The Crowns of Croswald

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Pub Date 21 Jul 2017 | Archive Date 30 Apr 2024

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Description

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 crashing 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.

Request book two in the series, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, here: http://netgal.ly/EkOeEb

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...


A Note From the Publisher

This is the first book in a four book series. Book II, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, and Book III, The Words of the Wandering are available wherever books are sold; Book IV will be released in 2021.

This is the first book in a four book series. Book II, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, and Book III, The Words of the Wandering are available wherever books are sold; Book IV will be released in...


Advance Praise

“Night’s blend of magic, danger, and suspense (and a touch of steampunk) is a well-realized, fresh fantasy world all its own.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Readers that enjoy intricate tales in a fantasy world will revel in this original story that can surprise and delight until the very end." — The Children’s Book Review

“Full of conjuring, creative creatures, and colorful characters, The Crowns of Croswald is a thoughtful, action-driven middle grade fantasy that will leave audiences clamoring to find out what happens next in Ivy’s magical world.” — Foreword Reviews

“This imaginative fantasy novel features a detailed narrative, dialogue that enhances the storyline, and new discoveries and exciting twists that will keep readers turning pages.” — School Library Connection

“A deftly crafted read by a master of the genre, D. E. Night’s “The Crowns of Croswald” is an impressively entertaining and engaging novel that will prove to be an enduringly popular and prized addition to community library Fantasy Fiction collections.” — Midwest Book Review


AWARDS

GOLD Moonbeam Children's Book Award, Pre-Teen Fiction-Fantasy Category 

Authors Circle: Middle Grade Book of the Year Award 

American Book 2018 Best Book Award, Children's Fiction Category

“Night’s blend of magic, danger, and suspense (and a touch of steampunk) is a well-realized, fresh fantasy world all its own.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Readers that enjoy intricate tales in a fantasy world...


Marketing Plan

For fun trivia and book-themed giveaways, follow @author.denight on Instagram!

For fun trivia and book-themed giveaways, follow @author.denight on Instagram!


Available Editions

ISBN 9798985378238
PRICE $10.99 (USD)

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Average rating from 1929 members


Featured Reviews

A young girl discovers she has magic after she is banished from her home. She is whisked away to a school to help her master her magic. The dark queen has taken an interest in her, and she must figure out her past so she may have a future.

This story is a mix between Harry Potter and Fablehaven. I loved it. The story is different enough to not be considered a Harry Potter copy but familiar enough to love it immediately. I look forward to more in this series!

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So beautifully magical! This book reminded me a little of sleeping beauty - princess hidden away for many years not knowing her true destiny to hide from a ruthless dark queen. But the princess has magic and goes to a magic school! Which reminded me a lot of Harry Potter. But it had its own twist which was lovely. I loved the descriptions of the country, the town, the school, the lake, the creatures of this world - but I wish there was more! This book has definitely left me wanting more more more. More of everything I’ve just explained. To be honest, I’d be happy just reading about the world itself, the creatures, the scenery, the hairies. Love the hairies (fairies whose hair lights up to create lanterns). But the story was good. It was beautiful!

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The Crowns of Croswald! Wow what a fun book, and book two is already out! If you loved Harry Potter trust me you’re gonna love this series. First the world building, the world building in this series is incredible. It's all very well thought out and the nature of magic and the history of it in this book is such a cool interesting take on all things magic. Ivy lovely as a character is a perfect middle grade character, she’s fun, she’s brave, even a bit naive but that’s okay because she’s so young but you can already tell she’s gonna be a kick ass adult.

Not to mention what dragged me to this book is how freaking beautiful it is! I’m absolutely in love with the cover and the inside too everything about this book feels very well put together and concrete. D.E. Night is a freaking incredible author and she loves her followers just as much as her book, she’s super interactive on social media and honestly super nice.

I don’t want to spoil much about this book but it has a lot of adventure and running and Ivy being thrown into the world of croswald feels like you’re being flung in there with her. I’m supper excited to read book two but this one is definitely a 5 star book to me!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stories Untold through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Stories for providing me the opportunity to review.

The book follows sixteen year old Ivy a girl who has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary away from magic until one day she crosses over and her powers are awakened. Leading her on a striking path, and ending up a student at Halls of Ivy a school for those who need to master their magic. After events unfold, Ivy has to delve into the mysteries of her past in order to save herself and Croswald before history is swept away.

This book was so magical! It reminded me a lot of different fantasy books I read as a kid so it felt very nostalgic to me.

The whole story was very whimsy and imaginative, perfect for young middle grade readers. It was so creative. I loved learning about the school, the creatures, and just the world of Croswald in general. The world building was fantastic. You get pulled into a mystical adventure right from the beginning.

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I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved everything about this book! It kept me hooked from the beginning

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I immediately fell in love with the whimsical and imaginative world of Croswald and all the creatures who reside within.

The main character, Ivy, has been hidden from magic for 16 years. Once she enters the magical world, readers get to experience twists and turns as secrets are revealed and magic unfolds. This book has many Harry Potter similarities, but is also a fantastically unique spin on a magical world. I absolutely LOVE the idea of the Scrivenists - people who posses magic and use magical quills to harness their powers.

I read this book with my kids (ages 5, 10 and 12) and they all loved it. We are ready to order the next book and learn what happens to the wonderful characters of Croswald. I have already recommended it to every family member and friend who loved HP and needs a new magical series to immerse themselves into!

Thank you NetGalley, Stories Untold, and D.E. Night for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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This was such a endearing and entertaining read.
The world of Croswald is a fantastic one, full of color and enchanting creatures. It’s fun to read about young mages again, here called scriveners since their magic is done using a magic quill who channel the users magic power, or are of royal blood accessing magic through gem stones filled with specific powers.
The magic is however threatened by the loss of the line of queens and the new Dark Queen who rules Croswald.
The main character is a mysterious young girl called Ivy whose power will call her to where she belongs.
There is definitely a similar feeling to the Harry Potter books although the characters are young adults, and the world is all a magic one.
It’s a bit predictable and I’d have loved more exploration of the main characters character and emotional world. Nevertheless, the writing is flawless and the descriptions of the amazing quirkiness and fantasy of the land, and adventures is awesome, transporting you totally to a colourful and magical world
I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Harry Potter and enchanted worlds.

You can also see my review here - https://www.instagram.com/p/B-w-PNggcpQ/?igshid=1e8mhuo4q2f57

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Review
This was an interesting story. Some aspects of Ivy’s story (especially towards the end) were a hair predictable, but not to the level where it would ruin the story. Fans of Middle Grade and the Harry Potter series would really enjoy this one. Harry Potter fans especially will notice some tropes and plot details that are similar to Harry’s story, although this one still stands on its own.

The characters in the book were not fleshed out too much, but they were still likable. Ivy was a fun MC to follow, as the reader learns about the world with her. Fortunately, since this appears to be the first book in a series, I think a trilogy, but don’t quote me on that, there is plenty of time for the characters to be explored more and for arches to grow. The magic system in the books is extremely creative. I love that we’re following two different magic systems that interact and play off each other. I can’t wait to see how this is explored in future books.

The plot was an interesting pace. I honestly did not realize that an entire school year had passed when reading the book, but the pace of the story didn’t feel too slow or too rushed. That being said, there was a lot of exposition thrown at the reader in the last chapter, setting up for the sequels. It will be interesting to see where the plot goes in the future books. I’ll definitely be looking forward to them and continuing on with this series.

Final Thoughts
This was a solid Middle Grade, fantasy book. The story had an intriguing enough premise to keep readers excited while still leaving plenty of story for future books. Fans of Middle-Grade fantasy will enjoy this one. Also not related to the review at all, but the PR* packaging for this book was super cute!

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A very magical read with every turn of the page!

This story follows a girl, named Ivy Lovely, who comes out from her unfortunate life as a scaldron maid (a maid that tends to mini dragons who in turn is used as an oven to bake goodies) entering into a school of magic to become a scrivenist (protector of royal families with their expert practice of magic and writing their adventures in a journal) with no knowledge of the power that runs in her blood.

This book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter as royals wield their magic through precious stones while scrivenists with their quills. This story also contains various magical creatures that I think Hagrid would adore too!

What I love about this book was the magical plot. The mystery and adventures were all so thrilling and I found myself longing to know what will happen next. The characters were also very vibrant and full of energy. The writing was easy to read and very suitable for middle grade readers (everyone should know that it's my fav genre by now). I also thought that the setting was very unique - in a town with no name so that it remains hidden.

The only part that took me aback was the abrupt and brief entry of the Dark Queen. I guess that keeps the story mysterious and I can't wait to learn more in the sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from D.E. Night through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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I received an e-ARC for The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book and loved every moment of it. Even though it is a middle grade fantasy novel, I found myself totally engrossed and intrigued by it.
Ivy is a 16 year old orphan working as a maid in Castle Plum. She has only one friend and loves sketching. Little does she know, she is placed under magical protection to protect her from people who could harm her.

One day she receives a letter from Halls of Ivy, a prestigeous school of magic in Croswald. It is going to be nothing short of wonders and dangers alike! Soon she understands how her recurring dream is related, her magical powers and connection with Croswald. Here she makes some really good friends.
The book is full of magic and creatures, it reminded me of Harry Potter. I loved the magical places and the classes/subjects taught. It was intriguing and wonderful! Looking forward to reading the next in series. If you love magic and fantasy you will like this book.
Thank you @netgalley and @storiesuntoldpress for the e ARC.

#Croswald #HallsofIvy #magic #dragon #castleplum #harrypotter #middlegrade #NetgalleyQuarantineChallenge #NetGalley #fantasy #schoolofmagic #mages #mage #maid #fantasy #book #students #disney #enchanted #gems #stones #adventure #dwarf #princess #dreams #mysterious

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Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for my free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really adored the whimsical wordplay and world-building of the first book in this middle grade fantasy series! Even the delightful illustrations with each new chapter helped you feel like you were stepping into the pages of a fairytale storybook. It was like if Alice in Wonderland met Harry Potter.

If you like...
1️. a fearless female heroine
2️. a creative, magical realm
3. inventive concepts & creatures
4. colorful, memorable characters
5. descriptive, imaginative language
...then this story might just be for you or your kids!

Be prepared to enter into a fascinating world filled with sqwinches, scaldrons, hairies, glanageries, potions, magic schools, special stones, powerful forces, mysterious happenings, and a dark queen... a place where the pen (or should I say quill) is mightier than the sword, where people called scrivenists record history and perform magic, where royals channel their magical gifts through the use of unique gemstones, and where we meet a young girl named Ivy Lovely, who is destined for more than she ever thought possible.

This is a story I wish was written when I was growing up, and though I don't have kids yet, it's just the kind of story I would love reading to them. Bonus? Even as an adult I enjoyed the heck out of this tale because it still speaks to the young at heart.

So even though the story might feel best suited to a younger audience and the plot is occasionally predictable, overall, this is a fun, fantasy romp that illustrates how life is about the journey, rather than just the destination. And getting immersed in this fantastic world for a little while was the perfect escape that I needed.

I already know I want to read the second book The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. And on top of that, I discovered that the author's third book in the series -- The Words of the Wandering -- is now available for pre-order and coming out May 30th, 2020!

A version of this review will be listed on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

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The Crowns of Croswald (The Croswald Series book 1) by D.E. Night
Publisher: Stories Untold Press
Edition: 2017 (ebook)
Pages: 320
Rate: 5

"... tell me again what a glanagerie world is? An imagination come to life."

Listen up Harry Potter fans, meet Ivy Lovely from Croswald.

"To the One to Whom This Box is Entrusted. It was signed, The Hand That Left Her."

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 she crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing 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.

"I am locked in by the evil one's imagination. We need each other to end this."

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in the young adult fantasy The Croswald series. The story is as magical as the cover. The small cute illustrations in the beginning of every chapter are enchanting and give life to the author's fantastical world. The details hold your attention, because you don't want to miss any corner of this worldbuilding. The characters are strong and loveable. Yes, even the Dark Queen has her charm in her own dark way. The storytelling has depth with unforeseen plot twists.

"The Town. The center of the scrivenist world. We call it ...." Read to find out where the next adventure will start. Oh and enjoy meeting new mystical creatures and learning the Croswald vocabulary.

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Join Ivy's enchanted adventure against the Dark Queen to find out her history! Magic, fantasty and sci-fi fans will love this series!!

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This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I'd like to thank Zack for getting in touch with me, I am very grateful.

The Crowns of Croswald is perfect for fans of Harry Potter. Fantastical and entertaining, D.E. Night sweeps readers up into her whimsical world, full of forgotten faces and magical creatures. 

As the first book in The Crowns of Croswald series, it was a quick, easy, and fun read. I can definitely see the appeal to middle grade readers, and I would've adored this book when I was younger. I recommend it for ages eight to twelve. In the first section of the book, there are strong connections to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, with the vibrant magic, mystical stores and magical shopping lists. The book has enough twists to hold its ground. It's full of adventure.

We follow Ivy, a sixteen year old girl who is whisked away to the Halls of Ivy, a school for magic. Ivy is a strong female lead, who inspires readers to fight for what they believe in. Ivy is the only one who remembers Derwin Edgar Night, and she will stop at nothing to find out why they are connected. She dreams of him, but never stays long enough to speak to him. From the prologue, this tale is woven in mystery, and I found it very intriguing. 

The magic was my favourite element of this book. I loved the talking books, the Hollow Shaft, and the concept of a placing an object in the Forgotten room to remove someone from memory. 

"The Hollow Shaft contains 179 floors, 989,322 tomes, and only one Norman Wrinkles. Of course, keep your talking to a minimum."

Reflecting back, I would have loved more details. I feel as though Ivy's acceptance of her place in the Halls of Ivy, a school of magic, happened rather fast. With all the action, I would have loved some long scenes of Ivy's lessons, learning more about spells and potions. The monologue, at times, felt awkward, and I would have rather had that dialogue come from Ivy's thoughts. With reveals and revelations, there's questions left unanswered, leaving the reader wanting more. Overall, a really well rounded middle grade fantasy, and a very enjoyable read.

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This was a fun and adventurous romp through a refreshingly original take on the magical boarding school premise! It recalled the wonder and warm comfort of 'Harry Potter', and it was like I got to experience the magic all over again in a different world.

The prologue, set years before our protagonist (Ivy) appears, builds up an intriguing mystery that the book gradually unravels. There were several really nice hints and exposition scenes - I particularly liked the allusions to shifting portraits (evoked a bit of Dahl's 'The Witches') and the entire Hollow Shaft segment was excellent.

Having lived her whole life slaving away as a scaldonry maid (basically a kitchen maid who tends to adorable little mini-oven dragons), Ivy is ostensibly ordinary, but there's certainly more to her than meets the eye. Side note: I found it utterly hilarious that I spent 97% (NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT!) of this book thinking Ivy was 11, like Harry Potter. She is, in fact, 16. Oops!

Ivy has hidden powers, might even be the 'Chosen One' - but the real questions are how and why. (Okay, also who, but then it just turns into the 5 W's.) While Ivy does show traits of the 'Chosen One'/hidden identity tropes, it doesn't feel rehashed or stale. At times though, she felt more like a plot vessel than a person - some of her actions felt contrived to extend the mystery and tension, for example (view spoiler) felt out of character, as she's typically impulsive and inquisitive to a fault. This wasn't a big issue though, and most of the time Ivy reads like a realistic person.

Whole stars should go to the school (Halls of Ivy), the magic system and the secondary characters Rebecca and Fyn. The names of the professors, shops, textbooks and spells were all so quirky and I loved it! (Similar wacky vibes to 'Harry Potter', as I've already mentioned.) I particularly liked the glanageries, which are little enchanted bottles that hold a miniature scene inside, sprung from the imagination of their owners. Glanageries may sound whimsical and cute, but rest assured, they can be very dangerous and play an integral role in this book's plotline. Rebecca was my favourite character - everyone needs a friend like her (and she was the real MVP in the ballroom scene) - and Fyn Greeley is just adorkable. To paraphrase Nina Zenik, Fyn's sweeter than mint meringues! (You know a budding romance is cute when you literally put down the book to smile at their exchanges.)

Throughout the book, the antagonist hovers like a storm cloud on the horizon - their motives are kept in the shadows for most of the book, but their unexplained, uninvited presence is enough to feel unsettling. However, during the actual confrontation, I did feel like the villain's monologues came off a little cartoonish. That being said, the spell used by the antagonist was certainly twisted (view spoiler) - and I definitely took them seriously after that.

I think there's definitely more to the story (along with certain authority figures that I don't quite trust), and I'm really looking forward to the sequel! There's a major question that I felt went unanswered by the Big Reveal™ (re: Ivy and the Forgotten Room) and I really hope that gets addressed in 'The Girl with the Whispering Shadow'.

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Ivy is 16 years old.
She's a kitchen maid.
She also loses her job and her house.
She feels awful, because she already feels like she's not destined to be anything else but a maid. She wishes to attend "Halls of Ivy" which is a prestigious magic school. The school is for royal people and for those who have magical blood coursing through their veins. but something weird and magical happens where she can attend the school and that's where things start to get interesting and magical. Questionable things start happening within the walls of the magic school. Almost like Ivy is supposed to know about these things. One man comes across her dreams overnight and she wants to know who he is and why she has magical powers. I really enjoyed Night's attention to detail in the book. She describes everything so smoothly and vividly. I enjoyed learning about the scrivenerist's and their ability to have photographic memory so they can sketch. This resonates perfectly with Ivy, as she herself loves to sketch. I also enjoyed a few of the characters in the book as well, such as Rebecca and Humboldt. They added a cool aspect to the book. The magical creatures were also a plus. I will agree though, just like most people have stated, the book has major Harry Potter vibes and that's not necessarily a bad thing to me anyway.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I would consider it a middle grade book so it's good for the age group of 8-13 year olds. I love the magical journey this book took me on. It's reminds me of my childhood, and me getting lost in a different world. I think my fave characters was the evil queen and her cloaked brood. I believe I'm a major villain supporter. I wouldn't mind seeing a book about her life prior to being the evil queen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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STEP ASIDE HARRY POTTER... IVY LOVELY IS THE NEW MAGICAL KID IN TOWN!!!

*I received this book from Stories Untold LLC and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved this book! It is centered around Ivy Lovely, a teenage girl living at the magic repressed Castle Plum, working as a Scaldrony Maid until one day an unfortunate incident forced her out into the world, with her Scaldron Humboldt, Ivy is quickly found and whisked away to be enrolled in the Halls of Ivy, a school for Royals with magic stones and kids with magic in their blood. Royals learn how to use their stones while kids with magic blood learn to become a Scrivenist! As Ivy navigates her first year to become a future Scrivenist, she becomes involved in the mystery of Derwin Edgar Night and a lot of mysterious things begin happening to Ivy and she is determined to find out the truth of what is really is really going on around her! With the help of her friends, Ivy has an adventure bigger than she ever dreamed of!

This book is full of magic and mystery! It is an adventure from the first page to the last with a cast of Characters that are just wonderful! The relationships Ivy forms unfold in an easy natural way, nothing feels forced or awkward. You have supporting Characters to root for like Rebecca, Fyn and Winsome, then you have the trouble maker bully Damaris and of course you have the mysterious villian the Dark Queen! It is an enjoyable ride and I can't wait to read book 2!

If you haven't read this book yet, PICK IT NOW! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!!!

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Wow, I knew I was going to enjoy this story because of the magical boarding school aspect but I didn’t know how much I was going to love it!

Ivy Lovely is a maid at a castle for 16 years, but dreams of adventure and magic on her free time. One day she is forced to leave the grounds, where her power awakens and finds herself being whisked away to a magical school where trouble seems to find her every step of the way! But something is off in the halls of her school and she’s determined to figure out what it is. Mystery and intrigue surrounds Ivy and soon trouble will find her.

I love love love this book! Honestly, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, I feel like this book definitely was influenced by the magical world we all love BUT it was still very unique and undeniably original! This story was very magical, whimsical and just completely took me out of my world, which is what I needed at this point in my life!

I loved the way the magic system worked in this book and all the little creatures, ESPECIALLY the scaldron Humboldt! I also really loved the characters and the mystery that revolves around Derwin Edgar Night (he conveniently has the same initials as the author 😉). There are just so many aspects I love about this book, along with Ivy’s bravery and her friends never letting her adventure alone!

Even though this is a middle grade, I would highly recommend it, especially if you want to just get lost in a magical little world!


Final thoughts: if you love magical, whimsical and sometimes silly stories that will take you right out of your world, with brave characters and adorable creatures, this is for you!

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The Crowns of Croswald
Rating: 4/5 🌟

- this is a really interesting middle grade fantasy and I enjoyed it a lot. For some reason, it reminds me of the movie Barbie and the Princess Charms school. But with in a different world, with more magic.
- My favourite part of the story is definitely the magic system. It is Super unique and I don’t think I have ever read a fantasy title with similar magic systems...and I read a lot of fantasy. It’s super whimsical and imaginative - it’s honestly a joy to read and learn about the system and the creatures. I do wish there was a little more world building but I think that is to come in sequel
- I love the setting of the story. It takes place in a magical school that used to be an old castle. Like seriously, how much better can it get. I love the concept of royalty and scrivenist and the magical lessons they have. Honestly, the best way I can describe it is so unique and imaginative.
- The plot and the pace of it is definitely suited to middle grade. For me, I would have liked it to be more intense but I imagine that if I had read this when I was younger, it would be perfect for me.
- Like most middle grade stories, this has great friendship. And even a little hint of romance, just a tiny hint, which is surprising because most middle grade do not have romances. It’s a wholesome fluffy innocent romance that just makes you smile.
- I really like our main character. She is kinda your typical female protagonist that is just likeable overall. I can’t say I related or connected to her super well, but I did like her.
- Overall, I would say this is a really interesting and great middle grade novel. I would definitely recommend this to younger audiences who love fantasy and even if you are considered an “older audience”, I would say give this book a try because the magic system in this book deserve more attention and it is a likeable book.

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Thank you to the publisher and the author for providing me a digital copy of The Crowns Of Croswald!

Ivy Lovely has been hidden away all of her life, but she isn't aware of it yet. She also doesn't know about the magical world that awaits her outside of the House of Plum's enchantment boundaries. One thing is for sure; Ivy is destined for better and magical things.

As soon as I began reading, I was immersed in the beautiful world that has been created by the author. The story kept my imagination running and there was so much to learn from the beauty of Croswald. I was definitely entertained all along the book and also curious by all the mysteries it contained. It is filled with magic, creatures and so many wonderful scenes that truly deserve to be discovered by everyone.

The Crowns Of Croswald is the first book of a series and I can't wait to read the next ones!

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Crowns of Croswald is book one of a trilogy that follows the life of Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid. The book starts with an epilogue of sorts that gives us a brief yet magical overview of the world that we are about to step in. There are dragons, flying carriages and mysterious palaces. My first thought after reading this chapter was how much it reminded me of Hogwarts from Harry Potter which was a good thing because we need magic in such uncertain times.

Ivy Lovely is a sweet-lovable girl who has been mistreated throughout her life until she is thrown out of the palace she lives in. Along the course of the book we discover that Ivy is not ordinary but has special powers that she cannot understand. Despite being with people like her, she realized how different she is and wonders if she would ever fit in. As she explores the school, she makes an unusual bunch of friends and an arch-nemesis who likes to make others feel bad about themselves. The book then develops into a series of adventures that almost always turn out hazardous.

Here's what I enjoyed the most about the book:
- Fyn, he's such a dorky yet charming guy. Obviously, I have a crush on him immediately. Even though his initial mysteriousness is a little suspicious.
- Magical creatures like scaldrons are completely adorable. The author has done great justice while exploring these beasts and the concepts of each of them was great fun to read.
- The magical system and learning had my attention. It would be a spoiler if I mentioned what I loved the most but let's suffice it to say that magical bottles were my favourite.
- The fairytale like narration of the book made me feel like it was one of those Prince and Princess stories that we all know and love. Also, the book has a lot of magic related to the moon and dwarves which I felt was completely endearing.

So if you like books with new magical systems, good protagonists who aren't twisted and adventures, then this is the book for you. I'm super excited to read Book 2 and get more of Fyn!
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this amazing book!

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This ebook was sent to me by the publisher (Stories Untold Press) through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!!
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This was an enjoyable read! The story sets off rather quickly, introducing us to the main character Ivy and the sad life she’s stuck in. But we don’t see her there for very long, as events take place and she is forced to leave her home behind. Ivy is then whisked away to a world of magic and adventure she never would’ve imagined she’d be a part of.
The main character’s journey through the book was captivating enough to keep me reading. The setting of her going to a magical school gave me Harry Potter vibes, and at first it almost seemed too much like Harry Potter and it had me a little worried. But the author really made the world her own and the magic system was very intriguing. I definitely need my own collection of glanagerie bottles. Lol
My one big flaw with this book, however, is how bland the main character was. While the plot progressed well, and big things happened to and around Ivy, she seemed to have no major reactions and very little emotion to those things. I found her lack of feelings toward everything made it really hard for me to sympathize and relate with the character. I want to see characters struggle; I want to read about their anger or their happiness towards unexpected events. I understand that if a book is labeled as “Middle Grade,” you don’t want to spend too much time talking about feelings or minor details the younger reader might not care about. But even a little bit would’ve fleshed out the character more and would’ve made her feel more real.
The last quarter of this book really made it for me. It was packed with well-places twists and action, and the setup for the next book was very well-done. I look forward to continuing this series!

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4.3✨

This book was promising from the start, it has this very enthralling je ne sais quoi that makes me wanna keep on reading. The establishment of the world, the introduction to Ivy’s story, and the unfolding of magic were all amazing. And I also loved all of Ivy’s adventures as she tries to get to know more about herself and the mystery of the school.

However, there were some parts that were familiar especially now that I’m rereading Harry Potter (a curious student who gets into a lot of trouble). But anyone who’s a fan of that trope will especially love this book!

Overall, this was a great combination of fantasy and fairytale, an unputdownable read, and I definitely want more of Croswald!

Thank you Stories Untold LLC and author DE Night for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I am not a fantasy or middle grade reader, but I adored this book. The world building was arguably the best part. Croswald comes alive on the page and pulls the reader into a beautiful story of self-discovery.

Ivy Lovely lived her life underestimating herself until she embarks on a journey to the Halls of Ivy, where she hones her magic and embraces her strength.

Middle grade readers always deserve a strong, powerful, fearless heroine and The Crowns of Croswald provides. I would highly recommend this whimsical story to anyone, even if they claim to not be into fantasy like me.

Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for access to this book.

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I received this book from @Netgalley. Calling all fantasy lovers. This author wrote an amazing book and as the pages turn the secrets unveil themselves and the story unravels. If you are looking for Harry Potter, princess and magic mix this book series is for you.

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This digital review copy was sent in by the author in exchange for an honest review. Since I’ve seen @nkliterarynerd praising and loving this series so much I agreed to give it a shot and I’m so glad that I did.

The Crowns of Croswald is an excellent start to the enchanting, adventurous journey of Ivy lovely. Ivy is a sixteen-year-old scaldrony maid, and has spent her life in a shabby little dark room without any windows or as much as a sight of outside world, serving The Castle Plum in the Slurry Fields. She has no knowledge of her background and has accepted her pitiful life as a maid cooking pies that she isn’t even allowed to taste. But destiny has something else for her. No sooner than later, she finds herself in ‘The Town’ shopping for her school supplies, prepping to attend the Halls of Ivy – a magical school for royals and scrivenists (you’ll need to read the book to know what a scrivenist is :p) A series of weird happenings start as soon as she steps outta Slurry Fields – as if ‘The Town and the Earth beneath has been shaken awake from a stretching, long, silent sleep with a burst of spark. Everything Ivy has ever believed in is about to change.

Sounds like Harry Potter yet? I bet it’s unique in its own way despite the similarity. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter with the entire school and the magical setting thing. Though not entirely the same, but I see a lot of similarity in subjects and examples occurring between the two (I can tell that this book was definitely influenced by the series)

It was a delightful read. The depiction of the world is astounding. You get maneuvered into a whimsical experience directly from the beginning. However, the pacing appears to either be extremely moderate, or everything surging by. Just one miss for me in this book was Ivy’s and Fyn’s chemistry, it was very under-developed and forced at times. What I absolutely adored about this book was its captivating setting, well refined plot, mysterious characters, awesome and unique names of characters, places, magical objects and creatures and of course the excellent writing. The details and uniqueness of scenes were equally enthralling and captivating.

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I know many readers amongst my library users who will love this book. It is a perfect middle grade read for anyone who loves a bit of magic! When young Ivy Lovely and her smallest scaldron ( a dragon that provides fire for cooking food) are carried away to a magical boarding school the fun starts.

This is a perfect next read for fantasy fans with a host of convincing characters and marvellous magic. Even better it is the first in a trilogy which is an added bonus.

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Thank you to Netgalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This was such a fun story! Magic, lives being uprooted, all kinds of change - I am here for it!!!!
The main character, Ivy, has discovered that she has magical powers and her entire life changes. Leaving the mundane life she has been living behind, she is taken to attend a school of magic where she learns to grow, harness, and create magic!

Filled with fun creatures, danger (of course - wouldn’t be the same without it!), and friendships forming, this was SUCH a fun read! There are some very unique ideas the author came up with (I will not spoil them) that really add to this story and help keep it different from other magical stories such as Harry Potter and Charlie Bone.

Even though the main character is 16, I feel it reads more like a middle grade book, allowing for a wider audience! It’s a very clean story, nothing too scary for younger readers, and will certainly leave the reader wishing they had magical powers of their own!!!!

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It is an awesome book. I was interested to read it when I heard that it gives you a Harry Potter kind of feel. It made me feel like I was back in the Harry Potter world ( even though nothing will be like the Harry Potter series ). I enjoyed the book very much. It was a fun read.

I loved the bond that Ivy and Rebecca shares and I ship Ivy and Fyn ( we need a ship name for them ). I loved the way the author described the Halls of Ivy and all the lessons and teachers. I can’t wait to read the next books.

If you loved Harry Potter I would surely recommend this series to you.

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Ivy Lovely is having a rough day. After having the strangest dreams, which make her late for her job, she finds out that one of her dragons has the flue! Wait a minute...dragon flue? The plot only thickens from there!


Whisked away to a magical school, Ivy soon learns that she is anything but the ordinary (though strangely gifted) sculdrony maid she always thought she was doomed to remain. In fact, she may be the key to saving all of Croswald.


The Crowns of Croswald is a delightful addition to the fantasy world. It is a story full of brand new magical beasts, exciting adventures, and a lurking mystery pressing at the edges of every page. I was enchanted from the beginning, and I look forward to reading more from this world.

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I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This book is the debut for this author. It is very well written and kept me wanting more. The character development was excellent. I felt myself experiencing the feelings and anticipating what would happen next. The World building was on point! The descriptions were so well done I could see them in my mind.

I will read any book written by this author with high expectations! I am excited to follow Ivy’s adventures.

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*3.75

This was offered to me in exchange for an honest review and I accepted because I liked the plot, but at the same time I was a little hesitant because it's a middle grade and I'm not very into them.
So this was a big surprise (in a good way), such a magical experience!

This reminded me so much of Harry Potter with a female protagonist and with royals. It's not as complex but it's definitely on the good way, a very good debut novel.
I found it enjoyable and funny, never boring and it made me want to go on with the story.
I absolutely can't wait to read the next books in the series!

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A town you may only enter and see if you know the name of it. Like a key names often have the ability to unlock secrets and abilities, and in Croswald the most powerful thing is a secret held behind a locked door. Much more powerful than the dark magic and dark queen that seems looming over all.
This book is about Ivy Lovely and how she has powers that awaken when crossing a border. But she must learn her history before the dark queen fulfills her threats.
The story is full of mystery and magic and I adored all the little extra details. The extra mentions of floral scent and colour of articles of clothing. This helps much deepen your immersion while reading the book. I also greatly enjoy the cover with its colour story and aesthetics.
The story begins with not the main character but with Derwin and I enjoyed that we continued to see a little more of his story throughout the book. Little tidbits here and there until we eventually uncover his full story.
From the get go I love Ivy's character a laid back mischievous girl who has a strong thirst for knowledge and loves books. I related to her on a heavy scale. There is a sense of Harry potter mixed with Terry Pratchett in the writing style and I adored it and found myself in a position of not wanting to put this book down. I had a desperate need to consume Ivy's story to such a degree it kept me up reading all night.
And the Scaldrons ohh the sweet little beasts used for cooking. How I felt for poor number 19 (Humboldt) I have a soft spot for sickly little creatures that really just need extra affection. I enjoyed the hairies too, and how Ivy seemed drawn to looking after creatures so affectionately. She seems to have a taming the beasts kind if power. Understanding what they need and want most and being so gentle with them.
Further on we have a little romance developing which was a joy to watch unfold. Aswell as a string friendship in Rebecca. How I enjoyed Rebecca's character the most. I hope we get to see more of this little trio it seemed. I am eager to read the second book and have finished this first novel on the day of the third publishing. How exciting.

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Firstly I would like to say thank you to Stories Untold for providing me with this finished copy to read and review.

I am loving middle grade books and this just hit the spot. This is a school for magic, which we see a lot, but I feel like this is totally whismical and captivating. I think that Ivy is so relatable and love how brave and outspoken she is. In a time where we currently face injustices in this world, it was nice to read about a character who just stands up and fights. I definitely think that my soon to be 8 year old would love the magics within this book. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!!

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Mysterious, Magical and fun!
I really enjoyed this book and got some Harry Potter vibes whilst reading! The story was fun and intriguing, lots of small bits of information dropped to leave you wanting more! Really hoping we get some more information about Fyn and Rebecca, would love to know more about them. The Dark Queen seems very mysterious until the end when we got some more information about her, but would love to learn more in the coming books! I felt the book had a great pace and it kept me interested all the way through. The characters were a good mix of personalities and i definitely will be reading the next installment of Ivy's adventure!

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Packed with fantasy, adventure and imagination, this is a tale which will make young fantasy fans' hearts beat faster.

Ivy is a kitchen maid at the castle, lives in a cupboard, and loves to sneak outside to sketch. When an accident with the dragons under the stove occurs, she's forced to run until a huge creature with a rider stops her and tells her that he's taking her to a school for those with powers. She doesn't believe she has any but is convinced to sign up. At the school, she not only learns more about magic, meets interesting students including royals, but also learns about the Dark Queen. But things aren't all wonderful. The Dark Queen is more than a threat to Ivy and her powers, she's a threat to her life.

After reading the blurb on this one and seeing the lovely cover, I was excited to get my hands on an ARC. The tale and world are quite imaginative and will have young readers hooked by all of the wonderful details and creatures—it's the stuff dreams are made of. Ivy is also a lovely character, who is easy to like and root for as she learns about her own past, meets amazing characters and faces obstacles, which will keep the reader at the edge of their seat. It's a fun start to what promises to be an exciting series.

I especially loved the details and way the author weaves in the world building with little glimpses and not word-avalanches. This along with the whimsical touches create a world perfect for middle grade readers. Even Ivy fits the middle grade roll nicely with her innocence, behavior and thought processes. And this is also where a little problem comes in. According to the story, Ivy is sixteen, but never during the read did I have this impression. She comes across as a very solid 11 to 12 year-old more than most of the time. Normally, this would throw the book into the young adult category and their are brief moments which would suggest this book should be there, but as said, the writing style, world building and most happenings are too young for many teens.

All in all, this is a very fun and imaginative read. There are more than a few obvious parallels to the Harry Potter series, but that doesn't hurt the general flow of this read. It's an enjoyable tale and great for fantasy fans.

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I got this book for free from the publisher (stories untold) and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
And what can I say, I am totally obsessed with the world the author has created in this book.
I am usually a little skeptical about reading books with a magic school, because I m afraid it would be very similar to Harry Potter. This book is infact a little similar to Harry Potter in the sense that it has a magic school which teaches about potions, magical creatures and certain charms. But that's where the similarity ends. And the world that author has created is very unique with the rules of it's own. I loved everything about Croswald and Halls of Ivy. And I loved the character of Ivy lovely.
Just give me Ivy Lovely and crosswald related Merch already. She is just so adorable.
The magical classes in the book were pretty enjoyable too. I wish there was more of that in the book though because we get very less of the side characters in the book. It tends to focus only on the main characters and her friends, except the mean queen bee maybe.

Now coming to the storyline and plot, I liked how delicately so many complicated concepts and ideas are tied up in the story and yet it all fits so well together. And when the book ends you are left with wanting to know more of Croswald and where the story would lead for Ivy and her friends.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy or middle grade novels. This will certainly make you nostalgic for all the fantasy reads you have read as a kid or a teenager.

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The writer really captures a beautiful world full of lovely characters. You really feel connected to the characters.

I cant wait to read the other parts of this series.

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

First, I understand how these books, or series, can be compared to Harry Potter, but I do think it has its unique plot development and characters going on that is very different.

Second, the book is about a girl named Ivy that is in between the "real" world and the magic world, obviously getting into trouble and discovering many secrets as the book progresses. At the beginning, it did remind me of a Cinderella-like plot, where she is a wishful maid that is finds something about herself that was not expected, and there the adventure begins.

I enjoyed this book. It is not my typical go-to, especially since it is intended for a younger audience. Nonetheless, I love a book where a new world is created, and the author is very engaging. I would recommend this book to middle-grade kids. I think their imagination would go wild, and they will fall in love with the characters.

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Book Review-The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night
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In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret....
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Thank you @netgalley for this digital book to read and review.
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This was a cute story about a young girl discovering her abilities. I quickly became invested in Ivy and her situation. The school was exciting and trying to figure out the plot was fun. The friendships Ivy makes throughout the story were sweet. I wish there would have been more back story at the beginning to set up the world a little more but the ending explained this a little better. This is the first book in this series and I already have book 2 lined up in my kindle.
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I gave this book 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and look forward to my next adventure in Croswald.

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If you like fantasy, magic, adventure and mystery then this is the book for you! Ivy Lovely is a lowly servant who is thrust into a world she only dreamed of being a part of. Along the way she develops new friendships and finds out about a past that she never knew she had. This is a great middle grade book for fans of Harry Potter looking for their next magical read. This book hooked me from the beginning. I found myself not wanting to put the book down so that I could escape into Ivy's world a little bit longer. Just when you think you have things figured out, there are more twists and turns in store for you (and Ivy!). I absolutely cannot wait to read the next installment of this magical series.

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I was offered a free copy of The Crowns of Croswald from netgalley and the publisher Stories Untold for an honest review, which is what follows.

I missed out on the Harry Potter craze, at least in book form. By the time I was really aware of the series I was an adult and several books behind, so I made the decision not to read it. So for better or worse I can not compare this novel to that series as I have seen others do. I also normally do not read books that fall into the YA or younger category, but this sounded interesting and I have three nieces, one who is old enough to enjoy reading and has read Harry Potter, and is always looking for new reading material. I'm glad that I did, because I found this story to be really enjoyable.
Having a young female protagonist made me happy. She was likable but not perfect, which I think is important to teach children is okay, to not be perfect. I found all of the creatures fun to read about; I felt the author put a lot of thought into them and it showed. They were distinctive, I could visualize them after reading the descriptions and I kind of wanted them to be real.
The plot did feel a little predictable to me, but I am an adult, so I am not sure if would be to the same to the age intended. The plot flowed easily; there never felt to be a forced issue to get from point A to B. I really loved the idea of scrivenists and their relationships to their crowns' families. As a whole, the world building was wonderfully done in my opinion. I am interested in how the rest of the series goes from here.
I gave this 4 stars because it is something that I would suggest to others to read, or would gift to someone. As I said, I did enjoy reading this very much, but do not see myself re-reading this, which is one personal requirement to giving 5 stars.

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When I was asked to read this book and leave a review I was excited, because I will read anything fantasy and while reading the summary I was intrigued.
The beginning of the book set the story up well and it had me curious about where it was going to go. The main character, Ivy, was very likable and I thought that her character development was realistic and relatable. This world is magical and pretty much anything can happen. Sometimes I felt myself get distracted because I was paying attention to what the author was describing about the world that I got lost about what was happening in the plot. .
Ivy is a maid who through some trials eventually gets let go, and as luck would have it the night she gets let go is the time someone approaches her about a coveted position at a school to harness and craft her magic. I enjoyed reading about her school days, I just wish there were more of it. The whole year passed by and I wanted to read more about her education and her time with her friends and my favorite characters Rebecca and Flyn. As I read the second I hope to see her relationship with both of these characters grow.
This is a middle grade fantasy, which is innocent and definitely character driven. The antagonist was a mystery through most of the story and it left the door open to create second book following their adventures. I will be sure to read the second because now I am attached to Ivy's plight!

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The Crowns of Croswald tells the story of our young heroine Ivy. Young Ivy works as a servant near the rather unfortunate sounding slurry fields. Despite a rather bleak existence, Ivy finds herself yearning to read and draw, activities a young servant wouldn't have need to do. After a run in with her supervisor, Ivy finds herself out of work. Thankfully she meets someone who takes her to a fresh new start where she is to be educated. Though her circumstances improve, she still has obstacles to overcome: a terrible classmate, odd encounters at the school's dining halls, and a queen everyone seems petrified of, but that no one likes to speak of.

Ivy's inquisitive spirit leads her to many adventures and near scrapes. D.E. Night does an incredible job creating the Croswald world. From her descriptions of the Halls, to various stone magics, and especially the creatures, the reader could step straight into Ivy's world.

For fans of magic, the underestimated, kids who just don't fit in, or anyone who just loves a compelling story, this one is for you.

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Rating: 3.5 My Review: Everyone knows how obsessed I am with Harry Potter, so naturally I’m drawn to magical stories like this one. There are many magical elements and detail in The Crowns of Croswald, however, although many have compared it to Harry Potter.. I felt it to be very different. It’s a beautiful story full of magic. The novel is written in third person, and the world building is very very detailed it does get drawn out a bit, but only gives the reader even more info, and background, This happens during the first half roughly of the novel, the second half picks up so fast, and there’s a lot more happening. It’s not a fast paced novel, but I appreciated that. Sometimes fast paced means not enough detail or character development.

I loved that this novel takes place in a magical school, and a lot of the story focuses on learning, as well as methods of learning. It’s perfect for the age range that it targets, middle grade to young adult audience.

Verdict: I truly enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald. I recommend it to all readers who love reading fantasy, love a great magical read, and an uplifting main character. Also.. points to anyone who can tell me what the authors name and one very important character in the story have in common!

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I really enjoyed this book. It reminded me a little of Harry Potter. This is perfect for younger readers. I loved the world that the author set up, and the characters. I love how Ivy questions everything and wants to learn. And I love the friendships she forms during the book.

I was a little confused during some parts of the book. I would have liked to have known why the Dark Queen was after her, more information on the Selector and the process of how one is chosen. It seemed to be bare minimum and didnt flow smoothly until a few chapters in.

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This is such a clever story. And for the first time in so long, I hadn't been able to predict what was going to happen next. Not your ordinary cookie-cutter fantasy novel.
The story begins with Ivy, a slurry maid, who then finds herself as a qualifying candidate to attend a magic academy, called Halls of Ivy, to be trained as a scrivenist(a writer with magical abilities of sorts and serve royalties of Croswald). What unfolds in the Hogwarts-esque academy, is nothing short of a magical reading experience. I must say, do not mistake this book for a Harry Potter cliché.
As you read you will find that nothing is as it seems, and Ivy is more than just a scrivenist with a drop of magic in her blood.

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Let's start off by acknowledging the elephant in the room: we have an orphan of unknown parentage who suddenly ends up at a school of magic, there are magical creatures and shops, and new friends and powerful enemies. In short, there are a lot of similarities to Harry Potter, with a bit of Howl's Moving Castle & Anastasia (the movie) thrown in for fun. D.E. Knight has risen to the challenge, however, and managed to write a fresh and interesting magical coming-of-age story, creating a world that I would love to visit again.

On her sixteenth birthday, we meet Ivy, a spunky and kind sixteen-year-old who cares for the dragons that cook the castle food. She gets kicked out of the castle kitchens for defending one of her little dragons, and so her adventure begins as she leaves the only home she has ever known by catching a ride in a set of small cottages built atop a magical creature that transports magicians to and from a town with no name. Also, the creature creates its own magical storm that prevents the Dark Queen from being able to track the magical cabbies.
Further adding to the spell of this world are books with disappearing ink, a key that causes anything locked inside to be forgotten, glowing creatures in place of electric lightbulbs, and worlds inside of bottles that can be entered.

We follow Ivy through her first year of school as she studies potions, sneaks of the grounds, is chased by bewitched quills, and discovers secret rooms as well as her own identity. She has to face fears, learn to trust others, and cope with loss all while learning the rules of a magical world she never knew existed, and she does it with determination and charm. I look forward to reading more about this young heroine, Ivy Lovely, as she continues to learn, grow, and become more of who she is meant to be.

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I love all the magic! This book has some similarities to Harry Potter. I love how the story is well written and the characters are loveable. Also, the atmosphere was amazing, I felt like I was brought into the world with the characters, and I was taken on a journey. I would definitely recommend this book!

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4.5/5 stars (rounded up to 5)
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Lovely is just your ordinary scaldrony maid. Her life revolves around taking care of the scaldrons in the castle she is employed at. However, everything changes when she is suddenly whisked away to the Halls of Ivy--a school for royals and scrivenists to practice their skills. Like the other students, Ivy attends classes and practices her magic, but something about her is different. Things that aren't quite normal keep happening and she can't help but wonder why no one else has the same issues. Many secrets have yet to be revealed and Ivy is determined to set them free.

This book was a delightful and entertaining read! It's a middle grade fantasy novel and is the first in a trilogy. I can't help but acknowledge the Harry Potter feel of this book! Despite having some glaring differences from the Harry Potter series, this book has a very similar feel to the series as well. The Halls of Ivy reminded me of Hogwarts and I adored the magical creatures seen throughout the book. The little hairies that provide light and the scaldrons sound rather cute! The magical aspect of this book is it's most defining feature and I love the way the author set it up!

The characters are also quite interesting. Ivy, a curious girl who can't help but get in trouble; Rebecca, a girl determined to define her future herself; Fyn, a boy with a knack for showing up just at the right time, and many more! I can't wait to see what trouble they get themselves into in the the next book!

Ultimately, this is a wonderful book for middle grade readers! With magical creatures, funny and meddlesome characters, and lots of adventure, this is sure to be a great fantasy series for younger readers!

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While The Crowns of Croswald is reminiscent of books like Harry Potter and Septimus Heap, the author manages to give it a fresh punch and creates a mystical atmosphere with lots of fun, magic and mysteries.

Ivy Lovely is a well-rounded character that steps out of the young-orphan-destined-for-a-better-life stereotype and battles against some many real-world issues.

While this is aimed for middle grade readers, this series is definitely reccomended for older readers who miss reading some other famous fantasy series for the first time and younger readers looking to introduce some magic in their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and D.E. Night for allowing me to read this e-book.

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I am afraid this book is not for me. I can see it will be brilliant for kids getting into all things magical and fantastical. For me it’s all a bit old. It’s not new and I can see a lot of hints to other series which have gone before. It is good and fun and the characterisations are believable and funny.

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The world of Croswald was preparing for the night of the Double Moons as it does every year. Yet, we will find out that this year the night of the Double Moons changes everything just as it did 16 years ago. As everyone is preparing for the Double Moons Ivy Lovely’s simple, ordinary life is thrown into a magical life that she could never have imagined.

This fast paced, magical, middle grade book completely captured me from the start! The magic and mystery had me wanting more! The author, D.E. Night created a completely magical world of Croswald that I quickly became a part of. The story had a Harry Potter feel but was completely its own. We were given just the right amount of character development at the right time but were left with questions about some characters that didn’t leave me frustrated but hoping to learning more in other books. I’m so looking forward to the next books in the series. A wonderful start to a enchanting tale!

Thank you D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and Netgalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

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This story was described to me as "Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland" and I think that description wonderfully fits the atmosphere of the magical world of Croswald.

Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid at Castle Plum where magic is dampened by slurry fields, feels like nothing special. With only the books of her dwarf friend Rimbrick to keep her company, she is terrorised by head cook Helga. After a certain accident involving Moonberry delicacies and the flue flem, she leaves the castle and discovers she has magic running through her veins and is going to be a scrivenist at The Halls of Ivy, a boarding school for royals who wield magical gems and scrivenists who guide their magic through quills.

In the Halls, Ivy goes on countless adventures. She makes friends, learns how to control her magic and slowly finds answers to the weird things that keep happening around her.

This timeless middle-grade novel had a truly unique magic system. The brilliant world-building made me fall in love with every new chapter, just like the mystery kept me turning page after page. From otherwordly creatures to a thrilling fight, there was never a dull or boring moment. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good whimsical story.

I'd like to thank Stories Untold and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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3.5/4
Thank you to the publishing team for reaching out and sending me a copy via Netgalley for review. I enjoyed this one but it wasn't my favorite it was just good. It felt really similar to The Trials of Morrigan Crow but it still lacked that magical spark that makes a great middle grade for me. I might still pick up book two to see how it is but I'm not sure. Overall it was a good read but it won't be an all time favorite and I'm not sure how memorable it will be in the long run.

Will also be posted on Instagram eventually my reviews are posted in order of reading so it may take a bit.

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Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. But that doesn’t affect my opinion and thoughts about this book.

This book follows the journey of a girl who has a power that that she didn’t know about. It started off with her in the slurry, where Ivy grow up. But one day she received a letter, inviting her to study at a very famous school, the Halls of Ivy. And her journey begins there!

In all honesty, I was having a hard time in reading the first few chapters of the book. I was having troubles with the world building. But don’t get me wrong, it is beautifully written, I just find it difficult because I’m such a noob when it comes to Fantasy books. I really struggle with world building. I honestly have reread the first few chapters to get it all.

The characters in this book reminds me so much of Harry Potter. It’s great and it motivated me to read this book more. And I enjoyed it! I also like the fact that despite it being similar to a very famous franchise, it has so much unique things in it! (We’ll discuss that in the spoilers section of this post).

I like the idea of the Forgotten Room. It still confuse me how it works but knowing the everything that is thrown into the room, everyone would surprisingly forget that specific thing. It’s a mystery for me, to be honest. I like it though. I really do.

I love the ending but at the same time, wished that I have the second book already! Like NOW! I wanna see how things would turn out in the next book. I wanna see Ivy develop and fulfill her destiny.

Full review: https://wandersbetweenpagess.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/book-review-the-crowns-of-croswald-by-d-e-night/

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Thanks for the Publisher for providing me this novel in exchange for an honest review.
So... Where should I start?
In "Crowns of Croswald" we met sixteen year-old girl called Ivy. One day, she crosses the magical border- who separates the mundane world from the magical, and starts to attending incredible and misterious walls of Halls of Ivy. Halls of Ivy it's a magical school, where all the students learn how to became a master of magic. Our main character gets in a loooot of trouble, and has a lof of amazing adventures.
I really loved the world building, they were really well executed. Descriptions were really well written, and it shows that the author has a great imagination. I fond off our main character- Ivy. She was such a funny character, and it was an amazing journey to follow her adventures. The plot was nice, but it wasn't spectacular, quite predictable, but it was still enjoyable.
Also I was really a fan of these magical creatures, they were a nice addition to the whole story.
So, I think that "The Crowns of Croswald" is such a creative and addicting book to read. If you love magic, magical creatures and Harry Potter. This book is totally for you!

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I was really intrigued with the blurb and my curiosity got the better of me when I was asked to review the book for the blog and am I so glad I let my curiosity win. The Crown's of Croswald was an excellent read, it was clearly influenced by some other children's books but that didn't make it less enjoyable or less unique. I enjoyed the writing, I thought it was well paced out and the characters were great

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Got this from the publisher and from Netgalley for a review!

We all grew up with Harry Potter in some way - we had a best friend, a sibling, a parent, or we ourselves loved it so much that it shaped our reading habits for the rest of our lives...but now years later we have all of this information about the author and times are changing and I for one think that it's time we lift up other authors who have taken up the sort of theme of the books and elevated them into their own imagination and The Crown of Croswald is one of the books I'd like to start with.

Truthfully, if this book hadn't been suggested to me I would not have known about it but now that I do I'm digging it. I'm digging it so much that when my pay from work comes in I'll be ordering all three books from the closest store for my niece because I think she would love it, and also so I can see the pretty cover art in my shelves.

One of the unique aspects of this series so far is the difference in magic compared to how other people use magic in books.

They use porcupines (the poor things generally scare easy) and sketching for magic as well as royal crowns and stones and I love it. I'd buy an entire novella dedicated to the history of the magic system in this world because I've read a ton of books and this is the most out-there one so far.

For a middle-grade series, I feel like she aged up the characters too much. 16-17 for this sort of series doesn't seem right to me because I think that they should be the same age as the readers but the way that it's paced and worded makes it easy to follow and guess what's going to happen so it's a good starting point. It's a slow build up to an intense end of the book and I like that in a book but some younger kids might not, depending on their individual reading level.

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This is a middle grade fantasy series, full of magic & adventure - I adored so many things about this first book! At first, I was getting some major Harry Potter vibes and I really loved it, and it’s so great that it was from a female perspective and eventually got to it’s own story development. Ivy’s character is my favorite, and I was so glad she had such an awesome support system. And can we talk about how cute Humboldt seems?! I loved the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, they are absolutely beautiful and I couldn’t wait to make the connection in every chapter. Also when the prologue made sense in this book, WOW - this book was simply amazing!

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I honestly loved this book!
I haven’t felt so drawn in a book in a long time. If you are a lover of fantasy, magic, castles, lost princesses and evil queens this is definitely a book for you.
The story is about a young girl, Ivy, who gets an invitation to attend a magic school and a whole new world with many mysteries unfolds for her.
I found the story and the way this magical world is built remarkable. The main characters are all interesting in their own way and to my opinion the plot and humour are smartly weaved for a young adult book. Despite the length of the book, it is not tiring or boring at all and keeps the interest of the reader high.
The book is inspired from the Harry Potter world but as soon as you start reading it, the story is captivating and it did not remind me of it at any point.
Generally, the book felt like it had the right amount of everything, making it very enjoyable for me!
I cannot wait to start the next one!

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The story is set in a world where magic and reality coexist. They are divided, but at the same time connected. Ivy, the protagonist, is a young girl trying to survive every day life. When she crosses the border that separates the mundane from the magical world her powers awaken. She finds herself surrounded by new incredible things and goes to a magical school to learn how to control her new powers. Everything seems to be perfect, except it’s not.

The book is a fast read. Since it’s a middle-grade the story is easy to follow and the writing style allows the reader to fully immerse in the new world.

Even if the story has something in common with other similar books, I think that the powers and the magic system are very original. The world buiding is really well done and it’s probably my favourite part of the book.

All the characters are interesting, they have both pros and cons, especially Ivy that is sixteen but seems younger. I already know they will all grow together in the next installments of the series.

The Crowns of Croswald is an adventurous, fun and whimsical story that I recommend if you like middle-grade or young adult books.

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16 yr old Ivy has only known the hard life of a scaldron maid. However, as fate would have it she is banished from this life and enters into a life of magic, a new school, and new possibilities. As soon as you start reading it brings back memories of Harry Potter with a poor, forgotten child who has a new start at a new school with magic but Night does a great job of creating her own world and characters. I'm giving this a 4 star reveiw because it was quite a bit predictable but it was really a fun adventure and I can’t wait to continue the adventures into book 2 and 3.

I was provided with an electronic ARC through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold Press for gifting me a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book takes place in a school of magic called the Halls of Ivy. The main character, Ivy, learns she possesses magic after spending her entire life working as a maid in the kitchens. Stepping into the unknowns and the exciting adventure of a new life and home, Ivy takes you on a magical, spell-binding journey of bravery, friendship, and discovery.

As I found myself enchanted by the world of Croswald, I felt reminded of many similar books that I grew to love over my childhood years— the Harry Potter series specifically. I really loved the in-depth look that D.E. Night gave us into Croswald and how complex she made it with the Hollow Shaft and Halls of Ivy. I was enchanted by the idea of quills and all of the incredible things they could do. The magical creatures in this book, also had me captivated and charmed. The creativity behind the magical creatures could definitely be seen and helped add a level of complexity to the magical world of Croswald.


I especially loved the main character of the book, Ivy Lovely. Ivy is very inquisitive, always finding adventures and getting herself into tight situations. She is easy to love and a very relatable character to follow along with.

While I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book, the last quarter of the book felt especially rushed in terms of plot development and reveals. All in all, I greatly enjoyed this whimsical book, and I believe it is a great fit for the middle grade age group.

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Wow, this book was such a nice and cute middle grade fantasy read! It was so whimsical and magical with Harry Potter vibes, but with its own imaginary world. In a few words: magic, little dragons, magical cabs, school setting in an old castle, magical quills. Yes, it sounds so whimsical and it WAS.

First of all, the plot wasn’t the strongest point of this book. It was a bit flat throughout the story, and there wasn’t a lot of intrigue for the most part of the book. The intrigue really started around the middle of the book, and the pace of the story sped up until the ending. The main focus was mostly the discovery of this magical world and magic school, but to be honest, I was fine with that! The whimsical atmosphere and worldbuilding were so well done that I didn’t care much about the lack of intrigue.

The strongest point of this book was without a doubt its atmosphere and worldbuilding. Oh my god, this book was so whimsical! I got carried away in this fantastic world with a magic school setting, magical quills, magical beasts and scrivenists! This magic school had two types of students: royals, and scrivenists. Royals in this book were people who were able to do magic through their crown filled with magical stones. Each stone had different magical traits that these Royals needed to learn to control. Scrivenists in the other hand were “real” wizards, who were able to do magic without the need of magical stones, and had more “art abilities” like sketching everything they saw with a photographic memory with magical squills.

This world was filled with magical beasts like little dragons called scaldrons, and from chapter one, they were the cutest beasts EVER. These little dragons were used as cooks in a castle and I just loved Ivy’s relationship with Humboldt, the scaldron who became her little companion at the beginning of the book.

I also really enjoyed all the magical aspects of this world, like small bottles called glanagerie filled with imaginative worlds where you could be completely swept in, or the Forgotten room, a place where everything you would put into it were forgotten by everyone. The author has such a great imagination, it was actually impressive!

The magic school setting was also everything. I feel like I say this all the time, but honestly I LOVE magic school setting in books, and this one didn’t disappoint.

As for the characters, I really like our main character, Ivy. She was so cute, but also fierce and strong with a real problem to follow rules and a nice sense of humor. The relationships were also cute and perfectly adapted to a middle grade story. I really enjoyed the friendship between Ivy and Rebecca, and I loved the tiny bit of romance in this book. And I really hope it will evolve more in the next books.

This book was honestly so enjoyable and despite a flat plot through this book, the worldbuilding and the magic totally made up for it. The ending was also surprising and I enjoyed all the revelations, even if I had seen them coming. I will definitely read the rest of the series!

Overall, I would really recommend this middle grade fantasy book to Harry Potter fans or cute fantasy stories in general.

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It's like Harry Potter, but full of purple, glitter, and fairies!

I really enjoyed this book. It did have a slow start as I felt a bit overwhelmed by the introduction of new terms all at once, but after that little hump, I really liked it. It is everything a book lover dreams about. A magical school with magical quills and magical books! It was full of whimsy, magic, mystery, and it even had a cute little schoolyard crush.

Though I wouldn't necessarily add the next installment to my top priority list, I definitely want to read more.

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

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Have you ever wanted to re-live the feeling of reading Harry Potter for the first time? The whimsical magic, the mysterious lore slowly unfolding, and amazing characters that you care deeply about? That’s exactly how I felt while reading The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night.

Night’s world they created feels fresh and familiar all at the same time. The book follows Ivy Lovely — a 16 year old kitchen maid who’s life isn’t very exciting. After an incident leaving her out on her own, Ivy is in the right place at the right time and finds themselves on their way to the Halls of Ivy — a magical school typically reserved for the upper class and royalty.

Fun characters like Fyn, help Ivy naviagte sticky situations while we learn more about the secrets of the dark magical world. Ivy finds themselves falling into the interest of the Dark Queen and quickly try to save themselves and others in this thrilling book.

The chapter illustrations are fantastic and the book leaves enough things left out for you to crave more of Ivy’s world in Night’s following books. I really enjoy enjoyed this book and world!

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This book really loved it, it's full of magic and a lot of unexpected twists, I could see what there are two others and I can not wait to read them. This book is perfect for middle-aged children, if you loved Harry Potter?, this book is for you, thank you for the opportunity to read this e-book.

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a magical middle grade/YA fantasy series written by D.E. Night.

The book follows Ivy Lovely who works as a maid in the kitchens of Castle Plum taking care of dragon-like creatures called Scaldrons and spending her evenings sketching the same castle that has appeared in her dreams for as long as she can remember. She never expected her life to amount to much until the day she received her invitation to the Halls of Ivy.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the author has a great writing style that flows smoothly and makes you instantly love her characters and the unique world she has created. I especially loved the little illustrations at the beginning of each chapter which added that little extra dash of whimsy to the story. Once I started reading I could not put it down and finished this magical adventure in one evening.

If you are looking for a cozy book full of magic and adventure that you can read in one sitting then I definitively recommend you pick up The Crowns of Croswald and join Ivy as she discovers the secrets not only hiding in the Halls of Ivy but also in herself.

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** thank you to the author & publisher for giving me this e-Arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!** This was such a cute magical middle grade that should be on everyone’s list! It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, so if you’re a fan of that series I think you would like this one. I love that there was a female protagonist who was so well rounded, and the world building was phenomenal! It’s out now, so everyone run and pick up a copy and experience this magical world for yourself! ✨

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“This all sounds very lovely, but I, I can't be the girl you're looking for. Look at me... I-I'm just. Just a girl. A nobody. Maybe you're looking for Princess Alianna?”

He peered over his enormous, round spectacles, his face softening. “Some scrivenists start out as nobodies.”

The Crowns of Croswald tell the story of Ivy Lovely, who starts out to be working in the kitchen. She is an orphan, doesn't know her parents, which is a familiar setting in fantasy stories. I was afraidf I would get the same set-up like most fantasy stories. However, it isn't the main focus of the story; she doesn't drown in the thoughts that she is an orphan, and focuses more on what she has like great friendships, which I find for sure important, and her love for sketching, which is a big part of the story for good reasons. That, and she decides to run away with some kind of dragon-like creature, away from the dwarf she saw as a friend, to get picked up by a metal wearing beast that carried two people with him (not it, don't call him that, he will get upset).

And that is where we meet Lionel Ohlander Lugg, aka LOL, aka my favorite character for that fact and that fact alone.

Ivy gets a list of supplies she needs for school, buys those, sees the Dark Queen, who as the name might suggests, is the villain. We don't know much about her besides the fact that is bad. But I wished we knew more, that we got more history of her and the reason she acts the way she acts. I'm all for a well fleshed out villain. Maybe we will see more of her in the rest of the series...

The chapters go by, to give more insight on the school system and the magic system, which is an interesting one. Some people have crowns, and they have stones that give them a specific kind of magic, like changing into an animal or control an element. I never read of a system like that, so bonus points for such an unique system!

Sooo, after those chapters, which sometimes felt a bit too rushed for my liking, we go back to the story. Because something strange is going on and that is that nobody seems to know or want to know who Derwin Edgar Night. And to find out who it is, because Ivy wants to know. She takes her friend Rebecca in her problems. And I loved it. I love their friendship and how even though it developed fast, it also developed so honest. They sure are great in causing problems and make a great team, which is nothing but fun to read about. Because they cause so many problems and because they also get punished from it, even more problems are caused, which gave an even more deeper insight in both the history and magic. If you are afraid there will be infodumps, I would say it isn't that bad. From time to time, there sure is a longer story out of nowhere, but in the end it all comes together very nicely and makes you forget it is even the case. That, and since it has this middle grade feeling, it is easy to understand what is going on and how things work.

All by all, this book is a great first book which also sets up the rest of the series. It has great friendships and a blooming romance maybe. If you want to try out more middle grade/fantasy, I recommend starting here because you wouldn't regret it!

Also, every chapter has a cute little illustrations, which is always a win in my book.

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Shouldn’t middle grade fiction be renamed as “all-time fiction”? Because boy, do I as an adult still enjoy reading it!
Ivy has been a slurry maid for most of her 16 years, working with all she has and banished from the things unknown to her. But when the line between what she has always known and the world of magic blurs, she takes a leap and chooses the other side. And there she goes off, to the Halls of Ivy, an institution that provides education in magic to the royals and the sqwinches.
There is a tragic past, a sob story, a chosen-one trope, a royal-heir trope and an entire world of magic all rolled into one giant action fest, but its all barely teenagers who are a mix of excitement and fear.
The first 150 pages or so are quite slow-paced, as they focus more on world building, but as the plot takes off, it all falls into the right places. The characters and the magical beasts are so captivating that for a moment, you forget that there is a Dark Queen who is out for blood.
Overall, I loved this book! It reminded me of the books I used to read when I was a newbie reader (and definitely made me pick out those old worn-out paperbacks from years ago). I recommend this for people who are new to reading or enjoy middle grade and YA fantasy.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review

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Review-The Crowns of Croswald.
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Thank you @netgalley and the publisher @storiesuntoldpress for providing me with the review copy.
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Ivy,the protagonist,is a "scaldrony" maid-she tames little dragons at the castle. After being banished from the castle,Ivy finds herself in the Halls of Ivy,a magical school.
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The way the adventure unfurls kept me entertained. Normally,I shy away from both middle-grade and fantasy genres,but this was a hit for me. Beautiful writing combined with effective storytelling, and a badass girl as the protagonist,"The Crowns of Croswald" would be a perfect read for middle-schoolers.

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The castle in her dreams could be more than a dream. And who is the man standing in the castle...These are Ivy’s dreams. Ivy is an overworked little servant, an orphan, tending to work animals and helping with endless cooking chores. She sleeps in a dirty dungeon with the animals. Sketching her dreams, talking with these beastly friends, and sometimes visiting Rimbrick on the hillside, who is an ancient woods dwarf, are her greatest joys. But then one day, Rimbrick warns her to leave home immediately. With a rough exit, she enters a land of enchantment. One, she quickly learns is filled with magic. That is where she will meet the Dark Queen and Winsome.

Follow along as Ivy is given the opportunity to attend the Halls of Ivy, a boarding school for students to master their magical blood and jewels and fine tune magical talents. At times, Ivy is clumsy and gets in a heap of trouble, worrying that she might be expelled from the school in year one, but at other times she is brave and confident, inquisitive, and a good problem solver. Who at the school will help her and who wishes to do her harm?

Learn the secrets of a wonderful lineage of Queens and see what must be done to continue this bloodline to save the world of Croswald. Watch a battle brew between evil and good.

The book is fast paced and will leave readers wanting more! The magical experiments and accidents in the classroom, throughout the schoolgrounds, and in the world of Croswald will keep readers on the edge of their seats wanting to see what magic might happen next! Ivy’s magic is the kind powerful enough to be sensed, but by whom? This is a 'girl power' story delivered to readers in a magical way.

(In GoodReads and Amazon, both) - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2373219276?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1 AND https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R1CPQF84UYVTT3?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp

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I really enjoyed this one, it was full of fun and magic and was really sweet. The world building and atmosphere was amazing throughout the book and I had such fun learning about all of the places Ivy was visiting. I really loved the school setting (even if it was a bit reminiscent of Harry Potter at times). I thought all of the character were really well rounded and were fun to adventure with. I enjoyed watching Ivy working out the mystery of what was going on at the school and who she really was. I thought her relationships with other characters were really sweet and overall I can't wait to read the sequel to this one.
Would highly recommend for fans of fantasy middle grades full of mystery and adventure.
4 out of 5 stars.

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Thank you so much to the author and publisher who allowed me to read this book early !!

Summary: 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 crashing 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.

I really enjoyed following Ivys journey as a character. I don’t typically read middle school level novels but I would love to purchase this as a class set for my students! Ivy was such a strong character and there was so much world building throughout! I flew through this one and the second one in a matter of days!

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
Original Publication Date: July 21, 2017 - Get it today!
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Description from NetGalley...
“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 crashing 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.”

Thank you to @NetGalley, @storiesuntoldpress for the digital ARC in return for my honest review.

My thoughts...
This is considered a middle-grade fantasy book. As an adult, I found it entertaining and a fun read. A great debut novel. The language is neither childish nor simple. The world-building was so fun. The story’s world, places and objects were described so well. I really appreciated the character development and I found the characters endearing. The book had a dusting of Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Harry Potter all mixed into one and still a unique world. It was simply magical. I wanted to learn more about the world and the creatures in it. It’s a story of friendship, acceptance and believing in yourself. I adore the “hairies” - lantern fairies that gives light through their glowing hair. How wonderful is that?! And, as an added bonus, every chapter starts with a great illustration. Looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

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A big thank you to the author and Netgalley for letting me read this one!
Middle grade is usually not something I reach for, so I wasn't sure how this reading experience would turn out, but the premise was so cool, I wanted to try!
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Ivy Lovely is a young scaldrony maid, which means she tends to the tame little dragons who are used for baking goods at the castle. She's an orphan who just wants to do well at what she does, but keeps ending up in trouble!
One day everything changes and she's caught up in a whirlwind when she gets invited to the magical school of Croswald. Once at the school, Ivy meets new friends and learns to use her magic. She turns out to be a fast learning, curious student, finds the secret lair of a kind mage (one who is so old, he was supposed to be dead) and who ends up being her mentor. Pretty much everything that could go awry does exactly that and soon Ivy finds herself and her friends in mortal danger when the evil mage Queen pays a visit to her school because of something Ivy doesn't even know about herself.
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The story did remind me of the world of Harry Potter, but of course, every magical school does. I feel like this is much more suited for middle age readers, more whimsical in it's writing and all the events that we learn about throughout the story. It was also very entertaining for me as an adult reader, I found myself immersed in it's magic!
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I already started the second book in the series! Can't wait to see what Ivy's up to next!

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"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." This was a great book and I love how Ivy discovery her magic powers. Croswald is a magical world that you can invest your time.

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Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Reading The Crowns of Croswald was such a delightful experience, bringing memories of my childhood rushing back.

First of all, I would like to praise the prose of this novel. As The Crowns of Croswald is aimed at a younger audience, I was expecting a relatively simplistic writing style, and while the prose of this novel is easily read, it contains such a sense of whimsy and atmosphere and I found myself smiling often throughout the journey this book takes you on.

One critique I have for this novel would be its pacing. The Crowns of Croswald tells a compelling story but the set-up of the plot feels a bit rushed while parts in the middle of the novel drag at times. I still very much enjoyed my time with this book, and this fault is minor compared to everything else The Crowns of Croswald has to offer.

The world D.E. Night has created with this novel is so fun to read about. Croswald is eccentric and fantastical and heartfelt, and the characters that populate it are lively and colorful. If you're a Harry Potter fan or looking for a wonderful fantasy series for a young reader, The Crowns of Croswald may just be the right thing for you.

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YAAYY LOOK WHO READ A FANTASY NOVEl AFTER AGES AND LOVED IT!!!
The Crowns of Croswald was so good. It was a package of some of my favorite things in books : A magical school (major HP vibes) , an inspiring & strong female lead and an engaging storyline.
The characters in the were really interesting to read about. I specially loved seeing Ivy's character development throughout the book. The mystery and fantasy elements were really well written as well.
The author's writing style is quite descriptive, so it might take some time for others to get used to it, but it worked fine for me. Overall, this was a really fascinating read. Can't wait to pick up the next books in the series! 😄
Thanks to the author @author.denight and the publisher for sending me a free review copy. 💗

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I received this book from @storiesuntoldpress to read and write and honest review.

This book gives me tons of Harry Potter feels with a twist of Shadowhunters and Snow White! If you love those magical world this a YA book/series to read!

I am huge fan of magical worlds and all things fantasy that are only in our imagination. This is definitely a good YA book for ones who enjoy magical/fantasy world with a lead female character.

The story follows Ivy who has grown up hidden away, separating the mundane world from the magical world. She is always known as the slurry girl who wants nothing more than to be a scrivenist. Soon she finds herself welcomed to the Halls of Ivy where student learn to master their magical abilities. Many things happen during first year at school and soon secrets begin to unveil themselves and the truth comes out.

The magical world was truly wonderful learning about everything. Learning about the school, creatures and each students abilities was amazing. There were many secrets throughout the book. Since the beginning each secret that was unearthed kept leading to more that was behind the truth of who Ivy really is! I had my guesses about who she was but was shocked at the ending of her true self. The ending left me wanting more and needing to find o what’s going to happen. Looks like I’ll be continuing the series!

Some parts were a little confusing towards the end when bouncing around in the final chapters. I was able to pick up on it but not knowing the background of the world of Croswald made it harder at times. I definitely would like to see a prequel or a novella of the world of Croswald and all its magic beforehand.

Overall, it is a good YA story that gets you engrossed in the magical world of Croswald and the life of Ivy Lovely.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night was a wonderful book and I really enjoyed reading it! I loved the characters and the magic system so much and the last five chapters were my favorite part. In the book, Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind a border that hides magic, but when she's invited to attend the Halls of Ivy, a prestigious magic school, she crosses the border and she unlocks her powers. As she adjusts to her new life as a student at the Halls of Ivy, she gets caught up in a dangerous mystery and Ivy soon finds herself scrambling to find all the answers before it's too late. The first third of the book didn't really click with me, but after that I found myself enjoying the story and I found it really intriguing so I'm defintely going to read the next books in the series! My actual rating is 4.6 stars out of 5. Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

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Despite the harsh realities we face in the real world, it's a nice reprieve to enter the world of fantasy! In these magical worlds, your mind is allowed to run rampant with wild dreams and vivid imaginations.

In "The Crowns of Croswald" you meet protagonist Ivy Lovely as she navigates her way through the magical world of Croswald, and her new school, the Halls of Ivy. Not only does she have normal teenage drama to deal with but throw in an evil queen and magical surprises at every corner, then you have yourself one heck of a colorful school year!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys losing themselves in a fantasy world. It is also a fantastic series for any middle/high school students who enjoy this genre. So find a quiet corner, snuggle up under a comfy blanket, and join Ivy throughout her adventures in Croswald.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was such a fun adventure! The setting of the school felt so magical and I loved all the little details that really brought it to life. The magic was really interesting too with the students being split into royals - those who use the power of gems - and the scrivenists - those who use quills and the magic in their blood. There was a huge amount of different powers like ice, shapeshifting, super speed and so many more!

Ivy was a great character who was intelligent, curious and really kind. I loved following her on her adventures! The side characters were, for the most part, all really interesting. There could have been a bit more character development but maybe that comes in the next books. I still loved reading about them though and I really enjoyed Winsome who acted as a teacher to Ivy.

As for the plot, it was all very fast paced with lots of action which I loved! It was great getting to constantly discover more secrets about Croswald and Ivy's history. I particularly enjoyed the Hollow Shaft, I thought that was a really interesting concept - the scrivenists who have reached the ends of their lives come here to 'turn tome' which basically means they are turned into a book that records all their discoveries and life story. The ending was a little confusing however, I think it could have just been better explained but after thinking it over I eventually understood it. This is a middle grade though so I'm not sure if younger readers would get a bit lost.

Overall though I loved this book and will continue the series! I'd highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys magical schools and mysteries!

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Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night- 3.5 stars
Summary: Ivy Lovely has spent her days as a servant but leaves her home and goes to the Halls of Ivy, a school for royals and squinches (people with magical blood). Strange things happen as Ivy embarks on this adventure and she starts investigating her past and the other odd events around her.
Setting: The worldbuilding in this book is a treat! It gives off a whimsical and wondrous vibe, reminding me of Studio Ghibli movies like Kiki’s Delivery Service. The cover is gorgeous and set the scene even before reading. The facets of the magic system were interesting, but I wish I could see more of the magic in a typical setting to better understand them. (And possibly a glossary to remember all the unique names for different people, potions, animals, and spells).
Plot: I struggled to get into the book at first- but once I got to the second half, the events seemed much more relevant and interesting. The plot is a bit convoluted, and there are problems that I think were resolved too easily for the characters, but I was continually looking forward to what would happen next.
Characters: There are quite a few interesting characters in the book that I couldn’t get enough of- Fyn and Rebecca, Ivy’s friends, have great personalities. I had trouble connecting to Ivy, the main character. I felt like she was a bit of a Mary Sue and didn’t exercise a whole lot of agency throughout the story.
TL;DR- Overall, I enjoyed this story! There are several things that I think could be better, and the first half was hard to get through because I didn’t feel like I could root for Ivy, and because the events didn’t seem significant. However, by the end, my opinion of the story improved, and I would consider reading the second book. I think it’s a fun read, and many middle-grade readers would enjoy the unique worldbuilding and magic system, as well as the enjoyable people and adventurous plot.

