Phenomena the Basic Witch and the Dream Castle: Book 1

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

Phenomena Willow is a young witch apprentice who loves nothing more than wizard romance novels and eye of newt spice lattes in the autumn. Mena lives with her auntie, Grizabella, in the Pembroke Forest—the haven she has resided all her life that’s sheltered her from the rest of the world. Mena dreams of escaping the dull life in her cottage and attending the magical school of Nightdream Academy, a place where sorcerers and sorceresses learn how to utilize dream arts out of their very imagination, but her auntie has never told her where it was.

One day, an old foe of her aunt, the nefarious Anguish the Blood Siren arrives at her auntie’s cottage, sending young Mena out into the world on a search for the school her auntie once attended. When she discovers the location of Nightdream Academy in the most unusual place and circumstance, this basic witch discovers a whole new world of magic and romance, a place where her dreams…and nightmares come true.

Information

Status: Completed
Year: 2021
Author: Pianos In The Evening Sun

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 5.0/ 5.0
Followers: 49
Views: 22,722

Chapters(43 total)

Reviews

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Community Reviews(7)

Ana87Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This novel is the ideal story to enjoy tucked up at home, with a hot cup of tea and cookies, and, if you can, a purring cat on your lap. From the first page, the reader is transported into a world that combines delightful fantasy with satirical wit.
The plot opens in Pembroke Forest, where Mena has been living in seclusion with her eccentric Aunt Grizabella. From there, a mystery story unfolds with some hilarious as well as touching moments. Despite some dark passages, the novel maintains a light tone thanks to its abundant humor, making it ideal for both young readers and adults looking for a heartwarming read.
However, it's not just the comedy that will keep you reading: the mystery surrounding Mena's family and their confrontation with the dreaded Anguish adds a layer of tension and excitement that hooks you right from the start.
The narrative style is flawless. The prose flows naturally, and the dialogues give life and authenticity to the characters, who feel relatable.
Mena, with her endearing tenderness and awkwardness, quickly becomes a protagonist that the reader cannot help but love, and her evolution promises adventures both epic and ridiculous. The only thing that might stand in the way of her great aspirations is her laziness, which already from the first chapter puts her in a complicated situation.
As for the secondary characters -even the villains-, they all have a particular charm that manages to bring out smiles even in the moments when Mena finds herself in trouble. Aunt Grizabella is the typical character who tries to live a peaceful life when in reality she hides big secrets. Her concern for Mena and the responsibility she feels for her makes her a character as lovable as the protagonist. The character of Straw-Woman, while a being created by Mena, has her own hilarious personality. The three witches that appear at the beginning, while behaving in a ridiculous manner, feel like a real threat.
In short, this is a brilliantly written work that I rec
LubjubRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Style
Charming and Descriptive story style. Told through a little first-person view of Mena and some narration with cute little rhyming style sentences scattered about. Full of humour and whimsy, captivating from the start. The plot is gradually introduced without feeling forced and there is a strong tense element when those little bits of key moments are introduced to the reader.
Story
The story begins with Mena out on a stroll, and she encounters some nasty witches that try to chase her. She manages to run but not before getting annoyed at a straw-woman that tries to state the obvious as she gets annoyed from a ditch. It’s really well written and nothing that is put down is something that would go over your head. This may be one of the most pleasant main characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about for a long time, Mena is seriously well written. I really liked the redneck style hick guy Cletus just casually pointing a frigging gun at Mena like it was totally normal and then wandering off like nothing happened.
Grammar
Well written with no overly descriptive sentences that break pacing.
Character
The cast are almost as adorable as Phenomena with her little quips and mannerisms. Bubbly personality and full of caring, she just wants to do the right thing. Her aunt Grizabella is something of a folk hero and Mena isn’t quite aware of the extent of that. There’s of neat little side characters that bring them story to life further like the Straw-Woman who Mena brings to life and chats with. If this wasn’t a story about witches and magic, she would be bonkers.
