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Princess Celie lives in a magic castle. Castle Glower creates new rooms (primarily on Tuesdays), growing and changing to meet the needs of the royal family and its guests. Celie is the youngest child of the current King Glower and the one who knows the castle best. She loves her castle, with all of its quirks and occasional inconveniences. A strange new spyglass tower appears at the beginning of the story and it is the first clue that all might not be well in the kingdom of Sleyne.
Celie’s mother and father are expected back soon after travelling for her oldest brother’s graduation from wizard school. But when their entourage is ambushed, her mother and father and her brother all vanish, presumed killed by bandits. This leaves Celie with her sister, Lyla, and her other brother Rolf. And the castle, of course. Rolf is destined to be king, despite being the younger son, because the castle chose him long ago. But there are parties close to the royal siblings who have other plans and the three are feeling increasingly trapped and in danger as they learn the depth of the plot that works against them.
This is the first in a series that I knew very little about when I bought it for Pearl’s birthday. I was searching for books suitable for an 8-year-old and this fit the bill exactly. It’s creative and unique, adventurous without being overly scary. The sibling relationship is great and they work together. The parents are absent (as in so many books for kids) but it feels more natural to the plot than so many other books. I have two girls – one who likes adventure stories and one who likes princesses – and this appealed nicely to both of them. Celie is a tough and resourceful young girl, just the sort of character I’m happy to have my own kids read about.
We did it as a read-aloud at bedtime and have since also read Wednesdays in the Tower and will move on to the rest of the series soon. Pearl could probably read these on her own but we all enjoyed them as a family.
Karissa Reads Books 
I always enjoy your posts about reading with your girls! I am always on the lookout for books to give my goddaughter and this sounds like it might be a good choice for her to read with her mum (though she’s only five, probably too young to read it on her own).
Rose is five and has been engaged in listening. She wouldn’t be able to read it on her own but we’re reading the series as a family and she is enjoying it too.
Why did the castle choose the brother? Is this a sexist castle?! Okay, I kid. But jeez, why do the parents have to die for children’s stories to happen?
It’s quite clearly stated that the castle chooses on merit – who will rule the best and be most suited to the role. Theoretically, I think it could be any of the siblings.
SPOILER BELOW:
The parents are not actually dead. They just appear to be at the beginning of the story and are absent for the rest. We are reading more of the series now and the parents are present, which is kind of refreshing in a kids’ book!
This is a great suggestion, I’m going to look it up for Ava. She’s 8 as well and really interested in reading books that can be read aloud as a family, and that she can read on her own 😉
This might be perfect for her!
I ordered a copy! We finished both Miss Petitfour books so this will be a new one we all read together
That makes me so happy! I hope you both enjoy it!