Nevermoor meets Howl’s Moving Castle in this engaging fantasy—the first in a duology—from acclaimed author Ryan Graudin. Perfect for fans of wizards, dragons, magical castles, spectacular spells, and a spunky cat who may not be what he seems. Now available in paperback!

Wizard West was dead for nearly an entire day before he noticed. And it is up to Faye, the daughter of West’s groundskeeper, to inform the wizard that he is a ghost who has lost all of his magical powers. (But not before the wizard tries transforming her into a cat!) To make matters worse, the enchanted castle of Celurdur—the only home that Faye has ever known—will fall apart at the next full moon if its foundation spells can’t be renewed.

After (sort of) accepting his demise, West decides to host a competition to choose his successor. Faye finds herself fighting to keep the tournament running smoothly behind the scenes: putting out kitchen fires, feeding the compost dragon, and making sure competitors stay away from the cockatrice pen.

But killer roosters soon become the least of her worries. A servant of the evil Shadow Queen has sabotaged the contest—set on destroying not just Celurdur but the entire kingdom of Solum. It is up to Faye to stop him, but she’ll need more than a mop. Will a maid’s magic be enough to save everything she loves from utter destruction?

• Whimsical Fantasy: With inventive magic; a fun, epic plot; and wry humor throughout, this story is Nevermoor meets The Girl Who Drank the Moon, with a dash of Howl’s Moving Castle.
• New Type of Wizarding Competition: Ten potential apprentices are competing to take over Wizard West’s role. To prove themselves, they’ll have to face a fully grown compost dragon, put together the perfect magical outfit, mix up a new elixir, and complete the secret grand finale.
• You’ve Cat to Be Kitten Me: Who doesn’t love a plucky animal companion? There’s a talking black cat named Puck that lives in Celurdur, and he’s exactly as mischievous as his name implies.