Overall
A really engaging story for readers of all ages. This would be something I’d love to read along with someone else too. Bravo!
M W Arita AuthorRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Phenomena the Basic Witch and the Dream Castle is a fun, light-hearted, and whimsical children's fantasy adventure that feels like a combination of Harry Potter and a slice-of-life anime. It follows Mena, a curious yet clumsy girl who ends up attending classes at a magic school while learning about her lineage and destiny, and her inevitable clash with the evil witch Anguish.
This series' greatest strength is its humor. It's often laugh-out-loud funny, stuffed to the gills with puns and slapstick scenes. The comedy is carried by a cast of quirky and charming characters, ranging from a campy and flamboyant headmaster to a skeleton girl that wouldn't be out of place in a Tim Burton film.
While there are plenty of twists and turns, the story is mostly a light, frothy, relaxing romp through the school and fantasy world. It sometimes lacks tension and suspense, but in this era of darkness and gloomy cynicism, that can be a real breath of fresh air. Those looking for something that reminds them of the earnest innocence of classic Saturday morning children's cartoons will find a lot to love here.
Dive on in, laugh, and cry along with Mena and her fantastical adventures!
Marshall75Royal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Well written, quality prose that is entertaining and really funny. Nice mix of cute and compelling characters in a world that’s a little bit dangerous and bloody but not particularly dark. Fast plot. MC is something like a fish out of water, kind of lazy and a bit dumb, but she’s really cute and I love her dialogue.
NickelbomberRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Phenomena the Basic Witch and the Dream Castle is a very well written story about a young girls hilarious adventures to and in a magical school which vaguely reminds me of Hogwarts. There's a ridiculous amount of puns and other light hearted humor to be found throughout the story. There's many story elements that are brought up in the future, often with a twist, which is quite rewarding for anyone paying attention to details.
Would highly recommend for anyone interested in a short and light comedy, and you bet I'd read any sequels.
ZacheasRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Phenomena the Basic Witch and the Dream Castle appears to be the first in a series following the quirky and hilarious adventures of a witch named Phenomena (yes, just like the title suggests). From the start, the book embraces its comedic tone, and it absolutely delivers—with genuinely funny characters and laugh-out-loud moments.
What surprised me most, though, was that beneath all the humor, there’s a solid plot with real stakes and tension—something not always present in comedy-driven stories. By Chapter 4, the main character is launched into an exciting adventure that perfectly balances absurdity with suspense, keeping things fresh and engaging.
World-Building:
The world the author is creating is imaginative and distinctive. It’s revealed gradually and naturally, without overwhelming the reader with clunky exposition. That’s a refreshing change and shows skill in crafting an immersive setting without slowing the pace.
Characters:
Every character—heroic or villainous—is vivid, multi-dimensional, and consistently funny. The author especially shines in how the villains are written: they feel like legitimate threats while still being humorous. That’s a tough balance to strike, but it’s pulled off with style and charm.
Writing Style:
The grammar and spelling are clean, and the author is responsive to feedback—always a great sign. More importantly, the prose is easy to follow, the pacing is spot-on, and the overall storytelling is both clear and captivating.
Story:
In case it wasn’t clear already: the story promises a comedic adventure, and it delivers in spades. If you’re looking for something fun, light-hearted, and genuinely funny with a touch of fantasy, this is exactly the kind of book that’ll leave you smiling. Phenomena is a lovable, endearing protagonist who’s easy to root for, and her adventures are a blast to follow.
Final Thoughts:
This is an easy 5-star read for me. I had a great time with it and fully intend to keep reading—both more of this book and more
windlepoonsRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is a lovely well-written story of a young witch finding her way to a magical school. It nicely subverts expectations and is fast-paced and funny. The three witches cracked me up.
Mena's journey has many bumps and a few twists but remains mostly light. I loved it and hope there's a sequel. Oh and Janus is a fun character.