This review is also on my Instagram, @astudyinstories, as well as Goodreads and Amazon.

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Summary:
Ivy Lovely is an orphaned scullery maid whose jobs is to look after the Scaldron dragons who is thrown out of the castle she works in and thrust into the magical world of Scrivenists and the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magic. When Ivy’s magic and her life is threatened by the Dark Queen, she has to unearth her past and save Croswald before the truth is forgotten and removed forever.

Review:
I’ve been on a real fantasy reading kick for a while now, and I am so glad I was approached to review this series! Wow! This first book in the series was such a magical read and I cannot wait to continue reading this series. I loved the magic system and the world building of the novel, with the Scrivenists and Royals! I definitely want to be a scrivenist after reading this, even though I am not that artistic, and have a scaldron (a dragon that cooks food in their mouths!) like Ivy.

I was not expecting the ending of this book and I definitely am excited to follow Ivy’s journey in the next book. I cannot wait to see how her story, as well as Fyn and Rebecca’s stories unfurl. These characters are well-rounded and make me want to be a student alongside them in the Halls of Ivy.

This book is perfect for middle-grade readers, but it is a great read for older readers, that will remind you of the magic in books such as Harry Potter and other great fantasy reads, yet stands on its own as unique and inspired. Princesses, Queens, magical stones and quills are just the surface of this incredible read.

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

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I enjoyed this book. It is similar to Harry Potter—unsuspecting child finds out they have magic powers, goes to magic school escaping their dull life, something dark threatens their safety, the main character must work with other classmates to discover what is going on. I could see having this book in my classroom especially for students who love a magical world (or want to read Harry Potter and aren’t quite ready). It’s worth the read!

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I received a copy of this book through netgalley for free in exchange for an honest review. So, let me tell you about this charming little book!

The Crowns of Croswald paints a picture of a society full of magic and mystery. We meet our protagonist when she is a kitchen maid, before she begins her hero's journey arc. Eventually she gets to leave her servitude and be educated at a school of magic.

This story had very strong Harry Potter vibes to it. In fact, many of the important plot points are virtually the same. However, the world-building was different and I did enjoy the fact that we had a female protagonist. Like many school stories, she has a group of friends and they have to work together to fight evil and discover their true powers.

This is a fun universe D.E. Night has built, and I'm so very pleased to hear that there are more in the series. I would recommend this book for middle grade readers on up who enjoy fantasy, magic, and school stories.

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This was such a fun and easy read! A girl who gets to go to a magical school and learn magic? Yes please! It reminded me at first a bit like Harry Potter, but the author have truly made her own magical world with an interesting magic system and some amazing characters. I really enjoyed exploring the world of Croswald through Ivy and to see her make her way learning magic and discover secrets about the school and herself.

The writing was easy to follow and the author did a great job on the world building. I could easily imagine how everything looked like and that made the reading experience very enjoyable.

With how the book ended I feel like there's more to discover about the world, the scrivenists, the threat of the Dark Queen and definitely about Ivy. I have questions that needs to be answered and I'm looking forward to dive into the second book and discover even more.

I would definitely recommend this book to those who loves a story with some great characters and a magical adventure.

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3.5/5 stars.

it took me a little while to get invested in the story since a lot of things are unexplained in the first part of the book, but more and more is revealed throughout and the further i got into the story the more i felt myself being drawn in.

i really love the magic system the author created, and who doesn't love a magical school setting? this book gave me the feeling of a disneyfied, magic-infused malory towers. i'm not sure why exactly, perhaps the writing style or the school setting, but i definitely felt like there was a similar sort of feeling to malory towers (but with magic). needless to say it made me nostalgic for the books i read when i was younger.

the book was full of eccentric and lovable characters that i'm sure middle-grade readers would love! i especially enjoyed rebecca's character and derwin edgar night. as well as all the enchanting and charming magical creatures (humboldt is so precious, i love him)

overall i thoroughly enjoyed my experience of reading this book, it was such a fun and magical ride. i think this is a strong start to a middle-grade series, and i'm quite curious about what will happen in the rest of the series.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for a gifted eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For kids too young for the avada kedavra curse, this is a great introduction to the world of magic. There are nods to Harry Potter everywhere, and I enjoyed those little Easter eggs. The writing is simple and the story is easy to follow.

Ivy has her ups and downs, where she can be a bit annoying, but she means well and just wants to know what’s going on, which is fair. Her curiosity is burning and it really drives this story. I liked Ivy’s friends, Fyn and Rebecca, but do wish that we had learned more about them and got to know them better. Ivy seems annoyed by them more often than anything, so I don’t think we really get to see their personalities as much as I would have liked. I loved Winsome and do wish we got to spend a bit more time getting to know him as well. I found Derwin Edgar Night (same initials as the author, which I thought was fun!) the most interesting character in the story and can’t wait to finally learn more about him in the next books!

Towards the end, I couldn’t put the book down, I just needed to know what was happening! I had an idea of what it may be, but wasn’t sure how all of it fit together. The ending was full of excitement and action, and gave us a brief overview of Ivy’s history. There were definitely things I questioned, but they seem to be things that could be answered in the next book🤞🏼Overall, it was an enjoyable read!

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Escape to a magical world with a cast of intriguing characters in D.E. Night's book, The Crowns of Croswald. I definitely recommend purchasing this book for school libraries.

Thanks for netgalley and Stories Untold for providing me an E-Arc.

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In a world full of magic, what would you give to be free of chores, boredom and a hopeless future as a kitchen maid?

Hoping to the moon for a chance is Ivy's only way out of a sad, poor life as an orphan in Castle Plum... Or so she thinks! Suddenly she finds herself on her way to the most prestigious magic school of Croswald and living a year full of new experiences, challenges, friends and, of course, magic!!

This installment opens the door for a new fantastic world were the shadow in power lurks behind every corner of the scrivients and royals' school, making curses and forgetfulness be in the core of the mysteries and the future of the young Lovely.

Great for fans of Harry Potter and the Worst Witch saga!

ARC provided free by Netgalley un exchange for an honest review.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Harry Potter meets Snow White meets other beloved fairy tales. If you love any fantasy or magical worlds, this book should be your next read. Although it's listed as Middle Grade reading, I suggest this book to all ages, especially those that grew up with Harry Potter.

Ivy reached age 16 never knowing she had magical roots, but always dreamed of it. Until one unfortunate mishap sent her traveling away from the life of a scaldrony maid and into a flying cottage steered by a hooved, storm-causing beast. Her life as a scrivenist began. Did I get your attention? Good!

After searching for a new fantasy series to enjoy, this one fell into my lap. Night's best writing chacteristic is her talent to paint vivid pictures for the reader. Royals' outfits, beastly creatures, and magic itself are perfectly described, so to imagine you are living in this world with the characters.
Discovering new characters and creatures are another favorite aspect of mine when finding a new series to read, and Night caught my attention. Even the Prologue will force you to delve into the book without thinking otherwise: scrivenists, flying hoofstock, a missing royal family, MAGIC!
And the plot!: A strong-headed, young woman protagonist finding herself to be someone special with the help and trust of her newfound friends. But Night makes this story an adventure. You have to fit the pieces together, alongside the young woman. But the evil and darkness that stand in the way hold a certain power over the reader, to find exactly what this evil is and defeat it. And when you finally come face-to-face with the Dark Queen, you have to wait to defeat her in..... the next book in the series! Yes, it's a series!

I cannot wait to read the next book, the Girl with the Whispering Shadow. I recommend the series to all young readers and to all adults that enjoy escaping to a magical world.

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In exchange for an honest review💖 I received this from the publishers and the author.. thank you so much💕

★·.·´¯`·.·★ 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 ★·.·´¯`·.·★

❥ Middlegrade Magical story
❥ Hello Harry Potter fan incase you missed out, you might want to read this and add it to your magical reading list✨
❥ Its about a girl name Ivy who don't have a clue who she is.
❥ so much unexpected things happened once she's been kicked out from the slurry place she's living, for her entire childhood.
❥ And there is boarding school of magic (fine! it's like Harry Porter, and yes I do fond this Boarding school)
❥ Its Ivy and 2 Bestfriend great adventure getting to know the truths.
❥ In additional of this wizardly place, there are drawf, magical creature, adorable dragon (Name Hamboldt to be more specific, Ivy's scaldron that I adore of course) and a beautiful magical neighbourhood. The description of every place Ivy went is so enchanted.
❥ So the exact story is, Ivy been haunted by this Evil queen (not going for further on this)
✿ Children books are never a dull, am I right? Love the book, and I'm sure my kids will love it too 💖

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Ivy, a 16 year old girl lives in Castle Plum as a maid. Unaware of her powers that she holds within, she lives as an outcast until one day her life takes a turn where she discovers her actual identity. In this magical world, Ivy comes across so many adventures in order to find the very meaning of her life, and to fix her blurred but alluring dreams. Was she meant to be in the beautiful yet haunting magical world, or is her existence much more than that?

I absolutely loved this book. So full of magic. Was clearly obsessed with discovering the dark secrets with the protagonist Ivy. This book, is so full of beauty, happiness and ofcourse abundance of magic. If you loved Harry Potter series, movie or book, I highly recommend you to read this. It'll take you into the world where never ending adventure begins

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The Crowns of Croswald is 1st instalment in this middle-grade fantasy series. If I had to tell you about the book, in short, I'd say that it is a mix of Harry Potter and Cinderella (many people have also compared it to Percy Jackson series and Alice in the Wonderland). Our protagonist, Ivy Lovely is much like Harry, she has lived in a shadows her entire life, in Plum Castle as a scaldrony maid, forgotten. And her life has been one of drudgery. She has only one friend, Rimbrick who is a dwarf. Rimbrick tells her stories and gives her books to read (something denied to maids) and he tells her that she is special and has magic in her.

One day, following a series of events, she is kicked out of the castle and forced to leave the Castle which was surrounded by Slurry(it dampens magic). As she crosses the boundary, her magical powers re-awaken. She gets an invitation letter from the Ivy School of magic which is meant to teach magic, of course, to Royals and people with some magic in their blood (called Scrivenists). Ivy has always wanted to be a Scrivenist and this is her opportunity! So, off she goes, to the magical school where there are magical creatures, ghosts cook food, a forbidden forest exists, and our protagonist (her family) is cursed.

I must say, all the resemblances to Harry Potter dampened my enjoyment of this book a bit, as I was constantly comparing the 2 books. Besides that, the pacing felt irregular and Ivy seemed a little immature for a 16-year-old girl. That being said, I still enjoyed it enough to keep reading. The world-building is quite good and there is definitely a magical feel to the book. The writing is simple which serves the purpose of being a children's book. Also, the 2nd half of the book felt pretty solid!

I think it will be a good read for the intended age group and if you are a parent, reciting the book to your child(ren) will be a good option as well.😇

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐.5/5

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy.

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Thanks to Netgalley and Stories Untold Press for the free Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this action-packed magical fantasy. Ivy grew up a slurry maid, but ends up with a place at the Halls of Ivy, a magical academy. What she doesn’t know, however, is her true heritage. The ending leaves it open for a sequel. The characters are likable, and I found myself sucked in. Hand this to fans of Keeper of the Lost Cities and Harry Potter.

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This book was a beautiful magical, adventurous, danger lurking read and I was hooked from the very first line.
As told by many, this book is a beautiful blend of Harry Potter meets Disney!! This is a beautiful enchanting read for every girl!
Croswald is a magical place where from its Royal Palaces, to its shops, to it's Magical School, The Halls of Ivy, magic is everywhere! A dream destination.

Ivy Lovely, a sixteen year old orphan, working as a maid, while sketching at nights with the only friend she has; a dwarf. Until, one day she passes through the Slurry; and discovers that her destiny is to be at the House of Ivy; the prestigious school where both Princesses and Sqwinches go to learn magic!

This book is fascinating and intriguing, I loved exploring this magical place and all those magical classes, even though the similaries exist with HP, but the author has a ncie writing style which I adored.

It's a must read for magic lovers. I will definitely recommend this book to everyone. Teens and tweens will love this book too!

This was such a fun read – The world created has so many new magic to be learned and characters who you fall in love with & root for throughout their adventures.

There are many questions still left unanswered, which am sure will be explored in book 2. There were parts which were a bit fast forward, but overall it was a good read so I am looking forward to another year if Ivy!
Thank You @netgalley and @storiesuntoldpress for the opportunity to review and read this book.

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**I was gifted an e-copy for free by Stories Untold (publisher) and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.**

I absolutely loved it! It has been quite a while since I read middle grade books, but the storyline was full of wonder and adventure. It follows Ivy Lovely who stumbles into a magical world full of magic, and her time discovering who she really is. One of my favourite parts of the whole storyline was the introduction to the scaldrons, who sound absolutely adorable. I have seen a few comparisons of the story to having a Harry Potter feel, and I can understand because of the whole “school of magic” concept, however I think the story holds its own individuality.
Overall, The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night receive a 4-star from me. This is not a story I would have individually picked out for myself, but I’m glad to have been able to read it.

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The Crowns of Croswald follows a story about Ivy, a sixteen year old girl, who enters a magical world and finds her powers unlocked after crossing over the magical barrier. She finds herself at Halls of Ivy, a school where they practice their magic.

The book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter, and has quite a fantastical spin to it. The world building is incredible. I loved reading the details and history of the Croswald universe. I also really liked the idea of the Scrivenists, who wield their power through their quills. The mystery and adventure aspect of the book kept me going and made the book a thrilling read.

Ivy was a fun and exciting protagonist, and a great middle school character. Ivy learns more about her reccurring dreams and how it is connected with her past and Croswald. She does so along with the help of her friends Rebecca and Fyn who are such adorable secondary characters.

The world building is amazing (oops, did I say that already) and gives much potential for the rest of the series!

Definitely recommend to middle-school readers or anyone who loved Harry Potter.

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4.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, even if it did take me a while to fully get into it. I really enjoyed learning about the world, it’s magic system and characters! I always love magical school settings, and the Halls of Ivy did not disappoint! I am excited to read the next book and continue the story!

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I found this to be a great MG read. Although, I don't really read MG much, this one was able to pull me in with its adorable characters and magic school trope. The writing was sublime and the setting really stood out from all the other books in this magical school genre. I enjoyed the concept of scrivenists and the mystery that was woven into the plot. I also really liked the fact that it placed emphasis on friendships, which I believe are an important part of life for kids and adults. Would recommend this book of you are looking for great reads for your kids, or for your self.

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I have received a e-book of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
(This review is up on goodreads)
Actual Rating: 3.5

-synopsis-
Magic + Adventure + Fantasy + thrill
I really enjoyed this book it brung back the nostalgia for me of childhood. This was a great in take on magic and a magical universe. If you brought this book to me a couple years ago I would definitely have adored it more. This was a fun quick easy read for me.
-setting-
Croswald was a fantastic magical world filled with magic (of course) , slurry flowers, and mystery. One of my initial thoughts while reading this was “this reminds me of harry potter” The world is quite similar in a good way.

-Writing-
This story, like I said was a fun light read. The magic system of Croswald was very original and interesting. This was pretty slow paced for me during the first couple of chapters. But once Ivy arrived at school the book just grabbed my attention immediately!

-characters-
The characters had there own personalities and I loved them dearly. Although at times I kept forgetting Ivy was 16 because she just seemed so much younger in the book. I adore how relatable Ivy was and we also had similar interests which was cool. I loved Fyn, Rebecca, the selector and all the other characters. I wish there were more background information on them though.

-conclusion-
This book was well paced, magical, and overall fun. I would definitely recommend this if you love harry potter. I would also say this is a great book to get into reading it represents fantasy well.

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What a magical story and so so refreshing to read! I've always been a huge fan of the magical/fantasy genre but lately I haven't been captivated by any of the titles that are out there until this one.

Without giving too much away, make sure you are ready for an awesome adventure with this book. I know my niece and her little sister will enjoy this book although the main character is 16, people in that age group and below will be able to relate and enjoy this story.

I also loved the characters, each was developed quite well. Ivy is smart, brave, loving and compassionate. definitely need to see more of that in Y.A and Middle Grade Books.

Can;t wait to read the next one! :)

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in this magic-filled trilogy. It follows Ivy, a sixteen year old girl, that thought her only duty in life would be baking pies for castle parties and sleeping in tight quarters. However, she’s actually been locked away in a mundane world that is separated from the true power that lies in Croswald—and in her.

This was a fun read. I can see the similarities to the Harry Potter series( though I’ve never read them), but these books are not so overwhelming. I definitely recommend this series for middle-grade readers because the books are a sizeable read and can definitely grasp the attention a new or young reader with descriptive settings and magical lingo. I enjoyed the aspect of a girl MC. There was some romance(if I can even call it that lol), but it didn’t take away from the plot—-so that was a plus!
The author did a really cool job of coming up with magical jargon, galangerie (magical scenarios), and the concept of scrivenists and royals.

The pace was somewhat slow in the beginning but I assume it’s because the first half was spent explaining Croswald, Ivy’s background, the Halls of Ivy( boarding school) and pretty much an intro to the series!

I recognize that in fantasy worlds it’s easy to lose sight of what was mentioned earlier, old characters, sometimes even where the plot is going. But I have to say, the preface and other details that were sprinkled along the way tied in neatly with the story...I only felt that the Selector’s rendevous to the Hollow Shaft was not completely explained.

There wasn’t a major cliffhanger—— but the story is definitely NOT over :)

* I was given an eBook copy from the publisher, Untold Stories, in exchange for an honest review.

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If you are tired of re-reading the Harry Potter series and are looking for a new perspective on a magical world, this is the book for you!

Ivy Lovely's world changed when her days of being a scaldrony maid became numbered, and her dream of studying to be a screvinist came true. She mysteriously acquires admission in a prestigious school of magic and quickly realizes that for 16 years, the magic inside her had stayed dormant, because of the slurry fields around her castle. As she goes on a self-exploratory adventure, she encounters a mysterious benefactor and a long-forgotten secret too dark to be revealed.

The world-building is distinct and beautifully put together, with detailed descriptions on how things worked, which was exciting. I was particularly interested in finding out about hairy lanterns, where a cage with a hairy creature lit up when prodded.

The world of magic with magical potions, mysterious creatures, the dorm, the ghastly chefs who served yummy but peculiar food is beautifully described. I especially loved the pie incident, maybe because I was particularly hungry while reading it. But the thought of a thousand pies in the room, of varying flavours would be one of my dreams come true.

It must have been terrifying for Ivy to undertake a journey, all alone, from maid to princess, discovering well-kept secrets about her family. But at last, she saves the day, proving herself better than her fellow hoity-toity Princess's.

I loved this book, as it gave me a lot of Harry Potter vibes. I am planning to read the next two books in the series - The Girls with the Whispering Shadow and The Words of the Wandering soon, as I can not wait to find out what happens next.

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Ivy Lovely is an orphan, who has spent her life working as a maid in Castle Plum. One day, a situation occurs and she decides to leave the castle behind. She is found by a fantastical person who takes her to The Halls, a school for scrivenists and royals. This story is filled with magic, mystery, and wonderful characters and a setting that you will get lost in. Give this book a try, you won’t be disappointed!!

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Ivy Lovely is an orphan, who has spent her life working as a maid in Castle Plum. One day a mishap happens and she decides to leave the castle and slurry fields behind. She is found by a magical person and whisked away to The Halls, a school for scrivenists and royals. Let the magical mayhem and mystery begin! If you are a Harry Potter fan, give this middle grade/YA fantasy a read, you’ll be glad you did!

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What an exciting new adventure! A wonderful take on a magic world.

I really enjoyed how descriptive this book is, really sets the scene for the magical world and the histories of the characters.

Very engaging for readers with an active imagination that can take the story further within their minds. All character development and story development leaves plenty of room for progression within the series.

Couldn’t put it down once the main storyline had fully kicked in.

Can’t wait to read the rest ✨

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I absolutely soaked this book up. If your a fan of Harry Potter and The Secret of Spellshadow Manor, then you will really love this

Our main character Ivy, has been hidden in a castle in order to keep her safe. When she is cast out of the castle for, well, something that wasn’t her fault, she is finally found and taken to Croswald..

Poor Ivy doesn’t have a clue what’s going on..

I loved Ivy, and all of her friends. It’s a classic story, but it’s so well written, the scene setting is wonderful. It feels like a warm hug, and I really want to read more!!!

My thanks to Netgalley and Stories Untold for the copy

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3.5/5

I was given this book by Stories Untold Press with the exchange of an honest review. Thank you for sending me this e-copy.
I had a hard time putting this book down : Croswald is fascinating, and I loved learning more and more about Ivy's life at school, but also about the world she's living in. The world building was really effective and I entered in this magical world without any problem. The whole story was very whimsy and creative, and I found myself very intrigued by the plot and its characters. Plus, I really like the cover and the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.
It is an action packed and fun book, and I definitely recommend young (and every) readers who love magic and mystery to give it a shot !

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This book was gifted to me in order to receive an honest review, thank you Netgalley and Stories Untold LLC.

Did you want a female Harry Potter?
Did you ever imagined Cornish pixies with fur that lit up?
Did you wonder what the School of Good would look like in the Harry Potter universe?

Well you'll know if your read this book. It immediately pulls you into a magical world I've been missing since my first read of Harry Potter. A tale where dragons are pets. A Princess can willingly turn into a mermaid to save the day. You can take a walk in those little bookshelf towns you adore, travel intro the underworld and that's only book one.

I found this story easy to read, fast paced and I was instantly pulled in. I think this book was a journey I'll be hard pressed to find again. The main characters are enjoyable and you still have so much to learn about them.

Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy your won't regret it! D.E. Night you're a magical genius!

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(Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-book in exchange for an honest review)


Holy magic!

This book is packed from the very first page with magic! But let’s pump the breaks for a moment. Before I start my review of the book’s storyline, I want to first take a moment to truly appreciate the cover.

Personally, I love it. There is just something about this cove that I am really drawn too. I did read this book via e-reader, so maybe the colors are more vibrant digitally, which might catch my eye more, but still it’s beautiful. With the use of the bold bright colors and whimsical font, you can’t help but just stare at it. Which, I did, often. Also, I think it leaves a lot to the imagination about what this book is about without having read the synopsis. It most definitely caught my eye, and I immediately was forming possible plots and storyline’s in my head. So, yes, I love the cover. Okay, I’ve said my peace on that, now let’s get to the good stuff.

To put it simply, I loved this book. I was graciously gifted a copy to review, and I can’t tell how you how thankful I am, and relieved that I loved this book so much. I’ll say it, sometimes it can be hard to review books you’ve been gifted when the outcome of that book isn’t what you hoped, but in this case, it was more! So.Much.More!

This book follows the story of an orphaned girl names Ivy, who lives on the fringe of a magical land. Ivy is a curious girl, who secretly longs to be a part of the magical world, and loves absorbing any kind of knowledge that she can. I liked very much that she wanted to educate herself academically (a little magic academics that is), and with certain life skills. I like Ivy’s positive energy right off the bates, despite the struggles of her current situation of being a caretaker. When that world, is suddenly pulled away from under her, Ivy gets what she’s been looking for, magic and adventure.

She’s thrown into a whimsical, magical, and sometimes dangerous world, with all kinds of magical creatures, royals, and evil queens. I enjoyed reading Ivy’s story as she navigates through this unfamiliar territory. I thought her character was well written. She acted very much like a sixteen-year-old girl.

There was more plot twist than I was expecting. Which is great, no one wants to read a predictable book. I thought the pace of the book was pretty good too. There were only a few parts where I felt like it as dragging on a bit. I liked the world building. I thought it was very detailed, creative and original. Yes, lots of people are comparing this to Harry Potter, and we all know Harry Potter is one of the greatest magical series out there, however, this book should be taken into consideration as well. Yes, there are some similarities but to me they were very minor. This is a different story which different characters and emotions that stand on their own.

I will say that I think it’s more for a younger reader. There were a few parts where I thought, “well that’s just childish.” But where talking about teenagers here, (I am not a teenager, good times though) so for me, I couldn’t connect all that well in that sense, but I did truly enjoy reading it. It was a fun, easy and adventurous book. If you’re looking for something new I would recommend giving this a try.

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⭐𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬!⭐
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Book title: The Crowns of croswald
Author: @author.denight
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5

First of all thanks alot to the author and @netgalley for providing me with a review copy. Idk how to begin with the review but for all those who have been asking how was the book? Well if you are a Potter head you will surely love the book. I swear you will because this book is highly inspired by Harry Potter and is kind of a treat for potter heads. I had read the synopsis on good reads and that already told me that the book was written with inspiration taken from Harry Potter and believe me I was so much able to resonate events and stuff to HP and I knew the inspiration to create this particular event or a particular stuff was from Harry Potter. People on goodreads and on other websites have given this book 3 or 3.4 stars out of 5 and I can't see the reason why. If it was the very first work of the author it was excellent in my opinion and I loved it so much. The character of Ivy was much inspired by our very own Harry and the castle of halls of Ivy (which is a school btw) was also inspired by our very own home, that is hogwarts. I have an issue with fantasy genre that the book if fails to capture my attention within a few pages, is DNFed by me for a long time, but believe me this book didn't disppoint me at all. I absolutely loved the way, the author tried to create everything resonating with hp and this made my inner Potter head self smile. I was able to recognize a particular thing or event that the author recreated with her own imagination taking the inspiration from HP and I swear I loved it. I even made notes on the text their which reminded that this event or stuff was inspired by hp and how. I can't wiat to read the second part of the book.


Here's the link to my review posted on my bookstgram.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQ6drgAwbd/?igshid=1jltn4wc8x59z

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The first thing I thought of that this book had strong Harry Potter vibes, which is okay because I do enjoy Harry Potter. The nice thing is that it is still its own story and though some of the elements are similar it does not read like a retelling of Harry Potter, which I will admit I was a little afraid was going to happen when I started to read the book.

If you have not yet read this book here is a quick synopsis of it from my perspective from reading:

Ivy Lovely has been living life as an orphan who is treated horribly by the chef that she works for. One day after a mishap with a scaldron Ivy leaves with the few belongings that she has (and the scaldron that caused the whole mess) and sets out to run away to anywhere but where she was. She is immediately found by a magical being that is looking for her and whisked away to The Halls, a school for scrivenists and royals. Here Ivy must learn the secrets that have been kept from her, or die trying to.

The pacing of the book is very quick, and while it took me awhile to get past the first few pages, I flew through the book in 24 hours once I really sat down and just made myself start reading. I like Ivy as a character but it is kind of hard to build a relationship with her because of how quickly things happen in the book. I am sure that as the series continues I would be able to build that relationship with her that I enjoy building with the main characters of a story. A lot of the fantasy books I read are a bit slower paced at the beginning of the book so that those relationships are built by the time the book really picks up.

Overall this book was a nice read and while it is an easy read anyone could enjoy it if they enjoy magic and fantasy worlds. It was not my favorite book of 2020, but it definitely made my list of series that I want to continue to see how the story develops.

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Enter a world where magic exists. Some are born with magic and some obtain it through their crowns. Those born with it have the important job of being a scrivenist. The ones with crowns are royal. Being a scrivenist is a highly honored profession where you use your magic to record events as well as help the royals, Together, the royals and sqwinches (those studying to be a scrivenist) attend a magical school.
Ivy has spent all her life in the slurry fields as a maid, never to see the light of day. It is on her sixteenth birthday that she is kicked out. While searching for a place to exist, she discovers she has magic. Being in those fields suppressed her magic all those years. Now she is to attend the school and learn to be a scrivenist. As she gathers her materials for school, weird things begin to happen. Weird things continue to happen around her all year. She sets to find out why.
Opinion
Are you bookish? Do you love enchanting stories that flow so smoothly you get caught up? If so, you will absolutely love this book. D.E. Night tells a tale so beautifully that you cannot help but be caught up in the story.
I think at some point in their childhood, most people have dreamed of discovering that they are magical, or royal. This book speaks to that inner child in all of us that had those dreams. Ivy lived the poor, downtrodden life as a maid, much like Cinderella. When she discovers that she in fact is magical, all that changes. Add in the fact that there is a wicked queen and boom! You are transported back to the fairy tales of your youth.
For most of the journey, Ivy is on her own with the help of someone who no one else knows. As we get closer to the climax of the story, she is helped along by a friend and her roommate. Ultimately, it is up to Ivy to save the day. My inner child is bouncing with excitement over this story. It takes children to a land where they themselves become Ivy and get to discover the joys of magic and fight to figure out what is going on.
I truly cannot day enough about this story. I truly loved it and have talked to many people to get them to read it.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is the first in new a middle-grade fantasy series. It’s full of whimsy, adventure, and most of all, MAGIC.

This book follows Ivy Lovely, an orphan living in the borderland of the magical world. Destined for a life of working in the castle’s kitchen, Ivy has dreamed of change to pursue her education. But, it isn’t until she is mysteriously invited to study to become a Scrivenist (a magical storyteller/recorder), that she thought that her dreams would come true. From the first moments in Croswald, things become weird. Ivy can feel that everything is wrong. Secrets start to come to the surface. Only Ivy can find the truth… and they might just change her life.

There were a lot of elements of this story that I loved. The setting was interesting. The characters were a lot of fun. The plot was adventurous and quite enjoyable. I kinda went into this book expecting what the outcome was, but I was pleasantly surprised with the twists and turn along the way.

I think that the setting was my favorite part of the story. The Halls of Ivy is a castle-like magic school, where royals and scrivenists study alongside each other. There were so many little details that just made this location so whimsical, between the full tea bar in each dorm room (YES. YOU HEARD ME!) or the performing jester in the dining hall. Also, I can promise you that this book will make you very hungry. There is a lot of yummy food in Croswald!

Ivy as a character was an interesting one for me because at the beginning I wasn’t super into her as a character. She seemed a pretty average, but as the story went on, she grew on me. That being said, I think that my favorite characters where actually Fyn and Rebecca. Though they were both side characters, these two were just too much. I just loved the friendship aspect of this book. And without them, you know Ivy would not be where she is by the end. Also, Ivy has a little dragon at school with her and he is the cutest.

The downside of this book for me was some of the writing. I got passed it, but there were points, especially in the beginning that felt a little choppy. Maybe with a tad bit more editing, this could have been avoided. As the book went on, I noticed this less and less. Just be wary that the writing might be a little confusing sometimes.

(ALSO, I’ve heard a lot of people call this similar to Harry Potter, but as I never read those, I’m not the best to compare the two.)

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars. I had a lot of fun with this read and can’t wait to jump into the squeal (which I have already purchased). I think that if I was in the target audience, I would have adored this story! I highly recommend this book to any middle-grade readers!

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I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were authentic and very unique. The story also is very unique itself. Even though that a lot of books with magic schhol settings are out the story goes her own way. The descriptions of the world are very well described and amazing. I would definitely recommend reading it.

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While the cover depicts a feature of the story, it does not convey the young adult nature of the book. Based on the cover, I would have thought this a middle grade novel, but when the story starts our protagonist Ivy is turning sixteen. Furthermore, the boy she may or may not have a crush on is 18, since he’s in his third year of study when Ivy begins her first.
That’s not to say those who are younger can’t read it, as there is not much violence, no gore, and no language or sexual undertones, but I think having a different cover would engage a wider audience. If you’re a fan of magic, boarding schools, and adventure, then you will enjoy this book!

Ivy is accepted to the Halls of Ivy, despite not realizing she had any magical ability. She gets into lots of trouble, but also makes some great friends. I wasn’t sure whether I could trust Fyn for a large part of the book, and the Selector is definitely suspicious, but I did see the reveal of Ivy’s identity coming from the beginning, although not the specific details.

The magic system is entirely unique, and I wish we had learned more about it. There are two groups of magic users, royals who get a specific power from the gems in their crowns, and scrivenists who have magic in their blood and use quills (not wands) as the conduit. The scrivenists’ magic doesn’t seem to be as easily described as the royals’, and so I’m still a bit confused as to how and what the scrivenists can do besides write and sketch and brew potions, but I’m hoping there will be more explanation in the next books.

It takes a little bit to get acclimated to the world, and I think that’s why the first few chapters are slower-paced, but it definitely picks up. Sometimes it actually seems too fast later on with all the different descriptions and things happening. I wish it didn’t end at the moment it did!

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Thanks to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
The whole story was very whimsy and imaginative, perfect for young middle grade readers. It was so creative. I loved learning about the school, the creatures, and just the world of Croswald in general. The world building was fantastic.

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First of all, I would like to comment on how beautiful the cover is! One look and you can already tell it will be a magical story. And indeed it is. This is the first ever book D.E. Night published and I must say it is incredible! If you're into magical fantasy, then I recommend this book for you.

The story follows our main character, Ivy, a Scaldrony Maid who was suddenly enrolled in a school of magic. This is where the Royals and Scrivenist study and enhance their magic. The Royals are those who wore a crown with a stone where their magic comes from while the Scrivenist are the transcriber and yes, they also have magic in them. Ivy's life changes inside the Halls of Ivy, she discovers more about herself in there. And for some unknown reason, she's being pulled to this place. Catch her adventures in the Crowns of Croswald.

I was skeptical of certain characters such as the Selector and Fyn because they are both mysterious. Just when I thought I knew something, another event changes it. What I learned in reading books (and in life) is that looks can really be deceiving.

Another thing I like about the book is reading about the creatures of the book. So far my personal favorite are the Hairies, they are like pixies - tiny creatures who fly, but they light and burn bright like the lamps. This fantasy book is also mysterious; there so many unanswered questions and the real adventure is just beginning.

All in all, I truly enjoyed reading the whole book! It was surely magical and wonderful! It makes me want to read more!! Thank you for introducing this to me.

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Book Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and D.E. Nights representative Daniela for reaching out to me for an honest review of “The Crowns of Croswald” by D.E. Night

When I first began reading this book I wasn’t sure this would be a book I would enjoy but to my surprise I found this book to be a fantasy that is beyond magical. The magic that you will encounter will most definitely surprise you at every turn. Think Harry Potter, Cinderella, Snow White and Fantastic Beasts and you have “ The Crowns of Croswald” all in one book.

Our first encounter is with Derwin Edward Night but it is for you my dear readers to find out his true part in this grand adventure and you most definitely will. From this point this novel focuses on Ivy Lovely, a poor scaldrony maid at Castle Plum who struggles and works day and night from childhood till we meet her at the age of 16. She is sweet, kind and sketches wondrous pictures whenever she has free time and has but one friend named Rimbrick. Rimbrick tells her of adventures and of magical places.

Ivy’s kindness leads to her demise at Castle Plum when she takes a sickly little scaldrone and runs off with him to save his life. He would come to be called Humboldt. Then comes a strange letter she finds from Rimbrick and a leather pouch filled with coins and 3 books written by Derwin Edward Night.

Before you know it we are at Hills Of Ivy and Ms. Lovely is taking classes on various forms of magic and learning of mystical creatures and places. Ivy herself is not sure how she ended up here but it’s worth every second for you the reader to find out.

Verdict:

I can say I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book. I could not put this book down in the past 2 days. Ms. Night has created a beautiful, sometimes scary and overall magical book that will leave you wanting for more!! I give this book a 5/5. Looking forward to reading Book 2z

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3.5/5 Stars!

I’ll start out by saying thank you to the publisher (Stories Untold) for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

When I started this book I wasn’t sure about it bc of the comparisons I’d seen in other reviews and just my own observations in the similarities to Harry Potter. I will say that while they are relatively similar in some plot points Crowns of Croswald is a completely different experience.

I really enjoyed reading this book and once I got to the climax I almost couldn’t put it down. The ending did get a little confusing for me with some of the details but I was able to grasp it and figure it out!

An outstanding middle grade book for a young person to read! I am definitely looking forward to continuing with the series!

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16-year-old Ivy Lovely has just found out that she has magic! And she gets sent to this amazing school that she's only ever heard about - the Halls of Ivy - to become a scrivenist.⁣

First, this book has such a Harry Potter-esque feel to it. I mean, a girl who has had this pretty crappy life suddenly finds out she's "special" and gets whisked off to a magic school. Very HP. But that's not to say that it's a copy of HP.⁣

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗱 definitely stands on its own two feet. D.E. Night did a fantastic job of world-building and giving everything its own little place in the story. I also loved how one of the first characters you meet (and the one that keeps popping up quite a bit throughout the story) is Derwin Edgar Night ... D.E. Night. That was just such a fun addition for me 😆⁣

So many twists and turns! I had sticky notes throughout the book, full of questions and guesses about what was really going on. Characters appeared here and there, always leaving me guessing at what was really happening. The biggest question on my mind as I read was: Who is Ivy Lovely? I mean, really. Who is she?

Even though this is a middle-grade/YA book, I would say it's definitely suited for adults, as well. I found myself sucked in from the beginning and it didn't feel like a super-easy read. It felt like a book that has substance. I suppose, seems Ivy is 16, this is more of a YA than a middle-grade ... either way, it's a fantastic book!⁣

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I was kindly asked by @storiesuntoldpress if I would review @author.denight debut book so of course I said yes. The Crowns of Croswald is about 16yo Ivy Lovely, who is a scurry girl. She is forced out of Castle Plum and is taken to The Halls of Ivy where she learns the works of scrivenists. While at Halls of Ivy strange things happen to only Ivy Lovely and through her first year at school, she learns of a dark secret, a curse and who she really is.

When I first dived into this book I was a little unsure, as I saw many reviews, saying it was very much like Harry Potter and not much originality. However I have to disagree. Now yes there is a lot of similarities of Harry Potter, but I felt like Night took that inspo and made it into her own. I loved the prologue of The Scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night, it explained in some ways the plot of the book and what a scrivenist is. I enjoyed the world playing of the story you are dived into the beautiful Croswald land and the amazing castle the Halls of Ivy. There was so much descriptive language, but for me it was not too much or off putting. It made you dive into that world and imagine that you are there. I felt like I was Ivy herself and seeing through her eyes.

I absolutely adored the character builiding. You have the beautiful protagonist Ivy Lovely, who has had a poor and awful life and her only friends are a Dwarf and a Scaldron Humbdolt. She is dived into a world unknown to her but I loved her integrity to get onto it all. I really liked how stubborn she was and how she wouldn't give up even when disastrous things get following her. I loved that she made friends with Rebecca a Royal who would rather be a Scrivinest and Fyn a Scrivenist who seemed to be drawn to Ivy. I enjoyed how both their relationships blossomed. Then there is Derwin Edgar Night, who is constantly in Ivy's dreams but turns out to be very much real and very important to Ivy.
I loved how Night kept Derwins character throughout the book, even though he had no written part till the end 2 chapters, he was still in throughout the book, still a major play in the book.

To the end chapters, I absolutely loved how it all played out, with the Dark Queen forcing Ivy out to her, to the massive climax and fight. I loved how everthing was all folded into place and you start finally getting the answers on why Ivy keeps being drawn to these strange occurrings. I appreciated Nights way of answering all the questions that were put through the book. I loved how Ivy finally realised who she is and who Derwin is to her. I absolutely loved the cliffhanger at then end. I knew there was 2 more books to this series and I've added them on my kindle as I need to know how Ivy manages with her new found status and magic.

Overall I loved this book and for a debut it was exceptional. I hope the next 2 books have a bit more action this time as that was the only thing lacking in this book. A huge thank you on letting me read this book. I loved it and can't wait to see next happens.

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This book is perfect if you love Harry Potter or you like mysteries in the plot and lost princess with a hidden past.
This story is based on a female character named Ivy who initially is living in misery but suddenly she is thrust out into the real world full of magic stuff and exciting things which mainly begin to happen when she starts attending the magic school.  She also destined to something great that she would never ever have imagined when she was living humbly.
This book completely absorbed me. As I moved through the story, it really managed to keep my eyes glued to each page.

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I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much from this book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it so readable and enjoyable!

Ivy Lovely is a Cinderella-like character, who has lived her life so far as a scaldrony maid (a kind of scullery maid who tends to kitchen dragons) in the home of a Royal (magical) family, dreaming of becoming a Scrivenist (a kind of biographer to the Royal families? I’m still not 100% clear on what they do). Little did she know she actually has magical blood and soon finds herself at the magical Halls of Ivy school, where she will study her craft, get into trouble and try to solve the mystery of who she really is.

This book will inevitably be compared to Harry Potter; the influences cannot be denied (in fact I kept picturing Hogwarts as I read) but I defy any author of children’s fantasy not to be influenced by HP. It’s part of this book’s appeal! But it must be said that Night made a solid effort to make the world of Croswald her own.

Night used language well and very descriptively to bring Croswald to life, and I think this series is going to appeal to young, imaginative readers. However, I did find I was getting confused about things a little (as I said above, I’m still not sure what exactly a Scrivenist is, and are they friends with Royals or is there some class issue there? Why do they all study together?) so were I the target reading age for this book I may have got even more lost on a few things. As with any fantasy world, there are many things to learn and take in as you read, which I remember being overwhelming as a child!

Minor criticism:

Ivy is 16; this seems old for the behaviour of the character and the target age of the readers. I know the readers want to look up to someone older but 16 seems to be creating an age gap.

The story has a strong plot, but I thought we might get to experience more of Ivy’s lessons and time at school – those Hours of Discovery sounded really interesting! I would have liked to have got to know Ivy’s friends better too, most were just names.

In short, this was an unexpected hit for me. If you or your children love Harry Potter or magical fantasy in general, you’ll get some enjoyment out of this series!

Thank you Daniela @StoriesUntoldPress for getting in touch and #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheCrownsofCroswald

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Ivy Lovely is just another scaldrony maid, unknown to all except the unkind Helga and her one beloved friend, the dwarf Rimbrick.

But all her anonymity is about to be swept away.

A world of Scrivenists and Royals awaits, of magical training, and mysteries untold. But dangerous enemies are lurking, and it remains to be seen whether Ivy Lovely, with the help of a few enduring friends, is up to the task of facing them.

D.E. Night has successfully woven an enchanting tale full of magical wonders and excitement. The world-building is rich and the descriptions of Croswald and its residents so vivid that readers will feel as if they've been swept into a glenagerie bottle, a world of pure and vivid imagination, right along with Ivy and her friends.

The world of Croswald is unlike any other, and there is no doubt that all who pick up this book will find themselves better off for having visited it.

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This book was incredible! Right from the prologue, I knew I was going to enjoy this book. It included so many things I love to see in middle grade books. The main character, Ivy, was a sweet, courageous, and relatable character. Ivy was 16 years old, I believe, and I appreciated that she really seemed that age throughout the book. The side characters were very interesting as well (though I do wish some of them had been explored more; hopefully I'll get to see that in the next couple books).

The magic system was another aspect of this book that really caught my interest. It was a soft magic system where scrivenists use quills to do their magic, and royals have crowns that give them magic. I thought it was very unique and fun, but not too complex either. I do wish that we had learned more about the magic in this book, but I have a feeling that will happen in the next books.

Lastly, I really loved how fun this world was. There was enough foreshadowing and mystery to keep the plot going and make it interesting, but there was lots of silliness as well! The world of Croswald was very fun and unique, and I hope to keep seeing that throughout the series.

I only had a few qualms with the book, some of which were mentioned earlier. I wish we got more of some of the side characters and the magic system, but again, it's not a big deal, since I'm hoping for more of those in the next books. The only other thing about this book that I didn't love was the climax. Now, don't think that means the climax was bad, because I actually really enjoyed it. Some parts of it just seemed a little too convenient and/or cliche for my taste. But overall, I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to continue with the rest of the series!

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At first, I had no idea what to expect from the story and everything was still a bit unclear. Some used were unfamiliar to me (not my native language), but fortunately I got used to that quickly. It's so much more imaginative than most fantasies these days, on a completely different level of fantasy. The story is lighter and more colorful for a reason or another. It reminds me very much of Harry Potter, but in an original way. It doesn't feel like a copy, it really has its own style. It also reminds me of A Winter's Promise, by the amount of fantasy and crazy events, but also a bit of the way it is written. After the prologue and the first two chapters, the story starts to catch on and reads away very nicely.

The Characters
Ivy is so much fun! In the beginning, she really has to crawl out of her shell: everything is new to her, because all of a sudden she can become a Scrivenist, when she was actually a maid who was expelled from the castle. Soon there appears to be more behind Ivy. It's also nice that Ivy doesn't immediately excel in everything, but is just normal, even a bit of a grey mouse, but not in an irritating way. Miraculous things happen around Ivy that cannot be explained. This really arouses curiosity: what is her history, where does she come from, what are her powers?

Rebecca is introduced further on and is also such a nice character, a cozy and cheerful girl! It's nice that Ivy makes a good friend who is not inferior to the main character. She also is a very sweet character, but stands up for herself and it's nice how she supports Ivy at all times. Rebecca also has a special power that will come in handy later on!

Another character is Fyn, a third-class boy who shows up everywhere Ivy goes. The further the story goes, the better friends they become. He could have had a little more depth in my opinion, but who knows that might come in part 2!

Finally, there are the teachers who are written in nicely and further on in the story, I won't reveal anything yet, some mysterious characters pop up too. And there's a very annoying child in the book, haha, but of course that's part of it!

The Vibes
I looove the vibe of this book, the castle, how everything is written. It is so vivid and imaginative - you really invisionise everything and that works so well because the focus of a Scrivenist is also on sketching, memorising everything, art and magic. You really feel that throughout the whole book. Oh and the drawings at the beginning of each chapter are such a nice addition! I am really happy with this story. Everything is super magical and you imagine yourself in the world of magic potions, sumptuous decorations, beautiful rooms and piles of books. Who wouldn't want that?

The Story
The story is very nicely written. You get to know a little bit more everytime as Ivy discovers more about her past. I didn't think it was really a predictable book, it was actually full of surprises! You know that Ivy is probably special, that there is more going on, but I think the way this is all put together is very well done. I really enjoyed this story and I'm really looking forward to reading the next parts!

Conclusion
I really loved the book overal! It has so much fantasy in it, it was really a joy to my mind!

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As a middle and high school teacher working with English and Special Education, I LOVE reading and recommending books to reluctant readers.
Crowns of Croswald is an interesting story that takes place in a magical world. It took a little while to get into the world enough to understand the different types of magic, creatures, and societal structure that lives within the Croswald world. This can be a barrier to entry for some reluctant readers, but kids that like fantasy will likely get pulled in easily.
Once in the world the main character, Ivy, is likeable and relateable, and the story has twists and turns that will keep kids turning the pages.
I love finding a new series for kids (the more books to read, the merrier!), so I'm excited to read the rest of the series.

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Thank-you Stories Untold for gifting this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this YA fantasy by D.E. Night. The world she creates is charming and imaginative, I’d love to see it made into a movie someday. As others have mentioned, there are some strong Harry Potter vibes, but the story is unique enough to stand on its own.
I found the writing itself a little lacking. Parts of it were confusing and I wasn’t drawn into that deep point of view that makes me feel like I’m right there with the character, but the story was fascinating and I have high hopes for book two.

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I was sent a digital copy of this book for an honest review, but I will do my best to not include spoilers.

I really liked this book. It is obviously heavily influenced by Harry Potter, but I like how the author entangled the story line to make it her own. It has just enough to get you intrigued.

I enjoyed Ivy's character, though I will say that some of the story line was kind of predictable, but not TOO predictable to ruin the story. I still wanted to keep reading to find out the end. She was likable, relatable, and even though I am not used to reading middle grade, it was easy to remember she was young without it being distracting.

Rebecca was also a likable, yet deceiving character. When you first meet her, you think one way, but are proven wrong and realize how much her character means to the story.

I enjoyed Fyn as well, though I am very suspicious of his character. Either enough was written into his development or there is more to his side of the story.

A few things that prevented me from rating five stars were that the ending was very convoluted and rushed. While my gut told me it was probably going to end the way it did, it felt a little heavy in the details and seemed unbelievable. Yes, I know it is fiction, but it was still hard to encompass. It also felt rushed, with a lot of information, and part of the ending seemed rather lackluster. I think more could've been written to make that part interesting. I actually said out loud "that's it?" Maybe there is more to why that was written that way in the next book, but I am unsure.

Overall though, I really liked the story and would be interested in reading the next one. It was written with such detail, but yet not too much to be overwhelming, and the writer has a great tone to set the mood throughout the entire story!

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Thank you to the author for the ARC provided by Netgalley.

I love a lost princess trope with a lot of fun magic, magical creatures, and lovable characters. I think that if you’re a fan of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and are looking for a magical school and adventure this book is 100% for you and will be your next favorite series to dive into.

Ivy and Fyn are fun. Ivy herself is sweet and funny and I felt to be well rounded as a character, except that she seems much younger than sixteen. Rebecca is actually a really fun and sweet character. As for the rest of the characters they felt dynamic at times and other times they didn’t feel completely fleshed out. Despite this aspect, I really enjoyed being in the story alongside these characters.

I love love loved diving into a magical school setting full of adventure personally, it’s something that is warm and nostalgic for me and I think that the author did a great job bringing to life the magic and whimsy and wonder of it all. Especially as Ivy is experiencing it. Plus, the world of Croswald and the magical creatures were so fun!

I suppose the one thing that did throw me off was the demographic of this book, while I think anyone can read this and enjoy it, it did read and feel more like a middle grade. Regardless, I think anyone can read and enjoy this thoroughly. Especially for the characters.

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When publisher Stories Untold Press reached out to offer me a copy of this book for review, I was initially hesitant. Middle-grade fantasy holds a special place in my reading heart, and I am particular about my choices. But I shouldn’t have worried, this one hit the spot.

Ivy Lovely has spent her childhood working in the castle kitchens, miserable and lonely in her barren existence. Until she is rescued by the prestigious magical school, and transported to a world beyond her wildest dreams. As she slowly settles into classes, and makes friends, strange events occur around her, most beyond any explanation. Can she save her friends, and her spot at the school, when events take a very dark turn?

I loved these characters, and the storyline kept me moving forward, wanting to know what was around the next corner.

My main criticism would be the similarity to the Harry Potter story, and there were moments when I struggled not to make direct comparisons to the HP story trajectory. A few plot moments wrapped up a little too quickly and neatly, but it was never enough to make me set the book aside. I will be finding the rest of the books, because I want to know how Ivy does as she goes forward in school.

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I don't think I would've stumbled upon this book if I hadn't' gotten the review copy and I'm so grateful for that, because I loved it!
The world is absolutely amazing! I loved the magic school, the magic system, all the creatures and character. I loved the idea of using quills as wands, and the glanageries is absolutely brilliant!
I loved the story, I was so eager to get to know more about Ivy's past, all of my guesses where completely wrong and didn't even compare to the real story!
It was funny and super cute, and gave me very strong Harry Potter vibes, which I loved!
I absolutely loved it, definitely going to continue with this series!

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So the first notable aspect about this book is that the main character is a little older than most middle grade protagonists. At first, I was unsure about this, but then I realized that 11-year-old me was able to read about 17-year-old Harry Potter, so it doesn't really matter at all.

Right from the beginning, this book had an air of mystery to it. Ivy lives in a castle, but works as a scullery maid. One day, she crosses a magical border and she is immediately whisked away to the legendary Halls of Ivy, a school for Royals and Scrivenists. What I loved about this book is that the magic is so whimsical and absurd. There are really no limits to what the magic can do, which makes it really funny sometimes.

Ivy is incredibly inquisitive. She doesn't really adhere to the rules, and is more focused on figuring out who she is. Because surely a simple scullery maid couldn't belong at the Halls of Ivy? However, sometimes I thought she was a little too impulsive. Even though she doesn't care about the consequences for herself, that also means sometimes her friends are dragged into her shenanigans.

My only slight gripe with the story is that it takes while to get to the main plot. Ivy is being threatened by the Dark Queen, but we don't really get a sense of that until about halfway through the book. This doesn't mean that the first half of the book was boring. The first half was really whimsical, but it didn't yet tell a story.

My other point is that the last pages were a little on the predictable side. At one point it wasn't hard to guess what would happen next. I did like the ending, though. There are three books in this series, and the last pages of The Crowns of Croswald set the scene nicely for the next book, The Girl With the Whispering Shadow.

Final thoughts: The Crowns of Croswald is an incredibly whimsical story about a girl just trying to figure out who she is. I think it would be perfect for middle graders that show an active interest in reading, and enjoyed books like Harry Potter and Keeper of the Lost Cities.

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I really enjoyed this magical story. I thought it was going to be predictable, but it kept me guessing and invested. Even though the protagonist is 16, the book reads young, so great for a Middle Grade novel.
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The author is really clever, proven by how she uses her initials as an important part of the story and how she tied up everything together. I loved the magic system and how vivid the imagery was in my head, as well as how magical creatures were incorporated seamlessly. There was no need to stop and explain how things worked, every bit of magic made sense and felt real. The world building was impressive, with dragons, hairies (which I believe are the creatures on the cover), dwarves and royals. I especially loved scrivenist magic and glanageries. I thought the pacing was handled well at the beginning, but rushed a little through the middle of the book. When I had 50 pages left, there were so many questions still unanswered, yet the ending was satisfying.
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My favorite character was Fyn because, even though we don't get much of his backstory on this first book, he stands out as sweet and I hope to read more of him in the next books. I would love to see Ivy, Rebecca and Fyn grow and become adults. I can't imagine where the story is headed, but I'm excited nonetheless.

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The Crowns of Croswald is for anyone, young or old who loves magic, fairytales and dreamt once of wearing a crown.

Royalty with magic in their crowns, ’Scriveners’ with the talent and knowledge to create magic bring this book to life. There's a missing Royal family, a forgotten crown with no one there to collect, a dwarf who has stories filled with mystery and a Dark Queen you can't help but want to boo at.

D.E. Night has created a world filled with magic worthy of any fairy-tale and a mystery to keep you reading to know more. The good characters are both loveable and wonderfully well written, I could easily imagine reading this to my children when they were younger and them then booing at the baddies that are as much a part of a good story about magic as the heroes.

I loved this book so much and the sequel is sitting on my lap ready to go as I want to know what happens to Ivy Lovely and her friends and foes, now that school has come to an end of The Crowns of Croswald.

It's a magical tale in every sense and I truly believe that the series will be one to become beloved by many.

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A story of a scaldrony maid becoming a magical being. Magic, magical school, royals and scrivenists. A darks queen. That is what a good fantasy novel is made of.

The Crowns of Croswald is interesting, full of action, mystery and magic. It’s full of interesting characters and creatures. It has a deep and complex story plot and I loved reading it and following Ivy on her journey.
I’ve in my opinion is a very interesting character and it was very easy for me to keep up with her and wanting to know how her story will proceed. The supporting characters are all so very different and they fit the story well.
The mysteries that the book is full of, keep the story going and your mind hooked until the end and beyond. I like how there are so many things and characters you have to wait to get to know and how that makes the story a page-turner as you simply have to keep on reading to get to the bottom of all the mysteries.

The only negative thing about the book is that sometimes things get a bit confusing. Things are not always very well described and especially in the beginning it was a bit hard for me to understand all the different bits of the story.

All in all, this is a great book and a great series and I cannot wait to keep on following Ivy on her journey.

* ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley

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The first time I learned about the Crowns of Croswald, the book cover already caught my attention. It was intriguing enough especially the title and the cover art (a fairy inside a lamp which eventually I learned was called a hairie). When I learned that it was a book compared to Harry Potter, my interest was heightened. Why? Because I love magic and a story about magic makes me happy and relaxed. Indeed, Crown of Croswald is a book about magic and students who use magic and it will bring one to a very different but wonderful world. But Crown of Croswald although with similarities with Harry Potter (and also Midnight with Charlie Bone) is a very different world. Students of the book are either royals who have special stones and gene of magic or are especial students with drop of magic in their blood and are aspiring scrivenists. Croswald is entirely different that one may need time to actually grasp, understand and even imagine the whole new world and its rules and systems.

The book is about an orphan named Ivy Lovely. She is a scauldron maid who grew up in the slurry fields but with unexpected turn of events was accepted in the Halls of Ivy as an aspiring scrivenist. When she arrived in the Halls of Ivy, that's when her adventures started. Many interesting events occured and Ivy started to learn that she has some abilities she never knew she had. And with these new discoveries she uncover, people she encountered, the more curious she became and even broke rules to unravel them. She then learned about the dangers she is in and the responsilbilities she will eventually carry.

The Crowns of Croswald, indeed, is a coming of age book covered by and set in the world of magic. It is full of knowing once self, of the longing of having a home (a sense of belongingness) and of living life as life unfolds. It may be set in a magical realm but the sense of youth was very evident in the book. Indeed, D.E. Night was successful in creating a real different, magical but wonderful world. The author successfully created interesting characters and interesting back stories. The author also created good descriptions of every element of the story (such as the mystical creatures, the places, etc.). However, as a reader, I hoped some parts of the plot were more detailed (there were times, I felt that the scenes were jumping from one scene to another) or that emotions of the characters were more felt (such as the case when Rebecca was trapped in the forgotten door, or when Ivy learned that people believed that Winsome was dead). I hoped that in those scenarios, more reaction from Ivy was felt because when I was reading it, I felt that Ivy seemed to have just ignored the incident/information although such incident/information were very important.
I also hope that the mysteries of the story were better connected; while, the connection of the Dark Queen and Ivy was less evident. The element of surprise was lessened at the end because I then knew that Ivy was being chased by the Dark Queen and that somehow the Dark Queen will surely do something to get Ivy.

I also hoped more details were made for the Hollow Shaft. The place was really interesting. Also, more description of the side characters (example: the Selector, Fyn and Rebecca) would have been great.

Although, there are a lot of things that may be improved in the book, D.E. Night really did well in creating and writing the book. It is very magical and very promising that I hope I can see/read how the characters will grow and how further plot twists will be unravelled.

The book was magically wonderful and I suggest young ones (and even those who are young at heart) to read it.

I am giving this book a 4.0 out of 5.0 rating

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I recently received a copy this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For the first sixteen years of her life, Ivy has known nothing other than working as a maid in Castle Plum. Until one day she leaves the protections of the castle's enchanted boundary, and makes her way to the Halls of Ivy - a school where students are taught how to control the magic they already possess, or are gifted with magic through their crowns. When the Dark Queen comes to threaten Ivy's life, she must learn her history and the truth that has been kept from her, before the Dark Queen destroys them all.
What I liked
The characters - my favourite character was definitely Ivy, she loves to draw and read which is something that I can relate to.
The story line is mysterious and packed with action. There are many unique magical creatures throughout the story which adds an aspect of wonder to the book.
The Crowns of Croswald is filled with magic and mystery that is centered around the Dark Queen and the school. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to fans of the Harry Potter series.

5 stars
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I did really enjoy this book. It read like a Harry Potter type book which is expected. I thought Ivy was a very well developed character. All of the side/minor characters were also very likable. I thought the world was cool though I wish it fleshed out a little more. This was a solid middle grade novel.

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A magical school with a mysterious adventure? Sign me up!

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night brought me Harry Potter feels with a touch of Once Upon A Time. Magic, queens and curses, I loved every bit of it! Each chapter was filled with new magic and magical beings, creating a fantasy world I would love to be a Scrivenist in.

This book was filled with a new world I was so excited to read about. It did take me a couple of chapters to figure out the new magical language and terms, but once I understood it, the story truly was magical!

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If you love magic, a magical school, dragons and other magical creatures and a good adventure, this is the book for you!

Crowns of Croswald is the first book in the middle grade fantasy series by DE Night. The book follows Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid in a castle with a love for learning and sketching. On her sixteenth birthday she learns about the magic she possesses and is unexpectedly thrust into a magical and dangerous adventure.

I loved the world of Croswald and the magic system of this book! What was really exciting for me was the premise of the magical boarding school🔮, and a world with different magical beings🐉🦔!! It was so whimsical and fun to read about!

Ivy lovely is also such a great character, she is curious and determined and I liked seeing her character development throughout the book! I also absolutely adored the friendship element in the book.

The pacing of the book however was a little slow in the beginning and there were a few things I didn’t quiet understand, however as the story progressed I couldn’t stop reading!!

Overall I really enjoyed the book and I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

Thank you so much to the publisher for sending me a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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📖 Review: The Crowns of Croswald By D.E Night
(Middle Grade)
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫4.3 stars

An enchanted slurry field forms a boundary (encompassing all things mundane) and seperating Ivy Lovely from the magical world beyond. After 16 years, Ivy finally crosses this border, awakening something magical within her. Ivy is whisked into the halls of ivy, a school where students harness Croswalds magically imbued stones and bloodline. With the dark queen after her, Ivy faces excitement, danger and risky escapades as she explores the halls of ivy and long kept secrets. This tale is a rich embroidery of dark magic, old prophecy, daring escapades, multi faceted characters and a radiantly cosmic magical world.

I am so grateful to have been invited to explore Ivy's enchanting tale filled with adventure, mystery, romance, whit and charm. Reading this magical mystery, a childlike excitement arose within me, which I long thought forgotten and I found the book hard to put down.

If you like the chronicles of Narnia or Harry Potter than this book series is for you! The initial couple chapters in the prologue were confusing but were quickly surpassed, as I became enraptured by D. E Night's intricately ethereal descriptions (as I joined fiercely brave Ivy on her quest for answers), in this fairytale like debut. Watch out though, this book might make you head deep into foody delights!

A pleatherer of magical creatures (scaldrons, hairies, porcupines and more) entice you through a chaotic and wondrous world. I particularly enjoyed the ghosts banquet of 'sumptuous' food, with more than a few spooky goings on and the cloaked brood which sent chills down my spine.This book has become a firm favourite for me and genuinely one of the best books I've read, can't wait to read the second in the series!

Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for sending me the book.

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Ivy Lovely grew up in Plum Castle, working in the kitchens as a scauldrony maid. She’s responsible for taking care of the scauldrons- the little dragons that provide the heat for cooking. It is neither a glamorous or fulfilling life. An invite to a prestigious magical school saves Ivy from this life and reveals the magic she’s had hidden inside her all this time.

Suddenly, the dreams that Ivy has been having for all her life are starting to mean something. This mystery drives Ivy to find answers that everyone else seems to have forgotten.

“The Crowns of Croswald” introduces a fantastical world of magic. Unique creatures and magical systems will keep the reader engaged. You will feel the sense of wonder and whimsy as you journey alongside the characters in their adventure.

The mystery that drives Ivy is what makes “The Crowns of Croswald” impossible to put down. I read the whole thing in less than 24 hours!

TL;DR:

”The Crowns of Croswald” is a middle grades fantasy novel full of magic and adventure, perfect for Harry Potter lovers.

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I really enjoyed that book. I loved the universe but couldn’t help at first to compare it with the Harry Potter universe as it is quite similar: a character learns on their birthday that they are special and are allowed in a special school. They do not follow the rules and only they can save the world.
Fortunately, the similarities stop there and Ivy, the main character, is quite likeable though I think I liked the side characters such as Fyn, Rebecca or Edward even more. The story is well written, creative and the story is very intriguing. I always wanted to read one more chapter. After reading a few chapters, I thought I understood the story and could plan the events that were going to happen but the author found a way to surprise me and add more suspense to the story. I hope the characters will be more developed in the next books as I missed some descriptions about them, about how they felt and what they did during the year for example. I also hope to learn more about scrivenists and royals and how their magic really works. The pacing of the story was sometimes a bit quick but I guess it’s because nothing extreme happened to Ivy and I overall didn’t mind it. I loved the mystery of this book and was quite happy with the ending. Also, I find the cover is really pretty.
If you liked the Harry Potter universe but want to read another series, pick this one, you won’t regret it. If you just love fantasy in general, do no hesitate, it is a great read.

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A whimsical and magic book that had me dreaming of studying to become a scrivenisy along with Ivy at the Halls.

A story with a Harry Potter vibe that will satisfy anyone's craving for adventure and magic. The events of a school year filled with mischief danger and a looming threat kept me reading on to find out more about Ivy a maid turned student.

I cannot wait to read the sequel and find out what Corswald has in store for Ivy Lovely and her friends Rebecca and Fyn.

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I didn't know much about the plot of this book until after I received it, and I'm not normally a fan of fantasy books but I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I've read a lot of reviews that compared this series to Harry Potter, and although it has the same feeling of a magical world, I found this series very unique and different in comparison. The imagery caught my attention, even though it took me a few chapters to really get into the story.

This book is set in the world of Croswald, and starts off by introducing our main character Ivy who works as a caretaker of scaldrons. With the help of her friend Rimbrick, she's able to leave her old life behind and start a new journey by getting the opportunity to go to a new school and use some of her skills. I really enjoyed the beginning when she is getting her school supplies and heading towards the new adventures that were in store for her. I absolutely loved Ivy, she was such a likeable character from the beginning! I really liked learning about the scrivenists and their magic too.

The author did a really great job of including everything I look for in a book - trials, love interest, friendship, overcoming obstacles and leaving room at the end of the book for more! I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

For those looking for a good book to read, I found this an easy and enjoyable YA read. I would recommend this book to young teenagers who are looking for a good fantasy to capture their imaginations. 4/5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and D. E. Night for the chance to get to read this book!

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I received a copy of this book from the author in Netgalley. It was actually hard reading a book using a phone as I don’t have a kindle. At first, I did lost interest as it was very similar to Harry Potter and somewhat Cinderella as Ivy was being a scaldron maid and later on found out that she was a royal. I think the author did drew inspiration from Harry Potter while she wrote this book. There as Cloak Brood as similar to Dementors, the Queen as being Voldemort and Halls of Ivy as Hogwarts. But as I follow Ivy into her adventure I got more intrigued about the story. Instead of Witches there are Royals and Scrivenist.

DE Night is one of the main characters as well in this as the wandering Scrivenist. The plot was well thought of but there are some conversation that tends to be repetitive like when they told the story of what happened to them. Overall, I think the target audience (middle grades) and young adults at heart like me will like this book. I’m looking forward to hear Ivy’s next adventure.

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Me and my daughter (5 years old) read this book together as her introduction into fantasy novels. We both thoroughly LOVED every aspect. It is a perfect book for a middle-grade (or even younger!) all the way up to adults! The world building was phenomenal, her details were so vivid that we could picture the story worlds around us! Ivy is such a strong lead and definitely our favorite character!
The character development was so so good! This book was full of magic, adventure and such a worthwhile read. I am excited for DeNights next installment of this series!

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It took me a few chapters to get into the world-building of Croswald but once the story got moving and Ivy reached school, I couldn’t get enough! I loved the magical creatures that are included throughout the book and the budding romance between Ivy and Fyn.

Even though there is the danger of the Dark Queen looming over the story, it still was a joyful read and I’m looking forward to reading the sequel soon. I would definitely recommend this one to lovers of middle-grade and YA fantasy!

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Wow! Going into this book, I wasn't sure how I would do with it. It has been a while since I've read anything middle grade, maybe since Harry Potter. However, I'm so glad that I decided to dive into this one. This story was so well-written, with just the right amount of detail. It also had just the right amount of magic, mystery, and fantasy for me without being overdone. The writing really transports you into the scenes. Very well done, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!!

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The Crowns of Croswald, by D.E. Night, is a riveting fantasy novel following the life of Ivy Lovely, a lowly scullery maid, being bullied by her superiors, whose magic cannot be contained, even in enchanted boundary she is in. Her mundane life is quickly transformed into wonder when she receives her invitation for the Halls of Ivy. From mystical creatures to unusual professors, Ivy learns to fight for her place in the school and deal with her past, which she knows so little about. Will Ivy be able to figure out her past and save The Town?
The book made me feel oddly at home, especially for an imagery town, but that’s undoubtedly down to the writing of the author. Her ability to present a place to the reader that’s so familiar and tangible was extremely pleasant, and I crave her future books. The relatability of Ivy is the main driving force of the novel, and the scattered hints of her past and her important to the whole town creates an air of mystery, leading the reader to want to know more.
The only weakness I found with this book was the similarity at the beginning to the Harry Potter books. This idea of a lowly teenager with no family and no strong bonds discovers their true fate and powers was very Harry Potter like, however, Night managed to direct her story away from this trope and present a much more original idea. It is only that first 40% really that might off-put the reader into thinking they’re just reading another Harry Pottery inspired book.
Despite that, the book is filled with amazing descriptions and detailed imagery that ignites this fire in the reader like no other. As someone who doesn’t read fantasy too often, I was impressed by the author’s talent to make me feel this way about a fantasy book. Not only do her words paint images in your mind but they evoke feelings too – you are there in the classroom with Ivy, casting potions and facing their consequences; you are there dealing with all the trauma she is dealing with. When a book hits a reader like that, you know you have managed to find a good book, or series, in this case (I’m waiting on book two, Ms. Night!)
To add to this, the characters are usually likeable and friendly and thoroughly developed, which is a huge plus in my books. The more developed the character is the more likely I’m going to relate or like them, even if objectively they aren’t ‘good’ characters. This is due to her writing, where her words convey to the reader a lot about the author, and its easy to read between the lines and feel what the characters are feeling. The main protagonists, Ivy, Rebecca, and Fyn have such a genuine friendship and aura that it makes the book all the more enjoyable.
Additionally, I love the storyline that even though was centred around Ivy, also focused on other outside people like the Dark Queen and Derwin. This allowed for a past and present dynamic to take place and was executed perfectly. The historical aspect and past actions of a story often play an important part of book, but sometimes timelines can get muddled up or the reader may not be interested. However, Night managed to create a whole world and timeline that involved history, depth, and complexity, with a rivalry between the Dark Queen and Derwin whilst still having Ivy at the focus. Her talents must be applauded to achieve all this whilst also writing a fantastic fantasy novel for all ages.
Overall, if you’re interested in escaping your own world and entering a magical one, filled with happiness and problems of its own, then this book is for you! For the reader who remembers the feeling of reading Harry Potter for the first time, I recommend this book to you as it clear the author grew up loving that fantasy series. I would also suggest reading it with a child perhaps aged 10 or over as an introduction into their reading journey. If you want to buy this book you can buy it here.

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*My copy of The Crowns of Croswald was gifted to me by the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review*

This book was such a charming read that puts you into a magical world that is both familiar and completely new. D. E. Night has crafted a magical world unique to the genre, expanding outside of the typical “witch and wizard school” trope. It took me a few chapters to feel like I knew the world that the story was taking place in, but that didn’t take away from the story that was unfolding. I read faster and faster as the book continued. This book is simultaneously a fantasy book and a mystery book, and the ending leaves you wanting more.

Reading this book made me feel like I was a middle schooler again, tucking away into my room to read fantasy novels and escape to somewhere else. I know that 13 year old Brooke would have LOVED this book, and the nostalgia of that made me love it as an adult too. I recommend this book for any middle reader fantasy lover and any adult who loves escaping into young fantasy.

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Thank you to Netgalley, Stories Untold Press and the author DE Night for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is a middle-grade fantasy book and as a child I would've loved this book so much. It made me SO nostalgic!
I loved the details the. author went into about the Croswald world and the characters, school and animals. It was fantastic!
I also love how the author, DE Night, named a character 'Derwin Edgar Night", I think this is super iconic.
Everything in the series is wholly fantasy and that quality reminded me of Harry Potter ,which I have heard other book reviewers mention that view too. However, this series is completely unique and magical in its own way.
Anyone with a child should encourage them to read this book! Its amazing, to be honest, even if you don't have a child you should totally read it!

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Often I think books need to be shorter, less detail and pointless events however this book I felt should and could have been longer. A lot happen in a short amount of time and it could feel a bit disjointed in places. That saying I throughly enjoyed my ride through Ivy’s adventures at her first year at school.

Gone were the days of being a maid with her little dragons (I now want a dragon that cooks my food in their mouths, thank you in advance), her world is now full of adventure, the forgotten room and a dark queen who seems to have an unusual interest in Ivy.

I understand why every review seems to reference Harry Potter due to the boarding school and magic, but there are differences and a lot more magical elements.

If your a fan of YA and after a nice light read then I would certainly give this book ago!

Roll on book 2!

I received this book from netgalley in return for an honest review

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Firstly, I loved the magic in this book. The setting and the atmosphere the author has created is magical and nostalgic. It reminded me a little of Harry Potter. Readers both young and old would enjoy it.

Secondly, I adored the characters. I loved the MC, Ivy. She has some ups and downs, but it made her so relatable.

The writing style was refreshing. I found that I couldn’t put this story down. I read it on one sitting.

I can’t wait to go on the next adventure with Ivy. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

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This is a cute middle grade fantasy story. While the idea of a kid finding out she has magical powers and going to a school of magic is far from unique, the magical world from Croswald has quite unique features and I love the idea of scrivenists. And anyone who like me is a bit obsessed with dragons would love to have a scaldron!

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Magic and whimsy galore! A pure delight for lovers of middle grade fantasy.

Ivy Lovely lives as a scaldrony maid to the House of Plum. Thrown out of her home after a kitchen fiasco, she finds herself swept up in a magical adventure at the Halls of Ivy, a school for royals with magical crowns and sqwinches with a pinch of magic in their blood. Studying to be a Scrivenist, a dream come true for Ivy, she hopes to finally feel like she belongs somewhere. However, strange things keep happening and trouble follows her around like her own shadow. As Ivy finds herself on a quest to find out who and what’s been purposely forgotten, she discovers the baffling mystery of who Ivy Lovely really is and why she was hidden away for the past sixteen years.

While the story is certainly original, The Crowns of Croswald reminds me of Harry Potter with a sprinkle of Disney. Lots of fanciful, made-up magical words that are super fun to read or say out loud. It’s a plot-driven novel with just enough description to make the reader feel like part of the make-believe world.

I never had trouble imagining the magical setting, but there were a couple of times I had to reread a page or section to clear up any confusion when there was a lot going on or a lot of information to absorb.

Even though the main characters are sixteen, the book still reads as a middle grade. I don’t remember any language or romantic scenes or anything like that. An immodestly dressed woman enters a strange ballroom scene toward the end, but, overall, it’s a clean fantasy read. I LOVED the concept and am looking forward to seeing the characters develop even more in the next book.

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I really enjoyed how this book took so many classic tropes that we know and love but turned them on their head and made them fresh and new and original.
I enjoyed how we ended up guessing plot points at similar times to our main character, as appose to her being slower which was a really nice surprise.
It was beautifully written and whimsical too.
I would recommend this for more advanced middle-grade readers or young adult readers because although the content itself is perfectly family-friendly the language used and mystery elements were sometimes overwhelming and slightly confusing.
Rated:3.5 Stars

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I enjoyed The Crowns of Crosswald, it's magical and whimsical. I enjoyed the setting very much and magic system is also pretty awesome. I did however feel in some places it was a bit too much like Harry Potter, but if you enjoyed Harry Potter, you'll probably enjoy this book too.
The characters confused me a little, though. The world feels very much like a middle grade world, but the characters felt inconsistent within it. Some moments they act like twelve year olds (which fit the world perfectly) and sometimes they act their age which is around sixteen.
Overall through, I enjoyed it and would continue reading the series because I love the magical elements of the world and would like to see what happens.

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First I want to thank the publisher for reaching out to me and sending me the ebook via NetGalley!

This book was a fun read! It reminded me of so many books I read when I was younger. It was such a magical book with so many unique creatures, and whimsical magic in it. I thought a lot of Diana Wynne Jones books while I was reading this with the comedy, and wonderful heroine, and of course the magic!

Ivy was fantastic! So spunky and I love that she never backed down! When she wanted answers, she went for it! She got those answers! Nothing and no one, not even cute boys, could stop her. I admired her from the beginning. She never let her rough life get her down. And then when she was suddenly thrust into this magical world, she sought out answers. And I’m glad she did because putting myself in her shoes, I would have wanted answers too!

