The Magician of Tiger Castle by Sachar, Louis

*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.

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?

Author: Louis Sachar
Publisher: Ace Books
Published: 08/05/2025
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.04lbs
Size: 9.14h x 6.26w x 1.12d
ISBN: 9780593952306

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 06/01/2025 pg. 7
Publishers Weekly 04/07/2025
Booklist 06/01/2025 pg. 52
Kirkus Reviews 06/15/2025

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.