“The life of a captain, while interesting, does not compare to my true calling,” he said, shaking water out of his ear. “Now would it be possible for a gentleman to get a bubble bath?”
The Crowns of Croswald is a fantasy novel that follows Ivy Lovely, a girl who works as a ‘scaldrony’ maid alongside the most mystical of creatures, dragons! She leads a boring if lushly described life alongside her friend the dwarf Rimbrick who feels like a father figure to her, and brings her books on the ancient and arcane study of ‘scrivenry’, (the form magic takes in D.E Night’s whimsical world) and here she is introduced to the famed scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night, (the very author of the Crowns of Croswald themself?) A mysterious stranger, a prophecy and the twisting threads of fate in the whimsical and Ghibli-esque world D.E Night creates leads Ivy to a school of Magic where she learns that nothing is what it seems!

I adored this book. It brought me back to the days of reading Harry Potter for the first time and both the way setting were described and the characters in it were absolutely charming. Some might say that the Crowns of Croswald could be a little derivative, as the genre has been entirely saturated by ‘Magic School’ novels, but I feel that it is with the author’s voice whereupon the task of distinguishing the book from its peers lies, and D.E. Night’s storytelling is reminiscent of a warm summer’s day in childhood; cheery and bright and full of magic!

If you are looking for a rich new fantastical world then this is a delight. Even if it is sure to be a hit with a younger audience, it’s fast-paced enough and has enough exciting twists to make it a fun quick read for older readers too. It’s also surprisingly funny, and characters like the Captain or ‘Ivory Lucky’ – who is especially excellently imagined, are easy to connect with because of it.

I really enjoyed Winsome as a character, and the tension leading up to the Ball was especially fun. One detriment to the Crowns of Croswald I would say, as I can see it intends to be an action packed series building up to a thrilling conclusive battle against the villain introduced in this book, is that some parts seemed a little bit rushed. The book could have perhaps stayed longer in some parts, just to really explore the cast of characters and the setting. I hope Damaris, Rimbrick and Fyn’s characters are delved into in the next book, which I will definitely think about reading!

Thank you to the publisher Stories Untold for supplying me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars!

Thank you to the Publisher for an e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book is so cute and such a great middle grade read. The world is full of Magic and going along on Ivy’s journey is a fun adventure. The story is so well developed it makes it truly feel like an adventure that keeps you on your seat wanting to know what happens next. It also touches on good themes like independence, bullying, and curiosity which I think were very appropriate for young readers.

One of the best things about fantasy is a world created from scratch and new creatures to learn. D.E. Night does a great job at building a world you want to read about. I think this is a great way to introduce young readers to fantasy stories. It is also a really fun read! I am going to have to pick up the next one to find out how the story continues.

I’d like to thank the publisher and author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really did enjoy reading this. D. E. Night has painted such a vivid world, rich with magical creatures galore and interesting characters. I will admit I felt worried I wouldn’t connect with these characters well, due to me obviously not being the age of the intended audience, but they surprised me with their charm and the way in which their personalities developed as the story went on.

There was enough detail given to the magic system used that I felt comfortable diving into this whole new world of magic, but I didn’t feel bombarded with explanations on how every tiny little thing worked.

I also absolutely loved the pacing of the story. Slow and steady at the start to allow the reader to adjust to this enchanting new place, and then as soon as Ivy finds her place in school things absolutely sky rocket into action central. There are so many highs and lows, I never knew what was coming with every turn of the page.

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a honest review. From the start of this book D.E. Night did a great job of creating a magical world that was enjoyable to read about. Ivy was a good main character to follow throughout this book. I felt that this book was similar in many was to Harry Potter however I felt it would appeal to a younger audience. Throughout the book Ivy is pulled from working in a castle to a magical school where she learns more about who she is and more about the powers she has. Ivy runs into many obstacles along her journey into finding out about her family however these obstacles lead her right into the answers she is looking for by the end of the book. Overall I really enjoyed this book!

