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Faye #2
The Witch Who Stormed the Palace
In this captivating sequel to The Girl Who Kept the Castle, Faye must face down the trial of three other Wizards and defeat the Shadow Queen once and for all to become the first Witch of the West. A must-read for fans of Howl’s Moving Castle and The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy.
Defeating an evil sorceress was supposed to be the hard part. But now that Faye has succeeded in saving Celurdur from the Shadow Queen, she has an entirely different set of challenges to face. To become the first Witch of the West, she must win the favor of the country’s three wizards—North, South and East. Their trials await Faye in the capital. If she fails to impress these men, she’ll lose her nomination, and magic will stay strangled by archaic laws.
Alas, things are not off to a great start. Faye crashes into the capital on the back of a dragon, feeds the wizards illegal enchanted pastries, and fails to leave a good impression. To make matters worse, there are signs that the Shadow Queen is on the move again.
The kingdom’s future depends on Faye proving herself a worthy witch, but time is quickly running out. . . .
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Defeating an evil sorceress was supposed to be the hard part. But now that Faye has succeeded in saving Celurdur from the Shadow Queen, she has an entirely different set of challenges to face. To become the first Witch of the West, she must win the favor of the country’s three wizards—North, South and East. Their trials await Faye in the capital. If she fails to impress these men, she’ll lose her nomination, and magic will stay strangled by archaic laws.
Alas, things are not off to a great start. Faye crashes into the capital on the back of a dragon, feeds the wizards illegal enchanted pastries, and fails to leave a good impression. To make matters worse, there are signs that the Shadow Queen is on the move again.
The kingdom’s future depends on Faye proving herself a worthy witch, but time is quickly running out. . . .
Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.
Audible Audio
First published September 23, 2025
6 people are currently reading
2995 people want to read
About the author
Ryan Graudin
22 books1,910 followersRyan Graudin was born in Charleston, South Carolina, with a severe case of wanderlust. When she’s not traveling, she’s busy writing and spending time with her husband and wolf dog. She is the author of Invictus, the Wolf By Wolf duology, The Walled City, and the All That Glows Series.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 3, 2026
Faye is making her way to the capitol where the other wizards will put her through a trial before they officially name her the Witch of the West. Only, despite everything she did to earn Wizard West’s approval, the others still have their doubts and want to enter some of their own apprentices in the trial too as options. The trial starts off normal, but goes off the rails when the Storm Witch launches an attack to free herself from her prison in the middle of it. Suddenly, Faye isn’t proving herself to 3 grumpy old wizards who are scared of women with magic, but she’s got the weight of the kingdom and its freedom on her shoulders as she must try to free them from the clutches of a bitter old witch with only a ghostly wizard, some loyal royal friends, and homespun magic users at her back.
This was an admirable follow up to the first book. It further looks at the history of the island kingdom and why the Balance must be kept. It also explores some of the unintended fallout of the solution the four original wizards came up with. I absolutely love Faye and how she resists selfishness, the lure of power, and the trappings of Faye to help others and look out for the best of all involved. And she doesn’t hold a grudge either, she is still nice to those who have done her wrong, misjudged her, or not given her a fair chance. She is a heroine worthy of emulating. I like that Puck is with her as an origami cat he can talk to her through even as he remains in Celurdur. I also like that the adventures allow Faye a chance to get to know her family’s past a bit better, especially the mother she never knew. Wizard West has fully embraced his ghostly status and is much more likable in this one, and provides some good comic relief. Illian is also there for comic relief and a good dose of pluck when Faye needs it and of course Max isn’t far behind. Lady Bertram also gets her time to shine in this one with her line of magical vacuum cleaners, savvy friends, and secret talents. I could see Graudin doing maybe 1 more book in this series. It is hinted that there is yet another threat to the island lingering out there, and they may need to rally against that in the future. I very much liked how this one ended up and the new status of the island at the end. It pricks the imagination and also stimulates thoughts about how peaceful accords could be brought about in real life.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some magical attacks. Flashbacks show evil magic users draining others of their power and life force for greedy ends. There’s a lot of ill intent in the presence but few are permanently hurt.
Ethnic diversity: It’s a fantasy land with totally different ethnicities.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Revenge, bitterness, and fear of loss of power motivate bad actors, but love and forgiveness and humility win the ady.
