A Brief History of Montmaray

Michelle Cooper takes the basic premise of I Capture the Castle (eccentric father and variously charming/feisty/driven/thoughtful children, including one compulsive diarist) in a crumbling castle, and plunks it on a fictional nearly-uninhabited island 200 miles south of Cornwall. Oh, and makes them royalty. Plus, there are Nazis, a Grail quest, ghosts, family secrets, an underground crypt, and more. It could have been a disaster, but Cooper's writing is so sure-handed I'd follow it anywhere. Her characters are believable and engaging, and their story is both funny and heart-rending. More! (Fortunately, there are two sequels.)

I have to mention, though, that I find it a bit odd that the Montmaravian “royals” never question their right to be rulers, although they essentially have nobody to rule over. What is the point of that, exactly? Maybe this will get taken up later in the series...