Really cute middle grade! Loved the world and the atmosphere. Definitely going to pick up the next one.

3.5 stars

So I had heard some comparisons to Harry Potter and that made me both skeptical and intrigued. Skeptical because I started reading Harry Potter when it came out (just after grad school for me) and I couldn't imagine anything being as good as Harry Potter but intrigued because I wanted something for middle school kids that could draw them into fantasy. I don't usually like comparing a book to another (especially one that is much-beloved) but it was very clear to me that this author was inspired by Harry Potter. There are many analogous situations and characters that occur in this book, including Rebecca (Ron), Demaris (Draco), Woodley Butterlove (Neville), Ivy living in a dark and dank place (closet under the stairs), acting as the lowest servant in the castle, even the various ghosts, the magical school, the big bad villain, the transportation, etc. With so many obvious nods to Harry Potter, it's hard NOT to compare it to Harry Potter. But I try to enjoy a book on its own merits as much as I can, and this book definitely had some. I really enjoyed the world that the author created, with two different ways of doing magic (with a magic stone as a royal, and with a natural talent with a quill), which implies that even those who don't have magical talent can do magic. That said, there is definitely a streak of privilege associated with the magic of the royals since that is limited to those who were born into the right families. I'm sure that idea will be further explored in future books. I really loved the dragons/scaldrons and Humboldt (Hedwig) was pretty cool. There were some other interesting creatures dreamed up by this author that I also enjoyed, and her imaginative worlds in a bottle were very cool. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were interesting as sketches are an important part of the magic in this world.

Overall, this was no Harry Potter, and honestly, you should just read Harry Potter if you're looking for that kind of book. But I thought this was a decent first attempt by a young author, and I also think it targets a younger group of readers than Harry Potter, and could potentially attract younger kids to the genre (which is always a good thing, in my humble opinion). Although there were some uneven spots in the writing and crafting of this story, I really enjoyed it and was fully immersed by the end, enough so that I really want to continue with this trilogy. So did this wow my socks off? No. But I still enjoyed the time I spent with this book and I want to continue spending time in this world, and yes, I will recommend this for my younger students looking for an adventure/fantasy.

I received a review copy from the publishers for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really cute book. I would have loved to read this in grade school. It is very much reminiscent of Harry Potter, so if you liked that you'll like this. It was a very easy read but also had some really nice vocab words. There were some slower parts in the beginning after the initial "surprise". The twist in the story is pretty easy to guess, but there are some surprise details that make it interesting. I will definitely read the second book soon.

🌸Spoilery Review🌸
⭐⭐⭐/5
Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely, a seemingly mistreated nobody who works in a kitchen. Enter a dwarf she's known all her life to leave her a few blank books, a bag full of money, and a very cryptic note.
Everyone knows the Hall of Ivy exists and everyone knows that only Royals and Scriveners go to the hall, and Ivy is pretty certain she has no magical abilities.
She gets to "The Town", meets a cute boy, buys her school supplies, gets chased by some magic quills, and finally makes it to the school.
Classes start and Ivy meets the snooty rich girl girl bully who wants to make Ivy miserable. She makes friends with a sweet royal named Rebecca who has always wanted to be a scrivener. The Evil Queen is after Ivy as well and Ivy has no idea why. All the adults seem to know who Ivy is but they all act very cryptic. The only person who can help her is Derwin Edgar Night. Only problem is nobody even remembers Derwin Edgar Night due to the Forgotten Room, a room where things get locked away and get wiped from existence.
If you’ve read Harry Potter, you’ll see a lot of similarities. The story has just enough differences though to stand out on its own. The target audience is 8-12 year olds and I do believe my daughter would absolutely love it.
When Ivy found out she was actually a long lost princess, she reacted as if the Queen had told her she hated the cupcakes she baked her.
I did absolutely love the concept of the Forgotten Room. The head of school gets a little sketchy about the things she puts in the room though even if it is all to keep Ivy safe. At one point, Rebecca accidentally gets trapped in the room and her clothes disappear from her closet and her name disappears from the roster and Ivy is truly the only person to remember her.
I feel like the story went a little too quickly but it is only the first book in the series and I'm excited to see what is to come in the world of Croswald.
Slightly longer review in my goodreads.

#review #bookishcontent #magic #magicschool #worldofcroswald #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #bookdragon #bibliophile #bookstagram #fortheloveofreading

If you want to introduce a young reader to fantasy, this is a great way to start. It's a really thought out world with unique elements that make you want to be part of it. It is compared a lot with Harry Potter because it has the basic elements of a girl who finds out about magic, a boarding school and a darkness that is after her. However, the magic system, the mystical creatures and even the characters does set this apart from the familiarity with the HP series. As I mentioned, it is middle grade so although themes such as bullying, prejudice, and abandonment are touched, it's done in a very soft way that makes this a light reading for younger minds. Definitely, something that can be picked up and read out loud with the family and will be enjoyed with the fun creatures and witty characters.

Review has been posted on Goodreads and will be posted on my Instagram by 08/08

Many thanks to D.E. Night and NetGalley for providing me a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my honest review.

Ivy Lovely, a 16-year-old scaldrony maid, suddenly enters a world she never dreamed she’d be a part of when she is accepted to a school in which she will train to become a Scrivenist. She quickly gets wrapped up in mystery after mystery, all while an evil Queen lurks in the shadows.

The Crowns of Croswald definitely gave me Harry Potter vibes—a magical school, hijinks with friends, and an evil villain threatening to end it all. This is fantastically written and is different enough from Harry Potter that it didn’t feel redundant in any way. I realized while reading that I may have outgrown this genre, but it’s absolutely a book I would’ve loved had I read it at the same age I was when Harry Potter came out.

This would be a wonderful book (and series) to read aloud with middle grade children!

I find it a little tough to review this since this is book is meant for middle schoolers. For that audience, I think this is a suitable book for them!

For me, we jumped right into the world too quickly and I had a hard time keeping up with the new terminology created for this book. Also, this book felt very influenced by Harry Potter.

I love a magical story for middle schoolers and I think a lot of kids would enioy this even if I thought it was derivative.

I received this book to review through NetGalley.

As a HP Stan, I was excited to see what the new world of fantasy books has to offer. The author D.E. Night did not disappoint with her imagination and creativity, I believe the fantasy world is in good hands.

Her imagery and her world building is fantastic. The intended age range of middle grade will love it and anyone who is looking for fantasy read can gladly enjoy it.

The characters and creatures are very detailed. At first it’s a little confusing but by the end of the book you catch on to terms and types of magic. Ivy as a heroine and getting into good trouble is the perfect role model for young girls. If you want fairytale fantasy but not a romance this is the perfect story.

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for this e-book through Netgalley. I am happy to have had the opportunity to see what’s out there for middle age readers and in the fantasy genre.

Once you learn to push your fears aside, your powers will shine as brightly as mine do now!
•••••••••••
For Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old girl that worked as a mere scaldrony maid being free from the miserable place called The Castle Plum is a bliss. Little does she knows, a world of adventure awaits her when she crossed the border that been keeping her safe and hidden from the lurking darkness her whole life. As her power awakens, Ivy was admitted to The Hall of Ivy where she starts to unravel about the mystery of the man that keeps appearing in her dream. Thus, Ivy adventure begins.

The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderful middle grade fantasy that packed with adventure and a unique magic system. It is a real page turner and I really recommend this book to anyone that would love to enjoy an intriguing light and easy fantasy read. I can't stop thinking about the ending, as I feel like there's more to this book that I'm yet to understand. I'm looking forward for the second book in the series which is The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.

Title: The Crowns of Crosswald
Author: D. E
Score: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
English level: B1-B2
Recommended age: +13

First of all I want to thank Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read the book, I really wanted to read this story apart from the cover is beautiful !!! It tells us the story of Ivy, a normal girl who makes chores in a house together with her friend Rimbrick a goblin until one day she leaves and they offer her to study at the most prestigious school of magic in Crosswald. It made me a very original story and I loved the setting that the author managed to give it as well as Ivy the protagonist who made me a girl looking for her dream and a better life although sometimes she made decisions that made me nervous. The fantasy, romance and mystery behind Crosswald was very good. And the villain of the story brings me very intrigued with his past and what he can do. My favorite characters were Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca and Edwin Edgar Night who had me curious throughout the book. I recommend them to people who are beginning to read fantasy and those who read like Middle grade books as I do. And I want to read the second book since the end ufff was epic that last 20% left me surprised.

✨ Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review✨

The Crowns of Croswald is a mesmerizing story about magic, mystery and betrayal. D.E. Night created a world so vivid, and enchanting that I was captivated from the very beginning.

Ivy Lovely is living dreadfully as a Scaldron maid in a hidden Castle. Scaldrons are dragons that are used to cook food in their mouths, so when they get sick, it is detrimental to the kitchen. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens. Ivy tries to save the Scaldron from the wrath of Helga who is just an awful human but also in charge.

After being thrown out, Ivy meets a cabby who tells her she had been enrolled in an academy meant only for those who are scrivenerists with natural abilities or royals who have gems that aid in their abilities. This is where the magic begins. There's mythical creatures, a Dark Queen, danger at every corner and adventure after adventure.

This book was described to me as like Harry Potter but still being completely unique, and I have to agree. I loved everything about this story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 5⭐

I was hesitant at first when I was approached for this book since I don’t normally read a lot of middle grade. However, as soon as I started it I was immediately drawn in. Turned out to be a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Crowns of Croswald by D E Night 2017
In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…
For sixteen years, Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her to crash through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald's mysterious gems. When Ivy's magic—and her life—is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.
This story is entertaining and powerful, and I was picked up and swept into the City of Crosswald with its attractions and inhabitants.
The plot is very similar to Harry Potter's story, going to a magical school and being different. Still, I can honestly say that the author has done a great job constructing a unique whole new magical fantasy world with extraordinary characters but keeping fantasy favourites like fairies and dragons. In addition, there are some great twists and turns to keep you entertained.
An enjoyable read; I look forward to reading the next book in this four-part series.

i have been loving reading middle grade books recently and this was the perfect read. It has all the elements from a magical world, witches, wizards and spells. If you are a Harry Potter reader and loved that world , you need to pick this up! This was my first book from this author and i loved the writing and illustrations throughtout the book

I was fortunate enough to get this for free through netgalley!
I really enjoyed this book! a fantastic middlegrade with amazing characters and great world building!
it was pitched as having similarities to Harry Potter. I agree on that to some extent and did enjoy that part of the story. even with the similarities I found that the author succeeded in making the story her own.

I adored Ivy I thought she was a great main character with good attributes. She is someone I would have loved to see on the page when I was younger

Are you a Potter's head? If yes, then “D.E.Night brings a treat of magic, a mesmerizing fantasy world, dragons, and many more in her book “The crowns of Croswald”.
Let's jump into the fantasy world of 16-year-old orphan girl Ivy, who is unaware of her magical powers. One day her powers awaken, she wants to attend the “Hall of Ivy” a school for those who want to master their magic. As the story move, she finds out about the danger and challenges she has to face to save herself and Croswald.
Any reader who enjoys the epic adventures of Harry Potter will adore this fantasy read. The descriptions are terrific and from the beginning of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the unique magical and fantasy world. all characters are well-written into the story, adding depth to the already fascinating fantasy world the author has invented.
If you enjoy dark magic, and creative fantasy, do not hesitate to pick this book.

Thanks, Netgalley and D.E.Night for the review copy in exchange of an honest review