This was an admirable follow up to the first book. It further looks at the history of the island kingdom and why the Balance must be kept. It also explores some of the unintended fallout of the solution the four original wizards came up with. I absolutely love Faye and how she resists selfishness, the lure of power, and the trappings of Faye to help others and look out for the best of all involved. And she doesn’t hold a grudge either, she is still nice to those who have done her wrong, misjudged her, or not given her a fair chance. She is a heroine worthy of emulating. I like that Puck is with her as an origami cat he can talk to her through even as he remains in Celurdur. I also like that the adventures allow Faye a chance to get to know her family’s past a bit better, especially the mother she never knew. Wizard West has fully embraced his ghostly status and is much more likable in this one, and provides some good comic relief. Illian is also there for comic relief and a good dose of pluck when Faye needs it and of course Max isn’t far behind. Lady Bertram also gets her time to shine in this one with her line of magical vacuum cleaners, savvy friends, and secret talents. I could see Graudin doing maybe 1 more book in this series. It is hinted that there is yet another threat to the island lingering out there, and they may need to rally against that in the future. I very much liked how this one ended up and the new status of the island at the end. It pricks the imagination and also stimulates thoughts about how peaceful accords could be brought about in real life.
Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There are some magical attacks. Flashbacks show evil magic users draining others of their power and life force for greedy ends. There’s a lot of ill intent in the presence but few are permanently hurt.
Ethnic diversity: It’s a fantasy land with totally different ethnicities.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Revenge, bitterness, and fear of loss of power motivate bad actors, but love and forgiveness and humility win the ady.
February 23, 2026
I loved this so much. This whole series has just been pure cozy witchy comfort. 🪄🏰👻
It’s very much middle grade, but in the best way. Magical trials, palace visits, dragons, enchanted sweets, talking ghosts... The vibes are whimsical and light, but there are still real stakes and growth for Faye.
The trials were fun (I loved the hedge maze setup), and I liked that things weren’t as simple as just “win the challenge and you’re done.” There’s a strong message about cooperation, sharing power, and rethinking old traditions, which felt like a perfect fit for this world.
It never tries to be darker or more epic than it needs to be.
If you’re looking for a soft, witchy middle grade with heart, this series is such a gem.
It’s very much middle grade, but in the best way. Magical trials, palace visits, dragons, enchanted sweets, talking ghosts... The vibes are whimsical and light, but there are still real stakes and growth for Faye.
The trials were fun (I loved the hedge maze setup), and I liked that things weren’t as simple as just “win the challenge and you’re done.” There’s a strong message about cooperation, sharing power, and rethinking old traditions, which felt like a perfect fit for this world.
It never tries to be darker or more epic than it needs to be.
If you’re looking for a soft, witchy middle grade with heart, this series is such a gem.
March 15, 2026
Faye Gardner, who recently saved her country from the wicked Shadow Queen, is now the first-ever Witch of the West… elect, that is. She won’t officially earn the title unless she wins the competition set by the Wizards East, North, and South. But her goal—sharing power with all—seems to directly contradict their own. Can she pass their trials and still act ethically? And what will she do if the Shadow Queen rises to power again? Making a better world is going to take a lot of help and hard work. It’s a good thing Faye isn’t afraid of a few chores!
World-Building & Writing
Graudin’s whimsical, Ghibli-flavored fantasy novel is the second in a duology. However, it can stand on its own thanks to a prologue—written in the style of a newspaper article—that summarizes the first book.
The world of Solum is at once fantastical and grounded, with each of the quadrants at the beginning of the story having their own environments and cultures. East is a warm desert, South a tropical jungle, and North a frosty wonderland. Presumably West’s environment was explored in the first book. Clothing can be regular or enchanted, as can foods. For instance, shaved ice treats in North’s section of the Centermost come in quirky flavors such as “A Cloudless Day,” “Petrichor,” and “Unfolding a Treasure Map on the High Seas.”
Graudin does a nice job balancing introspection and action throughout The Witch Who Stormed the Palace. Combined with frequent humor, the book is imminently readable. Whether it’s a face-switching potion called the Princess and the Pauper or an army of vacuum cleaners that help save the day, it’s clear Graudin enjoys the ridiculous. My personal favorite bit of humor comes close to the end, after :
Characters
Faye is a compassionate, determined heroine who becomes increasingly self-assured as the novel progresses. Information about her family history is revealed naturally, as is the fact that she appears to be some form of cat girl.
The novel’s side characters are equally compelling. Faye’s friends include a sassy talking cat who was once imprisoned by the Shadow Queen; the fussy ghost of the former Wizard West; a pair of modern-minded royal twins; the middle-aged leader of a “parlor club” (i.e. a secret magical society); and a vegetarian dragon. The novel’s primary antagonist, the Shadow Queen, gets a chance to share her side of the story, making her a more rounded character. Similarly, the antagonistic Vance Gravesworth is given semi-sympathetic motivations even if he has chosen poor ways to act on them.
Final Thoughts
By the time the book reaches its earned conclusion, grace and understanding have been extended to all the characters—as well as a resolution to do better.
An earnest and heartwarming story about the importance of love, hope, and community. To quote Faye in one of the series’ thesis statements: "There's power in sharing power.”
Recommended for purchase for ages 7-12.
[Diversity note: Description of skin tones—with the exception of the green-tinted Wizard South—are not given. All main characters read as able-bodied.]
[Content Warnings: Suspense and magical, non-explicit violence.]
Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southern Ohio Young Adult Media Group.
World-Building & Writing
Graudin’s whimsical, Ghibli-flavored fantasy novel is the second in a duology. However, it can stand on its own thanks to a prologue—written in the style of a newspaper article—that summarizes the first book.
The world of Solum is at once fantastical and grounded, with each of the quadrants at the beginning of the story having their own environments and cultures. East is a warm desert, South a tropical jungle, and North a frosty wonderland. Presumably West’s environment was explored in the first book. Clothing can be regular or enchanted, as can foods. For instance, shaved ice treats in North’s section of the Centermost come in quirky flavors such as “A Cloudless Day,” “Petrichor,” and “Unfolding a Treasure Map on the High Seas.”
Graudin does a nice job balancing introspection and action throughout The Witch Who Stormed the Palace. Combined with frequent humor, the book is imminently readable. Whether it’s a face-switching potion called the Princess and the Pauper or an army of vacuum cleaners that help save the day, it’s clear Graudin enjoys the ridiculous. My personal favorite bit of humor comes close to the end, after :
Characters
Faye is a compassionate, determined heroine who becomes increasingly self-assured as the novel progresses. Information about her family history is revealed naturally, as is the fact that she appears to be some form of cat girl.
The novel’s side characters are equally compelling. Faye’s friends include a sassy talking cat who was once imprisoned by the Shadow Queen; the fussy ghost of the former Wizard West; a pair of modern-minded royal twins; the middle-aged leader of a “parlor club” (i.e. a secret magical society); and a vegetarian dragon. The novel’s primary antagonist, the Shadow Queen, gets a chance to share her side of the story, making her a more rounded character. Similarly, the antagonistic Vance Gravesworth is given semi-sympathetic motivations even if he has chosen poor ways to act on them.
Final Thoughts
By the time the book reaches its earned conclusion, grace and understanding have been extended to all the characters—as well as a resolution to do better.
An earnest and heartwarming story about the importance of love, hope, and community. To quote Faye in one of the series’ thesis statements: "There's power in sharing power.”
Recommended for purchase for ages 7-12.
[Diversity note: Description of skin tones—with the exception of the green-tinted Wizard South—are not given. All main characters read as able-bodied.]
[Content Warnings: Suspense and magical, non-explicit violence.]
Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southern Ohio Young Adult Media Group.
February 10, 2026
Admittedly not as enjoyable as the first book, though there's still a lot to be taken away from the story - such as how we should not undermine the skills and intelligence of young girls everywhere! And just women in general, at that. In any case, I think the first book was a little better because it was ultimately just more fun and entertaining, being introduced to the whimsical magic of this world (versus reading about a gauntlet Faye had to partake in in order to prove her worth - which she only had to do because of misogyny! but I digress).
I liked that The Witch Who Stormed the Palace really drove home how important shared power is over having power monopolized by people in authority - and MEN in authority, no less. It was actually nice having Faye's magic feel wobbly and uncertain, as having her channel everyone else's magic and energies further reinforced the importance of and strength in sharing power. Plus, having an insecure protagonist who is so unsure of herself made Faye feel more real and relatable, all while giving her so much room and potential for growth. And when Faye finally did come into her own (and not without the help of all her friends!), it became very satisfying seeing the wizards so utterly humbled by her capabilities (backed by how strongly people support her because they so badly want to see a lot of Change™️ in the world).
Notably, Faye's relationship with her father felt like it was put on the backburner, which made me want to see more of their dynamic even more, especially given Da's absence in the first book and just how much Faye thought of him throughout the story then.
Some things wrapped up too conveniently as well, so it felt a little rushed towards the last quarter or so. Nevertheless, this was such an enjoyablee duology overall, filled with quirky magic and very lovable characters. I'm looking forward to checking out more of Graudin's work after this!
I liked that The Witch Who Stormed the Palace really drove home how important shared power is over having power monopolized by people in authority - and MEN in authority, no less. It was actually nice having Faye's magic feel wobbly and uncertain, as having her channel everyone else's magic and energies further reinforced the importance of and strength in sharing power. Plus, having an insecure protagonist who is so unsure of herself made Faye feel more real and relatable, all while giving her so much room and potential for growth. And when Faye finally did come into her own (and not without the help of all her friends!), it became very satisfying seeing the wizards so utterly humbled by her capabilities (backed by how strongly people support her because they so badly want to see a lot of Change™️ in the world).
Notably, Faye's relationship with her father felt like it was put on the backburner, which made me want to see more of their dynamic even more, especially given Da's absence in the first book and just how much Faye thought of him throughout the story then.
Some things wrapped up too conveniently as well, so it felt a little rushed towards the last quarter or so. Nevertheless, this was such an enjoyablee duology overall, filled with quirky magic and very lovable characters. I'm looking forward to checking out more of Graudin's work after this!
December 21, 2025
In an unusual twist of fate I actually liked book two more than the first book. I rated the first book quite highly but it barely didn't make it to the five star rating but it did leave me hopeful that the next book would be just as good or better and it is. It has a lot more charm at least to me this time, and while Faye isn't the all powerful unquestionable being that the former wizard was she's still considered a witch of sorts and has a lot more autonomy compared to what she had in the first book. The first book also centered around her home (well her father's boss's home) and this time the world has broadened and we get to see some new places as well as some returning characters. Its a unique book and you can tell when an author is enjoying creating their worlds and the environments within and giving a lot of depth and detail, and you can tell that this is one such book. I would really like to see another story with Faye and the others in it although I've no clue as to what the story would be about and honestly I don't think I care I just want to see more of this world. I had a wonderful time with this book and I'm glad that it didn't fall prey to sequel syndrome.
March 18, 2026
The Witch Who Stormed the Palace (Girl Who Kept the Castle #2) by Ryan Graudin, 335 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2025. $20
Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild danger)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO:
12yo Faye has defeated the Shadow Queen’s attempt to destroy Castle Celurdur and free herself, but she is not guaranteed to become the new Witch of the West. Summoned to Retnec, the capital city where the four quadrants meet, Faye must undergo three challenges to prove her worth. And she must undertake the challenges at the same time as three other candidates put forth by the other Wizards. Adding to the melee - the Shadow Queen has a new plan to free herself and a willing confederate to help her plan.
I loved Faye’s first adventure and Graudin manages to keep up the interest with book #2. Old friends and new friends await. I did find it odd that one of the castles is called Ghibli, but none of the other names mean anything.
The characters cue white.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild danger)
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO:
12yo Faye has defeated the Shadow Queen’s attempt to destroy Castle Celurdur and free herself, but she is not guaranteed to become the new Witch of the West. Summoned to Retnec, the capital city where the four quadrants meet, Faye must undergo three challenges to prove her worth. And she must undertake the challenges at the same time as three other candidates put forth by the other Wizards. Adding to the melee - the Shadow Queen has a new plan to free herself and a willing confederate to help her plan.
I loved Faye’s first adventure and Graudin manages to keep up the interest with book #2. Old friends and new friends await. I did find it odd that one of the castles is called Ghibli, but none of the other names mean anything.
The characters cue white.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
November 6, 2025
Faye succeeded in saving Celurdur from the Shadow Queen, with the help of the ghost of the deceased Wizard of the West. But, she now faces another major challenge: convincing the country’s other three wizards (North, South and East) that a witch should be allowed to succeed him. Her ideas to share magic with all are unorthodox, even controversial. She must face trials in the capital city, where she finds herself competing against other apprentices, instead of solo challenges. As the trials commence, there are signs of the Shadow Queen's growing influence, including earthquakes and other disturbances, suggesting the imprisoned sorceress is breaking free. Faye has to battle the Shadow Queen underneath the palace, as she leads a rescue effort, thereby proving herself to be brave and just. 3.5 stars, as I liked it better than the first book in this series.
October 22, 2025
My girls (7 and 11) absolutely adore these characters and this story! They are already asking for a third book.
October 28, 2025
"Defeating an evil sorceress was supposed to be the hard part."
I think the wizards North South East should not have done one trial. It is unfair.
I think the wizards North South East should not have done one trial. It is unfair.
December 15, 2025
I hope there is another book in this series. I love Faye and her gumption. She doesn't give up and uses her brain to solve huge problem.
Lillie Ricciardi did a great job narrating this book.
Lillie Ricciardi did a great job narrating this book.
December 18, 2025
This was an awesome sequel! I loved it and again couldn't put it down. I wish she would keep writing in this word, I've fallen in love with these characters!!
January 24, 2026
Awesome second book. The author does not disappoint fans by changing or removing the comedic whimsy that existed in the first book. I really hope there is a third.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews