I will read any book about a magical contest! This one was fantastic. I loved the mystery and I loved the characters. I could picture this whole book in my mind like a movie.

This wasn’t quite what I expected when I picked it up, and while it wasn’t awful I can’t say I particularly enjoyed it. There are too many perspectives at work, which means we don’t get attached enough to the characters to care. I found them bland and cartoonish. The magic system and its explanations were intriguing and I wish there had been more exploration of that and how it connects to Mullory and her mother.

I am conflicted about this book. On one side I loved it - it is well written, flows effortlessly and I liked the characters. On the other side, I feel like so many things were left unanswered. Some things happen and there is no explanation or clear reason. And some things made no sense - especially after reading the whole book.

********SPOILER ***********

Like Xavier's POVs where he knows he will die and his death is inevitable - but then he doesn't die?!

********* END SPOILER **********

I don't know, it didn't completely convince me. I enjoyed the twists and learning all the new layers while reading, but most of the twists were predictable and I didn't feel like the shed layers shed light on the story, some only made it more confusing.

It was enjoyable, but not one of my favourite murder mysteries

"What does Death fear most?"
Mystery Royale was a fun game of magical Clue where fate vs. free will is the timeless true question at play. This read like Inheritance Games but with a deadly fantasy twist and a more sure romance. Mullory is forced into an Inheritance gauntlet against a family full of secrets with rules she doesn't quite understand. She is one of the brightest young heroines I've read this year, using her logic and math skills to carry herself through despite her otherwise disadvantages. Lyric, the bitter heir-apparent, was another complex character walking the line between wanting to be both hero and villain in his own story.
I enjoyed the mystery, the characters, and the overall story. If anything, I wanted more. I am not entirely clear on the ending, but I grasp enough to be content.
I read both the ebook and audiobook. The audiobook has dual narrators for the four POVs, and both narrators did an excellent job of ensuring that I was never confused about whose chapter I was listening to.
Thanks to NetGalley, Disney Hyperion, and Hyperion audio for this ARC to review!

“Mystery Royale” by Kaitlyn Cavalancia is a magical, locked-room mystery that combines fantasy with a high-stakes competition set in an eerie Hamptons estate, which creates a very unique and engaging plot. With a murder to solve, a mysterious inheritance at stake, and magic lurking in every corner, the story is packed with tension and plot twists that will keep you hooked from the start.

The story centers around Mullory Prudence, a 16-year-old girl trying to make ends meet while caring for her ailing grandmother. When she starts receiving strange letters connected to her missing mother, she is drawn into the dangerous game of the late Xavier Stoutmire’s will. Mullory and six others are invited to his estate to compete in a "Mystery Royale," with the winner walking away with two billion dollars, valuable properties, and Xavier’s magic. The magical elements—from waffle-scented letters to dark family secrets—create a vivid backdrop for a complex mystery full of intrigue.

Mullory is a compelling protagonist that I think the teens will relate to and enjoy. I felt there were moments that were reminiscent of The Inheritance Games, which is immensely popular in our school library. The book does provide multiple points of view, which can be confusing at times, especially at the beginning. But also helps add to the intrigue and allows you to piece together the puzzle in ways the characters cannot.

The Stoutmire family’s history is tangled with dark secrets and twisted alliances, and as the characters try to solve the mystery of Xavier’s murder, the stakes grow higher. From poisoned tea to hidden magical abilities, the danger intensifies as the game progresses. Mullory’s burgeoning romance with Lyric Stoutmire adds a touch of sweetness to the tension-filled story, though it remains subtle and secondary to the primary plot. I really liked this little bit of romance as it didn’t take away from the plot, and it helped lighten up the tension at times, which was greatly appreciated.

Fans of locked-room mysteries, particularly those with a magical twist (which seem to be becoming more and more popular right now), will appreciate the family drama and dark fantasy. Though the book wraps up the central storyline, it leaves enough room for a follow-up, making it clear that Mullory’s journey—and the strange magic of Xavier Stoutmire—is far from over. Overall, “Mystery Royale” is an entertaining, atmospheric read perfect for fans of Knives Out-style mysteries and fantasy lovers alike. It’s a story filled with danger, secrets, and the ultimate question: who will survive to claim the fortune? I would definitely recommend to students and purchase for our school library.
Thank you Netgalley for the digital Arc to review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mystery Royale is a YA fantastical Mystery from author Kaitlyn Cavalancia. It follows 16 year old town outcast Mullory Prudence as she joins other kids in a game of "Mystery Royale" at the Stoutmire Estate for a sizeable reward. To win, she must be the first to solve the mystery of who killed Xavier Stoutmire. Sounds easy, right? But things at the Stoutmire Estate aren't exactly what they seem.

First of all, everyone at Mystery Royale is a suspect. And all of the adults have magic. And everyone is related to Xavier, except Mullory and Mateo Muldonado who are outsiders (and contenders for the prize, much to the family's dismay and confusion). The other contenders, twins Ellison & Whitaker Stoutmire, and their younger brother Lyric are all harboring dark secrets but still desperately competing alongside their genius cousins Quinby & Martin Markshire to win Uncle X's money and magic.

