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That's The Way The Castle Crumbles
Some quests are about glory. Mine is about surviving my own chaotic party...
My adventuring party consists of a half-orc who sets things on fire by accident, a half-elf who communicates exclusively in sarcasm, and a centaur princess who’s worried about getting a sunburn. And me? I’m the retired halfling rogue who’s supposed to be in charge of this mess.
We’re on a deeply serious quest to rescue my best friend from a terrifying necromancer, but every day feels like a new exercise in chaos management. Between surprise side quests from my manipulative ex-mentor and near-constant bickering, it’s a miracle we’ve made it this far.
We’re under-trained, emotionally compromised, and more likely to collapse a castle than conquer one. But somewhere between the bad decisions and the tanuki cookies, this band of misfits is starting to feel a little like… family. And for them, I might just be willing to face down a necromancer after all.
Read this if you
🌲 Cozy Adventure Fantasy
🎮 TTRPG and D&D Vibes
🧭 One More Side Quest (Always)
💰 Heists and Capers Gone Wrong
🧅 Grumpy Halfling Rogue
📚 Reluctant Mentor
🎭 A Band of Misfits
🌟 Found Family
💌 Pining From Afar
Heads up, dear This is Book 2 of a trilogy and picks up right where Book 1 left off. If you haven’t met our misfit party yet, start with When Life Gives You Legends. Trust me. The adventure’s far from over, and the worst (or best?) is yet to come.
That’s the Way the Castle Crumbles is a fast-paced, D&D-inspired fantasy filled with found family, reluctant heroes, and laugh-out-loud mayhem. If you love low-level magic, chaotic quests, and underdog adventurers who can’t quite follow the plan, roll for initiative and join the fun.
My adventuring party consists of a half-orc who sets things on fire by accident, a half-elf who communicates exclusively in sarcasm, and a centaur princess who’s worried about getting a sunburn. And me? I’m the retired halfling rogue who’s supposed to be in charge of this mess.
We’re on a deeply serious quest to rescue my best friend from a terrifying necromancer, but every day feels like a new exercise in chaos management. Between surprise side quests from my manipulative ex-mentor and near-constant bickering, it’s a miracle we’ve made it this far.
We’re under-trained, emotionally compromised, and more likely to collapse a castle than conquer one. But somewhere between the bad decisions and the tanuki cookies, this band of misfits is starting to feel a little like… family. And for them, I might just be willing to face down a necromancer after all.
Read this if you
🌲 Cozy Adventure Fantasy
🎮 TTRPG and D&D Vibes
🧭 One More Side Quest (Always)
💰 Heists and Capers Gone Wrong
🧅 Grumpy Halfling Rogue
📚 Reluctant Mentor
🎭 A Band of Misfits
🌟 Found Family
💌 Pining From Afar
Heads up, dear This is Book 2 of a trilogy and picks up right where Book 1 left off. If you haven’t met our misfit party yet, start with When Life Gives You Legends. Trust me. The adventure’s far from over, and the worst (or best?) is yet to come.
That’s the Way the Castle Crumbles is a fast-paced, D&D-inspired fantasy filled with found family, reluctant heroes, and laugh-out-loud mayhem. If you love low-level magic, chaotic quests, and underdog adventurers who can’t quite follow the plan, roll for initiative and join the fun.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 16, 2025
75 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 26, 2025
this book starts right where ya left off in the first book. filled with adventure and lots of laughs this was quite the fun read!! I honestly didn't expect the last thing to happen which was great!
November 17, 2025
Really enjoyed the second book in this series which was chock full of side quests and personal growth for all of the characters. Kind of like real life, but with way more magic. As a parent I can really appreciate the dynamics, characters and growth in this series. Everyone is working through something, whether it's their relationship with a toxic parent figure, entitlement, or simply feeling misunderstood and like there's no place for them in their birth family. There's so much found family and of course a great adventure here. Can't wait to finish the third!
January 20, 2025
Thank you to Luna Ryder for providing me with an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
If I enjoyed When Life Gives You Legends, then That’s The Way The Castle Crumbles took everything I loved and amplified it. This second installment in the Tilda Quickthatch series dives deeper into its characters and delivers even more humor, heart, and D&D-inspired chaos. It’s the perfect follow-up that left me eager to see where this ragtag group of adventurers heads next.
The standout element of this book is the character development. Tilda remains a phenomenal protagonist, and learning more about her past added emotional depth to her grumpy yet lovable nature. Watching her shape and guide her mismatched party—whether intentionally or begrudgingly—was both heartwarming and hilarious. The younger characters, Rurik, Tulip, and Calina, truly shine in this installment. Their growth, both because of and despite Tilda’s influence, felt authentic and satisfying. Tulip, in particular, had some incredible moments of development that made her much more enjoyable than in the first book. Even Amariel, the adult member of their party who felt more peripheral in book one, steps into the spotlight with some fantastic moments and interesting reveals.
