"Burr's oil paintings capture the grandeur, loneliness, and mood of each castle in evocative shades of light and dark."
     —School Library Journal

"Dreamers will latch on to the poems and pictures; for young historians, the poets close with prose notes, a timeline and a robust reading list."
     —Kirkus Reviews

"Burr's paintings help bring immediacy and sense to the words in dramatic scenes of medieval courts and castles, and the extensive appended material includes a bibliography, time line, and background about each site. Suggest this for classroom exercises that show how poetry can help bring history into the present."
     —Booklist

"This picture book of beautiful paintings and enigmatic poems profiles historic castles and the legends that surround them. From Russia to Ireland to Japan and even to Hearst Castle in the United States, an aspect of each castle is depicted in a lushly evocative painting while a brief poem raises a lingering question associated with the castle: Why do Swiss angels at Chillon Castle whisper, "Bonivard"? Why does lovely Anne Boleyn weep tears at the Tower of London? [etc.] ...Inspired readers might be motivated to take these teasing poems and use them as entry points to further historical research. ...Although definitely a middle-grade book, older fans of fantasy and history enthusiasts might find value in the intriguing stories of these noteworthy castles and their famous--and infamous--inhabitants. Young artists will find much to appreciate in the paintings."
     —Voice of Youth Advocates

"Sixteen poems inspired by famous castles from around the world enliven the legends and events associated with each structure, setting a scene that will whet the reader’s appetite for historical detail."
     —Fore Word

"The artwork in this book is wonderful. The depictions are accurate and lifelike; the colors are good representations of the moods of the pictures. The portraits of the people are well-done. ...The poetry is nicely done."
     —Library Media Connection

"Luminous oil paintings transport students to bygone realms of grandeur. Extensive explanatory notes and a 10-century time line are valuable springboards for further study."
     —School Library Journal