Was not able to finish this book. I made it about a quarter of the way, but serious pacing issues made me lose interest. Cannot recommend to my reluctant high school readers.

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


I really enjoyed this book. It was fun, full of magic, full of lots of exciting stories. The detail was fantastic, really well put together. Although I did feel Ivy acted like she was 12 rather than 16. The school sounded really fun and a place I would love to study. The story was a little full on at times but I loved how there wasn't a boring moment, always something new to learn and fall in love with. Although the pace could do with a little slowing.


Fyn was a great character, would like to see more him and to see what he is hiding. He seems to be turning up to often for it to be random. As is often with magic school books, rules are often gotten around easily for the sake of the story.


Ivy was an interesting main character, we got to learn with her, which is my favourite type of story. She did get a little obsessive with Derwin Edgar Night but I liked how she was the only person who could remember him. Theories were swimming around my head as to what was going.


The ending scene in the ballroom was the best scene in the whole book for me. I loved it.


Overall a really good introduction to a new series.


4 out of 5 stars

While this book is right up my alley and I adore all things magical it was too similar to too many books I have read in the past for me to fully enjoy it. The plot became predictable.

The Crowns of Croswald was an amazingly written fantasy novel. I really loved the characters, the setting and the plot all of which was beautifully written and I can't wait to read more from D E Night as soon as I possibly can.

A fast-paced book that drags you in and keeps you reading. Lots of plot twists to keep you on your toes, with relatable main characters.

I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

This review is long overdue but it’s finally here! I was sent a paperback arc copy from the publisher a few days after it published and I was SO EXCITED! I hadn’t heard a single bad thing about it and let me tell you, they were right. It was amazing! (I feel like, by putting just one exclamation point you think, oh it was good. So, let me rephrase that, It was amazing!!!!!!) This right here is what I have been craving since the HP series finished. It was so unique and vivid. Everything, and I mean everything, was well thought out and explained and I was just beside myself with how much I loved it. Similar to the HP world there was a lot of intricate doodads, animals, mannerisms and so on. I soaked it all up like some half starved wildling and was beside myself when I realized I now have to wait for the second book.

From the very beginning to get the sense that Ivy Lovely is very important. Otherwise why would she be hidden in the middle of the slurry fields? The synopsis is a bit, vague on this as she isn’t actually separated from anything magical in the sense that she’s in this “other world” she just lives where this is something that prevents magic from being used. She knows about magic, she knows others that live there can practice magic outside of the slurry boundary, and she handles little dragon like creatures daily. So she isn’t totally naive like Harry was when she’s thrusted into her magical boarding school. Also, they whole magical system in Crowswald is so unique and mind blowing. They have little magic pens they can write with instead of wands and I loved that. The aspect of the royalty having only one single power given to them by a magical stone or jewel was pretty neat as well.

I won’t spoil anything but this book was a delight to read and I loved all the little plot twists and adventures Ivy and her friends got themselves into. This is the type of story I would love to see continued in more than just a few books as the world of Crowswald has yet to be fully explored in this book and I know there will be plenty of opportunities for Ivy and the gang to get into all sorts of mischief.

Would I buy this book? YES!

Would I recommend it? Yes yes yes!

Would I re-read it? Uhm, DUH.

For 16 years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind a barrier that suppresses magic. When she's kicked out of her maid role, she goes off through the barrier and is found by the headmaster of The Halls of Ivy. She goes to school and meets a mix of wonderful and not so wonderful people along the way. She starts to remember a man and has to concoct a plan to get through the door of forgetting and try to get others to remember him. 



My first thought is that Crowns of Croswald was definitely set up to be a series. There's a lot of time spent on the everyday slower aspects to build the character relationships, the world building and even the way magic works. This slowed down the pace a lot at times although it picked up nearing the end. 

Crowns of Croswald suffered from using inspiration maybe too much from other sources. Ivy left behind being a maid to go to a magic school. She's a sort of chosen one and the hero of the story. She has two friends, Fyn and Rebecca who help her in her adventures. It really reminded me of Harry Potter. The Scrivenists reminded me of the 'Author' plot in Once Upon a Time. The best friend, Rebecca, also reminded me of Charlotte from Princess and the Frog? I'm unsure if this was intentional, but it really threw me out of this story. 

It's most definitely meant for a younger audience than me. I would probably gift this to my younger cousin who would appreciate the new magical world a lot more. I was intrigued with how the world expands from the school. Once we get there we're suddenly only on school grounds (again similar to Harry Potter). I think Night could for sure expand this world and make the series a whole lot more unique and intriguing with this. 

Overall I did enjoy reading The Crowns of Croswald. But I didn't think it had that spark of uniqueness that would make me want to read the next installment. I received The Crowns of Croswald* by D.E.. Night from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an unbiased and honest review.

Ivy Lovely is a servant girl in a castle in the Slurry. She always seems to anger the head of the kitchens, Helga. One day she escapes beyond the Slurry boundary and is brought to the Halls of Ivy to go to school to become a scrivener. But Ivy is not exactly what she seems and this book takes you along on the journey to Ivy discovering who she is.
I felt some confusion in how this world was built. The people in the book understood their world but I don't feel like the world building made it clear to the reader. I am not sure if it is a fault of the author not thinking middle grade readers need clear world building or if it was meant as a device to convey Ivy's confusion about some of the things she faced. It also felt like it took a long time to make headway in the story action.
There will be additional books because the questions and situations Ivy faces are just getting started.

This was a really fast pased story that was super fun for me to read. I really liked the storyline and the characters in this story make it very interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I can't wait for the sequel!

First, I'd like to apologize for taking so long to get around to this review. With several jobs, and several kids it can be quite the battle to find any adequate reading time.
Not only that, but I really wanted to take my time with this book. I have grabby hands flying for anything that gets compared to Harry Potter - so I really didn't want to rush. When I read, it's important to me to take it all in - it's just not the same when you're distracted and skipping words or more.

Second, this book is gosh darn tootin' fantastic! <--- The nicer version of what I'd like to say, minus the potty mouth! It absolutely has elements that remind one of Harry Potter...magic? check! dragons? check! boarding school? you betcha! However, with that being said this author really took it in a different direction and made it her own.
I love the characters, especially Ivy who truly was quite the unique kitchen maid! I totally want a scaldron now, by the way...because who needs ovens?
Beautiful cover, beautiful writing and I seriously hope there will be more to come. My only regret is that my middle-grade subscription book box didn't launch before this came out - because it would have definitely been included!

This was a super fun fantasy novel that gave me Harry Potter feels, while still being completely unique. It's a magical boarding school setting with a slight "chosen one" trope. But it was done in such a tasteful, enjoyable way, and I can't wait to pick up a physical copy for my bookshelf. Loved this so much and was the perfect read to break my reading slump!

On that fated morning, when Ivy Lovely drags her feet down the stairs to feed the castle scaldrons, she has no idea what awaits her. Forced to leave the Castle Plum for protecting Humboldt, a sick scaldron, kind and brave Ivy Lovely scurries across the slurry fields and into the wide world with Humboldt in tow. Armed only with her meager belongings along with a bag of money and three books left to her by her dear friend and dwarf, Rimbrick, Ivy had no idea what adventures awaited her. After exiting the slurry fields, she sees a rapidly approaching storm, which turns out to be a cabby drawn by a rather persnickety beast named Parsley headed to the famous Halls of Ivy, where those with magic in their blood, and royals whom they will serve, live and study. Thrust into that world of sqwinches and royals, chased by an army of scrivenist's quills, and perplexed by a castle and a man that continue to disappear, Ivy struggles to make sense of her new life and her newfound magic powers. Growing up tucked away from the outside world, Ivy Lovely has a lot to learn when hustled into the Halls of Ivy, but she is a quick study, and with the help of a few friends, Ivy might just be able to find the answers that she seeks.

A little bit of magic, a lot of adventure, and a whole bunch of beautiful hopes and dreams make up this thoroughly enchanting tale. What an imaginative and fun book!! I highly recommend it! The world that D.E. Night has invited her readers to enter is intriguing with interesting new creatures, like scaldrons and hairies, and an army of lovable, and not-so-lovable, characters. I can hardly wait to know what happens to Ivy next - I'm definitely excited to read the next installment in this enthralling tale!!

This book was provided free of charge through NetGalley from JKS Communications Stories Untold Press. All opinions above are my own.

D.E. Night’s debut novel, The Crowns of Croswald, is a beautifully written fantasy story full of exciting adventure, magical creatures, and engaging characters. While some parts felt familiar and reminiscent of Harry Potter, I thought the author does wonderfully at creating a world that is different and a story that is unique in its own magnificent way.

The description of the world in this book is just amazing – breathtakingly rich and so detailed that I felt like I was in Croswald myself. I don’t want to give you more than that because you need to experience it for yourself… But even if I did, I just don’t think there are enough words to describe how beautiful the world is… Just know that Croswald is whimsical, fascinating and undeniably one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to.

Night’s writing is gorgeous and captivating. She creates just enough intrigue and mystery to pull you in until you’re completely drawn to the story and the characters. I was absolutely entertained and mesmerized that I didn’t even realize when I was almost done with the book. The plot is fast-paced, thrilling and filled with fun surprises and hilarious mishaps that kept me turning the pages. I love the characters in this book. They’re quirky, witty and full of spunk. I adore Ivy with all my heart and can’t wait to find out more about her and her friends. While this book is written for the middle-age group, I definitely think anyone who loves adventure and magic would enjoy it. I most certainly did!

Full of charming creatures, magical potions, secret doors, enchanted objects, delicious pies, badass characters, and a crazy evil villain, Night without a doubt has crafted one marvelous adventure for readers of all ages. Her writing is impressive and moving. The world building is exquisite and enchanting. The story is creative, intriguing and comes to life so effortlessly. The Crowns of Croswald is such a fun delightful debut novel. I cannot wait to continue Ivy’s adventure and be part of this world again.

If you’re looking for a fantastic exciting new series, then I absolutely recommend you pick this up ASAP. I’m positive you’ll enjoy this book and gobble it up like a delicious blueberry pie.

I originally picked this up mostly on account of the amazing cover, but it turned out to be honestly one of the best middle grade books I have read in a long time! The story isn't necessarily particularly unique in a lot of ways - magic school, fairies, spells, dragons etc, but what I feel sets this apart is the world building. From the very start of the book I felt like I was a part its world -there are so many fun little details included!
This felt a bit like the Medoran Chronicles, a bit like Sorcerer to the Crown, and a bit like Enid Blyton - with dragons thrown in too - so I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed those. I haven't read Harry Potter (I know, shhhh!) but I suspect this would probably be a pretty good fit for fans of that too.

One last thing on this one, D. E. Night's website has some really cool looking content, including a trailer and a sample you can read for free.

This one got four stars from me, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

The Crowns of Croswald is a whimsical tale (reminiscent of Cinderella, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson) of a young girl on the path to self-discovery in a magical kingdom. This is the debut novel from D.E. Night; the first book in a Middle Grade Fantasy series. I am 32 years old, so I seldom read Middle Grade literature, but the synopsis and beautiful cover of this book instantly caught my attention.

It was hard not to notice this book, as it (and an amazing promo box) began floating around the book community. I was seeing stunning photographs featuring The Crowns of Croswald for months on social media, and I decided that I needed to check out what was causing such a stir. I requested an e-ARC via Netgalley, however, it was archived by the time I was approved to receive a review copy. Thankfully, JKS Communications offered to send me a physical ARC, which is what I read for review.

Please take note that as I was reading, I often reminded myself that this is a Middle Grade book, and I do not even come close to falling into that target audience. With that being said, I found this to be an enjoyable read, suitable for a younger demographic but pleasant enough for most ages. I did, however, have a few issues with this book.

Although The Crowns of Croswald is evocative of other well-known and loved tales, Night manages to create a fun, imaginative narrative. A magical world of scrivenists and royals, ruled by a dark queen with her own agenda?! Yes, please! I loved the hierarchy in this book and the concept of scrivenists, in general. To be honest, though, it did take me a few chapters to really get into this book. The pacing, at times, was a bit slow. BUT, I believe the [sluggish] opening chapters were important to the story, and it is worth it if you just stick with it.

The Kingdom of Croswald is truly enchanting! Night’s world building is descriptive and charming. From the Slurry fields to the town of Ravenshollow; from the Halls of Ivy to the Hollow Shaft; I have a perfect vision of Croswald in my head. I’d like to touch on a few things more specifically:

-Envisioning the Slurry was easy thanks to the photos of some promotional items and the author’s website that I saw prior to reading the book (and let me just say how pretty that artwork is – well done). At one point while reading a scene about Ivy in the Slurry fields, I pictured Belle (from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast) singing on top of the hill about wanting to find adventure in the great wide somewhere! It was quite a fitting image, I thought, the more I read. The Slurry, itself, played its own crucial role, which I considered to be really inventive.