This book is brimming with everything you’d expect from a D&D-inspired adventure: unexpected twists, shenanigans galore, and so many tongue-in-cheek references that fans of ttRPGs will adore. The balance between the cozy, low-stakes vibe and the genuine emotional stakes for the characters is a testament to Ryder’s skill.
The pacing is tight, and the humor is spot-on. While the twists were occasionally predictable, they were so much fun to see unfold that it didn’t bother me in the least. I also loved how the more serious themes, such as confronting one’s past and learning to trust, were woven seamlessly into the narrative without detracting from the lighthearted tone.
Final Thoughts:
That’s The Way The Castle Crumbles is an absolute delight, combining humor, adventure, and heartfelt character moments into a fun and cozy read. If you enjoyed the first book, this sequel will not disappoint. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Tilda and her crew in their next adventure!
June 9, 2025
I have to say that this series has been so much fun to read. The author has created some simply amazing characters. When the cast comes together they form a ragtag group who has much to learn. As they strive to complete their quest, the reader experiences their individual growth as well as a group and that makes for a great story. I am truly intrigued with this group of misfits. Book 2 also dives deeper into Tilda’s past and brings depth into her grumpy yet lovable nature which I enjoyed. Tilda continues to aid & shape her young inexperienced comrads. The group is starting to work together and Tilda now has hope for them.
The group ends up getting captured by Tilda’s old boss and persuaded to take on a side quest which involves raiding a castle. They have to finish this and then return to the original one. The group of misfits strikes out and the results were astounding. Tulip learns that she isn’t the center of all things in the group and that she must learn to co-exist with the others not just her new crush Rurik. Rurik however infuriates Tilda with his lack of controlling his magic. Rurik always means well but being untrained causes our group many set backs. Tilda also has great concerns for Calina. Tilda is worried that she is trading sides and joining her enemy who she used to consider her Pa.
So many twists & turns along with plenty of humor makes this an enjoyable series. If you haven’t started it yet you should. It’s truly an enjoyable series.
March 11, 2025
I enjoyed this book much more than the first. The annoying “children” are growing up!
On the quest to rescue Celina’s father, Tilda’s best friend, the group has been waylaid by Tilda’s old boss, Finnigan Sly. He will not let them continue unless they do something for him first, kill the current king, a black elf that crossed Finnigan years ago.
This book has the kids – Celina, Rurik and especially Tulip, maturing as the book goes along. Rurik is extremely intelligent and is getting better at speaking about what he knows. Celina, put in charge by Finnigan, is also showing more maturity as she tries to lead the group. But the major growth is in Tulip, she’s not the constant spoiled princess, she is actually helpful quite a few times.
The kids are both learning from Tilda and growing up at the same time. It’s a pleasure to read.
This book has some action, a lot of adventure, suspense, surprises, dragons and humour. Some of the situations that they get in and out of are unusual and inventive.
There’s not a lot of fighting, a couple but nothing major, this is more about the journey and growth of characters and how everyone interacts.
This book completed one part of their quest but it needs to be continued in the next book, sort of a cliffhanger again.
I really enjoyed this and will be looking forward to book 3 at the end of April.
On the quest to rescue Celina’s father, Tilda’s best friend, the group has been waylaid by Tilda’s old boss, Finnigan Sly. He will not let them continue unless they do something for him first, kill the current king, a black elf that crossed Finnigan years ago.
This book has the kids – Celina, Rurik and especially Tulip, maturing as the book goes along. Rurik is extremely intelligent and is getting better at speaking about what he knows. Celina, put in charge by Finnigan, is also showing more maturity as she tries to lead the group. But the major growth is in Tulip, she’s not the constant spoiled princess, she is actually helpful quite a few times.
The kids are both learning from Tilda and growing up at the same time. It’s a pleasure to read.
This book has some action, a lot of adventure, suspense, surprises, dragons and humour. Some of the situations that they get in and out of are unusual and inventive.
There’s not a lot of fighting, a couple but nothing major, this is more about the journey and growth of characters and how everyone interacts.
This book completed one part of their quest but it needs to be continued in the next book, sort of a cliffhanger again.
I really enjoyed this and will be looking forward to book 3 at the end of April.
January 14, 2025
This is the second book of the series and we start exactly where the first book ended. Tilda and her teenage adventure trainees are setting off on a side quest to raid a castle for her old boss, before they can continue on their main quest. They experience many setbacks, but each one allows them all to grow individually as well as a team. I loved seeing all the growth happening around the adventuring in this book. Dare I say even Tulip has learned she isn't the lead character in everyone's lives, quite the personal growth there. I'm excited to see how this trilogy ends for our adventures and if they can complete their original quest!
Failure was not an option, but that didn’t stop it from being the most likely outcome.
Failure was not an option, but that didn’t stop it from being the most likely outcome.
January 18, 2025
Sometimes the next book in a series can falter, like how movies get sequelitis. This is NOT that. Do you love familiar characters? Do you love growth? Anxious, uncertain characters coming into their own? Magic? This has all that the first book had and more. And with how hard the world is, it's such a comforting escape. When the second book came out and I dove in, it was like coming back home to good friends. Luna Ryder is an exceptional writer who handles her characters with aplomb. Each a different voice and you care about them and want to see them succeed. Please pick this up. Ila gift for yourself or others.
February 14, 2025
If you like quirky, witty, and bad a$$ characters, That’s the way the castle crumbles is for you! I really love the idea of unity between the characters and no matter what happens, they always pull through individually and for each other, and that’s such a great message. The book is full of adventure, perseverance, and love, and all of these elements really bring the story to life! The first book was great and the second book is even better! You really need to read this book asap! You’ll definitely laugh out loud along the way!!
February 14, 2025
Omg Luna! This book was a hoot and a half! From how the last book ended to getting into this story was great!
The characters development in this book took turns I wasn't expecting and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
I like how it also felt like an important side quest to unlock the next stage in an RPG.
Ultimately I need more, and I'm going on a limb, it might be better than book one! There is so much to say but I refuse spoiler reviews so I'll just have to hope people pick it up and read.
The characters development in this book took turns I wasn't expecting and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time!
I like how it also felt like an important side quest to unlock the next stage in an RPG.
Ultimately I need more, and I'm going on a limb, it might be better than book one! There is so much to say but I refuse spoiler reviews so I'll just have to hope people pick it up and read.
January 14, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Clean
Trigger Warnings:
Imprisonment
Fighting
Death
Mentions of religion
A perfect sequel.
What a fantastic middle book for this trilogy! It feels like a real adventure with all of the delays and surprises that one should expect on such a venture. I especially love the character growth and how this rag tag group finally started shaping up into real heros. I love that there are dragons. They are my favorite. I can not wait for book three! Go Team Tilda!
Clean
Trigger Warnings:
Imprisonment
Fighting
Death
Mentions of religion
A perfect sequel.
What a fantastic middle book for this trilogy! It feels like a real adventure with all of the delays and surprises that one should expect on such a venture. I especially love the character growth and how this rag tag group finally started shaping up into real heros. I love that there are dragons. They are my favorite. I can not wait for book three! Go Team Tilda!
January 14, 2025
This was such a fun read! Much more action-packed and fast-paced than the first book in this series. I absolutely flew through it! I love the character growth in this one! I absolutely can't wait for the next series, but I'm kind of sad it's only going to be a trilogy 😆
Also, let's just take a second to appreciate that cover! It's just adorable. I love love love it!
Also, let's just take a second to appreciate that cover! It's just adorable. I love love love it!
January 15, 2025
This was such a fun adventure read! I loved watching the growth of so many characters, basically all of them. It was also great to get more snapshots into Tilda's past and learn more of why she is the way she is. I loved watching her learn to let go of control a little and learn to trust those she is working with. I'm excited to see how her story concludes!
January 20, 2025
The quest I just had through the book was breathtaking. The portrayal of growth through mistakes and the beautiful journey of growth among us, when we step out, was amazing and inspiring. For a person going through some difficult stage and someone like me stepping out, I recommend it. I'm sure you'll learn a lot through amazing adventures and thrillers.
May 31, 2025
I love this rough and tumble crew. Tilda, Tulip, Rurik, Calina are such a funny, adventurous crew.
And finding out that her father, whom she misses so bad, may be a low-down bandit.
This is 2nd in a 3-part series, and the books run seamlessly together. The story is well-written and a lot of fun.
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
And finding out that her father, whom she misses so bad, may be a low-down bandit.
This is 2nd in a 3-part series, and the books run seamlessly together. The story is well-written and a lot of fun.
I received an advance review copy at no cost and am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 28, 2025
Undecided
This has its funny madcap moments and its absolutely WTF moments and I am not sure which is dominant. I admit to reading this mostly to see if Tilda actually has something go right for once. I feel a bit sorry for her and now this cliffhanger and missing half her charges??? Yikes
This has its funny madcap moments and its absolutely WTF moments and I am not sure which is dominant. I admit to reading this mostly to see if Tilda actually has something go right for once. I feel a bit sorry for her and now this cliffhanger and missing half her charges??? Yikes
January 23, 2025
Good read
Not sure what to think of the story. I like the characters and the story, for the most part. There have been many twists and turns, some existed some not even close. I did enjoy it though, and want to seewhat happens next.
Not sure what to think of the story. I like the characters and the story, for the most part. There have been many twists and turns, some existed some not even close. I did enjoy it though, and want to seewhat happens next.
November 11, 2025
cozy read
A very enjoyable continuation of the story. The characters all has noticeable growth. The story in itself is still very uncomplicated but that makes it a cozy read with some fantasy elements.
A very enjoyable continuation of the story. The characters all has noticeable growth. The story in itself is still very uncomplicated but that makes it a cozy read with some fantasy elements.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews