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Centernia #1
Centernia: Return to the Castle
Ten years ago, in the land of Centernia, a deadly mage feud left Castle Aurumice trapped under a sinister energy field. Fearful of its evil aura, the cat-like inhabitants of the castle were forced to flee with nothing but the clothing on their backs. Only three people remained in the abandoned castle- the starry-eyed dr,ug addict Misa, her dangerously manipulative brother Teren, and Nico, an alluring fire mage and the last true Lord of Aurumice.
Misa is determined to destroy the barrier and save the castlefolk, no matter what trickery it takes. The young woman’s quest sends her across dimensions to Earth, where she deceives her cousin, Jessica Vance Ravenwolfe, a high school freshman with enough problems of her own. Unwillingly, Jessica is thrown into the wild and beautiful world of Centernia, forced to help her strange cousins. The human girl becomes intertwined with the lives of the enigmatic castlefolk and their mysterious fire mage leader.
Misa is determined to destroy the barrier and save the castlefolk, no matter what trickery it takes. The young woman’s quest sends her across dimensions to Earth, where she deceives her cousin, Jessica Vance Ravenwolfe, a high school freshman with enough problems of her own. Unwillingly, Jessica is thrown into the wild and beautiful world of Centernia, forced to help her strange cousins. The human girl becomes intertwined with the lives of the enigmatic castlefolk and their mysterious fire mage leader.
342 pages, Paperback
First published September 15, 2014
7 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Rose Catherine Khan
4 books13 followersRose Catherine Khan is an author and illustrator from upstate New York. A creative professional for over a decade, Rose's interests lie in the creation of fantasy worlds. Her dragon and unicorn illustrations have captivated the hearts and minds of thousands as figurines, prints, and other consumer products.
Not content to just illustrate, Rose is the creative force behind the Centernia universe. The first book, Return to the Castle, debuted in 2014. It was followed by Mark of the Castle and Whispers in the Azure. In spring of 2023, a second edition of Return to the Castle will be released.
Centernia is a fantasy world without delicate princesses and faceless armies of darkness. In Centernia, there is no true goodness or evil.
Not content to just illustrate, Rose is the creative force behind the Centernia universe. The first book, Return to the Castle, debuted in 2014. It was followed by Mark of the Castle and Whispers in the Azure. In spring of 2023, a second edition of Return to the Castle will be released.
Centernia is a fantasy world without delicate princesses and faceless armies of darkness. In Centernia, there is no true goodness or evil.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 8, 2017
From the opening page, I was surprised by how well-written "Return to the Castle" was. The characterizations, setting, tone, and dialogue were all on point. I kept thinking that this book should be featured/published by a big name house. This does not read like a self-published novel (and I have read a lot of really well done self-published books). "Return to the Castle" reads quite nicely.
As a former violinist, I appreciated the fact that Jessica played this particular instrument. Since this characterization was included in the first moment the reader meets Jessica, I instantly liked her. Later in the novel, she references her love of orchestra and desire to play the violin again. Little details such as this, made it a fun read for me. Giving the protagonist, Jessica, an intricate background, enjoying the violin, not doing well in History or English, poor fashion choices, and demonstrates a thoughtful writer.
It should also be mentioned that it is not easy to create a new world. Khan undertook an impressive writing challenge and was able to rise to the occasion. Centernia became a place I could envision, not just being a name. I think that "Return to the Castle" is a great read for young adult fantasy lovers. There is a magical world, family drama, character growth, and so much more; practically something for everyone.
4.5 stars rounded to five.
Disclosure: I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
As a former violinist, I appreciated the fact that Jessica played this particular instrument. Since this characterization was included in the first moment the reader meets Jessica, I instantly liked her. Later in the novel, she references her love of orchestra and desire to play the violin again. Little details such as this, made it a fun read for me. Giving the protagonist, Jessica, an intricate background, enjoying the violin, not doing well in History or English, poor fashion choices, and demonstrates a thoughtful writer.
It should also be mentioned that it is not easy to create a new world. Khan undertook an impressive writing challenge and was able to rise to the occasion. Centernia became a place I could envision, not just being a name. I think that "Return to the Castle" is a great read for young adult fantasy lovers. There is a magical world, family drama, character growth, and so much more; practically something for everyone.
4.5 stars rounded to five.
Disclosure: I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
July 4, 2019
Kind of reads like a series of short stories. First we have the quest to save the castle. Then we have the quest to get her and her mother time in Centernia. Then the quest to learn martial arts and learn everyone's magic. Then the quest to learn more about Nico. I enjoyed each part on it's own but can't quite give 5 stars
June 6, 2021
2.75 stars. I really don't know what to make of this mess. It started strong and then it got shaky and by the last third it was just a downright disaster.
May 2, 2023
Centernia: Return to the Castle by Rose Catherine Khan is a captivating tale that takes readers on a journey to a world filled with magic and danger. The story follows Misa, a drug addict and one of the few remaining inhabitants of Castle Aurumice, which has been trapped under a deadly energy field for a decade. Misa is determined to save her people and destroy the barrier that keeps them trapped, no matter what the cost.
The plot is well-crafted and filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author's vivid descriptions of the world of Centernia bring it to life, and the characters are well-developed and engaging.
The story also explores deeper themes such as addiction, manipulation, and redemption, which adds depth and complexity to the plot. The relationship between Misa and Nico, the enigmatic fire mage leader, is particularly intriguing and adds a romantic element to the story.
Overall, Centernia: Return to the Castle is a well-written and engaging fantasy novel that is sure to capture the imaginations of readers. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
The plot is well-crafted and filled with twists and turns that keep readers on the edge of their seats. The author's vivid descriptions of the world of Centernia bring it to life, and the characters are well-developed and engaging.
The story also explores deeper themes such as addiction, manipulation, and redemption, which adds depth and complexity to the plot. The relationship between Misa and Nico, the enigmatic fire mage leader, is particularly intriguing and adds a romantic element to the story.
Overall, Centernia: Return to the Castle is a well-written and engaging fantasy novel that is sure to capture the imaginations of readers. Highly recommended for fans of the genre.
August 14, 2025
I have read and reread all three books in this series and I love them. I fell right into the world of Centernia and didn't want to leave. The characters are so believable and how they react to each other so true to life. I love the dialogue and the beautiful colors and descriptions of all the unusual flora and fauna in the world of Centernia. I can't wait for 4, 5 and 6!
August 2, 2019
Awesome!
Read
May 6, 2023I really enjoyed this book! The character development was good and I liked the world building a lot.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 11, 2016
I've met the author numerous times across various cons, and finally got around to reading the book! (There's a lot in my to-read stack...)
Jessica is your standard high school nobody—she's plain-looking, poor, and often the brunt of the joke. She has one friend who's equally an outcast. But when a beautiful, outgoing girl magically—literally magically—appears in her home, her plain home and boring life quickly become something a little more interesting—all with the help of a Gate in her basement that links them to the world of Centernia.
Centerina is a magical land. Its people have feline features; it's chock full of magic and mages. (I'll admit: The prospect of mages is what made me buy this book.) Jessica meets family she's never known (or she thinks she's never known), and learns how to ride a bicorn. Oh, and she still has to return to Earth during the day to go to high school. Boring.
Of course, Centernia isn't perfect. She gets wrapped into their problems and their worlds, and she begins to learn that maybe she's not as plain as she thought.
The world is rich and vast, and this book doesn't even touch on most of it. You get drawn to these characters, both good and evil. You feel like you're the one riding on the back of a dragon, or casting spells, or crying on the shoulders of your new friends and long-long cousins.
I regret that it took me so long to read, but perhaps that's a blessing—I don't have to wait so long for the sequel.
(Though I have one nitpicky thing: I'm a stickler for grammar, and this could really use a copyeditor. You have to overlook a lot of comma splices. But I'm not going to hate on it for some misplaced punctuation.)
edit: I've since learned that a new edition is out, and with a new copyeditor! Bless writers who care about these things.
Jessica is your standard high school nobody—she's plain-looking, poor, and often the brunt of the joke. She has one friend who's equally an outcast. But when a beautiful, outgoing girl magically—literally magically—appears in her home, her plain home and boring life quickly become something a little more interesting—all with the help of a Gate in her basement that links them to the world of Centernia.
Centerina is a magical land. Its people have feline features; it's chock full of magic and mages. (I'll admit: The prospect of mages is what made me buy this book.) Jessica meets family she's never known (or she thinks she's never known), and learns how to ride a bicorn. Oh, and she still has to return to Earth during the day to go to high school. Boring.
Of course, Centernia isn't perfect. She gets wrapped into their problems and their worlds, and she begins to learn that maybe she's not as plain as she thought.
The world is rich and vast, and this book doesn't even touch on most of it. You get drawn to these characters, both good and evil. You feel like you're the one riding on the back of a dragon, or casting spells, or crying on the shoulders of your new friends and long-long cousins.
I regret that it took me so long to read, but perhaps that's a blessing—I don't have to wait so long for the sequel.
(Though I have one nitpicky thing: I'm a stickler for grammar, and this could really use a copyeditor. You have to overlook a lot of comma splices. But I'm not going to hate on it for some misplaced punctuation.)
edit: I've since learned that a new edition is out, and with a new copyeditor! Bless writers who care about these things.
September 5, 2019
Centernia: Return to the Castle is about a girl who discovers a secret passage to a magical kingdom inhabited by cat people. What ensues is not a child's pink and glitter fantasy but a mini Game of Thrones where everyone is lying and none are truly good or evil, just varying shades of gray. The story structure itself is a coming of age metaphor, starting with a very juvenile premise but gradually unfolding into a complicated saga of family betrayal, politics, and persecution. The character development is solid and even subverts some common tropes - e.g. the "addict," the treacherous vixen, the affluent Christian soccer mom, and that YA favorite: Tortured Love Interest Guy who just can't be with the protagonist because he's so dangerous. (Spoiler alert: .) And there is NO LOVE TRIANGLE.
Don't let the fact that Centernia was self-published deter you. It is seriously good.
Don't let the fact that Centernia was self-published deter you. It is seriously good.
February 21, 2019
I'm going to leave out any spoilers, because that would take away all of the mystery and adventure. I'll never forget how good this book made me feel though. I have an obsession with the world of fantasy, especially unicorns. Being introduced to the bicorns from within Centernia made me feel so at home. I love this series and I will re-read when I can because of how at home I feel. The characters are also very relatable, which to me as a reader is what I look for. Each character has so much depth, and none of them are just thrown into the mix as a filler.
I wish I could put more, but I really can't without sharing spoilers.
I wish I could put more, but I really can't without sharing spoilers.
October 14, 2014
It was the uniqueness of Centernia: Return to the Castle that made this book stick out to me. I was immediately drawn into the story of a world of cat-like people and the dark past that lead to the castlefolk to leave their home. The characters are so well balanced that you can't help but be pulled into their lives. This is a story filled with deceit, wonder, heartbreak and hope. Between Jessica's struggle to find balance between the two worlds and the lengths Misa will go to save the castlefolk makes this a book well worth reading!
April 11, 2015
Rose Khan has a talent for painting a world that is incredibly rich and fresh with an entertaining, suspenseful story. The plot itself is a good mix of action, humor, drama, and romance with unique fantasy elements and darker themes. Through her writing, she captures a lot of depth in her characters, environments, and worldly mechanics, creating something that is more than just a story. Centernia is both an entertaining read and a wonderful world with an ever-expanding universe. I very highly recommend this series to anyone who wants something that offers more than your typical fantasy book.
March 8, 2015
The book is amazing. I love the main character girl, typical nobody girl in school since she is poor. She rises up and becomes so great. I love the little romance that leaves you wanting to know more the whole time. The magic the creatures. It is all so amazing it keeps you so enamored.
September 8, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. The characters had depth and realism, and really let you connect with them, while the imagery was full and well painted, and the story was engaging and had a good pace. I couldn't put this down, it just kept pulling me back. I am excited to read the next installment.
December 29, 2020
Couldn't stop reading
The plot kept me guessing and I couldn't put the book down. Loved the characters and the depth of the world. Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!
The plot kept me guessing and I couldn't put the book down. Loved the characters and the depth of the world. Can't wait to find out what happens in the next book!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews