The Ultimate Castle Library: Packing the Perfect Story for the Copper Crown
Growing up, I feasted on the pages of epic fantasy literature. This lifelong love of myth and magic helped inspire us to build our very own fairytale inn. Now that the heavy gates of our newest creation, the Copper Crown Suite, have finally swung open, guests often ask us what they should pack. Cloaks? A favourite vintage of wine? For me, the answer always starts with a story.
Whenever I travel, my packing is never complete without a well-worn paperback to elevate the journey. I am particularly fond of Naomi Novik’s work — her folklore-steeped worlds have filled the corners of my imagination. If you are planning your escape to our magical world, here are two of her stories that belong in your castle library.
Spinning Silver
There is a natural magic to reading Novik’s Spinning Silver inside the Copper Crown. Novik is a master of creating richly atmospheric, slow-burn fairy tales that pull readers entirely out of the everyday world. Spinning Silver tastes of winter and hard-won victories — a fitting companion to the warm stone and rich fabrics of the Copper Crown. When you step across the threshold, the world mutes itself. You are left with a sanctuary made of imagination.
The Secret Nook: Slip through the hidden passageway into a private reading corner. It is tucked away like a hidden winter cottage, offering the simple luxury of getting lost in a book.
The Tower Bedroom: Climb the stairs to your soaring bedroom as the sun dips behind Vedder Mountain. Prop your book against the pillows, turn the pages slowly, and read by the shifting starlight.
His Majesty’s Dragon
If your imagination leans more toward the beating of great leather wings and historical grandeur, slide Novik’s His Majesty’s Dragon into your satchel instead. Novik blends the history of the Napoleonic era with grand myths, making the impossible feel entirely real. Local legends whisper that the ancient aristocrats of the Copper Crown were dragon riders, making His Majesty’s Dragon a wonderful companion for the dragons we carved directly into the architecture.
The Grand Hall: Look closely at our main chandelier, and you will spot four sculpted dragon heads peering down at you, guarding the hearth.
The Tower Soaker Tub: Draw a deep, warm bath in our tub built for two. As you relax under the timber rafters, it becomes terribly easy to imagine the dragon Temeraire banking sharply through the sky just beyond the glass.
The Final Chapter
Like Novik’s writing, the Copper Crown is packed with details that reward those who take their time. Before the stars come out, take a quiet stroll to the moat courtyard. Sprinkle a little food for the koi fish as the fountains trickle into the water and shadows stretch across the stone walls. Then find your favourite corner and lose yourself in the pages.
Your story is waiting