The Magician of Tiger Castle
Aug 2025 · Sold by Penguin
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4 reviews
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320
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About this ebook
• AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER • AN INDIE NEXT LIST PICK • A LIBRARY READS PICK • The beloved author of Holes presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.
"After decades of children's stories with adult intelligence, Sachar has given us an adult novel with a child's heart"—Alix E. Harrow
"Funny, surprising, smart and weird . . . fully lives up to the high bar you’d expect from a great like Sachar."—Associated Press
Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia's father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the "wedding of the century," Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe.
The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy. But after a long series of failures—the latest being an attempt to transform sand into gold—he has become the object of contempt and ridicule. The only one who still believes in him is the princess.
When the king orders Anatole to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding, Anatole is faced with an impossible choice. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will he betray the princess—or risk ruin?
"After decades of children's stories with adult intelligence, Sachar has given us an adult novel with a child's heart"—Alix E. Harrow
"Funny, surprising, smart and weird . . . fully lives up to the high bar you’d expect from a great like Sachar."—Associated Press
Long ago and far away (and somewhere south of France) lies the kingdom of Esquaveta. There, Princess Tullia is in nearly as much peril as her struggling kingdom. Esquaveta desperately needs to forge an alliance, and to that end, Tullia's father has arranged a marriage between her and an odious prince. However, one month before the "wedding of the century," Tullia falls in love with a lowly apprentice scribe.
The king turns to Anatole, his much-maligned magician. Seventeen years earlier, when Anatole first came to the castle, he was regarded as something of a prodigy. But after a long series of failures—the latest being an attempt to transform sand into gold—he has become the object of contempt and ridicule. The only one who still believes in him is the princess.
When the king orders Anatole to brew a potion that will ensure Tullia agrees to the wedding, Anatole is faced with an impossible choice. With one chance to save the marriage, the kingdom, and, of most importance to him, his reputation, will he betray the princess—or risk ruin?
• AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER • AN INDIE NEXT LIST PICK • A LIBRARY READS PICK • The beloved author of Holes presents his first adult novel, a modern fantasy classic of forbidden love, a crumbling kingdom, and the unexpected magic all around us.
"After decades of children's stories with adul...
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Ratings and reviews
4 reviews
Charles Mattson
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August 19, 2025
I went into this book with sky high expectations and it fell a little bit short. I'm going with 4 stars, but I feel 3.5 is more appropriate. The writing style is pleasant and there are too many nice touches to count. It's an easy read with interesting themes and compelling characters. But it doesn't stitch together 100% perfectly. I can't properly describe this part so maybe I'm wrong. It feels like the author wrote way too many words and the editor told him to trim a bunch out. There is also very little to make it a "book for adults". It feels no more adult than Holes, for example. I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure if I can really recommend it. Maybe I'll give it a reread and see if I missed anything.
Hal Kid Jr.
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August 14, 2025
A fairy tale for adults by a children's author, written with humor. A Renaissance magician must make sure a princess's wedding moves forward without snags. Of course, it doesn't.
About the author
LOUIS SACHAR is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Holes, which won the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Christopher Award, as well as numerous other award-winning titles for young adults and children.
LOUIS SACHAR is the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Holes, which won the Newbery Medal, the National Book Award, and the Christopher Award, as well as numerous other award-winning titles for young adults and children.
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