This book was such a whirlwind of adventure! I wish there was a bit more character building and maybe a little less world building, or maybe school building. I think there was a little too much focus on the school, rather than the story at times, and sometimes I got a bit confused as to what was happening or why, especially at the end.

The end is a nice segway into the next book which I’m sure will be just as magical 😊

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This book is magic and adventure-filled! I received this book on NetGalley for an honest review, and I generally do not read a lot of middle-grade books, but I loved this one.

Night does super well in building a really interesting world. At the beginning, I thought I was going to be a little confused, but the book does a super good job helping you learn this whole new world. The entire time I was getting serious Harry Potter vibes, but I was also pleasantly surprised by how different it is! Croswald has so many different layers to the story!

The idea of royals and scrivenists was fascinating. It gave the book some fun dimension. The two groups have different powers and ways of life, so it was fun to see the contrast!

Night’s writing was also so nice to read. The descriptions really painted such vivid pictures in my mind and transported me right into the story. While reading, I felt like I was there in the Halls of Ivy and running through the slurry fields with Ivy!

Ivy was a great main character! She was written so well, that she felt like an extremely realistic person! She had flaws like fear and embarrassment that kept her very grounded, but she also had you rooting for her! Ivy was super curious and felt like someone I would love to be friends with! The little hint of romance was perfect too! It was just the thing to get me super excited to see where it goes in the next book.

Rebecca, Fyn, and Winsome were just some of the really cool other characters in this book. Each one was so unique with their own motives, backstories, and relationships to Ivy!

Night had excellent pacing, from the start to the end there was plenty of perfectly spaced out adventure. In the beginning, I was a little scared because I did not really see where the story was going, but you quickly get into it, and after that, I never felt like there was a dull moment where I was bored.

I’m not going to spoil, but I will say the twist at the end is perfect and took me by surprise! However, looking back on the book, there was some foreshadowing that hinted that this big reveal was coming.

I gave this book five out of five stars and would definitely recommend, even for people who don’t generally read middle grade! The book was very enjoyable and fun!

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This is a creative and interesting book full of magic, secrets, creatures and fun.

I really enjoyed this book. The story kept me guessing with where it was going. The storyline is well paced and very well thought out. Ivy is a wonderful character who is curious, mischievous, and very intelligent.

I really enjoyed Ivy's character development and growth, I think this was well done and well written. Little clues were scattered throughout the book which helped the reader to build up their own ideas.

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Thank you Stories Untold, D E Night, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Crowns of Croswald is a young middle grade version of Harry Potter, though I'm sure the author tires of hearing that. Chosen One, Secret Heir, Spoiled Bully, Quirky Friend tropes are all present. We follow the unlikely heroine, Ivy Lovely, as she is found and installed at a magical school then must unravel the mysteries that call to her.

When I put it that way, it almost sounds boring. But it's not! This story caught me by surprise by its ingenuity, imagination, and heart! Though the story is full of tropes, the characters, places, names, events, and twists are wholly original! Every bit of magic and every creature was a delight to my imagination. The magical system and spells are so fun!

The writing is excellent. It was pleasant to read, easy to follow, and the settings were immersive. The fonts in my e-version were beautiful and fitting; I loved the little illustrations and clever chapter title names. The dialogue is lively, charming, and well written. The ending ties up very well with a great cliff hanger. I had guessed some of the answers and plot twists early on but was still surprised by how things turned out and how we got there! Love that!

I definitely recommend this book! Though it's middle grade and I'm an adult, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

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Ivy has spent her life working as a maid for Plum Castle. There are plants around this castle which blocks magic. The day Ivy leaves and crosses its boundaries, her magic awakens and she is invited to attend the Hall of Ivy school of magic. Things don’t always go as expected, and Ivy finds herself struggling to fit in and stay out of trouble. Not only that, but there is the mystery of Derwin Edgar Night, a person no one but Ivy says existed, to solve.

This book was a lot of fun to read. I can see both younger and older readers enjoying this one. It was very magical, and the school setting helps give it kind of a Harry Potter vibe.

Thank you Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

The Crowns of Crosswald is the first in a young adult fantasy series in which a 16-year-old Ivy Lovely is discovers she has magic and is whisked away from her old life as a castle maid and to a new magic school where she will learn to be a scrivener.

While at first glance this might seem kind of tropey, I enjoyed my read of this novel. The fantasy setting has lots of different magical elements from beginning to end. Some of my favorite scenes take place in Ivy’s classes where she gets to know more about what magic can do. The idea of the how one could control their own little magic world for a short period of time inside of a bottle was so new and fun.

Many of the side characters that Ivy encounters feel fully fleshed out and get to show off different ways that this fantasy world works. Ivy’s roomate Rebecca and her animal based powers was a good example of this. The curses aren’t just something that goes away, even for powerful magic users, and I was interested in seeing more of the dynamic between the people with crown based magic vs scriveners. Based on the ending, I’m sure this is something that will be touched on in subsequent books.

My main issue with this novel is that I wish it was longer. With an extra 50 to 100 pages the author would have been able to extend some of the plot lines out to add more tension and conflict for Ivy.

Overall if you are looking for a fun read that takes place in a magical school, I would definitely recommend this, especially to younger readers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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This is a great middle-grade book. It left me with such a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of some of my childhood favourites, and I know that I would have been obsessed with this when I was younger!

This story follows Ivy, who after being thrown out from everything she knows, crosses the border into the magical world and a whole new life. It starts off a little slow but soon picks up when Ivy settles into her new life & her new school. I love how many different elements to this story there are with magic, mystery, and a bit of romance. Ivy finds some great friends in Rebecca and Fyn and it was fun reading about their adventures and seeing how the story unfolds.

Obviously I am not the target audience for this book as I would definitely say it is a children's novel instead of a YA but it was still very enjoyable, I love the magic system in this story, the world-building was amazing, and I am interested to see where this story goes.

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This book was just adorable! The story, the characters, the illustration even down to the font used for each chapters title.

Ivy Lovely has lived for 16 years as a Scaldrony Maid sleeping in a room with no windows and enduring the horrible Helga with only her love of sketching and her friendship with a dwarf called Rimbrick making it bearable. When the Moonsday feast preparations go wrong and Ivy finds herself and her sickly Scaldron Humboldt thrown out of Plum Castle she crosses the slurry border and is transported to Croswald and the Halls of Ivy a school of magic for Royals and scrivenists.

Once there Ivy has a series of adventures, with her friends Rebecca and Fyn, and learns more about herself and the magic within her. Throw in a dark Queen and a fight to save Croswald.

I couldn’t put this book down it gave me Once Upon A Time meets Harry Potter vibes but was unique in it’s own right and beautifully written. It’s imaginative and descriptive and a joy to read. A book for any lover of fantasy and magic whatever age you are.

This is the first book in a series and I am excited to read the rest.

Without reading the book you’re not going to ever find out what a Scaldron, or a scrivenist, or a hairie, or a glanagerie is …. so just read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

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Magical school, a girl finding out who she is, adventure, and wonderful creatures and characters? Sign me up!

Ivy Lovely has spent 16 years of her life as a servant in a castle, only for everything to be flipped upside down when she crosses an enchanted boundary and finds out she's magical. Ivy attends the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magic, either given to them by blood, or the power of Croswald's gems. Along the way, Ivy finds herself in a great number of interesting situations and learns more about herself and Croswald than she bargained for.

This book has some really wonderful world building! It's intricate and vibrant and really pulls you into the world right alongside Ivy. Though some have mentioned this book reminding them of Harry Potter, I think Night does a great job differentiating and making this world truly unique and special. The characters are also incredible. Ivy and Rebecca are fun characters that, though they are 16, many middle grade readers would likely find relatable. This is a fast paced read that I think many fans of middle grade fiction would really enjoy!

The only thing keeping this from a five star rating is that I do wish some specifically character related things had been fleshed out a little more. The Dark Queen, Damaris, and the Selector most notably. The fast pace of the book made it a quick and fun read but it also felt at times like things were a little rushed because of it. That being said I'm sure we will find out more about these characters in future books and it will only serve to make the world that's being built that much better!

I would definitely recommend this book to any middle grade fiction readers who love fast paced books filled with adventure, mystery, magic, and imagining what it may be like to attend a magical school!

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review!

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The fans of Harry Potter and Princess stories will love this book. It is not a rip off, in fact it is an altogether different approach to magic. There are dwarves, dragons, magical stones, potions class and rare magical creatures. It is an enchanting story of self discovery, friendship and love.

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For sixteen years Ivy Lovely lived the dreary, solitary life of a kitchen maid in a castle. Then one day, as fate would have it, she crosses the slurry fields surrounding the castle and something  goes BOOM. Literally. The magic hidden within her has stirred and awakened. Ivy learns that she has been accepted to a magical school to learn how to be a Scrivenist – a person who uses a magic quill to record and tell stories.
What follows is a tale filled with danger, mystery, and magic. As Ivy navigates the school of magic and all its many secrets, she learns to trust her intuition and rely on her courage to unravel the mystery of her parents and why the Dark Queen is after her.
I feel that fans of Harry Potter would enjoy the magic of The Crowns of Croswald, and I particularly love that the protagonist is a strong female character. This is a wonderful story of self-discovery, bravery, and friendship. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

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Disclaimer: I was granted an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've heard great things about this book and they say it's a wild mix of Harry Potter and other middle grade magic school setting, and I guess they're right! I loved how the first book turned out and I'm excited to continue with the remaining books in the series.

This is the kind of book you wished you read as a kid, and it's our responsibility now to let the younger ones discover the magic this series has to offer!

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My advice, skip the prologue and just start with chapter one. I think it was a bit too fast paced with too many things happening all at once. It mostly left me confused and didn’t give me that curious feeling a prologue is meant to give you about the story ahead.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. You can tell the author was inspired by different fandoms, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You’ve got friendship, you’ve got magic and for good measure, a little bit of mystery thrown in with the action. Although I would’ve liked a bit more backstory and deeper explanations here and there, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything crucial to the main plot.

As the book is aimed at middle grade/young adult readers, it’s an easy read and one I’d chose to pick up if I were in a reading slump and wanted to ease myself back into reading. And as an added bonus, there are some gorgeous graphics on the chapter pages as well.

I am very curious to see where the story unfolds in future books, so shall be reading on.

All opinions are my own. However, I was very kindly gifted The Crowns Of Croswald as and e-book for the purpose of an honest review. But shall be purchasing a physical copy for my home library.

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Crowns of Croswald is one of those books that remind you how amazing books are. I loved how the world was described and it really helped create a picture in my head. I was so into reading the book, I didn’t even notice the time passing. AMAZING WRITING. It’s a fun book to read even if I’m not so young, and it would be MORE fun to read if you are younger. GOSH I feel old.

Just like any other “magical” book I’ve read, I thought this book was pretty predictable at first. The plot was very familiar, especially if you’ve read a lot of magical books, and I was again convinced that I figured out the ending, but I was wrong, of course. Even until the very end, the book made me curious! The only thing I think I wanted from this book is to get to know the side characters more. I hope I could get that in the next books!

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Our teenage heroine, Ivy Lovely, takes us on a whimsical and magical adventure into the halls of a school that teaches magic to scrivenists and royals, who cohabitate in the Croswald city. Colorful creatures, spells, a villain Queen, and a sprinkling of teen romance creates a true fantasy world in this novel.

The beginning was a bit of a learning curve for me, the author introduces quite a few new words (in a Dr. Seuss type of way) and many characters that can be hard to follow along at first. Even though it’s written in very detailed prose, I thought there wasn’t enough background on each character in the first few chapters. The plot becomes a little more clear throughout the book but I felt there were so many details being thrown at me that I couldn’t keep up.

It’s also hard to ignore the similarities to the Harry Potter series, from the idea of a school to teach magic to young students, the “rags to riches” story of Ivy’s acceptance into the magical world, and the various spells/creatures/villain features— I couldn’t push Hogwarts out of my mind. However, I got sucked into the storyline a couple chapters in and it was such a fun carefree read, I didn’t want it to end!

The fantasy genre is not normally my go-to personally, but I appreciated the author’s ability to create a completely different world and an escape from reality for a few days. I recommend this series to both elementary and middle school readers specifically because of the strong female lead, the makings of an innocent teen love story, and the ideals of true friendship.

I give it 4 stars and I look forward to reading the next installments in the Croswald series!

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I received a copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. If you keep reading, you’ll find it written below!

By a series of events, sixteen-year-old Ivy Lovely finds herself heading to the Halls of Ivy, a prestigious school for royals and scrivenists who dabble in magic, but the trouble is, she’s a scaldrony maid, a maid responsible for managing the kitchen’s dragons. But once she enters the Halls of Ivy, Ivy Lovely finds she may belong more than she realizes. What ensues is magical course studies, forgotten things, new friendships, romance, and an evil queen.

I would rate The Crowns of Croswald 4/5 🌟
I thought this book was enjoyable, and walking the Halls of Ivy was reminiscent of walking the halls of Hogwarts. There was great world-building, and I found that I wanted to keep reading to unravel more of the mystery. The unique thing about this story is that you don’t quite get the full picture of what’s going on until the last chapter when everything becomes clear. I wasn’t sure how D.E. Night would pull it off in so short a time, but everything tied together nicely in the end! If you enjoy magic and magical schools like Hogwarts, The Crowns of Croswald is a great choice! The characters have great banter and the concepts, such as The Hollow Shaft are super compelling. Well done, D.E. Night! I look forward to book two!

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What a fun story! It made me want to go back to school, or at least attend a magic school.
I’ve seen a lot of people compare it to Harry Potter, but I think the author has done well to create something unique that can’t really be compared.
A little action, lots of fun & a sweet coming of age book. Definitely would have loved it in my teenage years.

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Ivy Lovely’s magical powers begin to awaken after she leaves the castle where she’s worked her entire young life. Suddenly, she’s attending magic school and slowly revealing the truth of her hidden past but she’s in danger the closer she gets to discovering who she really is.

This is such an imaginative, fun and refreshing Middle grade fantasy! Ivy reminds me of Belle from Beauty & the Beast so I couldn’t help but love her right from the beginning.

This also had the feel of Harry Potter. Essentially, there’s a magic school and it’s incredible! If you loved Hogwarts, you will be thrilled to walk the Halls of Ivy! Ivy’s best friend Rebecca can transform into a bird! There’s the evil Dark Queen...who is after Ivy but she has no idea why. There’s Ivy’s cute crush, Fyn, and lastly, there’s one of my favorite characters, Derwin Edgar Night (who has disappeared but appears in Ivy's dreams).

And there are so many amazing magical creatures. My favorites were the hairies! I wish they were real so I could use them as a nightlight. I also loved Ivy’s dragon that she names Humboldt.

I definitely recommend this middle grade novel and cannot wait to continue on with the series! If you like magic, beautiful settings, adventure, and mystery, this has it!

Thank you Netgalley and Stories Untold for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

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I'd like to thank the author and publisher for providing me with a copy of the book. Middle-grade literature is not the usual genre I read in, but I really liked the book, and that didn't affect my judgment.

The Crowns of Croswald is book #1 in D.E. Night's series by the same name. It's feels heavily influenced by Harry Potter, it's impossible not to make parallels. But the book is imaginative, it has its own world and worldbuilding, its own lore, magical creatures, and magic system in general.

Ivy Lovely comes from nothing when destiny finally catches up to her and sets her on a path toward mastering her own magic. While getting the unwanted attention of the Dark Queen, she has to unravel the mystery of a man no one remembers, but her. The books is a page-turner, a very quick read, despite the info dump in the final third of it. I'm dissatisfied only with the supporting characters that felt mainly sketched and not properly fleshed-out.

Other than that, The Crowns of Croswald was beautifully written, very imaginative, and could easily transfer you to the world of Ivy. Returning to the Halls of Ivy is something I'll be doing rather sooner than later. 3.5/5*

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I enjoyed reading D.E. Night's book, "The Crowns of Croswald". It was filled with beautiful imagery and interesting characters. I would definitely recommend this book for my students. If you or your students are fans of fantasy novels, "The Crown of Croswald" is for you!

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The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely a young girl who grew up working as a kitchen maid. Her world is changed when at age fifteen she is invited to attend a magical boarding school. The story is full of all the whimsical elements you would want in a middle grade fantasy: an evil queen, a mysterious headmaster, and all the magical creatures and objects.

I really enjoyed this book. The design and illustrations were beautiful (I’m glad I found a hard copy at my local library!). The story immediately drops the reader into a new and fascinating world and the action starts straight away. I loved getting to see the world through our main character’s eyes. She is experiencing everything for the first time as she leaves the secluded kitchens of the castle where she has lived her whole life. And there are so many new, magical things for her to discover. This read like a middle grade novel, but the main character was older so this would be a really great book to recommend for someone on the border between middle grade and young adult. My only complaint is that the world was so magical and different that there was nothing left resembling our world for the reader to relate to. But for most readers, I doubt this will be a problem at all.

Thanks to @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for sending me an ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to the publisher for giving me a copy of the book for an honest review!

I actually really enjoyed the story and the pace of this book, it is one of the first fantasy books that I have read in a while. It is a very VERY magical story! I really enjoyed learning about the school, the characters and the magic.

This is a middle-grade book and although I am not the target audience, I think this is a story that ANYONE could immerse themselves in.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a midgrade, fantasy novel with a strong-willed, convincing female protagonist. Ivy Lovely discovers that she is destined to attend a magical school to become a Scrivinist. A scrivinist’s quill is like their wand and their power to sketch and capture events is integral to their magic. The first half of the book focuses on meticulous world building as Ivy immerses herself in the magical realm, meets friends and adversaries and attends her lessons. Nothing is ever simple for Ivy, however, as mishaps and mysteries seem to follow her. As the story develops, she continues her adventures, has obstacles to overcome and learns that she is very special, indeed. I found the conclusion of the story both exciting and original. This is the first book in what has the potential to be a very exciting series. I look forward to reading the sequel.

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I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I actually ended up loving this novel, and am excited to see where the series goes! I could very much see Ivy becoming a hero to young readers, and many kids dressing up as her in her school uniform or "always fitting dress" for dress like your favorite book character day at school. She is strong and confident, not afraid to get a little dirty and to break a few rules in order to do what is right. Fyn has no problem following her lead, despite him being a boy and older than her, with arguably more experience in the situations they find themselves dropped into. There is the perfect amount of light romance for middle grade audience this is written for (don't worry, no kissing here!), but the idea of a crush is present and not teased, which I think is important for kids to see.

Fantasy is not typically my first choice in genre, and the beginning had me a little confused trying to follow the new world rules and language, but you catch on pretty quickly and acclimate well. I loved the little easter egg of the author sharing the same initials/last name as a mysterious central character, and could see kids wondering if they are holding in their hands a volume written by the famous scrivinist! I would think this is the perfect book for a reading group in school, and you will have kids clamoring to the library to get the next ones in the series!

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When Ivy looses her home she crosses a border and discovers she possesses magic. In a similar vein to Harry Potter and the Trials of Morrigan Crow (which I think was released after this). this is an enjoyable adventure and Ivy is a likable protagonist with plenty of gumption to get on and do what she needs to do to protect Croswold from the Dark Queen. With plenty of interesting characters and a pretty good plotline I quite enjoyed the overall story and am looking forward to reading the next book. Best bits, Humboldt the Scaldron, he's such a fun character and very loyal to Ivy, the novelty of Scrivinists and the likability of the characters. Plus the added twist of the author using her initials and last name for a character Derwin Edgar Night.

All in all a recommended read for anyone who enjoys a magical adventure and a deep world of interesting characters. Read it to my kids and they enjoyed it so pretty much suited for younger to older teens who like magical adventures.

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A brilliant book that would help introduce young people to the world of fantasy. This book gives off Harry Potter like vibes - discovering magic at a certain age, magical school, grave danger, and good friends. I will definitely be recommending this series to my junior students at school.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

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This was a cute MG read with a magical world like none other I have read recently, although it does have some Harry Potter vibes. I really loved the setting and the world building although it did take me some time to understand what was going on and really get into it.
The friendship between Ivy and Rebecca was one I really loved reading about. I also liked the love interest, Flynn and the easy banter between him and Ivy.
The characters were well develop although a bit childish for their age, considering they were 16, but I understood that since this was an MG book.
Overall, it was a mesmerising story about a fantasy land that I can not wait to read more about!

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This middle grade fantasy novel surprised me and brought me back to my Harry Potter days as a kid. Such a fun world!

The Crowns of Croswald is the first in a series and follows Ivy Lovely, an orphaned girl whose life changes drastically overnight. One day she’s a scaldrony maid...the next, a student at a magical school! While honing her new skills, it’s clear she has forgotten part of her past. Her raging curiosity leads her to break rules in order to solve the missing memories. Little does Ivy know that remembering the past may put her and those she cares about in danger.

Overall, I give this 4 stars out of 5. Honestly, no thanks to my slump, I almost didn’t continue with this, but I’m so glad I pushed through. I loved the quirky characters, especially Winsome, and the changing relationship between Fyn and Ivy. I’m excited to read the next book in this series.

One random fact: it took me a while to realize that hairies were indeed hairies and not fairies misspelled.

Thank you to Daniela @danielastoriesuntoldpress, @netgalley, and @author.denight for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

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ivy finds herself propelled off to school at the House of Halls. She likes to draw and believers herself destined to be a Scrivenist, one who records the lives of the Royals. She spends her first year at school battling Royal princesses, making friends, and finding her own magic. She also sets on a quest to follow her dreams. Great characters, fun magic, ghosts, dwarfs, forgotten rooms and a mentor who no one knows about. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

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What do Cinderella, Harry Potter, and The Crowns of Croswald have in common? Awesome orphans, hiding away, and magic.

Yes, friendship is a theme in this book, however, it is not the first day at school gelled together, it's built like real-life friendships are made - commonalities and personality connections, turn into companionship through struggles which turns into loyalty and hardcore desire for protection.

What makes The Crowns of Croswald different than my old fairy tale favorite, and the ever-popular Harry Potter book series? Ivy Lovely is so much more endearing!! A little Scaldrony Maid who takes care of the dragons that cook the castle food (the fire squad) for the family she works for in the middle of the Slurry Fields on the far outskirts of a village that can't be found without knowing its name since this village is a secret as the author says, we will just call it "The Town”

The cast of characters in this book are unique. I especially loved Ivy's friend Fyn. The setting, like in Harry Potter, is at a school housed in a castle -- The Halls of Ivy, some hidden spaces, which I will not disclose as it will ruin the fun of the story, and a lot of great adult mentoring and a few questionable, curiously strange professors. Ivy, like Harry, is very much a rule breaker! I mean, come on, there are mysteries to solve! That is where the similarities end. Ivy's transformation isn't guided by teachers, her history isn't given to her straight out and little does she know what her future will hold.

At the beginning of Ivy's story, Ivy is thrown out of the castle she works at because one of the dragons becomes sick and pukes all over Ivy's boss after Ivy slept in. Wondering where she will go, what she will do with her life, Ivy finds a letter and a pouch of money left for her by her friend Rimbrick, "an ancient woods dwarf" who she only sees in the late evenings. In the middle of a foggy rainy open fields, she is picked up by a carriage where she meets Woolem, a cabby, he accompanies her into the carriage where she meets Lionel Lugg a scrivenist who is the admissions officer for the Halls of Ivy.

Ivy can't believe her ears, she is to go to the Halls of Ivy as a Sqwinch and learn to be a scrivenist?! She's just a little Scaldrony Maid!

I became invested in wanting to know who Ivy was, what made her tick, and why all these weird things kept happening to her. The adventures she goes on just add to the mystery and little does Ivy know what her future holds for her.

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in The Crowns of Croswald Series. The Author D.E. Night created a world that had me hyperventilating off the Dock of an unknown scrivenist underworld; she had me cheering for a little girl who comes into more than she bargains for, the dangers that await her are vast, powerful and yet, I truly believe she can overcome them with her sassiness, her strength and her sense of humor. I look forward to the next book in the series -- The Girl with the Whispering Shadow then on to book three The Words of the Wandering.

To be honest, I thought I was going to be disappointed in this book, with the magical world similarities to Harry Potter, I thought It would just be a shadow of that series. Yet, I truly believe that Ivy Lovely and her friends are so much more realistic, so much more endearing and so much more of a classic than Harry Potter and that is saying much since it is one of my all-time favorite series! I think I might have found my new dreamy fantasy series.

The Crowns of Croswald has the makings of a beloved fairy tale. If you love a good fantasy filled with vibrant characters and/or if your child loves mysteries and magic, this book is for you and them. It is an instant hit for me and I NEED to read the next two books to find out where Ivy goes next.

I give this book 4.5 Stars which is all due to Ivy Lovely and her personality and great storytelling!

Thanks to D.E Night's publisher, Daniela of Stories Untold Press for reaching out to me for a review in lieu of my honest opinion. This is that opinion. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the E ARC, and especially to D.E. Night for such a fun, loving, and strong little character. She sure is one of a kind, that little Ivy Lovely.

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With "The Crowns of Croswald" from the author D.E. Night we get transported into a magical realm. A land that is full of magic, magical creatures, and royals. Over the land reigns the Dark Queen, who is feared by her people.
We follow the life of Ivy a scaldrony maid. She is responsible for the dragons who cook the food. I loved that idea and is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to magical creatures in this book.

The main reason why I picked this book up was that it has a magical boarding school. And ever since Harry Potter I have to read everything that contains that. Because I love to read about all the magical lessons and life with magic. Some parts reminded me slightly of Harry Potter but otherwise, it has had its own charm and magic.

Ivy was a lovely character who I envied for her bravery to explore places she knows that was forbidden. More than once she got in trouble for that.
I don't want to tell you more about the story because you have to explore the world on your own.
Not just the story was magnificent but also the little drawings at each chapter beginning.

In all, I can highly recommend this debut novel which enchanted me. Also, I started the second book just after finishing the first one, cause it's so good.

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Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book.I absolutely adored this book from start to finish. It immediately gave my Harry Potter vibes but still felt so original. The first quarter of the book did feel a bit slow to me but after that it picked up and kept me hooked. If you are looking for your next magical obsession, pick this book up! I cannot wait to get the next book ordered so I can continue with Ivy's story and return to the Halls of Ivy.

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The Crowns of Croswold is the first book in a new fantasy series.
It’s a lovely easy read and definitely a book I am excited to pick up the sequel for!

The book follows sixteen year old Ivy, who has grown up in a land that has been enchanted to keep out any magic. Ivy leaves this area and eventually finds her own magic powers which leads her to be invited to the Halls of Ivy, a school for the magically gifted and this is mostly where our book is set, which is perfect for Harry Potter fans missing that setting!

The descriptions by the author of the world and in world creations are great, I loved the writing style of this book, I do feel it is aimed at younger readers (10+) but still suitable for someone like me who definitely does not fit in that category!

It is filled with magic, mystery and fantasy, what is not to love?
I can’t wait to read more in this series!

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The Crowns Of Croswald is an enchanting middlegrade story that hooked me from page one!
If you love Harry Potter, magical boarding schools, good vs evil battles, a lost princess who doesn’t know she has incredible magical powers let alone that she’s heir to the throne, you’ll love this book! Oh and also... a cute little dragon as a companion, yes you heard that right!
I like all of the above, so of course this book was a success to me. Despite having all of these familiar tropes and nothing too new going on, the book stands very well on its own. There was not a single boring moment, it’s a little predictable maybe, but I didn’t mind that. The magic system is actually pretty intriguing. At times is a little crazy, it kind of reminded me of Alice In Wonderland, which is a bonus point.
Ivy is a really strong character to follow. She’s smart, at times impulsive, but she’s young and she’s trying to navigate this new world she’s been thrust upon. I loved uncovering her mysteries and her life as she learned them too.
I’m definitely looking forward on continuing on the rest the of the series!

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I received a request on my Instagram account to review a middle-grade fantasy book. I was pleasantly surprised. I doubted that I was the best person to review the book. I have read the Harry Potter series, but years ago, and I wasn't the kind that had even read the series multiple times. I contemplated maybe not reading the book at all. But I guess by reading it, I did make the right decision. I have now written back to the representative and asked them for the second and third books in the series to review. This action of mine speaks volumes of how I feel about the book.

Being a tween reading the Harry Potter series is poles apart from being an adult reading one. As an adult, you tend to question everything; you don't believe absurd events or happenings easily. It takes a lot more to impress you. As a reviewer, it was challenging for me as I had to rewire my brain to think and perceive as a tween. It was fun, too. I had forgotten about the magic fantasy novels sprinkle and had underestimated their capability in transporting their readers to a completely different world.

The book introduces us to Ivy Lovely and her slurry world. It is about Ivy's journey to finally discovering her real potential and strength. Based in the town of Ravenshollow, we follow Ivy through her first year at the Halls of Ivy- a school for scrivenists and royals alike. I will let you read the book to know her world better.

I enjoyed my stay in Ivy Lovely's world. I was intrigued by Derwin Edgar Night, impressed by Fyn Greeley, touched by the friendship of Ivy and Rebecca, and mesmerized by the world of Ravenshollow. Did it give me a Harry Potter feel? I won't deny that it did. In the beginning, I couldn't restrain myself from finding similarities. For everything that I came across in Ravenshollow, I tried to place its equivalent in the world of Harry Potter. In the end, I just felt that I was ruining my experience of the book.

But things changed as I kept reading. I was then so caught up in Ivy's world that all I could think about were Ivy's motivations, her next steps, her thoughts, and her actions. In a fantasy novel, an author's creativity is put to an ultimate test. It is all about creating an entirely new world and giving your words enough power that a reader can recreate that world in their mind. It is also about giving the reader enough space to add their imagination. Night's writing had this combination. Without giving out much of the plot, my favorite concept in Ivy's world is that of a bird named Didley. Instead of a ringing bell to denote the end of a class, we have Didley- a multi-colored bird who flies into classrooms squawking. Didley has a special place in my heart. No particular reason. The bird was just adorable.

I would give the book 4 out of 5 stars. The book is riveting and will keep you engrossed. It is a page-turner and has an introduction to a lot of new and spellbinding elements in Ivy's world. It is a definite recommendation.

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This was such a nice, easy read! Exactly what I was craving! Honestly when the story gets to the school part it gave me such Harry Potter vibes, I was living for it! I also really liked Ivy as a main character, she was curious and quirky and didn’t care about what other people said. The plot is a very basic ‘girl discovers she has powers, goes to magic school, gets in lots of trouble’ kind of thing, but honestly magic schools are one of my favourite tropes so I really liked it! Highly recommend if you like this trope too or are simply looking for a nice middle grade fantasy! Can’t wait to read the rest of the series. Also thanks again to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

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Firstly, we’d like to thank Netgalley, Daniela, and the publishers of The Crowns of Croswald for giving us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. We voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
This review is by Negar A. & Kruti S.

Plot: 3.5⭐️
This book follows the life of a teenage orphan that enters a magical boarding school and encounters mysteries, magical creatures, and secrets. This book does resemble Harry Potter, yet Night manages to make the story and its characters in a unique and different way. We specifically liked the world-building and the magic revolving around Scrivenists.

Pacing: 3.5⭐️
The pacing seemed okay at the beginning but it felt like it's dragging a bit in the middle. However, it did pick up the pace again. We specifically enjoyed the climax and the ending of the story.

Character Development: 4⭐️
In terms of the characters, we did like Ivy’s character as she had a chance for a better life and she did take the matters into her own hands to search for the truth about her family and to have a better life. It was great to see the female protagonist who is persistent and intelligent. We also enjoyed Rebecca’s character, who was portrayed as such a loyal friend.


Writing Style: 4.5⭐️
We did like how D. E. Night was able to include some social topics such as racism, grief, and bullying in her book as these are important issues for the middle graders to learn and understand as well; while still keeping the book interesting. We wish we had more details about the world itself. We definitely felt like we needed more detail on the magic system, the school, the villain, and the characters themselves. However, we still enjoyed how the writing amplified the whimsical elements of the story.


Would you recommend it?
This book’s main audience is middle graders and we think they will definitely enjoy this book. If you are a fan of whimsical characters, magic, magic school, and Harry Potter, this book is for you!

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What a book! What can I say?
I loved it from start to finish. If you are craving a Harry Potter kind of vibe then this is definitely a book for you. It's filled with magic, amazing characters and great imagery from cover to cover. It is a middle grade book but even as an adult I enjoyed it. I would definitely recommend especially if you have middle grade kids you can enjoy reading it with.

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Firstly, we’d like to thank Netgalley, Daniela, and the publishers of The Crowns of Croswald for giving us an ARC in exchange for an honest review. We voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
This review is by Negar A. & Kruti S.

Plot: 3.5⭐️
This book follows the life of a teenage orphan that enters a magical boarding school and encounters mysteries, magical creatures, and secrets. This book does resemble Harry Potter, yet Night manages to make the story and its characters in a unique and different way. We specifically liked the world-building and the magic revolving around Scrivenists.

Pacing: 3.5⭐️
The pacing seemed okay at the beginning but it felt like it's dragging a bit in the middle. However, it did pick up the pace again. We specifically enjoyed the climax and the ending of the story.

Character Development: 4⭐️
In terms of the characters, we did like Ivy’s character as she had a chance for a better life and she did take the matters into her own hands to search for the truth about her family and to have a better life. It was great to see the female protagonist who is persistent and intelligent. We also enjoyed Rebecca’s character, who was portrayed as such a loyal friend.


Writing Style: 4.5⭐️
We did like how D. E. Night was able to include some social topics such as racism, grief, and bullying in her book as these are important issues for the middle graders to learn and understand as well; while still keeping the book interesting. We wish we had more details about the world itself. We definitely felt like we needed more detail on the magic system, the school, the villain, and the characters themselves. However, we still enjoyed how the writing amplified the whimsical elements of the story.


Would you recommend it?
This book’s main audience is middle graders and we think they will definitely enjoy this book. If you are a fan of whimsical characters, magic, magic school, and Harry Potter, this book is for you!

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This is a fantastic book! Ivy was a wonderful protagonist, full of heart and curiosity. For much of the book, we know she's special but we don't know why. At times I was frustrated that we weren't getting background information quickly enough, but I had to remind myself the MC is a 16 year old who wasn't going to push her luck with questions.

The author did an amazing job with world building. This book has been compared to Harry Potter, because it involves magical teens and a school where they learn to harness and use their magic, as well as a MC who wasn't aware of their magic. But that's where the similarities end. The Crowns of Croswald focuses on scrivenists who are born with magic as well as the magic of royals, which they come by though magical jewels in their crown.

We didn't learn a lot about the history of why the royals get magical crowns, and I'm hoping we'll learn more about that in the second book. Along with more info on Ivy's family.

I really enjoyed how Ivy's story unfolded and the adventures she went on. I hope we see more of her friends Fyn and Rebecca in the rest of the trilogy. I can't wait to pick up Book 2. This one didn't end with a major cliffhanger, but it did leave me wanting more of the story ASAP!

If you're a fan of YA fantasy, you'll likely enjoy this book! As someone new to the genre, I loved the world Ivy lived in and the characters with all types of magical gifts. Some of it might feel more familiar to those who regularly read fantasy!

Also, there are the cutest illustrations at the start of each chapter! I'm glad I had the opportunity to read this unique book.

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An amazing book; full of fantasy; mystery, magic!

You need to read this book if you love Harry Potter.

You can find more about this review on Goodreads and in IG (Spanish)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3640159642

https://www.instagram.com/p/CHebgcLgPKN/?igshid=gzjk86g9kut3

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The Crowns of Croswald tells the whimsical and wonderful tale of Ivy Lovely, a former scaldrony maid who discovers she actually have magic flowing through her veins. So she's whisked off in a flying house pulled by a giant beast to start her new life as a Scrivenist at the Halls of Ivy. The Halls of Ivy is where she will learn to hone her magic and how to be come a proper Scrivenist, a magical knowledge collector and researcher. But strange things are happening in the ancient castle, paintings disappearing, magic gone wrong, and a mysterious man long thought to be dead. Not to mention the Selector, essentially the Principal, is doing everything she can to stop Ivy from getting to the bottom of who Derwin Edgar Night is and who she really is.

I can not recommend this book enough! The character, the storyline, the castle turned school, and the magic system are all just so fantastic. I loved Ivy's curious yet humble nature. She's always been able to tell that something was slightly different about her but never let it change who she was. She's an absolutely sweet girl who just wants a simple life and to make a few friends. The adventures we were taken on, exploring the castle, learning about magic, and visiting forbidden areas were just so much fun.

I loved the magic system set up. Not every one has magic but those who do are separated into two categories; Scrivenists and Royals. Royals draw magic from crowns with magical gemstones and Scrivenists have small amounts of magic in the blood that allows them to use quills to perform magic. Reading about Ivy's classes was also great and I wish i was a student at the Halls of Ivy.

I did feel like Ivy discovering who she really was, was dragged out quite a bit more than I would have liked. There were so many moments when she would start thinking about all the strange things happening to her and start questioning how strange people were being and then just brush it off as nothing which was frustrating because I just wanted to know so bad! Overall such a fantastic series, so much so that I've already purchased the series set from the authors site!

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I really enjoyed the storytelling and characterization in this novel, and I'm excited to read more from this author.

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The talented young scrivener Derwin Edgar Night is certain he is destined for greatness. Scaldrony maid Ivy Lovely knows only a grueling day in service to the Castle Plum and the occasional evening spent in the company of an ancient woods troll. Neither could possibly foresee what their futures would actually hold.

The Crowns of Croswald is a dream for middle grade readers of Harry Potter or Nevermoor or Gail Carson Levine. That said, fans of magical worlds with their magical schools will find Night’s imagination to be a singular one. The greatest pleasure in pulling the cork and popping into The Crowns of Croswald is the marvelous glanagerie Night has created. The creatures, the school, the magics, the pie…

The world of Croswald unfolds alongside the narrative. Night proves adept at helping the reader navigate both what would be familiar and unfamiliar to the narrator, her introductions to things like scaldrons and scrivenry smoothly slipped into the story. Creatures or magics less analogous will prove new to Ivy as well. Her new learning environment will become ours. And Ivy has a lot to learn.

The mystery surrounding Ivy Lovely is introduced early on, and I appreciate that Night doesn’t go small. The reader knows Ivy isn’t going to stay at Castle Plum long; her abilities are the very description of a future-scrivener. No, dear reader, there is something far stranger about Ivy Lovely. Don’t think the story won’t get bizarre—delightfully so.

Night not only rewards the reader collecting hints toward the mystery, but those with a sense of humor and a love for whimsy and fart jokes. The school’s means of transport and recruitment are humorous and perilous. I really love the Compass books, the maps, glanagerie and scrivenry. Of the way the school is arranged: the royals beside the sqwinches (scrivenry students), I’m intrigued more by the sqwinches. Even so, the variation and various attribution of the stones belonging to the royals are wonderful.

The school I keep mentioning is called Halls of Ivy… It is a cool set up, and Night draws an intriguing map of interior and exterior settings. I hope we get to return for further exploration. As it is, Night keeps the cast small and the exploration relevant and to the point; which isn’t to say the story will be brusque and without personality.

Where Night doesn’t rely on shorthand for her settings, she does with some of her cast. It isn’t a criticism when it comes to the supporting characters like Damaris, Hannelore, or Hayword. It is a bit of a problem with someone like Fyn Greeley, who happens to be quite convenient—and not in a delicious enough way…which is tricky because he has all the ingredients for “swoon worthy” and I think plenty of readers will hardly mind his strange propensity for popping up when and where he does. And Night makes it very easy to get as caught up in the ‘what-next’ as the plot is. Night tantalizes the reader with questions as to who Ivy is, what happened to a particular scrivener, and just what is going on with that Selector?

I enjoyed that surprising turn with Rebecca (e.g. bird), and I enjoy her and Ivy’s friendship. I am thoroughly impressed with the consistent characterization with which Night writes Ivy. Ivy is impulsive, which creates a great deal of exciting plot movement and development. The Crowns of Croswald is an excellent choice for the plot-driven reader. While you’ll be properly enchanted by the magical world, Night knows how to keep the reader focused on the intrigues at hand.

Night’s skill in translating her imagination, building worlds, and executing a plot with some beautifully unexpected turns makes for an exciting read and an easy recommendation. Add this one to your young insatiable reader’s magical library.

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This Crown of Croswald by D.E Night is the first book of a four book series. It is based around the character Ivy Lovely who has been hidden away from her true life of magic until finally she crosses the barrier into the life that was meant for her. Ivy realises her powers when she lives at the school for magic called the Halls of Ivy through a series of events that lead up to an exciting event where she must use all she has learnt to save Croswald from the Dark Queen.

This book had my interest piqued from the very start. I enjoyed the descriptions of the surroundings and could really build up a picture in my mind. As the book went along I felt that there was some influence from the Harry Potter books but I guess any magical school will naturally pull that similarity now. I like that the scrivenists don’t use wands, they have quills and that magic for the royals is pulled from gemstones in their crown. I feel that it gave the story a unique spin. There are times within the book that I wanted the story to go deeper or fully round out some of the storyline and I don't feel that we really got to know Ivy deep down but as there are three other books left to read, maybe it's more of a journey than a sprint! A nice little touch was the D.E Night character - the author's name included in the story.

I hope in the future stories we learn a bit more about some of the other characters and the town features a bit more as it sounds like a really interesting place with all the shops and interesting people that work there. I would also like to find out more about the Crownerie and how the royals choose their gems - or do the gems choose them..?

Overall I enjoyed this book and when I wasn’t reading it I found myself thinking about what might happen next. I think this book is aimed at a younger reader and I could imagine my own children enjoying the story of Ivy and going on the adventures with her.

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.This was a fantasy tale filled with supernatural abilities, magical places, intriguing secrets and a young girl's quest to excel at the prestigious school she has been invited to attend while striving to uncover the hidden details of her family and heritage.

Unbeknownst to Ivy she has been sheltered behind a magical boundary for 16 years while she serves as a maid in a rundown castle. Life for her is mundane and hard but when she flees that land and crosses the spell cast to shield her, her dormant powers awaken. Her life takes a very different turn and she is accepted in to the Halls of Ivy, the most famous school in Town. Armed with this newly surfaced power, Ivy tries to make sense of the world she now lives, full of magical blood and mythical royal gems. As her first year in school progresses, she explores the castle, learns more about her powers and finds hidden places that reveal more than just a new location. She makes friends with Fyn and Rebecca who help her determine who the mysterious man is who frequents her dreams and also aids her bend some school rules in a quest to find out the truth about her past.

I enjoyed this story and give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟. Its aimed at the 12+ age mark but equally can be enjoyed by everyone. I think that this series does have some similarities with other fantasy books/settings but overall the author holds her own for originality and storytelling and that sets this book apart. It has plenty of scenes with amazing imagery, inventive creatures with their own powers and great characters. Ivy is spirited, adventurous and willing to keep going despite adversity. When she learns of the Dark Queen's attempt to harm her, this fact only spurs her on to find out the truth and save everyone around her. I like having strong female characters alongside strong male ones as it provides balance and reality to stories. The mythical creatures and world that the author has created is both stunningly visual and endlessly fascinating and I look forward to Ivy’s future adventures.

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*I received this book (via eArc from NetGalley) for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review*
I had so much fun reading this book!! I love Ivy and her friendship bonds with Fyn and Rebecca. I totally think this is the perfect middle grade fantasy for Harry Potter lovers or those who would like a Harry Potter alternative. The characters were great and the intrigue was there but what I felt kinda lacking was the world building. I am not saying there was none, of course there was but I just wanted a little more. I would have like more clarity on the language like being more explanatory cause I would sometimes get confused and I love the magical school setting but also wanted more of that too. At the end of the day it was a wonderful first book in a series and I would love to read more to see what Ivy's next steps are again the Dark Queen. I loved the identity reveal at the end which makes me excited to read the next installments.
*Thanks again to Untold Stories for providing me with the eARC I totally recommend this book!!*

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When I was approached by the publisher to read this book I at first thought it might be more geared for middle schoolers. I was pleasantly surprised at the detail and imagination in this story. It definitely had a Harry Potter feel to it, but it was different enough that kept me engaged.
The story centers around a young girl named Ivy Lovely (around 17) who works as a maid under a castle tending to the dragons that keep the stoves heated for cooking. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out that she has an invitation to attend a school for magic that has students who are either Royals, given their powers through their crowns, or squinches, students who may have some magic but are basically scribes assigned to royal families once they complete school.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be looking forward to the rest of the books. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Harry Potter, magical worlds and adventure. I think both Young Adult and Middle Schoolers would enjoy this series.

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I was given a free digital copy of the book for an honest review so here it is. I didn't know what to expect going into this, but you really do get a great story. It has so many major similarities with Harry Potter but it doesn't feel like Harry Potter. It is also similar to the School For Good and Evil. The characters were outstanding. You feel like you know them and you feel for them. The magic system was interesting and you were always along for the ride. The story is enticing and captivating. I am excited to hopefully have more of the dark queen in future books because I would have liked to see more villain presence. I get this particular story and book doesn't allow for that but it is what makes it exciting. I don't have anything very negative about this book. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is that it wasn't my very favorite. I will remember this and I think I will read the other books in the series.

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I really liked this book! It was a fun, easy read. It's clearly meant for younger readers, but it's definitely a book that I think people of all ages would enjoy. I really adore our main character Ivy. She's sweet, courageous, and has a heart of gold. A very cookie-cutter mold for a main character, but that is to be expected in a middle grade novel. That being said I really enjpyed reading about her and her journey. It's definitely inspired by Harry Potter, but the author did a wonderful job making her own world and magic system. The magic was whimsical, and beautiful, and is probably why I gave this book a four star rating. That being said, I do wish we could have had more world building. The magic, although cool and interesting, was a bit confusing in places and I think there could have been more clarification written into the story. I liked the prominent side characters but they semmed very under-developed. They were fun to read and I really like them, I just wish we knew more about them besides the fact that they're Ivy's friends. Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I think overall, everything could have been fleshed out a little more. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a good, light read.

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This is a really fun middle grade read. Ivy finds out she has been accepted into the Halls of Ivy to learn the art of Scrivenry (a kind of magic). What follows is a lot of magic, self discovery and fun. Until the Dark Queen shows up. ⁣

I loved the world this story is set in. It is the first in a series, so I can only image how much more we will get to explore the world and discover. I also loved how much of a badass Ivy is - there needs to be more strong independent girls leading the way in literature! ⁣

The only thing I didn’t like was that I found myself being reminded a bit too strongly of Harry Potter in some parts which took me out of the world a little bit. Croswald has so much of its own wonder and potential without borrowing from another world, though I do understand there will be inevitable similarities when both stories are about a magic boarding school. ⁣

In all, I really enjoyed this book! I would be interested to see what is in store for Ivy in book 2 😊⁣

Can we all just take a minute to reflect on how cool it is that there was a D.E. Night character as well?! Kind of made it feel like the character was writing the book 🤔⁣

Thank you to @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⁣

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I grew up on fantasies revolving around schools of magic, and I'm not just talking about the one in Scotland. The Crowns of Croswald brings Ivy Lovely, our protagonist, to another institute of learning (the Halls of Ivy, thankfully shorted to "the Halls" in order to avoid confusion), and introduces a new and intriguing magic system. I think it might be one of my favorites from the last several years--the main type of practitioners take a scholarly approach to magic, focusing on texts, embracing experimentation, and prioritizing the expansion of knowledge. This is a school that (minus, perhaps, some of its royal scholars) addresses some complaints about previous magic schools--these students enjoy learning about magic as much as we would!

As the first book in the series, The Crowns of Croswald focuses first on Ivy herself and second on world-building. It answers enough questions about the magic system and our protagonist's journey, but not enough to leave the reader blind about where subsequent stories will take us. Night is a delightful story-teller, dropping enough hints to satisfy readers and let them solve the mystery alongside Ivy. (I had about fifteen theories throughout the book, which I devoured in one sitting.)

As an uncommon feature for a middle-grade book, the story centers on a 16-year-old, and the students in the Halls seem to range from 16 to 20 (First to Fourth Year students). For adults reading, this sometimes creates a sense of disconnect--our characters don't seem like young adults, but younger--though I doubt it would have the same effect on young readers.

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Croswald and this first story left me interested to read and learn more about Night's delightful world. While at times I felt as though some supporting characters were flat (mostly Ivy's classmates, especially her two closest friends) and some issues were wrapped up a little too neatly and easily, I think the book would be completely satisfying for its intended audience. And for those adults, like me, who read middle-grade books for the little ones in your life--well, I think you'll enjoy learning about Croswald, as well.

Thank you to Untold Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Ivy Lovely had been a maid in a castle containing slurry fields that suppressed magic. When she is sixteen and kicked out, she crosses the boundary and is swept into the world of magic. She is brought to the Hall of Ivy, a place where those with magic in their blood or given a crown imbued with magic are taught to hone their talents. The Dark Queen had been in isolation for some time, but now is on the move and going into magical towns. Ivy has to learn how to use her magic and unearth the history of her birth before Croswold is destroyed.

In keeping with other magical academy books, Ivy is awakened to her powers and then leads the reader into this new world with her. She has to buy her school supplies and textbooks, using up the carefully explained money that had been left for her. As she learns about the different texts and shops, so do we. There are different kinds of magic uses, different magical creatures, as well as the class system of royals, nobles, and differently ranked commoners. Inevitably, there will be comparisons to Harry Potter for middle grade magical academy books. Ivy needs quills and some oddly named textbooks, for sure, and her scauldron dragon is welcomed in the school. At the same time, this is not meant to be a separate magical world in the modern day, but it’s all a medieval inspired world.

Everyone knows about the Cloaked Brood working for the Dark Queen, though what they’re looking for isn’t well known as we begin. Time is spent more on worldbuilding, meeting Ivy’s friends, learning about magic and the items in the world. Of course there’s a mean girl who bullies Ivy and likes to poke fun at the mistakes she makes or get other students to turn against her. Ivy makes friends and discovers more about the lost Princess Isabella, as well as mysterious scrivenists that were lost to time. The school year passes rapidly in the book, until we get to the showdown between Ivy and the Dark Queen. Ivy knows about her heritage now, and her role for the future of Croswold.

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What a magical story reminiscent of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart in it's magical world building and like Harry Potter in it's exploration of a magical school. Ivy's character was strong, relatable, and just wonderful to follow through her journey. All the different pieces of magic coming together was such a whimsical and charming read, I will hopefully delve into the rest of this series soon. This book seemed to be very fast paced as well, which I found to be perfect for a middle-grade fantasy, where too many details or downtime can be daunting for or not exciting enough to keep young readers engaged. I believe I would have loved this book when I was younger, and love it still now!

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This story was given to me on NetGalley for free by the publisher Stories Untold Press for an honest review.
I feel this was an adorable story and would recommend it to anyone who reads middle grade books. It has some “Harry Potter” vibes but with some twists and turns to the story. We start the story with a young scrivenist named Derwin Edgar Night. He just finished school and is on his way to his new family that he was assigned to when something mysterious happens. Fast forward sixteen years later and we then are introduced to the main character of the story, Ivy Lovely a young scaldrony maid. She works in the castle kitchens tending to the scaldrons, which are cute dragons that are used to cook with, that only grow as large as the cage they are in.
Ivy lives a rather normal life cooking for the royal family that lives in the castle she works in. After a rather terrible day, Ivy wanders out of the boundaries of the slurry fields and her magical adventure begins. She then attends the magical school The Halls of Ivy where she learns she has magic in her blood and learns to use it to become a young scrivenist. Scrivenists are magical beings that have photographic memories that are assigned to royal families and document everything about the family as well as any discoveries they make during their lives. Royal prince and princesses also attend the Halls of Ivy to learn how to harness the power of the magical stones in their crowns.
Mysterious things start to happen to Ivy and her friends while at school during her classes. Ivy then goes on an adventure to find Derwin, but nobody seems to know about him except for her. You will not want to miss reading out on this adorable and fun story. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series! What will happen to Ivy, her tiny dragon Humbolt and her friends as they continue their magical education and adventures?

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Rating 3.5/5
The plot gave off strong Harry Potter vibes throughout and it was hard not to compare the two. However, the author eventually made it her own as the story progressed. There’s your typical magical school tropes of magical blunders, sneaking into forbidden rooms, going out of school grounds, class bully and magical rare creatures. Everything comes to an almost sudden explosive end where lots happen in the last few chapters but still leaves you curious for what’s going to happen next.

Overall it was an enjoyable story with its fast pacing and likeable characters. I finished this book in one sitting. One niggle for me was that Ivy just seems to take everything in her stride a bit too easily (considering she grew up without magic) and would have liked a little bit more curiosity and digging around. But who couldn’t love the Scaldeon dragon Humboldt and the dining halls served by three ghosts! I would happily read the next book to find out what is in store for Ivy.

I would recommend this book for a fun and easy read with it’s whimsical magic school setting for younger middle grades.
Thanks for the opportunity to review- also posted on Instagram.

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Thank you to the Publishers for reaching out and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The book is in stores now, I highly recommend reading!
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Title: The Crowns of Croswald
Genre: Middle Grade
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend: If you love Harry Potter (I mean who doesn’t) this book is for you. Although it has some similar elements there are others that make this story completely unique and so much fun. It’s an easy read and readers of all ages could easily enjoy it.
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Quick Synopsis: Ivy Lovely is a 16-year-old orphan maid who has been hidden away in the world of the Mundane. When she crosses the border to enter the school of magic her powers awaken. The story follows Ivy while she learns magic, makes friends and fights the evils that threaten to destroy the magical world of Croswald.

What an excellent start to an enchanting journey of Ivy Lovely. What a wonderful book. The reader is able to be pulled into this whimsical world of Croswald right from the beginning.

The pace of the book is a bit slow in the beginning and we don’t get to see much happening. Yes, the world-building is fantastic and the introduction to characters and everything else is beautifully written. It is the second half of the book where the real action takes place. I felt apart of Ivy’s journey and really felt as if I was apart of the Croswald world.

Things I liked:
1. Fyn, he’s such a cutie. I found him super cute and dorky and I can’t wait to read about him in the second book. Honestly, if you don't ship Fyn and Ivy are you really human? I thought their chemistry was great and am really looking forward to it developing further in the second book.
2. The world-building is fantastic. Magic was the frontline of the book and that’s what I LOVED! The reader really got to learn about everything right from the beginning. You felt apart of the universe.
3. The Magical creatures. The concept of the beasts was super fun.
4. Ivy, the MC, is a great narrator. Her journey through the book was captivating enough to keep me reading.

Beautiful friendships, the quirky magical world and school, the mysterious Derwin Edgar Night (DE.N? haha), and the entrance of the villain. The book was written so well and really had me gripped until the very end. The second half of the novel is where the pace picks up and where all the action truly is. It was packed with twists and turns and the setup for the 2nd book is amazing.

Things I didn’t like:
1. There wasn’t much about the book I didn’t like. There was only one flaw I found in the book and it was Ivy’s character as a whole. Yes, it was fun to go on this adventure with Ivy but I didn’t get to see much more from her. I wished there was more emotional depth to the character. A lot of times we didn’t get to know what exactly she was feeling
A. This could also be because it is a middle-grade novel and could be because the younger audience does not really care for small details like this.

Overall Thoughts:
I must say even though this is a middle-grade fantasy book I was intrigued and this book had me gripped until the very end. And though this novel may be suited for a younger audience and sometimes the plot is a bit predictable this book was so much fun to read. Although I was getting some Harry Potter vibes at times and some elements are the same there are many more differences than similarities. This book can stand its own ground and I loved how I was able to get lost in this wonderful enchanted world of Croswald. I def recommend this book!
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4/5 Stars

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This story had me captivated from the very start. Each chapter has beautiful sketches that match the theme which I felt added to the excitement.

I’m a sucker for a magical school setting, and this did not disappoint. I was invested in Ivy from the start with her far-from-ideal living situation. Seeing her swept away to the Halls of Ivy, shopping for supplies, and making friends was so fun and nostalgic.

The mystery of who she is and what happened to her family kept me glued to the pages. The action seemed abrupt at some points, but I didn’t mind it too much. That was the only pacing issue I had.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy
Recommended for Fans of: Keeper of the Lost Cities and Harry Potter

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I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review.

I have been looking for a series like this for ages and I am so pleased to have discovered The Crowns of Croswald books. They are set in a fantasy world, with a historical feel and Book 1 (possibly the others, I'll have to read them to find out) is largely based in a magic school - one of my favourite settings! It has all the elements of a fantasy middle grade that I love, while also having a complex plot that will keep older readers entertained. I think this is the perfect book to recommend to 10 - 13-year-olds as it is full of intrigue and high stakes, with a the seeds of potential romance, but none of the overly mature content that sometimes ends up in YA!

This book mainly follows the story of Ivy Lovely, a sixteen year old maid who has grown up in a land surrounded by an enchantment which keeps out magical powers. Following a disasterous series of events, Ivy leaves her home and sets out to discover what the world has in store for her. Once beyond the border, Ivy's magical abilities appear and she is invited to attend the Halls of Ivy. This is a school for the magically gifted and future rulers, to help them harness the magic that runs in their blood and, for some, control the power of the mysterious gems they have inherited. As Ivy begins to have new experiences and adventures in this magical world, she makes friends (and enemies). She also starts to realise that there are many unexplained mysteries surrounding her and it's not clear who she can trust.

I loved the way in which this story was told. From the many 'in-world' creations, to descriptions of meals or how the magic worked, everything was captivating and made me want to enter the world of Croswald - though with the option to jump back to our world when things start getting dangerous! I was amazed by how complete the worldbuilding was, even down to the little things like the tea cupboard (got to get myself one of those!) Everything I read about felt 'right' and fit into this world perfectly and I am excited to discover new additions to the world in the coming books.

I really liked all of the characters (the one's you're supposed to like) and found Ivy's interactions with them endearing and hilarious. Humboldt is brilliantly grumpy and cheeky but also fiercely loyal and I loved watching Ivy's friendships develop. Plus, the fact that these friends weren't just their to watch Ivy do everything, they got involved and sometimes, it was their skills and not Ivy's that were needed. The only part of the characterisation that bothered me was the feeling that the characters didn't seem to act like they were 16 (Ivy and the girls in her classes felt more like a 12-year-olds to me). I understand why Ivy needs to be 16 and towards the end of the book, she did feel a bit closer to this age but it was definitely a little unbelieveable for most of the book. Having said that, I really liked Ivy as a character and wouldn't want to change the way she is (just her age).

The mysteries in this book were plotted and revealled brilliantly. I was constantly on the look out for little crumbs of information that might help me discover what was really going on. Everything was woven in very cleverly and there is still plenty of mystery to keep me intrigued and wanting to read on with the series and find out what happens next - the stakes have been raised to another level!

Overall, this was an excellent start to a series and I would recommend this book to readers 10+ who are looking for an immersive fantasy world, with an interesting mystery, plenty of magic and a dash of romance.

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Book Review 🌠🌙

The first in a series, this middle grade book gives off all the Harry Potter vibes. It’s a magical adventure I would love to be a part of. It is as if I was following Harry on his journey to learning he is a wizard again.

The story follows Ivy Lovely who has been stowed away in the slurry fields, which surpresses her magical powers, and raised as a scaldrony maid for 16 years. When Ivy leaves the slurry fields to attend the Halls of Ivy, the magical school where squinches and royals train to harness their magical blood, Ivy's powers are awakened. And we follow her into the world of Croswald on her journey to be a scrivenist. As the Dark Queen looms over, she soon learns who she is and what she is meant to do.

A big thank you to @storiesuntoldpress and @netgalley for reaching out to me and giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book was truly magical and I look foward to reading the next two books in the series.

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I really enjoyed this book. It peeked my interest from the beginning with the descriptions of the magical world. You get to learn about the world as the main character discovers new things and I loved that. In some ways it reminded me of when I first read Harry Potter, which I love. If your a fan and love a good magical story this is definitely the book for you.

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A school setting. Magic. Adventure. Secrets. Middle grade. Need I say more?

In the crowns of Croswald we follow sixteen-year-old Ivy Lovely as she navigates school life while also uncovering her past, her future and her new-found powers.

This story was a treat. It was exactly that middle grade magical adventure that I was craving. Filled with twists and turns, you’ll have no choice but to keep turning the pages in search of answers.

That being said, I found the frequent use of plot conveniences somewhat annoying at times. I would have liked the stakes to be a bit higher for Ivy.

I found The Crowns of Croswald to be a very good debut that veered the story in an interesting direction by the end. I’m excited to see what’s next for Ivy Lovely.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a perfect middle grade fantasy novel. It is quirky with a delightful main character. While it is reminiscent of Harry Potter and Nevermoor, (Ivy Lovely is an orphan and finds herself in magic school) the story has enough of its own world to stand alongside these two and not become just another magical orphan story.

The story is full of magic, fantasy and my favourite object - quills. After a particularly uninspiring and non-magical childhood growing up in the Slurry, Ivy finds herself at the Halls of Ivy - a magical school for scrivenists and princesses, with the youngest scaldron ( a dragon that uses its fire to cook food for the castle Ivy grew up in as a scullery maid) in her care.

I enjoyed this book. I also felt the author managed to create a believable disbelief when Ivy realises she's going to magic school. The story was captivating with interesting twists and turns, worlds within worlds, mystery and great imaginative story telling that sweeps you into Ivy's world. I particularly enjoyed the chasing quills- you have to read it for this scene, the floating cab that has it's own rain cloud and the friends Ivy makes at her new school. The characters had depth and I find myself wondering how the story will end, which is always a mark of a good novel, when you find yourself thinking about the characters long after you have finished the book.

'Crowns' is perfect for age 9 - 12's but if you are anything like me and like children's fantasy, I do believe you will enjoy it too. There are two more books in the series making this a delightful trilogy.

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If you like Harry Potter-esque or chosen one / lost princess storylines, this is the book for you!

Ivy Lovely starts this book out as a unimportant servant, but as usual she is not what she seems. She crosses over from a non magical land she had been living in and gets invited to a school of magic. There she will learn everything she needs to in order to learn about her destiny, all while meeting interesting characters, and making friends.

I really liked this book and while it is written for younger readers, that in no way took enjoyment out of the story for me. I would highly recommend for middle grade kids.

I was sent this book on NetGalley for my honest review.

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I received this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
When I first picked up this book I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I don’t read a great deal of middle grades but the synopsis really intrigued me and the cover art is just beautiful.
Although I felt the start was slightly slow, the pace really picked up well before the halfway point and I soon became invested in a world of magic filled with creatures straight out of fairy tales and worldbuilding that pulled me straight into the Croswalds. Every character I met throughout really made an impression on me and not one moment was forgettable.
I loved Ivy Lovely as the main protagonist and all the adventures she got herself into.
Not only was the story a perfect trip into a magical world, the book itself is perfectly put together. Chapter lengths were just right for a middle grade and the small illustrations at the start of each one added a little something extra to the book.
If you like magical boarding schools this is a book you just have to pick up!

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I received the book from the publisher for an honest review.
This book is about 16 years old Ivy Lovely who has been hidden behind a enchanted boundary that separates the mundane world from the magical. When her powers finally awaken she is able to go to the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald´s mysterious gems. From there she tumbles from one whimsical adventure to the next, finds some cool friends and even makes a powerful enemy along the line.
When talking about this book I need to start with the feeling it gave me. I still remember reading Harry Potter for the first time 19 years ago. I was 11 and immediately knew that I found my genre. I wanted fantasy, magic, school settings, friendships, adventures...so I searched the whole internet to find a similar book. Unfortunately I haven’t. Up to this day...
There is a lot that will remind you of Harry Potter and even some other famous fantasy books but for me it never felt like a rip off it felt more like coming home. This book gave me the feelings I was looking for and I will definitely continue.
Besides the magical world that I highly enjoyed and that I hope to see and learn more about in the next books. I also loved the magical creatures she created. I mean we get little Dragons, called Scaldrons, who are able to bake pies in their mouth...how amazing is that?!
I think this is a perfect read for younger readers. I would have loved this book even more as a teenager. But for my first middle grade book in a really long time I can just say that this book definitely highly entertained me and gave me a wonderful reminder how magical middle grade books can be.

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The Crowns of the Croswald reads with the sparkle and mystery you'd expect from a Middlegrade. Magic echoes from the first turn of the page, you feel of the pull of it in the world around you and in the characters you're with.

Ivy Lovely is our protagnist, a girl who doesn't know she has magic until she's found and sent to the Halls of Ivy. I found the adventures at school very Alice in Wonderland meets Tim Burton with a hint of wholesome magic - there's adventure, there's characters that are bright and lift right off the page, and there's lessons to be taught along the way.

Pacing wise felt flat now and then, but Ivy was there to pull me through. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut from D E Night, and look forward to continuing on with Ivy on her next adventures. I loved the atmosphere, it made me warm and squishy with the magic, and it also had a feeling of Enid Blyton within the lines but slightly darker.

Suitable for young readers and adults alike who want that sparkle and magic- a great one for Chrsitmas to settle down with!

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I really enjoyed this book!! I absolutely adore the world of scribes and royals now and have actually already purxhased print copies of all 3 books - just waiting on them to arrive to I can continue!

The only reason I didn’t give this book 5 stars was that I was just so, so confused at the begining. Nothing about the world is explicetly explained and while some people prefer that to an info dump, it just made it a little hard to get into. All the info you need is eventually given, I just would have liked more overview into the entire universe the author is developing.

The book is filled with multiple twists and turns, some expected and some complete curveballs! I definetly enjoyed reading it. Thank you so much for the chance to read and review this book :)

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Rating: 4/5

- I enjoyed it overall. It took me a while to get into but I was a bit preoccupied with university work but I think that if the circumstances were different I would be able to read it in one go.
- The writing style was enjoyable, a bit of an information overload sometimes so that concerns me if this is a novel for middle graders. However, if it is not then it is perfect.
- The characters were all so bizarre and I loved that about them in all their uniqueness. I also loved the way in which the author inserted herself into the story. It gave the book that extra something and gave me chills.
- I got a bit of Harry Potter vibes and I do not know if they were intentional but I'm glad that the author still managed to create such a different and loveable story considering the standards Harry Potter left.
- I would definitely recommend this to other fans of magical universes because it really needs to get more hype.

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I really enjoyed this middle-grade novel. I loved the magical and whimsical aspects of the story, and I really liked that the magical object in the story was Quills (I have always loved writing, so this just resonated with me).
The main characters growth throughout the story was intriguing, and the mystery behind the plot always kept me guessing at what would happen next. I highly recommend if you are looking for a mysteriously and magical read.

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This book is a story about Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid at Plum Castle, who, at the day she was dismissed from working at the castle, found out that she is going to the magical school for scrivenists and royals. Ivy went on to experience adventures while she discovered her own abilities and her history.
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While I was reading this, it gave me some Harry Potter feels, but this book has its own story to tell. The characters are endearing, I especially like Fyn and Rebecca, after Ivy of course. Then there’s Mr Winsome, who I somehow pictured with the physical attributes of Einstein. Haha!

I had a bit of trouble in the beginning, trying to remember terms that builds this world, but picked up from 20% of the book onwards. The pacing was fast up until the end, and overall, it was magical.

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What would happen if Morrgigan Crow from "Nevermoor" series met Harry Potter world? It will be a perfect world for a lot of fantasy lovers. One thing is much better that we have a chance to discover this world in "The Crowns of Croswald".

As I mentioned at the beginning, I see here a lot of references to Nevermoor (world building, secret society, a school for chosen children, villain) and Harry Potter (magical town where students can find all required things in specific shops, school where young people learn magic, the Chosen One who has two close friends, one specific map, professors personalities: for example Professor Fenix is for me Professor Flitwick in 99%.

From another hand Author mixed those well known motives and built another, intresting story. Magical abilities are connected with crystals, we don't have a typical wands. Main plot is a typical Chosen One motive.

Main character Ivy is a girl which think that isn't antyhing special in her. Even if she's dreaming about Hall of Ivy, magical school, she knows that it isn't place for her. I really like her because she doesn't give up, she always has a plan and tries to resolve the mysteries and she has a small dragon as a pet. I saw as she's growing and becomes more confident in the new reality.

Writing style is beautiful. D. E. Night writes in the style which remeber me very much Jessica Townsend style. It's magical, warm and reader feels really connected with world and characters. Detailed and vivid descriptions help you immerse yourself in the world.

I am really grateful that Stories Untold Press sent me the copy via NetGalley. I will definately read next books from the series becasue I'm curious what will happen next and how Ivy life will go.

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In Croswald, the only thing more powerful then 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 crashing 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.

I am so happy that this book reached out to me, because I really enjoyed it in every way!
When I first started it, the created vocabulary was a little hard to follow, but once I learned what was what, and who was who, it was more enjoyable to read.

D.E. Night creates a wonderful middle grade world that reminds me of Harry Potter in all the best ways.
It was such a lovely and magical experience. There are dragons, hairies (little fairies that emit light and are used in lanterns to guide students throughout the halls) and shorehorses, evil queens and wizarding schools, talking books and teenage quibbles. The story was really good. You never really knew who was good or bad, the magical elements were matching very well with everything that happened.
The writing style was easy and fast to read, the words not complicated.
Some details will seem familiar to those who love the genre, the Halls of Ivy bearing an uncanny resemblance to Hogwarts at times, complete with figures moving within picture frames, shady professors, resident ghosts, a shopping hub for buying magical school supplies, and sneaking about after hours solving mysteries.

If you liked Harry Potter, you will definitely like this book as well.

My rating: 5/5 stars

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I really, really loved this book. It was so nostalgic for me. It reminded me of all the Garth Nix books (Sabriel, Lirael, The Keys to the Kingdom series) and Harry Potter. It is a book for younger readers, but I loved it. It was detailed and interesting.

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This was my first novel by D.E. Night and I truly enjoyed it so much. I don’t typically read within this genre, but have been more open to exploring new genres lately. I am so glad I did! The main character in the story, Ivy, goes through a rollercoaster of events and emotions throughout the story. After growing up as an orphan, she attends a school for magical, gifted students like herself. However, she stands out with her special talents and deals with bullying and struggling to fit in. She is such a likable character and I felt connected to her and felt all her emotions. I had serious flashbacks to middle school lunch when I had no where to sit! I was so happy to see her developing friendships throughout the story after having such a touch childhood. I wish I had Rebecca and Fynn as my sidekicks through life! Even though this isn’t my typical genre, I loved the fantasy and magical elements. This is a perfect story for October that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars.
I really loved the world and the magic in this one. It was just so much fun! Ivy was a fun character, and it was awesome to see her get to explore the castle and school. I liked the supporting characters that were around Ivy. The characters all played a role, and I thought they made it more realistic and interesting.
I felt like the plot moved at a really good pace. Some parts of it were a bit predictable for me, but I still liked seeing how it played out
The magic was really just a lot of fun. The world and the magic system seemed well thought out, and it was pretty easy to follow along with.
I’d recommend this one to fantasy lovers! It’s a little on the younger YA side, so I’d also recommend it to middle grade readers!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stories Untold through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Stories for providing me the opportunity to review.

Book overview as written on Amazon :
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 crashing 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.

My Review :
This was such a cute and fun little read. It is a middle grade book that my younger self would have obsessed over! I love the whimsical feel of the story and getting to know the inner workings of the magic in the tale. I wish more time was spent on the classes Ivy attended at her magical boarding school. Her time there felt so short!

My biggest complaint is with the pacing of the story. The world building at the beginning was wonderful, but then the story hit a wall and was a bit slow. The plot felt muddled and there were some parts I felt could have been edited out as they didn’t do much in driving the plot. The ending came quickly and felt a tad rushed. I’m happy to know there are more books in the series, because I felt like this book ended with so much left to be explained! I can’t wait to continue following Ivy’s journey in discovering her magic and learning more about her family history.

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The Crowns of Croswald was a fun, middle school read. The story focuses on Ivy Lovey, a kitchen maid. Ivy's adventures begin when a dragon that works along her in the kitchen falls ill. Ivy is brave as she faces the challenges of magical adventures.
I found the story easy to follow and I'd definitely recommend for middle school readers. The magic in the story is easy to love and I thought the plot was engaging. I had some difficulty with getting connected with the story in the beginning because I typically don't read fantasy, but quickly drawn as the story progressed.

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“I want a book set in a magical school” you say. “But I do not want to support JKR by reading Harry Potter”.

I have just the book for you.

I revived an E-ARC from the publisher through netgalley and was excited to read. I have a weird relationship with fantasy books in E-book form though and struggled to get past the prologue. I took a risk and decided to order the physical copy in hopes I could get through it.

The Crowns of Croswald was unpredictable in the sense I did not expect the feelings I would have towards it.

The writing style gives me a more middle grade vibe that is always enjoyable to read, and having read from the physical copy I flew through it.

The Crowns of Croswald follows young Ivy who was left to castle plum as a baby to keep her safe from the evil of the outside world and her true destiny which is revealed throughout the book. At castle plum she is a scaldron maid but all she wants to be is a scrivinist. After getting thrown out of castle plum she is then on her travels along with he dragon companion to the magical school of Hall Ivy. There she uncovers many many secrets all of which she is connected to. However, she does only have one mission and that is to find Derwin Edgar Night.

The plot was very well done in my opinion and the secrets of Ivys life that is revealed throughout her story was so captivating and my favourite part to read along side the magical creatures and characters.

Can someone point me in the direction of where I could get my own scaldron dragon please.

There are many likeable and non-likeable characters within this book. Ivy is a strong and determined main heroin, with so much curiosity that gets her in to trouble. Her friend Isabelle is such a great companion. I love her witty charm and humour. Of course it would not be a school setting without that one B**** that always gets in the way and then you have the potential love interest. However I feel he was not developed all that much. He had that mysterious vibe like there’s something that he’s hiding but there’s not much else to him.

The Crowns of Croswald has all the magic, witty characters and interesting creatures you need, but of course you have the evil too. I can’t wait to read the sequel to see what Ivys next moves are and also The Dark Queen.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a middle-grade fantasy about a scullery maid who dreams of having magic. To her surprise, our heroine gets her wish... and much more!

While there were a lot of aspects that remind me of other middle-grade fantasy stories such as a orphan hero who doesn't know they have magic, a magic school preceded by a magical school shopping trip... and interesting Professors, I did find this story pretty unique in the world building. The history of royalty and the types of magic were very interesting! I loved the invention of crowns and crystals possessing magic... as well as the idea that the scholarly magic users called scrivenists, becoming literal tomes (or books) when they pass on.

Ivy is our heroine and her curiosity gets her into much trouble throughout the story! There are a couple of side characters, Rebecca and Fyn, who are a good addition and balance out Ivy's personality with some much needed caution.

The pacing was a bit off for me and the first half was slow that I found my mind wandering a couple times... however the second half and especially the last 15-20% were great and you learn so much more about the history of the Royal families and Ivy's connection to it.

Overall, I enjoyed this story and the magical world. I am definitely interested in reading the second book in the series to see where the story goes... however, I do not feel like I need to run out and buy it to find out what happens. And enjoyable tale for young readers!

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BOOK REVIEW*

I recently finished reading The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight and it was such a whimsical joy of a book! The story follows a kitchen maid named Ivy, the place that she lives is surrounded by what’s called slurry fields, which dampen magic. When she’s finally able to get away from the slurry fields she is invited to attend “The Halls of Ivy” a highly prestigious school of magic. I loved that instead of witches and wizards they have “scrivenists” magical individuals that use magic quills for transcribing and illustrating all they see. This story is a wonderful blend of fantasy and adventure with so many whimsical creatures and places that I was entranced! The beginning felt a little slow and confusing but started to take off about a quarter of the way in. The beautiful descriptions and magical creatures is what kept me going. Overall I’m giving this book 4/5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
*Thank you so so much to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review. *

PS: There are dragons that bake food in their mouths like ovens, fairy’s that act as lamps, porcupines that have quills to write with, and so much more! 🙌

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The Crowns of the Croswald by D.E. Night is a classic tale of magical education and unknown lineage. Ivy Lovely grows up as a kitchen maid, without any hint that she herself is magical. Then, one day a dwarf tells her she has magic and should be at the most famous magic school, The Halls of Ivy. Her adventure kicks off from there.

A pleasant, middle grade read, Night gives you a fantastical story of scrivenists (non-Royal magical folk with magic in their blood) and royals (royal family access magic through the stones in their crowns). Night’s form of magic wielded by quills is a delightful concept. At times this book felt like it was influenced too much by similar tales of magic schools and unknown family histories, but on the whole, it was a light and fun read.

