I was hooked on Ivy Lovely in the first chapter and by chapter four I couldn't put the book down!  I think if you liked Harry Potter or even the Percy Jackson series you will find this book captivating! I love when fantasy stories bridge the ordinary with the extraordinary in their characters and that is exactly what D.E. Night does here with Croswald. 

Ivy is sweet and a main character you will immediately find endearing.  I loved all the detail Night gave to the magical creatures and the town.  I found myself getting lost in imagination and I am certain any young adult would find this story enchanting (or really any age reader if you are like me and love fantasy/magic/mythical creatures and the like). 

I really look forward to reading more about Ivy and her magical adventures in book 2 of this series! 
Thank you to Stories Untold and NetGalley for providing me with this free copy in exchange for an honest review.

📚📚📚Book Review📚📚📚
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
First I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for my free digital copy of this book for my honest review! I love reading new books and discovering new authors! Fantasy fiction has quickly become my new favorite genre! This book did NOT disappoint!!! When I read a book I want to imagine the characters, the places and the events. Author D. E. Night did an amazing job with this! I felt what Ivy was feeling. I was easly placed right in this story. I look forward to finding out what happens next with Ivy and her friends.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars Fantasy fiction lovers, this book is for you! This book is for everyone! It is fast paced and will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I received this book for free from the publisher and author (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review.

"Her thirst for knowledge and love of reading- everyone else at the castle seemed dull and muted, uninterested in anything beyond their work and the latest servant gossip."

We follow Ivy, a sixteen year old orphan working as a kitchen maid. She spends her free time reading books gifted by her friend Rimbrick. A kitchen mishap causes her to leave the castle, where she gets invited to attend a magical school, The Hall of Ivy. There she learns to harness her powers and discovers her past. I really enjoyed Ivy as a character; she exhibited brave and I loved her motivation. I adored Fyn and Ivy's cute relationship! Rebecca, Ivy's roommate was there to help her out of any situation. The book was filled with magic and adventure. The Crowns of Croswald, although an enjoyable read, I identified passages and scenes similar to Harry Potter. When writing about a middle grade magic only so many tropes can be recycled before it becomes repetitive. An innovative twist on the magic school trope would have made the book stronger. The powerful ending scene bumped my rating up because it demonstrated the growth Ivy experienced throughout the book. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a middle grade fantasy that revolves around magic!

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

The Crowns of Croswald is such an enthralling read!

It's been quite some time since I last read a fantasy book and I am so glad I got to read this one. It felt like I was taken to a world full of adventure and magic - fun, thrilling, and nerve-racking. I'm supposed to give 4 stars but writing this review made me realize how much I loved it and how much delight and excitement this book has given me. So I gave it 5 stars instead. 😁

This book sure is Harry Potter, Narnia and Alice in Wonderland in one. Just so so good! I really admire how the story was written - so magical, so whimsical. It is just amazing how the author got to imprint a picture of this book in my head. I'm a fan of books that make my imagination run wild and how this book was written got my imagination up and running. That's how good it is. I just love how it feels like I was reading a fairytale where the princess does the saving. I never wanted the book to end. Thankfully, this is a series. 😁

Well the story is about Ivy, a 16 year-old orphan who grew up working as a scaldron maid. The adventure begins when she crosses the magical boundary and started learning about the magic she possess, she finds out that there's more to her past than she knows about.

Here are 10 Reasons why I love The Crowns of Croswald:

1. How unique the story was written is just so captivating. I love D.E. Night's imagination, it amazes me. As I said earlier, it is just amazing how the author got to imprint a permanent picture of this book in my head. Am I now a scrivenist? 🤔🤭
2. How the book gave me that nostalgic fairytale feels and vibe.
3. It's middle-grade book but both the young ones and the young at heart can enjoy it. 👍🏻
4. The characters are lovable - Scrivenists, hairies, dwarfs, shorehorse, unicorns, dragons!
5. The protagonist Ivy - fierce, strong and willful
6. Ivy and Rebecca's friendship
7. Ivy and Fyn's adorable chemistry, attraction and grumpiness towards each other
8. Loved the adventures this book has taken me.
9. Loved the enchanted and magical world of Croswald. The Old Carriage House, The Hollow Shaft, the Halls of Ivy, the slurry fields, Castle Plum. I'd like to see other things Croswald has to offer.
10. I also love that there was a bit of romance in the story. The instant chemistry between Ivy and Fyn is so adorable (Oh, those innocent crushes! Brings me back to how it feels when I was 16 😂). 

I am very curious and thrilled on how the rest of Ivy's story will unfold in the next books. I'm excited to know how Ivy will become stronger, and fulfill her destiny. I wonder what will happen to Ivy and Fyn's budding romance. Hmmmm. Still have a lot of questions in my mind right now. Will surely have to read the rest of the series for me to find out all of these. And I will definitely do!

The Crowns of Croswald takes readers on a whimsical journey to Croswald, a fictional place where scrivenists study at the Halls of Ivy to learn magical ways. The story follows Ivy, a 16 year old orphan who had been working as a scaldrony maid (a bit of a magical play on the role of a scullery maid) until she was summoned to join the ranks at the Halls of Ivy.

This is a middle grade read appropriate to both middle and high schoolers.

The story has plenty of whimsy and magic, adventure and suspense, and also a little puppy love romance. It is a slow to warm novel, as I feel first in a fantasy series often are, to provide the reader with some background information— but it definitely turns into a page turner.

You will fall in love with Ivy and route for her through her mishaps and grand adventures. She’s quirky, and definitely at times finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time, but is strong, goodhearted, and determined.

I loved the magical creatures and elements in this book that are nostalgic to other magical series but still with a unique flavor. Some of these elements at times produced some confusion for me, and I left the book with a few unanswered questions— however, this could be the writer’s intention to keep the reader hooked for the next in the series.

Thank you to D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for providing the copy in return for honest review.

When first approached about reading The Crowns of Croswald, I was a bit unsure because it’s a middle grade book. Though I am a big YA fan, I can’t remember the last time I picked up a middle grade fantasy book. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this, mostly because of the imaginative story and creativity of this author. I ‘m so glad I took a chance on a middle grade book like this. It brought me back to being a kid and really using my imagination and seeing the fun and excitement within this book’s pages.

Summary:

Ivy Lovely is a kitchen maid who dreams of being a scrivenist. When a dear friend leaves her a pile of books and a curious note about her background, she is surprised at her invitation to study at the Halls of Ivy among royals and squinches. Throughout her first year, Ivy continuously comes across the name Derwin Edgar Night, the same author of the books her dear friend had left her. However, this person has been erased from memory - forgotten by everyone but her. Could he hold the key to Ivy’s true identity?

Review:

This book is a wonderful mix of Harry Potter and similar type books. It has a little something for every fantasy lover - dragons, magical creatures, magic spells, and adventure. I also thought it was witty for the author to include themselves as a character in the book. This story also has the typical characters of many fantasy books: the heroine, the sidekick, the love interest, the villain, the mean girl, and someone needing rescue. Overall I thought this was an enjoyable quick read. My only complaint is the storyline was more fluffy than what I’m used to. Details were a little bare when it came to characters, but I think that’s also the norm of the middle grade genre.

This story is faced paced and full of magic. You really dive into the world of Croswald headfirst and you are never bored. Ivy was a really fun protagonist as she was either always on an adventure or getting herself into trouble. I really enjoyed Ivy’s friendships especially with Rebecca and her pet dragon/scaldron Humboldt. The mystery running throughout the novel was done well. It kept me intrigued and weaved into the rest of the story nicely. The magic is always present in every part of the story, particularly once we get to the school and brings to life the magical atmosphere you want from a book like this. I did not in general like the treatment of characters such as Helga and the Butterlove’s. Or that we had some really involved scenes with some characters who we then never really see again – although its likely these will pop in the later books in the series. Nevertheless, I would recommend this book. It is exciting, funny, has eccentric characters and is full of magic. Overall if you want a bit of pure magical fantasy and escapism then this is for you.

Ivy Lovely, 16-year-old former scullery maid, is having dreams and visions that aren’t quite making sense to her. When she is thrown out of the Plum castle, she is terrified, as she has no family and nowhere to go. Just then, she is magically whisked away to the Halls of Ivy, school of magic, where she begins a whole new life and embarks on numerous magical adventures.

This book, intended for middle grade children, is cute and fanciful. D.E. Night is creative and her writing is fairly good. She has the imagination, creativity, and talent to become a wonderful fantasy writer. I won’t pretend that the The Crowns of Croswald isn’t Harry Potter fan fiction, because it is. I like that it has a female protagonist, as well as a female villain. I love the romance between Ivy and Fyn - super adorable. Did I know Ivy’s story within the first ten minutes? Yes. Was the double moon disappearing a real mystery? No. But, I’m not a 12-year-old kid. If Night is trying to write a book that is intended for kids, but loved by adults, this book is a start. It is excellent practice, as long as we acknowledge it for what it is. Harry Potter with some tweaks. I’m confident that Night has plenty of her own ideas and creativity to share with us in the future and I will definitely look forward to reading that work in the future.

Thanks to D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and Netgalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Book Review // The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night // ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A book made of magic, royalty and mythical creatures. This book was so interesting and cool. What magical power would you like to have?

Ivy Lovely doesnt quite know what is hidden in her magical blood, what has been covered up from her past. When she joins the Halls of Ivy, her dream school, Ivy is just as excited as any other new student, but soon things begin to not feel so right and maybe there’s a lot more Ivy needs to learn about her school and even herself.

I will begin by saying this book was so enchanting and magical that I felt like I had really entered a different world. I loved the mix of Scrivenists and royalty as I thought this was a great concept for a magical school. The Scaldron dragons were the first creatures that I fell in love with they sounded so sweet but cool, I loved that they cooked food, cute! The princesses crowns were the next thing that amazed me, it was so cool how each stone created a different power, this made all the characters so interesting to meet as I wanted to find out what their powers were. Apart from Ivy, I think my favourite character was Rebecca, she was so cool and she really found herself, friendship, and her love of her crown throughout the book (I won’t let you in on her power as I don’t want to ruin it, but it’s a power I would love to have). My only wish is that I wanted to learn more about the classes at the Halls of Ivy and see how Ivy began to learn how to control her magic, this would have been really interesting to follow. This is a great middle grade read which I have already recommended to my younger brother, a book full of action, power, magic and royalty... what more could you want?!

Thank you for this copy of the e-book from NetGalley, I was offered this book in exchange for an honest review! Can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

I have really enjoyed reading children/young adults fiction recently. I think that there is a particular feel, a sense of reading without the same rules, a sense of possibility and adventure. I was unfamiliar with this book and this author, but I have become rather fond of stories about the acquisition of magic! The first thing that hits you reading this book is the incredible imagination at work. In this imaginary world you are given such amazingly detailed descriptions. This is the story of Ivy who is whisked away from a life of servitude to attend The Halls of Ivy where children learn to use their magical skills. Ivy is excited to be at the school she has always dreamed of and is amazed to discover her exceptional skills, however it is not long before she realises that there are dark forces at large and the Dark Queen and her entourage are on the move. I felt reading at the start of this book was like beginning a board game. You encounter unfamiliar territory, new terminology, rules and ideas which you need to assimilate to move around the board. This did make the beginning of the book, for me, quite difficult. It is loaded with description and detail and I found it slow simply because there is so much to absorb. Sometimes I wasn’t sure if a word was imaginary or one I didn’t know! Then suddenly it came together and the adventure took over. There is a sense of brooding danger which added to the tension and excitement. I think that young adults will find characters in this book who they will relate to: teenage character traits reveal themselves in the costumery and spell casting. The evolving friendship between Ivy and Rebecca was intuitively portrayed as is the blossoming romance. The character of Derwin Edgar Night is fascinating and illusive and with his reappearance at the end of the book the adventure is all set for the next volume in the series. With thanks to Netgalley and D.E. Night for a digital copy of this intriguing story.

This review is based on the opinions of two of my 7ths grade students, as well as myself. This book was quite difficult to get into at first. The storyline was good, but there was so much going on all at once at the beginning that it was a bit overwhelming. There were characters to get used to, but then there were names of objects and places and spells and…

Anyway, about halfway through, the story became more interesting and easy to follow. Ivy has been thrown into a world that she had only ever dreamed of – quite literally. She finds herself in over her head at first, but quickly comes into her own, through the help of a princess, a believed-to-be-dead scrivenist, a boy who seems to pop up when she needs him the most and her own curiosity. It’s a story of coming into ones own and overcoming your past in order to embrace your destiny.

The adventures that Ivy and her friends are on in this first book – magic aside – are quite ordinary and easy to relate to (getting into trouble for being late, helping a friend, being picked on by the “mean girl”, etc.) Middle grade students will find Ivy’s story much more exciting because they are able to see hints of themselves in her and Rebecca.

All three of us are interested in reading the rest of the series.

Ivy Lovely is very ordinary - she is a lowly maid for a castle where even those with magical powers are bland. When chased out with nothing but a dress and a small beastly friend, a gift left for Ivy sets everything quickly in motion. She's swept up by a stranger telling her not only is she on the list for the most wonderfully magic school around, but she actually has magic flowing through her very own veins.

