes that were the best part of the book. Eva's grandmother hides the truth of her fantastical past from her family, even denying that any such thing ever happened, but as she's gotten older, she has started to have spells at night during which she wanders the gardens of her estate, believing herself a young queen again. Eva looks like her grandmother's deceased sister, so her grandmother confuses to two at night, speaking to Eva as if she *is* that sister who died. It's during these spells that Eva is able to learn of her grandmother's history in Ternival.
The road was rocky at times because Eva's grandmother has allowed bitterness and grief into her heart, believing that Ternival turned its back on her when really, she was the one who turned her back on it and lost trust in the stag. But I really appreciated how Eva started out thinking she was in England in order to have her own adventure, but in reality, she'd been brought there to help her grandmother by loving her enough to stay and help her open her heart to Ternival again. There was a point where I was a little worried that the author was about to let grandmother pass on without changing her heart but, Thankfully, And for that, I was very glad.
Some other things that I liked: I liked that the book seems to have set up future adventures for Eva and Frankie to have future adventures and even guide other kids on possible adventures in Ternival. I'll be very interested to read those if that's what the author plans to write. I also appreciated references to other stories that popped up. I got Secret Garden vibes from the part where Eva is first exploring her grandmother's garden and meets Frankie (who kind of gave me some Dickon vibes.) There were some Lord of the Rings references also, including a character that briefly seems like Gollum, but we learn that it's a very different character entirely.
Of my few complaints, I didn't necessarily like that Eva was very into rule breaking, even praising a friend for finally breaking a rule at one point, but this attitude never really got called out or dealt with. It honestly ended up feeling like she needed to break rules because her mother and grandmother were keeping so many secrets (and Ava herself keeps a lot of secrets, too). I suspect a lot of parents might not be wild about that element, either. There was also an odd moment where Eva actually *broke down* a door in order to find out what was on the other side. I was rather surprised by this to the point of rewinding the audiobook to make sure I'd heard correctly. Maybe it was meant to be funny? But it just didn't play that way, and there were no consequences for this destruction of property, so I just didn't really see the point in it happening and wondered what the point was.
These things didn't ruin the story for me, but they do cause me to go with a 4 star rating instead of 5. If Goodreads would allow half stars, I would even do 4.5 because these were only slight smudges on a book that was otherwise full of beautiful themes. And like I said above, I'm curious to see where things go if this gets expanded into a series. Overall, parents of impressionable young kids may want to be a little cautious and ready for discussion when it comes to Eva's rule-breaking attitudes, but for more mature readers who will appreciate all the Narnia and other references and a story that basically brings Queen Susan's story (in another form) to a satisfying and redemptive conclusion, this is a sweet book that I enjoyed and can recommend. I can also recommend it to lovers of portal fantasy and allegory who may not know Narnia to get the references because it's still a fun story on its own.
I first heard of this book while watching a video review of it from Lindsey from the blog Books for Christians Girls. (Here's the review she posted here on GR, including a content advisory: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)
It wasn't quite her cup of tea, but some of the story elements she was describing got me curious if I might enjoy it more because I'm a bigger fan of portal fantasies.
Having now read it for myself, it actually was more enjoyable for me. I was already intrigued by the idea of the main character's grandmother having been a queen in another world in her youth. But I only got more intrigued as I kept reading I started to realize that this is basically an imagining of what happened to Susan Pevensie from The Chronicles of Narnia after the end of the series when her siblings died and she turned her back on Narnia. For real, y'all, the Narnia references were EVERYWHERE. Obviously, names and key details were changed to avoid this being a fanfic and make it stand on its own as its own story for people who don't know Narnia. But if you've read and know the Narnia books well, you will see it. The world of "Ternival" has a very similar origin story to Narnia. There are gems that transport people to a world between worlds the same way as the rings in The Magician's Nephew. Eva's grandmother states that she and her siblings were chasing the white stag at the end of their time in Ternival, which led them back to their own world, just like how the adult Pevensies were chasing a stag at the end of The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe and ended up going back home and becoming children again. Only, in Ternival, the white stag is the allegorical Christ figure rather than Aslan the lion.
I thought the author used the picture of chasing the stag quite well as a picture of pursuing Christ, trusting that He'll take us where we need to go even when we don't know what's ahead. It also worked well to show how Eva's grandmother stopped trusting the stag to lead her on the right path, so she stopped "pursuing" it, literally and figuratively. Really, it was these spiritual themes that were the best part of the book. Eva's grandmother hides the truth of her fantastical past from her family, even denying that any such thing ever happened, but as she's gotten older, she has started to have spells at night during which she wanders the gardens of her estate, believing herself a young queen again. Eva looks like her grandmother's deceased sister, so her grandmother confuses to two at night, speaking to Eva as if she *is* that sister who died. It's during these spells that Eva is able to learn of her grandmother's history in Ternival.
The road was rocky at times because Eva's grandmother has allowed bitterness and grief into her heart, believing that Ternival turned its back on her when really, she was the one who turned her back on it and lost trust in the stag. But I really appreciated how Eva started out thinking she was in England in order to have her own adventure, but in reality, she'd been brought there to help her grandmother by loving her enough to stay and help her open her heart to Ternival again. There was a point where I was a little worried that the author was about to let grandmother pass on without changing her heart but, Thankfully, And for that, I was very glad.
Some other things that I liked: I liked that the book seems to have set up future adventures for Eva and Frankie to have future adventures and even guide other kids on possible adventures in Ternival. I'll be very interested to read those if that's what the author plans to write. I also appreciated references to other stories that popped up. I got Secret Garden vibes from the part where Eva is first exploring her grandmother's garden and meets Frankie (who kind of gave me some Dickon vibes.) There were some Lord of the Rings references also, including a character that briefly seems like Gollum, but we learn that it's a very different character entirely.
Of my few complaints, I didn't necessarily like that Eva was very into rule breaking, even praising a friend for finally breaking a rule at one point, but this attitude never really got called out or dealt with. It honestly ended up feeling like she needed to break rules because her mother and grandmother were keeping so many secrets (and Ava herself keeps a lot of secrets, too). I suspect a lot of parents might not be wild about that element, either. There was also an odd moment where Eva actually *broke down* a door in order to find out what was on the other side. I was rather surprised by this to the point of rewinding the audiobook to make sure I'd heard correctly. Maybe it was meant to be funny? But it just didn't play that way, and there were no consequences for this destruction of property, so I just didn't really see the point in it happening and wondered what the point was.
These things didn't ruin the story for me, but they do cause me to go with a 4 star rating instead of 5. If Goodreads would allow half stars, I would even do 4.5 because these were only slight smudges on a book that was otherwise full of beautiful themes. And like I said above, I'm curious to see where things go if this gets expanded into a series. Overall, parents of impressionable young kids may want to be a little cautious and ready for discussion when it comes to Eva's rule-breaking attitudes, but for more mature readers who will appreciate all the Narnia and other references and a story that basically brings Queen Susan's story (in another form) to a satisfying and redemptive conclusion, this is a sweet book that I enjoyed and can recommend. I can also recommend it to lovers of portal fantasy and allegory who may not know Narnia to get the references because it's still a fun story on its own.
January 19, 2024
Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur is a lovely YA fantasy.
Eva is a fourteen year old girl on her first trip to meet a grandmother she's never met. Her mother won't tell her why they are estranged and the manor house with it's gardens holds many secrets. All her life she's been told fairy tale stories of another world and she learns that they might just be true
My first reaction was that this story reminded me of other classic children's novels like The Secret Garden. I liked the character and seeing Eva develop her relationships with Frankie and her Grandmother.
The thing that really got me was dealing with the generational trauma and the grief. I felt sad for the Grandmother who was clearly letting her grief over her sister's death taken over her world.
The fantasy world took me an extra minute to understand. I read through it a second time and discussed it all length with my best friend. Reading the fairytale apart from the main novel is it's own fascinating story.
I received this arc from net galley in exchange for my honest review.
Eva is a fourteen year old girl on her first trip to meet a grandmother she's never met. Her mother won't tell her why they are estranged and the manor house with it's gardens holds many secrets. All her life she's been told fairy tale stories of another world and she learns that they might just be true
My first reaction was that this story reminded me of other classic children's novels like The Secret Garden. I liked the character and seeing Eva develop her relationships with Frankie and her Grandmother.
The thing that really got me was dealing with the generational trauma and the grief. I felt sad for the Grandmother who was clearly letting her grief over her sister's death taken over her world.
The fantasy world took me an extra minute to understand. I read through it a second time and discussed it all length with my best friend. Reading the fairytale apart from the main novel is it's own fascinating story.
I received this arc from net galley in exchange for my honest review.
July 13, 2025
Still sorting out my feelings about this one... But it was good. Definitely holding echoes of Narnia, as others have mentioned.
January 23, 2024
Once A Queen by Sarah Arthur:
Ava, who grew up of modest means in America with parents in research and academia is surprised to find herself spending the summer with her estranged grandmother at her own family’s historic estate in the English countryside.
The estate is eccentric and rich in history and rumors. Strange things occur at night in the gardens and it soon becomes clear to Ava that her childhood fairytales may actually be true. Her grandmother may be a queen from another world. Magic may be real. And traveling to other realms may actually be possible.
The staff knows more than they’re saying. And with an elusive mother, a reclusive and mysterious grandmother, Ava is determined to uncover the truth.
This story is enchanting tale of parallel worlds, portals, and magic, with Chronicles of Narnia vibes. The writing is descriptive and visual with alternating scenes between the present storyline and original fairytale. I was left with questions and wanting more and thrilled to learn this is part of a series.
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher WaterBrook, and author Sarah Arthur for an ARC of this book.
Ava, who grew up of modest means in America with parents in research and academia is surprised to find herself spending the summer with her estranged grandmother at her own family’s historic estate in the English countryside.
The estate is eccentric and rich in history and rumors. Strange things occur at night in the gardens and it soon becomes clear to Ava that her childhood fairytales may actually be true. Her grandmother may be a queen from another world. Magic may be real. And traveling to other realms may actually be possible.
The staff knows more than they’re saying. And with an elusive mother, a reclusive and mysterious grandmother, Ava is determined to uncover the truth.
This story is enchanting tale of parallel worlds, portals, and magic, with Chronicles of Narnia vibes. The writing is descriptive and visual with alternating scenes between the present storyline and original fairytale. I was left with questions and wanting more and thrilled to learn this is part of a series.
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher WaterBrook, and author Sarah Arthur for an ARC of this book.
February 18, 2024
1/5 Stars (DNF @ 17%)
TL;DR - A very young YA that aspires to be ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ but falls incredibly flat. Not an homage, just derivative, and boring to boot. Hard pass.
Big thanks to WaterBrook & Multnomah and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
‘Once a Queen’ by Sarah Arthur is a YA fantasy about 14 year old Eva Joyce, an American who, with her ex-pat mother, goes to spend the summer with her estranged grandmother in rural England. Apparently there’s a magical land a la Narnia that she’s mysteriously connected to through her ancestral home, but I didn’t get that far.
Wow, this was…wow. And not in a good way.
This book is very clearly inspired by ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S. Lewis, and by very clearly, I mean it’s essentially fanfiction and painfully transparent. As I said in the TL;DR, there’s a difference between paying homage to a favorite series and just straight up moving everything in said series two inches to the left and calling it your own, and this book is the latter. I’m not a diehard Narnia stan, but I’ve seen the movies and read the books way, way back, and I kind of take offense to this author not only ripping off that series, but also doing it (in my humble opinion) poorly.
This book has what I like to call the La Croix of fantasy world-building - very run-of-the-mill, bland, vaguely European names with just the teensiest, barely-there hint of fantastical flavor, the most basic, uninspired creation myth/history, and the same tired iterations of fantasy creatures you’ve seen in a hundred different worlds. It’s fantasy in the way that a single grain of rice is a meal. It’s been done, and it’s been done better.
The writing is very young, which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, it’s just not at all what I was expecting, nor what the book was sold to me as. Sure, it has a 14 year-old protagonist, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this even at 14, and I certainly didn’t at 30-something. If you have a young reader just wanting to get into fantasy, this is probably a good place to start, as the writing is very simple, to the point that I, a grown woman, was bored at best and cringing at worst.
(On that note, the cover is not giving middle-grade vibes at all, so that adds to my confusion. But that’s subjective, YMMV.)
I’m also not a fan of the very blatant Christian allegories front-loaded into the book (very loosely using the term “allegories”, mind - it’s basically the Christian god wearing a fake mustache seen creating this world in a very Genesis/Eden scenario). Scripture is actually quoted in one place that I encountered, and that’s just not something I care to read. If that’s your jam, go forth with my blessing because you’ll probably like how heavily Christianity plays into this book even at 17% in, but I will not be joining you.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I was bored from pretty much the jump. Nothing about this book stood out to me. If I wanted to read the whole “child visits English manor house and discovers secret magic world”, I’d just go read C.S. Lewis. Will not be purchasing a physical copy.
TL;DR - A very young YA that aspires to be ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ but falls incredibly flat. Not an homage, just derivative, and boring to boot. Hard pass.
Big thanks to WaterBrook & Multnomah and NetGalley for providing the ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review!
‘Once a Queen’ by Sarah Arthur is a YA fantasy about 14 year old Eva Joyce, an American who, with her ex-pat mother, goes to spend the summer with her estranged grandmother in rural England. Apparently there’s a magical land a la Narnia that she’s mysteriously connected to through her ancestral home, but I didn’t get that far.
Wow, this was…wow. And not in a good way.
This book is very clearly inspired by ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S. Lewis, and by very clearly, I mean it’s essentially fanfiction and painfully transparent. As I said in the TL;DR, there’s a difference between paying homage to a favorite series and just straight up moving everything in said series two inches to the left and calling it your own, and this book is the latter. I’m not a diehard Narnia stan, but I’ve seen the movies and read the books way, way back, and I kind of take offense to this author not only ripping off that series, but also doing it (in my humble opinion) poorly.
This book has what I like to call the La Croix of fantasy world-building - very run-of-the-mill, bland, vaguely European names with just the teensiest, barely-there hint of fantastical flavor, the most basic, uninspired creation myth/history, and the same tired iterations of fantasy creatures you’ve seen in a hundred different worlds. It’s fantasy in the way that a single grain of rice is a meal. It’s been done, and it’s been done better.
The writing is very young, which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing, it’s just not at all what I was expecting, nor what the book was sold to me as. Sure, it has a 14 year-old protagonist, but I don’t think I would have enjoyed this even at 14, and I certainly didn’t at 30-something. If you have a young reader just wanting to get into fantasy, this is probably a good place to start, as the writing is very simple, to the point that I, a grown woman, was bored at best and cringing at worst.
(On that note, the cover is not giving middle-grade vibes at all, so that adds to my confusion. But that’s subjective, YMMV.)
I’m also not a fan of the very blatant Christian allegories front-loaded into the book (very loosely using the term “allegories”, mind - it’s basically the Christian god wearing a fake mustache seen creating this world in a very Genesis/Eden scenario). Scripture is actually quoted in one place that I encountered, and that’s just not something I care to read. If that’s your jam, go forth with my blessing because you’ll probably like how heavily Christianity plays into this book even at 17% in, but I will not be joining you.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, I was bored from pretty much the jump. Nothing about this book stood out to me. If I wanted to read the whole “child visits English manor house and discovers secret magic world”, I’d just go read C.S. Lewis. Will not be purchasing a physical copy.
September 1, 2024
3.5 enjoyable. I read another persons review that stated this book is like reading what happened after Lucy from Narnia grows up and gets old in England. And that’s a perfect depiction. It was interesting and entertaining mainly because I love books that build wonder, curiosity and a desire to believe in more than what meets the eye.
January 28, 2024
Can we just call a permanent end to Narnia-alikes? I have no problem with the idea of travel between worlds, or magical series written by a relative, but when the plot of that series and the sense of that world is screaming "Narnia light" can someone just stop the author?
The Narnia nonsense aside, this wasn't a bad read. More about the relationship between Eva's family and Frankie's would have been interesting. I wanted to tag along on one of the tours, learning how the public saw Carrick Hall (so many people are comparing this to, in part, The Secret Garden but honestly? doesn't anyone remember Mary exploring Misselthwaite Manor? More of that here, please, and less "white stag at night"). The revelations towards the end about why Eva's parents didn't spend time in England at Carrick Hall or with her grandmother were kind of shoehorned in, as were explanations for some of the other magical elements. Sigh.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
The Narnia nonsense aside, this wasn't a bad read. More about the relationship between Eva's family and Frankie's would have been interesting. I wanted to tag along on one of the tours, learning how the public saw Carrick Hall (so many people are comparing this to, in part, The Secret Garden but honestly? doesn't anyone remember Mary exploring Misselthwaite Manor? More of that here, please, and less "white stag at night"). The revelations towards the end about why Eva's parents didn't spend time in England at Carrick Hall or with her grandmother were kind of shoehorned in, as were explanations for some of the other magical elements. Sigh.
eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
August 5, 2023
I received this arc from Netgalley and Waterbrook & Multnomah in exchange for a fair and honest review.
How to describe this gem? Take a handful of Narnia, a twist of The Secret Garden, a dash of Madelene L’engle and you have this unputdownable YA fantasy. This has me yearning to check all wardrobes and tapestries to double check they aren’t a secret portal to another world.
Right now this book is due for publication in January 2024 so marked your calendars because this would be a perfect read on a cozy winter day. Heads up this is the first in a series. And I seriously hope I can get access to book 2 asap.
How to describe this gem? Take a handful of Narnia, a twist of The Secret Garden, a dash of Madelene L’engle and you have this unputdownable YA fantasy. This has me yearning to check all wardrobes and tapestries to double check they aren’t a secret portal to another world.
Right now this book is due for publication in January 2024 so marked your calendars because this would be a perfect read on a cozy winter day. Heads up this is the first in a series. And I seriously hope I can get access to book 2 asap.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 426 reviews