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This book was like reading a hybrid of Harry Potter and The Princess Diaries, you don’t think it will work but it does! I found the beginning a tad confusing as I was just getting introduced to this new world but I ended up loving it. It was thrilling to discover Ivy’s background alongside her and I especially loved the idea of art as a magical thing. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy!

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Big thank you to publisher Stories Untold for my electronic copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis: 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 crashing 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.

LCView: What's not to like about adventure, a magical school and mysterious gems? I can't think of anything, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The story was an enchanting, coming-of-age trope that pulls you in almost immediately. Croswold is a fascinating world, full of scrivenists and royals, special stones, magic quills, mystical creatures and of course, a Dark Queen.

This is a story best suited for middle-grade readers and those young at heart. It's the first in a series, and books two and three are currently available now. The pace is quick, which makes sense for younger readers - however, I found myself longing for more: more character development, more details about the magical world, more background of the royals and the scrivenists. Overall, the story itself is a little predictable but an enjoyable read and recommended for anyone looking for an adventure and to escape, however briefly, to another magical world.

This review can also be found on my Instagram page (theliterarylc), Goodreads, and Amazon.

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I was sent a copy via Netgalley by the publisher Stories Untold in exchange for a honest review.

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is a magical story with whimsical characters, an intriguing mystery and wonderful worldbuilding. I really liked this story about a girl discovering her past and I’m looking forward to continuing with the series.

I loved the very whimsical setting of Croswald and especially The Halls of Ivy. Each character we met outside of Ivy Lovely was very strange and intriguing. Ivy herself was a brilliant character and I loved her curiosity and willingness to break the rules. I also loved her friendship with both Rebecca and Fyn. The worldbuilding was exceptional. I liked learning about the weird world of the Scivenists and the royals that they served.
Overall I liked this book and really recommend it if you like middle grade fantasy.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an opportunity to read The Crowns Of Croswald

This is a middle grade fantasy story - a young maid who finds herself in a magical 🧙🏻‍♀️ school , and finds out she’s much more than she thought she was !⁣

What I liked :⁣
✔️ Ivy Lovey was a lovely character and made a great heroine⁣
✔️ Ivy’s friendship with Rebecca and blossoming love story with Fyn ⁣
✔️ lots of magic ⁣

What I didn’t like ⁣
✖️ I got a bit confused at the end tbh 🤣 but that may just be me⁣

Thank you to the author for a copy of this story for review.⁣

3.5 ⭐️

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Wow. What a rollercoaster ride of a book! Thank you again to the publishers for sharing this book with me, I’m so glad they did! I really enjoyed reading this book. So much so that I’m looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

But first, let’s talk about the first book in the series.

I felt from very early on that this book had the feel of Dianne Wynne Jones’ Crestomanci series, or Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor, and it definitely played that way throughout.

It’s clearly of the fantasy genre, but I would say the world building is very unique and I loved that about this book. From Scaldrons to Hairies, to the Sqwinches classes and their own magical abilities to the Royals magical abilities and the powers of a quill, I really felt swept up in this new world and would love to add it to my wishlist of places to visit alongside Narnia and Hogwarts.

There was drama and adventure aplenty, and I found it hard to put down the book after each chapter - a sure sign of my enjoyment of the book. The chapters and story flowed nicely, offering questions and cliffhangers aplenty.

The character of Ivy and quite a number of the professors were well thought out and created to feel real, though I felt some of the other classmate characters needed more detail. This is Ivy’s story though, and I got the clear impression of her personality and appearance from the get go. Plus, there’s more books to read so I’m expecting to learn more about some of her classmates later on in the series.

And series it is! The ending wrapped up a lot of the questions both I and Ivy had throughout this book, but I’m curious as to what’s next and will definitely be picking up the next book.

I give it 4 ½ stars out of 5.

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Qotd: Do you guys believe in magic?

I choose to have magic and miracles in my life and really wish to live a magical life with all the characters that I love.

One such experience just came true when I finished this book. The Crowns of Croswald takes you in such a magical world with dwarfs, dragons to accompany you.

This is the story of Ivy, a scaldrony maid who steps into a magical world when she gets admitted to a prestigious magic school “Halls of Ivy”. Her journey to unravel the mystery of her birth, the strange things happening around her and to discover the meaning of her recurrent dreams keeps you hooked to the end.

I liked the character of Ivy, her friend Rebecca and also her crush Fyn. This trio has a lot of adventure in them and are fearless. Even though the language and certain terms were a bit difficult to grasp, the story became more interesting as kept going.

Thank you NetGalley and Storiesuntoldpress for the review copy.

Such a beautiful and enjoyable read.

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I received this ebook free from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a four book series, with the fourth book coming out later this year.
Ivy is a sixteen year old girl working as a scaldrony maid. One day she is banished from her home and discovers she has magic and is whisked off to magic school. There she begins to uncover her past, the reasons why her magic has been kept hidden all these years, and why the Dark Queen seems to be after her.

This book was a fun, whimsical read that left me wanting to read the next book. It does have some Harry Potter and Nevermoor feels to it. But still stands alone! I’d rate this a high 3.5 stars (but rounding up for the review) ..only because it did take me a bit to get into this book because of all the new magic terms to learn. The ending was fantastic and looking forward to following Ivy on her next journey!

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Ivy Lovely has been hiding away for sixteen years as a scaldrony maid at Castle Plum. When Ivy leaves the borders of the castle, she finds that her magical powers have been awakened. She ends up at a magical school, Halls of Ivy, where she gets into all kinds of mischief. This story takes us on an adventure to learn about Ivy's history and save Croswald from the Dark Queen.

If you like magic, fantastical beasts, enchanted worlds and an inspiring protagonist, then this book series is for you! I couldn't put it down! It's filled with everything I love: magical books, secret rooms, mysterious recurring dreams, an evil queen, royal bloodlines and overall engaging characters (Fyn and Rebecca were my favorites).

I recommend! This is a great YA-Fantasy book that reminds me of Harry Potter. Excited to read the rest of the series!

Thanks to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for my copy!
Check out my review on IG @literaturewithalatte

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This is a really fun read. I would recommend it to people who loved Harry Potter and Nevermoor. The main character is very endearing with an obvious personality but unfortunately the side characters are lacking in that department. The banter that is intended to be sarcastic and witty felt forced sometimes due to this flaw. Based off the end, I'm confident in them becoming well rounded in later books. My only other complaint is that there were a lot of things that closely resembled Harry Potter. To give the author credit, most of her ideas were completely original. Overall this is a charming book and I will be continuing with the series.

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The first thing I thought in the first few chapters was: this is going to be like Harry Potter. I personally love Harry Potter, so reading this book was NOT bad! I love getting transformed into the words, sentences and pages of the world of magic; it’s fun and not something I get to experience in the real world (unfortunately). The characters in the book are spectacular, and they leave you shocked because you would never expect something they did. I loved how there was magical creatures involved and how they match perfectly into the story. I got pulled into a mystical adventure right from the beginning and was not disappointed. If you haven’t had the chance to read it, READ IT NOW!!

I want to thank D.E. Night for gifting me this amazing book for an honest review. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity, I would have never ever known about this incredible book.

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Thank you to DE Knight for sending me a copy of this story where we meet Ivy Lovely, a young kitchen maid who is forever dreaming and yearning of magical lands.
During the story, Ivy loses her job and ends up in a magical school and that’s where the adventure begins. Plagued by dreams of a mysterious figure and strange goings on, the excitement builds. Slightly reminiscent of Harry Potter at times but just as magical.
I felt the story was fast paced and full of excitement and intrigue and the writers style is beautiful, setting scenes and describing settings well.
All in all a great story that holds your attention and makes you excited for the next instalment

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This story is set in a fantasy world of magic named Croswald with its own rules, creatures, spells...
Ivy is a girl, working as a maid who gets invited to attend the Halls of Ivy (school of magic for young Royals and future Scrivenist). In school we follow Ivy’s journey through her first year of learning magic and making friends while uncovering her hidden past, mystery dreams and the power of Croswalds mystical stones.

From the start of reading I was thinking of Croswald as a mix of Harry Potter and Throne of glass, but it is so much more than that.
The story of Ivy is well told, and one finds him/herself lost in this magical world along with the protagonist. The author set a fascinating base for the ongoing series which is a great read for young adult readers who like to lose themselves in a world of fiction and fantasy. Even though some parts left me a little bit confused* I enjoyed reading this story and I can only wish I would read it sooner as I would probably enjoy it more when I was a few years younger. 
*which I think that was mostly due because of english not being my native language

I would like to thank the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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"Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old orphan who has no idea who she could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. But when an evil Queen threatens all that is good, will Ivy's bravery be enough?"

Full of magic and whimsical creatures, this book is perfect for a middle grade reader! There are tons of beautiful descriptions that are necessary to fully imagine the world and the characters are relatable to this age group. I'm looking forward to reading the remaining books in the series myself and adding this to my classroom library. Thank you Stories Untold, D.E. Night, and NetGalley for a free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"There's a reason I opened my door to you, Ivy Lovely. The same reason you've been hidden away for sixteen years. You are special."

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I was contacted by StoriesUntold to ask if I wanted to read and review this book for the author. I am so happy they asked. I am a huge Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts fan and this gave me some of those same wizardly magical vibes. This was a magical thrill ride of a story. I absolutely can not wait to dive into more of Ivy's story. The storyscape the author develops through the book allowed me imagine Croswald in my mind with such detail, like watching TV. I will definitely read anything this author writes.

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The book follows sixteen year old Ivy a girl who has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary away from magic until one day she crosses over and her powers are awakened. Leading her on a striking path, and ending up a student at Halls of Ivy a school for those who need to master their magic. After events unfold, Ivy has to delve into the mysteries of her past in order to save herself and Croswald before history is swept away.

I really loved how magical this book was! Perfect for young middle grade readers. I really thought that Author D.E. Night has created something absolutely timeless, and magical.

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Okay, I’ll be honest here. I had very conflicting emotions about this book throughout the first few chapters or so. The synopsis and prologue excited me; I was so ready to read this book. Then the first and second chapter (ish) felt a bit rushed, with a lot of cliches I, personally, would have liked to have been handled in a different way. It was at this point that I thought I would slog through the rest of the book, or worse, add it to my DNF pile.

But!

But I was very pleasantly surprised that neither of my predictions came true. I ended up finishing the book in only two sittings after picking it up earlier this morning (or, yesterday morning, as it were; I’m writing up this review at 5:07 a.m. so time has ceased to have meaning for me). Let me put it this way: if this were published earlier or if I were younger now, I would be begging my mom to make a lavender Halls of Ivy uniform, like all the stylish first year students. *ahem* All the first year students.

So, the characters.

Ivy Lovely, our adventurous heroine herself. I have never related more to a character while simultaneously not relating to them at all. It’s a strange phenomenon, to say the least. On one hand, Ivy dreams of magic (who doesn’t, honestly), she spends every free moment sketching the castle in her dreams (slightly further from the mark, but I’m still on board), and she saved and befriended a little dragon from her castle’s kitchen (we’re back on track). But on the other hand, she is a literal trouble magnet. And? She realizes her actions will most likely have severe consequences–because as we all know, getting expelled is far worse than death–and she goes through with her plans anyway. I mean, as someone with an almost crippling fear of authority and getting into trouble, Ivy’s general “meh, girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do” attitude is refreshing. So as much as I wanted to shake her by the shoulders and drag her back to her classes by her ear, I was cheering her on just as much.

“[…] sqwinches had a propensity to over-read, over-prepare, and over-collect.”

And then I face-palmed when [nope, spoilers].

There were actually very few male characters in this book to which my reaction was something along the lines of, “Yes, ladies! Girl power!” But the few male characters there were, I absolutely adored them. Especially our main man himself, Fyn. I’m looking at the notes I made while I was reading and the sentence I underlined about Fyn was, “Okay, Fyn is ADORABLE.” And that pretty much sums up everything I could possibly say about our cute, sarcastic, green-eyed hero who has roughly the same philosophy about rule-breaking as Ivy herself. Honestly? Yeah, I ship it.

Moving on!

Next, and finally, I will briefly mention our shape-shifting princess, Rebecca. I don’t want to give anything away about Ivy’s “reunion” with Rebecca, but I will say this: LOL. If nothing else, I recommend you read the book for that scene alone. And maybe the scene with the shorehorse… and all the little interactions with Humboldt–he’s literally the cutest and most… expressive (?) creature; you know exactly what he’s thinking, despite him not being able to talk. Anyway! Back to Rebecca. When I was first introduced to her character, I was worried that her relationship with Ivy would be wrought with jealousy and pettiness (like a certain unnamed royal whose name starts with “D”), but, again, pleasantly surprised. Rebecca helped Ivy in situations that could have (*cough*) ended badly. A situation that Rebecca didn’t–and couldn’t–fully understand, through no fault of her own. Just… what I’m saying is that I’m basically a sucker for positive, supportive friendships. They give me the warm and fuzzies, okay?

As for the magical world itself, I don’t have too much to say. There were elements I liked (the Den, Humboldt, the use of quills as magical implements, the “cabby” that reminded me all too much of the Cat Bus in Totoro) and there were elements that I didn’t particularly care for/ parts that were a bit too cliche for my taste. But overall, I had fun. Obviously, I wasn’t raised in a time where I dreamt about receiving a letter from the Halls of Ivy and picking up my crown from the Crownerie (though, I definitely identify more as a sqwinch). Nevertheless, I felt nostalgic for this world that Night created and I look forward to seeing what our ballsy heroine gets up to in the next three years of her studies. (I have my theories, but I’ll keep them to myself… for now.)

This time, and probably for my future reviews as well, I will wrap up with book stats… of a sort.

Feels: Ehhh, not really. It’s a fantasy/ adventure book, so no tears were shed during the reading of this book.

The Funnies: Some of the characters had a sarcastic sense of humor (which I appreciated) and there were moments of comic relief. So… moderate funniness, depending on your sense of humor.

Re-readability: Not for me (right now), personally, but I can see myself re-reading this if I were younger.

Continue-the-series-ness: Yes, I, for one, want to see what happens next!

Cute creatures: 10/10 (Also, I never thought I’d see the day when “ominous” and “unicorn” would be used in the same sentence.)

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A delightful book for middle grade readers who love Harry Potter and fantastical worlds. We follow Ivy Lovely from scullery maid to a magical school where she comes into her own, learning the truth of who she is. I was enticed by the whimsical creatures, the imaginative world building, Ivy’s fine friends, and her fight against the Dark Queen. And best of all? It’s book one of a series, so the charming adventure continues. Adults who love fantasy will dig it too!

4 of 5 Stars
Pub Date 21 Jul 2017
#thecrownsofcroswald #NetGalley

Thanks to the author, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

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Woah, what? You can’t end a book like that. That’s outrageous!
How am I supposed to sleep tonight not knowing what happens to our dear Ivy Lovely?
When I was first approached on Instagram about reading this book, I’ll be honest... It didn’t sound like my sort of thing but I wanted to help the author out.
Oh my goodness, WHAT A BOOK.
I loved every single word of it. I was completely and utterly immersed.
On the websites I’ve looked at, it does say that this is a kids book but I would probably say young adult is more suited. I mean, as a 24 year old reader, I had no complaints!

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This book was received as an ARC from Stories Untold in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book right from the start reminded me a lot of the House of Night Series by P.C. and Kristin Cast. From the very beginning I was hooked. Everything from the characteristics of Ivy to the set up of the School of Croswald's I knew I was in for the ride of my life. Ivy's encounter with her powers and the rise of anxiety entering the school and then encountering with the Queen of Darkness, I'd say that there was a lot on Ivy's plate that came unexpectedly and that she is beyond ready for. I have been waiting for a series like this for a long time and I can't wait to see another adventure of the Crowns of Croswald.

We will consider adding this title to our JFiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

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Synopsis:
For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden away in the safety of castle Plum. Surrounded by magic-repellent ‘slurry’ her life so far has been anything but interesting. Suddenly, she is thrust into the world of magic, fantasy and most importantly the Halls of Ivy. Her life now consists of Scrivenists, hairies, scaldrons and textbooks with pages that document her every move. When the dark queen senses Ivy’s appearance she is hellbent on removing her from existence. Will Ivy learn her true family history? But more importantly will she survive the dark queens evils powers?

Plot:
I enjoyed the plot and felt like this magical world had been delicately created in its entirety. The description added was superb and really helped to build the image in my mind. I always find that fantasy genres can be quite hard to read if you can’t imagine it yourself and so I was worried I might not have ‘bought into’ the book, but I needn’t have worried. I enjoyed following Ivy’s journey and felt like there were a lot of adventures packed into this first book! It certainly did not rely on one dramatic ending- as Ivy’s life was definitely in danger on more than one occasion! The pacing of the book was enjoyable as it didn’t have any slow moments and although Ivy’s heritage was easily predictable it never took away from the overall story as I simply enjoyed being immersed in this newly created world.

Characters:
I enjoyed Ivy’s character and the single perspective narrative helped to add mystery to the story. I have read reviews saying that Ivy seemed quite stubborn and nonchalant towards school. However, I found her characterisation quite endearing and realistic as she had not been brought up with the magical customs and so was simply finding her feet in the overwhelming circumstances, she found herself.
The secondary characters, such as Rebecca, Fyn and Derwin also added to the story and were good additions. The idea of the royals having different powers based on the type of stone nestled in their crowns was interesting as this meant that other less familiar characters could become important depending on what situation they found themselves in- I thought this was a nice touch and could be built upon in other books. I also do have my suspicions about some characters intentions and so I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series to see if my suspicions come to fruition.

Layout:
The stark contrast of the prologue and the rest of the story interested me throughout. I was anticipating when the separate storylines would interlink so I felt I was eager to read more to find that out. The chapter length was adequate, and I have mentioned before I thought using a single person narrative was a clever writing tool as it added mystery throughout and allowed information to be given in a timely manner without the use of red herrings.
Working in education, whenever I read a middle-grade book I always think about whether I would read it within a classroom and with the Crowns of Croswald I think it could definitely be used as an educational tool. The language used within the book is diverse and imaginative and the sentence structures are varied enough to use as examples to teach the target audience many literary techniques.

Final comments:
Although this genre is not usually my typical ‘go-to’ I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to fantasy enthusiasts and young readers. With this being the first book in the series I am eager to read the rest to see how the storylines of Ivy and her friends work out.

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I received this e-book for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old maid and orphan who gets invited to attend the Halls of Ivy, a school of magic as a scrivenist. From there she enters a world of whimsy and adventure making friends & enemies, and learning magic along with who is really is and the power of imagination.
This book would be great for young fans of Harry Potter [the comparison is inevitable] and princess fantasies. It felt like a quirky, action-packed hybrid of Cinderella and Harry Potter. The book felt more like a children's book then young adult.
Also- snaps to the author for including their own name. DERWIN EDGAR NIGHT? D.E. Night? I love it.
Overall- 3.5/5 stars

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This is a magical tale of a young girl who is ripped out of a not so pleasant life and thrust into one that is magical, mysterious, and surprising. Ivy Lovely is the main character and she has always dreamed of attending the magic school that she sketches from her dreams, but she definitely didn’t think she’d ever end up there or going on the adventure that she did when she got there.

This is very much a book and story reminiscent of Harry Potter, but with a wonderful female lead character. Magical people, magical characters, magical creatures, and of course your typical not so nice school girl and grumpy head of school. It is a wonderful book and a wonderful story, and I would love to catch up on the second book in the series. It’s a middle grade fantasy genre, and as someone who has a 10-year-old who loves Harry Potter, I could definitely see him, and eventually my daughter, very much enjoying this story.

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Since English isn't my native language, I had a problem with understanding some terms and expressions, that's why it took me some time to finish it.
I don't read much fantasy any more, but this one was young adult with just enough magic and real life. Storyline is somehow similar with Harry Potter. I'm glad that we have heroine Ivy here, who is brave, although some "average girl", who goes on a life adventure and learns more about herself. She has a pet dragon, who is really cute and great attraction for the book. She has two great friends, who helps her get through school and life.

The story was interesting, full of surprises and twists I didn't predict. Writting style had an interesting flow, but after a while I got used to it's writting.

It's a nice read.

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I was so enchanted with this world.

I want books I get lost in, and this one absolutely absorbed me. I loved the fantacy kingdom of Croswald and all the descriptions of the beasts, characters, settings, and of course, the food!

This series starts off with an outsider who has no background story. Ivy Lovely has lived an existence nobody would envy. After a particularly bad day Ivy is catapulted into a new life and an exciting, dangerous adventure. As she continues over obstacles she makes new friends and uncovers secrets many would kill to keep forgotten.

I didn't want this book to end, and luckily it's just the first book in the series! I can't wait to share these stories with my nieces.

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This book is the fantasy story the school girl version of me was searching for what never found. It's a Harry Potter lovers delight, but a magic school and a hidden chosen one are all the tropes that are in common.
The magical world or Croswald is as multifaceted as are the Crown Stones of the Royals and the curiosity of the scrivenists.
The prologue plunges you into the world with no warning but a lot of foreboding, when I finally realised in Chapter 1 that it is Ivy who is the protagonist, I was thrilled.
The book is fast paced and ends on a satisfactory note yet has you curious for more. The division of labour in Croswald, between the magic practitioners and their studios archivists is so unique and amusing. The nerdy kids finally have a place of their own in the fantasy world.
The author creates wonderful friendships in Ivy's life, female friends, a mentor, a hidden helping hand, and a childhood guardian, all perfectly suited for their roles and compassionate in different ways.
This book will fill your imagination with wonderful sights, like you are in your own Glanagerie, read to know what that is!

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The Crowns of Croswald is a compelling story of a 16 year old girl named Ivy Lovely who thinks she’s a nobody, just a scaldrony maid in Castle Plum. (And mind you scaldron dragons are my new favorite, I absolutely adore Humboldt!)

We learn right from the start that Ivy is a talented artist, who has repetitive dreams of a castle she’s never been too, and sketches it in secret in the night with her secret dwarf friend, Rimbrick. Rather quickly Ivy finds herself tossed from Castle Plum and on her own, but with an odd note and a generous gift from the vanished Rimbrick.

Ivy finds herself thrown into the magical world of Croswald and the Halls of Ivy. Her curiosity leads her into many adventures and much trouble as she seeks to find the meaning of her dreams, and ultimately she ends up finding out who she is without realizing her journey was about herself.

This book was a slow build for me at first, there is a lot we learn about Croswald, the Halls of Ivy, the Selector, squinches/scrivinests, royals, the Dark Queen, how this world works, how magic works, who has magic and more. All of this is very interesting and very well done, it just took me a bit to get through. Ivy’s character is very well fleshed out and I have a strong sense of who her character is and how she responds to situations. We also learn a little about a Royal character named Rebecca, and another older sqwinch, Fyn. I’m hoping in the next book I get to see more from these characters as I really felt they didn’t get enough “page time”.

DE Night has done a wonderful job creating Croswald and its workings, and there is the perfect amount of magic, mystery and adventure. I’m also hoping in the next book(s) we get to see a little more romance!

I really enjoyed this read that was offered to me via NetGalley and I look forward to reading the next books in the series as well as recommending this book to anyone who loves a middle grade fantasy. I know it’s been said it’s great for readers of Harry Potter and the like, and that is true. There are similarities between the two, but Croswald is also so different and definitely worth the read!

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I received a copy of this on netgalley in return for an honest review.

Ivy Lovely has spent her entire life in the slurry fields and while there has always been something magical about her, she never dreamed she could become a scrivinist. When a carrage arrives for her to take her to school she doesn't believe she even belongs there. Past secrets, evil Dark Queen, new friends, and self discovery are all parts of this thrilling story. The pacing was perfect and every part of this had a purpose and progressed the story along. I can't remember the last time I read something with such amazing pacing. The story is full of secrets and excitement and the world building keeps you completely enthralled. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in a fantasy world with tons of secrets and a school setting.

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I think one of the first things I noticed about The Crowns of Croswald is its magic system. I could see that it was inspired by Harry Potter, but as I read through the book, it took its own form, and I was very fascinated by it. The world-building around the magic system and in general is done well and holds up as you further progress into the book.

Ivy, the protagonist of the book, is a 16-year-old orphan who finds herself embroiled in some perilous situations involving magic when she arrives at the school. From this part, the story really picks up and becomes quite fast-paced. As much as I started loving Ivy, I was a little put off by how much she put her friends in danger through her actions. But besides this aspect, I really liked Ivy's character and I find her to be an interesting and unique character.

Coming to the climax of the book, I think it gets a little confusing and convoluted but as I read through the chapters, I fully managed to grasp what was going on.

Overall, D. E. Night has done a fantastic job with the world building in The Crowns of Croswald, which makes it a really fun middle-grade read.

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This is such a fun, cute story! Has so many different magical elements you definitely feel like you’re transported to a different world. It was great seeing Ivy’s character learn and grow. The author has created a very special world for her characters. It's really a great story for young/middle readers.

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I have to admit that I enjoyed this more than I expected to, since I'm not normally a reader of fantasy-type books but I was in the mood for something out of my comfort zone. In no time at all I was completely engrossed in the world of Croswald and the adventures of Ivy Lovely and her friends. I am definitely a new fan of Ivy, Croswald, and D.E. Night. My only "complaint", if you can call it that, is that I do wish we were able to learn more about the characters, especially Ivy and Fyn. Fortunately "Crowns of Croswald" is first in a series, so I am looking forward to spending a lot more time getting to know them. "The Crowns of Croswald" reminded me a bit of the Harry Potter and Miss Peregrine's series in all the best ways, but is still completely unique. If you enjoyed them, you will love The Croswald Series. Thank you so much to NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold for offering me a copy of the book in return for my honest opinions.

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D.E. Night's The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderml world of whimsy! Set in an
immersive and richly detailed world, the story follows Iv Lovely, a former scaldrony maid, as she explore the secrets possibility of magical school, new friendships and a hidden past.

World building is D.E. Night's greatest strength. All of Croswald evokes strong imagery and we, as readers, ge to witness plenty of magical quirks. Night is committed to detailed descriptions, she works hard to ensure that
her readers can see her world as clearly as she can and to populate it with enough information for it to be believable. The result is a number of interestingly titled magic books and fascinating shops.

There are definite similarities between The Crowns of Croswald and some of the most popular children's fantasy books of our time. Fans of the early Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson series, or even older-age-demographic Disney might enjoy The Crowns of Croswald.

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This was a wonderful read! If you’ve been looking for an alternative to Harry Potter, this has to be it. Magic, mayhem, hidden destiny, a youth with a thirst for knowledge and little respect for the rules, royalty, loyalty and mystique - all the ingredients for a fun, fast-paced tale with some twists and turns. I didn’t pick the plot-twist early either, there was just enough magician’s flare to keep you distracted on one hand while the major plot of the story began unfolding on the other. A very enjoyable read!

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When I first started reading this book, I thought it was going to be an Harry Potter-like-kinda book but I beg to say no. This book is a book of its own. I loved how it started in the beginning and how the story turned on Ivy, my favourite middle age character in a long while.

I hope this isn't a spoiler but I knew from the very beginning that there was something special about Ivy that she didn't know.

And I love how she got to meet amazing people who helped her in the journey of discovery.
If you need to read a book that keeps you hooked through the pages, a book filled with magic, scrivenist, scaldrons and cabbies.

#thecrownofcroswald is your best bet.

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3.5
I quite enjoyed this book. I am not one to often read middle grade but I can really appreciate it by looking at it from the point of view of its intended audience. I really enjoyed Harry Potter and the Spiderwick Chronicles growing up and this book took me back to the days of reading those series.

The story follows Ivy as she leaves her home behind, gets whisked away to the school of Halls of Ivy where she starts learning to be a scrivenist. We follow her as she learns more about the trade, magic and the world she has been closed off to her whole life.

I enjoyed the story and Ivy's character. The story is whimsical and easy to read which means that it is easy to get into and follow. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of the magic, the lessons, and the magical creatures though I sometimes felt that the descriptions came at weird points of the story. Some times the descriptions felt out of place, disrupting the dialogue or coming out of nowhere. Even so, I think the world was well crafted and fun to get to know.

I would recommend this book and the series for fans of Harry Potter and to those who enjoy reading about someone discovering and learning about magic for the first time.

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I’d like to thank the publisher to send this e-book my way to review as a result of my collaboration with the author.
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The Crowns of Croswald is a story of a girl named Ivy Lovely who apparently is a scaldrony maid. The books reveals the biggest secret of her life. The truth that has to do with her family and friends.
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The author @author.denight ‘s imagination is brimming with magic and fantasy. Once you start reading the book, you’ll be unable to put it down.
The story, the writing style, the character building; everything is magic-filled. Language is easy and scenes are embroidered around each other in such a way that makes the book captivating and enthralling.
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I definitely recommend this book to all!
Especially if you’re a HP fan, this book is for you. And believe me, you’ll love it even a little more than that.

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I want to thank @storiesuntoldpress for the digital @netgalley copy of The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel features Ivy, a teenage orphan who works in a castle’s kitchen as a scaldron maid. Soon after being kicked out, she learns that she has magic in her blood and finds herself being sent to a school of magic. With her small dragon companion, Ivy works to learn more about her abilities and begins to unearth the truth about her family and the secrets during the evil Dark Queen.

I have seen reviews comparing this book to Harry Potter, and I can’t disagree with the magical main character and her school environment. However this is far from a carbon copy of HP, and the author does a beautiful job worldbuilding a system that includes two kinds of magic implementation and many kinds of unique magical creatures. It is full of whimsy as well as the witty and lovable new friends of Ivy. As a protagonist, Ivy is relatable and a strong female lead that will be great for the intended middle grade reading level (though the character is 16 years old).

This book was published in 2017 and I see that four books are planned in the series (book 2 and 3 are available so far). I have only read this first book, but what I would hope to see as the series continues is more insight on Ivy’s feelings and development as well as more of the story behind the headmaster’s place in Ivy’s circumstances. As was true here, I’m sure the reader will continue to learn alongside Ivy.

I can see this storyline being a great one to read aloud as a family or for anyone who loves the world of HP but is over Mrs. Rowling. It was fun, and I really enjoyed reading it. 4/5⭐️

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The mere moment I dipped into D.E. Night’s Crowns of Croswald, I was drawn into a timeless universe of magic I couldn’t wait to share and would read time and time again.

In a world unexplainable to the untrained eye by its magical characters of dwarfs, Scauldrons, Harries, handsome Scrivenists and the horrors of a haggled cook, I alongside ivy dreamed of becoming a scribe.

fantastical settings of mysterious caves, darkened shores, hidden staircases and partaking in sorcery studies from Ivy’s point of view, we unravel the mystery that is Darwin Edgar and how his and ivy’s past is intertwined.

D.E. Had me turning pages with every clue she gave, I was desperate to seek the answers given in Ivy’s daydreams, much inspired by Harry Potter a book any reader who seeks a magicial fantasy filled universe would find unique and stunningly captivating.

Along the journey we made friends with Rebecca and Fyn.

Rebecca was a gem to get to know, I was fascinated with her character and, her charming friendship with ivy held true throughout the book. I could always rely on Rebecca.

Fyn had me second guessing his character throughout the novel, up until his charm and sarcastic wit however had me hooked, his continued friendship with Ivy throughout the story will have the reader overjoyed and attached to every page of the book.

The imagery immerses throughout the book of things such as Boysenberry Bubbly (my new favorite name for a concoction), darkened shores, and pearl covered ballrooms captured on the essence of romance and underlining fear lingering in the halls.

The snarl of the Dark Queen her character although lengthily anticipated was so marvelously evil and compelling we had long awaited her reveal and her cruel powers did not disappoint.

Once the mystery was solved I was itching for more Croswald! I’m eager to see how Ivy enchants things in the town of....Read the continuation to find out!

My one honest tip for The Crowns of Croswald would be shoot for the stars! the books are made for a higher level reader, I felt more than once Crowns of Croswald with its immense vocabulary and characters belonged in a YA Genre and that’s a beautiful thing! I felt as though Ivy’s story was aimed at a Harry Potter middle level ground, which I loved but this mystical world belongs in a YA It allows the novel to expand on more in depth to the YA side.
I look forward to reading more of Croswald and exploring D.E's beautifully written expansive arts.

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Interesting, Unique and a book I will be collecting for my forever shelf I have found this one hard to put down and have been completely captivated.
I adore the writing style, plot and characters. A great book!

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If you’re a big fan of HP and magic filled stories like it, then you’ll enjoy this middle grade fantasy novel by DE Night!

Synopsis: Ivy, who has never left the wall of Castle Plum, is just your average 16 year old who has known nothing but hard work in her short life. She works as a poorly treated scullery maid for a wealthy family, but ends up being cast out after a mishap in the kitchens. What seems like the end of the world for Ivy is just the beginning, and she is thrust into a new world full of magical creatures, evil queens, and adventure. Ivy learns that she’s not so ordinary after all, and that not everyone in this world has her best interests in mind...

Thoughts: The Crowns of Croswald is a fun and imaginative coming of age story with wonderful world building and interesting characters. While it is meant for younger readers, it’s a good fantasy story for all ages. I did get a little flustered with how confusing the story gets towards the end, but I understand that is the first book and all the questions I’m left with will be answered in the other books. Overall not bad!

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Calling all Harry Potter and world of magic fans. The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a four book series and is full of conjuring, creative creatures, and colorful characters. Book 2 and 3 are out now and Book 4 will be released this year (2021).

A novel that is a thoughtful, action-driven fantasy and will leave you clamoring to find out what happens next.

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Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for this digital copy of The Crowns of Croswald.
The Crowns of Croswald is about Ivy Lovely, a maid living in Castle Plum’s kitchen. She has been working there ever since she was a baby. One day, there is a huge disaster in the kitchen that Ivy only makes worse, and so she runs away with a scaldron. Out in the slurry fields, a huge taxi cab with 3 houses strapped on comes to pick her up and take her to The Halls of Ivy, which is a school where squinches and royals go to learn magic. She goes in the cab to a big city bordering The Halls of Ivy. There she buys all her school supplies, but she is chased by a bunch of quills(basically like wands) into the castle before she is supposed to be there. She soon starts her classes and starts causing trouble. She gets involved with curses, ghosts, and the frightening government of Croswald.

I really, really liked this book! Is it a little confusing? Yes. Does it take a few chapters to really get going? Yes. But those don’t stand a chance against the fact that this story is so intricate and fascinating. Now, I usually am not a fan of magical land stories with dwarves and other magical creatures, but this was different. While I wish there was a little more explanation for all the fantastical elements, this was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. You can really tell it was completely planned out from the beginning. And I’m not saying that in the sense that the author didn’t just write it randomly as she went along, I’m saying that like it was a huge puzzle with missing pieces that were starting to fill in since the first page. Another good thing was that the mysteries were compelling, but they didn’t drive you mad. With some books and TV shows, there is so little information, so many mysteries, and they don’t answer any questions until the finale. This wasn’t like that. Ivy actually solved the mysteries instead of going on a bunch of pointless side quests that give you a tiny fraction of information that just makes you even crazier. Also, the setting is completely genius, but the explanation of the setting needs a bit of work. I was kind of confused when it all started.

I really wish there was a glossary on this book. Maybe there was and I missed out because I had a digital version, but it would’ve been so helpful to be able to look up what the book was talking about. Also, I know this takes place in a world not-so-similar to ours, but describing the book’s time in “moons” which is very close to months if you’re planning on reading this book(which I suggest, it’s very enjoyable) left me wondering how long had just passed. I also wish that there wasn’t this huge time jump in the middle of the book. It was confusing and I’m still wondering if anything interesting happened. Other than that, there isn’t much to say. The final battle was a great way to fill in the blanks and was super awesome, but was difficult to visualise what was happening. I am planning on reading the next book eventually(I’m mostly not reading it now because I have yet to get my hands on it), but for now I’m going to take a break for a while.

The Crowns of Croswald was an interesting, planned out story that was very fun to read and leaves you wanting the next book immediately.

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Sometimes it takes a catastrophe for a girl to realise her own strength.

The Crowns of Croswald is a story developed in Croswald, the land of scrievenists and royals. It creates a magical land with its own share of good and bad people. The protagonist Ivy is a simple maid before she is invited to the Halls of Ivy, a very prestigious institution meant for the people with magic in them. Little does she know that the dreams that have been plaguing her, will soon turn into a reality she cannot even fathom that she is a part of.

I loved this book! The fantasy land created was so magical and very simple to understand and love. Reading the book, I felt as if I was a part of the land! The narration was lucid and the story was enrapturing. The language was not very simple but not very sophisticated either. In fact, it was just right to give a good intrigue to the reader. The events did seem a little disjointed in the beginning but it all came together in the end :) The number of characters was pertaining to the story which was well structured and beautifully written. At some points, I found it very similar to the Harry Potter world though.

Loved the nameplay with the author's name too :) Definitely looking forward to reading the next book!

If you loved Harry Potter or Percy Jackson and the worlds they created you will definitely love this book :).

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I was sent Crowns of Croswald from the author in return of an honest review. Not usually reading Middle-grade, I was a bit skeptical. But, I found the book enthralling. The chapters were well written and didn't cram too much information in each one. As the story went along, there were a couple of things that were kept a mystery. These 'mysteries' were not increasingly obvious as it usually happens in middle-grade novels and I found myself shocked at some points. That being said, There were a couple of things that I wasn't a big fan of. I found Fyn and Ivy's relationship forced. It felt like it was just there for the sake of the plot. Rebecca suddenly brought up that Ivy had a crush on Fyn and Ivy seemingly agreed. It happened instantaneously and there was no build up. I would have enjoyed the book more if Fyn was given the role of an elder brother or so. The book started off a bit rough (1-3 chapter) but after that it was a smooth ride. My favorite part was the connection of the authors name and Derwin Edgar Night. I felt like it was a clever take leaving the readers wondering if D.E. Night and Croswald really existed. The ending was not unexpected and ended in a way that left the reader wanting more. If you are a fan of Fantasy and Harry Potter, I would certainly recommend Crowns of Croswald to you!

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Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher, Stories Untold, for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Lovely has lived her life as a scaldrony maid, safe from the magic that surrounds the castle where she works. But after a series of disasters, she leaves the safety of the castle and finds her way beyond the borders. Here her magic abilities become apparent and she is invited to study as a scrivinist at Ivy Halls, where scrivinists mix with royals in order to learn how to control their magical abilities.

During her first year, Ivy comes to realise that she is aware of things that others in the hall are not and must learn how to harness the power within her to fight against dark powers.

It is impossible to ignore similarities with another magical series: child unaware of magical past heads to magic school and must overcome adversity to defeat evil. However, this is still an enjoyable read and the characters are interesting (there is the clear 'baddie' and the two good friends along with a selection of professors, obviously).

For fans of magical books, this is a good read and I would be interested in reading the other books in the series.

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It was so nice to relax and read this middle grade book, especially since I had a bunch of mid-terms and papers which were making me super stressed out but reading The Crowns of Croswald gave me a way to step away from it all. The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy, a young sqwinch who discovers that she is way more talented in magic than she previously thought when she starts school at the house of Ivy! I really enjoyed all the magical creators in this book, especially Ivy’s little dragon Humbolt! I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys the HP world (because it gave me a lot of HP vibes) or middle grade books!

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Ivy Lovely is an unfortunate maid that works in the kitchens with the living ovens. She loves to hear stories of the Scriveners and dreams of castles. Until an unfortunate incident finds her unemployed and forced out of the castle she lives in. Unbeknownst to her this castle had been blocking magic so once she walked outside the boundary, magical things started happening as the magical world noticed her existence.
But why is she so special and who exactly is she? She gets picked up by a cabby with a large beast and dropped off to get ready to go to the Halls of Ivy. As soon as she comes within distance of the school strange things happen and she becomes the target of Demaris one of the cruelist Royals that goes to the Hall, there is always a bully who likes to belittle those around them. The Hall is to train young Royals and Scrivenists. She does keep running into strapping 3rd year Fyn who joins her on her many adventures as she tries to uncover the mysteries of the dreams she has and all the strange happenings that only she can see or remember. And she becomes fast friends with Rebecca who should be on the Royal track but wants to be a Scrivenist, shhh don't tell her Mom.
I love Fantasy books at any grade level. At this point I am also starting a catalogue for my 6 year old who will want all these books soon enough (only a couple of years away from the 10-18 age 😨). She will love this book she is a magical creature and magic spell person!
A very magical story and setup for a series, a unique magic system, with books that talk to you and keep track of you, magical beasts and fun adventures!

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Some follow-up questions:
🌸When will I be discovered? Since I am sure I am a Scrivenist. Am I too old?
🌸Can I have Ivy's magical book that adds pages and then archives her pages (old school cloud?)?
🌸Is this room of forgetting in my house? Maybe not since things keep going missing but I remember them. How can you lose a Christmas wreath in a small apartment? I also have a bag of 50 unpaired children's socks.

Thank you @storiesuntoldpress for the kindle copy for an honest and voluntary review!

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A fun magic filled read.

This book is full of wonder and whimsy. The characters are well written and the book has plenty to keep you entertained. It’s funny, intriguing and witty, especially for a middle grade book.

Synopsis:

Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is. Tucked away in a place that dampens magic she crosses a magical boundary and discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?

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Thank You to Netgalley and the author for giving me the chance to read this book. It took me a month but it was worth every wait. Oh My God!! This was the exact same reaction after I had finished reading the last chapter. I loved this book so much. Brilliantly written. It had me completely hooked from the start. Must read.

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I have and will always be a sucker for magic school settings and this one was no exception. Here we have Ivy our Cinderella type heroine who has spent her whole life as a scaldrony maid until she lands herself at the Academy to learn to harness her magic but of course things aren’t that easy. This is a fast paced, action packed story full of magic and adventure that will definitely leave you wanting more. This story is so creative, you tell that so work went into the world building and you also can’t help but fall for Ivy and her friends. Overall I gave this 4 out of 5 stars.

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Absolutely loved it.! It’s a hidden gem that has yet to be discovered. The mysterious world of croswald is absolutely amazing. Loved all the characters, the storyline, the plot, and the magical elements.
It’s a perfect blend of middle-grade magic and mystery.
The main character - ivy, did feel a bit younger for her age but maybe because I have read too much YA recently. I loved how the plot wasn’t dumped at the end suddenly, but the readers were given little hints in-between.
All in love loved the book and excited to read the remaining in the series.

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This was a book I never normally would’ve picked up, but I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed this book. I loved the character of Ivy and how she sets off on her journey, but ends up finding herself along the way. I love the other characters she meets and how they each play a role in every step along the way. The writing and the story is great, and I could see myself in Ivy, especially when she sets out not knowing where to go or who to meet. That really resonated with me. In the end, I really liked this book and am definitely looking forward to the next one in the series.

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So I don’t normally read fantasy but I really liked reading this book. It’s something that I would enjoy watching as a movie as well-It has all the elements that a wonderful fantasy movie has..

This book had the writing style of a comfort movie if that makes sense...it gave me cozy vibes and made me feel like I was watching a live action Disney movie with my family. I loved the characters, the plot was very detailed and the plot twist had me thinking really hard. Some parts were a bit confusing but that was mostly due to me not being used to reading a lot of fantasy books.

I recommend this book for someone who wants an easy fantasy read (this is YA/middle grade) and to someone who likes the ‘chosen one’ trope. I don’t usually like this trope but this one was a breath of fresh air since the main character wasn’t annoying like most books in the ‘chosen one’ category.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a magical work of fiction. If you are a Harry Potter Fan you are going to thoroughly enjoy this book. I can’t help but think that D.E. night was a huge HP fan at some point, cause this book is heavily influenced by it. That being said, this book is unique and different.
I loved all the new magical creatures from the hairie to the shorehorse all where mesmerizing. The world building was great, yes it has a lot and I mean a lot of information but that’s what happens when someone is creating a new world, creatures and terms, there need to be explanations otherwise people gets lost.
The idea of scrivenists and crowns is pretty interesting, I loved the concept of the book and the plot, also the descriptions where so on point I could imagine the castle, THE town, etc.
Ivy is a scaldrony maid, basically her job is to take care of a couple of cooking dragons and bake pie. She gets kicked out of the only home she’s ever known and then magic basically explodes and she gets thrown into something she never expected to be a part of.
The side characters are super Fun Rebecca is all sass and a great friend to have around, Fyn is an enigma so far, he is always at the right place at the right time but I have a feeling there’s something more there. I even enjoyed Damaris and she’s awful.
I can’t wait to read more and find out more about the Dark Queen and her army, she intrigues me and I love it.
This book is magic in every sense of the word, from the world to the writing style this book is designed to pull you in to learn more about the magic system. I would highly recommend it to small readers who love magic and princesses. My son read it with me and he really enjoyed it.

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If you’re looking for some magic and fantasy the Crowns of Croswald may serve as a good escape into another realm for a while. I received this book through NetGalley and was thrilled to get a copy.

In The Crowns of Croswald we follow Ivy Lovely in her journey into the world of magic and discovering the truth of the world around her. While I will say right at the top of this review that there are similarities between Ivy’s story (orphan, doesn’t know about magic, etc.) and that of the Harry Potter series the world of Croswald is it’s own world and the magic system was very fun. The easy comparison to Harry Potter and other stories of children in magical worlds (i.e. Pennroyal Academy series, The Uncommoners series and so on) doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of this story as D.E. Night has made this world her own. I will also say the nostalgic feeling was very strong and it probably increased my enjoyment of this book but again, that doesn’t mean the book itself doesn’t stand up on it’s own.

With a lovely cast of characters and wonderful world building and descriptions I found myself flipping through these pages quickly and looking forward to each new line of information. I especially enjoyed how not all people in this world have the same type of magic; some have stones with magical traits, some use their artistic abilities to express magic and we see how their type of magic shapes the characters too.

If you are looking for some nostalgia, a new fantasy world to escape into and a new series that will keep you entertained while not being such a heavy read The Crowns of Croswald is definitely a series you should check out. I will eventually be picking up books two and three for myself as well.

Thank you again to NetGalley, Stories Untold Press and D.E. Night for sending me a copy of this wonderful story! It was just what I needed towards the end of this crazy year!

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This was the most fun I have had reading a book in awhile. I remember hearing about this book about a year ago and then it kind of always being in the back of my mind so I knew when I was asked to read it I immediately said yes without a question. There is so much mystery and intrigue in this story that it really just keeps you on your toes the entire time. Trying to figure out the story and putting the puzzle together was great because this didnt play out how I thought, the twist really shocked me and it's not what I saw coming at all. I seriously need book two because that one I can tell is going to be fully action packed! If you're looking for a fun magical read with a headstrong, brave female protagonist then this is for you.

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So, "The Crowns of Croswald" is an imaginative, potter-esque, fun read. I'd definitely recommend it for middle graders (Although is a book that can be enjoyed by anyone, to be honest.) but, I feel like kids at that age could use the whimsy of this read. I think the main character, Ivy, is charming, and her endeavors are told in a fun, solid way. The book starts out a bit slow, but the moment it gets to the school, it becomes very fast paced. It has good plot twists and the ambiance is very imaginative. It's very easy to visualize the places mentioned in the book too!

Although, sometimes I felt like the book was going by too swiftly. There are some things I wish had been explained better. But overall, I enjoyed it. I have no major complaints. I think it's a book worth reading, specially if you want a quick fantasy read, I mean, I read the entire thing during Thanksgiving weekend. (Plus, the cover is really cute. The entire series has some really pretty cover artwork.)

So, to conclude, I liked it. It was interesting, fun and and an overall good read. (I will be checking out the rest of the series. I wanna know how the story develops.)

(I received a Copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts expressed here are my own honest words.)

(I wasn't too sure if I had to add the fact that I got the copy through here. So just in case. I also posted this review on goodreads, but it does not let me link it, and I don't know why.)

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
✨ @storiesuntoldpress sent me a Net Galley of Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review. It is a middle Grade fantasy by author @author.denight
✨This book was full of magical creatures, adventure, and powerful characters. I did notice some similarities to Harry Potter.
✨I really liked Ivy. She was a character who grew up in a place where she wasn’t loved until she gets a note that could change her destiny. She was brave, intelligent, and so very curious. She often got in trouble in class, for things she didn’t do, which made me feel bad for her and want to yell at the teachers. Lol
✨I liked that there was more than one setting. The castle school was made up of different magical and unique rooms.
✨I felt like I was truly in the story. I enjoyed learning the new magic system.
✨There were adorable creatures like Notcials which are these itty bitty creatures that climb inside your book and read for you. (I need one!)
✨I felt like the middle and ending were amazing. The beginning seemed to be a little slow learning about the history, setting, etc.
✨If you are itching to read Harry Potter, check out this series. I think you will be able to escape and really enjoy it.

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First and foremost, The Crowns of Croswald is one of the stories crafted with the BEST WORLD BUILDING ever. The prologue showcases exactly that and I am very happy to have been given the chance to read and review this wonderful book.

After having read the synopsis, you might be thinking: “sounds like a cliché to me...” and I'll be honest, I thought so too. But I promise, it isn't one. D. E. Night incorporated so many ideas, details and events that you wouldn't see in any other book ever---unless of course fanfiction. Although, take note that there will be characters and occurences which will remind you of certain books, which I found to have given a positively nostalgic air to the book. I very much enjoyed the feeling!

The first pages induce a sort of spark which makes the reader wonder about what the story has in store for them---like a riddle waiting to be solved. A page-turner you will not only be reading The Crowns of Croswald overnight or in a few days, but it will also occupy your thoughts all day, that is certain.
Character development is what has allured readers to pick this book up and the other ones of the Croswald tales and I had seen a plethora of evidence for that, primarily through the main character. I have never before adored an MC as much as I do Ivy Lovely. (I also adore Humboldt).

The writing style, oh heavens, is absolutely glorious. If books had a social status, this one will be of the aristocracy in terms of how it was written. I love descriptive, verbally aesthetic (if such phrase exists) novels and this one really quenched my thirst for these types of works.

The Crowns of Croswald tackles various issues subtly which is perfect for those looking for memorable but light reads with morals.

Bountiful in imagery and of a very rich storyline---readers of all ages and fans of Harry Potter, Narnia and a bit of Chainini will enjoy this book, immensely.

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Review!!

#thecrownsofcroswald

OK, so when I started this book I was unsure what to expect! I was asked to review possibly based on my love of fantasy fiction.. So as I do with most books I went in with an open mind! To start with it was so refreshing to step in to a world of magic that was not a carbon copy of a certain magical wizarding world that shall remain nameless... Because let's face it there's a lot of copy cats out there and I'm so glad to say that this isn't one of them! There are so many colourful characters and, a, whole new set of magical worlds with their own set of rules! Ivy is such a loveable character and we get to follow her on a very special journey as she comes to learn who she is!! All in all a great start to what I'm sure will be a magical series!!

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This book felt very nostalgic for me, despite it being my first time reading it. I grew up with fantastical worlds such as Harry Potter and this brought me right back. I am well out of the target demographic for this book and I still loved it and plan on continued the series. This is a great read for those middle grade readers!

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I picked up this book from Netgalley and ended up really liking it. This book is perfect for fans of Harry Potter and fantasy novels. This book has lots of action, mystery and is great for Middle school readers and beyond. I do recommend this one and will probably read it to my child when he gets a bit older to understand it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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This was amazing!!! It was like a blend of The Wundersmith, Harry Potter, and Keeper of the Lost Cities. We follow Ivy Lovely as she is whisked from a life of drudgery surrounded by slurry fields. As soon as she steps outside the boundaries she is whisked away to a secret school of magic. From there all sorts of mayhem ensues and I loved every bit of it! Secret chambers, mysterious wizards, new friends, dangerous enemies, and a hidden past all combine into the epic beginning of a series. Strong and intelligent female leads and great world building makes for a wonderful coming of age story. This is a story that will stand the test of time and will be enjoyed by all ages. I can’t wait to see what else happens to Ivy and her friends.

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The Crowns of Croswald is such a sweet, original, and enchanting story! The main protagonist Ivy has an excellent, distinctive voice that makes her an easy and relatable character to follow. Her humor and curiosity and strength all make her a well rounded character.
I see a lot of people comparing Croswald to other magical stories, but in my opinion it is in a class all its own. This story has magic unlike anything I've read thus far. It has a very unique take on how magic works and who has certain magical abilities. It's just familiar enough to be recognizable while bringing it's own qualities to the table. Ivy's world has such a particular, homey feel to it, making it the perfect comfort read for any age.
I was occasionally slowed down when reading, particularly in the opening chapters. But the writing got better and better as the book went along, increasing the tension in every aspect of the story.
The ending leaves you ready for more. This is clearly just the beginning and I have all the confidence that the author will continue to write purely magical stories!

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This books was beautiful!!! I recommend this book to all Harry Potter fan but don’t read it thinking is going to be exactly like Harry Potter because it is unique and magical in its own way.
This book will give you that magical feeling of belonging to a Magical School and that magic is right in front of us.
I fell in love with the magic system and each class at the Halls of Ivy was amazing.
I wanted to read D. E. Night books for so long that I’m so happy I finally did. I already got her other two book in my kindle

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The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy, a curious and gifted orphaned girl. Working as a maid, she wishes for more in her life. Until everything changes on her birthday...

Diving into the story, some aspects reminded me of Harry Potter, while the story also gave me overall Disney vibes, which made me feel nostalgic in a way.

While the story had me hooked from the beginning (the prologue sets the mood and main questions for the whole story), it took me a while to understand some of the workings of this specific world. Which do get clearer and clearer as the story proceeds.

The main character, Ivy felt a bit flat at parts, but I did appreciate that she wasn't written as "grown up" and all knowing as many teenage protagonists are. I also really enjoyed the cast of side characters and their dynamic with Ivy and each other. I hope we're gonna see more of the group working together in the following books, as they had a great chemistry with each other.

So all in all I can recommend this as an easy and fast read for Middle Grade lovers !

The ending definitely made me want to continue with the series and I cant't wait to read what's gonna happen next!

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I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There are a lot of similarities between this and Harry Potter.

I did really enjoy the book, it has magic and mystery with whimsical delight sprinkled on top. There were moments that I felt were perhaps a little rushed and I wanted more from the characters relationships with others. I wanted to feel the connection that she had with those she considered love ones, and sadly I didn't feel to much for any of them.

I did however really enjoy the story, the magic and the journey that we were taken on.

Fans of the Wizarding World or the Nevermoor series may just enjoy this magical journey of self discovery.

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Unputdownable! Simply magical.

What a marvelous world D. E. Night created in this fast-paced tale of magic and mystery.

Fans of Harry Potter will adore this book as much as I do. D. E. Night has created a whole brand new world, giving a sense of magic to even the smallest part of a normal everyday experience.

The story follows a young orphan called Ivy Lovely who is a maid in a remote castle, but gets called up to a school of magical learning. The adventures that follow, the friends she makes along the way, and the lessons she learns are all very exciting and I'm looking forward to reading the next installment.

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I really enjoyed this book! It reminds me of Harry Potter and A Deadly Education but still holds its own. I will definitely reading this again.

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If you are a fan of Nevermoor and Harry Potter, this is the book for you!

16 year old Ivy Lovely has lived as a kitchen hand, hidden behind a barrier that separates her from a world of magic. When she finally had the opportunity to escape her mundane world, she encounters experiences she never could have imagined.

This was an easy to read, engaging story that drew me in from the first page. I especially appreciated the chapter illustrations, they were so intricate and always gave me pause at the beginning of each chapter.

D. E. Knight had some really unique and new ideas, with my particular favourite being the Kallegulous key - a magical key that can unlock any door and if a door is locked by this key and then the room that when locked, everything inside is forgotten. So unique and also gave me some chills!

There were many tropes used in this book that I enjoyed (e.g a magic school) but I found those aspects were not as unique. Still really enjoyable though! I will be continuing this series as soon as I can get my hands on book 2!

3.5

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I was given a digital copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own!

I absolutely loved this! I love the idea of scrivenists going to a school alongside royalty and studying to one day go do magic for a specific family. The Dark Queen who terrifies everyone, even though not much is known about her, is such a fun idea and I love that we get to actually meet her towards the end. Ivy's journey to discover who she is was so heartwarming and I love that she never gave up, even when her friends couldn't remember the specifics of what she was telling them because of the Forgetting Room. The ending was just so good (even though I had called where Ivy came from, the reveal was still so good!) and I cannot wait to get my hands on the other book in the series.

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I am so glad I agreed to receive a copy of this book for review!
This book was so magical! I really enjoyed this book. I love world building and the magic in this story, it's fun and not something I've come across before. The characters are unique. This is an adorable teen fantasy story featuring a young lady with magical abilities and the magical school she belongs to.

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I was given a copy of this book for review. It's cute, it's quick, it's a fun read. It's predictable, but it's middle grade, so that bothers me less. It's nice and nostalgic to be at a magic school not created by a raging bigot.

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*I received the ebook from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the opportunity*

This was such a wonderful, magical, middle grade fantasy! It was very nostalgic and reminded me of reading The Chronicles of Narnia and A Wrinkle in Time as a kid. I’m excited that this is the first book in a four book series, and I am looking forward to the next book. The magic was unique to the story, and the setting and the characters are quite memorable.

Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old girl, who learns she has magic when she crosses a magical boundary with little more than her clothes, some books from a friend, and a scaldron, a mini dragon who bakes like an oven. She finds a whole new world filled with mystery and wonder. To unearth more about her magic and her past, Ivy attends a magical boarding school, the Halls of Ivy in Croswald. There she begins her journey of self-discovery and meets some interesting characters along the way. She is such a refreshing protagonist, so witty and smart, and brave, and sweet.

All is not as it seems in Croswald, as there is a dark history and an evil Queen who threatens all that is good in world. Will Ivy be strong enough to face the darkness?

I highly recommend this book, which is perfect for all ages! A lovely magical world that you’ll want to live in.

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Calling all Potterheads this book is for you
So I got asked to read this I got the copy from Netgalley.

The first 2 chapters or so I found very messy was a big information dump and I think it could have been a little more seamless.

Shortly after though We get to a very harry potteresque chapter and I really started to get into it from then. The information started making more sense and who doesnt love harry potter vibes. Attending classes, learning new magic, other worldly creatures and some form of flying transportation. This is a book lovers heaven all the library action, just wait until you learn what a notical is. I want one.

Ivy is a lovely little character I didn't find her annoying or self righteous. She really felt like a first year, lost and in awe. This story contains the typical outcast plot line but I really enjoyed some new elements to the magical world. Different lesson plans and the theories behind those who can learn magic.

After a rocky start I definitely would rate this. 4/5 and after all this Im left with questions

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This book is simply adorable. It is perfect for the targeted age range. I love the amount of magic present. If you are a Harry Potter fan and like the feeling of being admirsed into a word full of beauty and magic then this is the book for you!

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“The one who guards this box guards the future of Croswald.”

A letter, a wooden box, a double moon, and a spell. As we experience Croswald with Ivy, she has no idea how important these four things are or that they even exist.

The Crowns of Croswald is a coming of age story filled with fantastical details like squadrons, Scrivenists and their Quills, Balding Hairies, royals, and sqwinches. Ivy grows up in a world that knows magic exists but she never imagined that she would ever be invited to study as a scrivenist at The Halls of Ivy. She had worked her way up from chambermaid to scaldrony maid, but a Scrivenist? Her, a sqwinch? From the moment she steps on the cabby for life beyond the slurry fields, Ivy is on a journey of self-discovery and adventure beyond her wildest dreams. Unfortunately, the Dark Queen has also been waiting for this day. Life in Croswald may never be the same for anyone!

I received this book for review from NetGalley and it was a joy to read! This is a book written for middle grade readers and D.E. Night does a great job designing a magical world that includes new and fun details (like the fact that Derwin’s initials were D.E.N. like the author’s) as well as familiar elements for fantasy readers such as dwarves and dragons.

The Halls of Ivy certainly pays homage to Hogwarts in both description and function, including living portraits, resident ghosts, fantastical beasts, and idiosyncratic instructors. Like Harry Potter, Ivy needs to learn about a whole new world and her place in it even as she navigates social scenes and works to determine who to trust, especially among the adults.

From the first chapter, it was clear that Ivy’s story and The Crowns of Croswald would have a lot in common with Harry Potter, but I also found the story reminding me of The Looking Glass Wars version of Alice in Wonderland with a little bit of Little Princess mixed in. There were enough independent elements and comparisons to other stories, that I thought it would be great for Text-to-Text comparisons with middle school students.

I did have some difficulty connecting the prologue to the story for quite a while, but at the end it was such a strong connection that I went back and reread the prologue to see what I had missed. I am not much of a re-reader, but I wanted to this time - a sign that I definitely liked the story enough to put all the pieces together better.

One piece that stood out to me as a little odd, though it could have been part of the forgetting spell, was that Ivy never really thought about her parents. That seemed odd to me for an adolescent, but it did not take away from the story or connecting with Ivy as a main character.

The Crowns of Croswald was published for middle grades and that makes sense. I enjoyed this story and would give it 4 stars for a middle grade read. The descriptions and interactions do not have a lot of depth. I felt no depth with any of the adult characters especially, though that may have been intentional to keep the focus on the adolescents - or, perhaps that was related to the forgetfulness of the forgetting spell. I look forward to seeing how everything is flushed out more in the rest of the series!

Where do the Selector’s loyalties lie? What will the next battle with the Dark Queen look like? I can’t wait to find out!

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I will start my review of this book by saying that I am a proud mom to two little boys who, while still very young, love books. And, as a mom, I feel it is my responsibility to start building a library filled with books for them to enjoy as they grow. That is where The Crowns of Croswald comes into play. I was given an ebook in exchange for my honest review and I jumped up at the opportunity because this middle grade book seemed like something I might want to include in the library I am building for my boys.

I loved this book!!. The story was very whimsy and creative. The setting was magical, and I really enjoyed learning about the school and all the creatures introduced. I was really impressed with the world building. Also, the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were just lovely and added to the magic of the story.

There were a few times that I struggled with Ivy, our main character. Mostly, I felt her actions were that of someone younger than 16. But, I think that left room for more character growth in the upcoming books, which I most definitely will pick up.

Overall, I think this is a great start to a wonderful series that would be a great introduction for young readers to the fantasy genre. I cannot wait for my boys to give it a go in a few years!

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Thankyou to Netgalley, D.E Night for the opportunity to read this book and Daniela who ask me if I would like to read this book via my Instagram account.

If you like young fantasy, you will probably will like this book. I love the content of the book and found it written creatively, especially the mini dragons who baked goodies inside their mouths, but sadly it wasn't a book for me. I found it slightly hard to understand the magical side of the book with some of the words used. As this is my own opinion on the book I however, would still recommend this book to read.

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Overview:
For the last 16 years, Ivy Lovely has been hidden from the magical world... Until one day, she finally breaks free of her miserable life as a scullery maid and crosses the enchanted boundary, causing her powers to awaken. Ivy suddenly finds herself whisked away to attend the Halls of Ivy, where students learn to master the magic in their blood or the powerful gems of Croswald they've inherited. But while Ivy attempts to discover who she is and carve a place for herself, someone else is also desperate to find her... The Dark Queen. Faced with an impossible choice, Ivy will have to look within in order to save herself and all of Croswald.

Review:
This was honestly such a cute story - I love a good magical school setting! Several aspects were quite nostalgic, including Ivy shopping for supplies, exploring around the school, discovering magic and meeting magical creatures. That being said, the world itself remains unique and the magic both fantastic and imaginative. I particularly love the idea of glanageries - bottled up adventures imagined by the creator that can be "lived" by others! Sometimes I found the flow/pacing to be a bit choppy and the events a little predictable but these are minor complaints. My younger self would have adored this (my older self quite likes it too!) and I highly recommend it to readers in the middle grade age range, who both love fantasy or are looking to discover it.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

A huge thanks to the author D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for the e-copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a fantastical and whimsical adventure, ending with the promise of several more to come.

I flew through this book and loved everything about it!

Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old scaldonry maid at Castle Plum, on the other side of a magical boundary. Her only friend is a dwarf called Rimback, who brings her books and stories of the world beyond Castle Plum. And then her entire world is turned upside down when he tells her she has magic, and should be at the Halls of Ivy, a magical school for Royals and Scriveners she has been dreaming of her whole life. When she leaves the grounds, her magic is no longer suppressed and she begins to learn more about her magic - and her history.

But that's not the only secret Rimbeck was keeping from her, and it seems like there are others who know them too. Secrets that the Dark Queen might know, and with her drawing closer Ivy's very life might be at stake.

This everything I wanted in a book about magic, magic powers, magic school, and the forces of evil when I was younger and I enjoyed it just as much as a 25 year old.

The story was intriguing and original, despite the premise of unknown magic and a magical school being a common one. Ivy, Rebecca, Flyn, and Winsome already hold a place in my heart, and I can't wait to read the sequels!

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Such a fun read with adventure and mystery and some Harry Potter vibes. The imagery was so clear and I had me wishing I had been able to go to a boarding school to explore and have fun like these kids did! Definitely recommend this one if you love HP stories and YA fantasy.

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I have spent the last few days roaming the halls of a delightful magical school with a lovely girl (pun intended), Ivy Lovely.

In The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night, Ivy Lovely’s future changes drastically when she unexpectedly goes to the Halls of Ivy magic school and starts to unearth who she is and what exactly she is capable of, while also trying to solve a mystery at the same time. Someone is reaching out to Ivy and it seems like strange happenings follow her wherever she goes, are the two connected?

Along the way wonderful friendships blossom and you find yourself rooting for the main character every step of the way. If you like a whimsical and magical school setting with characters that make you smile and warm your heart, you would love this book!

Thank you kindly to the publishers at @storiesuntoldpress and the author @author.denight for reaching out and sending me a copy of the e-book to review for free.

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*Thank you to the publishers and Netgelley for an e-Arc of this book for a honest review*

The crowns of croswald is a middle grade fantasy novel. D. E. Night is a Author to me, her writing is beautifully written.

I really enjoyed the magical aspect of the book and loved all the characters.
I also liked the books world building and magic system.

I would recommend this book to fans of Harry Potter.
I am looking forward to reading to next book in the series.

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I received a request to review this book and was happy to check it out as it's so far from my normal genre. I'm probably the only person on the planet who hasn't read Harry Potter because I just can't get into magical realms. I'm a realist I guess. But I wanted to give this book a solid try and I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed Ivy's tale of finding her destiny, the journey from the slurry fields to the prestigious school for scrivenists and royals. The friends Ivy made and the mishaps that befall her are all surrounded by the mystery of who she really is and what her recurring dream means. While I have a hard time picturing magical things (so sad), I thought the storyline and plot were well executed anti was a fun read.

Many thanks to Stories Untold and D.E. Night for the arc, I truly enjoyed it!

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Scaldrons (dragons), hairies (fairies), and other magical creatures abound in this magical, whimsical fantasy! The world building was fantastic and the magic system was clever and unique! Ivy is a strong, brave, and sassy heroine, and I was rooting for her the whole time! I also absolutely adored Fyn and his and Ivy’s banter! This enchanting book took me on such a delightful adventure and had just the right amount of mystery and intrigue! Even though it’s geared toward middle grade readers, this is a wonderfully entertaining story the whole family can enjoy!

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With her Scrivenists, Royals, Hairies, Dark Queens, and more, D.E. Night creates a vivid and *lovely* twist into a wide and magical world. The journey and mystery intertwining Ivy and Derwin's history is compelling and each piece of information keeps you asking questions on how it all connects (and boy, do we all feel Ivy's frustration when her questions don't get answered).

Host to a wide array of diverse creatures, characters, and locations, The Crown of Croswald allows readers to dive deep into Ivy's story, and to explore this world's many quirks as she does. Using my imagination to what may exist far beyond the limits of the page, I personally love a book that can lay the foundation for a magical world, but still leave room for the reader to grow, and gain knowledge, alongside it. I look forward to the development of Ivy's character, and her relationships with her fellow students, mentors, enemies, magical creatures and the world beyond.

For the kid who thinks drawing can be its own form of magic, who loves to read fairy tales, who wants to be a prince/princess and a wizard/witch, or who thinks all of the above, this story will definitely be a favorite!

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This was a fun middle grade fantasy book! I think that readers of all ages would enjoy it. Elements of the story reminded me of Harry Potter and Cinderella. Lovers of magic, mystery, and princesses would definitely like this book. This is the first in a series, and I'm excited to see what happens to the characters. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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**I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**

As a fan of the Harry Potter books I was immediately sucked in. There’s definitely the same chosen one magical vibe. The world building and detailed descriptions made it so easy to imagine each scene. I need the next book ASAP!

I would recommend this to those who enjoy middle grade fantasy like Harry Potter or Nevermoor.

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Fantasy is not my cup of tea and yet i found this story very entertaining.

The characters were intriguing and the plot kept me hooked

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TW/CW: loss of a loved one, bullying

The Crowns of Croswald is a young adult fantasy novel centered around Ivy Lovey, a maid with dreams of becoming a scrivenist. We follow Ivy’s story as her life unexpectedly gets turned upside down. I really liked this book, and found myself to be very invested in the story. I’m not much of a fantasy reader, so I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy this novel as much as I did. Night did an excellent job with their world building which I find is one of the main problems fantasy novelists face. Night slowly unravelled aspects of the magic system and the world rather than giving the reader chapters of exposition. The Crowns of Croswald would have received a four star ranking if it wasn’t for the writing style and most specifically the dialogue between characters. The dialogue was often clunky and sometimes felt unrealistic in a way that would take me out of the story. Because I am not a fantasy reader, I cannot speak to the originality of the story. I recommend this book to fans of the movies Anastasia and Return to Halloweentown. Rating: 3.5/5

*Note: I was given this book to review from Netgalley and Stories Untold

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I received this book for free from the publisher Stories Untold in exchange for an honest review.
This story is about a girl Ivy Lovely she has no idea what her power could be. But one day she enters into a new magical world that is full of mystery. Ivy attends a magical school to learn more about her magical power. She also starts to discover more about her past…

What I loved about the book was the fantasy world. The worldbuilding is amazing, the description of the school seems to me like truly exists. I can imagine all these things and they make me feel like a student. It is one of the most interesting book's world I have ever read about.

I also appreciate the small illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They were so stunning and added a magic spark to this story. The characters were very nice my favorite is Rebecca.

Only one thing I can reproach that was the slow beginning of the book. It took me a while to got through the first chapters, then everything got better and I couldn´t put the book down.
In closing, I want to recommend this book to everyone who likes Harry Potter, Nevermore: Morrigan Crow, or Keeper of Lost Cities.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy novel that gave me Harry Potter vibes. The story follows Ivy who is 16 years old and is unsure of who she is and where she belongs. She is inquisitive, curious, stubborn, and finds herself getting into precarious situations, just like Harry. When Ivy accidentally finds herself in a world that seems out of her imagination she is on her greatest adventure yet. With pulse pounding action, magic, dragons, and a charming main character. Will Ivy be able to hone in on her new found magic and meet her destiny? Or will the history of evil and the evil Queen prevail and keep her reign of evil? I was brought into Ivy's magical world. The author does a great job building the story and characters, and has just enough mystery and suspense to keep you turning pages to find out what happens next. As a kid I really enjoyed Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia series, and fans of those series will definitely love this debut as well.

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This book was good! I usually am not a huge fantasy fan, but did enjoy this one. The way the author was able to talk about the setting/creatures etc., really helped to build a picture in your mind. I also liked the pictures before each chapter to help reinforce your own imagination. It has similar vibes to Harry Potter, so if you are a fan of Harry Potter, this book would be a good one to choose! I will definitely recommend this book to middle grade readers.

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Derwin is sent to a royal family and his excited for what he will find, he dreams of a gigantic library to organize and lose himself on reading. But something terribly wrong happened and he must find a way to save and change the history. I enjoyed the writing in the book I felt that the story is very compelling and fast pace.
This book evolves around Ivi lovely, she is alone works at the kitchens and draws on her free times, at her birthday she receives a letter that takes her to a magic school to become a scrivener. Ivi starts to see hope on her future, but strange things always happen to her and she must find a way to discover why.
This book gave me very warm and nostalgic feelings I loved ivi and her strength, between funny and dangerous situations she finds true friendships and fights to uncover her unknown past.

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Ivy pulls us into her magical world from the first chapter. There is a good balance of world-building and action in the beginning of the book, and it does not take long for Ivy to be kicked out of her miserable life of servitude and taken to a magic school. Details and strange events give clues about her important powers and the important role she will play in the book.

The books seems unsure about whether it is middle grade or YA (the main character is 16, which means it is YA, but the tone, content, and readability are more appropriate for the middle grade crowd). However, for middle grade readers, it will be difficult to keep track of the world-specific vocabulary and characters. A few parts seemed rushed--why wouldn't Ivy rush to meet with Winsome after returning from her adventure in the Loch-and other, mundane parts drag (like the lunch scene with ghosts). That said, the story is fun and magical, with a great sense of adventure. Fans of Harry Potter will notice LOTS of similarities (from the plot to characters) but there is fresh, creative originality here too. I think the book will appeal to younger fans of magical fantasy fiction and there are others in the series for readers who wish to continue the adventure with Ivy.

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

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Ivy Lovely works as a scaldrony maid managing the fire breathing cookers for the House of Plum. She day dreams of one day becoming a scrivenist and attending the Halls of Ivy, the renowned school of magic. Unfortunately, Ivy possesses no magical blood nor is she part of the royal family: the only two ways of which you are chosen to attend. Ivy's luck suddenly changes though during the Moonsday festivities when a sick squaldron gets her thrown out of the castle. Finally away from the magic shielding slurry fields Ivy is found by Lionel Lugg, who delivers Ivy an official invitation from The Selector of the Halls of Ivy. Once at the school, Ivy realizes there are many truths she doesn't yet know and she is more magic than she could have ever imagined. This is a story about the quest for truth, the use of magic, and the love of friendship and family.

I received this ARC from StoriesUntoldPress in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in a four book series and I have to say it has quite a Harry Potter type of feel to it. The descriptions are unique and the world is very original. I enjoyed the descriptions and names of the places and people. The characters are likeable, and the action and language is appropriate for middle grade children. 3.5/4 🌟

#thecrownsofcroswald
#NetGalley

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Thank you to the author for letting me read and review your book!
This is a mesmerising story about a girl named Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid who gets summoned to a magical school which she’s only ever seen before in her dreams. There, she will learn more about who she is and why she is there.
I really enjoyed reading this book as it isn’t a genre I would normally choose!
Both the characters and the setting were described in so much detail that it made you imagine you were there, and the story telling was incredibly imaginative!
This book is perfect for anyone who wants to try reading fantasy for the first time!
Overall, I’d give this book 4 out of 5 stars!

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I was contacted by an agent to read this and honestly was apprehensive as the book was described as middle grade.

I am so happy to have been proven wrong- I loved it!

This is a fantasy following Ivy as she discovers she is a  Scrivenist and starts at a magical school to learn to harness her powers. More mystery is revealed about Ivy and her background as the story goes on.

The magical world created was breath taking, there were so many elements squeezed in and the story was entirely captivating! I'm envious of the imagination it takes to write something like this.

I've seen some comparisons on GoodReads to Harry Potter, honestly having read both I wouldn't say they were that similar and I think any book written about a magical school would draw the same comparison!

Also I really want to shout out Humbolt- he's Ivy's little pet, a scaldron dragon. The Book explains these dragons are bred to be flightless and used as ovens to cook things. They sound adorable and I really want a Humbolt!

Really recommend this book, a joy to read.

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A good 5-star read! (I only give this if I really enjoy the book so much)

This is an enjoyable and enchanting read on a magical world. It felt the same vibe as Harry Potter but was still different. I think that I'd still pick up the next books on this trilogy when I have spare time.

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So so soooo good. I feel in love with this book. Wow I really love everything thanks for the chance guys to read it

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As a well known Potterhead, I'm always on the look out for a new magical, fantasy read and so was delighted to be invited to review this by Stories Untold Press through Netgalley.

I loved the first one that much that I immediately downloaded books 2 and 3 as I just had to read more!! I haven't even stopped to review each one as they are INCREDIBLY good!!! So much so that I've literally just finished reading book 3 tonight and I'm like 'Noooooo!! How can it end like THAT?!'

D. E. Night has skilfully created such an imaginative, magical world. I wanted to be right there inside the Halls with Ivy Lovely (the main character who is immediately likeable) and the rest of the QQC as they learnt how to wield a quill. There were so many new elements to magic introduced that I've never read anywhere else before and I so enjoyed building it all in my mind's eye.

I think what I liked the most was that D.E.Night herself was present in the story - albeit in the form of a royal scrivenest...it just added to the appeal of the world inside the book.

I would highly recommend this if you're looking for a new magical adventure!

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“Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is—or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?”

I want to say a big thank you to @storiesuntoldpress for giving me a copy of this book! I liked it more than expected!

This book is full of magic and takes you to a whole other world. The writing style is whimsical but also very smooth. I liked that the chapters were quite short as I always dread long and too descriptive ones.

The character of Ivy is charming right from the start and it makes you want to follow her through her journey, one we know we’ll be full of adventures!
The friends she makes along the way all have an important and specific role and bring a new energy to this fantastic world.

This book took me back to this feeling I had when first reading the Harry Potter books. It made me crave for more and made me want to be a part of it✨

If you are a fan of books about magic, friendships, strong characters and wonderful creatures, I recommend you pick up The Crowns of Croswald✨

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The Crowns of Croswald is a fantastical and magical story that will keep you entrapped in hours of entertainment. I couldn't help but imagine that Harry Potter was an inspiration for this book, but that would be the normal thinking when you mix kids, magic, and a magic academy.

If you like magic, schools, and are looking for an alternative to the infamous HP, this is the perfect story. I love how the author used different elements to create a whimsical environment of light fairies in light lamps and scaldrons (dragons that work in kitchens), and magical quills that will take you to magical places. The world-building is incredible and grows as you keep reading!

The cover of the book is simply stunning and it is what captured me! Also, as with any book for middle graders or children, the illustrations in the book (at the beginning of the chapters) were really nice and helps you imagine the story. Nice Read and totally recommend it!

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Wow! What a creative story. The story of a young girl that goes from basically living in the dungeons as a slave to living out a dream! I typically don’t read fantasy stories but I am so glad I picked this one up! It kept me on my toes throughout and now I’m just dying to read the rest of the series. As a teacher, I am adding this to my classroom library ASAP!

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my exclusively my own.

This was a beautiful and whimsical middle grade novel that I loved. I really enjoyed being emersed in the world as it was built so well. The main character Ivy was so well written and I can’t wait to see where her story goes.

This book gave me all the Harry Potter and Nevermoor feels, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

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Ivy Lovely believes that she is a mere scullery maid from Plum Castle. She spends her days making bread with the scadrons and seeing her only friend, Rimbrick the dwarf. Her life had not changed much in the sixteen years living there in the slurry fields. Until one day her friend the dwarf, gifts her books by D.E. Night and she is forced to run from her home. Ivy Lovely did not know that those slurry fields had been hiding her from the wider world all her life.

She ends up taking a journey to the capital and enrolling in the school to become a Scrivenist. Where mysteries abound, friends are made and miraculous magics are learnt. She explores the school with her transforming friend Rebecca and the help of her mentor Winsome, all to discover the mystery of D.E. Night.

I loved the level of detail in this book and how everything tied in together. The world building is so whimsical and imaginative. I love the idea of a book filling up with everything a person has learnt and discovered in their life, and eventually bound at their death.

I’m excited to see what happens next in Ivy Lovely’s adventure and her fight against the dark queen.

Thank you to Stories Untold and Netgalley for the copy of this book.

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Thank you to the publishing company for allowing me to take part in the journey of young Ivy. I was instantly thrown into this magical world. It has a familiar feel as it reminds me of a few fantasy books I've read although it definately stands on its own. If I had been given this book as a child I would have been over the moon.

The story is very imaginative and playful, perfect for the young reader. The descriptions were creative and made learning about the world, the school, the characters fun and exciting.

It has a bit of a Harry Potter vibe to it and the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter added to the story in a great way. The story is about Ivy, a young girl who gets thrown out in the world where all the magic starts to happen. You have the boarding school of magic, wonderful magical creatures and an adventurous storyline.

I would definately recommend this story to young readers out there. I am personally curious about what happens in the following books as it is number one in a series.

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This novel is the first book in 'The Croswald Series", it is a middle-grade fantasy novel that takes place in the magical world of Croswald. The protagonist is a girl named Ivy, who is a simple kitchen-maid living among greater magical beings. Everything changes for Ivy on her sixteenth birthday, Ivy is forced to leave the only home she knows and soon becomes aware that she is of magical blood. Ivy travels to the Halls of Ivy, where she will learn to master her magic and learn a few things about herself and the family she never knew.

Excerpt from the novel: "For the first time in her life, she truly felt like a princess. Yes, Ivy: the same girl who spent her days below the grimy ground that royals walked upon. Rather than mingling scaldrons, Ivy would soon be mingling with royals and soon-t0-be srivenists. Standing in front of that mirror, Ivy felt more alive than ever before. She hadn't smiled like this in a very long time."

This novel is my first read from the author D.E. Night. This book definitely captured my attention from the start! Night did a great job with the imagery surrounding the magical creatures like hairies, and scaldrons. I loved the idea that descendants of royal families were entrusted with a bejeweled crown as a conduit of their power, and each and every stone was a source of a different magical wielding.

Ivy's character was well established, I loved her curiosity and her adventurous nature. I quickly fell in love with her character! The secondary characters (Ivy's friends: Rebecca and Fyn) were slightly less defined. I felt their personalities lacking and I would have liked to understand them better. They sort of had a mysterious air that, in my opinion, didn't appeal to the overall friendship Night was trying to create.

There were a few tropes that were similar to other popular titles such as the rags to riches trope like Cinderella. One aspect that I am critical about is how closely it related to Harry Potter, I LOVED Harry Potter, I think it was one of the best YA fantasy series ever written. This novel was extremely comparable to HP. I don't mind the similarities, but I found some parts to be so similar that I started to picture the scenes from HP rather than the creative world of Croswald. For example, I would picture Ivy walking around Hogwarts rather than the Halls of Ivy.

I would rate this book 3.5 stars. The ending had me wanting more! I would definitely pick up the next 2 books in the series.

This book was gifted to me on Netgalley on behalf of the author D.E. Night for my honest review.

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My thoughts



Narrative and Plot


I have only recently started reading middle grade fantasies and let me take this moment to let you all know what an absolute delight it has been so far. The overall theme in these novels is the sense of wonder and The Crowns of Croswald was no different. The wild and creative magical worlds with endless possibilities and adventure is what I am looking forward to reading in a middle grade fantasy. This one exactly had that tone with elaborate world building and mystery.


The plot was the one low point in the whole scheme of things though. It was supposed to be woven into this tangled tale of mystery. However, things seemed a little bit muddled here and there. The ending is predictable to the point that I hoped it would be some kind of red herring. However, it does not take away the entertainment value of the book. It is still quite enjoyable. These are really minute details if one wants to be nitpicky.




Characters and Conflicts



Ivy Lovely is an inquisitive child as children should be. She has never shied away from an adventure and that makes her a character you can route for. However, actions do have consequences. Often Ivy seemed to act despite being warned about the consequences. One would think she would be careful knowing the risks but she isn't. And then she comes out unscathed on the other side for the most part. She seemed to never learn from her impulsive decisions and somehow managed to get everything back in order despite a few delicate consequences.



The conflict in the story was well masked in the beginning. The ending however, was predictable enough as mentioned earlier. The ensemble of cast was delightful to read. Rebecca and Fyn in particular. Their friendship had the innocence and tenderness of the age. However, some characters randomly disappeared and never came back. Hopefully we get to see them in the next book.




Conclusion


Overall , The Crowns of Croswald was a jolly one time read for me. If middle grade fantasies are your thing, give it a go. You might end up adding the sequels to your reading list, after all , like me.

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I have just finished reading this book and enjoyed it a lot, it is a very magical story with a great female main character. There are nice long chapters and as the story unfolds it gets more and more exciting. I couldn't put it down, I cannot wait to read the next book

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In the genre of fantasy, it’s difficult to find a world that is really unique, but Croswald is. I do agree with other reviewers that it’s like Harry Potter in that it’s about a magic school, and a young person discovering their abilities and their place in this new magic world. However, the way magic works in Croswald is very different and very intriguing. I love the quills and I think it’s interesting how the royals aren’t born with magic but sqwinches are, and that kind of puts them on the same playing field (instead of the royals “ruling” the school). I still don’t understand all of how the magic works in this world, but look forward to figuring it out in future books!

This book is very fast-pasted, which keeps it interesting but sometimes I wish we could slow down a bit to connect more with some of the side characters like Fyn and Rebecca (when things aren’t crazy 😅). I like Ivy as a character: she’s that typical curious, rebellious girl and easy to relate to, but she does seem to act younger than 16 at times.

Overall, the world is amazing and you can tell the author knows every little detail about it and how it works and I can’t wait to learn more about it! The way all the little hints come together for the conclusion is epic. My biggest critique is that sometimes I wish things were explained a bit clearer. There were quite a few things I had a difficult time picturing and sometimes the pace or POV changed really fast. (For example, I cannot figure out how big Humboldt is! His mouth is big enough to fit a tray of cakes but his body is small enough to fit in a cage Ivy can carry 😳?) But, I’d still love to read the second one and will likely finish the series (4th and final book was just announced)!

Side note: There is the coolest book merch stuff on the authors website and I want it all!!! Website linked in author’s bio. (I’m saying this on my own accord - just think the stuff is awesome and I can imagine how much fun it would be if I was younger to get all this stuff and feel like I’m part of the world!)

Thank you so much to @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for a free review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ☺️.

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This book is great for anyone who has ever wanted to dwell into a magical world, if you're a reader or a writer this story is for you. It's a middle grade fantasy that throws the reader into a different type of fantasy world and a magical school. Which I am sure many of us have read these stories of the protagonist being tossed into a new world, in this story our main character; Ivy, has both grown up in this world, but is also learning about a lot of things along with the readers.
I was really interested in the story's concept of magic. At first I thought it was just so cool that the scrivenist magic was a concept as well as the royal's and their magical stones imbued into their crowns. As it helped give off two different types of magic which made me think of some anime's I've seen where there's different types of magic whether by instruments or innate. Which again, cool.
Also the mystery / Ivy trying to figure out who the man in her dreams and drawings was was pretty cool as it gave a bit of intrigue.
I think that the character names were kind of all over the place, some were pretty whimsical, while others were very normal i.e. Rebecca (whom I liked from the get-go don't get me wrong, she's cool!) it just seemed a bit odd to me sometimes is all.
I didn't LOVE some of the world-specific things every time. I found myself a little confused at times with the creatures and little things like that.
All of this being said, I will have a more detailed review in my blog where I dwell deeper into my overall thoughts on this book.

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I haven't read a book like this in years (probably since the Harry Potter books were released) so I was excited to try something a bit different when offered a free ecopy by the publisher (via NetGalley.)

This book was absolutely brimming with brilliant mythical creatures and a magical world that immerses the reader from the very start. I was slightly confused at first and really wanted to know what a scrivenist was but i found it was unveiled as I kept reading!

The story starts when the main character, a young sixteen year old girl called Ivy manages to escape from her extremely dull, miserable life as a scaldrony maid (where she is forced to prepare meals with the help of small wingless dragons). She is led on a journey culminating at a magical boarding school full of royals and scrivenists which she is suddenly allowed to attend. Ivy has no idea about her past or that she is magical but during her first year she begins to slowly uncover the mysteries surrounding her life. Her road to discovery lead her into many dangerous situations which culminate with the forces of the Dark Queen.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely like to find out what happens to Ivy and her school friends in the rest of this series.The author has such a great imagination and the level of detail to describe each event in the magical world was impressive. There are also great little illustrations at the beginning of each chapter.

I can imagine my daughter reading and enjoying this in a few years time. I would recommend this to young people that enjoy stories of fantasy and magic with an intriguing and exciting plot. A great debut novel. Thank you to NetGalley, Stories Untold and D.E Night for this ecopy.

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Ivy Lovely grew up as a scaldrony maid in Castle Plum. She was treated poorly for sixteen long years until the time she found out that she possessed magic inside of her and was invited to the Hall of Ivy where she would learn about the magical gems in Croswald found in the crowns of royals and the magic, photographic memory and extraordinary skills of scrivenists.

I was given an access to this book by @deknight @storiesuntoldpress in @netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

While reading the prologue, I found myself not quite into the story as there were terms used that were not defined for a reader who is new to the world of Croswald. The prologue felt long and dragging for me. However, when chapter 1 began, everything made sense and I found myself enjoying Ivy’s journey to discover who she really was. I found joy in Ivy’s character; she was kind, independent, intelligent young lady. Her character developed and unfolded slowly and beautifully. Ivy Lovely was consistent throughout the entire story which made The Crowns of Croswald an enjoyable read for me.

I also have to mention the love interest that was included in the story. It was not forced in any way that made the inclusion of it uncomfortable. In fact, it brought butterflies to my stomach, made me look forward to Ivy’s scenes with Fyn and would love to know what happened to them after the first book installment.

The Crowns of Croswald reminds me pretty much of the phenomenal world of Harry Potter but it has its own charms that will make a reader find the pleasure in reading the story. It was an easy read but a worthwhile one.

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This is the fist book of a four-part series.
It has a lot of Harry Potter vibes (which I love), but still feels very unique! The world the author created is so magical, and almost felt as if I was there! Her way of describing each place and event is so detailed I could totally picture everything in my head.
The story is amazing, and though it sometimes has predictable plotwists, it provoked me some huge surprises! It’s a light story, and easy to read!
As for the characters, Ivy is a great protagonist; she’s strong, determined and curious (and a little stubborn 😅), and has a lot of potential. I would like to see more of the side characters in the next books and explore more about their abilities 🤩
I really enjoyed this book, the story, this magical world and the characters!

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I am ten years old and I received this book for free from Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for giving me the opportunity to enjoy this book.

The Crowns of Croswald was written by D.E. Night, it is the first book in the series with a 4th book coming out soon.

Have you ever wondered what it's like to have magic? Well, that's what 16-year-old, Ivy Lovely is about to find out. Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid in the slurry fields of Castle Plum. One day she discovers she has magic and enters the Halls of Ivy, a school for magic. Once there she makes friends, breaks rules, and uncovers the mystery surrounding her parents, and more importantly, who her ancestors are.

This book was a good read for me because I really enjoy fantasy books. The book transports you into a magical realm that the author created. The backstories of the characters were great, matching the personalities of the characters perfectly. The only negative comment I have is that I didn't particularly enjoy some of the awkward dialogue between crushes, but that’s probably because I’m only 10-years-old.

I think that if you enjoy fantasies with magic, dragons, adventure, and mystery, then you would enjoy The Crowns of Croswald. It’s a great book for young readers and reminds me of the Harry Potter series.

I’m using the standard star rating for this book (out of 5), and for The Crowns of Croswald my rating is 4 1/2 stars, but I’m rounding up to five stars.

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All 16-year-old Ivy Lovely knew of her past was that she grew up as an orphaned maid serving one of the royal families of Croswald at Castle Plum, and her closest friend is a dwarf named Rimbrick. After an incident with a scaldron (domesticated dragons who cook food), Ivy was thrown out of Castle Plum where she was then promptly picked up by the Halls of Ivy’s travelling admissions office. Surprised to be told that she has magic in her, Ivy soon began her training at the prestigious Halls of Ivy, where royals and sqwinches (non-royals with magic) learn to harness their magic. But strange things keep happening to Ivy, leaving her bewildered and hungering for the truth. Who is she really? Why do the Halls keep calling out to her? And who is the mysterious man she’s been seeing in her dreams?

This is book 1 of a middle grade fantasy series by D.E. Night that is packed full of adventure, mystery, and magic. Ivy is a rather headstrong girl who does not shy away from challenges. She grew up in an unpleasant environment as a scaldrony maid but that only made her stronger. I love the solid friendship she has with Rebecca and Fyn, who despite their initial reluctance to break school rules, still stood by Ivy till the very end. And also, the mentorship from Winsome Monocle!

I had a lot of questions when I first started reading and there were a number of unfamiliar terms that had me scratching my head trying to decipher their meaning. Like exactly what is a scrivenist? Although as you progress along in the novel you’ll slowly piece things together, a glossary might be a helpful reference for readers.

Reading this book is like embarking on a magical adventure in the world of Croswald, uncovering a mysterious hidden past and going up against the Dark Queen. If you enjoy Harry Potter, you’ll probably like this series as well! Although this is a middle grade book, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult, and it had me curious as to what’s next in book 2!

Thank you D.E. Night, her publicist Daniela, and Stories Untold Press for the e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Disclaimer: I was gifted an ebook edition by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

3.8/4 out of 5 stars

Middle grade fantasy, whilst something I love is not necessarily my usual genre being an adult. It is however something I’ve grown up with and something I enjoy giving a chance to.

Without giving too much away, The Crown of Croswald is set in the magical world of Croswald with Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid as our protagonist. Ivy dreams of going to ‘magic school’ to become a scrivenist but works as a lowly kitchen maid. One day her wish comes true when she is unceremoniously thrown out of her home and job, and finds herself being picked up by a mysterious person in a cab. When she arrives at school, everything that could go wrong does, and she finds herself stuck in the middle of the book’s main mystery; who is Derwin Edgar Night and what is it do with Ivy?

As the plot unfolds so does the intrigue and this becomes almost unputtdownable. Whilst the first half of the book is a bit slower (not very when compared to adult fantasy) and focuses on world building, the second throws down the action and adventure of mystery solving before ending in a dramatic finale (as all good books should).

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a series, with book 4 currently in the pipeline. It reminds me a lot of Enid Blyton, Jill Murphy’s The Worst Witch with more than a hint of Harry Potter. Like the aforementioned titles, the characters are mischievous rule breakers and I’m looking forward to seeing what becomes of them and how they grow in the later books. Other similarities come in the form of the fantastical world around them which is full of brilliantly magical creations, creatures and places from the mind of D.E. Night.

Whilst it’s a nice, quick, easy read and a bit of fun for an adult like myself, it’s an easy recommendation for the younger reader who may enjoy the works of Enid Blyton and the Harry Potter series.

Many thanks to Stories Untold Publishing for the review copy!

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This book was a perfect middle grade fantasy story filled with magic and adventure! Ivy Lovely, the main character (who is simply charming and lovable), is a 16 year old dragon working as a scaldrony maid who has dreams of being a scrivenist and going to the revered Halls of Ivy school. Her work as a scaldrony maid leaves her in a windowless space so she doesn’t know how she can possibly make her dream happen. But, one day she gets thrown out with no job, no home and no money. But, out of nowhere she gets picked up by a cabby who has been looking for her to take her to the Halls of Ivy as she has received an invitation to attend. Once at the school, strange things start to happen but Ivy doesn’t shrink back and meets lots of interesting characters along the way. The writing made the story so visual to me so I can only imagine the fun a middle grader would have with this imaginative series.

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This book is first in the series and follows a girl called Ivy she is a scaldrony maid working at place called castle plum and her life takes an unexpected turn and we follow her to be immersed in a magical world.🧙

I loved all the characters and Ivy is a fantastic main protagonist she is strong minded and smart.
The story was slow starting but once we got into the magical and fantasy elements it is fast paced.

Throughly enjoyed this read and can’t wait to see how this book progresses and to continue this magical journey with Ivy and all the characters !! ✨

Highly recommended!! Especially if your a fan of the Harry Potter world 🧙

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I was contacted by the authors publicist and was given a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old girl who was a scaldron maid until very recently, who then gets enrolled in a magical school for scrivenists and royalty where she learns more about herself, her magic, her past and her family.
I know as a teenager I would have adored this book! It's full of magic, whimsy and of course magical creatures, Humboldt is definitely my favourite!
It's a very easy read, perfect for teens and those who are wanting to get into fantasy books. I also loved the little illustrations at the beginning of each chapter!

Overall rating - 4 ⭐

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3.5 Stars

Going into this book, I was expecting a magical middle grade coming-of-age story and I definitely wasn’t disappointed! This book was so whimsical and easy to like, the different names and terms (Scaldragons, hairies and squinches, to name a few) had me smiling the entire time I was reading this!

This book was definitely easy to get into, with the magical world building being in the forefront throughout, making this a very whimsical read. Our main character Ivy was easy to love and I thought her friendship with Rebecca and also Fyn was adorable!

The only issue I have with this book is that I thought that it was slightly cliche and predictable in some places. There are definitely similarities to Harry Potter in the magical schooling element of the book as well as also being fairly predictable in the ‘lost royal’ storyline. For this reason, I would definitely say that this is a great lead for any younger readers who may not be so frustrated by predictable storylines, or in general anyone who is a fan of middle grade fantasy!

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First, I really enjoyed the magical setup here. The slurry that keeps magic at bay, so Ivy never knew she was magical until she left the slurry.
Secondly, I liked the setup of the school. Of course, this gets compared to Harry Potter. And it does have similarities. But how could you not being a magical school? Everything else is its own and original. I enjoyed the descriptions of the different types of creatures and beings. It felt like a solid sense of place.

The one thing I wish had been different is Ivy's age. She's 16, but the book feels VERY rooted in middle grade. If she had been 12, I think it would have been a better suited age for the type of story Night was trying to tell. Being a first year, new, her innocence. It all felt very young, without Ivy actually being young.

Other than that, I enjoyed this a lot!

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Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid, lives a life of drudgery and isolation. The castle she serves is surrounded by slurry trees whose property dims magical powers. Once she is fired and crosses the slurry boundary, Ivy is whisked away to magic school to harness the powers she never knew she had. Ivy’s life takes a turn for the better however, the kingdom of Croswald, takes a turn for the worse; ruled over by the Dark Queen who threatens all that is good.

D.E.Night’s middle grade fantasy series is packed full of magic and adventure, the perfect entry read into the fantasy genre for pre-teens. The protagonist’s name, Ivy Lovely encapsulates the mood of this novel – whimsical. From the very first chapter, we are introduced to the scaldrons – dragons who act as ovens to cook meals for the lords and ladies of the castle – these quirky little dragons made me feel a pang of nostalgia for the quirky fantasy of J.K.Rowling, Terry Pratchett and Enid Blyton. The novel is full of eccentric and fabulous creatures, porcupines who are used to pluck quills from; hairies who are literally hairy fairies who light the lamps of Croswald and ginormous cabby beasts who carry their own foul weather system and remind me of the giant rhinoceros storm in James of the Giant Peach. Whilst the book is incredibly unique you can’t ignore the Harry Potter inspiration such as a street of magical shops like Diagon Alley, a magical school like Hogwarts and a whole menagerie of fantastical beasts. However, the unique magic system stands out. At the scrivinist school of magic, there are two types of students; royals who gain their powers from the stones in their crowns and scrivinists who gain their power from their blood and sketching skills. Scrivinists are trained to hone their abilities so that they can one day serve the royals in their courts and castles. This interesting magical hierarchy makes for some brilliant snooty enemies and genuine friends for Ivy.

The story really picks up pace once Ivy has been enrolled into magic school and is introduced to glenageries. A glenagerie is a unique system of magic whereby you can capture an imaginative scenario into a bottle that can be uncorked and re-lived. When a glenagerie is opened during one of Ivy’s magical classes, she is drawn into a pirate ship where the mysterious Derwin Edgar Knight tries to leave her a message. Ivy keeps seeing the same man in her dreams at night – it is as if he is trying to tell her something – something important. When Ivy learns that there is a room in the school where things go to be forgotten, wiped from the memory of all outside of the door once placed inside, Ivy suspects that the answers to who Derwin Edgar Knight is lie in there. Why would anyone try to erase him from history? Is the Dark Queen involved? What connection does he have to Ivy? The mystery of Derwin Edgar Knight drives the narrative into its dramatic, whirlwind ending. I would highly recommend this novel for children aged 11+ who love magic, mystery and adventure stories. A delightful, light-hearted escapade.

A copy was gifted via Net Galley for an honest review.

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The first in a series of books by D E Night . I was fortunate to be allowed to read and review this book by StoriesUntold and Netgalley. This is a story of magic where our heroine Ivy is a scaldron maid who leaves her job and finds herself a scrivenist student at the prestigious school which trains scrivenists and crowned royals. This has been compared to Harry Potter , but it my opinion it is on a different scale altogether. I am a massive Potter fan and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could see where similarities lay,but there are major differences, not only in the fact this is not a story about witches and wizards, but about a scrivenist student learning her trade at a prestigious school, and I want now to read the other books in the series to see where the story takes Ivy. There is slightly dark elements which says I would recommend it to late primary and early secondary pupils.

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As a fan of Harry Potter and a middle-grade librarian, it's hard to find new titles that encompass the world-building and empathy of the Potter series. The Crowns of Croswald is a fast-paced, refreshing, middle-grade alternative. It is safe to call Harry Potter a classic, but given the recent opinions of the author, I think many people are looking for alternatives to share with their children. It was also refreshing to read something written by a woman of color and have the protagonist be a girl. Middle-grade fantasy holds a special place in my heart and I will absolutely be buying this series for my library.

Everything about the imagery of this first in a series was so vivid and easy to put yourself there. Like most fantasy, there was new world-building to learn, but D.E. Night makes it accessible and easy to digest. It's exciting and new and left me wanting more.

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The first thing about this book that grabs your attention right away is the cover. The gorgeous colors pop and grab your attention. For anyone who loves Harry Potter, royalty, and fantasy, this book is for you. Ivy is such a great character who goes from working in a kitchen to The Halls of Ivy. A wonderful magical school filled with imaginative characters. It was fun to read and follow Ivy on her wondrous adventure and find out where she is really meant to be and what her purpose is. Lastly, I love the author names a character after herself, D.E. Night. I recommend this to all YA readers who love fantasy. I received this book for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Stories Untold Publishing, for the opportunity to read this book

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The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy series. I was lucky enough to be gifted a digital copy of the first book, from the publisher through Netgalley.

I was immediately enthralled by this whimsical world. The description and imagery throughout, made for a wholly immersive reading experience. The fast moving, action-packed plot had me tearing through pages, eager to find out what happened next. The masterful world building and witty banter between Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca is excellent. I delight in seeing fierce female protagonist’s in any book but especially books aimed at a younger audience. Role models, both real and fictional, are immensely important.

My only gripe with the book is the parallels that can be drawn between it and Harry Potter. As someone who devoured Harry Potter when I was younger, I could see quite a few similarities in Ivy’s origin story. That being said, the plot of the Crowns of Croswald takes on a life of its own as the story progresses. If you have never read Harry Potter and are looking for a story equally as magical, minus the transphobic author, look no further than The Crowns of Croswald. In fact, if any of you are contemplating reading Harry Potter, just read this instead.

I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series. While it is middle grade, it is the perfect balance of nostalgia, comfort and excitement. A series that all ages will find joy in.

Thank you to the author D. E. Night & her publicist Daniela for reaching out and offering me a digital copy of the book. What a wonderful and enchanting world you have introduced me to!

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This happens to be my first sci-fi & fantasy in a longggg while. It just upped my imagination game and I kinda liked it. This is usually a genre I try to stay away from but I’m glad I accepted to read and review this. I can’t wait to read the next three books in this series.
Get ready for some adventure and a new world of magic, mythical creatures, and a bit of humor. I know you will love it 😍.

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Disclaimer: The Publisher itself asked me to read the book for an honest review in exchange of having a free copy.

“I am locked in by the evil one’s imagination. We need each other to end this.”
****SEMI-SPOILER****

To those who loves fantasy and full of magic, this one is for you! It is a middle grade fantasy & easy read! I love the writing style of D.E Night, she did not missed any opportunity to waste no time. While I was reading The Crowns of Croswald, it made me reminisce my childhood days, It made me travel to the past with a lots of magic and adventure.

Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid who also loves to read, until her curiosity leads to the freedom of both Edgar Night and the Wandering Family, with her as well a wonderful and trustworthy companion Rebecca and Fyn. Who was willingly to help her figure out the truth behind the forgotten room. This story was not all about magic, but also shows how important friendship and trust is. I already had a lead that Ivy will hold a special role in this journey, but I wasn’t expecting the ending that she came from the blood line of Isabella.

I somehow love the ending! Although it’s despairing because of what happened to Winsome, but special thanks to Him for his sacrifices and efforts for the sake of Wandering Family and also I am not expecting of what Rimbrick did in the past. However, He still did the right choice to make things back to what is was. I cannot wait for the second installation of this series. I am looking forward for more glamorous magic and adventures and journey. I love it how cute Humboldt was and it should have a movie adaptation! Please let me see more of Fyn and Ivy’s adventure in the second book. Speaking of Fyn, I love his character and I was giggling the whole time he was present in the book!

And why no one seems to notice that Derwin Edgar’s name came from D.E Night? Anyways! I love the story over all!

@heyabibliophile

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I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I read the book through the eyes of a middle school student as that is who it’s written for.

The story was very imaginative. Kinda like a Harry Potterish universe where there’s a forgotten/hidden child, Ivy, who gets an invitation to a school of magic. She’s discovering who she is and how the world of magic works as the bad queen comes for her. It was a little confusing towards the end but easy enough to figure out.

Honestly I enjoyed this YA book as a 34 year old adult so imagine middle school me would have loved it!! This was a magical book and she did a wonderful job building the world with students and creatures alike.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book for young readers of fantasy or who liked Harry Potter.

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The writing in this book is so cute and absolutely enchanting! Everything about the imagery of this story was so vivid and so easy for me to picture and get lost in. I especially loved the images of creatures like the scaldrons! This brought me back to my childhood and I know I would've adored this book even more than I do now when I was younger! I can't wait to read the rest of this series! Some of my favorite characters included Ivy, Winsome, and Fyn (but really so many more magnificent characters). It's been so long since I've read a middle grade fantasy novel and after this one I want to go and devour as many as possible! The plot had some common fantasy elements such as royalty, an evil queen, and young people discovery their powers but also had unique elements to the magic system and new mythical creatures I wasn't familiar with before the story. There also was a small amount of romance if that is something that appeals to you but wasn't overwhelming to the plot if you prefer fantasy without romance.

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𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐃.𝐄. 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭
✨I received this book for free in exchange for an honest unedited review.
This book took me straight back to my days of reading Harry Potter 🧙‍♂️, yes some similarities but its own adventure.
✨It follows Ivy, a young girl working for an intolerable woman. Locked away with only her sketches she can only imagine what is outside the four walls she has only ever known.
✨Soon she has no choice but to leave and find her way. She starts her first year in The Walls of Ivy, a school to master the magic that is in her blood and in other ways, to find herself. We follow her as she journey's through her first year, battles with herself and the true evil that is The Dark Queen.
✨This book was fantastic in terms of character building, I loved Ivy and what she represents, woman power! She can hold her own and has the confidence that will guide young readers to truly believe in themselves.
✨This book was full of magic, creatures, the castle, mysteries, friendships and adventure. Truly a tremendous experience that I feel would really appeal to young readers.

Thank you to @netgalley and @author.denight for this magical experience.

My rating : ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

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I got this book sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review :) So this book starts off super strong talking about the ever so mysterious Derwin Night The prologue is all about the scriventist :). i really enjoyed the magical aspect of this book since it reminded me HIGHLY of harry potter.

In this read we see scauldrons(dragons that help in kitchens), castles, evil queens, magic locked rooms, magic opening rooms, moving portraits, people who can turn into animals, the evil queens protectors, and much more.


This is a short read but extremely well written. It was easy to understand and i loved the magical aspect. I’ve seen many similarities throughout the book with harry potter. likeeeee

Ivy Lovely - ivy lovely has been a maid for the slurry fields her whole life.

Harry Potter: as been a maid for his family his whole life


Ivy Lovely: leaves the castle shes a maid for and is suddenly approached saying she’s been invited to the hall of ivy (magical school for royals and those who have blood in their system)

Harry: getting an invite to hogwarts.

There’s so many more characteristics but the similarity between one of my favorite books really made me like it even more! One thing I dislike was how little Ivy’s conflict with the queen was. We see the book not mention the queen at all and her significance to Ivy until the very last chapter making the book be boring at some times since there was no conflict. Many of the conflict we would see would be between Ivy and her classmates, or Ivy getting into mischief. Which is why it’s a 4/5. I did thoroughly enjoy it though and will most definitely be reading the next book in this series.

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Thank you to Stories Untold and NetGally for providing me with a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my impartial and honest review.

The Crown of Croswald follows 16 year old Ivy. A girl with hidden magic, destined to attend a magical school to harness her magical powers and discover her past.

This book was a slow burner for me, starting steadily. I had to will myself to continue at times but I believe this was largely due to the fact that the story follows that of another wizarding series.
I felt the book was different enough to claim its own merit, largely due to the depth of the world, its creatures and objects, but none the less it follows a similar structure. You know the one I mean, discovers a magical gift, gets an invitation to magic school, shops in unique and mystical streets, attends quirky classes and meets a variety of teachers.
This lead to me kind of plodding through the first half of the book, willing it to take its own path and to be less predictable.

Then.... at 50% I couldn't put it down!

Suddenly the book came into its own, It took a completely unique direction and we discover the depth of the world in its own right. Its so beautifully throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed all imagination of events that followed and the creatures and objects within Croswald. I felt the world was portrayed and described really well by the writer and I felt right there in the action with the characters.

I would really have liked to get to know more of Fyn and Rebecca and their relationships with Ivy but I can see this as a strong start to a series that will continue to build on its world and its characters further along so I'm not mad at that, it just makes me want to read the rest now that the scene is set.

Overall, this whimsical adventure defiantly holds it own, I will certainly pick up the rest of the series at some point and would highly recommend for ages of around 9-12 years old

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Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a Middle Grade read in quite some time, so I was thrilled to dive into a world filled of whimsical and magical moments.
I really loved learning about the school and Ivy’s classes, especially how each of her reading lists were so descriptive. It really made me feel like a school like this could possibly exist in the real world and of course I wish it did!

Author D.E. night has a really great way of getting one’s imaginative wheels rolling. The world-building and character development were beautifully written. That I couldn’t help but picture this world in all it’s entirety.

I also thought the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were so beautifully executed that I would spend some time just studying them, trying to figure out if I could guess how they would tie into that chapter. They really did add that touch of magic to each chapter.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to young readers / lovers of middle grade fantasy. This book ticked all the boxes, it has magic, mystery and action which was very captivating.

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DISCLAIMER: I unfortunately, could not bring myself to finish this book. So it is a DNF. However, I still think I can provide a decent amount of positive feedback with my limited reading.

The Crowns of Croswald is beautifully written, and richly imaginative! There's an incredible set of magic you are introduced to that, honestly, makes me think of the power that authors themselves hold! The characters seem fun and interesting enough — and there does seem to be a plot direction. However, I could not get myself to remain focused on the book, and found myself struggling to continue it.

This is a reader problem, not a writer problem. This book is in a genre that I thought I could read, but wound up not being particularly engaged enough with! The book definitely had potential, and has a lot of care put into it — so despite not finishing it, I will be providing a positive 4 star review. For its audiences intended age range and genre, it seems promising and very fun!

P.S. Rimbrick is my fav, I will take no criticism.

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This is everything I’ve ever wanted in a middle grade fantasy book, it literally couldn’t have been more perfect. The book caught my attention since the prologue, the world is magical and whimsical, the protagonist is honest and real, I can’t wait to read the second book.

Ivy is 16 and has been working as a cook’s maid her whole life until she's forced to leave that life behind. She’s found and enrolled into a magical school where she learns more about her past, her family and herself. A magical school sounds like a dream but the reality is a lot harsher, making friends is hard and Ivy feels like something is being hidden from her, a truth that might change Croswald forever.

I literally couldn’t stop reading it or even wanted to, the plot is fascinating, the magic has a really cool system and I felt myself smile in every chapter. My review can’t make this book justice, just know that it’s exactly what you need and you should read it. I loved it so much.

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I like the writing style of the author. The book is very easy to understand. I found my way into the story and was very captivated, especially at the end. One thing I didn't like was that the protagonist's feelings are not described enough for me. Thoughts are often described, but in context, the feelings were just missing for me.

Ivy Lovely is the protagonist in this book. As I just said, I missed the feelings from her and thus had difficulty investing myself in her. That improved by the end of the book.

The story reminds me a lot of a mixture of Harry Potter and Nevermoor. I like both of those books very much. The book is full of magic and set in a whole new world.

At the beginning I was missing some tension. But it gets better and especially on the last 100 pages I could hardly put the book down. Despite the lack of suspense at the beginning, the book is not boring. The world and many magical creatures are introduced.

I really enjoyed the book. In the beginning I was a bit skeptical but as the pages go by it gets better and better and I really liked the ending. I will definitely read the next parts

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*The publisher gave me a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*
When I started this book I did not like it at all. I did not understand what was going on and why the author made the choice to start that way. The more I read, the more I was able to understand and see some connections. In a way you are learning how things work as our main character Ivy does, so the initial mystery works. This book is definitely middle grade and would be great for people who love magical worlds and schools. I think people who enjoy the Percy Jackson series, would find enjoyment in this book. The magical world is interesting because you have royals who have specific powers and then the others who are basically magical archivists. I thought that was a weird distinction, but it worked for the book. I thought the friendships made in this book were rushed and there were some things done that personally, I would not stay in a friendship with that person. The mystery portion of the book is good and helps to overshadow the parts I was not fond of.
This book would be a good book for younger readers who love magical worlds and magical schools.

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Magic, mystical creatures, fantasy, and magical lands! Wow! I love fantasy-this book was a fun read with a world of magic that you can get lost in and escape reality!

The main character is Ivy-when we are introduced to her she is nothing but a maid slaving away in a kitchen-but she longs for so much more in life. We follow her on a magical adventure throughout the book. There are a few things that Ivy does not know about herself-that she soon finds out-such as how she has magical powers! Ivy attends a school called Croswald-where she will learn to use and perfect the magical powers she has.

This book is a fun YA fantasy-it is an enjoyable and light read. I loved the magic surrounding the story, the characters were enjoyable-although I had a hard time connecting with the main character-Ivy.

Many reviews compare this to Harry Potter-which I can totally agree with, although Croswald is definitely its own world.

Overall, I definitely recommend this fun magical book! I could picture myself at Croswald-and oh what a magical adventure!

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Thanks to NetGalley, D.E.Night & Stories Untold Press for giving me access to this fantastic book!

This book is beautifully written & immerses you into the magical world where Ivy Lovely lives. Ivy is invited to go to the Halls of Ivy to become a scrivenist. In a world where royals and scrivenists work together, Ivy feels like the outsider. What she stumbles into however will change her life forever. The Dark Queen is lurking about searching for something. Scrivenists of the past are roaming the magic school’s halls & nothing is what it appears.

D.E Night has created a whimsical & magical world that will be a hit with children (and adults!) who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. I loved the characters in this book and I really look forward to reading book 2 & 3 in this series. There are mystical creatures galore in this book, from shorehorses to hairies and many more in between. The author’s love of all things magical can clearly be seen in the loving way she spins this wonderful story.

If you or your child want a book which will allow them to escape into a magical world full of danger and adventures, I highly recommend “The Crowns of Croswald”!!

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is a magical adventure, perfect for anyone longing to be sucked into a new world with mystery and intriguing characters at every turn of the page. Ivy Lovely is a great strong female lead in this story. Even when she is thrown into the unknown, Ivy dives in head first! Be ready to be thrust into a world with dragons, magical potions, intoxicating slurry fields, special stones, storm-driving cabbies, and evil queens.. this tale is packed with fun characters, intriguing details, and a lot of suspense along the way. I highly recommend this book to any Harry Potter fan or MG reader. The Crowns of Croswald is an impeccable mix of MAGIC and MYSTERY rolled into one!

Thank you, NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for the review copy of this book. The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night is thoroughly enjoyable and engaging. 15 year old Ivy Lovely has worked as a scaldrony maid (The maid in charge of the dragons who cook the food for a wealthy family) surrounded by a slurry field. One day, she finds herself fleeing to save a dragon from a horrible fate and is invited to the magic school, the Halls of Ivy. Because Slurry dampens magic, she didn’t realize how powerful she actually is.

The novel covers Ivy’s year at the Halls of Ivy as she tries to discover the mystery behind her invitation to the school. The reader gets to uncover the truth along with Ivy.

The world built by D. E. Night is absolutely beautiful. I look forward to revisiting it again with book two!

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This story transported me back to my young self, when I would get lost in the most fantastic of stories. I truly enjoyed getting to know Ivy Lovely and her journey to discovering the truth about her past and her future. This fantastical world has the most entertaining characters that you can’t help but feel connected to. Ivy possesses all the qualities of a heroine, and right from the start you want to see her win. It was a true joy to read and I look forward to reading the next books in this series.

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Thanks to the publisher (Stories Untold) for lending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not usually a fantasy reader but this story had me hooked from the beginning! It’s written beautifully, the author is able to get the imagination wheels spinning with her writing. I absolutely loved the characters, especially Ivy and I cannot wait to read more! I had to really take my time because I didn’t want the story ending too quickly haha. Cannot wait to read the next book! ☺️

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Ivy Lovely has grown up working as a Scaldron maid, tending to the dragons in the kitchens of Plum Castle. When a small mistake sees her lose her job and her home, Ivy sets out across the magic inhibiting slurry fields only to be met by a peculiar man who has been looking for her for a long time. Ivy learns she has been selected to go to The Halls of Ivy, a prestigious school for aspiring scrivenists and magical royals.

I think most reviews you might read of The Crowns Of Croswald will likely mention that book shows remarkable similarities to Harry Potter and it's fair to say I got the same vibe. This is a coming of age, fantasy about a girl who had been hidden away most of her life, only to be whisked off to a magical school where adventure, mystery and danger await. Thankfully, D. E. Night has woven such a well thought out, intricate and original magical world that you get so absorbed in, the similarities to Potter become insignificant.

The book is very fast paced, ocassionaly it felt a little too rushed. You're quickly introduced to a whole new world, with a lot of new magical terms and strange new creatures to learn, it was a little overwhelming at first. However, the plot was well conceived and the story arc was gripping, meaning the confusion in parts sort of works itself out by the end.

My daughter and I started out reading this together but we decided to finish and review it seperately because I didn't want to put it down. Pops has never been a massive lover of fantasy but she's enjoying the book, albeit in smaller doses than I wanted to consume it.

This is a brilliant middle grade fantasy for lovers of Harry Potter and Charlie Bone, those who love magical beasts, lost Princesses and evil Queens. This is the first of the Croswald series, book four will be released later this year.

A massive thank you to @netgalley and @storiesuntoldpress for this book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book turned out to be so much more than I expected it to be. Since I don't usually read middle grade books anymore I was a bit hesitant to pick it up at first. But I'm so glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed the clever writing and brilliant world building. I was never a huge Harry Potter fan growing up but I think The Crowns of Croswald could’ve easily become “my” Harry Potter. Because in my opinion this book contains all of the clever, highly imaginative and sometimes outright hilarious elements which I found myself drawn to in J.K. Rowling’s books. However, the story and main plot in TCOC speaks to me on so much more levels than Harry Potter ever did.

My only regret is that I didn’t get to read this book when I was younger because however much I find myself liking this book now, I just know I’d have absolutely loved it back then. The Crowns of Croswald is a high quality middle-grade fantasy book that is not to be missed!

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This was such a fun, whimsical, magical, mysterious first book in a middle grade series. I had never heard of this series before and I think more people should read this book .I was hooked from the first chapter as D.E Night's writing is easy to get lost in. This isn't a very long book and I was able to finish it in one sitting, I just had to know what happened. This book takes place in a magical world where magic is used by both Scrivenists (wizards) with their quills (wands) who serve royal families and royalty with magic endowed jewels in their crowns. Our main character Ivy has grown up as a scaldrony maid in the slurries that nullify magic, until one day she is kicked out and picked up by Lionel Lugg who claims she is a scrivenist and must go to the magical school Halls of Ivy to learn about her abilities and herself. I really enjoyed the magical school setting with lots of magical creatures, and learning more about Ivy and who she is in this world. I highly recommend this book to other readers who enjoy middle grade and magical school settings. Ig you are hesitant to pick this up because middle grade can seem too young, I found Nights writing to be more mature than other middle grades with the tone and choice of words.

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If you are looking for a story that has whimsy, magic, adventure and suspense then this is the book for you. The Crowns of Croswald is the first installment in the series by the same name and is a fun middle-grade fantasy story that follows a spunky, young female protagonist through a magical world that presents her with adventure and obstacles at each and every turn.

This book introduces you to magic in a school setting, a whimsical world, fantastical creatures, long lost princesses, evil queens and so so much more. It is truly a tale for all ages.

Just shy of being 250 pages in length, this book packs A LOT in without the burden of information dumps or overwhelming the reader. My only complaint is that there are a few times where the plot feels quite cluttered as it tries to weave all of the pieces of the puzzle together and it made for a slightly confusing read where I needed to backtrack and carefully reread passages to ensure I was grasping the meaning and fully understood what was going on. I feel like that could potentially make this a slightly challenging read for younger readers...but despite that, it is still a fun and enjoyable read that is definitely worth giving a shot!

While it may seem slightly cliche, I would venture to say that if you enjoyed the Harry Potter series then this is a tale that will captivate you and leave you wanting more.

Personally, I found this to be a fantastic read and I plan to continue forward with this series at some point. I would give The Crowns of Croswald a solid 4 out of 5 star rating and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a magical escape.

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I want to say thank you to netgalley and the author for giving me a copy of this book.

Where to start. This book was awesome. I have heard that it is a lot like Harry Potter and that is 100% true. I tried to read this with my 4th grader that liked Harry Potter but some of the names that the author uses (like harry potter) are almost made up? So it was hard to read out loud for that reason. I ended up switching to just reading it by myself and reading it in my own head, made me like this book even more.

This book has everything I love- Magic, boarding school, mystery and good friends. I really liked this book and I cant wait to read the next ones!

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The Crowns of Croswald starts very reminiscent of Harry Potter as Ivy Lovely, a scaldron (dragon-type creature) maid, is booted out of her windowless lodgings by an angry chef. With a scaldron sick with flue flem in tow, she crosses the magic dampening barrier of the castle she has spent her life serving and is met by a cabby containing a scrivener who advises her that she has magic in her blood. Thus begins Ivy's journey to The Halls of Ivy, which is essentially a school of magic. With Ivy's strange dreams echoing throughout the book and her mysterious past looming, one can't help but get sucked into this new world. I was worried initially that this book would strike too close to resembling Harry Potter, just with a female heroine. The author surprisingly curbed this with tons of new words, an unconventional take on magic use and inheritance of power, and a unique origin story. I particularly enjoyed how D.E. Night described the "death" of scriveners, and in a perfect world, I'd want to "turn tome," as she put it. D.E. Night has created a world with a lot of room to play around, and I can't wait to see how things form over the next few novels. For those on the edge of deciding whether or not this is for you, if you enjoyed Harry Potter, the chances are you'll enjoy this book. When you break it down, Ivy is raised as an orphan, living every day in the dark as she tends to the castle's dragons, never really seeing daylight, and then is suddenly told that the world she has always wanted to be a part of is actually where she is meant to be. It's a story of hope and loss, of evil queens and new friends, and of persisting in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. I could see this as a fun read for kids and the YA crowd, but also those that want to feel that spark of magic they feel they might be missing.

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

I would label this book as middle grade, light academia.

It was a pleasant read, and although it's for a younger audience (of which I am not) I found myself enjoying it and feeling like I could recommend this to someone young who is starting their journey in to YA fantasy.

Night has created a world that reminds us of Harry Potter, but has added her own unique touches in a magical world that is all her own.
Here are some bullet points of what I thought of some of the specifics of the book:

-The main character, Ivy, is likable and written to be a young 16 year old. I say this because many YA books will either right their 16 year olds very young, or very mature. In this case, Ivy is written young.
-The romance is sweet and innocent.
-The friendship between Rebecca and Ivy is exactly what I like to see in any YA and middle grade book.
-I was left a little confused at some of the choices Ivy made, especially when it came to her never asking any important questions about who she is. For example, she meets Winsome, who makes it clear that he knows her, but she never really tries to find out anything about herself. They then go on to work together for like...7 months...and she never once tries to dig deeper about her past. Does she not care? I think this was really the only thing I did not find appealing about the book. Her never questioning her parentage or who she truly is was a little unrealistic for me.

That being said, I would still recommend this book series!

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This was a truly magical read. If this was around when I was younger, I would have been OBSESSED with it. It follows Ivy, who has always wanted to study magic at the prestigious Ivy school. One day her dream comes true. If you enjoyed Percy Jackson, Harry Potter, and Cinderella, then this is the read for you!

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A magical, fantastical and lovely read. As someone who is fascinated by world building, I really enjoyed D.E. Night’s The Crowns of Croswald. I thoroughly enjoyed Ivy’s character and the creativity of this story. If I were to offer any criticism, I’d say the protagonist felt slightly younger than 16 as we are told and it was slightly confusing towards the end. I would recommend this book to fans of children’s fantasy.

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We follow Ivy Lovely who doesn’t know her background and works as a scaldron maid. She wishes daily for a different life for herself. She is then thrust into enrolling in a school and learns of a world of magic and enchantment. Through her journey there is mystery, adventure and a touch of romance. She learns about herself, making friends and finally discovers her past. While doing all this the evil Queen threatens the world of Croswald and everyone in it!

I highly enjoyed this book!! The story is magical in a way that touches my heart. It’s similar to Harry Potter in some ways but has a female leading character. The story was a bit predictable but I am unsure if it’s because I’m in the older age range. Regardless the writing style is easy to follow, the plot is well written, and the creativity and intrigue of the book was great! I highly recommend this book for those that are fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Narnia and The School for Good and Evil.

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Trolls meets Harry Potter is how I would describe The Crowns of Croswald. It starts with 16-year-old Ivy living as a "scaldrony" maid (think Bridget the scullery maid from Trolls). She cooks food in the mouths of miniature dragons and never has any fun. One day she is whisked away to magic school where she will hone her drawing and writing skills to become a scrivenist. As in Harry Potter, Ivy encounters her own versions of Draco Malfoy and Voldemort. but with the help of her friends and her newly discovered talents, she just might be able to come out on top. Despite the similarities to these other stories, The Crowns of Croswald is a pretty unique tale. I liked the main character a lot, but there were times when the story seemed to be missing key details. It jumped around a bit and was hard to follow at times. I would still recommend it to my students, but probably wouldn't use it as a read-aloud. "

Thanks to the publisher (Stories Untold) and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

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The Crownss of Croswald is the first book in a middle grade fantasy series by D.E. Night and I have to say I loved it! If a world filled with magic beasts, a magic academy, a heroine who comes into her power, a wicked queen and a lot of adventures doesn't do it for you, then I don't know what else would!
Ivy has lived and worked in a castle for 16 years and her magic has been dampened by the slurry that surrounded it. When she leaves it behind after being kicked out, her powers come to her in a rush and it works as a beacon to all supernatural creatures! She finds herself recruited as a student to a famous magic academy, where she will learn how to properly control her magic while trying to find out more about her past, her parents and the weird things that always seem to happen around her!
Obviously, Ivy isn't alone in her adventures, because she is quick to make new friends (and enemies) and, personally, I loved Rimbrick the dwarf! He was so kind to Ivy, like a father in a way, to a girl who grew up with no family or friends.
I really liked the story and all the characters, so I would definetly recommend this book, especially to all Harry Potter fans.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Stories untold for this ARC 💚

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A young girl finds out that she has magical powers and can join the Halls of Ivy. There, she makes friends, learns magic, and finds her way. She discovers that something terrible happened to her family and that she is in grave danger.

The world in this book is very unique with critters and magical ideas that will make you smile. There are some sections that were a little rushed and disjointed, however the quick plot kept my interest going.

This is a great book for middle schoolers, full of imagination and adventure. This is the first book in a series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Stories Untold, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Synopsis: When Ivy is banned from her home she discovers she has magical powers. Attending a boarding school for studying magic she slowly unravels secrets and mysteries surrounding her identity. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What I liked⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Ivy, Rebecca, Fyn and the other characters are very like-able.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Although definitely not a Harry Potter rip off The Crowns of Croswald is similar enough to be instantly loved. ⠀⠀⠀
- The royal aspect to the story made me enjoy it even more. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Left me wanting to read the next book!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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What I didn’t like ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- It took a little while before the puzzle pieces fell into place and the story became truly interesting to me.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for my honest review.

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I wasn’t sure about this book in the beginning, since there were a lot of similarities to Harry Potter. I’m glad I hung in there tho, this turned into a really entertaining read. I really enjoyed the main character and her bestie, Rebecca. Positive, strong girls who are good roll models for young girls today. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

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Wow!! This book was brilliant!!! Although it’s aimed at a middle grade audience, the writing style is just as suitable for adults too.
Ivy is an absolutely brilliant lead character and I loved watching her enter a world that she had spent so much time dreaming about.
I’m a huge fan of fantasy fiction and I loved the whole vibe of this book. You can’t go wrong with stories about magic and castles can you?? I can’t wait to read the rest of the books in the series

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I had a great time reading this book! Such a fun middle grade novel. The magic system is so unique and I loved reading about the spells, potions and creatures. Ivy’s friendship with Fyn and Rebecca was a great part, especially Fyn, I just love him.
Definitely would love to continue with this series.

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I received a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! This was such a fun read. I felt like I was stepping into another world. If you like magical places and characters, then this is the book for you.

I think this would be a perfect midgrade to teen book. I wish this was around when I was that age!

Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this book.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a middle-grade fantasy series that sort of suits anyone who wants to read something whimsical and magical. This is book #1. ⠀
In the story you follow Ivy Lovely a sixteen years old girl who did not know she had magic within her. Grew up in a place called The Castle Plum behind the enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. All she knew was cleaning and cooking under an angry head chef called Helga. She basically was bullied all her life until she gets kicked out of that castle. ⠀

In Croswald, magic is familiar; it’s no a secret. Ivy is a very curious young girl; After receiving a letter and being accepted in the school of magic called the Hall of Ivy, She slowly discovers the magic within her. Her curiosity puts her in tough situations and sometimes trouble.

As you go along in this journey with Ivy you discover with her all those hidden gems in croswald and when she was threatened by the Dark Queen, she uncovers the big secret that saves her life, her friends and everyone else. You got the quills, pet dragon, magical bottles that takes you to a different world, potions, magical crowns and more. 💎

Thank You @netgalley and @danielastoriesuntoldpress for this copy ⠀♥️
**I recommend you share this story with your children 8+. Those who are starting to read fantasy. I enjoyed reading it. Loved The characters. Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca.

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I received this book from the publisher (NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! The world of Croswald is very interesting and draws you in wanting to know more about it.

Ivy Lovely is a maid who ends up going to the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. Through many adventures Ivy learns more about the magical world and about her true identity.

I love all the mystery and adventures that happen in this book. Along with finding out about things as Ivy herself is learning about them. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series to learn what is happening with Ivy!!

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🌻 𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖 🌻
🇬🇧 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗱 • 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝟭
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 • 5 / 5 ☀️

🖋 « You, Ivy Lovely, are magic. »

📝 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 📝
A delightful story filled with magic, whimsical worlds, mystery and adventures! This first book from this middle grade fantasy series is full of twists and wonders that will not leave its readers indifferent!

We follow the young Ivy Lovely who enters the school of magic where magic-wielders royals and Scrivenist with their magical quills are it’s worthy students. As her destiny unfolds beneath her feet and through the chapters of this story, Ivy discovers a secret she never expected and may well explain her childhood and the destiny of the world of Croswald. With her new friends and her adorable little dragon, she sets out on an adventure that will not be without danger.

With an incredible whimsical writing and beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, the author plunges us into her simply fascinating imagination. A colorful, funny and well-written world-building ; the enchanting world of Croswald and Ivy's adventures will enchant the reader from the very first pages.

In the prologue and throughout the story, we can see a character named "Darwin Edgar Night", which is none other than the initials and surname of the author. I find it genius to be kinda part of her own novel!

Perfect for fans of Harry Potter, Nevermoor or Keeper of the Lost Cities with a Dark Academia aesthetic, this book is for you !

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If you are a fan of YA fantasy, this book is definitely for you. It's often compared to Harry Potter and Cinderlla but I found it so different and hold It's own.

The author has done a brilliant job with characters and the word building is simply amazing.

The story is beautifully written about coming of age of a young woman named Ivy Lovely. She lives in Plum Castle and works as a scaldrony maid. Everything changes on her 16th birthday. She discovers she has magic abilities and finds herself whisked off to the magic school known as the Halls of Ivy. Ivy's past and her family's past come together and help Ivy to discover herself and her purpose.

I really enjoyed reading about the Old Still Lane and its residents. I found myself wanting to read more towards the end of the book.

I don't want to spoil it for you so you'll have to read it and find out. I am now looking forward to reading the second book.

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Very similar to the kinds of books I used to read as a young teen. It is classed as YA but is definitely more on the young side even though our main character is 16. I'd recommend it for kids in their early teens or adults looking for an easy relaxing read, with magical schools and mysterious places. Each chapter has a lovely illustration such as my favourite for chapter fourteen. The book follows the main character Ivy Lovely who initially works as a Scaldrony maid but when she tries to help one of the unwell Scaldrons is kicked to the kerb. She then embarks on a journey within a magical school. With characters such as the dragon Humboldt, her best friend Rebecca and a friend who I'm guessing is a future love interest Fyn, she learns more about herself while dealing with daring situation and her school rival Damaris and an evil queen. I also noticed the insertion of the character named “Derwin Edgar Night,” and I am curious If it purposely is similar to the author's name that we will find out in later books or is just a hidden  Easter Egg. The dedication at the beginning of the book "To my husband, who has proven fairy tales aren’t only in books." It's just adorable. I love seeing dedication like this. Overall a lovely read.

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I was lucky to be gifted a copy of this book from the publisher to review. This is a great fantastic world that has taken some serious imagination to create. I loved going into the pages of this story, with a new magical world to explore. Fans of the chosen one trope and books set at magical schools will really love this story.

I will say that it took a little longer to get into than I wanted it to. There is a lot of world building that is needed at the beginning of this story, and that dragged a little bit for me. But once we really got into the main plot of the story, I was hooked. I can’t quite wrap my brain around how the author could create a world so intricate, yet gives you that whimsical feeling you want from a middle grade fantasy. And the characters are so easy to fall in love with, and you really root for them by the end of the story. There is really a little something for everyone in this book.

This was a magical experience, and I can’t wait to continue on with this story! This author is truly a hidden talent.

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I became enchanted by the story of Ivy and her journey of exploring her magic, stumbling across mysterious and strange occurrences at the Halls of Ivy, and the Dark Queen lurking around the corner! Truly magical! I felt like I was right there on the journey with Ivy!

The book itself is a light and entertaining read. Great book for young and old. I quickly became captivated with the characters and Croswald itself. Ivy with her clumsiness and naivete, but her eagerness, boldness, and determination to figure it out regardless of the consequences. The magical, mystical creatures in the book are so enchanting that it makes me want to have my own scaldron and hairy, or to feed drumnuts to a shorehorse. I find the Selector and Fyn, Ivy's little crush, to be very mysterious and there's more to these two that I'm hoping to find out in the next book.

The Crowns of Croswald was exceptional! A true gem!

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The world building in this YA fantasy read is lovely. This is a magical coming of age fairy tale. It's a great little middle grade story about learning to use your powers for good. I'm looking forward to more in this series.

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Synopsis:
Ivy Lovely, an artistic orphaned maid, is left homeless and jobless on the first Moonsday after her 16th birthday. As luck would have it, she finds out that she has magic coursing through her veins, and that her destiny is to attend Ivy Halls to be a Scrivenist. Join Ivy as she makes new friends, learns more about her family’s past and works towards honing her magical skills!

What you can expect:
- Strong female protagonist & antagonist
- Harry Potter vibes (The first 30% had very similar themes, but the rest of the novel really distinguishes itself)
- A pet dragon

The Verdict: Truth be told, I didn’t quite get into the book until Chapter 7; however, after that point I breezed through! That’s not to say that the writing before that point wasn’t good. I really liked the prologue and how the “author” exists in many dimensions as a writer of this book and as a writer of other books within this book. The author has a knack for writing details which can be enriching if you have a mind for fantasy. I can totally see myself recommending this book to students aged 8 - 12 years and to anyone who particularly enjoys a woman-centric fantasy story.

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The Crowns of Crosswald is the first book in The Crosswald series by D.E. Night. While I’ve never read the Harry Potter books (I did watch the movies), this book really gives me the Harry Potter vibes. The story has the same structure and although the story is actually different, it seems as if D.E. Night really got her inspiration from Harry Potter. In addition, the story also resembles Alice in Wonderland. This however should not spoil the fun, since The Crowns of Crosswald is a unique story after all.

Ivy Lovely has lived in a dark and hidden castle for 16 years. She spends her day reading stories, and this is her real passion. When one day she suddenly receives a visit to the castle, she appears to have the unique opportunity to study at the most magical school in the country called The halls of Ivy. And although Ivy doesn’t believe she has any magic herself, she goes to school with her dragon. But once outside the castle’s borders, Ivy finds she might be more magical than she thought she was. Throughout her studies, Ivy becomes more and more curious about the secrets of the halls, and this leads to a threat from the dark queen. Will Ivy be able to unravel the secrets of the halls? What does the dark queen want from her? What magical powers will Ivy develop?

The story has a very long-winded prologue. In my opinion it could have been left out, because it doesn’t add much to the story. The events from the prologue are also explained again later in the story.

D.E. Night has managed to write a very magical story that takes you as a reader on an adventure. However, in my opinion the story remained superficial and I missed a bit of depth. What I really like is that D.E. Night takes the reader in search of a mysterious character named Darwin Edgar Night. And as you may already have figured out, this name is a huge reference to the author herself. Personally, I find a less pleasant reference in the story, although I am curious about the secrets of Darwin.

The Crowns of Crosswald is a must for fans of Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland and is very suitable for readers from the age of 12. It’s a nice introduction to the world of Crosswald, and I am curious what the next parts will bring in this series.

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The Crowns of Croswald was a delightful young adult book! It had a definite Harry Potter influence, with a cross of Sleeping Beauty (for the "didn't know she was a royal" aspect). Following the story of Ivy Lovely, who is kicked out of her job as a cook and maid in a castle, is suddenly picked up by a magical creature and invited to attend a magical school. She encounters some challenges with her classmates and finds that she has more magical powers. It ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I will probably pick up book #2!

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I'd seen a lot of people comparing this book to other popular fantasy novels and fairytales so although I don't think I was the target age group, I thought it'd be something i'd enjoy. Admittedly, it took me a little while to really get into the book. I find with fantasy it takes me longer because you're trying to take in a new world and understand new words but I did find the style of writing really enchanting. Once I got into the swing of it and understood it more, I felt like it was suddenly all over, like Ivy got through her school year fast! I did thoroughly enjoy the magic and the story though. The world is so imaginative and although you get vibes of other great magical stories, it definitely stands out on its own with its unique world. Also, I adored the illustrations at the top of each chapter and the fact there was a character called DE Night (a nice nod, clever). In conclusion, I would love to read further into Ivy's world and continue the series.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a no-brainer recommendation for fans of Harry Potter. It's also a great series for children who want to read HP, but find the size of the books daunting.

This story is reminiscent of HP in that the main character is unaware that she has magic; only discovering that she has magical heritage when suddenly swept away to magic school. And that's not the only similarity. There are shenanigans and secrets aplenty.

I found this book to be fast-paced and action packed. The misadventures of the MC are what drives the story. It flies through the school year without any filler. Often, several weeks or months are skipped entirely. It's all to get you to the big reveal. I won't spoil it, though.

I, myself, prefer a character driven story, but nonetheless found this book very entertaining. I also enjoyed the familiarity and had fun comparing the worlds.

Rating rounded up from 3.5 stars.

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Like Harry Potter, Ivy is on her way to a magical school. She learns the ways of magic in this well written book that 4th through the middle years will love. Great world building and the descriptions and wording of describing Croswald will be a great read for any kid that loves to discover new worlds of magic. Ivy is a great lead character and she is put into some interesting situations that lead to her understanding her family's past. We needed a good female lead in a magical world.

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*Thanks to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for the complimentary copy for my honest review*

This story was so fantastical and I definitely see the comparison to Harry Potter, this would be a great read for any middle grader or really anyone at any age. I loved the whimsical creatures and the world building was so imaginative and descriptive, it's like you were actually in the story. I'm very excited to read the next book in the series.

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Such a spellbounding book! At first we a thrust into a world of royalty with magic crowns and scrivenists with natural magic. Mesmerised by the authors portrayal of glowing hairies (yes hairies) and THE TOWN and the land of Croswald.
Ivy Lovely who has only known a life of a Sculdrony Maid  and Scurry fields has always dreamt of joining the Halls of Ivy School. After a series of unfortunate (or fortunate) events Ivy finds herself heading to the Halls of Ivy.

When Ivy arrives she notices some peculiar events happening. Meeting her best friend and roommate and her prefect friend, Ivy finds herself having backup on her journey to discover the truth of her strange reoccurring dreams. Who is the faceless man? Is he good or part of something much darker?

Forming unassuming friendships and alliances Ivy finds herself the target of a dark being. Slowly beginning to uncover elements of a 16 year old mystery with connections Ivy would never have believed only a few months earlier, the book ends with Ivys life being flipped and landing herself with knowledge, alliances and gifts she yet knows what to do with. I cannot wait to explore the story further.

This first book was full of magic, mystery and coming of age stories. Mystical creatures, projections of deceased scrivenists and carriages who have there own weather... if you are looking for a book to keep you on your toes, this is the one!

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*Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Do you want to be transported to a world filled with magic, mystery and adventure? Does the Halls of Ivy sound intriguing? Perhaps there's magic in your blood and a hidden scrivenist inside you. The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is the perfect read for you. This is the first book in the series, so this is a magical journey that you won't easily forget.

That being said, the moment I started reading I was absorbed into this unique story about sixteen year old Ivy Lovely who works as a scaldrony maid at the Castle Plum. She is friends with a dwarf named Rimbrick, but as she discovers her true identity at the famous magical school, the Halls of Ivy, the name of Rimbrick will come across her path, revealing information that adds to the changes in Ivy's life.
With the shadow of the Dark Queen looming over everyone in Croswald, something is tugging at Ivy as she attends her classes in the Halls of Ivy. She feels drawn to the Forgotten Room which houses everything that needs to be forgotten, even the memory of the existence of the room is forgotten.

I loved the detail the author puts into the little things for example Ivy's Reading List included in her First Year Class Schedule. The titles are so well-named and seem realistic. My favourite is The Compass Collectis: A Collection for Collaboration and Comprehension One million authors and counting. I also love the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. While reading this story I experienced an indescribable feeling, perhaps it's the magic, but it left me wishing Croswald was real. This story ends on a cliffhanger and leaves you wanting more.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of middle grade, coming of age, Young Adult and obviously magic! Lovers of Harry Potter will definitely enjoy this.
Other books in the series: The Girl with the Whispering Shadow #2 (published 23 January 2019) and The Words of the Wandering Book #3 (published 30 May 2019)

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4/5 stars:

16 year old Ivy Lovely is unaware of her true powers until she gets carted away to a magical boarding school where she discovers a new world filled to the brim with enchantment and mystery.

Despite its occasional choppiness, the pace of this book is whimsy and very fairytale like. What I love most about it is that author D.E. Night takes classic fairytale components and spins them around in new and refreshing ways. This story is very reminiscent of classic fairytales and is perfect for those who want to delve further into a more unique and exciting tale. I adored the illustrations at the heading of each chapter, and the energy I could feel emanating from this book kept me turning its pages late into the night. Readers will love Ivy and find her self-discovery empowering. A whimsical, largely empowering and magical tale, The Crowns of Croswald is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia, Roald Dahl, Alice in Wonderland and the Sister’s Grimm series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

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It's hard to resist a children's fantasy story involving magic, old castles, evil queens, royalty. Reading this was like cutting a beautiful cake, only to reveal all the deliciously wonderful layers that are on the inside. This didn't feel like a typical fantasy, it felt like a fusion of sci-fi, adventure, fairy-tale, making it both enchanting, entertaining and utterly adorable. This is an e-book, but I'm hugging my kindle right now.

When Ivy Lovely gets an invitation to attend the school of scrivenry, she embarks on an unexpected journey she never thought was meant for her. From day one, Ivy is entangled in inexplicable events, which make no sense to her, because she doesn't know who she is and why she is there in the first place. She has a lot of mysteries to solve, and a lot of them involve magic.

As our lovely little heroine Ivy learns about the school and the world around her, I kept anticipating every single spark of knowledge and recognition that revealed who she actually is and what she can do. I loved that this wasn't just another adventure to read, but a story that tells us about bravery, love, stepping out of your safety zone and taking chances, but most of all, tapping into the source of inner power and fearlessly becoming who you want to be or who you are meant to be.

I was pleasantly surprised with the worldbuilding and completely engrossed in the descriptions of all things, creatures, sights and smells. From ancient woods dwarves, fire-breathing scaldrons, witchy warmupps (send me a pair please), there's so much to experience. It's like the writer waved her writing wand and cast a spell of whimsy around me, so every second I spent this book I felt the sparks of magic. Only a mind with a wonderful imagination could create something like this.

While this book is inevitably compared to Harry Potter, and it's easy to draw parallels between these two worlds, I am so glad The Crowns of Croswald, with its characters, descriptions and atmosphere, managed to establish itself as a wonderfully unique world of its own.

I hope you chose to enter the extraordinary world of Croswald.

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Lovers of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and middle grade fantasy, read on!

In The Crowns of Croswald, D.E. Night delivers a whimsical, action-packed story centering Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old coming-of-age in a new magical world. Iyv's exposition begins with her as an orphan in misery, but she is called to action and crosses a magical threshold that thrusts her into an otherwordly adventure.

At a magical school, Ivy's talents for sketching and having a photographic memory lead her to pursue the path of scrivenists. Like any good middle grade heroine, Ivy is no stranger to mischief. Young readers will assuredly worry about and delight in Ivy's rule breaking, as well as her budding relationship with Fyn.

But danger lurks in the story, as well. There is an evil Queen and dark secrets to be uncovered, forcing Ivy to learn about her own history and find courage to stand up for what's good and right.

Thank you to Stories Untold for this book in exchange for an honest review!

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Spanish/English Review.

**Thank you Stories Untold for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**

At 250 pages, D. E. Night introduces us the world of Croswald and the magical world within.
What's not to love in a school of magic, secrets within the walls of the Halls of Ivy and a main character that discovers who she is? I loved the whole touch of magic schools, did remind me a bit of Harry Potter but the whole thing with the crown jewels per royals and the scrivenists that record all of their adventures with their photographic memory.

We follow Ivy, a sixteen year old maid that turns out to have the potential to be an amazing scrivenist, though she does have a couple of mishaps during the year. She's too nosy and curious, which often leads her to trouble, but more so often adventures that help her discover who she is. That's what I loved this book. The author introduces this completely magical world ( very detailed I must say) and the small illustrations in each chapter number are so beautiful!

Something I must say is that with all the names and so much description, I did get a little lost somewhere through the middle of the book, but nothing so big that kept me from following the story.

We have some small touches of romance, a whole lot of friendship, and mostly, discovering who you are and the power within you. I wholly recommend this to young readers that are searching for that fantasy fix in an established series (there's more books! might just grab the second one to follow Ivy's story).

Also, I'm still trying to figure out how to pronounce <i>scrivenists</i>

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**Gracias a Stories Untold por una copia digital de este libro para una reseña honesta**

Con 250 páginas, D. E. Night nos introduce el mundo de Croswald y la magia dentro de el. ¿Cómo no me iba a gustar una novela con escuela de magia, secretos dentro de los pasillos y un personaje principal que descubre quien es? Me encanto todo lo relacionado a la escuela de magia, me recordo un poco a Harry Potter pero con lo añadido de gemas en coronas para los estudiantes de la realeza y los "scrivenists" que escriben acerca de sus vidas y aventuras con sus memoria fotográfica.

Seguimos a Ivy, una chica de 16 años que de ser una criada tiene el potencial de ser una excelente "scivenist", aunque resulta tener un poco de aventuras durante el año escolar. Es bastante curiosa (y algo metiche) que ocasionalmente la mete en problemas, pero más bien resultan ser aventuras. Eso fue lo que me encantó de este libro. La autora nos introduce un mundo completamente mágica (y bastante detallado debo decir) y con esas pequeñas ilustraciones al inicio de cada capítulo estaba encantada!

Algo que debo de decir es que con todos los nombres y tanta descripción, si me llegué a sentir un poco perdida como a la mitad del libro, pero nada super serio, ya que seguí el hilo bastante bien.

Tenemos un poco de romance, bastante sobre amistad y principalmente, el descubrir quien eres y el poder que tienes dentro de ti. Recomiendo totalmente este libro a aquellos lectores jovenes que buscan algo de fantasía (especialmente si te encanta la magia y/o Harry Potter) ya que hay más libros en esta serie! (Y probablemente voy a buscar el segundo para saber que pasa con Ivy)

Nota adicional: todavía sigo intentando saber como se pronuncia correctamente <i>scrivenists</i>

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The crowns of Croswald - I found this book delightful, magical and captivating.

I throughly enjoyed escaping in to Croswald and being consumed by all things magical! The Author is very good at painting a picture with words to the point where you feel like you are there. I enjoyed the magical elements and the refreshing twist of the royal blood line.

As with all books of this nature, you cannot help but draw comparisons to the hugely popular Harry Potter series and I am a huge Harry Potter fan however this is book stands out, with its interesting characters and plot twists.

This book is fast paced and full of action and magical adventures.

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Great book, again out of my comfort zone but a pleasant surprise. Magic and adventure definitely creates an experience. Thank you for this ARC it truly was entertaining.

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Written for middle-grade readers, I would recommend this book for older children and lovers of fantasy. Personally, this genre is pretty far from my usual reads and it took me some time to get into the right mindset for it. While I didn’t fall in love with this book, I did appreciate the opportunity to sample what younger audiences are reading today. As a mom, I look forward to reading it aloud to my little bookworms when they are closer in age to the target audience. Ivy was a great main character - and I imagine younger readers really enjoying with this book! The conclusion really builds up to part two of the series: The Girl With the Whispering Shadow.

My personal rating: 3 stars
My rating as a parent, for my children: 4 stars

I want to thank Stories Untold and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGallery in exchange for my honest and unpaid review.

I really enjoyed the book...it's great for lovers of fantasy fiction; especially those who are fans of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend or even the Study series by Maria V. Snyder.

An orphaned girl, with no close friends, suddenly leaves the only home she's ever known to be whisked off to a school of magic. Here she discovers that not only is she magical, but could be related to royalty, while making friends (and enemies) and having adventures along the way. I particularly enjoyed that the author has added her own name to one of the more mysterious characters in the book.

My only criticism would be that sometimes the story seems to "jump" almost as if the author has left out, or removed, something that she was planning on adding to the storyline. With our heroin, Ivy, sometimes coming off as extremely reckless, utterly helpless and naïve; luckily she's made friends who cannot not only pay for her recklessness, but can also save the day for her (on more than one occasion).

I'm now re-reading this, to my 10 year old daughter this time, and have purchased copies of the following books for us to read together.

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I enjoyed the book and it was a easy read. It had a lot of fun magical elements to it, but it also seemed to remind me of a very popular wizard/ magical school series. While magical and school elements were different in this book from the aforementioned series, I couldn't help but feel that this book could have been heavily influenced or inspired by the others. All in all, it was a fun read. Would I read it again? No. Would I read more books in the series? No.

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In The Crowns of Croswald, a middle-grade fantasy, we follow the magical adventures of one Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid. Ivy longs for something more to her life, something magic, and spends her free moments sketching in the open air and the light of the moon with her dwarf friend. One day though, Ivy’s whole life turns around; she is kicked out of her home and picked up by a scrivenist who starts her on her journey to the Halls of Ivy magic school. Of course, no adventure would be complete without a mystery, and along the way Ivy picks up clues about the Wandering Family and some unexplained disappearances. Can Ivy put everything together before it is too late?

To start off I love the world-building in this book! The hairies for light, the mysterious ‘the Town,’ the cabbys and their personal storm covers, and especially the scrivenist magic; it’s all very mystical and fun. Ivy’s experiences are exciting and new, and it’s easy to get drawn in to the story of this heroine. I also really enjoyed the mystery that lurks in the background of the Wandering Family and collecting each piece in a way that eventually forms the whole puzzle. I did feel that there were some pacing issues with the story as a whole and the way it all comes together, but some of that might be attributed to setting up background for the other books in the series. There are also a lot of characters mentioned who tend to pop in and out of the story - for example the character is introduced in the beginning and then only mentioned again at the end, when I’ve forgotten about them. Regardless, this story does check all my favorite boxes: magic, adventure, a low-stakes mystery with a big reveal, and mystical creatures! D. E. Night has created a wonderfully fun setup of the Croswald series for young readers to explore.

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I do love a magical story ✨The Crowns of Croswald has all the pieces needed. Who doesn’t want a magical crown? 👑 Whilst the story-specific language takes a bit of getting used to, the story is a fun adventure 💛

I received a NetGalley copy in return for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

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I went into this book expecting one thing but, was pleasantly surprised by what I got. The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade book, but it is absolutely a joyful read for all ages.

The journey of magic and whimsy throughout is absolutely wonderful. I would compare this read to being a good mix of Harry Potter and Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland. I can see why some said this reads like a knock off of HP but, I would describe it more as a book beautifully inspired by other stories. And truly, is that not what all books are. An adventure that was inspired from stories we have read.

The characters in this book were wonderfully done. The growth of Ivy being one of my favorite progressions to read. Other characters of note are Fyn and Rebecca two characters I truly liked. There were also antagonists of note that added depth to the story and conflict for the protagonist Ivy as well.

Ivy is a poor maid kicked out of one world and thrust into another, only to learn she is more than she ever thought she was. There are provisions that have been set aside for her and she is then brought to magical shops and The Hall of Ivy to learn to harness her own magic. There are bullies that Ivy must face and overcome, whom want nothing more than to see her fail. Once at the magical school the story becomes more fast paced and we are moved through the school year with the impending doom of the Dark Queen and her Cloaked Brood.

In the end Ivy learns her heritage and what must be done to ensure the future of Croswald. I truly can’t wait for this story to continue and to read even more books from this author. Any reader will find themselves immersed in the story and though the inevitable comparison to HP will happen the whimsy and fantasy this story offers will easily bring the reader to love this just as much as they love the classic magic school story.

I would like to thank the publisher for reaching out to me about this book as it was a refreshing and fun story to immerse myself in.

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My review can also be found at instagram.com/lupislibrary

First up, I did not expect to enjoy this as much as I did! (What do they say about not judging a book by its cover??) I tend to steer away from fantasy books purely because I don't think they're my cup of tea (and also nothing can ever top Harry Potter) so when @danielastoriesuntoldpress reached out to send me a copy of this, I was skeptical. However, I promised myself I'd read it with an open mind and I was pleasantly surprised!

I have to admit, the first half of the book I didn't enjoy as much, I kept drawing comparisons to HP- Ivy not knowing she had magical powers, being in the 'slurries' (where there's no magic) as a maid, and being sought out by the admissions to the school of magic. I felt all my pre-judgments were correct, and I didn't have much hope for the book. However, once Ivy gets to the school and the story begins to unfold, I didn't see any similarities to HP and found I was enjoying the book a lot! I'd say it does take a while to get into (especially if you're a skeptic like me), and I'd definitely say if you're at the age of reading Harry Potter for the first time you'll probably love this- whereas for me (who has read HP a billion times over and watched the movies a billion times over) and I'm a bit older now (21 this year) I'd say I'm just at the cusp of being too old for this. However, I'm happy I was wrong and this was indeed a magical escape from reality!

This is the first book in a 3 part series, so if you pick this up and enjoy it you can look forward to reading the other 2 books. For any fantasy fans out there, or for anyone that enjoyed Harry Potter and is looking for a magical escape, then I'd recommend this to you!

Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress from @storiesuntoldpress and to @netgalleyfor sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

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I love middle grade stories, there is just something so pure about them when romance isn’t tangling everything up. When I read what this was about it gave me Harry Potter and Nevermoor vibes and I got excited, when I started reading I was completely sucked in and immersed in this world with Ivy as she discovers magic and is whisked away to a magical school for children like her.

The way this world is described, the school, the country, the little town, the whimsical creatures, it was so perfect! I felt like I was rereading a childhood favorite, it’s so familiar but not enough that you aren’t still guessing. I crave stories like this with strong friendships and a journey of discovery of ones true self. I can’t wait to continue this series! Book four will be released this year so I have to catch up quickly!

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*Special thanks to Stories Untold, the author and NetGalley for providing a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

3.5 stars!

This book was super fun and cute. There are of course nods to Harry Potter with the magical boarding school and (quills = wands), but the author still managed to make it unique and different! I enjoyed all the different types of classes and the magic system was interesting. The different between the scriveners and the crowns (royalty) was cool. I liked all the characters and developing relationships.

I will say the writing style in this book is very unique and was a big reason it took me so long to get into the story and finish reading it. I especially struggled with the beginning. Once Ivy gets to the school though, it really starts to pick up and flow a lot better and I found myself enjoying the novel at that point! I would say the writing style is almost like reading an old fairytale with how the narrator talks to the reader and it’s very whimsical and strange. Just like a fairytale, everything seems to work out perfectly for Ivy. <spoiler> like she needs to get across the lake to the Hollow Shaft? No problem! Here comes a magical boat just for her. </spoiler> It sort of made the story unbelievable as I never felt there was any true danger towards Ivy or friends. The dialogue was also very strange (?) I guess is the right word. It just didn’t feel like what normal people would actually do or say.

There is a lot of mystery surrounding Ivy and her circumstances and the big explanation at the end actually only confused me a little more. There was a lot going on in this novel plot mystery wise, and I think the author could have dialed it back a bit for sure. But some things got cleared up! I liked the end ball scene, that was a lot of fun and I love me a dark female antagonist.

Overall, this was a fun and cute middle grade read, but the writing style was too overt and the plot was a little too cluttered for me! But I still enjoyed it and the characters :)

*Full Review also found on Goodreads & Amazon.*

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was given a free copy of the ebook on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, this wasn't quite was I was expecting it to be, but that is by no means a bad thing. The book was loosely described as a middle-grade fantasy but is definitely young adult as our main character is 16 years old. However, I found that much of the story reads as middle-grade. That aside, I did very much enjoy reading this book.

The Crowns of Croswald follows now 16 year old Ivy, who has grown up as a lowly scoldrony maid that sleeps in a windowless cellar. She's spent her whole life as a nobody, as she was an abandoned baby found in the slurry fields with nothing but a magical dress and a name. Her only friend a mysterious dwarf that meets with her every full moon. On her 16th Moonsday, she's thrown from the castle for one too many mistakes with only a weak scoldron for company and is told to never come back. They set off across the slurry fields and Ivy's journey really begins. She is picked up in the strangest form of transportation she's ever seen and is enrolled in a magical academy for Royals with magical stones and those, like Ivy, with magic in their blood. At the Halls of Ivy, Ivy begins her first of four years of training to become a scrivenist to a royal family. So much happens throughout the course of this book, and it was a rather fun adventure to go on. Ivy learns more about herself and her magical abilities over the course of the year, and when strange things start happening to her, she is determined to get to the bottom of it. I enjoyed the twists and turns throughout the novel, and I am very much eager to see what is going to happen in the following books. I'm curious to see Ivy grow into herself and begin to claim her destiny.

I felt that the book was well written and exciting to read. I absolute flew through chapters at time because I was very much pulled into the happenings of the story. I adore the friendships Ivy has made while at the Halls, though I wish there were more examples of this. Particularly in regards to Rebecca and Fyn helping and supporting Ivy. (which we very well may see more of this in the following books). I thought the air of mystery surrounding the Dark Queen was well put together, as she is someone to be feared and not yet understood. Overall, this book has earned 4 out of 5 stars for me, and I feel that I will be continuing on with this series.

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This book was so magical and definitely something I would have loved reading as a kid! (For any of you fellow Harry Potter fans out there, you would also love this!)

I loved how whimsical and imaginative it was, it was full of action and of course magic! The characters are all unique, and the writing style and descriptions of the world were incredible.

I would definitely categorize it as a YA read, and think younger reads would connect more with Ivy! So, as mentioned above if you are a YA reader or love Harry Potter, I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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A captivating and fun fantasy that takes us on an adventure to Croswald and the Halls of Ivy, a magical boarding school. Our main character Ivy Lovely ends up at the prestigious school after 16 years of being a Scaldron maid at the Castle of Plum, just outside of the magical boundary. Ivy is a likeable, strong-willed heroine who likes getting herself in to trouble (all for the common good!) Throughout the book she discovers friendship, romance and the power of her own magic. This is a book full of adventure and surprises.

I enjoyed the pace, the action started pretty quickly and kept me engaged throughout. I got Harry Potter vibes and similarities but the story was still unique and magic in it’s own way. The magical system is very creative and full of interesting details.

I adored the characters, especially Ivy and her friend and roommate Rebecca. But more so, the scenery and the magical creatures were captivating. I felt like I was in Croswald with the characters and totally enjoyed getting lost in Ivy’s world.

The books is for YA/Middle School age but as an adult I enjoyed it nonetheless. This is the first in a four book series that I’m so glad to have discovered, and I loved that the ending left me wanting more. Now I can’t wait to continue the series.

Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and Net Galley!!

This book was such a fun, whimsical middle grade page turner read. I honestly couldn’t put this book down. If you love books with adventure, magic, magical creatures, and mystery this is definitely a book for you. The world building was great and with a unique magic system.

This book did give me Harry Potter vibes, but still at the same time was so different, unique and wonderful! I can’t wait to devour the rest of the series and find out what happens next for Ivy Lovely.

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This charming and magical read follows Ivy Lovely from her post as a kitchen maid (taking care of the dragons who cook the food) to the magical school, Halls of Ivy, where she will learn to assist royal magical families. It took me about a third of the book before I was truly invested, but once I was in, I was really in! Ivy makes a couple of good friends that she adventures with, in order to satisfy her unending curiosity. Much to the chagrin of her professors and head of school, this requires a fair amount of rule-breaking. She attracts the attention of an enemy, who by the end of the book, almost wrecks the whole school! The ending was a nice little twist (bringing back the first character from the first chapter, finally!), but the cliffhanger was even more “cliffhangery” than usual, to the point of feeling quite abrupt.

Similar to Harry Potter, it seems to follow a school year’s worth of adventures, includes magical creatures and potions and names for things we non-magical folk have never heard of, and also has a focus on the themes of friendship and making things right. I was a little confused how Ivy seemed to me more like a 12 year old than the 16 year old she’s written to be, but maybe that’s just to make her more relatable to the middle grade readers for whom the author is writing.

All in all, I’m glad I pushed through the first few chapters to learn to love Ivy and her friends, and see her save the school. Now when will we get to see what becomes of Ivy next?!

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The Crowns of Croswald was the first Middle-Grade Fantasy book I have read in a while, and I loved it. It was such a beautifully written coming-of-age story.

After leaving the place she grew up in, with a scauldron (dragon) in hand, Ivy attends a boarding school to learn how to control her powers. This boarding school is called the Halls of Ivy, which led me to believe something else was astray. The Halls of Ivy is a school for royals and scrivenists learning about their magic and how to work together. I loved the world that the author has created as it felt refreshing in terms of magical boarding schools! In the beginning, I was thinking it felt very similar to Harry Potter, but it quickly becomes its own tale.

‘To not let fear stop you from doing what you want most.’

Ivy attends this school but unexplainable things keep happening to her, with the help of her new friends, she starts investigating the situation. In one of her first lessons, something goes wrong and soon Ivy is the only one to remember what happened. I don’t want to spoil anything else in this book as it is such a fun read. Ivy meets various characters who all play a part in her experience at the school. My favourites were Rebecca and Fyn. Rebecca is a very likeable character and she has been sent to the school as a royal to learn about her power that is gifted to her through her crown. However, she decides to rebel against her mother’s wishes and train to become a scrivenist instead. Fyn is already a student at the school and seems drawn to Ivy. I loved their little friendship/relationship thing that was going on, and knew that it would have been something I would have adored if I was reading this at 12!

‘For years I have waited! But you’re finally home!’

Despite being a Middle-Grade book, The Crowns of Croswald transcends ages and I believe that those that love Harry Potter would devour this. It was a timeless read filled with adventure, friendship and learning about yourself.

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Book Review - The Crowns of Croswald

Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is - or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime - and save her life - she steps into her own lifetime and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood , and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?

This is a middle grade book that had me hooked from the beginning. With beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter and wonderful world building I was transported to another land. I haven’t read a middle grade book for a long time and I forgot how delightful it is to really imagine all the fantastic descriptions of shops and streets and the amazing magic school. The book is well written, flows well, and builds the story in great detail. I loved the characters who I felt were my friends by the end of the book. It did remind me a lot of the Harry Potter books as similarly to those books the author has developed a whimsical world and an adventure that I believe is set to be spread over 4 books. Well worth a read and a lovely one to read with children.

Thank you to @netgalley and @storiesuntold for my ebook copy
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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This book series immerses you in a whimsical, fantasy world that is very easy to access and understand. I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and I will be recommending it to children in my class as well.

(Quick note, the protagonist is 16 and I usually use that as a base for the age of recommended readers but this text is thoroughly middle grade and suitable 8+).

The book is full of magic and creatures, drawing the reader in constantly and always keeping you on your toes. Personally, I would have liked more of the world-building, especially regarding the school but I'm aware there are further books in the series so I look forward to learning more!

Would I recommend this book? Yes. It was a quick, easy read and it was full of adventure.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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A magical wonderland full of mystery and royalty and friendship! Ivy Lovely's story is wonderful in every way and she has the most magical friends and history! When she first gets to go to Ivy School, that moment reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, when he first got to Hogwarts.
I loved every bit of this book and can't wait to read the rest! Hopefully, will learn more about Fyn's story, he's such an amazing character and so intriguing! Highly recommend!

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Me encantó, este es el primer libro de la saga. Yo soy muy fan de harry potter y lo menciono porque me dio unas vibras así. Me encantó la historia y la trama. Al principio no me llamaba tanto la atención, pero continué leyendo y no me arrepiento. Me encantó este nuevo mundo que la autora nos relata. Ahora ya me quedé con la intriga de que pasa después. Pero si te gustan los libros con magia y una princesa perdida, este es el libro para ti/ I loved it, this is the first book of the saga. I love harry potter so much, and I mention it because this book has those vibes. I absolutely loved the story. At the beginning I was a little confused so I was going slowly, but I continued reading it and I don't regret it. I loved this new world the author introduces to us. Now I am very intrigued to know what happens next. But if you like books with magic and lost princesses, this is for you.

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Fast read and kept me intrigued throughout the book. The characters were very interesting. I finished the book quickly.

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DE Night will from now on be on my favorites list!
She has crafted a world that is so totally different from anything I have read so far. Her world is a new one, with – dare I say – new types of magic and a heroine who gets a little carried away. I feel at times, that she is too brash, as she takes too many chances. With not only her life but those of others as well. But, as this seems to be part of the reason why some of the other characters love her, who am I to moan?
The Crowns of Croswald takes you on an adventurous, magical journey through a new well-crafted world with new, well-rounded characters. I had flashes of Harry Potter. But as both Harry and Lily are young characters thrust into a new magical school environment, this should be expected. I can tell you now, that is where the similarities end.
I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book, which is already available, as well as the third. BONUS. I hate waiting LOL.

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The very first lines of a book is important to me. It is those few lines, those few words that either pull you in or not. And let me just say. I was hooked by The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night from the very first lines. It is very well written!

We follow Ivy who gets into a magical scool to become a scrivenist. And she gets into a lot of trouble. Not always on purpose! It’s just like magic behaves a bit differently around her. The Crowns of Croswald has an amazing world building and wonderful characters. I couldn’t put the book down.

I am envious of the tea cabinet in Ivy’s bed! I would love to try the different teas. You can see a little of my version of pop-of-gold in the picture 😆 And I also want a notebook that never runs out of pages! That is amazing!

I give it 🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️🧚‍♂️/5 (hairies, not fairies)

I truly recommend this book and I will try and get my hands on the rest of the trilogy. I need to know what happens next!

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ivy Lovely is a 16 year old put upon kitchen maid in a castle hidden behind a magic suppressing barrier. When she loses her place she ventures past the barrier with a kitchen Dragon in tow and suddenly finds herself in the midst of an adventure. Before she knows it she is at the Halls of Ivy, a school where the students learn to use their magical powers and Ivy finds she has an enemy in the Dark Queen.

Ivy is a strong character that I think will appeal to readers. As she seeks the answers to the mysteries that surround her, all sorts of adventures befall her. A delightful story of friendship and magic, with a budding romance thrown in, this is an excellent start to a fantasy series for readers aged 9 to 13. I enjoyed reading it and will be introducing my 10 year old granddaughter to the world of Croswald.

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Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old orphan who spends her free time sketching a castle she sees every night in her dreams. Everything changes when she is banished from her home and discovers she has magic after living her life being hidden from such magical world. She lands at a school to learn how to use her newfound magic, but things get tricky when the Dark Queen is threatening her magic and very existence. It is up to Ivy to unfold the truth about her past, to ensure there will even be a future.
I have to say it; the book gives me all the Harry Potter vibes, but it is still unique in its own way! The creatures and writing are very creative (I'm all about the Quill magic) and the world of Croswald is very intriguing. This book is definitely geared towards a younger audience and I probably would have given it 5 stars if I was reading this book as a 13 year old. As a 29 year old, i'm used to different fantasy books with more adult language and interactions. I would recommend this book to any young reader! It is a fun journey to unfold!

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.

The cover of "The Crowns of Croswald" lured me in immediately because of how well it fits with the plot and the magical illustration inside completes the whole world. I loved how the story revolves around a mad, Ivy Lovely, who has never known if she was special. Ivy grew up in a castle not knowing about her family history but one morning it all changes and she finds herself in a magical school "Halls of Ivy" to become a scrivenist.

My only confusion was that there were some loopholes to the story, which made it a little tough to dive into the book but I still loved the full concept of scrivenists and how this can become the next hit magical series. I grew up reading magic, witches, and creatures which is why I was so excited to read "The Crowns of Croswald". I'm looking forward to reading the second book soon.

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I was kindly sent a copy of this book by Stories Untold via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book and the wonderful world it created. It did take me a while to get used to all of the Croswald vocab. The book has been frequently compared to Harry Potter however I think D.E.Night has done a wonderful job of creating a completely different magical world and I didn’t once find myself comparing it to HP. I loved how imaginative all of the creatures were and the character development particularly of Ivy and Rebecca. The only reason I’ve deducted a star is I found the passage of time really unclear throughout the book. At times I wasn’t sure if it was all happening in a week or longer until a timeframe was mentioned around 60% through. Whilst this book is aimed at middle grade children I thoroughly enjoyed it and think anyone can enjoy it irrespective of age. I want to read the rest now!

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I received this ebook to read and review via Netgalley shelf and have been reading it with my daughter, Button.

I loved the imagination behind this book and I think it would make a great film. There were a lot of similarities with the Harry Potter franchise, sometimes too close, but generally this will appeal to Potter fans.
It was full of emotions which were handled well and would be brilliant for teens, though my 8 year old enjoyed me reading it to her. The characters were well rounded, believable and you cared about them as the story progressed. We were hooked to the last few chapters and are eager to continue reading the series.
I would recommend this thoroughly to fans of fantasy, young and old.

I just reviewed The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night. #thecrownsofcroswald #NetGalley
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This book was full of fantasy, mythical creatures, a magical school and an awesome protagonist, Ivy. I loved reading about Ivy and her adventures throughout this story. The description of the magical world as well as all the magic aspects were very well done.

In the beginning, I was a little unsure what was going on, but as the story continues, you get immersed into the magical world and story.

As a 6th grade reading teacher, I think this would be great for my higher-level readers or the upper middle school grades. I think any students who love Harry Potter would love this story as well. This book is also a series which I love for my students because when they enjoy a story, I want them to be able to keep reading as much as possible.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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It’s super sweet story. I love Ivy and how real she is. At first, I thought that she’s a little childish for 16-year old but then I understood that actually she is more realistic 16-year old than most of our YA literature describes. A 16-year old is not an adult yet, she’s just a child who starts to think about boys and relationships but a 16-year old don’t know everything yet. Anyway, after I had the thought, I just fell so much more in love with this book and how it shows the right kind of example.

At first it was a little bit slow and I really had a hard time focusing on the prologue but when the actual story began it got better. The moment I fell in love with the book was when I read about a dragon sneezing blueberry pie’s dough all over the kitchen. It really brought a smile to my lips. After that scene I wanted to see more dragons so there weren’t really anymore chances to put the book down and somewhere in the middle I just physically couldn’t stop reading because it got so exiting and I really needed to know what happens next.

Even though I love the story there’s just one thought that makes me want to put the book down. Is Fyn a bad guy??? I love him but he’s just so damn perfect that I’m scared he is a bad guy. There are too many coincidences. Like how he is always around Ivy, I know it can just be that he like Ivy, but it could also mean that he wants to control her or make sure she gets caught by the forces he serves. I hope I’m just overthinking it but I can’t stop thinking what if he’s just pretending to like Ivy so she would trust him, and he could stab her in the back. Please don’t make Fyn a bad guy!!! I love him!

I love how author uses her own name in the book. It was a nice surprise, at first, I thought that why is the name Derwin Edgar Night so familiar and then I remembered that the author was something similar. Usually authors don’t add characters that are named after them but it’s fun to see the author come alive in a book (the character doesn’t have to be based of the author), it makes it seem like a character wrote the story down and it somehow makes it more magical, you can almost believe that this is a biography not fantasy. Now I am wondering whether Derwin Edgar Night was named after D. E. Night or was it the other way around? I mean… Is D. E. Night a pseudonym?

In conclusion the story was fantastic, and I can’t wait to read more. I need to know that Ivy wins, and the Dark Queen loses, and Fyn is good after all (please!). And I also need more Humboldt, he’s such a cute character and I just want to give him more pie (I would also be protective over my pies and wouldn’t share them willingly).

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I received this book for free from the publisher, Stories Untold, and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about Ivy, a 16 year old orphan, living in a world with no family. She is forced to work in the kitchens all day as a maid and in her little free time, she sketches a castle and a world that she has only seen inside her mind. Suddenly, her whole life changes when she crosses a magical border and is transported to a magical school, The Halls of Ivy, where she realizes that she herself, is magic. The school is full of young students learning to control their magic and the magical gems of Croswald.

Ivy slowly begins to learn more about her magic, history, and is left with questions that she just can’t seem to find answers to. The closer she gets to discovering the answers she needs, the closer the Dark Queen gets to destroying Ivy & her magic forever.

This gave me big Harry Potter vibes but in a different way. This book’s magic is controlled by gems, not wands. There are magical and mysterious creatures, magical secrets that are trying to be hidden away, and a dark force that is threatening the life of the main character and the entire magical world. I really enjoyed the premise of the magical gems and I’m a sucker for being transported away into a magical boarding school.

This story leaves you with many questions throughout and it always has you guessing what is going to happen; who really is Ivy? What is her true story? I thought Croswald was an enchanting world that is easy to picture in your mind. It is one of those worlds you read about that you wish you could visit or see on your television screen. The world was greatly developed and written upon.

This is the first book of the series and is best suited for middle school readers. Myself, a 24 year old, enjoyed this story but it did leave me needing and wanting more. I was yearning for more character development, more time spent on certain topics, better explanations. BUT, that’s because I’m an adult and it doesn’t take away from the fact that is a brilliant fantasy story for middle schoolers and early YA readers. 4/5 stars for me but would easily be 5 stars if I read this back when I was 12 or 13.

Exciting. Fun. Entertaining. Lovely premise.

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I really enjoyed this book! The writing style was joyful and immersed you in the story.

The world building was fantastic and I know if I was still a kid I would really have loved this book. Perfect for young middle grade readers.

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Meet Ivy Lovely, a scaldonry maid with a tough life on the other side of a magical boundary. her only friend is a dwarf who brings her tales of the world beyond. The day Ivy is told she has magic in her veins and she should be at a The Ivy School for magic. Ivy's world is changed in an instant when she steps across the boundary and embarks on her journey at magic school harnessing her powers as a scrivener amongst royals. But somethings don't seem quite right and Ivy discovers there's much more to her past than she thought with the help of her friends.

A great story full of magic and adventure. Looking forward to the next installment of Ivy Lovely.

Thank you Netgalley for this read!

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5⭐️

“The village, well, it had a lot of secrets. And it’s secrets need to be kept safe.”

I loved this story, it was like Harry Potter meets Cinderella!

The Crowns of Croswold is a story about a young girl, Ivy Lovely, and her journey from a maid to a student at the prestigious magical school, Halls of Ivy. It is an enchanting tale of friendship, discovery and coming of age...Ivy is a beautiful character, who you can’t help but love.

I really enjoyed the concept of Scrivenists, such a unique way of practicing magic, who wouldn’t want a quill instead of a wand?!?

It’s a fantasy filled, whimsical fairytale of a story, and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!

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Reading this was like reading Harry Potter all over again except it’s wackier and funnier! I thorougly enjoyed it, just what I needed. The characters were quirky and the general description style brought the story to life beautifully. Can’t wait to read the rest!

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I was so excited to receive this book! Middle grade fantasy? Yes, please! A lost princess, missing double moons, disappearing castles in dreams, magical beasts both familiar and brand new, a pirate in a glass bottle, magicians who turn into books when they retire, an adventurous and trouble-attracting orphan/scullery maid? All the yeses! D.E. Night has an incredible imagination and creates a very vivid new fantasy world. There is a lot to sink your teeth into! And I grew to love the main character, Ivy. She has a thirst for knowledge, a love of creatures, an openness, and sense of adventure.

While there was so much for me to be excited about and fall in love with, this book did drive me crazy sometimes. This is D.E. Night’s first book, and I think it could have benefited from a few more rewrites. The new world the author created is fascinating and rich and has a lot to capture my imagination. However, I was frequently left floundering. Sometimes there were disparate ideas or descriptions. Sometimes the transitions were too abrupt. Sometimes an anachronistic word was lazily used that pulled me from the world. There were many times where I felt the author got too attached to a certain background character or scene from world building and couldn’t bare to part with it even though it no longer fit the tone or continuity of the finished novel. I also felt that the main character should have been 12-14 not 16. Maybe she was aged to accommodate a romance? Whatever the reason, I never bought that she was 16. All of this is part of the process in writing a novel and creating a new world, but letting the reader see the process is like pulling back the curtain on Oz. The illusion is broken.

Having said all that, I do have to admit that I’m eager to read the next book in the series. The plot, mystery, world, and many of the characters pulled me in so much that I need to find out what happens!

3 1/2 stars. Rounded up because I’m excited to read more

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I adored this book! This story is about a girl, Ivy Lovely, who is an orphan and works as a maid in a castle kitchen. Despite this she oddly gets accepted into a magical school where she will be taught to be a scrivener. Through out her year she gets into trouble and has amazing magical adventures, where she learns a lot about herself and her world. This story was soo good. It was kind of Harry Potter-ish but completely different. The world was more magical and fantastic, and I felt transported there. I loved the main character Ivy, but I also loved so many of the side characters too. Another one of my many favorite things in this story was unique magical vocabulary. I thought all the different names for things were so cool. If I were still homeschooling my kids this book would definitely be included in the readings, and I will be recommending they read it. I will also be talking to our local librarian and making sure they stock this. Definitely one I think kids will love!

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This was a fun read! I’m not even the target audience, with it being a middle grade book, but I still quite enjoyed it. The writer did a great job building the world in a way that truly made me feel apart of it. I think the best part for me was the friendships developed throughout the story. It’s the first in the series and I look forward to reading more.

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Synopsis: “For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the boarder, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing 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 magical gems” (from blurb).

My thoughts: The Crowns of Croswald is a whimsical middle grade read perfect for fans of imaginative books like Alice in Wonderland, Keeper of the Lost Cities, or Floors. Because the main character, Ivy, attends a magic school, I’ve been seeing comparisons to Harry Potter all over - but The Crowns of Croswald is very much its own book, not a Harry Potter copycat. Much of the magic revolves around memory and forgetting, which leads to engaging mysteries about what, exactly, the characters have forgotten without knowing it.

By far, the greatest strength of this book is its liveliness and imagination. Fantastical concepts are given fun names - for instance, nonmagical people are called “sqwinches” - and Ivy herself is a sweet and whimsical character. Croswald is a place I’d enjoy reading more books to visit.

Only a couple things drew me out of the story: Ivy is stated to be sixteen, but she feels much younger, maybe twelve or thirteen (the age I would normally expect for the protagonist of an MG book). And the dialogue often felt on the nose to me, without much subtext behind it. Maybe the dialogue style is due to the overall style of the book, but it did distract me a few times.

All told, The Crowns of Croswald is a thoroughly enjoyable read! The mystery is engaging, the magic is fun, and the school setting works as a great alternative for those who no longer want to support J.K. Rowling. I’d recommend The Crowns of Croswald to young readers looking for a light, entertaining series opener.

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Rounded up from 3.5 stars ⭐️
Initially I was a little dubious of reading this novel, mainly because the genre (Middle Grade Fantasy) really isn’t my thing. However, the premise won me over and I’m so glad I gave it a chance!

The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely, a young maid who harnesses magic. As she leaves the slurry fields she’s grown up in she tumbles into a life she never expected. Full of mystical happenings and wonderful friends.

I really loved the world that Night created. It is similar to Harry Potter (which people are either going to love or hate). But it had some originality too which I really enjoyed (especially the porcupines!). When I was reading I could feel the magical world forming around me. I didn’t want to put the book down because I wanted to stay there!

However, the only downside for me was that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Ivy. There just wasn’t enough about her character that had me rooting for her. I could see where the book was going to take her from early on in the story and that felt a little anti-climactic for me. However, I did really enjoy Ivy’s friends (especially Rebecca and Winsome) and I can’t wait to see where Ivy’s adventure takes her next.

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves stories about magic! I’m really grateful to the author, Netgalley and the publishers, for allowing me to read this book and give my honest opinion. It was a great journey to go on!

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Whenever I start a new fantasy fiction novel, I always wonder how they are going to make it different for the hundreds and thousands of other novels out there. The Crowns of Croswald is truly unique.
Slightly similar to a certain wizarding world franchise at the beginning, orphan girl living a hellish life until she finds out she is magical and is whisked off to a fantastic school.
However, that’s where the similarities end.
Every single character is unique, the weird and wonderful names, the different creatures, the fact that the school teaches ‘royals’ and ‘scrivenists’ (the truly magical ones IMO). All of it is just so incredibly clever.
It’s taken me just over two days to devour this book.
I’m now desperate for the second novel!

I’m not sure on the age of audience this is particularly aimed at, but I will say that it is quite ‘wordy’, so anyone under 14 may find it a bit tiresome (I myself did skip over a few parts that were mainly describing lessons or objects within the magical world), but it certainly doesn’t take away from how incredible it is.
I honestly can see this becoming a well-received, highly popular and successful movie (if done right).

Thank you to Netgalley, Stories Untold Press & Daniela at Stories Untold Press for gifting me this eARC and introducing me to the wonderful world of Ivy Lovely.

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Thank you to @storiesuntoldpress & Netgalley for providing me this read for an honest review! I really liked this book! It is a great middle grade book for younger readers (though I am 17 and I really like it, so I could see older teens like myself enjoying it a lot!). There’s magic and awesome characters, and the whole book has kind of a Harry Potter feel with the magic school and everything leading up to it. As a HUGE Harry Potter fan, I loved this so much. Even though it was close to Harry Potter, it also had an idea all its own which I enjoyed. Fyn and Ivy are super cute together and love, love, loved their banter/teasing. That said, I wish we would have known more about Fyn! I felt he wasn’t as explored as I wanted him to be, but maybe it’s a thing for later books? I know characters tend to not be explored as much in younger novels since the audience is, of course, younger, but maybe in later books we will see more development for Fyn amongst some other characters. Overall this is a very cute novel with perfect fairytale vibes. The audience is probably tweens/young teens, but I find myself loving both younger novels and older novels. So if you are like me (an older teen/young adult) and you like feel-good books that bring back Harry Potter nostalgia, I would recommend this one! Consensus: 4/5

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The Crowns of Croswald is a magical story of Ivy Lovely, a girl who grew up at a castle as a scaldrony maid and finds herself at Croswald for magic school to become a Scrivenist. Strange events start happening, and Ivy is determined to get to the bottom of it... threat of evil queen or not. This was a fabulous story full of magic, creatures and exciting adventures! It had the magical school vibe and the child who grew up not knowing who they truly are, just like Harry Potter. Definitely a fun read for younger children who are at the middle grade level, and I can’t wait to share it with my niece!

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Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I'll be honest, when I first started this book I didnt have high hopes.
I saw it going down the typical route of 'young person realises their magic, goes to a magic school, makes 2 close friends and discovers a prophecy' ... but it quickly became so much more than that!
Ivy Lovely is very well named. She's charming and sweet and I love her character. Fyn and Rebecca are the perfect mix of characters to be around her too and they both bring out the best in her. I loved their interactions with eachother a lot.
I can honestly also say that this is one of the first middle grade books I've read where I didnt immediately figure everything out, I didn't know why things were happening and I wanted to find out! The mystery behind the things happening in Croswald and surrounding Ivy was written very well and it kept me hooked on the plot.
I loved all of the characters, the world was beautiful (although I would have loved more world building, I'm hoping that comes in book 2!) and the different magic systems involved were really interesting,
The ending left me wanting more and with so many questions.
A definite page turner and a quick and fun read.
Magical, adventurous, suspenseful at times and just enjoyable!
Very close to a 5 star read for me and I can't wait to read book two!

This review has also been posted on my Goodreads and my Amazon accounts which I have added links to below! I will also be uploading a review to my Instagram page shortly.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is a wonderfully imagined story that follows a young girl on a mystical and magical journey. Unbeknownst to her she will soon discover just how important she is and learn to be proud of herself along the way.
This is a great book for middle-grade readers who love to escape into magical worlds! Younger readers would love it!!!

Night brings the reader on a beautifully crafted and whimsical journey learning all about the magical world with Ivy and her friends. This magical world is brought to life through the words on the page and it makes you feel like you’re in Croswald right there with all of the characters. Following the ups and downs of her discoveries, you come to really want Ivy to get a solid win!
I think this book is a wonderful middle-grade fantasy book for people who can’t wait to dive into a whole new world and join Ivy’s journey!

Thank you to the author D.E. Night, the publisher Stories Untold and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

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Solid 4 stars. A bit clipped between transitions and hard to keep track of narrative events, but otherwise pretty awesome and whimsical. Perfect for upper-elementary and early middle-schoolers. 7th-8th grade may be a bit too old, depending on preference.

Derivative yet highly imaginative, The Crowns of Croswald is perfect for fans of magical schools and imaginative worlds full of quirky characters and odd other-worldy goings-on that bear no resemblance to the starkly contrasted real world around them.

Scriveners—like wizards—perform magic with quills, not wands. They are usually paired with royals, who draw their power from magical stones. The book follows one to-be scrivenist, Ivy Lovely, who turns out to be more than even she thought was possible. With the help of some friendly students, she goes on a search for a mysterious author and winds up facing more than she bargained for.

I received this ARC from the publicist via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and social media support of the author. My review contains my own opinions.

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“𝙰 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚕𝚎? 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚌𝚑 𝚊 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝?”

What a fun and exciting read. When I was approached to read this and give an honest review I was a bit nervous but mostly excited to explore a new magical world! And did D.E. Night deliver! At first slow, I found myself still wanting to get to know these characters and the school more. It’s heavily influenced by the Harry Potter world, which isn’t a bad thing, much like how Harry Potter has influences of Macbeth and even Narnia!

Ivy’s a great protagonist with a big heart and has her whits about her. I enjoyed this book mostly because it wasn’t so clean cut, Ivy made mistakes and needed help fixing them. I enjoyed her friends, Fyn especially, and think there’s a lot to be said about how the dynamic of the group changes over the course of the story, but how they’re there for one another when needed. I also really enjoyed that the time line is one school year, again similar to HP on that sense, but it gives the reader a more definitive time line that’s easy to follow.

Certainly aimed at a younger crowd, I do believe YA readers can have some fun with it. I did feel like some things were obvious that didn’t need stating but were anyway. And the writing style is simple and easy to follow.

Overall, it’s a fun read, a nice escape into a new whimsical world! There are two more book released in the series so if you find yourself hooked you can continue on.

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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

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📚📚📚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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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I was leaning towards 3 stars for a majority of this book- but the last quarter was quite a page turner!
Ivy Lovely is a scullery maid, but after being kicked out of her position/castle home, it doesn’t take long to realize that she’s destined for much more. She takes her place at the Halls of Ivy, a magical boarding school. Again, you can tell pretty early on that Ivy is not your average student there. Having (unknowingly) had dreams of the very castle where the Halls of Ivy is located, Ivy (the person) quickly realizes there is a mystery she needs to unravel.

The story is solid throughout the book. What kept my initial rating low is the author’s tendency to tell information rather than show. Parts of it read like a summary of a movie- although a highly interesting movie I’d love to watch! There are pieces that could’ve used more description, and some that may have had too much. However, the entire climax was incredible and I had a hard time putting it down! Overall, I think middle grades fantasy lovers will enjoy this book.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a really special book following tales of adventure and magic, uncovering the secrets that many have worked hard to keep forgotten.

D.E. Night writes very well and from page one she catches the reader’s attention. Night uses really lovely descriptions, they’re not too long or boring, so the reader can truly picture what she’s describing. The book has a steampunk vibe, which I usually stay away from because I don’t like it, but I thought it was very enjoyable. What I liked most about this book is that it’s an easy read, which I think we all need sometimes! The cast was also relatively small for a book, so you weren’t constantly wracking your brain to remember who everyone is.

Ivy’s character is blunt, honest and funny, it was a pleasure to read. It was really interesting following Ivy’s perspective – she has been sheltered all her life in a larder, the furthest she’s travelled from the Castle she works for is the hill in the slurry fields beside it. Ivy is naïve to the reality in this mystical fantasy world, even the cabby beasts, the same as the reader. This means that both Ivy and the reader are experiencing and learning about this world together, which is a lovely ay to read and it makes it very entertaining.

Although this book is aimed for teenagers, every age would enjoy this tale of magic! I can’t put into words how exciting this book is, I loved reading every word of it, I had a child-like excitement when reading which I haven’t had for a long time. It was really easy just to switch off and enjoy this book, so much so I was finished in just a few hours! This book was so, so suited for me. I’m really excited to read the next book in this series.

Thank you to @author.denight @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I wasn’t totally sure what I was in for when I started reading this, but I’ve always loved fantasy coming of age stories!

Night’s protagonist, Ivy, is likeable and a well rounded cast of characters surrounds her. I really enjoyed her dynamic with classmates Rebecca and Fyn. Our primary antagonist, The Dark Queen, is appropriately menacing and a worthy adversary. My favorite character is a toss up between Fyn and the elusive Derwin Edgar Night.

The world-building, while certainly not neglected, is neither cumbersome nor overwhelming. Night gives us plenty of details to understand where we are without burdening us with too much information at once. Ivy’s first venture through Croswald couldn’t help but remind me of Belle’s morning walk through town in Beauty and the Beast, if that town happened to be a cross between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley from another well known magical coming of age series, which has a clear influence on Night’s work. Unfortunately, some of my favorite world-building moments happen in the last half of the book and I don’t want to spoil anything!

Ivy’s journey to understand who she is and where she belongs is both familiar and endearing. While I’m certainly not the target audience for this series, I remember my younger self’s reading habits and I would have loved this. Middle-grade and younger YA readers will certainly enjoy this magical world.

Star Rating : 7/10

Would I recommend? Yes
Similar Titles? Harry Potter, The Paper Magician, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles

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This is a page-turning fantasy in the tradition of fairy tales, whimsical worlds, and coming-of-age stories. What a light whimsical gem to read! The captivating world-building coupled with the characters makes for an exciting and enjoyable adventure that features Dwarves, Scriveners (magical scribes, Dragons, and of course fairies! The writing flows easily to set a clear pace for the reader. D. E. Night has created her own fairy tale world, reminiscent of ‘Harry Potter’ for others, but for myself it is its own magical tale. I see this being targeted at Middle grade readers bordering on Young Adult transition.

Plot features: mythical creatures, gifted students, enchanted quills, and a magical school. Overall I am excited to continue this series and see what awaits

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The crowns of croswald - D.E. night. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I could read this book via @netgalley
And thanks to @author.denight
When I started this book I was scared by all the terms that were specific for this world (english isn't my mothertongue so this can be difficult). But the story was built that the specific words were explained. I loved this world and Ivy going on adventures. A fun little book to escape reality. Fun fantasyworld, not like any other. I always like a book where books have a special place in the story. 4 stars, so would defenitly recommend this book.

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Oh my gosh. ⁣
How I adore this magical book! ⁣
I had such an amazing, whimsical adventure reading The Crowns of Croswald. ⁣
I didn’t want the journey to end and I’m already excited to read the next one! ⁣

The magic system in the story is very unique, one that I’ve not come across before. An imaginative world of magic, quills, dragons, queen and castles. ⁣

I love reading about each character and the development of Ivy Lovely, the main character through her magical adventures. She’s so likeable and has a lot of spunk to her. ⁣

I couldn’t put the e-book down. ⁣
A great new world to explore and have my mind wander while reading. ⁣
Some might say that The Crowns of Croswald is influenced by Harry Potter. ⁣
There are some similarities but I have to say that this book holds its own. ⁣

I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next. ⁣
This is just the beginning ... ⁣

I highly recommend this piece of gem. ⁣

Thank you NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. ⁣⁣⁣
All opinions are my own. ⁣

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This was a lovely read! I first want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free Kindle version of this book to read and provide an honest review for.

For fans of Harry Potter, magic and spells, and lovely fantasy novels, this one is one you should consider reading. Though its target audience is middle grade/YA, I believe it can be enjoyed by many others.

The characters are interesting and the plot moves in a nice pace that keeps the reader entertained. Ivy is unlike your typical main character in that she diverges from what we’ve seen in the past from other fantasy books. That and the different magical elements of Croswald and the deeper messages here make DE Knight’s novel stand out and shine on its own. She’s created a lovely new magical universe that makes one root for the heroes and cheer at their triumphs. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger but for good reason: there’s a sequel or two which I am confident we, the readers, will truly enjoy.

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What a beautifully magical book! We get to follow the protagonist Ivy who discovers she has magical powers after having been banished from home. She is taken to a magical school where she must past through the trials that she is put through to determine what her future will be. If you love magic, adventure and a bit of mystery, this book is for you. It is definitely captivating and easy to read. I would recommend this to young middle school kids as I feel it is the best age group for it. Overall, it’s a fun read…very reminiscent of when I was younger and read Harry Potter for the first time :)

I was very kindly provided an e-copy by Net Galley and author D.E. Night in exchange for an honest review!

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📖 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐝 (#𝟏)
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: D.E. night
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Middle Grade Fantasy
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 249
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is—or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
It is a wonderful magical book. It's light, breezy and fun, just what I needed at the moment. I loved the magic of Croswald. I loved how the writer created newer versions of some well known creatures often seen in fantasy books. There were Hairies - fairies whose hair lights up, so they are used as lamps. There were dragons who helps cook food! It was a book full of childish wonders and who can say no to that.

I love seeing a strong female protagonist and Ivy Lovely fits the description just right. The book contains some very common and well loved tropes, the chosen one and the dark lord. These were pretty well executed. The storyline was well written. It had twists and turns, nail biting climax sequences, beautiful moments of friendship and love. The school setting gives major Harry Potter vibe and honestly who can get enough of that?! I can't wait to dive into the next installment of this series.

Thankyou @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for giving me a free copy via @Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

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The Crowns of Croswald follows the story of Ivy Lovely, sixteen year-old, a scaldrony maid who ends up attending a magical school, the Halls of Ivy. As she learns to master her power, the Dark Queen threatens her life. She must uncover the mystery of her past to save herself and Croswald.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

This was a fun and magical middle grade fantasy! It's full of excitement and thrilling adventure. It started confusing and slow then it picks up the paced when Ivy finds herself in The Halls of Ivy. The author did an amazing job with the world building, it's amazing! I love how the settings was described, they were breathtaking and magical. The plot flowed easily although a bit predictable. The writing style was beautiful, enjoyable and descriptive. I especially enjoyed the unique magical objects, and supernatural creatures. I love the scrivenry, glanagerie, notcials and the maps. I would have enjoyed this more if there was a map and a glossary.

There are a lot of fun characters although the side characters could've been fleshed out a bit more. The Dark Queen could use a little more background, too. Ivy, the protagonist, was intriguing and likeable enough to keep my interest. She's curious, brave, and intelligent. She's endearing with an obvious personality.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, The Crowns of Croswald is heavily inspired by Harry Potter. While there are similarities, D.E. Night creates a unique and entertaining magical world.  It is perfect for middle grade children, and to anyone who are fans of magical school trope.

Thank you Stories Unfold and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Crowns of Croswald.

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I loved this book! This was my first foray into the fantasy genre in quite some time, and the story of Ivy captivated my heart! We follow Ivy as she is brought into the Halls of Ivy school to become a scrivenist (or so she thinks). We experience her trials and tribulations at the school as she seeks to unlock the truth she suspects certain people are trying to hide from her. The details of Ivy’s journey were phenomenal, and the author painted such an elaborate picture I felt as if I was right there along side Ivy. I can’t wait to read what happens next!!

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I will admit... I haven’t read many fantasy books lately, especially middle-grade/YA. So, when the opportunity was given to me to read & review this wonderful book, my nerdy side was thrilled!

It is a wonderful YA fantasy book for middle-grade readers that’s packed with adventures, friendship, & my favorite -🄼🄰🄶🄸🄲-!

💭 Final Thoughts:
- I adored the characters. There’s just something about pairing friendship & magic that gives me the warm & fuzzies 🥰.
- This book is perfect for readers who love HP & Narnia.
- Your child is going to LOVE this series. I was hooked in the story, and I’m 26. 😂
- Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

♥️ A huge THANK YOU to Danielle & #UntoldPress for this e-copy of The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night in exchange for my honest review.

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This review contains no spoilers.

Digital copy read from Netgallery in exchange for review from publisher.

This book was wonderful, from the first few pages it screamed magic. If you enjoy the Harry Potter vibes of magic, a school for magic, and a dark queen, and unfolding mysteries, then this book is right up your reading list! The female main character Ivy is such an amazing girl throughout the story that you cannot help but love her. I gobbled it up in one night and I'm happy to say that it wasn't leaving me wanting more because this isn't a stand alone, it's a series! So you can get your fix with the next book.

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What a magical world full of imaginative creatures, enchanting settings and a Dark Queen. I was pulled in immediately by Ivy, a 16 year old orphan who finds her life’s purpose is much more than she could ever imagine. When faced with uncertainties and evil, Ivy shows bravery and morality. I was rooting for Ivy and the relationships she formed at her new magical boarding school. The descriptive writing transports you to each setting and is perfectly whimsical. If you are looking to get lost somewhere, try The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night. It’s pure magic.

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I was not sure what to expect going into this one. I do read middle grade books frequently as part of our homeschooling adventures so I jumped at the chance to get this one. This definitely gave me Harry Potter vibes. My son is not quite to that reading level yet but this one he could definitely handle. It’s an interesting story with a cliffhanger ending. Of course there are more in the series, which is helpful for the continuation of the story. I definitely believe that middle grade readers would love this. It explores the magical realm through a young girl that was unaware she had magical powers of her own before she left the place she’d been living in as long as she can remember. There are twists and turns, friendships, enemies, school drama, love interests - it’s a great read!

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Leave the world you know and give in to the mystery and magic of Croswold. This series is a must for a middle school media center or a middle-grade fiction collection, perfect for students looking to grow from the Tui T. Sutherlands and elementary fantasy series. This is good coming of age and escapism between the pages of a book that doesn't make you look for the magic, but instead wraps you in it. More books in series.

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The Crowns of Croswald is such a lovely magical book. It has serious nods to Harry Potter, as has been remarked by many, but the book stands perfectly well on its own two feet. The world building in this book was great, and, while it made for a bit of a slow start, the descriptions of the castle, the Hall of Ivy and some of the quirky characters we meet in the beginning of the story were so lifelike that I got sucked in completely.

Not my typical read at all, but oh how I enjoyed this! And of course, the end of this book seems only the beginning. I hope we can see a bit more of some of the side-characters in this book in any further books in the series. I'd love to get to know the motivations of Fyn, Rebecca, the Selector, and honestly Damaris a bit more intimately, as I feel sometimes there wasn't enough time to fully get to know them as individuals in their own right.

If you are ready to meet a cast of amazing, odd and likable characters and to be swept away by this whimsical story of a girl who doesn't know quite who she is and is as new to most of the magic in this world as you are, I would highly recommend.

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If you like middle grade books check out this series. This was filled with magic and adventures. It reminded me a lot of the Harry Potter series. This book did not disappoint me and I will defiantly be continuing the series.

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"All Things Scrivenist, hmm? Not a bad place to start."

I was very conflicted when I started this story; primarily because it's a middle grade book and secondarily it's focus on a magic school. I still dove in with wide eyes. I've seen a lot of people compare this book to Harry Potter but I have to say, I don't see it. Yes, when a magical school comes into play it's hard not to draw those similarities but Croswald is anything but Hogwarts.

Ivy is a young maid who feels invisible, she makes food and manages dragons in what appears to be the darkest place on earth. Her entire life though, she's felt she needs more. Having the help of some unlikely mystical companions, Ivy is swept up to go to a mystical school called Croswald. A school that will help her perfect her talents as a scrivenist and learn of the royals all until she is matched to serve a family. I spent a good part of the beginning of the book confused because I felt that Ivy was just constantly left alone and I wanted her to find people to support her quickly. But she finally got there. With her stubbornness to learn even more than her first year knowledge and her insistence in breaking rules; she teams up with several other students who per their trust in her.

I left this book feeling so fulfilled in her journey. Despite the book being targeted for younger readers, I genuinely enjoyed the story and escaping to Croswald when I was reading. Thank you D.E. Knight, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I love books that revolve around magical academics and knew as soon as Untold Stories reached out to me on Instagram that I would be obsessed with this story. The Crowns of Croswals by D.E. Night is a fantastical story of the new age which made me love it even more. My students even loved it and obsessed over the cover in great length. Ivy is so intriguing as a character and everything I think that middle grade readers want to be. She's brave, ambitious, naive, but intricate and I just can't help by love her and continue to root for her throughout the entire story.

Overall, this story was unlike any middle grade novel I've read. I am not the core demographic but I do teach kids who are the age to read this book and they loved it just as much as I did. We are so excited to read the second book in this series.

Thanks you to Netgally and Stories Untold for the chance to read to this novel in exchange for an honest review.

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4 stars for me, this was such a magical read. I love childrens fantasy and this hit every mark. The world building was incredible and all the characters were so well thought out and I so wanted to be best friends with the main character. All in all I just loved it so much, honestly I would recommend it to anyone because it is one of the best children's books I have read in a long time. Ivy felt like my best friend by the end of the book! As soon as I can I am going to read book two because I already miss the world this author created!

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Thank you to Daniela from Stories Untold Press for offering an e-book copy of this novel via Netgalley.
What I look for most in a book is - writing style, character development, plot and how the book makes me feel, so a quick note on each of those things and I'll finish up with what I enjoyed about The Crowns of Croswald.

The writing style was often magically descriptive, however at times it came across a bit blunt interrupting the flow, mostly where dialogue was concerned. This wasn't a massive issue and didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of the story. I also think the overall tone is very suitable for the younger teens that the book is generally aimed towards.

The plot was really enjoyable - the author has done a wonderful job of creating a detailed, thought-through magical world. It has definitely left me intrigued and wanting to explore the series more. It definitely has a lot of Harry Potter undertones and similarities, some more noticeable than others. Generally, the author has made it their own and created unique aspects to a magical world. All in all, it was a fun adventure featuring a strong protagonist in a very intriguing magical world.

The protagonist, Ivy, is developed well and the story follows her closely. As mentioned before, the dialogue isn't as natural as the descriptive language and for me, this hindered the relationships with other characters. It would be good to see the friendships strengthened and deepened. A major strength / enjoyable element is that the reader truly goes on the journey with Ivy as she discovers her place in the magical world and unravels all of mysteries; this makes it a gripping read, leaving the reader curious to find out more.

The book started off as an expected 3 star read for me as I found the new magical world and language confusing but I was soon hooked, enjoying an easy and pleasant read with the magical boarding school setting. I finished it a lot quicker than I anticipated and liked exploring the Halls of Ivy through Ivy's eyes. It soon grew on me and I just wanted to keep reading and not put it down from about 1/4 of the way through.

What I enjoyed most:
The female protagonist in a magical world.
An easy and intriguing read.
Good world building with well crafted details.

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This book y’all! This book was magical! I was taken to a far away place filled with spells of every kind. There was laughter, twists, heartache and whimsy. Think Harry Potter but with a female lead. Ivy Lovely is the new girl with all the magic yet she doesn’t know it. Can she learn this new way of life before it becomes to late.

Fantasy is a new to me genre and I’m slowly beginning to realize I might love it. This book let me escape this crazy world we are in right now and took me to a magical land. The writing was excellent! I was able to visualize each component in the story. From the little lantern hairies to the Dark Queen. So much visualization! It was a quick read that kept my attention the whole time. I’m super excited this is a series and I can’t wait to read the next book! If you like fantasy trust me, read this book!

4.5/5 stars for me!

I received this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

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Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old girl, goes from being a scaldrony maid to being invited to the school of magic for Royals and Scrivenists all in a matter of hours after a dreadful morning. Ivy spends her first year around magic with multiple strange occurrences happening to her through out and one interesting mystery she feels compelled to solve. With the help of her friends Rebecca and Fyn, Ivy learns the meaning behind the strange happenings, bad luck, and vision dreams. This story is a fairy tale, magical world about finding yourself and staying true, adventure, coming of age, friendship, mystique, curses, and so much more. Middle grade readers will be enthralled.

From the very beginning of this book, I was hooked. It reminded me of Harry Potter and Narnia mixed together. It was a vivid world to imagine and never dull a moment. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

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Title: The Crowns of Croswald
By: D.E. Night
Publisher: Stories Untold
Genre: Middle Grade | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date: 21 Jul 2017
Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3826031672


This book is about a young Maid called Ivy who has lived in Castle Plum all her life. She dreams of going to the famous school called the Halls of Ivy to become a Sarvenist. The only problem is that to attend this school your have to be a person with magic, Ivy does not believe that this describes her. The closets she has come to magic is working with the dragons the the castle kitchen.

Things become interesting for Ivy when one of the dragons in the kitchen gets the flu, it causes both the dragon and Ivy to lose their jobs. As Ivy is leaving the grounds of the castle when she meets a stranger in a coach. Could this lead to her dreams or trouble? With magic, dragons and fairies there is plenty to capture the mind.

In reading this book i felt it touched on the following:
Grief : When a friend of Ivy's disappears she feels it as deeply as though she was losing a family member.
Greed: This is seen when the Dark Queen will do anything to get what she wants.
Choice: This can be seen in many ways in the book ,through doing what is best or going along with what others want to do.

I loved this book, especially how the author took things that are found in other fantasy stories and made them her own, for example the dragons in the kitchen cooking the food, where in most fantasy they are seen as big bad enemies. While reading this book it reminded my of other works like Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, it had those vibes the whole way through. I am excited to reading the next installment.

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I‌ ‌surprisingly‌ ‌thoroughly‌ ‌enjoyed‌ ‌this‌ ‌book,‌ ‌even‌ ‌though‌ ‌it's‌ ‌a‌ ‌middle‌ ‌
grade‌ ‌fantasy,‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌27.‌ ‌I‌ ‌found‌ ‌it‌ ‌mesmerising‌ ‌and‌ ‌read‌ ‌it‌ ‌in‌ ‌2‌ ‌
days,‌ ‌it‌ ‌reminded‌ ‌me‌ ‌of‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot‌ ‌of‌ ‌other‌ ‌fantasy‌ ‌books‌ ‌such‌ ‌as‌ ‌Harry‌ ‌
Potter,‌ ‌but‌ ‌the‌ ‌world‌ ‌and‌ ‌ideas‌ ‌of‌ ‌this‌ ‌book‌ ‌are‌ ‌still‌ ‌very‌ ‌new‌ ‌and‌ ‌
fresh.‌ ‌Such‌ ‌a‌ ‌delight‌ ‌to‌ ‌read‌ ‌about‌ ‌all‌ ‌the‌ ‌different‌ ‌characters‌ ‌with‌ ‌all‌ ‌
their‌ ‌varying‌ ‌magic,‌ ‌from‌ ‌shapeshifting‌ ‌to‌ ‌controlling‌ ‌elements.‌ ‌There‌ ‌
was‌ ‌a‌ ‌lot‌ ‌of‌ ‌guessing‌ ‌in‌ ‌this‌ ‌book‌ ‌and‌ ‌I‌ ‌did‌ ‌not‌ ‌expect‌ ‌the‌ ‌reveal‌ ‌at‌ ‌the‌ ‌
end‌ ‌which‌ ‌was‌ ‌wonderful,‌ ‌as‌ ‌it‌ ‌didn't‌ ‌make‌ ‌the‌ ‌story‌ ‌predictable.‌ ‌ ‌
The‌ ‌world‌ ‌building‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌details‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌magic,‌ ‌also‌ ‌the‌ ‌idea‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌
scrivenists‌ ‌made‌ ‌it‌ ‌an‌ ‌engaging‌ ‌and‌ ‌entertaining‌ ‌read‌ ‌as‌ ‌the‌ ‌story‌ ‌
evolved.‌ ‌And‌ ‌great‌ ‌friends‌ ‌to‌ ‌lovers‌ ‌in‌ ‌there‌ ‌as‌ ‌well,‌ ‌that‌ ‌was‌ ‌not‌ ‌
expected.‌ ‌

I‌ ‌literally‌ ‌recommend‌ ‌this‌ ‌book‌ ‌to‌ ‌anyone‌ ‌that‌ ‌loves‌ ‌fantasy,‌ ‌it‌ ‌may‌ ‌be‌ ‌
middle‌ ‌grade,‌ ‌but‌ ‌so‌ ‌enchanting‌ ‌and‌ ‌whimsical‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌release‌ ‌your‌ ‌
inner‌ ‌child.

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I was really excited when I was granted an epub ARC of this book on NetGalley. I was genuinely in a desperate need for a light-hearted fantasy book that would save me from the atrocities of my life during that period of time.
In this book, we follow Ivy Lovely, an orphan young girl leading a miserable life as a maid in a huge castle.
During the times where she was not working or being punished for messing up her work, our main character would be sketching with the finest of skills the confusing yet whimsical things she keeps seeing in her dreams. She only shared her work with the only friend she had that happens to be a dwarf. This friendship was the only solace to her misery so despite the fact that her friend was so mysterious she held on to him and listened with the most honest interest to his incomprehensible stories. One day all those stories came to life, triggered a memory and declared the start of a new adventure that Ivy never dreamt of having. In a blink of an eye, her life changed drastically. For better or worse ? I will let you judge for yourself so that we can have a conversation about it later. There is a lot that I enjoyed about this book. First, as a middle grade fantasy it absolutely does its job of enchanting young readers with its simple and accessible vocabulary. It definitely takes time to get used to the magical terms but once you get the hang of it the reading experience gets smoother really fast. Second, I like that this book has actively been keeping me waiting for what's going to happen next. I was always on the edge of my seat expecting worse things to happen. The reveal was so slow and that was so exciting for me. I keep seeing people comparing this story to Harry Potter and I really do not like that. As flattering as it is to have their books compared to the masterpiece that is Harry Potter I think that it is more important for authors to see us embrace the unique form of magic that they created out of scratch. Also, the only similarity between the two stories is the magic school but really what magical world wouldn't have a school ? Even we muggles do have schools. It's necessary. This being said, I think my favorite class in this school is the one about magical creatures. I am obsessed with their diversity and I still can't accept the fact that I can't own a hairie. My only complaint about this book is that some relationships were really rushed to my taste. I prefer watching characters bond after going through multiple experiences together. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it !

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When the publisher reached out to me to ask if I would like to read this book, I almost immediately said yes! I had seen this book around a bit, and the synopsis really spoke to me! Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy book, and it truly reads like one, with all the whimsicality that comes with that genre! I loved exploring this world, so if you want a simple fantasy novel that offers a great escape: read this one!

I thought it had a very interesting plot and mystery that had me hooked at every page. The whole vibe of the book did remind me a bit of Harry Potter, which I wasn't mad about; it reminded me of the books I would dream away with as a child and devour in a single day, so it was very fun to read that kind of book again. The mystery definitley gave it a fun twist, and I think this book is great for younger readers!

I also found the descriptions were very brilliantly done, and it was very easy to picture the world! Everything was whimsical, which overall made for a really pleasant experience. I thought the magic system was very interesting, and very well built, though I'd loved to learn out more about the different stones and families. The writing was really easy to follow, and I thought the book was well-written overall! It was also a fast-paced book, with a lot of action, which I really appreciated.

The book was also a good set-up for a series; it had a lot of important worldbuilding to get you a feel for the surroundings, and how the world was put together, without solely focussing on world-building and still leaving enough room to set up the plot.

However, I did I find the story to be a bit unrealistic at times; the characters seemed to get into impossible-to-get-out situations, that were all resolved incredibly easily; it seems like Ivy's luck never seemed to run out. This led to there being a lot of superficial drama and events that didn't have any major or lingering consequences, and was moved on from fairly quickly. Though some events were definitely necessary to move the story along and were vital to the plot, I don't think this was the case to everything which sometimes cluttered the book.

Ivy could be very stubborn and selfish at times; she only did whatever she wanted to do and dragged others with her into her misfortunes, not really caring too much. What also confused me was Ivy's age; she was supposed to be 17, but sometimes she seemed no older than 14.

Overall, I did really enjoy the book! It was a solid start of a series, that did a great job setting up the story and the rest of the series, but on its own was also very enjoyable! Definitely will be checking out the next book!

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first in the series and is set at a magic school. It has similar elements to other fantasy books I’ve read, but also very different and unique. I enjoyed reading about this world, the creatures, and characters. I’d love a scaldron like Humboldt.
The world building is great and you’re on a journey of learning along with Ivy. Though you do put the pieces together very early on about who she is.
There’s a lot left open for the next books which is good. Originally the prologue was confusing but made more sense after rereading once I finished the book.
I prefer close 1st or 3rd POV, and I wish this did that. D.E. Night did a great job, this is just personal preference.
It’s a middle grade book but with a 16 year old main character, which I thought was an interesting choice. Ivy could’ve been 12 or 13 easily.
Overall it’s an intriguing book and great for middle graders and fantasy magic school lovers.

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Thank you to Stories Untold and NetGalley for providing this book for free in exchange for an honest review!

My rating: 4/5 stars

I'm really intrigued to read this because... BOARDING SCHOOL (it's my current obsession to read anything boarding school-related) but also, MAGIC and CASTLE and PRINCESSES?
I've seen a lot of people compare this to Harry Potter, and I've read them since I was a kid I kinda agree with the first part of the book. But for me, I think The Crowns of Croswald have its own magical system.

What I like about this book:
- The world-building is fun and I've never read or found any book like this before (Scrivenists with magical quills, Castle and Queens, princess and princes, and magical boarding school together).
- The characters (mainly Rebecca.. sorry Ivy). Rebecca is funny and supportive to Ivy and I just really like her character. Fyn has a sweet, protective, and mischievous personality especially towards Ivy, and it turns out I like him too.
For Ivy, well she's great. She's curious, adventurous, and quite rebellious too. But um, I want to see more of her character development in the next book.
- I like how the author put her own name as a mysterious character in the book.
Wait... I think I like Ivy mainly because of this particular scene:
"I don't feel like doing much today, and probably not tomorrow, either. A few absences never hurt anyone. I feel like I need a break."

"A break from what?"

"Life."

Ah yes, that 1 sentence, and that 1 word is so relatable to me as a student...

What I don't really like about this book:
- NO MAPS :(( this made me really sad, I really wished there was a map, so the reader can have a picture of how the world looks like.
- I wish I could see more of Humboldt...
Yeah, I don't know what else I don't like about this book honestly.. But the no maps is such a bummer...

In general, it's an enjoyable read. It started out really slow, but from the middle to the last chapters the pace picking up perfectly. For me, I think this book is more appropriate for middle grades. Okay, that's it for me, now I'm craving a pie.

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Thank you to Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my honest review!
In the Crowns of Croswald (book #1 in a 3 books series), Ivy, a lonely scaldrony maid (a dragon keeper) manages to get kicked out of the castle where she works and the only home she has known. Somewhat to her surprise, she winds up at The Halls of Ivy magic school where she learns to master her underdeveloped magical abilities as a scrivenist. The book goes on to reveal her enchanting journey at the Halls of Ivy as well as her run ins with the Dark Queen.
I read The Crowns of Croswald with my middle grade reader. Both of us loved it and were enthralled from very early on! If you our your child loves fantasy novels like the Harry Potter series, you will love The Crowns of Croswald too! Initially there seemed to be quite a bit of similarity to HP, but the book quickly took it's own path! Everything about The Crowns of Croswald is intriguing from the mystical cover to the very visual and descriptive nature of D.E. Night's writing!
Overall I would recommend The Crowns of Croswald, but perhaps to the older end of the middle grade novel spectrum due to the sophistication of some of the language used. We're looking forward to reading Book 2 - The Girl with the Whispering Shadow!

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The Crowns of Croswald was such a fun read! I love that book two is already out so there's no waiting to continue on with this story. It's great for YA readers who have been thoroughly in love with Harry Potter for their entire lives...guilty as charged...no shame in my game!

I felt like the magic structures in the book were so unique and cool, it all works so well and gives a fun new take on a magical world. As far as middle grade reading goes (I have a few favorite series that are MG, again, read what you love, no shame in my game) this book was excellent and I can't wait to read more in this world.

Let's dive into the characters...my favorite part of any book. Ivy is wonderful. She's just want you want to see in a fierce young woman. She's learning, she's growing, and she's brave! So brave! It's amazing to see and I wish I would have had this series when I was growing up and looking to characters in books for inspiration!

The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderful read. It's a fun, fast, magical adventure that will leave you wanting more...and more you shall have since the series is already well established. Join Ivy as she herself dives head first into whatever life throws at her, you won't be disappointed!

4/5 stars from me, a wonderful read and I can't wait for my physical copies to arrive so I can share them with my favorite middle grade readers!

I just reviewed The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night. #thecrownsofcroswald #NetGalley

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“The story you seek is dangerous, Ivy. For you and for others.” —The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night

•••

♡ S Y N O P S I S ♡

Ivy Lovely is the scauldron maid at Plum Castle, though she wishes her life could be something more. When she walks far enough from the castle, she passes a magical barrier and is whisked away to the Halls of Ivy to study to be a scrivenist—a user of magic. But Ivy’s magic seems different from most, and her strange connection to a mysterious man leads her on a quest to dig up the secrets of Croswald, its Dark Queen, and her own past.

•••

♡ T H O U G H T S ♡

I received a digital ARC of this book from @author.denight, and I’m so glad that I did. What a creative, magical tale!

I’ve seen a lot of comparisons to Harry Potter because both take place in a school for magic, but I don’t think the two have much in common outside of that. The writing style reminds me more of Diana Wynne Jones, particularly the Chrestomanci series. It has a similar sense of humor and whimsy. One interesting thing to note is that, although the audience is middle grade, the protagonist is 16. I kept imagining a 12 year old protagonist due to the protagonist’s mindset and the age of the audience, but I liked how the older age opened the story up to a bit of romance (still written appropriately for the target audience, of course).

If you’re looking for a new flavor of magical-boarding-school tale complete with an evil queen, kitchen dragons, and magical royals, add The Crowns of Croswald to your TBR!

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I absolutely loved the magic of this story! It was easy to feel transported into the world and as a reader I felt the magical experience. The one thing I was not fond of was how confusing the first few chapters were. It seems to jump around a bit and I wasn't sure which POV I was in or what timeline. I understand the intention but as a reader it was a little hard to get into the story originally due to that confusion. Overall a wonderful story full of adventure, mystery, and magic!

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This was a very fun, adventurous book to read. The main character, Ivy, is very personable, and Night makes her into an enjoyable character. The premise of the book was very interesting, and the magical school definitely reminded me of Harry Potter and other fantasy books I’ve read. Overall, a great read for preteens that they are sure to love!

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I must say, whatever I expected - I absolutely got that and even more. This is very classic magic kind of world which is absolutely unique and fantastic!

It gave me Harry Potter and Cinderella vibe, with a sprinkle of Snow White here and there. It was in no way copy of those stories, just had similar feeling to it, which I enjoyed quite a lot.

Storyline kept me interested as it was really hard to predict what will happen next. And even though I did guessed couple things, there was so many twists that I couldn't even imagine! And the world building is truly beautiful, author obviously gave much thought even to the smallest details. Magical things are happening in the D.E. Night head for sure!

What I didn't realised, it's a middle grade book, so it was a tad too light for my taste. At some points I just wanted things to be more dramatic. But if you like to dive into a magical, creative fantasy world - give this book a try!

Also, the little initials thing author did in the book - I loved it! 🖤

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The Crowns of Croswald is a super fun, magical read that's sure to enthral younger readers from the get-go.

In this delightful MG fantasy, we follow the story of Ivy Lovely, a Scaldrony Maid whose life is a lot less mundane than she's been brought up to know. Ivy's path takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that she has magic in her blood and she receives an invitation to attend and study at the Halls of Ivy - a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. As the story progresses, we meet and learn of the Dark Queen's ill-intent towards Ivy, following her journey as she learns more about her own blood & history, and attempts to thwart the Queen's plans.

Night crafts Ivy's story expertly, using beautifully colourful , whimsical writing to bring the magic systems and characters in this fantastical world to life. I feel that some elements of the story are quite reminiscent of Harry Potter, but The Crowns of Croswald certainly has its own uniqueness and allure that stand to the book in its own right. There were some issues with pacing throughout and unfortunately I found my attention wandering from the pages on occasion.

Despite the few shortcomings, this was definitely an enjoyable read overall and would be perfect for young readers who love magic and adventure!

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Thank you to the publisher for sending me a E copy of the book on NetGalley!

The story is about a young girl Ivy— she grew up in what they call the slurry, which supresses and hides magic. One day, she gets invited to the Halls of Ivy, a school that teaches all things magic and helps the students uncover their powers. She has many adventures at the school, exploring her new found abilities and creating strong friendships, but weird things keep happening and she's sure they're hiding something from her. If only she knew what...

I absolutely LOVE anything fantasy, so this book was a good choice for me. It's aimed at younger children (think Harry Potter mixed with Eragon mixed with Narnia), but it didn't feel condescending or too simple for someone a bit older. I think this book has a lot of positive influences, which I feel is one of the most important things in children's fiction. The friendships Ivy forms are wholesome and far from toxic, which is another tick off my list of things I was looking to get out of this book. The entire atmosphere of the book was so magical and I absolutely adored how writing and drawing is seen as magic, a beautiful metaphor for how it feels to do these things in the real world.

The ending for me unfortunately felt a bit rushed and fell a bit flat after the massive build up that started the first few chapters. However, I think this was done to keep a younger audience engaged, so it's hard to fault this too much. I hope in the next books Ivy has more interaction with her new friends, because although they seemed solid friends, she seemed like a lone wolf most of the time.

All in all, I did really like this book, and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next in books 2 and 3!!

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was a slow start but the world building was well done. I could see the setting so clearly. The magic system is unique and I hope book 2 explains the scrivener/royal pairing more. I’m excited to start book 2!

DISCLAIMER: I received this book free from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Ivy, a lover of books and drawing, worked in the kitchen of a castle in the slurry where she befriended a scaldron named Humboldt.
After she was cast out of the castle, she meets many characters and discovers she is so much more than she thought. Her adventures to discover her true calling take the reader on a descriptive journey through a magical world where Ivy discovers who she really is.

This book was a mixture of Harry Potter and fairy tales for me. It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I was hooked...I was hooked. I enjoyed the fantasy-fairy tale story which showed that your true self guides you to your greatness. People in your life help you along the way. Trust in the journey.

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The cover, the blurb, the world that this story is based on all sounds like a fantasy dream come true and the initial visuals do not disappoint. A refreshingly unique and engaging imaginative story which takes you into the new world Night builds through her flowing writing vivid imagination put to page. Although a little slow at first and the book taking a little while to get into; there was no need to fret as wow did this story grip me after this and totally envelop me in the shadows and stars it creates. Spiderwick Chronicles meets Harry Potter in a realm full of magic, shadows, mystery, and charm to produce a story that you will get so caught up in you will battle to put the book down until you release you need to order book 2 straight away.
The characters themselves are brilliantly written, relatable, and easy to connect with after the first several chapters of getting to know them. The centre of my book character love going to the amazing Ivy. I cannot quite believe I am about to type this, but I had the same connection with her as with characters from ‘Harry Potter’ when I was a child, the pure joy and love for Ivy is one that must be shared. This not only is directed at Ivy though; every character whether they only appear for a chapter, a scene or are reoccurring, have a spark that take from 2D words on a page to full life beings in your mind and on the world itself.
This book age group is listed as 10-15 but although the writing style does slightly cater to this age, the story and realm itself is for all ages and loved of fantasy from 10 years of age upwards.
There are only slight woes I have with the book, which I may add do not affect me now that I have finished the book and fallen in love with the series as a whole. The earliest being there being a character at the beginning who is then not mentioned for a long while yet, being oddly confusing. The second being the word ‘scrivenist’ which is a fantastic word now that I know the meaning and fully enjoy, but when first mentioned was not explained, so therefore took a while to connect the dots and wholly appreciate.
Crowns of Croswald will always have pride of place on my bookshelf and in my book heart, so much so that I even designed an enamel pin based on it to share the love of the Croswald world.
Many thanks to D.E Night, her lovely publisher for sending me a copy of this amazing book to fall in love with.

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The Crowns of Croswald is filled with magic and adventure and I adored getting lost in the intricate fantasy world. I found the book to be a very enjoyable read and I think it is an excellent middle grade novel.

The book follows sixteen year old Ivy a girl who has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary away from magic until one day she crosses over and her powers are awakened. Leading her on a striking path, and ending up a student at Halls of Ivy a school for those who need to master their magic. After events unfold, Ivy has to delve into the mysteries of her past in order to save herself and Croswald before history is swept away.

The entire book was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it for younger readers just getting into reading. It's an ideal starting point and has so many interesting aspects. In a way it is very similar to other books out there but the whimsical feel of the tale and D.E. Night's writing made it more of an original read. I am a lover of books about magic schools so I knew going into this that I would most likely enjoy it but I was also wary because it's been done and it's been done extremely well. But the author managed to put her own spin on the trope and still create a thrilling plot.

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

A fun and light reading, perfect for summer and full of magic and adventures for middle school kids.

Loved the illustrations at the beginning, they add charm to the story!

I would not call it "the next Harry Potter," but it will entertain kids.

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This is a fantastic magical adventure with well developed characters and great world-building. Fans of Harry Potter will love this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

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This is a middle grade fantasy novel. I do believe it is part of a series. Excellent character development and plot.
I think most middle grade readers would enjoy this book.

Thanks to netgalley for an ecopy of this book.

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This was a charming story and perfect for Harry Potter fans! Ivy discovers she has magical powers and is sent to a school. But she soon learns not is as good as it seems and evil lurks nearby in the form of the Queen. A wonderful coming of age story. I really enjoyed it and believe Middle Grade aged kids would love it. I definitely recommend to them!

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This is an extremely original and detailed magical world! I absolutely loved the complex magic and how it tied together with the plot- there are so many clever connections and such an intricate world!

It started a bit slow and I felt overwhelmed by all the world building which seemed to not be that related to the action, but the second half of the book made all of that pay off. Now I am so curious to read the next one, as it seems the adventure will only grow larger from here on!

Just a little heads up- the theme, characters and plot are indeed middle grade, but the writing seemed advanced to me for that classification! Great for ambitious middle grade readers and all adults who love this genre (like I do)!

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I enjoyed it but I don't think Middle Grade Fantasy interests me anymore :'). Ivy was a really interesting character and I loved the mystery that surrounded her existence. I have a soft spot for boarding school type settings so that was great! I don't think it spoke to me but if I read this in Middle School I would have loved it. Highly recommend! <3

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This book was incredibly detailed and relaxing. I found it easy to follow and to have lovely world building. The first few pages started off a little slow but the building up for me happened around 30% of the way in.

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Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland.

This was such a fun, cute, and entertaining Middle Grade read! It had total Harry Potter vibes with like a touch of Alice in Wonderland. Was it Harry Potter? No. But it was so cute and charming in its own way. The characters were so much fun to adventure with, and the magic system is unique to others I have read. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good, clean Middle Grade read with a lot of Fantasy themes in it!

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I'm a 5th grade teacher and think this book would be a great addition to my classroom library. At the beginning the book reminds me of the start of Harry Potter but it quickly develops a different storyline after a few chapters in. I liked that this book focused on a female main character and shows how brave and courageous she is throughout the book. D.E. Night did a great job of mixing magic and adventure in this story to create a fun new world. I am excited to see where Ivy's adventure takes her in the next book.

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Fairies, dragons, magical schools and evil queens, what more can you ask for!!!

The Crowns of Croswald was such a fast paced story. We are introduced to our protagonist Ivy Lovely as she goes about her days as a simple servant. Always dreaming of becoming something more and living adventures of her own.

We meet Ivy's best friend Rimbrick, an ancient woods dwarf, who educates her and prepares her for what will be a chain of events that will change her life forever. Soon enough Ivy is catapulted into a world with magical schools, buried secrets waiting to be revealed and finding who she really is in the process.


The story was so lush and lyrical, I was transported into the City of Crosswald and its enchantments and swept away. I really enjoyed reading about the world building and it's creatures, and especially about Ivy. She's shy but very sure of herself and very adventurous.

Fans of magical schools, dragons, fairies and dark secrets will definitely enjoy this wonderful tale. The book had me gasping in the end with all the twist and turns.

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A great start to a new series!
I really enjoyed this book,was a nice easy read, though it did feel like it was setting up the rest of the series.
At the beginning I couldn't help but compare it slightly to Harry Potter! An orphan who doesn't know she has magical powers being invited to a magical school, being given a list of magical things she can get in magical shops. Though Ivy knows magic exists and has often dreamt of being invited to study to be a scrivinist. And on her 16th birthday this comes true! Though it seems that Ivy is destined to be more than just a scrivinist!
There's secrets and mystery Ivy seems to have a knack for getting into trouble (though if someone told her what was going on she wouldn't be running off trying to find out what's happening, but also the book wouldn't be as fun!
I liked Ivy's friend Rebecca and hope to see more of there friendship! I enjoyed the ending and Ivy wasn't who she thought she would be! I'll definitely read the rest of the series as it's a nice easy read and I want to find out more about who Ivy is and if she can beat the evil Queen!

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The Crowns of Croswald By D.E Night :
Ivy lovely is a 16 year old “orphan” who has no idea who she truly is. Then one day her whole world changes! Ivy soon learns how to become a Scrivenist and soon finds out some very viable information 😉This story took me a hot minute to get into, not quite sure why but it was. It also targeted to 11 years and up but there were a lot of huge words just thrown in the mix(but hey what I do know 🤣🤷‍♀️) I did throughly admire the premise of the story and we got a lot of info towards the end! Also there is something we come across called rhe “forgotten room” and let me tell you it go very annoying along with the head master! 🤣 also I thought it was a little weird that the name of the school was named after the main character and no one pointed it out? But maybe that comes later in the series🤷‍♀️ The crowns of croswald reminded me a lot of the worst witch in Netflix which If you haven’t seen that show I highly suggest it!overall this book was super cute and very family friendly! I highly recommend and can’t wait to read the next one! 🥰

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The Crowns Of Croswald
By D.E. Night

I was reached out by the publisher, stories untold press for a copy of this book in return an honest review.

This book has it all, hidden passageways in a ancient library, a faraway castle filled with magic and many mysteries,
shorehorses that live in calm mist-covered waters, oh and that wonderfully placed plotline that makes it hard to put down.
(Ivy Lovely) is kicked out of her workplace as a scaldrony maid at the plum castle, the events that follow with the help of (Liond Ohlander Lugg) an admissioner who has been looking for her, Ivy ends up at Raven Shollow, where she will learn how to use magic as a scrivenists.
Ivy makes friends with a Princess named (Rebecca) who can turn into any animal, and a scrivenists in training called (Fyn), the class facilitator of sqwinches.
With an evil queen looming from afar, Ivy needs to try and piece together the clues left behind by Derwin Edgar Night without getting court by the selector.

This book left me with goosebumps; I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantastic fantasy books.

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I’d like to thank stories untold press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun and whimsical read this was. This is a middle grade fantasy where we enter a world of dragons and magical quills with Ivy Lovely who is much more than she seems.

The world building is fantastic and filled with adorable magical critters and objects that you’ll be sure to want.

The characters are loveable and fun to read about especially Ivy’s friendship with Rebecca.

I recommend this to any one who likes fantasy especially if you like Harry Potter.

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Synopsis-
Ivy Lovely is a 16-year old girl having no idea of who she is when suddenly she is swept into the wonderful world of magic she has only ever dreamt of. But strange things start to happen as soon as she (strangely) enters the Halls of Ivy, the place she has been dreaming about forever. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?
My Opinion-
First of all thank you Stories untold publication for the free copy of the book. Talking about the book if you are a Harry Potter fan and have been dreaming for a continuation of the series then you’ve got to read this book, which will give you access to a whole new mystical world of magic! The book follows this girl named Ivy who has been living the life of a maid outside the boundaries of the magical world since childhood and has no idea of who she is or where she comes from. But things take a sudden turn when she crosses those boundaries and enters the magical school, the Halls of Ivy as a student. From then on she makes friends, true friends and finds out about how different she is from other students…..about her past. So basically the plot is pretty much same as that of Harry Potter…..kept in the dark till of age, going to a magical school, being different and a hope for people to look upon to…..but it also comes up with its own uniqueness. The author has done a great work at constructing a whole new world of magic, with magical creatures which are so very different and amazing. The things are all new and unique which are not at all the same as the other middle grade fantasy fictions we have ever read or heard of. Her writing style is also nice. Overall I loved the book and I’m so looking forward to read the second book of the series (it’s a four part series). I’d like to appreciate author D.E. Night for her imagination and the efforts she has put into this book.

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Can I just.. live in this world? This was such a fun read and really dove in with my imagination and took me on an adventure. I love how this story involved princesses and dragons and magic! Fantastic fantasy story! Every single part of this book was really delightful! Can it be a movie!? Highly recommend!

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I was reached out by the publisher, Stories Untold Press, if I would like a copy of this novel for a honest review. All opinions and comments are that of my own.

Review: When I was reached out by the publisher (Stories Untold Press) if I wanted to review this novel, there was no second guessing on my end. Although I do prefer mystery/crime novels, I also have been enjoy middle grade novels recently and nothing makes me feel cherished than an author/publisher reaching out to review their novel.

Therefore, I immediately jumped on to Goodreads to get a more in depth knowledge of this book and to see what other readers had to say. The common comment I saw was how this novel was a rip off of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. This kind of irritated me because it seems that any novel that is based on a magical school and has wizards in it is automatically subjected to criticism of it being a Harry Potter rip off. Were there some similarities to Harry Potter? Maybe (example: making a student confess). BUT the author took the time to create the characters and a beautiful world. You know how difficult that is?!? And D.E. Night did an excellent job at that - as well as the ability to create a world inside a world (inception, much?).

We as readers should stop comparing authors and pointing fingers of “copying”. You do know that stories are based off other stories, just rewritten to someone else’s likeness. Just enjoy the book (or not) but don’t bash the author.

With that said, I am definitely putting the series on my TBR pile (I just HAVE to know what happens to Ivy and the Dark Queen!).

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Thank you to D E Night and Netgalley for a review copy of The Crowns of Croswald.

At the start of the novel Ivy Lovely, aged almost 16 is an orphan working as a kitchen drudge at Castle Plum. Employing a pretty unique method of cookery.... baking pies in the mouths of small kitchen dragons. Being a baker and a chef, I loved this wacky idea of dragons being used as ovens. Ivy is facing a future of kitchen drudgery, constantly berated by the awful woman who runs the kitchen when she is mysteriously choosen to attend a magical boarding school.

This book is mostly set at the boarding school which is in a Castle. The school is filled with wacky professors, magical creatures, an amazing library. Ivy is constantly getting into sticky situations, mostly through no fault of her own.


Croswald is ruled by the mysterious Dark Queen who no one seems to have ever seen in person and her creepy hench men.

There is something really strange going on. The images in the paintings on the walls keep changing. People keep forgetting things and for some reason Ivy is the only one who doesn't forget.

There is some big reveals towards the end and a fairly dramatic school ball and I'm looking forward to reading book two & finding out what happens next with Ivy and her friends.

This story is more middle grade than Young adult despite most of the characters being 16 & one character being 19 ish.

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I loved this book and the world it painted for me! The atmosphere was like nothing I’ve ever witnessed or read before. DE Night did a great job at making me feel like I was a part of the story! Not just a book for middle grade but for people of all ages.

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I always find difficult to write reviews about books that I really love, because it’s hard to put into words that magic that you feel inside after reading a very special book… and that’s exactly the case of The Crowns of Croswald!

This book is book 1 from a middle grade series that introduces us to Ivy Lovely, the main character, and leads us into her journey from a scaldrony maid to an aspiring scrivenist.
All her life (Ivy is 16 years old), Ivy had lived in Castle Plum, behind slurry fields that kept her magic hidden. Until one day, a series of events takes Ivy away from this castle and into the Halls of Ivy, “the prestigious school of Magic where young royals learned to wield the magical stones in their crowns and young sqwinches practiced for the day when they would receive their own quills as full-fledged scrivenists.”
The plot is unraveled like a puzzle that Ivy keeps on assembling through her findings, until the great final reveal!
The world building is wonderfully detailed, from the magical creatures to the school subjects, and the story is well paced.
I only wished I had read it sooner! I’m picking up book 2, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, right away! This is Magic at its best!

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Ivy Lovely can’t have magic, and for sixteen years she grew up in a slurry field as a maid; but one night, she gets a letter from an old friend that reveals there’s more to her unknown past than she knows. Then being suddenly whisked away to a magical school, Ivy gets herself into all sorts of trouble and adventures. But the world isn’t all good magic; and Ivy searches for a way to stop the Dark Queen, and find more about her past along the way.

I really loved this book; such a fun, quick read. I am very much over the middle grade age limit, but reading this was still so magical for me as a reader.
D.E. Night creates this gorgeous world of Croswald – the quirky shops, creatures and characters were a delight – and that was so nice to read. The two magic systems were so unique, and I’m very curious to see how they expand on those in future books.

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This book was a magical adventure. Ivy doesn’t know who she really is and is slumming away in a station that is not meant for her. Not really.
Throughout the book Ivy constantly gets herself into sticky situations and it is great to read how she gets herself out of them.

It’s a great book for young adults from ages 12 upwards. Give it a read and you will enjoy it.

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I loved this book!!
AND it got me out of my slump!!
Basically it follows a girl Ivy on a magical journey and trouble is always following her, with the help of friends and mysterious notes, this book is perfect for Harry Potter fans!
My rating 4.5 stars

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Besides being adventurous this book is so different. At last, a new world, a new meaning for magic and fantasy. Most importantly, it keeps between its lines the values we all are craving for this, our real world, that is solidarity, loyalty, and kindness.

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This is the first book in The Croswald series.  A story of magical fairyland, fantastic beasts and enchanted characters.  The main character, Ivy Lovely, is 16 and she is an ordinary maid in the castle.  She just discovered she will be going to study to become a Scrivenist, a magical story recorder.  As she leaves the only world she knows, she finds herself in a new realm, where her magical powers are awaken.  Ivy begins to discover some secrets that somehow are all connected to her.

it's been quite some time since I read a good YA or Middle grade fantasy novel.  I realized how much I missed whimsical characters, magical creatures and a colorful fairy tale world.  This is a perfect escape into the magical universe so masterfully created by the author.  Although it took me a little while to get into the writing style, I enjoyed following the story, and the setting, which was my favorite part, ran my imagination wild.  Each character was so unique and well-written.  Just look at the Hairies on the cover of the book! How adorable they are. And I do now want my own scaldron (a small dragon that cooks your food).

All and all this is a great middle grade read, full adventure, valuable lessons and MAGIC! I would recommend it to anyone who is a fantasy fan or just needs an escape from the reality into the world of magic.

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I loved this story. It was like a different version of Harry Potter but instead of wizards it gave me more of a Fae vibe. I’m interested to see where the story goes and I will be telling my friends about this fun read.

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The author has created a wonderful, magical world. From the moment I picked up this book, I knew I was going to like it. But I didn't know that I would fall in love with the character Ivy Lovely, ha see that coming😅

This book gave me some Harry Potter vibes. The main character was sent to the halls of Ivy after finding out she wasn't just a sluddery girl. I had a feeling at the beging from this book and it always makes me happy if it is true.

The author has an easy writing style. And I have to say it but the chapter dividers are so gorgeous and original!

Okay a quick summary: This book is amazing! People who loved Harry Potter will also fall in love with this book! It is set in an amazing world and you just can't put the book down!

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My rating is 3.90

I felt like the first few chapters were quite similar to Harry Potter. I can see a lot of people agreeing to it. But yes yes the stories are not same at all. They're different. I liked the story, I couldn't put the book down when mysterious things started to happen. I wouldn't have put the book down if it was not a soft copy which caused me headache. The plotting of scenes was so unique and amazing. Author brought different kinds of animal here for different purposes.

A young girl started to reveal her mysteries when she didn't know she had some inner magic. This book is full of mysteries. I hope you'll like it

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Fantasy is not my usual go-to genre but I found myself excited and loving this from start to finish! This was all my childhood fairytales mixed together and I’d say it was heavily a mix of Harry Potter and Cinderella meets Alice- with its own twist. One let down for me was the too similar alikeness in the scar above the eye. But everything else had me intrigued and most surprised. Ivy, a young 16yr old maid has her mundane life turned upside down when she discovers she is actually full of magic and not a mere maid at all. All these doors begin to open for her and it is equally overwhelming as it is wonderful. She makes a new best friend, has her first crush and she is learning to ignore the rules and push the boundaries driven by her inquisitive nature and magic touch. She leaves no stone unturned and you will find yourself entranced in this magical packed treat. Ivy tackles everything head-on and I love this hidden message to all ages to never shy away from your true self. It’s a reminder to be brave. From hairies to scrivinists and all inbetween, this is one for those who love a fairytale and an adventure with a twist. It was very easy to read and I am pleased to admit the princess in me can’t wait to continue onto book 2 of this 4 part series!

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** Thank you NetGalley and Stories Untold for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion. **

The Crowns of Croswald was a fantastic read and I was hooked from the very first page! A lot of the scenarios reminded me of Harry Potter situations but with a different twist. The author still puts her own spin on things and creates this beautiful magical world and interesting characters and story line! I feel that you can read this no matter what age group you are in. I really enjoyed read it!

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Curious and whimsical, both shy and brave, Ivy is a hero that connects with readers of all ages. For those who wished that Narnia, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland could go on forever, Croswald opens a whole new world of magic. Recommended as a read-aloud for families and a first middle-grade fantasy read, The Crowns of Croswald is a four-part series that will carry readers to a whimsical world that they won’t want to leave.

This story from the very start is, full of magic and mystery, and plays with themes of belonging, self-discovery, and good and evil. It gave me all of the Harry Potter vibes (which I was so excited about) while still being unique enough to stand apart. If you are looking for a middle-grade fantasy, I highly recommend this one.

I received a copy through NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an E-ARC in exchange for a review.

I knew from the first chapter that Ivy was going to be special. I don't usually read middle grade, but I really enjoyed this book. I thought the magic system was so fun and I loved all the learning, the characters and way Ivy is really starting to find herself. I can't say no to a good magic school setting and I definitely want to read books two and three in the series. There were so many elements that made this world so good and I thought the details were thought out well. It was fast paced and I didn't feel like it was too much of an info dump either. The first book did a great job of setting up the plot of what's to come in the next installments. I thought it was really fun, the ghostly food trio was hilarious, and I enjoyed the nod to words and writing.

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So, teen fiction isn’t really my cup of tea nowadays, BUT since I loved the Harry Potter series I decided to give ’The Crowns of Croswald’ a try.

And it delivered!

The spelling style was a little bit bumpy in the beginning and I had to read a few chapters to get used to it. But with each page I learned to appreciate the style of the author more and more.

She paints wonderful, bright and colourful pictures in your mind and takes the reader on a fast-paced, humorous and emotional journey. The settings are thoroughly described and give the reader the opportunity to dive into this magical world. The narration of any magical creature or item is fantastic and would have been exactly like I would have pictured it as a 12 year old.

I followed the story with great interest and was positively surprised by the funny and unique characters and their relationships.

However, there were a few parts, where Ivy’s behaviour seemed kind of naive and juvenile, given the fact that she is 16 years old. But she had to be that way for the story to make sense, I guess.

Even when the plot gets kind of dark, I never had the feeling, that kids would be frightened or intimidated by it. I thought the darkness was an instrument, to keep the reader occupied and to help the tension to develop.

I’m currently reading the second book of the series ’The Girl with the Whispering Shadow’ (there are four books in this series) and the beginning is promising.

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4.5 stars

I'm really glad I agreed to receive a copy of this book to review!

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a brand new fantasy series that has been compared to one of my all-time favorites: Harry Potter. Although sometimes you get that feeling of déjà-vu, this book is unique in its own way.

We embark on this adventure by following Ivy, a young lady who was born with magical powers. For the first part of the book, Ivy is working as a kitchen maid who doesn't expect to do much else with her life and certainly doesn't expect to ever be able to attend a magical school for royals and those born with magical blood (*wink wink*). However, after an accident involving a unique type of dragon that bakes in its mouth and the kitchen head staff, Ivy is kicked out of her job and home. Once Ivy is thrust out into the real world outside the castle walls, all the exciting magic stuff begins to happen.

I love exploring new worlds of magic, especially schools of magic. The world-building is great: lots of imaginative elements in terms of magical creatures (like scaldrons – Humboldt is adorable <3) and the whole idea of cabbies/cabby storms and the magic of the scrivenists (that revolves around quills, ink, and storytelling) was very ingenious. I was mesmerized throughout the whole story with each newly revealed secret.

While it does have a few small issues (mostly in terms of pacing), this is a fun book, quite addicting and adventurous, with a magic system that will definitely appeal to readers of any age.

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I am writing on behalf of my daughter, who is 11 years old. She has an IG account (@paige.s.reading), and thanks to Stories Untold Press, she received a free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5, she loved it and wants to keep reading the whole series.

Plot: Ivy Lovely is an orphan living in Castle Plum as a Scauldron dragon maid. One day she is kicked out of the castle with her Scauldron. They wind up in the Halls of Ivy, a magic school. Ivy is curious about an empty journal that she found at the school, but she is forbidden to read it. Will she find out the truth behind the journal?

Feelings: I was curious and Anxious at the end of the book because I am afraid that Ivy might get in trouble, and I want to know what happens next! It is written with magic and mystery; that’s what kept me reading the book. It also reminds me of Harry Potter.

Fun Facts: This is my second book on kindle (on my Ipad). I enjoyed reading an ebook for a change. It also has an electronic bookmark.

Recommendations: I highly recommend this book if you like fantasy or magical worlds or Harry potter.

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The Crowns of Croswald was a great read from page one and every minute of it reminded me of Harry Potter. I could not put the book down I was hooked with the writing. I would recommend this book to fans of Harry Potter I feel that it doesn't matter if you're not in the age group the writing was good enough for older people to also enjoy.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a Lovely (excuse the pun) read. It's a fun, enchanting tale following Ivy Lovely as she's thrown into a world of magic and begins to uncover her past.

What I loved about this book was the unique approach to magic with the royals harnessing power from their crowns and scrivinists through their quills and drawing abilities. I thought the creatures were fun, quirky and imaginative - I have a soft spot for Humboldt - and the characters were likable. My only negative point would be that Ivy's dialogue reads a lot younger than her age (16) and it feels like she's closer to the target reading audience's age of about 13.

Even though this book is aimed at younger teens and children, I thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgic warmth of diving into a new, unique story about a school of magic. For me as a reader I would give it 3.5 stars but I added the extra half star because I know I would have been obsessed with it when I was the target audience age. Whilst there are similarities to Harry Potter and animated series' such as Little Witch Academia, I think this book still has it's own identity and I'm definitely looking forward to reading the sequel and see what happens in Ivy's world next.

I honestly think this is a wonderful little read for anyone who has a child who loves fiction and magic, and even the odd adult who fancies an light, comforting read.

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This is a very whimsical, fun, magical, middle-grade story. I loved the way the story of Ivy and how she went from being kicked out of the castle to finding what she was truly meant to be. Her art was so intriguing and lovely to read about. But the story isn't just as simple as that. If you enjoyed the adventures of Harry Potter, I'd say this story will appeal to you. Maybe made for a younger audience than Harry Potter. There's magic, there's mystery, there's fun and lively escapes. Thank you to DE Night for allowing me to read this book for an honest review.

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When I read the book description I was really excited because I always enjoy magical coming of age story. In the book we follow Ivy who has recently discovered that there is so much more to herself than she could have ever imagined. Ivy is forced to learn about magic that resides in her blood and about harnessing her powers in order to save her new home.

I really enjoy reading about magical schools with mysterious villains and a lot of secrets, so this was a great read. The main character Ivy was such lovable and curious character. She regularly showed how aptitude for kindness even in times that it got her in trouble. The book is truly as magical as the cover. I found myself getting lost in the town of Croswald while reading. The author, D.E. Night gave such vivid descriptions that I felt like I was watching a movie as I read. The ending definitely left me wanting more. I can't want to pick up the others.

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I would like to thank Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for sending me an ebook copy of this amazing book by D.E Night in exchange of an honest review.

The Crowns of Croswald is such a thrilling book, perfect for fantasy lovers with a heart for adventure and discovery of magic that’s quite different from the one we know. The protagonist, Ivy Lovely, is the sweetest girl, she’s so brave and intelligent, I absolutely loved her. Ivy’s story, her discovery of her own magical blood and mysterious past is so fun and amusing, everything that happens to her and the trouble she gets into is so exciting and intriguing, and her friends are simply the best!

Discovering this new scrivenist world in which Ivy is now part of, the magic stones, quills, fun and different magic creatures (Humboldt the scaldron and the hairies are my absolute favorites!) and even Ivy’s chilling encounters with the mysterious and evil Dark Queen were such an amazing adventure.
I adored the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, they’re gorgeous and such a nice addition to all the adventures and magical places.

Although I really enjoyed all the mystery and intrigue we got from the first page I did feel like everything got such a quick answer towards the end and it turned even more fast-paced than it already was, but it still was so much fun to read and I loved all the characters and their different personalities, even the ones that suddenly got suspicious.

The way everything worked out at the end, all the new aspects we got to know not only about Ivy’s life but the whole magic system in Croswald was amazing and simply epic.

I highly recommend this book, it’s such an easy and fun read, full of disaster and excitement. I have so many theories and questions yet to be answered and can’t wait to read the next one, the girl with the whispering shadow.

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When opening the book firstly I was mesmerised by the drawings on top of each chapter. Some may think that's not important, but actually it helps diving even deeper in this magical world.
The writing itself is full with beautiful detailed descriptions of places and beings but there is also some thrill and some action. I've been swept away in a whole new magical world with interesting story. All Characters remind mystical except for the main lead, so there's no saying what's about to happen next and that makes me curious about the next books of the series.
Crowns of Croswald reminds me of many other famous books of this genre - Harry Potter, Eragon, Alice in Wonderland and of some not so famous I've read. If one likes those, would like this one too.

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I loved this magical book , Its written in a very fairytale-esque way and the intruige as high all the way true.
Its about Ivy a maid who may go to a prestige magical school. Her past is very miysterical and Ivy tries to find out who she is..

There is a good villain in this story and i loved the friendships.

If you like magical schools , the chosen one trope ( done right), and an atmospheric read i highly recommend this book!

Well excuse me im of now buying the next two books. Thank you so much to D.E Night and stories untold press for gifting me this e-arc i enjoyed it so much.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night was a delight!
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I love the magic and the mystery. I love Ivy and her relationships with Winsome, Fyn and Rebecca.
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Shorehorses may be my new favorite mythical creature.
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I loved reading about Ivy discovering who she is and the Dark Queen's interest in her.
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I like that I still have questions (like what happened to Rimbrick?) because it makes me excited to read the second book!
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I have so much I want to say but I don't want to spoil it!

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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 cashing 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 Crowald before the truth is swept away forever.

If you love HP series you will definitely love this book, it has a magical world and unknown powers one may have. It also has a little fairytale love story intwined in it. It was such a lovely book and brought me back to my youth reading this book.

Ivy, I absolutely loved her and all the side characters made this a fun middle grade/young adult book. I gave this 4.9 cause it was a little slow for me at first but definitely worth reading cause the ending was great and I can’t wait to read the other books to find out the rest of the story.

Thank you D.E. Night for writing such a wonderful book and thank you for allowing me to read this book on NetGalley for my honest review.

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When I first started reading this novel, I got a bit scared because it reminded me quite a lot of Harry Potter with how the character have secret powers, how she ends up going to a magic school etc, but in the end I was really surprised to find a completely different universe (except for the magic, obviously!)

We are following Ivy, who has no idea what’s happening to her. She’s going to have to keep up with this whole new world and her new life after years of serving someone. She had no idea what this school has in store for her with all those secrets, the crazy adventures but also the new friends she’s gonna make.

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If you enjoyed reading Harry Potter or Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend and you are looking for a new middle grade book with magic at its core... you have found one! It is not a completely different plot as the books mentioned but it still has interesting nuances about how magic works in this universe.

Thank you so much for my advanced copy.. it took me a long time to finally start reading but I'm glad I finally picked it up.

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I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I think kids in the middle grade category would really love this book although I found it enjoyable as an adult.
This story was magical. The plot was interesting. The mystery of it all keeps you reading. It was full of vivid imagery and great little details that really make you feel part of this magical world. Overall it was a fun adventure and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.

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If you are looking for a middle- grade fantasy book, then The Crowns of Crosswald is a great book to pick up. This reminds me so much of Harry Potter and the magical world of Hogwarts with its magic system and whimsical world. The story was creatively made that it keeps you turning the page, wanting to see what happens next.

Ivy worked in the royal family’s kitchen as she is a servant girl in the household. One day, she got invited to a school that teaches magic called Hall of Ivy, which teaches magic. From there, the book began to get more interesting and unravel secrets [she never would have thought plague this fantastical school].

The book was well written and the imagery was effectively used to create vivid pictures in my imagination. However, personally, the pacing of the story was too slow with little actions at the beginning and too fast halfway through the end, which threw me off. Other than that, I was a little sad that the book did not tell us more about Fyn and Rebecca. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this coming-of-age novel and its nicely wrapped up story.

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This was such a fun book to read. I really loved reading this book, and getting introduced to a new magic system and a new world. I really recommend this book for fantasy lovers.

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I really enjoyed this magical book. I'm excited to see where this series will go. The magic is great. The characters are great. And the story is great.

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Initially when I was approached to read this book I was unsure if I wanted to, but I immediately agreed after reading the blurb, they had me at magic, castles and dragons.

The Crowns Of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy series filled with magic, mystery and mythical creatures. The protagonist Ivy Lovely is a sixteen year old orphan who works as scullery maid at Castle Plum but all she dreams of is to be a scrivinist. Her whole life changes when she is thrown out of Castle plum and crosses an enchanted magical border and enters the Halls of Ivy, a magical school with a scaldragon, Humboldt, her dragon companion. Once she crosses the border, her powers awaken and at the academy, she masters her magical abilities and learns about the mysterious Croswald gems. But many mysterious things happen to Ivy, why do the Halls keep calling out to her? who is the mysterious man that haunts her dreams that no one seems to remember? When Ivy’s life is threatened by the Dark Queen she pursues to unfold the secrets of her past and finds out that the future of Croswald lies in her hands.

This book has an interesting plot with good narration, characters and well executed world building. It was a little difficult to remember all the unique terms and different types of magic initially, but it gets better after a few pages. This book gives me Hp meets Disney meets Stardust vibes but it still has a unique storyline with many plot twists.

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4/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for giving me a copy of this book! This is my honest review, all views are my own.
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This was a wild ride! I was captivated by the story, I loved how descriptive and lively the narration was, and I thought the writing perfectly encapsulated the craziness of the world. The story was fun, but it got a little confusing occasionally. The beginning has some info-dumping, and I wish that the introduction wasn’t so jarring a difference from the first chapter and the actual story… Though the introduction does get explained later in the book! The main character, Ivy Lovely, is cute, headstrong, and willing to break a few rules to solve a mystery, but she is relatively new to the world of magic and it’s sometimes a stretch to understand how she made certain conclusions. The side characters are a little flimsier (some character names are mentioned as if they’re friends of Ivy’s, yet they’re never mentioned otherwise), so I hope they develop in the later books. As for the magic: I’m sure this book has been compared to Harry Potter for its magic school trope, but it’s a world of its own that holds up considerably well! The magic system is interesting, but not so complex as to make it confusing. The only confusion I truly had was from the glanagerie, which were used in a strange way near the end. Despite any confusion, I thought this book was super fun and deserves a solid 4 stars!

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I really enjoyed this story. It was like Harry Potter mixed with The Magicians, from a female perspective. I love a good magic school story and this one did not disappoint. So many twists and questions that I finished it and instantly had to go buy the next one to see what's going to happen next.

Night does a fantastic job of creating a unique and magical world filled with interesting creatures and endearing characters. There is SO MUCH to this world.

Ivy's story has taken such unexpected turns, and I truly enjoyed watching her grow into a strong, capable young woman over the course of this book.

I'm very curious to find out more of her story. I just have so many questions! I need to know more about her life, her family history, how she's going to handle the Dark Queen, if she and Fyn will actually get together!

10/10, highly recommend.

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3 things why you should read this book:⁠

1. if you like magic, adventure, and some royal stuff you will definitely adore this book.⁠

2. our protagonist, ivy is a fearless character. stubborn may it be, but I honestly liked her guts. my favorite character on this one, is her best friend, rebecca. perrsonally, rebecca and ivy compliment each other, and her bravery is kinda different compared to ivy but still she supports her and believed in her when no one else did. ⁠

3. it is a middle grade book and expect that they will go to a school wherein they need to train and hone their skills.(just like harry potter stuff, though i haven’t read that series. lol). i also like @author.denight ‘s writing style because it is so smooth and easy to delve with.⁠

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I love the world building and magic in this story, it’s fun and not something I’ve come across before – some of the students have stones with very specific magical traits that they have to learn to control, while others have powers related to artistic ability.

Ivy is a 16 year old orphan who’s found herself cast from everything she’s ever known and starting a new life that she could never have imagined (sound familiar?), and everything seems to tip in just the right direction to help her get where she needs to go.

The pacing of this book is very fast and full of action, especially once Ivy finds herself in school. She does make some friends while she’s there, but I can’t help but feel that she doesn’t treat them very well while they’re busy helping her in all her endeavours, however dangerous or badly thought out they may be. For this reason, I found it quite hard to bond with her as a character – but the world building and intrigue was enough to keep me hooked in the hope that she’ll become more likable as she matures.

The writing style is very enjoyable and I think will particularly appeal to readers who are still in high school and can identify more with the characters than I did, because I found myself hoping for chapters from the perspective of some of the teachers or side characters to give it an extra flavour.

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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a review!

Let me start off by saying that this book was incredible! I adored the whimsical world building, the magical descriptions, and the characters. I literally bought the three physical books in the series because I needed to know what happens next, lol. I could definitely see this as a movie, and Croswald is just as enchanting as Narnia and Hogwarts, in my opinion. I would love to live in this world!
Ivy Lovely, just thrown out of her position as a scaldrony maid, is astonished to find that she has been selected to attend the famous school for royals and scrivenists. Little does she know, however, that her arrival will throw Croswald into tumult, causing quills to fly at her and glanageries to become terrifying.
I would definitely recommend this book, first in a series, to anyone who enjoys fantasies about magical worlds and enchanted schools.

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The Crowns of Croswald takes you on a thoroughly enjoyable adventure into a magical and mystical world! Ivy Lovely is a young scaldrony maid, in charge of dragon like, but moody, animals used for their fire in the kitchens of Plum Castle, a very unspecial and predictable place. She works hard and is provided a bare dark room to sleep and not much else. On the very day she gets tossed out of the castle, she finds herself swept into a magical school, the Halls of Ivy, a place she recognizes from her dreams! Surely, there's been a mistake, since invitation to the school is reserved for royals or those with magical blood, and Ivy is neither of those. As the semester continues, Ivy becomes even more confused as to why she is there, but her dreams and curiosity pull her into scrapes and adventures that hopefully will give her answers. A young adult book that this adult also enjoyed! The heroine, Ivy, is lovable, whimsical and has a knack for getting in trouble! The book is full of interesting characters and magical creatures with just the right amount of suspense for middle school readers. This is the first in a series of four books, which is a good thing because I, like Ivy, still have a lot of unanswered questions, and I look forward to following along on Ivy's adventures!
Thank you @NetGalley and @author.denight for the opportunity to read and review!

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It's been a while i read a fantasy book so picking up this book was quite a hassle but once got into the story it was such a wonderful read. I particularly have a soft soft spot for our main girl Ivy.
D.E Night writing is whimsical and needs your utmost attention or the spell of Croswald will be broken
It wasn't really my cup of tea but it was an amazing read. So if you adored Harry Potter this book should definitely be on tbr when you're done.

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Synopsis: Ivy Lovely , a 16 year old works as a scauldrony maid. A series of events occur and she is forced to leave the secure slurry. Her magic awakens and she is invited to be taught at the magical school " HALLS OF IVY". Will she able to decipher the secrets of her being and the ancient scrivenist magic?

Review:
The good:
This is a lighthearted middle grade fantasy book with scrivenists , a magic school and the main character is a lovely lady squinch . This book gave me strong Harry Potter and coco( animated movie) vibes. The language used is quite simple and is a quick read.

What could have been better:
This book draws a lot of parallels with HP world and we've already seen that in a lot of fantasy books. What is to be appreciated is that despite having similar settings, the author has conjured up an interesting fantasy world. This can be enjoyed more by 8-12 year olds; but may not be as interesting for the young adults and adults.

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I received an e-copy of this book from Stories Untold Press for free in exchange for an honest review.

This middle grade story is very fun and whimsical! Ivy is a fun main character to follow on her journey as she learns and grows. I don’t know if anyone else read Charlie Boone books as a kid like I did, but this book reminded me of a mix of those and Harry Potter, with the magic and the school. I think middle grade readers will love The Crowns of Croswald, and I enjoyed the read!

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I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review:

This book was very MAGICAL and amazing. I loved the characters, story, whole new world that seems very Harry Potter like, and the adventures. It's very clever and intriguing. I am very glad to have read this book and I look forward to (eventually) reading the whole series!
I think it's worth a read.

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This was a delightful read! In it, we meet Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid at the House of Plum. She’s in charge of the scaldrons, small dragons who use their flames to cook the food. An unexpected turn of events sends her fleeing, with the smallest scaldron, beyond the magic-blocking border that she’s lived behind her entire life. And thus begins the new life of Ivy Lovely. Whisked off to a magical school, learning she’s got magical powers, training to be a Scrivenist, and learning she may be so much more than a scaldrony maid – it’s quite the adventure!

I liked the magical system Night created. Scrivenists have the ability to recall everything they see and record it through drawing and writing. Once trained, they are assigned to a royal family, to act as that family’s historian and record-keeper. Royals are able to use different types of magic by means of different stones. It was fascinating to see the different types of powers and how the scrivenists worked.

I also loved that she named one of the scrivenists Derwin Edgar Night. I see what you did there, D. E.! Derwin Edgar Night is a very important figure in the story. Ivy has been dreaming of a man, and she realizes it is Night. She needs to find him to learn more about who she is, what her family history is.

The characters are delightful. Ivy is a young lady thrust into a situation completely different from what she’s known. She handles it like you’d expect a teenager to do – sometimes she is grace and class, sometimes she’s just muddling through, but she never loses her sense of humor and she never gives up. I thought Rebecca was going to be a snot, but she turns out to be quite a good friend to Ivy. I hope to see more of their friendship in future books. And Finn – there’s a little spark there with Ivy, I think. Will something come of it? I’ll have to read more and see!

There’s a touch of Harry Potter to this – magical school, Ivy going shopping for her school supplies, magical creatures and transportation. But Ivy’s story is uniquely hers. It’s billed as YA fantasy, but I promise you that I’m nowhere near “young adult,” and I was absolutely captivated by the story. I recommend this for fantasy lovers from sixth grade to 60 and beyond! Five stars, and bring on book two!

Thanks to the author and publisher for a review copy. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.

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4.5 stars
This story follows its main character Ivy. Ivy lives a mundane life as a scaldrony maid whose only joy comes from visits with her friend Rimbrick. One day Ivy's life drastically changes when she is swept aboard a beast taking her to the magical school called The Halls of Ivy. The Halls of Ivy are for those who possess magic and are either royals (princes and princesses) or scrivenists. Scrivenists are assigned to royals and are given the responsibility of recording events with a magical quill. Ivy is happy to begin her training as a scrivenist, or so she thinks. Once to the school she meets several new friends who help her on many adventures to discover who she really is.

Going into this book, it was hard not to compare it to Harry Potter. Although there are similarities, this story is completely its own. I love the setting D. E. Night creates as well as the characters and magical creatures. Although at the beginning it was a little difficult to see how everything would connect, it all ties together beautifully in the end. I found myself rooting for Ivy as she grew in both her confidence and inner strength. The ending left me wanting more and anxious to see what Ivy does with the information she gains at the end. This is truly a story of the journey of self discovery and the responsibilities you inherit once you arrive.

For full review as well as staged photo posted to our social media see link below:
https://theselyricsandlines.com/264/the-crowns-of-croswald/

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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I actually enjoyed this book a lot more than I originally thought I would. The first few chapters were harder to get into as I felt there was a lot of information, especially considering the book is classed as a middle grade/younger YA book, however the pace does pick up eventually.

One thing I adored was the Harry Potter like world building. I loved all the magic components and the small details that build this book up to be magical and mystical. I also liked all the characters we meet in the book, I particularly liked the friendship between our main character Ivy and Rebecca, plus I get the feeling we may get a small romance between Ivy and Fyn which I was rooting for!

Another thing I really liked was the front cover, usually I don't mention this in reviews but I really loved the cover and artwork in this book, the cover was most of the reason I agreed to read the book. Plus the chapter artwork is gorgeous, along with the perfectly fitted chapter titles.

I also loved the idea of Haries (I mean fairies with light up hair?! Where can I get one!)

I definitely recommend this book for people who may want a book filled with magic or are looking for a simple book for a bit of escapism.

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The Crowns of Croswald (The Crowns of Croswald #1)
by D.E. Night

I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The first book in The Crowns of Croswald series opens with a tantalising snippet surrounding the character we come to identify as Derwin Edgar Night. He is described as a “Scrivenist”, a type of magical scribe and as the tale unfolds, we discover fully what this entails. After his establishment, the tale proceeds with our encounter with the protagonist, Ivy Lovely, and suddenly we are swept away by the circumstances that promptly arise. She passes her mundane existence, serving as a scaldrony maid in the kitchen of Castle Plum. On one eventful day, Ivy discovers Humboldt, a “scaldron”, suffering from “flue flem” and everything seems to go wrong from that point. Little does she realise the path her life is about to take and the unbelievable occurrences to follow!

The Crowns of Croswald is an extraordinarily detailed story and is now securely on my favourite list. The entire world and underlying theme involved in the book, while equally entertaining, keeps the thrill and mystery presented to us at the start. A fascinating, wholesome style with a little of everything, D.E. Night has established a fantasy masterpiece; I would love to experience this in a film or a fantasy tv series!

Small sketches appear at the start of each chapter, a delightful extra detail that lends itself perfectly to the style of the book. It shows the added investment the author has taken, providing not only aesthetic appeal but still teases the reader with the incidents of the chapter we are about to begin.

The narrative is highly enjoyable. Reading the detail throughout, I could truly play out each part in my mind. Each scene reveals itself as if watching a film. One of my favourite parts is Ivy’s tour in the cabby, especially the goodies on offer, and I can only imagine the thoughts that went through her head. I felt somewhat envious that we don’t have the same privileges when we travel! If you are an admirer of all things mysterious and magical, illusion and fairies, The Crowns of Croswald is unquestionably for you. Added to this is the cover of the book which beautifully conveys the subject.

I didn’t want to stop reading, neither did I want the adventure to end, but what I can add is the ending is a satisfying conclusion. I appreciate how there is a resolution that still hints at many possibilities to come. Looking forward to the second novel in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold.

I rate The Crowns of Croswald 5 out of 5 stars.

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This was an overall fun witchy, coming-of-age story. Fun friendships, lovely characters. Despite Ivy being 16, the level of maturity is a bit too young as 16 year-olds can be childish but not completely. Overall a good book. I am not of course the target audience but this was a nice break from my regular, heavy world building fantasy novels. Would definitely recommend for those that want their kids to get into reading but aren't ready for something more intense such as Harry Potter.

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Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

I’m giving this book 3.7 stars so I am rounding up. I enjoyed this book. I personally felt that it did have a lot of similar parallels to Harry Potter but had its own fun magic systems. It is a whimsical and fun read. I really like the magic quills and the idea of the magical crowns. All of the animal creatures were really interesting. I always enjoy when the MC is kind to animals. I really liked Ivy’s story and the mystery surrounding her life. Ivy was kind even after having a tough beginning of her life. I also really appreciated that the author made the books that Ivy loved have the same author initials as herself. That was a really fun touch. The book dragged a little bit during the middle when ivy was at school. But then it picked up in the second half. The end chapters I flew through and by the end I wanted to know what would happen next. I think many younger readers will be able to connect with Ivy and will really enjoy this book.

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As much as I love Harry Potter I have to say that was way better. The story follows Ivy who has no clue about her past or her family. At age 16 she gets invited to attend Hall Of Ivy school. I love that we’re was so much more action in this first book. I can’t wait to read the second book.

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Thank you to the publisher Stories Untold for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Crowns of Croswald is a fun, adventurous middle grade novel perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series. The Prologue of this book was a little long and a little hard to follow, but I like how it gave some background information and made sense once I was close to the end of the book. I love how descriptive the book is. It is able to give the reader a clear picture of the scenery and what is going on in the chapters. In my opinion, the ball was the best chapter in the entire book. There was so much going on in this chapter, and it was so exciting to read it.

I loved Ivy's character and how this book explores her journey from working in a castle as a maid to going to a school for scrivenists. Ivy's adventures throughout the book were all so cool, I loved every minute of them. I like that throughout this novel we get to see Ivy finding her power within her, believing in herself and realizing how much potential she has. Likewise, I like that this books explores the topics of magic, boarding school, confidence and mystery. To wrap this review up, my rating for this book is 4/5. I recommend this novel for people in search of a good magical middle grade fantasy.

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Fleeing a mundane existence, orphan Ivy Lovely sparks a magical awakening, revealing hidden powers and a clue to her mysterious past. Whisked away to a boarding school for magic she encounters a whimsical world of spells, creatures and possibilities. With the help of her new friends, Ivy finds herself in a series of misadventures leading her to a secret and dangerous history that threatens Croswald and her life. Will she solve the mystery and brave the forces of evil before it’s too late?

Thank you to NetGalley for this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Night manages to immediately transport readers back to the wonder and magic of childhood in this enchanting and delightful coming of age story. Full of curious creatures, friendship and action, this is sure to be a new classic for middle grade readers.

The pace does feel rushed in parts where more information would be helpful but the endearing characters and sensational world building makes this a book I still highly recommend. Ending on a cliffhanger, the sequel in this series promises more exciting adventures for Ivy and her friends.

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I was contacted on IG if I wanted an arc for my honest review of this book and my answer was why not

I didn’t know what to expect of this book tbh.
I have to say that I did like it quite a lot!

I’m very picky with fantasy books but this it had everything I could wish for in it 😃

I think everyone should give this book a try.
Be aware you have 3 more books after this 🙊

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Although a person of any age would like this book, I think it is perfect for ages 9-12 years. This will be a four book series and has a notably small semblance of the Harry Potter Series. Although I tend to think of more gloom & gray with Harry Potter, this book is the exact opposite since it is full of so much color.
Ivy is a teenage girl that lives in a fantasy world where dragons that cook food and horses that have fins (seahorses) actually exist. When she turns 16, she is surprisingly sent to The Halls of Ivy where she learns she is more than she thinks she is.
The author’s imagination pulls you into this fantastical, colorful story as you join Ivy in her magical and suspenseful adventure.

Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for my advanced reader’s kindle copy.

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I received this book to give my honest review by stories untold.

I really enjoyed this book right from the start. I really enjoyed the magic system. Once I started reading I found I didn't want to put the book back down. The crown of croswald remained me of Harry potter. I plan on continuing the series.

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I was given a copy of this book to review! It has already been published, but they wanted to bring this story to people’s attention!

This book was so magical. Reminded me of Harry Potter in the sense that they went away to school for the year to study magic.

This book is about Ivy, a 16 year old girl who was a maid working in the kitchens. She loves to sketch, but has to hide it. She gets kicked out from her current job and ends up learning magic in school.

This book is filled with all kinds of twists and turns and secrets. There’s a Dark Queen and surprises right to the end.

I recommend this book if you love YA, brave female protagonists and magic.

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For fans of Harry Potter and Nevermoor!

I was given a copy of this book through NetGalley by the author. I had not heard of this series before being approached to read and review it. Now I want to hand this book to every middle grade fantasy lover I know. From the first moment I began reading it, I fell in love with Ivy Lovely. After the first chapter I knew my oldest son would love this book. He does not like to read e-books however, so I immediately purchased a paper copy for him.

I will definitely continue reading this series.

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This is a page-turning fantasy in the tradition of fairy tales, whimsical worlds, and coming-of-age stories.

The Crowns of Croswald invites young readers to explore themes of stepping into their own magic, discovering their true selves, and battling evil head-on. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “an action-packed treat […] with a relatable heroine facing challenges in a vivid world of magic and mystery,” and called a new classic by readers, The Crowns of Croswald series is a magical romp through a fully formed universe with dragons, magical quills, potions, and mythical creatures.
This book was so magical! It reminded me a lot of different fantasy books I read as a kid so it felt very nostalgic to me. If I had read this as a kid, I know I would have loved it.

The whole story was very whimsy and imaginative, perfect for young middle grade readers. It was so creative. I loved learning about the school, the creatures, and just the world of Croswald in general. The world building was fantastic.
I also loved the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They were so cute and just added to the magic of the story. If only there was a map!

I have read some reviews that compared this book to Harry Potter, but since I haven’t read Harry Potter I can’t say how it compares.

The only thing I had an issue with was that it got a little confusing and convoluted towards the end. Some things weren’t totally clear, but I still managed to figure it out.

Overall, I recommend this book for young readers who love fantasy or want to get more into reading. This book has enough action, mystery, and magic to keep them entertained. Plus, it’s the first book in a series.
Thank you to Stories Untold and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

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This book was amazing. While I was a bit confused at the very beginning but as the book progressed everything made sense. I immediately fell in love with the main character, Ivy, and thoroughly involved following her on her adventure. The book is action-packed and pretty fast-paced. The world was well put together and well thought out. All in all this book was amazing and I would highly recommend it to YA fantasy lovers. I am looking forward to reading the next book!

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Thank you to Net Galley and Stories Untold Publishing for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

"there's magic in you. You're different. The slurry is fighting it. But even the slurry can't win every time."

This book was lovely (no pun intended). If you are a fan of Harry Potter, if you are still waiting for someone to come whisk you away to a magical boarding school, if you are or ever have experienced the confusion and excitement of growing up and figuring out who you are and where you belong in the world, then you should read this book. The story centers around Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid in the non-magical castle of Plum, living in the midst of the magical-cancelling slurry fields. Her only friend is an aged dwarf named Rimbrick, and she longs for more than a life of working in the kitchens.

As the story begins, Ivy discovers she has magic and is rushed off to the Halls of Ivy (interesting, no?) to learn the art of becoming a scrivener. She is impulsive, headstrong, insecure, and really has no idea what is happening in the world around her. She is such a relatable character. She is chased (sometimes literally) by magic she can't explain, dreams of a scrivener mysteriously forgotten by the world, feels a deep sense that she must save him, and finds herself as an enemy to the enigmatic Dark Queen. Add to this a witty roommate who uncontrollably turns into a mink, a sweet boy who always appears at exactly the right moment, and an ancient mentor who lives in a secret laboratory, and Crowns of Croswald is a recipe for a whimsically good time.

My greatest criticism of the book is that the world-building was so naturally woven throughout the story that I found myself having to flip back and forth to remember terms, places, and names and make sure I was correctly identifying them. A map and/or a glossary would have been a fantastic addition to the book. I've seen some reviews complaining about the lack of depth in some of the characters in Crowns of Croswald, but I felt like all of the main characters were reasonably developed for the first book in a middle grade series. Do I know the characters deeply yet, no, but in part that's because they don't know themselves--a large part of this novel centered around their self-discovery. I enjoyed getting to journey with them as they figured out who they were and connected with each other. It felt authentic and I am looking forward to seeing who they become and how the story develops over the next two books.

Crowns of Croswald was a fun, big-hearted, middle-grade adventure. It ticked all of the boxes for me, and I am looking forward to sharing it with my kids and to exploring the rest of Ivy's story.

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This is great for those who watched House of Anubis and Harry Potter. Magical school with not so great adults and children who are made to be something more. There was parts where I had to pause and reread, for it got confusing, but for the most part I enjoyed reading it. 4 stars.

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3.5 stars. This was a fun middle grade read, with dragons, fairies, pirates and princesses. And a magic school (which is always a plus!).

It’s about a kitchen maid named Ivy who finds out she has somehow secured a coveted place at the prestigious magic school, The Halls of Ivy. She leaves her hum drum life and meets new people, learns new skills and discovers that there may be more to her mysterious birth and heritage than she thought.

I enjoyed the initial world building and character development- but I feel it stopped with Ivy. I didn’t really know the other characters (these may develop in the second book). The mystery element was ok but the conclusion felt a bit rushed and confused at the end.

All in all, a fun and entertaining read - and may be just the thing for the child (or young at heart) who is pining for Harry, Hermione and Ron.

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I was very kindly gifted a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a whimsical, fantastical, and magical family read!

Our protagonist Ivy Lovely works as a lowly Scaldondry maid (a keeper and carer of a castles Scaldrons; colourful Dragons that cook the food and need considerable attention), for Castle Plum, a Royal's home located in the middle of the magic repelling, Slurry flower field (say that five times fast!)

Whenever she can, Ivy sneaks off to a hilltop to sketch the magical places of her dreams by moonlight and meet her only friend, Rimbrick, an ancient woods dwarf that regales her with stories and gifts her books, and knowledge.

She believes she is destined for a life of drudgery with her only happiness being her moonlight getaways on the hill, but on her 16th birthday her life changes in a way she had only ever wished for. She is suddenly thrust into the world of her dreams as she attends The Halls of Ivy, a prestigious school of magic.

There she learns about a history she never knew and begins to unravel a dark plot.


This is the first book in what promises to be a wonderful series for young readers and their families alike. Compared to Harry Potter and Alice and Wonderland, The Crowns of Croswald brings such a mystic and magical setting, with a cast of characters and storyline that will keep you on your toes.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a little bit to get into, but once I did I was lost in this story. It's an onion plot, with so many layers that just keep building and building, creating connections throughout the book and keeps you guessing as to where it's going to go.

Ivy is an honest, impulsive and kind character that has you rooting for her from the very start. She sticks up for what she believes in, helps her friends and those in need, fully accepting whatever the consequences of those actions may be. She is driven by her need to know the truth about who she is and the desire to help others. She is an iconic, young heroine who goes on the journey of a lifetime.

There are some really clever details in this book, that I won't give away, but absolutely LOVED. They brought a whole other element to this book and really added to the magic and world.

If you're looking for something the entire family can enjoy, this is definitely a good choice!

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All her life, Ivy Lovely has been pushed aside, hidden away as a maid in the castle kitchen. But after her sixteenth year, Ivy is cast out and discovers the magic just outside the castle walls that the land of Croswald has to offer. Awakening to a new world of possibility, Ivy enters her first year at the Halls of Ivy, ready to learn spells, make friends with her fellow first year classmates, and interact with magical creatures like hairies. Of course, nothing has ever seemed easy for Ivy, and her first year at the Halls isn’t any different. There’s something dark brewing on the horizon, dark magic from a Dark Queen, and Ivy’s introduction to the magical world of Croswald is going to be anything like the mundane life she was used to.

Wow! This young adult fantasy novel is a great start to this magical series. D.E. Night brought Ivy’s world to life with vivid descriptions of both these new magical locations as well as the magic itself. It was very easy to imagine all these new experiences that Ivy was having; Night writes as if the reader is experiencing this new world right alongside Ivy and that magical wonder (and sense of danger) comes through on the page. I found the overall idea - young person discovers they have magic, goes off to a magical school, and encounters remarkable, dark threats - very reminiscent of a certain, famous boy wizard, but The Crowns of Croswald has so many unique details that it is easy to forget any comparisons to other young adult fantasy series. I found Ivy to be easy to empathize with, which made her journey that much more engaging as a reader. There is plenty of magic, adventure, and villainy to satisfy all young adult fantasy fans. The Crowns of Croswald is a fantastic foray into a new, magical world and I recommend it to any fans of magic and fantasy and will pull both younger and older readers in.

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The crowns of croswald review

The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight

Book review :
4⭐️/5⭐️

As soon as I received this book, I was looking forward to starting reading it. At first, this story seemed a little stretched to me: the action went very slowly until finally little by little everything accelerated.

The writing style was light, easy to read, I liked the fact that the author put a lot of effort into describing in details, in what was going on around and it helped to imagine everything better.

In some places, there was a lack of action, and there was too much detail. the book was reminiscent of the books of harry potter - full of magic and adventure, but it definitely wasn't replica of JK Rowling.

Also I really liked that in the book I found some illustrations in begging of chapters - which helped me to imagine things even more and it added unique feeling about book.

In overall I would say that this book is for more younger audience as teen books or YA rather than New Adults. Anyway if you enjoy reading magical books full of spells and mystical creatures - I would definitely recommend this book to add to your reading list.

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What a fun, magical story for middle-grade readers!

The world building and magic system were great! The story started off a little slow for me, but picked up about 1/3 of the way through.

I always love magic school stories! The writing was easy to read and understand, allowing me to fall into the story. I’ve already recommended this book to my cousins entering middle school. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did!

**Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

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I really loved this book. It was really easy to read and keep interest. I loved everything about it and will keep reading everyone that comes out!

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Thank you Netgalley and author D.E. Night for the review copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the book and it was incredible.
First of all, It really gave me Harry Potter Vibes. It’s like Harry Potter, Alice in wonderland, Cinderella, fantastic Beasts and all the fairy tales I’ve ever read but all elements in this book is very unique and once I started reading it was hard to put down. 😍📚
This is a middle grade fantasy book. So the main character is 16 year old  Ivy Lovely. She has magical powers  but she herself  is not so aware of her abilities .She is really curious to know about her life and her past so she ends up going to a magic school known as “Halls of Ivy”. There she gets to learn the skills of a Scrivenist. Scrivenists have photographic memory and they can remember their dreams clearly and sketch very well. Princes and princesses of various royal families go to Halls of Ivy in order to learn magic and enhance their magical abilities. While Ivy is in the school, mysteries start to unfold and the story continues from there. I’m not going to go through too many details. It’s more enjoyable if you do not do too much research. 😊
It was a bit slow paced but that wasn’t a problem for me cause I wanted to read about this world more and more. I would definitely want to read the other books from this series. Overall it was a fun read and the story was beautifully crafted.

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Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Short Chapter Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Overall I thought it was cute. A young girl who discovers magic and a world she never knew about - very Harry Potter-esque but less dark. Think more whimsical and light. At times I was a bit lost in the dialogue and had trouble following all the Crownswald terminology, but it kept me interested and so I looked forward to reading and seeing what would happen next.

Is this book for you? If you like magic, fantasy, female leads who are the chosen one, Harry Potter, middle grade series, you will enjoy this.

The cover is gorgeous too!

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Such an awesome book! I'm being honest here I really thought I wasn't going to be into this type of book!
But I was so write. It grabbed me and had me hooked!
Great characters and story. It has some magic and Royals and princesses.
The Characters in this books are amazing and very unique.
Their you NetGalley, Stories Untold Press and Author for this copy!
I truly enjoyed this book!

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I really like this kind of book : the feel good, full of magic, strong protagonist, quick paced type. The story itself it's interesting and engaging, the characters are fun, although, being a short book, leaves some aspects of secondary characters a bit undeveloped (perhaps the second and third book helps with that).
The only downside for me was the big reveal: there was so much going action wise (I loved the scene, it was very gripping) that the revelation fell a bit flat and got lost. Otherwise, a really entertaining book, I will definitely read the next ones!

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I received this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Especially the world-building and the pacing, I had trouble putting it down. It’s about a 16-year-old girl named Ivy Lovely. Suddenly she is thrust into a whole new world with magic in it. I have to say, I am a sucker for chosen one tropes and for magic schools. My favorite character would have to be Rebecca. I feel like friendships where the two people didn’t start off on the right foot can be some of the best. I also absolutely love characters that start off a bit mean or snobby but once the main character gets to know them they turn out to be really nice.

I know others have said this too, but I would definitely recommend this book for people who like books like Harry Potter.

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I really enjoyed this book! There was definitely HUGE Harry Potter influence that was made obvious in several elements of the world the author crafted here, but the storyline itself was still unique.

The book follows the character of Ivy, a teenager who has lived her life so far as a scullery maid, always yearning for something more. Her life is forever changed when she crosses the border of an enchanted boundary to attend the Halls of Ivy and awaken the magical powers she never knew she had. She makes new friends, learns about her family history, and is threatened by the Dark Queen, in a story full of adventure and whimsy.

I have read other stories set in a magical boarding school and (apart from Harry Potter, of course), this one is probably my favorite. I found the characters to be loveable and interesting, and the plotline was also creative and fun to explore. The relationship between Ivy and Fynn went at an appropriate pace, and I am excited to see it flourish even more throughout the rest of the series.

I will say I was a bit confused with some of the plotline and what was actually going on, specifically toward the end of the story, but perhaps it could be cleared up with a reread - or in future books of the series. There were a lot of details crammed into a relatively short book and I think it was overall well done.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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I want to thank the author and her publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book! This is a great first book in a new middle grade series! The book is about a young girl who is an orphan and not a very happy life! However, one day when she least expected it she receives an opportunity that allows her to attend a magical boarding school to improve her magical abilities! While attending the school she makes friends and becomes more brave along the way. But there is an evil Queen who has some malicious plans! Will Ivy be brave enough to stop the evil Queen? This book was so much fun! This book reminded me very much of Harry Potter but in the best way possible I always did resent the fact that the main character should have been Hermione! Ivy is a great main character and she was very likable. She is a good person through and through! The book was not boring whatsoever and I couldn’t get enough of it and I just wanted to keep reading! My only complaint is that I wanted more world building! But I’m hoping in the next book there is more explained! I look forward to reading the next book!

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Thank you to the author for sending me this digital copy in exchange of an honest review. I found this book to be a really magical read, that I believe young readers and adults alike will enjoy. Reminiscent of Harry Potter and yet unique enough in its own right.

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This book brought back all the feels from the first time I read Harry Potter! It was so much fun to discover a new, magical world. I enjoyed meeting each of the characters and seeing their story progress. The first book has me hooked and I will definitely be reading the rest of the series soon! The plot was interesting and captivating with so many cool details about the world the author created. Such a fun read, can’t wait to see what happens next!

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I was offered a copy of this book on NetGalley by a publicist in exchange for a review and for follows on social media sites. I was excited to be asked and excited by the book’s description, as well as a glowing review left by a Goodreads account that I follow.

This is the first in a series, with three books already published and a fourth and final book expected in January 2022.

D. E. Night is both the author’s name and the name of an important character in this fictional world. I struggle, I admit, with this seeming self-insertion because it is so frowned upon by those who think that they write “better” fanfiction, but I endeavor to look past my biases. Self-insertion has a long and glorious history, and while we might laugh at, we still revere Dante Alighieri as a writer.

There are many parallels to be drawn here between the Harry Potter series. I KNOW and am perpetually annoyed that people say that so often in reviews, but in this case, I actually think the comparison is warranted. There is a hidden village beside a large castle for magical education, hidden from the eyes of the general non-magic, un-invited folk by magic and reached by a caravan of flying carriages, hidden too by magic, the insides of which resemble houses (as with Rowling’s Knight Bus). There are unusual, magical animals, tamed and used by magical people and non-magical too, and fairies for lights (here called “hairies” but conceptually very similar to the live fairy lights seen at Hogwarts over Christmas). There is even a small, aged, male professor so short that he must sit upon a pile of books to see his class (Professor Filbert Fenix and Professor Filius Flitwick) and a Jester who wears clothes similar to and fills the same role in the castle as Peeves the poltergeist (although the Jester seems also to be part of the kitchen staff). I am trying not to be too nitpicky in pointing out that the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts is Rubeus (meaning “red”) and at the Halls of Ivy the locksmith is Ivory. Most of the characters in similar roles are gender-swapped though, with a female protagonist, a female head of the school, a female locksmith, and a pompous, rich, female bully.

I am currently reading Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, and finding similarities between these two books as well. Adults around Ivy, protagonist of The Crowns of Croswald, and Sophie are obviously hiding information about the girls themselves from Ivy and Sophie. Ivy crushes on Fyn, a class facilitator in charge of helping first years. Sophie crushes on Fitz, an older student who excels in his classes and who introduces Sophie to the world of elves. There were moments reading these two books simultaneously that I got confused whether a misadventure had been Ivy’s or Sophie’s.

Really, “special” child at a magic school is its own genre of literature, and obviously a subgenre that I enjoy, and these three all fit in there nicely.

Unique to this world is the magic system, and that is immense and likely to be covered in even greater depth in later books in the series. Scrivenists have natural photographic memories that they hone in school while learning to control their quills (porcupine quills it seems rather than feathered ones, “porcupels”). Alongside the budding scrivenists (“sqwinches”) in school are the royals, whose magic comes from the crowns that they receive when they turn 16 and specifically from the stones set into those crowns. Scrivenists are eventually assigned to castles to live and study and aid the royals.

Night struggles with pacing, and I empathize because I struggle with exactly the same. There are elements of her story, introduced fairly early, that the author knows are significant, and Night keeps reminding the reader about these elements, though these mentions, these paragraphs of Ivy’s thought straying to those objects and ideas seem forced and unnatural and out of place. Night, this is SUCH a struggle for me too! I really, truly do empathize!

The POV is mostly limited to Ivy, but slips several times into omniscient or to another character without warning. Usually, I was able to quickly correct my POV to match the story’s though, and I know that I am biased towards a single, limited POV because it is so important to my story that I stick to that single POV to preserve the secrets that the protagonist doesn’t know.

I find that I struggle to keep the vast cast of characters in The Crowns of Croswald straight and that the wider cast is not as fleshed out as I would like them to be. This is another common struggle, a mark often missed in even the most lauded writers who try school fiction (I am thinking particularly of Delia Sherman). The characters that I do feel familiar with after reading The Crowns of Croswald are extremely likeable or unlikable as the story calls for them to be. Rebecca is one of the more fleshed out characters, having her own family and struggles with her identity. I would like for Fyn to be more than a tool for Ivy’s story, but I like him quite a bit. Damaris the bully I dislike as I am supposed to do. The Dark Queen was a nebulous threat until she was inches from Ivy, and then I was properly repulsed by her intentions even as I found her an intriguing villain, a more fleshed out character than I was expecting frankly.

But the story is exciting, with several turns, although I saw at least one of those coming from very near the beginning of the book.

I am interested in the larger story of this world, of the Dark Queen’s transformation, of how she will be vanquished, of Rimbrick, the Wandering Family, and the murdered Isabella. I wish to learn more about glanageries and how the different scrivenist and royal magics work. I want to know more about the world. I need to know more about the Selector and the Forgotten Room.

I do recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for another “chosen one” in a magic school story, unique magical beasts, or a story of curses and curses broken. I enjoyed the magic, the creatures, and the invented words especially, and I enjoyed the plot that let me explore such a clever, unique world.

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I loved this book. I haven’t read a fantasy book in a while, and this book was exactly what I needed. It’s magical and whimsical world was a delight to read.

The book is about a girl named Ivy, who is thrust into the world into the world of magic, whereupon she realizes her true potential, her history and heritage. The magical creatures, the secondary characters and the plot are all so intriguing.

This is a definite re read for me. What a spectacular read!

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✨Hi Friends✨



Synopsis: Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is—or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?



⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
My thoughts:
•This is a mid grade fantasy book so its intended for readers 8-14 years. Because of this, I had a certain level of nostalgia while reading because it reminded me of the books I read at that age.
•This book is very similar to Harry Potter. Because of this, I think anyone who likes books with a magic school storyline would enjoy this book as it feels like an extension of a super similar world that also has its own spin.
• I thought Ivy Lovely was just as her name suggests… lovely! I thought she was a fun female protagonist and I was interested to see how her story progressed. I also think it would be super empowering for a little girl to be able to see herself in such a strong character.
•I will say that at times parts of the story felt a little slower, or awkward than others but this also very well could be because I’m an adult reading a children’s book.

Overall: I think this would be a book that would be a fun read for a younger audience who loves fantasy! I thought the scrivenist aspect was really unique and made for an interesting story!

✨Thank you to the publisher @storiesuntoldpress for gifting me a copy of this magical book in return for an honest review✨

(3.5 bumped to 4)

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3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I really loved the world and the magic in this book. The world was so interesting with a wonderful magical school setting and mysterious towns and places. I was so interested in the worldbuilding and just kept wanting to know more about this world. The magic system, which is based on a system of quills and crowns, was really intriguing. In particular, I was really curious about how the crowns worked.

The plot was also really interesting! It went from a story about a girl finding out she was magical to strange and mysterious things happening to the main character, Ivy. It ended in a way that answered some of your questions and resolved the main problem of the book while also leaving you wanting more and opening up the world and the plot for the sequel.

I found Ivy to be an interesting but somewhat reckless character. She always seemed to be finding herself in trouble but, rarely actually had to deal with the consequences of the rules she broke. Rebecca was probably my favorite character. I am really interested to know more about her. I also liked Fyn but wished he was a bit more developed as he tended to just pop up whenever Ivy was getting into trouble.

I did feel like the middle part of the book jumped around a bit too much. It would go from one plot point to the next with very little in between to show the passing of time or to build up the characters and magical school setting. I was actually surprised when at the end of the book the characters said that the entire school year had passed. But, I did feel like the beginning and end was better in this regard. The beginning really set up Ivy well, as an orphan who didn't know about magic and her first few days at school.

I have to disagree with other reviews that have said this is to similar to Harry Potter. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter and have read it multiple times. I can see where some of the similarities are. Ivy is an orphan who didn't know she was magical until she was whisked away to a magical school. But I believe the author did a fantastic job at adding their own creativity to a commonly used setting. The world and magic system weren't like Harry Potter aside from the fact that they had a magic school. This isn't the first time someone besides J.K. Rowling has had a orphan go to a magical school.

Overall, I really enjoyed the plot, world and magic system. I hope in the sequel we learn more about the world and magic and have a bit more character development and natural flow to the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for reaching out to me to receive an honest review.

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This is a magical and whimsical story filled with adventures and endeavours. We start by meeting our main character Ivy who is suddenly thrust into the exciting Halls of Ivy. A major difference from her usual day to day life of a caretaker and maid in the kitchens.

The plot is fast paced and greatly described which enhances the reading experience. D.E Night is fantastic at world building this universe with creative and unique creatures, names and descriptive designs.

The characters of this book are written well. The characters who we are meant to favour are charismatic and charming characters. The characters who we are not meant to like contain elements of classic dislike aspects, such as rude, vain and mean. This added to the reading experience with the descriptive scenes and feelings.

Overall, I would recommend this book to perhaps middle-grade or younger teen readers who are into magical, adventurous and exciting tales.

I was asked to read this book by the publicist. These are my opinions and my opinions only.

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This book is nothing short of whimsical. People who miss the nostalgia of the Harry Potter world will gobble up this books, mystical creatures, quirky characters, and magical atmosphere.

I went into this book not expecting much honestly, and I think that is what made the experience better! The author does a great job introducing you to this new world without overwhelming you.

It was fun and a quick read.

My only real complaint is that it seemed like the author was REALLY inspired by Harry Potter. There were a lot of similar situations that just seemed to be a name change.

Also, it did seem like everything just kind of happened to our character conveniently when she needed something/someone. It only took her one try to get whatever she needed and there were hardly any road blocks. And if there was a problem, something magical happened and it worked itself out with no hard feelings or confrontation.

Overall it was a quick and fun read!

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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I absolutely loved this book even though I prefer YA books, it was totally amazing! The plot was unique and so much better than Harry Potter. One of the many reasons I liked this book is because of the found family trope! The author did an amazing job and I cannot wait for more!💖
4.5 stars!🌟

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Hey bookish peepz 🖤💜🖤💜🖤......."see you, books and class! I'm off to do real magic." 📚✨📚..... I really enjoyed this book because it made me feel like a kid again 😍😍😍....@author.denight did a fantastic job with the magic system and the world building, to the point where I was disappointed that I could not dive right into the book and visit this whimsical world filled with magical creatures 😍😍😍......I did find some parts of the story to be a bit predictable, but other than that, I loved reading The Crowns of Croswald. It was a fast-paced nostalgic read that made me fall in love with magic all over again. I gave it ⭐⭐⭐⭐....and look forward to reading the rest of the series 📚📚📚

Thank you so much @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for kindly giving me an e-book of the The Crowns of Croswald for review

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Do you want to read something that reminds you of that beloved magical series, but without the problematic aspects? Then this is for you! I started this read not knowing much about the plot overall, except the major points, and I was amazed at how good this book is. The plot is strong, we have a very clear idea of what is happening and how is happening and the world building is well-developed. The magical system definitely exudes that cozy and magical feeling that we´re used to loving, and it was, without any doubt, my favorite part of the book. The characters are lovable but I think that some of them could be better developed. With this said, i´m aware that this is the first book in the series, so i can´t wait to see how the author develops them in the later novels. Overall I really liked this book and will definitely be recommending it! Can´t wait to read the rest of the series!

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The Crowns of Croswald - D.E. Night

Ahh, what a lovely fantasy book this was, filled with magic and mystery!

Right from the start, I was hooked on the story of Ivy and her journey in this magical world.

The world-building was incredible and I fell in love with how the world is described, it sounds incredibly beautiful and whimsical. We follow the journey of Ivy and her time at a wonderful magical school, however, Ivy has no idea who she even is, or what her powers could be. She enters a whole new land of mystery and enchantment and makes exciting discoveries about her past.

I loved how the magic system was set up in the book and the whole royalty scene as well! The Dark Queen storyline was 100% my kind of vibes as well and this was really well written.

The start of the book was a little slow however I feel this was more to set the book up for the amazing middle/end, and the rest of the series as well!

This book reminded me of my childhood and Ivy is a badass character who is brave, smart, and incredibly sassy! Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Thank you to Netgalley/Author/Publisher for an advanced copy of this book!

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Wow such an amazing read! I could definitely feel a Harry Potter vibe and yet it still had its on uniqueness. I would actually give this book a 4.5 star because it was a little slow for me at the beginning but once the story got going it was really exciting. And at times, it was hard for me to imagine exactly what was happening maybe because of too much detail but I did get the overall gist of things. Overall, I think this is a very exciting fantasy for readers to immerse themselves in the magical world of Croswald.

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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review.

Ivy Lovely is a 16 year old orphan that spent her whole life hidden behind an enchanted border that kept her separated from the magical world. The only thing she ever knew – caring for scaldrons in the castle – is the thing that sent her away from her home. She ends up crossing the border which makes her magical powers awaken. Since she was young, Ivy was able to perfectly remember her dreams and sketch everything that she sees – both traits of magic-wielders called Scrivenists. Curiosity leads her crashing though a series of adventures at the Halls Of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical abilities. She soon discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood and powers of Croswald's mystical stones. She makes amazing friends during the way, but not everything is great as it seems. The Dark Queen threatens all of Croswald.

I loved this book so much! I enjoyed reading about magic system, different creatures and Croswald in general! My imagination could get loose while reading beautiful descriptions of this magical world. This book is perfect for young middle grade readers, but since I like that genre, I think this was a fantastic read! The whole story was very creative and it featured some original elements like cabbies and cabby storms, ink and quills, hairies and scaldrons, which I thought was a great idea. I would also recommend this book to all Harry Potter fans out there because it's similar to J.K Rowling's series in many ways. Another thing I have to mention is a really beautiful cover of this book. Since I saw this book for the first time, I knew I would love it. The beggining of each chapter also had a pretty illustration that kept me interested in the story till the end, making this experience even better.

In the conclusion, I want to thank the author D.E. Night and Stories Untold for providing me an ebook copy of this book. I rated it five stars because I really loved it and I hope the others will too. Happy reading everyone! ❤️

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“Your visions, your dreams… there’s magic in you.”

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is an incredibly fun and whimsical coming-of-age story full of magic, myth, and realizing the possibility that you can be more than people say you are.

Ivy Lovely has spent her 16 years on the other side of a barrier that separates the mundane from the magical. As a lowly scalondry maid, she didn’t think she was made to be more than that until she stepped over the boundary. Suddenly Ivy is thrust into the enchanting world of scrivenry where she will attend the Halls of Ivy to master the powers she never knew she had. With vivid dreams of mysterious strangers and familiar places plaguing her mind, she has to discover the history behind her new school and its magical gems, before the Dark Queen sets her sights on all of Croswald.

Ivy is naturally curious about the world around her but finds that her curiosity constantly gets her into all kinds of trouble. She is joined in her adventures by her two closest friends, Fyn and Rebecca. Throughout the book, they form a great dynamic that seems to always get them into difficult situations: the curious troublemaker, the friend who asks to join in the trouble, and the one who tries to keep them in check. I absolutely adored the characters and their friendship and got attached to them very easily.

Above all, I admire the magic system and world-building of the book. There are two classes in the Halls of Ivy: the royals, who get their magic from the gemmed crowns they receive when they come of age; and scrivenists, those who have magic in their blood and use quills in place of wands. Upon their graduation, scrivenists will be assigned to a royal family to whom they will serve for the rest of their days. I also loved how the story gave special appreciation to the arts, like drawing and writing. The different magics, original creatures, and unique realm where a book is literally someone’s life is such a new take on what you usually find in a magical academy.

Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who:
- Would love to try their hand on the middle-grade genre,
- Want to start or would like to fall back in love with fantasy;
- Really want to go to a magic boarding school;
- Think that maybe wands are a bit overused;
- Want to read about new creatures;
- Love the trouble trio trope;
- Like pie :>

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night really brought me back to my childhood. There are no other words to describe it but it reads to me like a good dream. It gave me a wistful sense of nostalgia and affection for the fantasy and middle-grade genres. I highly recommend anyone of any age to pick it up! Its magic and the idea of attending such a fantastical school would make anyone want to cross an imaginable barrier and be a scrivenist (or at least wave a quill around in the air as I did hahaha). It captivated me from start to finish with every detail added to the plot that answered questions little by little. I admittedly had no idea where the story was headed, and although I could get a clue of the ending, I didn’t know how it would take me there--which is thrilling in itself. Granted this is the first book in the set, I definitely suggest the whole series if you're in a magical, whimsical, nostalgic mood!