Arriving at school and wanting nothing more than to make a good impression and learn, Ivy quickly finds herself to be labeled a "rule breaker" and a bit of a "trouble maker". Through her discoveries, though, she starts learning about the past, her family, and finds herself on the tail of a mystery that everyone except her can't help but forget.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ivy's story as she learns to navigate the Halls of Ivy and finding her true self. There were quite a few plot twists and I was constantly guessing, trying to figure out what was going on and who could be trusted. Sometimes things moved a bit quickly, but overall the book seemed to have a good pace for the tone and plot.

The characters were both fun and flawed, leading to a great mix of curiosity and mischievous adventures. This helped build the plot in really great and intriguing ways. I found the book hard to put down because I wanted to solve the mystery as much as Ivy.

This book is great for anyone who has read Harry Potter and is looking for the next magical adventure. I think it would also be a great read for young readers that are just getting into fantasy settings, as the book was easy to follow while still keeping the reader on their toes.

I can't wait to read more about Ivy and her magical adventures!

Anyone who has been itching for another magical world full of whimsy to get lost in will love Ivy's story. The realm is uniquely its own; the creatures are exciting and new (but feel familiar) so it won't feel like a retelling of the Harry Potter story. The matriarchal society of the story is another plus for me. I was happy with the flow of the story although the supporting characters lost me at times. Mid-level to YA readers will enjoy this one and be excited about the upcoming sequels!

*Light spoilers ahead*

Ivy Lovely does possess quite a few similarities to Harry Potter and I can see where this would get in the way for some readers. But, you know what else had a lot of similarities - Harry Potter and Star Wars - and that never stopped me from enjoying either one.

The Crowns of Croswald really did transport me to a special place, as Harry Potter did for me back when I was a kid, which is hard to do as an adult reader so I applaud D.E. Night. I do think this series could become the next magical craze for this generation. Ivy’s story is very similar to Harry’s - they both grew up in tiny closets, hidden away from the dark powerful wizard, witch in Ivy’s case, and then brought to a magical school by a caring guardian. Not to mention they are both the chosen ones.

It is difficult to write a super unique coming of age magical story without people reading into the similarities, but this didn’t stop me from devouring the book in a weekend. It was such a fun read. Ivy is smart and does most of the work to progress the story on her own (no smart friend helping her through everything or teachers bending over backward for her). Quite the opposite to Harry, she is a tough girl who is extremely brave and is constantly going out of her way to help others and doesn’t wait for someone to tell her what to do!

I do wish we got more interaction with her friend and love interest as well as some of the magical creatures who show up in short spurts and then seem to disappear from the storyline. But the delicate sensory descriptions of the castle and world make up for it.

I will most definitely be reading the series as it comes out. I was so excited for Ivy by the end of the book, and I wish the next one were already out.

Overall I gave the book 3.5 outta five stars as it entertained me. I enjoyed the regal and bookish aspects of the story and I was hooked by the end of the first chapter.

*I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to the publisher.

This book was magical from start to finish, it gave me Harry Potter feels but it was a copycat at all. If you love royalty, magic, mythical creatures, mystery and more then this is the book for you. I though Ivy was a fantastic character and I was with her every step of the way as she navigated The Halls of Ivy and making new friends and enemies. I was invested and I can’t wait to read more of her adventures.

I was sent a copy by NetGalley in exchange for a review.

This book was such a lovely fantasy perfect for young readers and those who are starting fantasy. It follows a young orphan named Ivy who is thrown into a world she doesn’t know.

The illustrations at the start of each chapter are so beautiful and a lovely addition to the book. The author has done a wonderful job of creating a little fantasy world and a character you will love.

I give the 3 star rating because it does remind me of Harry Potter and I really don’t like Harry Potter. I can’t explain why I don’t like it and what it is about it but if you’re a fan you will most likely enjoy this.

“Your magic, it comes from your mother. But your smile and eyes favor your father,” Derwin said softly.

This book revolves around a girl named Ivy Lovely who doesn't know her real identity and when she gets invited to the Halls of Ivy her fate unfolds itself.

I love it how it is so much like Harry Potter and yet so different from Harry Potter and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book in the series.

Thank you to Daniela, from Stories Untold Press and the author for the opportunity to read The Crowns of Croswald, along with NetGalley.

For fans of Harry Potter, a new fantastic world full of magic animals and a magical school, with spells, potions, evil forces and a ball.

Ivy Lovely is 16, she's an orphan and a scaldony maid. That's all she knows about herself. Her only friend is a dwarf called Rimbrick, who tells her stories to help her pass time. One day she is kicked off the castle where she was working, and she takes one of the scaldony dragons with her. That's when she learns that she has magic in herself, and that people are expecting her at the Halls of Ivy, a magical school for Royals and Scriveners, and slowly she starts learning more about herself.

When reading The Crowns of Croswald i couldn't help but fall in love with the world we are introduced to. From the magical school to the forests and castles. The animals and creatures are imaginative and new, and they are either lovely or horrible. 

The idea of the hairies, fairies that have really long hair that glows, is so beautiful and enchanting that it made me want to know more about them. The lovely beings contrasted by their not-so-pretty alter egos, beings that do exactly the opposite.

The idea of magical crowns with magical jewels that give the wielder power is amazing, straight out of mythology, and the scriveners use magic through their quills, which are practically alive.

If I could choose I would be a scrivener, making discoveries and investigating about the world. Their accomplishments written down on a magical book that keeps growing until their last day.

As much as I loved it though, I felt Ivy got things way too easy. We are used to heroes having to fight for their lives, fighting for every bit of luck and power, but with Ivy everything came easily.

I tried not to spoil any parts, but the ones that have read it will know exactly what I am talking about.

There is a place where she needs to go through a spell, and nobody can, since the spell is so powerful, but Ivy just goes right through like it's nothing. Then a friend gets lost and needs saving, but nope, she saved herself in less than 5 pages. There are also dark beings, who Ivy has to take care of for a while, that don't have any purpose through the book. She has a chance to use them, but she doesn't.

I felt there were parts that went too fast, like the friend needing help and saving herself, but in the end I enjoyed it thoroughly.

I will check out the next books, since they have already been published, The Girl With The Whispering Shadow and The Words Of The Wandering.

This book was beautifully written and so relatable to young adults today. The main character felt like she couldn't find her place in the world which I know so many struggle with every single day.

The story follows Ivy through the discovery of her magic which leads her to a school called Croswald where she learns to master her magic. It was so fun to read! I have heard various reviews that say that this book is very similar to Harry Potter, which I can definitely see! I felt that this was a lighter read than Harry Potter but still very good.

I highly recommend this book to young adults. Although the world we live in is not full of magic and fantasy, the moral of the story remains true. It just shows that sometimes you may have to follow the path less travelled to find your people. You may have to face challenges along the way, but just be who you are and the rest will follow.

I think that this author has great potential as a writer and I cannot wait to read more from them soon!

Ivy Lovely has spent all 16 years of her life in Castle Plum, where she served as a maid. She loves to learn and read about famous scrivenists, but she never thought there might be anything magical about her. Until one day she crosses a magical boundary and everything changes. When she begins her studies in the Halls of Ivy - the prestigious school of magic, for the first time in her life she feels like she found her home, but with new knowledge comes a great danger. Will Ivy be strong enough to overcome it?

‘The Crowns of Croswald’ is book one of the same-titled trilogy by American author D.E. Night. She created a beautiful, complex, magical world, full of amazing places I wish I could visit, and fantastic creatures, some of which I’d rather avoid ;) The book has a certain Harry Potter vibe - an orphan learns she has magical abilities, she comes to a school of magic, where numerous adventures are waiting for her, and there even is a rich girl who bullies her, but apart from that it’s a completely different, skillfully crafted world. Some of the author’s ideas amazed me and I’m truly in awe of her imagination, but I don’t want to spoil anything, so it’s better if you see for yourselves what I mean.

Ivy lives up to her last name, as she really is a lovely girl. She could be bitter and unfriendly, after being treated badly her whole life, but she’s not - she’s brave, she loves to learn and to help others, even when it gets her in trouble. Sometimes she was too stubborn and reckless, but still it was really interesting to read about her journey to self-discovery, her adventures in school and her first crush.

The author used a very graphic language, creating vivid images of places and characters she described in her book, so it was easy to picture them in my head as I was reading. Though I have to admit that for someone like me, whose first language is not English, some parts were pretty challenging, so it might not be the best choice for someone who rarely reads in this language, especially fantasy books.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable book, suitable both for kids and for adults who still like to read about magical lands and adventures. I’m curious what else the author has planned for Ivy, so I’m definitely going to read the rest of this trilogy in the future.

This book had me absolutely giddy!! I couldn’t stop reading it. I felt like I was reading Harry Potter for the first time. I would find myself smiling so big while reading.

The Crowns of Croswald was such a fun and addicting read. This is one I want to gift to my nieces and nephews. I want them to enjoy this magical world just like I did.