Everyone has their own motives for winning, and some may even be willing to KILL to win. With only nine days and five lavish parties to solve the Mystery and an estate full of illusions, enchantments, trickery, and hidden clues, it's a race to the finish line and Mullory must figure out where she fits in to the family puzzle and why she was chosen to participate. Who wins the Mystery Royale...and is the prize worth the cost??

This book was SO GOOD!! I love a good "Clue"-type whodunnit and this one kept me engaged and turning pages to solve it right along with Mullory and Lyric and everyone else. I loved the clues and the red herring and the twist at the end!! I also loved the subtle cute blooming romance between Mullory and Lyric that developed through the book. And that Epilogue 😍!

I will definitely be recommending this book to my book club as our YA read for January! 5 stars!

Oh, wow, I LOVED this one! Sixteen-year-old Mullory Prudence has always lived in awareness of magic...but also in fear of it, a fear bolstered by her mother's strange antics. Now her mother is gone, her life is falling apart, and a mysterious invitation has just found her. Mullory has been invited to Stoutmire Estate to compete in a game of Mystery Royale for the chance at a sizable inheritance--both financial and magical. She has close to no interest in magic, but she IS interested in the money that can help make her non-magical life much easier. When she arrives at the Estate, she meets the magical heirs to the inheritance, and uncovers the real reason that she was invited: magic, in the world of MYSTERY ROYALE, is not so simple as bloodline inheritance. With the stakes ever higher, her competitors ready for battle, and her own fears of magic and the truth about her mother filling her head, Mullory teams up with various other competitors and learns more about the world of magic she has feared for so long. All of the characters are compelling individually and as a group, the mystery at the novel's center is TAUT, and the magic system is satisfyingly complex and interesting. I cannot WAIT for the sequel!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

The game that is the Mystery Royale was quite good. The clues were interesting. The events were glitzy enough to be distracting us from the clues and the end goal: find Xavier Stoutmire’s killer and inherit his fortune and magic.

The blurb, comparing this book to Inheritance Games, was spot on! Puzzles, mystery, games, simply add a dash of magic.

My negatives:
The multiple POVs threw me off in the beginning, it was confusing. Plus all the names were uncommon, so took me a minute to remember of who’s who.
I disliked ALL the main characters until the 30% mark. I kept reading because the plot was good. I usually wouldn’t keep reading when I don’t care for the characters.

I absolutely adored Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia. This book was a fun, entertaining read right from the first chapter. When I heard that it was a murder mystery that read like Hotel Magnifique I was excited to see what that meant and it did not let me down. The magic and whimsy is such a fun element to the locked room mystery and kept me engaged when the less exciting scenes were happening. The book contains several character POVs and each character shows extreme growth throughout the story. I especially appreciated Mullory's arc as I found her a little irritating in the beginning. It is a credit to the authors writing talent how she handled all of the characters, their growth and crazy family dynamics.

Was it a perfect book, no. But it was perfect for me and if magic, wonder and murder are your thing, it might be for you too.

It's hard not to discuss Mystery Royale without mentioning The Inheritance Games. Of course, Mystery Royale is more believable because it has magic, and you don't necessarily need to suspend as much disbelief.

Mullory was smart and likable, and the family dynamics among Ellison, Lyric, and Whittaker were compelling. I'm sure that the second book will have more of Mullory's mother's story, but I wanted more of it here. Ellison's voice was necessary, and I would also have liked more of that.

The love story was sweet. The end was a little sappy for me, but I do think it was perfect for young adults. I would recommend this book. It's fun and easy. Think the magic of The Night Circus mixed with the plot of The Inheritance Games.

“Mystery Royale” by Kaitlyn Cavalancia is a magical, locked-room mystery that combines fantasy with a high-stakes competition set in an eerie Hamptons estate, which creates a very unique and engaging plot. With a murder to solve, a mysterious inheritance at stake, and magic lurking in every corner, the story is packed with tension and plot twists that will keep you hooked from the start.

The story centers around Mullory Prudence, a 16-year-old girl trying to make ends meet while caring for her ailing grandmother. When she starts receiving strange letters connected to her missing mother, she is drawn into the dangerous game of the late Xavier Stoutmire’s will. Mullory and six others are invited to his estate to compete in a "Mystery Royale," with the winner walking away with two billion dollars, valuable properties, and Xavier’s magic. The magical elements—from waffle-scented letters to dark family secrets—create a vivid backdrop for a complex mystery full of intrigue.

The characters, while initially hard to connect with due to their emotional outbursts and conflicts, grow throughout the story, becoming more nuanced and relatable. Mullory’s character arc, in particular, stands out. Her determination to provide for her grandmother, alongside her gradual unraveling of the mysteries surrounding her mother’s disappearance, make her a compelling protagonist. The book does provide multiple points of view, which can be confusing at times, especially at the beginning. I’m horrible with names, so it took me awhile to figure out the different perspectives and what was going on, but this also allows you to piece together the puzzle in ways the characters cannot.

The Stoutmire family’s history is tangled with dark secrets and twisted alliances, and as the characters try to solve the mystery of Xavier’s murder, the stakes grow higher. From poisoned tea to hidden magical abilities, the danger intensifies as the game progresses. Mullory’s burgeoning romance with Lyric Stoutmire adds a touch of sweetness to the tension-filled story, though it remains subtle and secondary to the primary plot. I really liked this little bit of romance as it didn’t take away from the plot and it helped lighten up the tension at times, which was greatly appreciated.

Fans of locked-room mysteries, particularly those with a magical twist (which seem to be becoming more and more popular right now), will appreciate the family drama and dark fantasy. Though the book wraps up the central storyline, it leaves enough room for a follow-up, making it clear that Mullory’s journey—and the strange magic of Xavier Stoutmire—is far from over. Overall, “Mystery Royale” is an entertaining, atmospheric read perfect for fans of Knives Out-style mysteries and fantasy lovers alike. It’s a story filled with danger, secrets, and the ultimate question: who will survive to claim the fortune?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This book reminds me of “The Inheritance Games” but with magic. It has twists and turns. At first,Mullory was getting on my nerves but as the story progresses; she gets more bold and starts trying to solve the mystery. The book keeps you guessing until the end.

I have really gotten into the Fantasy genre lately and this book was so good. The characters are amazing.

Growing up with her grandmother, Mullory Prudence didn't know anything about magic just "the strange" which her mother always said to run away from. Only now at 16, the strange will not go away and Mullory has a chance to win an inheritance that would buy a house for her and her grandmother as well as help Gran with her medical needs. Mullory is one of two that are not family members competing for the right to win Xavier Stoutmire's inheritance and magic, but she will have to compete against his family members who will play to the death to win. Along the way there are family secrets to uncover, allies to make, and a budding romace between Mullory and a Stoutmire. Will Mullory make it to the end of the week and will she be able to solve the murder before time runs out?

This story kept my interest and kept me reading to find out whether Mullory would make it to the end. The multiple point of views was off putting at times, but it did allow the reader to gain more information than the characters to help solve the mystery. I would put this in a middle school library.

When Mullory gets a magical invitation to attend the reading of a will, she never expected that her mother's neuroses were real. She'd always been told to run from the strange, but when the strange finds her, she is drawn into a contest to win money and magical powers that could change her life forever. But how will Mullory compete against members of a family well-versed in magic, and why was she invited in the first place.

Fast-paced, full of puzzles, intrigue and dime-store villains, Mystery Royale offers a treasure hunt for believers in the darkside of magic. An unexpected ending leaves the reader wanting more.

Kaitlyn Cavalancia’s Mystery Royale is a captivating blend of mystery, magic, and high-stakes suspense that hooks you from the very start. Sixteen-year-old Mullory Prudence is an instantly likable protagonist, juggling her responsibilities at home while being pulled into a world of enchantment and danger. When mysterious letters begin appearing and invite her to the mysterious Stoutmire Estate, Mullory is thrust into a game that promises a life-changing inheritance—but the cost of winning might be even greater.

The setting of Stoutmire Estate is lush with intrigue, filled with grand parties, enchanting illusions, and dark family secrets lurking around every corner. Kaitlyn creates an atmosphere that is both magical and menacing, where trust is hard to come by, and everyone’s a suspect. The colorful cast of characters—from the enigmatic Whitaker to the estranged Lyric—adds layers of tension and suspicion, making each interaction feel like a clue waiting to be unraveled.

At the heart of the story is the mystery of Xavier Stoutmire’s murder, which keeps you guessing until the very end. Mullory’s quest to solve the puzzle is full of twists and turns, and her wit, curiosity, and determination make her journey both thrilling and heartfelt. As she navigates the dangerous game, she also grapples with questions of trust and loyalty, making her character growth just as gripping as the mystery itself.

With every page, Kaitlyn delivers unexpected twists and revelations that keep you on edge, ensuring the suspense never wanes. Just when you think you’ve figured out who to trust or who might be behind the murder, another secret is uncovered, making this a truly unpredictable and exciting read.

Mystery Royale is a masterful blend of magic, mystery, and intrigue, where nothing is as it seems and everyone has something to hide. Kaitlyn Cavalancia has crafted a page-turner that’s perfect for fans of thrilling mysteries and magical worlds. Mullory’s journey will keep readers spellbound until the very last page.

This who-done-it mystery includes magic, family drama, intrigue, and a twist ending. I thought the book did a good job with the mystery story, but I wanted to know more about the characters, especially Mullory's mom.

This was something like a Knives Out with magic.

Veeeery twisty and darker than I anticipated. I enjoyed the multiple POVs. The world building/ magic systems was a little light for me, but there was A LOT going on so you don't really notice in the moment. I wish that we got a little more insight into Lyric's mom, but many of the characters were well fleshed out.

I enjoyed this one and recommend for mystery lovers.
Thanks to Netgalley and Disney Hyperion for an early copy for review.

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in one setting because it was so good and I could not get enough of the characters. I really loved the characters the author created and there journey that they took. The story was fast paced but detailed where I felt immersed but not bored. I will be recommending this book to all of my family and friends.