Top Ten Castle Books

~ Lory

For Top Ten Tuesday hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, the theme is “books with my favorite trope/theme.” I’ve been wanting to feature some of my favorite books with a “castle” theme — many of which happen to be some of my favorite books of all time. So now is my chance!

Some are actually set in castles, some just use “castle” as a metaphor in the title, but all are fantastic reads. Have you read any of them? Do you know any others to add to the list?

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37 thoughts on “Top Ten Castle Books”

  1. I have read and enjoyed many of these, but I have missed a few. I would add Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon. The castle needs a new master or it will be decommissioned, so its delightful crew of minions aren’t in a position to turn down their only applicant for Wicked Witch – 12 year old Molly, who insists that she’s really wicked. So wicked.

  3. I’ve read just four of these, the two DWJ titles of course, the Nesbit and the Dodie Smith, but none of the others has yet crossed my path — not even the Eager!

    I never got past the first bit of Kafka’s novel, nor The Castle of Crossed Destinies; but I enjoyed PDK’s The Man in the High Castle, and also Walpole’sThe Castle of Otranto (though a little less so) — both are due for a reread soon.

    1. Good suggestions. I’m quite amazed how many “castle” books there are in all kinds of fields and genres. It’s quite a powerful symbol.

  4. I’ve read all but the Aiken; I guess I’ve always liked books that seem like they’re going to be about castles.
    I’d add Philip K. Dick’s The Man in the High Castle and Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle

    1. And you may have read some of the Aiken stories in other venues. You are a castle-reading champion! I’d like to read your two suggestions as well.

  5. Great theme! We Have Always Lived in the Castle is a favorite. I recently read Howl’s Moving Castle for the first time! I don’t know why it took me so long. I can’t add a good “castle” themed book to your list, but want to check out The Blue Castle. I’d like to read more by Montgomery.

    1. I am glad you finally met the marvelous Howl and Sophie. I hope you’ll like The Blue Castle, it’s a comfort read for me (as are many of these).

  9. How delightful! Well, I haven’t read We Have Always Lived in the Castle or the recent Aiken compilation but I love all the rest. I probably would have liked I Capture the Castle more if I had read it as a teen.

    Other Castle books I like: Shadow Castle by Marian Cockrell would be at the very top of my list. And I always has a weakness for Enid Blyton’s Adventure series and I like The Castle of Adventure. Not sure it would make my top ten but The Maze in the Heart of the Castle by Gilman might. I would like to reread Castle Merlin by Williams to see if it is as good as I recall.

    1. Shadow Castle and The Maze in the Heart…could have made my list, but were edged out. Along with Jeanne you are another castle-reading champion.

    1. Wow, how exciting. I have Scottish ancestry too but I don’t know if I’ve any castles in the background to visit.

  16. I can’t think of a better time to read than when all heck rages around you. It’s relaxing, takes your mind off your worries, and you also learn something.

  17. Cool! I read Kafka’s book decades ago, I don’t remember a thing, I need to revisit it.
    More recently, I have read The Castle of Otranto, and Castle in the Sky, the film comic – of Miyazaki’s movie

  18. Wonderful topic and list, Lory! 😊 I have read The Enchanted Castle, I Capture the Castle and We Have Always Lived in the Castle; all of which I thoroughly enjoy, but the latter of which is an all-time favourite! ❤

    1. Nearly all of these are all-time favorites of mine, which no doubt sheds some light on my blog name choice. 😀

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