-Ravenshollow was full of fantastic shops/businesses, and I found myself wanting more of some of the characters that Ivy encountered there, like Mr. Munson. *Please consider this my formal request for more of Mr. Munson in the next book.*

-I have officially decided that I need magical powers of some sort, because some of the best adventures in Middle Grade literature take place at a school for gifted children. In this case, the Halls of Ivy was alluring and delightful. I really enjoyed all of the whimsy that Night injected into this castle and the magical lessons to be learned. I previously mentioned how I loved the concept of scrivenists, but the power-wielding stones for royals and the Glanageries were equally appealing.
I tend to gravitate towards books that are more character driven. I do need a solid plot, but if a book has a strong cast of characters that are well-developed, I can be happy. The Crowns of Croswald was in the middle, for me, on both parts.

I felt that some scenes and characters were underdeveloped. Now, I loved Ivy! She was caring, curious, and strong-willed – my kind of girl! I also really liked Rebecca, Winsome, and Fyn.

I actually wish there was more of Fyn! You could see the spark igniting with Fyn and Ivy, but the flame never quite caught, and I wanted it to. Fyn and Ivy complimented each other well, which was why I was hopeful. I got the biggest grin when I read “He had a look of curiosity on his okay-maybe-he’s-handsome face, head cocked to the side.” The feels really sank in at that point!

Of course, I also disliked (in the way a reader is meant to dislike them) the Dark Queen and Damaris. I want to know more about the Dark Queen’s story. I got a glimpse of it here, but I hope the future book(s) in this series give the reader a full view. I also had questions about the Selector that went unanswered.

The book ended a bit quicker than I would have hoped, but the set-up for the next book is there!

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I highly doubt a 10 year old is going to read this as critically as I did, so I think the target audience will thoroughly appreciate The Crowns of Croswald. I actually think a lot of YA fans will also like it, which is why I will recommend this book. I am looking forward to seeing what unfolds in this series.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night in exchange for an honest review!

In this story full of magic, mystery and intrigue, curiosity might have saved the cat! Ivy Lovely's dreams of a higher calling than her life as a castle maid comes true when she escapes and is enlisted in the renowned Halls of Ivy, the one she would dream of every night. Classes in magic are not enough to distract her when paintings go missing, glanagerie bottles take her to the same strange ship and things forgotten by all seem fresh in only her mind. Ivy must take daring journeys to uncover the truth and unlock her potential before the evil Dark Queen can achieve her own agenda. Who is Ivy and what makes her different? What does the Dark Queen want? This is a must-read book for fans of Harry Potter!!
Personally, I enjoyed this book very much and can't wait for book 2. The story is engaging, wildly imaginative and fun. Bonus points to the author for creativity!!

Amazing! This book was fun and mysterious! I'm gonna let my son and family read this! Then buy a few copies for Smart Bookaholics Inc Bookstore!

I felt transported into another world ! You will fall in love with this book and every character in it! I loved the twist at the end, and finished the book with such a cliff hanger I cannot wait under the second book comes out, I'm just dying to know what is going to happen.!
This book is great for readers of any age, teen, adult anyone ! The author gives amazing details you can picture the slurry fields, and the ivy halls even that dark queen! I wish this book went on longer !

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.*

The Crowns of Croswald is the first in a series that introduces us to Ivy Lovely. Ivy has spent her first sixteen years near a slurry field, and working as a scaldrony maid in Castle Plum. Slurry is a type of plant that dampens magic. Once she crosses out of the boundary of the slurry fields, her magic awakens and her journey begins.
Ivy travels to The Halls of Ivy, a magical school that teaches scrivenists and those with magic stones how to use their magic. Scrivenists are kind of like wizards but they use a quill instead of a wand. Soon Ivy finds herself in all kinds of trouble as she tries to uncover the secret of the mysterious dreams she has.
This is a cute read, and definitely skews more to a younger audience. I often forgot that Ivy was sixteen. The Crowns of Croswald also reminds me of the Harry Potter books. There are plenty of similarities but it does stand on its own.
I really enjoyed the story and Ivy is a great character. The world building was nice and really drew me in. One of the good comparisons to Harry Potter is the richness of the world building.
The only thing I didn't like about the story was that I wish there was more conflict. Everything seemed to be too easy for Ivy, and it felt like she really didn't have to try too hard to complete her tasks. I would love to see her struggle a little in the next book, that way the victories would be so much better.
Overall I recommend this book. Just don't get bogged down by comparing it to other stories. Allow yourself to be lost in this new and magical world.