A million thanks to author D.E. Night for writing this gem and publicist Daniela for reaching out and sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

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The Crowns of Croswald was a very fun and magical reading experience. The world building was spot on and I liked the unique magic system. I am very much looking forward to continuing with this series in the future!

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What a grand fantasy adventure this book was, filled with mystery and magic! I loved this mysterious world of "scrivinists" and royals with magical abilities. Fans of Harry Potter won't want to miss this book! The main character Ivy, gets plucked out of her life as a maid into the school for scrivinists to hone her magical abilities and is completely lost and frazzled by her new life. I was on the edge of my seat reading, trying to figure out all the mysteries at play and how everything was going to come together for her. The pacing was a little slow the first half of the book, which is to be expected from a first book in a series due to all of the world and character building! The second half really picked up pace and by the end I was completely immersed in the story and did not want it to end. Cannot wait to see what happens next with Ivy!

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Good middle school book set in a magical world. It's great for young readers or anyone wanting a fun read. It's similar to a Cinderella storyline with a young maid who discovers she has magical powers. It would have been nice had the author spent more time with Ivy learning how to use her but there is character growth throughout the book.

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In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret...

The Crowns of Croswald by DE Night

Personal Rating: 4/5 ✨

DISCLAIMER: Big thanks to NetGalley, DE Night, and Stories Untold Press for providing me the eARC of this book. However, all of these are my personal and honest opinions. It has not impacted my review, at all.

Ivy Lovely was 16 and she had never known her parents, more so her past life. She was basically a maid and had only a dwarf named Rimbrick as a friend. So, one day, Rimbrick helped her to escape from the castle she was working at and all of a sudden, she was accepted to the Halls of Ivy, a magical school in Croswald, where she was going to study to become a Scrivenerist. Little that she knows that her story is entangled with the town Croswald itself.

Personally, this was a ride for me. I was on the verge of a reading slump and this book helped me to get through that. It was an enjoyable read especially because it's right up in my alley which is fantasy and middle grade lol

Characters: 4/5✨
There are a few important characters in this book like Ivy, Rebecca, Fyn, and Derwin Edgar Night himself. When you read the book, you will feel that they have no connections whatsoever with Ivy being....well, Ivy. But all of them seemingly have interesting chemistry with one another. Ivy herself is a well-developed character. She did not know that she had this underlying strength within herself and I can foretell that in the next book that she will grow into a very complex, well-written main character.

World Building: 5/5✨
If you want detailed, super amazing, mesmerizing world-building descriptions of a middle-grade book, look no further. Some would actually compare this book with Harry Potter and I can kind of see that but honestly, the author wrote a very complex world that just immerses you into it that you can just get lost in the words. I honestly was taken by surprise because I did not expect a middle-grade book can actually make me feel enthralled while reading it.

Magic System: 4/5✨
If you are into light academia, this book is for you. One of the main setting of this book is a library and there are so many stories to tell in this setting alone. There are a lot of interesting elements when it comes to writing a fantasy book, and as a young reader, you would tend to be confused. However, that was not the case with this book. It does well in explaining to the readers in their dialogues among the characters. We're talking about The Forgotten room, bearded clouds, cloaked guards, queens with magical crowns, and of course Scrivenerist with their magical quills. It's so well thought out that I felt like it was an element of surprise for me.

Story Plot: 3/5✨
I think, that because this book is the first book of a series, that the writer emphasizes a lot on the world-building and magic system, and somehow she kept the story plot simple and predictable. However, there was this plot twist that I did not see coming. So I'm giving her props to that lol

Writing: 4/5 ✨
For a middle-grade book, it was quite hard to understand. I can imagine 14-year-old me would find it hard to understand and might not even finish this book. And even the pace is quite slow, I would say. However, I feel that once they read the first 15% of the book and with all the world-building, it is easier for them to understand. With this, I feel that the book was definitely a page-turner for me.

Final thoughts:
It was an enjoyable read, though at first, I felt like it was a bit pretentious. However, I feel that this book has an interesting premise with likable characters, a very interesting world-building, and a magic system that is well thought out. I would definitely recommend this to any of my friends who has a teenage child back home who would love reading fantasy books.

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I read this book from the perspective of a teacher, and I thought it was truly magical. If I were still a student myself, I know I would have adored this book. It reminded me of Harry Potter at some points! There were so many little twists that even as an adult, I was super curious as to what was going to happen.

I would definitely recommend this book to middle schoolers. Such a fun read!

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The part of me that loves Tuck Everlasting but wants to shy away from the fall of JK Rowling typically doesn’t read a lot of YA fantasy. Still, there is something about The Crowns of Croswald to love: magic school, dragons, mystical stones.

The first series installment by D.E.Knight is great for middle-grade readers. In fact, I found myself thinking about how my kiddos would definitely like it in a couple of years. Ivy is such a kick-butt MC and really starts to come into her own power as more is uncovered throughout the novel. And Fyn makes for some adorable banter.

If YA fantasy and magical creatures are your thing, you’ll definitely adore this one. Check it out for sure!

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What a charming story, very whimsical. Ivy Lovely is a young orphan who doesn't know how important she is.
She works hard and dreams about a mystery castle until one day she is invited to study at a magic school (this part reminded me of Harry Potter)

Ivy is smart and cute, soon she makes friends ... and enemies. She will learn about the royal family and their curse, also about the evil queen who still terrifies the community.

The story and writing style feels a little old fashion, like a fairytale, the world-building was amazing, magical creatures and magic with words, how lovely, I love the idea of Scrivenists, people who do magic using an enchanted pen.

Ivy is a loveable character, a bit naive, fun and loyal, she is delighted with the school, she wants to learn (the classes are so interesting) and make friends. Through her eyes, we will know a magical world.

The pacing is fast, there is action and mystery, young readers will love it.

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This is a perfect book for students that love worlds filled with a school of magic, adventure, and solving a mystery along the way. Ivy is a great main character that is easy to feel connected to as she journeys into this fantastic school, and makes wonderful friends along the way! The plot is fast paced, with details that will leave your middle schooler hooked in for a great journey.

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I was reached out too, and asked to read this book so I wasn't quite sure what to expect... I loved it!
It did take me some time to get into with all the names of things, places and characters but once I started to visualise it all I was very much in the world of the book.
Following Ivy on her journey of self-discovery of her powers and self made this a really lovely read. It had a sort of Harry Potter-esque feel to it that brought back all the nostalgia and happy memories in me to be back in a world of magic.
Very much looking forward to reading the second book in this series.

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Thank you so much to the author, D. E. Night, and the publisher, Stories Untold Press for sending me the first two books of The Crowns of Croswald series in exchange for honest reviews.

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is the first in the The Crowns of Croswald series. It's a middle grade fantasy novel that follows the main character Ivy Lovely at a magical boarding school and a completely unique magical system.

This book drew me into the series from the very first page and I could not get enough of it. These books will be perfect for my seventh grade students. It is the perfect blend of Harry Potter and Disney which I know that my students will love!

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Thank you Stories Untold Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The magic of this book’s world drew me in from the very first page. The magic setting gave me Harry Potter vibes, but is also very uniquely its own. I loved all the attention, detail, and care that went into creating this world. When reading about the world, I could picture it clearly and it really felt like I was in Croswald accompanying Ivy on her adventures.

I especially loved reading about all the unique creatures in the novel; I loved the scaldrons, the hairies, and the shorehorse.

Another aspect that I felt was unique and interesting was the magic system itself. I found the scrivenists who used quills to perform magic and the royals who each had a crown imbued with magic to be very fascinating.

I did feel that the beginning of the story felt very fast paced. I personally liked how the second half of the story seemed to slow down in pace because it gave time for the characters to really grow and develop and time for me to get to know them better. I ended up coming to love Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca. I really enjoyed the banter between Ivy and Fyn and I liked seeing the friendship between Ivy and Rebecca grow.

I also found the little drawings before each new chapter charming and thought that they added to the magical atmosphere of the story.

All and all, I really enjoyed reading about Ivy and her adventures, and I look forward to seeing where her journey takes her in the next book!

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Firstly, thank you so much to @StoriesUntoldPress for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a delight The Crowns of Croswald was! We follow Ivy, a kitchen maid tasked with controlling dragon ovens. One day she is thrown out of her castle, and is picked up by a man riding a giant beast who tells her she has a place in a magical school. (As soon as I read magical school I got so f**king excited).

There was some really unique concepts in here which helped to flesh out an entirely new magical school. E.g there are bottles called glanageries that contain part of the creators imagination, which people can go inside and interact with without any consequences. I had a few issues with the logic in certain scenes, e.g Ivy literally misses breakfast and lunch for 2 days straight, but the book states in the beginning that she’s always hungry - just didn’t add up! However it is aimed at children so I could overlook it.

What I loved about this was how charming it was. It was pure magic throughout and was an absolute joy to read. Looking forward to continuing the series!

𝘽𝙪𝙯𝙯𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙨: Magical school, royalty, evil Queen, dragons, mystery

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Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

All quotes are taken from The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night.

// Content warning: mentions of death, violence //

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// Quick Statistics //
Overall: 4/5 Stars
Plot: 4/5 Stars
Setting: 3.5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5 Stars
Writing: 3/5 Stars
Memorability: 3/5 Stars

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// Quick Review //
Think Harry Potter but with a female main character and a mixture of many different tales from that of Percy Jackson and the Olympians to the Tales of Pixiehollow.

The Crowns of Croswald is a nostalgic yet new spin on magic, mysteries, and chosen-ones.

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"Trust the magic in you and know I will forever be in the shadow of its light."

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// Other Information //
Publisher: Stories Untold Press
Page Count: 249 pages
Release Date: July 21, 2017
Series: The Crowns of Croswald #1
Genre: Fiction, Middle grade, Children’s, Young adult, Adventure, Fantasy, Magic, Mystery

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// Book Description (via Goodreads) //
This is a page-turning fantasy in the tradition of fairy tales, whimsical worlds, and coming-of-age stories.

The Crowns of Croswald invites young readers to explore themes of stepping into their own magic, discovering their true selves, and battling evil head-on. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “an action-packed treat […] with a relatable heroine facing challenges in a vivid world of magic and mystery,” and called a new classic by readers, The Crowns of Croswald series is a magical romp through a fully formed universe with dragons, magical quills, potions, and mythical creatures.

Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is—or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?

Curious and whimsical, both shy and brave, Ivy is a hero that connects with readers of all ages. For those who wished that Narnia, Harry Potter, and Alice in Wonderland could go on forever, Croswald opens a whole new world of magic. Recommended as a read-aloud for families and a first middle-grade fantasy read, The Crowns of Croswald is a four-part series that will carry readers to a whimsical world that they won’t want to leave.

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// Characters //
The Crowns of Croswald boasts a moderately sized cast of characters, most of which I liked.

The main character, Ivy Lovely, is a girl whose life is less than fortunate. Living as a scaldrony maid for Castle Plum, Ivy is unable to do what she loves most, draw and read. Ivy dreams of attending the Halls of Ivy, a school where royals learn to control the magic stones in their crowns and where sqwinches practice to receive quills as scrivenists. I found Ivy to be a very powerful and unique main character.

One of my favorite characters was Humboldt, the dragon (mini-one, I believe) that Ivy is forced to take with her when she is fired from Castle Plum. Adorable and always there for Ivy, Humboldt is just one example of the fantastic creatures that The Crowns of Croswald exhibits. If I had to choose a creature from the novel as a pet, I would most definitely choose a dragon.

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"You are she, the one all of Croswald has been searching for. Waiting for, whether they knew it or not."

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// Writing and Setting //
A large issue that I had with the novel is that while its content is most definitely juvenile/middle grade, the information and writing is more young adult. As an older reader, it was difficult for me to keep track of information and storylines at some points, so I can only imagine how frustrating that would be for younger readers.

Nevertheless, I did love how D. E. Night brought their novel to life; it was vibrant, magical, and thrilling.

I admired how much homage The Crowns of Croswald seems to pay to Harry Potter. For example; a magical boarding school; the main characters don’t realize yet that they’re the chosen one; an evil magic being. All of these aspects were things that the series had in common with Harry Potter. I loved the nostalgia this novel gave me, but only to a point. About halfway through the novel, there were a lot of similarities between the two series, and I began to see the novel as a Harry Potter fanfiction type novel. This eventually changed for me, but I can only imagine that this might be off-putting for many.

Still, I did love the magic and world that Night created, no matter how similar it might be to Harry Potter.

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// Plot //
I thought that the mystery aspect of this novel was perfectly executed. As Ivy attempts to navigate her newfound life, she stumbles upon various fishy things that the school’s headmaster (the Selector) attempts to hide. Odd occurrences change Ivy’s outlook on the Halls of Ivy and cause her to investigate.

The one criticism that I have of the plot is that it was very slow-moving for me in the beginning. Some of the most perilous and dramatic scenes occur in the last few chapters of the novel, while the rest is primarily buildup and backstory. It’s just a personal preference of mine, and I know not everyone will agree, but I generally like novels that have an equal spread of action, mystery, etc. over the entire story.

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"You’re alive… You are Croswald’s only hope. This is your destiny."

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// Overall Review //
The Crowns of Croswald is perfect for tweens who love Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Tales of Pixiehollow. I adored the nostalgia and magical feeling of finding a world to escape in. This novel brought me back to my childhood and my discovery of my love of reading.

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A big thank you to @storiesuntoldpress for asking me to read and review this book💖read via @netgalley

I was so intrigued by the idea of this book after reading the synopsis and I couldn’t wait to start reading and find out more.

I was completely pulled into the magical, mysterious and completely spellbinding story.
The imagination that has gone into writing this book is just incredible. The characters, the setting, the magical and whimsical creatures are so well written and it’s so easy to picture them which helps you to become even more entwined with the story.

I really want to know more about the characters and find out where their adventure will take them next!

I will definitely be buying this one and the others in the series as physical copies and I’m looking forward to sharing them with my children.

Definitely recommend! If you or your small ones are a fan of Alice in wonderland, Tilly and the book wanderers and other magical stories.

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I love traveling to new fictional worlds via books. Who’s with me? 📖😊💭
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Thanks to author D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press, I visited the fantasy world of Croswald this summer! Here’s what I loved about it:

✨ Full of magic
🐉 Mythical creatures
🪶 Intriguing characters
👑 Costume descriptions
📖 Emphasis on magical books
🔮 A twist of fate and more to come

I stumbled across another review of this book that described it as Harry Potter meets Alice In Wonderland. Such a perfect description that I just had to repeat it! Book your visit to Croswald in this fantastic middle grade series! I’ll be heading to the next installment, The Girl With The Whispering Shadow, soon! 👑✨🔮

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So many people told me if I'm a fan of Harry Potter's books, I will love The Crowns of Croswald by D.E Night.
And I do like this book. The world-building is fantastic, and the characters are unique, as is the story. This book is a perfect magical book for a middle-grade reader.

Ivy Lovely, the main character in this lovely book, is likable and inspiring. I love her courage and strong will to discover the truth, this part of Ivy that makes the story so engaging. But I will love to if the author develops the other character too, such as Fyn or Rebecca. I hope I will know more about them in the sequel of this book.

If you're a fan of magical school books, you may love this book series.

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Thank you to Stories Untold Press for the digital review copy!

When Ivy runs away (or rather gets kicked out) from the place where's she's been slaving in the kitchen since she can remember, the last thing she expects is to get whisked away in a carriage.

Her destination is Croswald, or rather the Halls of Ivy, a school for royals and non-royals to learn everything about magic.

However, as Ivy arrives at school she realises she knows this castle - she's been dreaming about it for forever. It, and a man beckoning her to follow him.

Will Ivy be able to master her classes, withstand the bullying of stuck-up princesses, and uncover the mystery of the mysterious stranger of her dreams?

This was a great first installment in what looks to be a very promising series!

I'm a huge fan of books with school settings, especially if the kids learn magic at said school. This book gave me exactly what I wanted in that regard.

Ivy is a very interesting character. She's headstrong but she knows to choose her battles. She's curious, daring, and maybe a little reckless.

Helping her with bullying princesses and nosy teachers are her two friends, Rebecca and Fyn. I really liked the dynamics between both Ivy and Fyn, and Ivy and Rebecca. What I also loved was the fact that both Fyn and Rebecca always had Ivy's back, no matter how ridiculous or dangerous her plans.

I do want to say that I wish there had been a little more development at the beginning of these friendships. There was not a lot of buildup to Ivy becoming friends with both Fyn and Rebecca. With Fyn she at least interacted before they became friends, but with Rebecca it felt a little sudden.

The mystery within this book had me very intrigued until the last page. And while I knew the author wouldn't kill a bunch of teenagers, the showdown at the end did have me worried for everyone's safety. Even Damaris'.

Over all a solid first book, and I'll be sure to check out the second one as soon as I can!

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“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!

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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.

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This was such a magical and entertaining read. The world building was incredible, starts off a little slow at first, but picks up and turns into a rollercoaster that was so exciting to follow. The story is full of magical items and creatures (spoiler: there are seahorses!!!), it has a very medieval aesthetic with the castles and dragons, and it’s just overall extraordinary.
Besides Ivy, Rebeca and Humboldt were my absolute favorites, but all the characters were fun and relatable. Oh and that ending?! I was left wanting a little more growth from some of the characters (Fyn!), this is a coming of age story after all, but I cannot wait to see what other adventures are in store for Ivy and the rest of the characters.
The Crowns of Croswald is such a fabulous story, and in my opinion perfect for fantasy readers of both young and older audiences. This is the first book in the series so I’ll definitely be getting my hands on "The Girl with the Whispering Shadow" and "The Words of the Wandering" ASAP!
Also, Derwin Edgar Night, I see what you did there ;) @author.denight

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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.

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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!

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

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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.

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The Crowns of Croswald is about a young girl. Ivy lovely. She worked as a maid and is pretty normal. After being thrown out for causing some trouble. She finds herself admitted into the Halls of Ivy. A magical boarding school. She meets new people, goes on magical adventures and slowly discovers herself.. I got very much Harry Potter vibes from this.

It was described as a Harry Potter meets Narnia.. And I wasn't disappointed. It's such a light and fun read. The fun adventures Ivy went on with her friends made me excited. I loved reading how Ivy slowly discovers who she really is. And from having no friends to having two best friends.
Although I do wish this book gave us a little more on the Dark Queen. I'm hoping the next books will do that because I love villains.

Not too mention the Author is incredible at world building. And she has created such a unique magic system.

If you are looking for a magical, fun and easy read. If you loved Harry Potter the this book is definitely for you.

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If you mix the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Alice’s Wonderland together, you get the wonderful world of Croswald. And yet, despite some obvious similarities, the author has managed to tell a completely original story suitable for middle grade readers. As for me, I found it a little bit harder to really get into the story. I think that’s often the case when a new fantasy world is created and introduced and you, as a reader, are thrown into the action of it all and you have to figure out what everything means and what all the creatures and objects look like. Hairies, scaldrons, cabbies, these are not things you will have encountered prior to reading this book. However, after a couple of chapters I couldn’t put the book down anymore and I read the thing in two days.
Ivy is a lovely character: curious, brave, and she really stands for what she believes in. Fyn is supposed to be the love interest/sidekick/best friend, but somehow he didn’t seem that interesting to me. Rebecca, Ivy’s other friend, though, did! At first she comes off as a bit of a snob, but soon I found there was more to her than that.
Little fun fact: I love that the author named one of the most mysterious characters in the book Derwin Edgar Night (D. E. Night, get it?!)!
This is a fun, light, whimsical children’s novel perfect for family reading time, for children to read their first fantasy book on their own, or for everyone else who enjoys a nice fantasy world and adventures! I’d love to read the other books in the Croswalds series as well.

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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.

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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.

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✨ 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⭐

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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

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This book is absolutely magical, in more ways than one. It is about Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid at Castle Plum in the middle of the slurry fields. After some terrible mishaps in the kitchen with a scaldron, a type of dragon that cooks food in its mouth like an oven, she is kicked out of Castle Plum and is invited to go to a magical school, The Halls of Ivy and become a Scrivenist.
When she arrives, strange things begin to happen, like being chased by hundreds of quill pens, and over time they only get stranger. Throughout the course of the year, Ivy manages to get herself into scrape after scrape, but Fyn and Rebecca are always there to help her out, or get into even more trouble with her. In the end, Ivy realizes she is not who she thought she was and is stronger than she ever imagined. There are so many magical aspects in this book, from the lanterns lit by Hairies that are magical fairy like creatures, to the Glanagery bottles that suck you in and take you to imaginary places. I had a hard time putting this book down and didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read the second and third book in this series to find out where Ivy’s adventures take her next. I would highly recommend this book to any child, or adult, who enjoys fairytales and fantasy. If you are a fan of Disney’s Descendants, or Harry Potter, you will definitely like this book.

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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

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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.

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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.

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The Crowns of Croswald is enchanting book. There is a problem in Croswald a wandering family is still lost. Of course Derwin Edgar Night can’t be bothered with such news he is about to meet the royal family he will be serving as their scientist. Derwin arrives at the castle but then is never seen or remembered again.
Ivy Lovely as lived a mundane drudge filled life for the past 16 years she has only known a life of loneliness and isolation. She works at Castle Plum as a scaldrony maid her main job is to tend the scaldrons, a type of domesticated dragon, used for cooking meals. The only solace Ivy finds is spending time sketching on the hill of Plum with her friend Rimbrick, a dwarf, who she finds fascinating. Rimbrick spends the nights telling Ivy tales about magic and scrivenists, people who study and write magic and serve royal families. Ivy longs to be a scrivenist to study and learn about magic. Little does Ivy know that her dream is about to become a reality. Her life is about to change and in that change mystery and adventure await. She will make new friends, learn about who she really is and fight against an evil that will try to take over Croswald. Looking forward to reading the second part of this trilogy. Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read this thrilling book.

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As an adult lover of fantasy this book almost felt nostalgic. It reminded me of so many of my favourite middle grade fantasy books I read growing up and as a teacher of 11 and 12 year olds, I know they would be swept away by this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the world building of Croswald in all it's whimsicalness and nonsense. The part that kept me reading was Ivy's mysterious background, a missing princess and a the Dark Queen who seemed to be holding too many secrets.

This was a fantastic way to start a series and left me with so many questions that I must read the rest of the series.

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I really enjoyed this book! While comparable to Harry Potter and Narnia, it was still very unique and one of a kind. I loved the idea of our main character, Ivy, being a scrivenist. I've never read something like this, so it was really enjoyable and kept me on my toes.
Ivy was such a relatable character that middle grade readers will definitely enjoy. She was strong yet shy which many can identify with. She also had a great found family within the book. Her friends were fun to read and super caring. Rebecca and Fin gave me all the Hermione and Ron vibes!
The world was so vast and particular. I can completely see the hard work and effort put into this world and magic system. It was easy and fun to read the entire time. I loved the traditional elements of fantasy like the Dark Queen and magic school. I also enjoyed the unique aspects like the hairies and scrivenist training. I would love to be a scrivenist after reading this book.
Honestly, I think this will be a great read for all ages. Middle grade specifically will love it, and I think older ages will love it just as much! This was a very well rounded and magical read!

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I was kindly given this book through Netgalley for review.

This books was great! Full of magic and mayhem, it was an exciting journey. It definitely gave me Harry Potter vibes. I think the plot could have had more surprises (it did feel like i was reading a storyline I've read a million times) and I found the ball scene a little cringe (but I'm not the main target audience). I enjoyed this read, flew through the book and would like to find myself in this world again soon.

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I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Stories Untold, in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Book Synopsis: Ivy Lovely lives out in the Slurry fields as a scaldrony maid, tending to the scaldrons to heat up meals and being yelled at by Helga. Ivy only looks forward to the evenings when she can sketch and talk with Rimbrick, an ancient woods dwarf. Until one morning, Ivy finds that one of her scaldrons has flue flem, and while trying to tend to him and all the meals- she greatly angers Helga and gets kicked out of the slurry fields of Castle Plum. When going to the hill to talk to Rimbrick, she sees that he left her a letter saying to leave the slurry fields and a pocket full of some change, but Rimbrick is no where to be found. Ivy then decides to leave the slurry fields and never look back with her new flue-flem scaldron, Humboldt. Shortly after, Ivy is swept up by Woolem and Lionel Lugg in a giant cabby and is taken to the Halls of Ivy where she will now be taught to be a scrivenist! But as she gets to The Town, she realizes strange things happening and maybe that her being noticed as a scrivenist and all these occurrences and might not be as coincidental as she thinks.

My thoughts: Don’t we all wish we could grab a pop-of-gold tea to see the inner brilliance in ourselves from time to time? Or Loshes Washes scrubbers to clean up our messes? I personally would like Flutterlights while I read at night ✨ This was such a sweet read, and for any little middle grade readers, I highly recommend it. It has a lot of themes that make you feel magic is woven through every page, and it was action packed and kept you guessing of what was happing in Ivy’s life and how certain events were all intertwined. Her friends were so sweet but quirky in their own ways, and you couldn’t help but root for Ivy.

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I loved the fairy tale aspect of this book. Ivy, the main character is relatable and I always love a book with a heroine. I feel like it will draw the attention of students. It reminded me of a new-age Alice in Wonderland. As someone who studied children's literature and fairytales in college, I really enjoyed it. I wish I could adapt it for my students. I would be interested to see how the rest of the series progresses.

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I received this book for my honest review. The Crowns of Croswald is a middle school fantasy and was so whimsical. I could imagine all the enchanting details of the scenery so clearly.

I really liked Ivy and how she found her way to her magical roots. Ivy’s life from the beginning reminded me of Cinderella’s story. She was enslaved to the shield of the slurries as a scaldrony maid. Once she was able to flee from the magical shield of the slurries and begin to roam The Halls of Ivy she soon discovered a secret curse. She found great friends in Rebecca and Fyn. Possibly even love? Ivy also learned her true roots and what makes her such a special heroine.

This story was a great mix of magic, love, and hope mixed with some darkness. This was book 1 of a 4 book series. I definitely plan to continue on to learn how Ivy’s stories continues on.

My only complain is that there were a lot of components in the story. People, items, gadgets and gizmos that I had to keep remembering what they meant, did, and who they were. But it got easier as the book when on.

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I just finished The Crowns of Croswald and I love it so much. I know this is a middle-grade fantasy book, but it did not feel like it, and I love that D. E. Night did that. I was so invested in this story and did not want to put it down! This book is about Ivy and her journey at the Halls of Ivy. We got to follow Ivy from before she goes to the Halls of Ivy and we got to read about her journey with her new powers and we follow her when she learns the truth about her family and who she really is. I can't wait to read the next book and follow her through her next adventure

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Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book!

The Crowns of Croswald tells the story of seemingly ordinary Ivy Lovely in the magical world of Croswald. Ivy is like any other child by getting in trouble with her friends, but still knowing who she is and going for what she wants. Plus here relationship with Rebecca and Fyi are adorable and had me laughing at some of their moments together. I really liked the world building in this book. The author does a great job describing the world, that it felt like I was really there. I loved all the little creatures that were featured in this book.
However this book fell flat for me with its ending. While I do love a good masquerade ball, I felt that the reveal was a little forced and there did not seem like there was much that lead up to it.

Overall, I thought this was a pretty good book. While originally I rated it a 3/5 ⭐️ I considered it from the perspective a middle schooler, the intended audience and gave it 4/5 ⭐️. I think this is a good starter for a magical series that any fantasy-loving middle school aged kid would enjoy.

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This was a really welcoming read. However, at first I was skeptical the world building had a lot of Harry Potter similarities. After about the 4th chapter though, I was excited to see a lot of originality blooming. I felt very defensive towards almost all the characters who were being introduced. You could definitely tell the school was trying to hide its secrets. It was a pretty fast paced read! I do believe this would be more of a coming of age/middle grade book. Ivy is mentioned as a 16 year old girl, but honestly I felt more like she was about 11-12.

Everything considered this book felt like a crisp autumn morning wrapped in a blanket by the fire sipping some hot cocoa. I had a great time reading this book. I am very excited to dive into book 2. I am hoping for some of the potential love interest that is devolving between Ivy and her classmate.

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What a magical world building! This kind of books reminds me of why I fell in love with reading fantasy novels🤗

Ivy Lovely is a sixteen year old girl living in a mundane world all her life. Going to Halls of Ivy, a boarding school where royals and future scrivenist master their powers has always been Ivy's dream. But, when she crossed the border to a magical land she received an invitation to the school, she eventually realize she wasn't the ordinary girl she thought she was. Ivy started to have her own adventure she dreams of having as she tried to uncover the truth about her hidden powers in order to save herself from the Dark Queen's threat that threaten the safety of Croswald.

The story was magical and there's a lot of elements that makes this a good fantasy story. There's magical creatures, unique magical power for each student, magical boarding school, hidden identity and "chosen ones" trope actually makes this pretty much similar to the plot and the world building in the Harry Potter series.
Honestly, the world building is unique and interesting, but at the same time the world could get a bit confusing at times and I wish there are a map to help envision this universe better.

Other than that, the plot is good because I keep wanting to read Ivy's adventure in Halls of Ivy and learning the truth about her past and her hidden powers. The story is pretty well written and the pacing is a bit slow at first but it eventually get better as the story progress.

Overall, this is a really good start of a series. A good introduction for the characters, world building and the magical creatures inside. I really wish I had the next book with me to continue reading the rest of the series!
Enjoyable, entertaining and recommended for young readers or a harry potter fan who love venturing on a magical land filled with unique powers and magical creatures!

Thanks to netgalley, D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for the review copy in return for an honest review.

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I am not even sure where to begin with my review for this book. I absolutely loved the story, the characters and the world in which it was written. I am so happy that I decided to read this book when I did with the start of school and fall right around the corner.

When I first started reading this book Harry Potter came to mind. The idea of the poor unwanted character who gets selected for a magical school without even realizing that they had magic within them. I also thought about the book Nevermoor The Trials of Morrigan Crow because of the journey that took place while discovering ones true identity. I have to make it clear though that while those two series came to mind I found this book to be completely its own story. The characters, creatures, magic and world were very different.

The journey through Ivy's story was one I very much enjoyed. It is full of adventure, mystery, magic, curses, friendship. and ultimately discovering who you are. I loved meeting the characters she encountered both human and magical. I loved her eagerness to not give up when she knew there was more to something than just what she was being told. Her eagerness to solve these mysteries often led to some interesting situations that Ivy and her friends found themselves in. I appreciated that each new mystery gave you just a little bit more knowledge but still left you guessing about what was to come. I would definitely recommend this book to kids and adults alike. I think that there is something for everyone to enjoy in this story including the cover because it is absolutely beautiful. I am very eager to carry on in this series especially since this book ended in what I would describe as a cliff hanger. I have to know what happens next.

I want to thank D.E. Night and Netgalley for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions that I have written above are entirely my own.

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Wow. What a magical read! The story follows Ivy who has been invited to a seemingly elite school called The Halls for scrivener schooling alongside royals like her roommate Rebecca. The two, alongside other lovable characters, navigate their first year of studies and adventures, forgotten and not, amid mysterious events that culminate in startling revelations about Ivy’s heritage and future. Vivid descriptions and magical storytelling sketched this story before my eyes - I really enjoyed it and will definitely add Ivy’s other adventures to my TBR list!

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I really enjoyed all the magic and adventure in this book and was gripped by the characters. Although I enjoyed the storyline, the audience of the book was slightly older than I expected, with some quite challenging vocabulary for kids.

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This is the first of a four-part series that will carry readers to a whimsical world they won't want to leave.

This is story about a girl Ivy Lovely, who's all magic but she has no idea about who she is exactly, where she belongs or what her powers could be. She's sixteen lived an ordinary life as a scaldrony maid at a castle. She's still brave and curious about the outer world she never knew existed. She has a friend Rimbrick who looked after her supported her. Ivy always dreamt something unusual, later on she'll get to know what that dream is about.

One day she crosses a boundary and encountered a whole new world full of enchantment, magic, mystery, mythical creatures and dark magic.

The friendship between Ivy, Rebecca and Fyn reminds me of the trio from Harry Potter's Harry, Hermione and Ron which is adorable.
You'll get to know about Dark Queen, Winsom and most importantly about Derwin Edger Night.

There are few laugh out louds here & there, few tear jerking situations, few romantic moments and few dramatic actions. This book is a combination of everything fantasy! I loved it mostly how the author slowly developed all the characters.

Though the start was bit slower but after reading three chapters I find this book addictive, that much that I couldn't put it down. Every chapter left me craving for more. The more I was reading the more interesting it was getting. It almost felt like I'm living the characters' lives and I'm in some magical world myself. Definitely adventurous.

Overall, I loved this book and continued reading second book from the series. It's a first fantasy middle grade book series been compared to JK Rowling's Harry Potter.
So, if you liked Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Narnia then you'll definitely gonna love this book too.

Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

Thank you @NetGalley and mostly @daniellastoriesuntoldpress for both reaching out to me and for the #arc in exchange for an honest review.

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you so much to Stories Untold Press for sending me an e-copy of the book in exchange for a read and honest review.

First off, if you're into Harry Potter and/or Cinderella, then this is the story for you. The Crowns of Croswald narrates the journey of 16-year-old Ivy Lovely as she goes from a girl working as a maid in a mundane world to a scrivenist in training in a magical world protected by an enchanted border. It's a fantasy of fairy tales, magical worlds, and coming-of-age stories.

This is the first book in a trilogy and I personally really enjoyed the plot's trajectory. It was a pretty easy read (I'd say middle-grade fantasy) for me and also felt really nostalgic. Since this is the first book in a trilogy, expect it to be a lot of world-building as we're introduced to new characters, places, and concepts. So, with that said, it can seem a bit too slow for some at first. But it does get more interesting and plot-driven as the story continues to unravel and more pieces of the puzzle come together for both Ivy and the reader.

I did give it four stars though because a lot of things addressed in the beginning didn't really make sense until the very end of the book. I do get that it was part of the mystery but they could've been explained better earlier on.

Nonetheless, I do recommend this for young readers who love fantasy or just want a pretty easy introduction to the world of fantasy writing!

Plus it seems like there might be some romance 😉

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Be prepared to be launched into a mystical world full of non-stop magic and adventure. 


Instantly, I was gripped into the story and found myself reading for hours on end. I feel really invested in Ivy’s story now and can’t wait to read the second book!

Honestly, I loved Ivy’s character and became invested in the others, such as Fyn and Rebecca, too. I hope the second book gives the other characters a storyline on the side too. 


One thing that bothered me was at the beginning of the book when Ivy skipped a couple of meals (in a row too) and the reader was made aware of this - I feel like these mentions of her casually missing breakfast and lunch multiple days of the week was really unrealistic.

I know a lot of people compare this book to the ‘Harry Potter’ series and while it shares the similar characteristic of being based in a fantasy world where the characters can do magic, I didn’t think that anything else was similar (that’s a good thing!). The author did a great job at creating and describing the world of Croswald and in implementing original ideas in too.

All in all, this is a highly promising first release for the author.

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Thank you to Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for a free e-copy in exchange for a free review!

I loved this book so much! This review isn't going to be super detailed (because I've found out writing a lengthy review is exhausting) but here we go!

First, this book is a super cute and clean middle grade fantasy with strong Harry Potter vibes. while also leaning into the lost princess trope (somewhat spoiler, but not really because most readers will have figured the big twist out by the time it's revealed). The magical world is enchanting and very original. I was eager to learn about each and every new element that our main character Ivy came across with during her adventures.

Speaking of Ivy, all the characters are well-rounded and well written. Ivy's love for learning and adventure is so relatable and I wished I could actually be there with her along her journey. Even with what's revealed about her mysterious history by the end, there's enough yet to be revealed to get you excited about the sequels. Rebekah is a great best friend and I absolutely love the loyal and charming Fyn. The budding romance between Ivy and Fyn is downright adorable and I ship them super hard. The lack of information on the dark queen makes her ominous just enough to keep you excited for her final appearance, and then when she dramatically reveals just how terrifying she is it's hard to stop reading.

A small complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more explanation of new magical creatures and elements. Ivy is thrown into the magic world rather quickly and she learns very fast, but the reader has to keep up a little bit. Some more discussion of Ivy's instinctual magic would have grounded the plotline a bit more too. But overall the plot moves fast enough throughout the school year's timeline to keep you entertained with enough slow moments to let characters bond and keep you intrigued in the mysteries surrounding Ivy. I also wish some non-magical elements of the story had been a bit more original, like the rich kid who bullies the main character and blaming them for problems rich kid caused, but this wasn't too much of a big deal or distraction. And the magic system and original magical creatures (DOG SIZED PET DRAGON!) make up for it.

I don't have too much more to say, but TL;DR: this book is so charming I'll be buying a physical copy and the next book in the series as soon as possible!

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Shorehorses, Black Unicorns, and Hairies.
Finally a magical school I’d like to attend.

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is the beginning of an imaginative middle grade series, featuring Ivy Lovely whose curiosity leads her on a series of adventures.

Growing up as an orphaned scaldrony maid in the castle, Ivy’s life was rather mundane, until mishap with a scaldron dragon on Moonsday caused her to flee. She discovers an invitation to the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn how to master their magic. Unaware of her source of magic, she tries to unlock the clues while trying to outsmart the Dark Queen.

I’m not going to lie. I’m not a fan of middle grade magic school books. I feel like it’s an overused trope- where it follows the same old rubric. And I’m here to tell you, that I enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald immensely.

It was my first NetGalley download, and I read it, surprised by my enjoyment. Bought the series directly from the author -her website is gorgeous by the way- and recently reread it to be sure. This book is unique and creative, and was clearly written by someone whose whole heart is in Croswald. It reads like a young girl’s dreamscape, fleshed out into a fully realized fantastical world.

I’m looking forward to reading this aloud to my kids soon, and continuing on with Ivy Lovely and her adventures.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a fun read! I’ll be honest and say that the similarities to that very well-known boy wizard had me a little distracted at first. But after the first quarter, the story came into its own.
The writing is descriptive and atmospheric. I loved the creative ideas: the scaldron dragons – flightless, potbellied dragons who cook the food. The hairies – little fairies who live inside the lanterns and light up. The glanagaries, the Hollow Shaft – if you want to know what those are, you’ll have to read the book!
I enjoyed the world building. Ivy Lovely is a great protagonist, humble, brave and, well, lovely. Lovely by name, lovely by nature. I liked Ivy’s group of friends, Rebecca and Fyn. There are other great characters, some of which I wished I had heard from more.
I felt that the story ended a little abruptly, but in general, I enjoyed it. It’s a great book. Lovers of fantasy and magic will love it, young and old alike.
It’s a trilogy, and I will definitely be buying the whole set.

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I was thrilled when the publisher @storiesuntoldpress messaged me to gift me this book for review.

The Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night is a beautiful middle grade, fantasy novel. It follows a young maid call Ivy Lovely. At the age of 16, Ivy is throw out of the home where she was a maid and discovers that she has been invited to the Halls of Ivy to learn magic. As the story progresses, Ivy discovers more about her past and her destiny. I loved this book and can’t wait to read the sequel!

Rating: 4⭐️

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Thank you to @storiesuntoldpress for the digital copy of The Crowns of Croswold.

What a lovely middle grade fantasy read. I had so much fun delving into this magical world and following along with Ivy as she learns about her own abilities and history. The magical boarding school, powerful quills, and cast of characters are all pure whimsy.

I read this one without the fam this time but I know this is something my daughter would enjoy as well. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy (and the next 2 in the series) for us to read aloud together. Good news? The fourth installment is set to come out in January, 2022!

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This middlegrade was a fun read. I really liked the magic system and the world-building (the parts that weren't copied from HP).

If you are a hardcore HP Fan, I would not recommend this, since you certainly will see a lot of similarities.

The plot is a bit cluttered, there's a lot going on and that feels confusing sometimes.

The writing style was not quite my thing, everything seemed a bit abrupt and choppy, but this was a debut book and I see a good chance that might have improved with later books.

The ending was a mix of surprising and foreseeable, so overall I thought it was good. Would be interested in picking up the next book in the series.

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Book review: The Crowns of Croswald – D.E. Night
Ages 8-14

My thoughts:

This book is perfect for younger readers who love stories set in interesting and whimsical worlds involving a magical boarding school and a unique main character! D.E. Night has mastered the skill of world-building. Every description of the town or school was so vivid it felt like I was actually standing there! This was definitely a highlight for me! I’m a sucker for atmospheric reads.

I really enjoyed Ivy’s character. She’s a girl who wears her heart on her sleeve and has an adventurous spirit. I think she is definitely a character that most can relate to. I enjoyed learning about this magical world and discovering Ivy’s magical abilities throughout the book. However, I wish there was more information on the magic system and some of the characters like The Dark Queen and The Selector.

The story is action packed and includes an interesting mystery that will keep you intrigued to the very end. I also loved the imaginative elements included in the story. For example, I found the cabbies and their travelling system quite interesting and humorous. I also absolutely adore Humbolt! Definitely the VIP of the story for me.

Overall, The Crowns of Croswald is and enjoyable middle grade fantasy novel that will whisk you away on a magical adventure alongside Ivy Lovely. You will discover the Halls of Ivy and learn all about scrivenists, quills, ink and more. This book ends with a cliffhanger but, it’s the first book in a series so the adventure continues!

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📚Book review 📚
👑The Crowns of Croswald👑 by D.E Night
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5

This book totally blew me away and transported me back into childhood as I went on this adventure with ivy lovely.
It felt like a mixture of Alice in wonderland and Harry Potter! It was magical to say the least!
I loved it and would definitely recommend it if your looking for a fantasy world to dive into!
- DellaReadsbooks
Find me on Instagram for more recommendations!❤️

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A superbly written fantasy world that completely immersed me in the sounds, smells and sights of the world of Croswald. I felt like this book was a cross between Harry Potter and the Morrigan Crow series, both of which I adore. I felt the character of Ivy written younger than 16 and so would classify this as a middle-grade as it did not have the features of a YA book. The story was evocative and had me wishing that they would just tell me already what I had suspected. The book rushed a bit at the end to answer these questions, but understand that it was leading up to the next book in the series. Overall really enjoyed the reading experience and look forward to finding out what happens next to Ivy.

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I really enjoyed this book. The fantasy genre of books is one of my favourites to read and you just get lost in the pages.
The Crowns of Croswald did this for me, it was a page turner.

I liked the whole storyline of Ivy finding her powers and her origins, and getting to know the magical Halls of Ivy, with the Dark Queen looming. I kept getting Harry Potter vibes from it, which I liked. The characters are likeable and are detailed.
The writing is so descriptive you can picture in your mind how the places look.

I would definitely recommend this, it is a must read in my opinion.

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This book was so fun. It started out little bit slow. Not in the sense that I was bored but in that I felt a little lost, almost like I started a series in the middle. It took me a little bit to get a handle on it but once I did, I fell in love with Ivy and her friends. I got quite emotional at the end and I would love my children to read this book.

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Initial thoughts:

The Crowns of Croswald was a magical read. It’s the perfect fantasy book for younger readers - I can imagine myself at that age wishing to attend the Halls of Ivy and be a royal or a scrivenist! The magic system was interesting and I loved the idea of the gems in the crowns having different powers - I thought that was really unique and fun. I liked all of the characters, I think Ivy was a very strong protagonist, and I enjoyed her interactions with the other characters.
All in all, this is a fantasy book that is perfect for middle grade readers.

Full Review:

Overall: 4/5
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I wish there had been a glossary of some of the magical terms, as it took a while to understand some parts, which could be a struggle for younger readers. The world building was solid and believable, and I loved all of the little details sprinkled throughout.

Plot: 3/5
I thought the plot was very steady throughout, with some interesting twists and turns along the way. I spaced out my reading of this book more than I usually would, and each time I read more it was easy to get back into the plot and what was happening. I wish we could have seen more of Ivy's time in classes as I felt those scenes were really strong and dove into the magic system more. I also would have liked to get to know some of her classmates better.

Characters: 4/5
The characters in this book are all interesting. Each character has their own unique backstory and motivation. I really enjoyed Winsome as a character, and the mystery surrounding Derwin Edgar Night from the first chapter.

Writing: 4/5
The writing was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed some of the more lighthearted scenes a lot. I found the dialogue to be slightly stilted in places, but overall that wasn’t a major issue. I really loved the world of Croswald, and I’m sure I’ll be recommending this book to my younger relatives!

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This was an immediate 4.5/5 star read for me, and I encourage everyone to check out this book and experience the magical beauty found within the world of Croswald.

I absolutely adored Ivy as the main character and loved watching her grow as the story progressed. I also think the author did a phenomenal job detailing and describing the setting of Croswald, down to each and every shop, classroom, and magical building we were able to visit. The vision I created in my mind was super clear, and I could only imagine how much I would have loved visiting this magical place as a younger teen/ child version of myself!

Without spoiling any of the plot, the ending of this book absolutely leaves things wide open for the second and third book to take the reader even further into the fantastical Croswald universe. I’d highly recommend this series to both young and adult readers who enjoy reading about fantasy, magic, mystical beasts, and lots of adventure.

I’m eager to read the additional books in this series, and thankful to publisher for reaching out to me and introducing the book!

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What a captivating story!
It took me a while to really get into this book but once I did it really took off. I can’t wait to see where this Story leads!!

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I really enjoyed this one. The writing was excellent. The characters very realistic. I loved the magic. Cannot wait to read the rest of this series. So good!

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I am a huge fan of reading fantasy books so when I was asked to review the crowns of croswald, I couldn’t wait!
Although it’s aimed towards a young audience,
I still enjoyed every second of Ivys page turning journey! The beautiful world the author has created is just stunningly magical, I wish I could live in it!
If you’re a fan of magical schools and solving mysteries this is definitely the perfect book for you!
Also I just love the amazing cover artwork!

I can’t wait to continue the series!

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THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD 📚 (PR)

I was contacted and asked if I would read and review this book. It’s not something I would ordinarily pick but I’m so glad I did!

The book follows Ivy Lonely and her journey of starting a new school and learning all about who she is and why lots of mysterious things are happening around her. I found the first couple of chapters confusing just getting used to the language used but ended up hooked so quickly. I basically binged the whole book in one sitting!

Would definitely recommend and il more than likely read the rest of the books in the series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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I received a FREE copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

FIRST, I WILL NOT FANGIRL OVER THE COVER as I already did to many of my friends!!! But it's GORGEOUS!

Now, let's get to the story before I deviate a lot about the art style of this book. This was an EPIC FANTASY JOURNEY and I will definitely read many more books to come by the author!! I love her IG feed too, so if you haven't followed around and you need a strong dose of magic in your life, please do!

Secondly, yes there are Harry Potter vibes but let's be very honest here for a minute: all fantasy books have some vibes from our favourite tween series, don't they? The book stands completely by itself, it's exciting, fast-paced and with well-rounded characters. I was in shock the whole time reading it really, as I was really sucked into this magical world so much, I would love to write some fanfic about it, lol

In any case, I should also congratulate the author on doing such good work with the scenery and bringing Croswald alive. I'm very happy that I received this book for free as I had never heard of it before, but now the author's world will have a special place in my heart.

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The Crowns of Croswald is the coming of age story of Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old kitchen maid who unknowingly crosses a boundary into a world of magic, royalty, mystery, and evil.

D.E. Night does a really wonderful job building an intricate, magical world. The world building is incredibly complex; even from the prologue, Night does an incredible job delving deep into details about Croswald, its history, the magic, the creatures, the society, and more. The writing and the description is captivating. In the prologue, Night describes the imagery of the magic itself as a newly graduated scrivenest mades flowers and their scent appear mid-air. The Crowns of Croswald is one of those books that could have endless supplementary pieces to it if Night wishes and readers would eat it up.

The plot itself seems like an amalgamation of many stories—Harry Potter, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Tangled, Narnia, Alice and Wonderland. The Crowns of Croswald meshes pieces of all of these stories together and then adds new pieces of its own to create a new, interesting piece of work. Although there are similarities to other works, the story stands out particularly in its description in much of the magic. The glanageries in particular stood out to me as incredibly interesting and original. The plot is also incredibly fast-paced while still being a story that takes its time to develop. As the idea is quite complex, the length of description was necessary and enjoyable.

Unfortunately, everything from the climax onwards seemed very rushed. As the characters involved in the climax were relatively new and introduced directly for the first time, I wish there had been more time dedicated to describing everything going on. The last chapter in particular felt like ongoing monologues to try and illustrate all of the points that still needed to be understood.

Overall, the Crowns of Croswald is a great middle grade fantasy read for those interested in magic, enchantment, and mystery. I give this a 4 stars and really enjoyed delving into this intricate, magical world!

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With thanks to D.E.Night and Stories untold

The crowns of Croswald is the first book in a series of middle grade fantasy books by D.E.Night

The crowns of Croswald follows the (magical) adventures of Ivy Lovely whom finds out that she has magic powers after being chucked out her home and soon becomes a student of Halls of Ivy, a magical school.

I really enjoyed reading The Crowns of Croswald, its full to brim of magic (both light and dark )fairies and all things magical. Whilst it reminded me a little of Harry Potter, The Crowns Of Croswald did manage to make its own world of magic and spells.

Looking forward to next book.

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

I really enjoyed this book! The magic school reminded me of Harry Potter, but I have never read the books, only watched the movies. However, the story was so unique. I really enjoyed the main character being a female discovering herself and her magic within. The world of Croswald is so whimsical and imaginative. Author D. E. Night did a fantastic job of describing the scenes, it really felt as if I was there! Also the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter was a nice touch to the book. They were beautiful and gave a small visual insight into the chapter.

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SO MUCH FUN! I hadn’t found a good magical novel in a long time, and this one hit the spot. Night’s imagery is so whimsical - on more than one occasion I felt the pull to stay in Ivy’s cozy room or snuggle up with her little dragon pal. The ending was so good, too. Cannot wait to read the following books in this series! Highly, highly recommend!

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What an enchanting little gem this was! This middle grade fantasy has a bit of everything: magic, adventure, twists, betrayal, young love, humor. The story follows protagonist, Ivy Lovely, who is brave, imperfect and oh-so endearing. It’s hard not to like her 🥰 For readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories and becoming immersed in magical worlds (especially those not as dark) this one’s for you. Although the vibe is similar to some other fantasy series, this does hold it’s own, especially being more light-hearted and directed at a younger audience.

What I didn’t like?
-The passage of time was a bit fuzzy. Towards the middle I didn’t realize where we were in the timeline. This was likely due to a lack of defining events, such as clear seasons, holidays, school breaks, etc. to give perspective.
-Most of the supporting characters felt somewhat underdeveloped to me. There were a few I would have enjoyed more backstory on. This affects the relationships and connections formed.

Thank you Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

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I was excited to be given a e-copy of this book because I have heard really good things about it. I am a huge Harry Potter fan, and this book has that magical boarding school special person who doesn't know how special they are vibe.
I enjoyed the character Ivy and I liked how one of the characters, Derwin Edgar Night, was a way for the author to bring her name into the story which is actually pretty cool. I also liked Fyn and the relationship him and Ivy have. The way they talk to each other and go back and forth is interesting.
I did feel that the story started out a little slow however, the story picks up once we are with Ivy at school.
Overall I enjoyed this start to the series and look forward to more.

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A scent of magic will fill your room as you enjoy the pages of this enchantingly perfect book. An absolute imagination come to life in front of your own eyes with each chapter.
Beaming with shimmering magic and picturesque settings, any lovers of Harry Potter, magical boarding school fans and ‘from a maid to a princess Cinderella’ trope this book is for you!

We follow a sweet character called Ivy whose life is turned upside down when she goes from a scaldrony maid to an enrolled scrivenist at the Halls of Ivy’s. Everything is described in such beautiful whimsical detail where you sit back and admire the authors writing style of world-building and each character description. You read in anticipation how Ivy learns more about magic, and herself, and feel the rush of every troublesome adventure she goes on to discover the truth. The ending of this book is so sweet, and I am so excited for the next book! I can’t wait to see what Miss Lovely does with this all new-found identity. I’m also crossing fingers for her and Fyn to end up together! Her friendship with the other characters is heartwarming and seeing her being accepted(by some) and loved for her wittiness and uniqueness is like a warm hug.

There are beautiful illustrations at the beginning of each chapter and I loved that!

It can be compared to Harry Potter, but I think this book stands alone very well. This is the perfect read for middle graders +. I was entertained through out and read this in one sitting!


Only critique I have would be for more descriptive scenes of the classes they all attend, and the ending was quick and confusing- I had to read it again just to make a 100% sure I understood what was going on!

After reading this I also want a little dragon who makes me pies!

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I want this to be a tv series! What a fascinating story. The whimsical world was beyond anything I've read and a magic school is a trope I'd worship forever and ever.

We follow the main character Ivy, who's an orphan and a maid but also the chosen one, another trope I just love in fantasy readings. Ivy's character was so easy to follow and like, not annoying like many fantasy protagonists.

While the plot had its similarities to HP, the storyline is original it its own way and I loved how aspects of magic that were introduced. There were many adventures, interesting characters, magical creatures which made it a dreamy read.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much and recommend it to all who'd love a magical tale of winning over the darkness.

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I really loved this book! It's full of magic and adventure to the point you can't skip a beat nor put it down. It's sweet, at times sad, and the characters are interesting and thrilling. Our main character, Ivy Lovely, is such a sweet girl who deserves everything in this world - she has such a sad upbringing until she finds the magic in herself. She's also adventurous and full of mischief and life. I also really liked the side characters and can't wait to get my hands on the second book because I really need more of this story as soon as possible. Definitely worth a five stars review.
I just really felt like I was going on adventures with Ivy, sitting with Rebecca and following along with Fyn. I hope to see more of this trio as the story develops on the next book. See you in Croswald!

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I really enjoyed this book! I don’t usually read middle grade books, but this one was so magical and fun in a very nostalgic way. It reminded me so much of Halloweentown, which was one of my favorite movies when I was younger. I have always loved books with magical schools and worlds, and this book really swept me away into Ivy’s life. I think most of us have dreamed of receiving an invitation to attend a school for magic and go on magical adventures, and this book really lets you live that fantasy through Ivy Lovely.

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This book is Harry Potter meets The Descendants – and if you like either, you will LOVE it! With fantasy, adventure, and a whimsical, brave protagonist The Crowns of Croswald (The Croswald Series Book 1) is the perfect escape into a whole new world. Author D.E. Night intertwines magic, supernatural phenomena and mythological creatures with a creative spunk that I have not seen in middle grade novels recently. Ivy Lovely is a teenager stuck as a scaldrony maid surrounded by slurry fields which limits her magic. On Moonsday, she gets an invitation to attend the Halls of Ivy – the school for young Royals and up and coming Scrivenists to hone their magic, memories, and power. Once she crosses into this magical place and escapes the slurry fields (and Helga – whom reminded me of Agatha Trunchbull from Matilda), her magic begins to blossom, as does her curiosity. As year one at the Halls unfold, Ivy makes new friends (and enemies?) while trying to discover who she really is, turning this fantasy into a relatable, coming of age book for young girls.

As a mom, it was great seeing that for the Scrivenists quills and knowledge was used as their power (showing the love and importance of reading and writing), instead of a magic wand that would just make things happen. Of course, there were still lovely stones and potions – and changing scenes that included wonderful imagery allowing you to get lost at sea, in a grand ballroom, or in a tavern hidden behind a Bitter Forest with real lake monsters in a place – get this! – called Loch (get it??!!).

I do wish there was a little more of a backstory or that the characters such as the Dark Queen and the Selector, were developed more, but with two more stories already available in the Croswald series, this may be a purposeful ploy to grab the readers attention to want to read more. I am interested as well as to where the name “Halls of Ivy” came from for the school - which was never discussed (and Ivy never questioned it, strangely), but there obviously has to be a connection in the following stories.

I absolutely loved that Night added in personal touches with plays on words such as with her initials (DEN) and having a main character named Derwin Edgar Night along with the library called a “Den.” You can tell that this author is clever indeed and foreshadows some plot lines throughout the book, that hopefully young adults are able to pick up on. All fanatical fans from ages 10 to 19 will not be disappointed in this great read that checks all the boxes for me (and I’m in my 30s!).

Thank you so much to NetGalley and @danielastoriesuntoldpress for giving me the opportunity to read this book that I am sad to admit I hadn’t heard of before, but thoroughly enjoyed it and will be purchasing the next two books in the Croswald series soon!

Please follow me at @NinaNeedsNovels as I begin my journey reviewing books!

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Ivy is a scaldrony maid with about as dreary an existence as the name suggests. The only bright spots in her life are her drawings and the stories Rimbrick shares when they see each other during the full moon. Until, that is, she gets swept away to the Halls of Ivy, where royals and scrivenists train in their magic. Suddenly, Ivy finds herself in a whole new environment which only seems to give her more questions than answers.

If you've a reader in your house who is looking to challenge themselves for the first time with longer chapter books, this is a good option. It's a wonderful bonding experience to read aloud together and show how reading can be magical and fun, not just a task for school.

Even if you aren't necessarily the "target audience," there are still a lot of whimsically creative aspects to enjoy. For a cozy reading experience, I would personally recommend this with some blueberry pie and clobber coffee (seriously, can that be a thing, please?)

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An alluring and mystical fairytale 
!
Pleasant surprise alert! This was such a great book. The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy series by D.E.Night that I would recommend to any and all young readers,(or grown-ups ) especially those who love all things magical. 
I defy anyone not to read on after the prologue of this book, it set the magic system up straight away by introducing the concept of scrivenists and their magic scribbling! I don’t want to do spoilers but it’s a highly original and charming magic system, which sets the tone of the book perfectly. 
If you imagine Enid Blyton, Harry Potter, Anne of Green Gables and The Worst Witch, all rolled into one, brought bang up to date and set to a thrilling pace, you’re starting to get a feel for The Crowns of Croswald. It has all the charm of the old classics but is entirely its own book.
Ivy, our MC is instantly likeable, and I just know I would’ve wanted to be her if I read this as a young girl. Along with a host of other human and non-human characters, Ivy illuminates a magical world that I find myself longing to know more of. Lucky for me, there are another 2 books in the series already out! A huge thank you to storiesuntoldpress and netgalley for my review copy.

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📖Book Review📖

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

I was given the great opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Middle Grade Fantasy Series, Book 1 of 4

Ivy Lovely who discover that she truly belongs in this magical world not the life of a scaldrony maid. I’m this world she finds great friends and discovers what she is truly capable of. Yet there is more going on and a mystery and darkness that threatens this new world she has come to be apart of.

The Crowns of Croswald is a great story of of self discovery, magic and mystery. A story that brought me back to my youth and fantasies of magic. This was a wonderful start to an amazing adventure and I can’t wait to continue the story.

#bookstagram

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Escape into the pages of this high-flying adventure! Bits of magic and mystery were sprinkled throughout. Each character was written with depth and a richness that will leave a lasting impression. While reading, I was drawn into the imagery that was reminiscent of many fairy tales with a taste of Harry Potter. A well written fantasy indeed.

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A new type of Cinderella/Harry Potter story - Ivy Lovely grows up a lowly scaldron maid before learning of her invitation to the magical Halls of Ivy. Throughout the story, strange things seem to happen only for Ivy. As she finds new ways to explore her magical life, Ivy starts to uncover small details hidden away for generations. Will Ivy and her friends be able the thwart the Dark Queen? How will Ivy handle discovering her true identity?

I loved this book! Ivy is a relatable character trying to find herself and follow her dreams (literally). The twists and turns in this book were somehow both realistic and still in a well developed fantasy world. D.E. Night (both of them) had me captivated throughout. Highly recommend for those who enjoy magical coming of age type books.

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The Crowns of Croswald follows sweet Ivy Lovely as she runs away from the home she has always known to an unknown place where she meets new friends, unravels mysteries of her own past, and discover a new world full of magic and secrets.

This story really caught me by surprise! I was approached by the author’s publicist for a free copy to read in exchange for a review and at first, yes, I was very excited to go on a magical adventure~ But then as I went along with Ivy on her journey as she discovers a new magical place, learns about herself and her magic, and make lasting friendship along the way, I was blown away at the genuine, kindhearted, and tough girl that she is. Each character was such a delight to read about and I thought the story was a good pace where Ivy learned about her new school and the magic she holds as she discovers who she is.
I also enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of every chapters and I would recommend this book to everyone! Every chapter was absolutely magical and such an easy read after a hard day’s work!
Thank you to the author, the publicist, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a review!

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I genuinely loved this book!

It’s a middle grade Fantasy Adventure that blew my mind. I loved the friendships that she formed. That was probably my favorite part. As an adult fantasy reader, I’ve never felt so blown away by a middle grade book.

Please pick this up. At least for your children. It’s amazing!

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3.75/5. Thanks to @netgalley and the author for giving me this free copy in exchange of an honest review.
I feel that if i had read this book when i was 12 or 13 i would have loved it, but it did seem a little bit middle grade for me right now, however it was very fun to read. It gave me a lot of Harry Potter vibes but i was gladly surprised that it also had an authentic world building and plot. I liked all the magic involved and the mystery towards Ivy identity. It did take about 6 chapters to get settled in this universe but onwards it was really great.

However i would have love to see a little bit for backstory of Rebecca and Fyn, and maybe a better explanation of the magic system since I was a bit lost. Also i wasnt able to fully connect with the characters.

In overall it was a pleasant book to read and hopefully i will continue reading the series.

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It took me a while to get sucked into the story. I loved Ivy, I loved the friendships she has with her new friends. It was a bit confusing trying to get adjusted to a new world/setting. However I liked it and have already requested for the sequel!

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Love fantasy?
Then this is the right book to read! The author has created a world that makes your imagination go crazy!

After reading a couple of pages one might find similarities with this book and Harry Potter. But don't stop because that's where the similarities end.

It is a middle-grade fantasy book and is magical. The story of the main character Ivy is written splendidly. Her life completely changes from being a maid to being something that she had never imagined she could be. The emotions that she undergoes and the decisions she makes, that lead her to the path she is supposed to take, unintentionally is great.

The best thing about this book is that, a lot of questions pop up in the mind of the reader at the beginning itself, but as the pages turn things start getting clear and interesting. The world of magic created by the author is unique and the characters are well written. Not to forget the various magical creatures that are written with detail.

Overall, it's a fun read especially if you love fantasy and magic. The book ends with Ivy finding out her reality. Eagerness will definitely arise in the minds of the reader, to find out the steps that she takes next to fulfil her destiny and save Croswald. The book is totally worth reading.

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What a lovely and magical story! If this book had been out when I was younger, I would have gobbled this right up! Ivy is such a relatable character, and I was hooked through the whole story! I need more! The world was beautifully built, and while it is for a younger audience, I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is definitely one I will share with my nieces and nephews.

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this was such a nice journey, it was the perfect book. to read in the middle of busy and stressful university life.
I loved every part of it, the writing was nice and the plot was very interesting. The plot was the reason I accepted reading this book, I love reading about magical schools and the worlds they are in.

the author created such a rich world, and we get to explore so much of it without feeling suffocated with information. I loved the magic in it, the magical stones in the royals crowns, I mean it's so cool that each royal has their own power. And the scrivnist with their quills. and I also loved they both these kind of students were important and none is better than the other.

My favorite parts were definitely in the school, going to classes with them and THE FOOD HALLS, the description of food is always a win for me. Ivy our main character, was a perfect character to explore this new world with, because it's also new for her. Furthermore, I liked that even though Ivy didn't know much and was new, she didn't back down when she wanted answers.

Also, there was so many cute creatures that I've never heard of because the author probably created and creatures that are known but had a fun twist to their origin.

There was a fun mystery that was going on through out the whole book, and I was honestly shocked at the discovery of some of the information, I guessed a few but they were even better than imagined.

Overall, this was a whimsical magical read, that I cherished by reading slowly and then binging the end because I HAD TO KNOW. I highly recommend for anyone who is in the mood for a fun magical adventure.

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Magic, an evil queen, a lost orpan and a whimsical world come together in The Crowns of Croswald a fantasy novel. Ivy an orphan who is clueless of her birth, her parents or her talents is suddenly invited to a magical school and what follows is an adventure for her and the readers.
A middle grade juvenile fiction is a wonderful book though its comparison to Harry Potter series is unavoidable. Lot of similarities do crop up between both the books and I loved reading both of them equally. The thing I miss though in the book is a map and a little background of Croswald. That said I would definitely look forward to the other books in the series.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review!

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Thank you Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

A book so magical, colorful, full of adventure and mysteries, a completely different world with such fantastical creatures, powers, and wonderful royal settings!

The story of our dear Ivy Lovely, a girl so sweet and brave with such a kind heart. It was so interesting getting to know her as she discovers her destiny and the powers in her blood, getting to know her new friends and enemies, while also having to pass all her classes for her scrivenist studies. Her encounters with the Dark Queen while investigating all the mysteries of a person only she can seem to remember are so amusing that you’ll catch yourself holding your breath. I loved the world and was so intrigued by the characters dynamics that I had to keep on reading nonstop chapter after chapter.

The way the author describes the places, battles and the creatures is simply mesmerizing, as well as the illustrations at the beginning of every chapter which are beautiful and so helpful to get even more into the story, every adventure and challenge.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I think it’s one of my favorite reads of the year!
I recommend it to all fantasy lovers, to all of those who like magic, mystery, adventure and a touch of romance. It’s easy to read and it’ll get you filled with excitement. I promise you won’t regret reading this book!

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Absolutely LOVED this book!

If you are a fan of Harry Potter then you will definitely love this book series. The Crowns of Croswald explores the themes of magic, adventure and friendship which are the key parts to a great Children's magical fantasy!

This book uses some different formats of information, providing the use of letters and notes to help show information being passed from character to character which is a great way to keep fluidity going in a book for kids.

I did find it a bit slow in the beginning, but that is understandable considering that it was just the start up to the story. However, a couple of chapters in and I was hooked!

Although I did read this on eBook, I will definitely be getting the paperback version of this book and I cannot wait to get started on the second book in this series.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a delightful read. If you love Amari and the Night Brothers, Harry Potter, or Percy Jackson, this book is a worthy addition to your bookshelf. With an energetic and enthusiastic main character, Ivy is a dynamic force against the school bully, fantastical obstacles, and evil magical forces. D.E. Night brings a new level of cheeky humor to the magical "Chosen One" with adventures unlike anything I've ever read or dreamt up!

Note: I was granted a free copy of the book (through NetGalley) by the publisher for an honest review.

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The Crowns of Croswold by D.E Night is a magical, middle grade read and fantastic start to a series.

Ivy Lovely is a scullery maid who dreams of magic and a world she’s never seen. When she crosses the boundary between her world and the dangerous world of magic, she faces ridicule, challenges and adventures beyond her imagination. In a school full of royals and magical powers Ivy discovers her true self and the secrets behind her haunting dreams.

I enjoyed the magic elements of this story, the characters were likable and once I got past making mental comparisons to a famous, magical middle grade series I was able to appreciate it. This book was fun to read and great alternative to anyone looking for a new series to love and embrace. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series and see what Ivy and her friends conquer next. Fans of HP will like this book.

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My Rating - 4/5

This is book one of The Croswald Trilogy and is a Magical Fantasy series that brings to life fairytales, enchanted worlds, and whimsical creatures and characters.

When I first started reading this, although the story is interesting and did have me wanting to find out more, I found some paragraphs in the first few chapters had a lot of detail that made it difficult to understand and absorb, so I ended up having to re-read some, just so I had a grasp on what was happening.
Also with the first few chapters, I compared things to the Harry Potter books. They are different, but you can get a sense of where some of the author's inspiration came from. However, D.E Night's story is absolutely enchanting, and once I got past some of the 'hurdles' I really enjoyed this book.

I loved being taken into such a beautiful and whimsical world. Following the main character, Ivy, and her journey as she begins to discover she isn't as ordinary as she'd been lead to believe. Of course, the friendships she makes. There is a wonderful array of funny, cute, chubby, and quirky characters as well as your typical "Mean Girls" and then there are the wacky, stern & mysterious professors that all play their part in this magical world.

There is so much to love about this book from the inventive and funny names created for creatures, spells & places to the magical powers of sketches and use of quills, not wands. The mixing of Royals with Scriveners, and each royals crown held a unique power/ability.
What I adored most is the Scaldron. I won't spoil the surprise, but when I was reading about the Scaldron, I couldn't help but think of Roald Dahl. It is such a bizarre and wonderfully wacky "thing" I immediately was taken to his fabulous creations and it is definitely a key reason I kept reading on.

I am looking forward to reading the next book in this delightful series.
Thank you so much to D.E Night & NetGalley for this ARC eBook in return for an honest review.

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Magical middle grade adventure awaits! Inventive, fun, and very well written, join Ivy as she adventures to find her magic and her place in a battle that’s been waging for generations.

Synopsis: Ivy is an orphan and servant. Then, on her 16th birthday she’s kicked out of the kitchen where she’s been the poorly treated help and forced to find her way. Happily, her latent magic helps her be discovered and she’s enrolled in a magical school to hone her gifts. Unfortunately, the evil Dark Queen also senses and covets Ivy’s magic. Ivy must rely on her wits and newfound friends to discover who she is, unravel the mystery that revisits her in her dreams, and avoid detection by the Dark Queen.

Review: This story, the first in what’s soon to be a four-part series, reminds me of Harry Potter. In both stories an unknowingly magical child goes to a school for magic, adventures alongside friends, and must battle the villain antagonizing the land. So, this was a lot of fun. I read it with my 9yo son and 7yo daughter, who both really enjoyed the story. My son said it was “awesome!” and wants to immediately read the next books in the series. My daughter gave it two thumbs up. While they both really enjoyed the story, especially the adventures and battle, the writing introduced quite a bit of vocabulary for them, making me think this would be better for slightly older children and even early teens. Still, the adventures were all age appropriate while also being full of suspense. We’re already looking forward to reading the next books in the series!

Rating: 4.5/5

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I reviewed this book a while ago over on Bookstagram @lifeisa_book, however completely neglected to review on netgalley so my apologies I'm new to all this!

The Crowns of Croswolds is a Young Adult Fiction/Fantasy book, we follow the story of a young girl called Ivy Lovely who has spent most her childhood as a scaldron maid longing to be able to learn the ways of scrivenry. We follow Ivy through her journey at magic school where she uncovers secrets about her past and forms strong friendships with Rebecca and Fyn.

I found the characters in this book loveable, although I found myself wanting to know a little more back story, quite often the characters do/know something new and quite out there without us ever being told that they can do this (although that does leave great mystery about the characters).

I loved the descriptions of the magical creatures and lands, I felt these were well thought out and I could picture them clearly.
I find E-Books generally hard to read although that's just me! I do really want to know what happens next in ther series and will be looking out for book 2 to read :)

I generally really loved this book, I have read a few reviews that say it is very similar to HP and I think maybe I'm lucky that I've never read any HP so went blissfully unaware of any similarities which could have helped me.

Overall a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the Author for sharing with me to read!!

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Thank you so much to Stories Untold for the free edition in return for an honest review! I started this book while I was at school and would read a few pages when I had free time. It was the perfect escape from a stressful school week into a new magical world. D.E. Night's writing was encapsulating and her characters are so lovable! A great read for all aged lovers of magic, fantasy, and adventure.

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⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️


The Crowns of Croswald by D.E Night is a mysterious, magical and fun adventure. This book felt quite nostalgic and is perfect for any fan of epic adventures and I think is perfect for middle grade readers or any fans of Harry Potter.


Before I go deeper into the review, thank you NetGalley and Stories Untold (publisher) for this ARC in exchange for an independent and honest review.

Ivy had a very normal life and a talent to draw a mysterious castle and one day her life changes and she finds herself in a magical school with a certain talent to break rules and get into trouble.
The world presented in this book had a great world building and was very creative.
The illustrations that accompanied each chapter title were very cute and added an extra touch of magic to the whole reading experience.
Our trio of friends is great and I can't wait to see what the story holds for Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca. Each character brings different personalities but they all work really well together.
The villain, aka, the Dark Queen is very mysterious and we only have a face to face at the end of the book but I’m looking forward to know more about her.

If you are looking for:

⚜️Adventure
⚜️Magic, school and new friends
⚜️Epic destiny
⚜️Evil queen

Then you will enjoy this book 😉

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What a magical book! Loved Ivy's character. This books takes your imagination to another level.
I would say this is written for a young reader but adults will love it if they love magic.

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Is an easy read, full of magic, stones, potions, castles, princess, teachers and a lot of secrets. It's a story full of fantasy and is gonna be hard to put the book down.

If you are a fan of Harry Potter you gonna love this book, she is a teenager, orphan and with a dream to become a scrivinst, because she had an amazing talent.

Rimbrick, was her only friend and helped her when she was alone. With a big turn of events she left the Castle where she grew up, and she start an adventure that changes her life.

Is amazing the way D.E Night described all this magical places and characters, you really feel that you are in Croswald. All the mystery in Halls Of Ivy makes you think that you know where the story is leading, but when you less expected things change.

One of my favorite characters is absolutely Ivy, but Rebecca is that person that you never imagine that is gonna be your friend, she's so different to all the princess in Halls of Ivy, she knows that she's a Princess but her dream is to become a scrivinst like Ivy.
Ivy is sweet, she's learning a lot, but have that brave spirit but curious at the same time.

If there's something that you need to know is that you gonna enjoy the book a lot, and is gonna let you with the need of more chapters, I guess I have to read the next one! Because the book was easy to read, had adventure, magic, fantasy, a good story I gave it 5 stars! Enjoy it!

And again thank you @storiesuntoldpress

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If I had a young child, I would love to read this book aloud to them. However, as a twenty-something with no children, I'm clearly not the target audience. I don't want that to color my review. It was definitely a fun read, and as someone who thoroughly enjoyed fantasy as a child, I did love being taken back into a whimsical, magical world like this one. Ivy is an admirable main character and I think she'd make a great role model for any young kid! Overall, I enjoyed the imaginative, fast-paced writing and the creative setting, but as a middle grade book, it wasn't for me. Will definitely recommend to my friends who are middle school teachers!

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Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book in exchange of a honest review. This book is perfect for fantasy lovers and great for young people who wants to start reading fantasy. The world building was done so well and the magical creatures from Crosswald reminded me a lot of the creatures from harry potter which I loved as a kid. I was hooked since the beginning of the book and Ivy is a great MC. Overall, I will recommend this book for young people who wants to jump into the fantasy genre and people who loved harry potter as a kid.

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This was a fun, magical read geared towards middle grade children but quite enjoyable for fantasy fans of all ages!
Ivy Lovely is a young maid who receives an invite to a magical school where she starts to learn about who she really is and her place in a magical world. Along the way she makes new friends who aid in her journey. This book is full of pure fun. There are imaginative creatures and places to explore alongside Ivy and her friends as they navigate a new world full of magic, mystery, and danger.
This was a great read that I highly recommend!

Thank you to the author and publisher for an e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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A magical adventure!
This book had everything it could have. Magic, mystery, love interests, history, mythical creatures, evil and good, rich and poor.
I could not put this book down! Ivy lovely is the next magical heroin to jump out from a magical bookish world and captivate us. Her story and adventures have only just begun in this story and I can't wait to see what D E Night has in store for her and us next.
If you love Harry potter then this is definitely a read for you!

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The Crowns of Croswald follows the adventures of Ivy Lovely as she works to uncover her true identity. This book has Harry Potter vibes—it follows a “chosen one” character discovering their powers in a magical school. Although it may feel similar to HP, it is a different and fun story! It made me feel nostalgic in the best way.

This is a middle-grade novel that covers topics such as grief, bullying, prejudice, and abandonment, but it isn’t too overbearing for a younger reader. The author skillfully writes the characters into these situations and makes it easy for the reader to relate to them.

The way the author describes the characters, school, fights, and magic is fantastic! There was never a dull moment—I was always eager to find out what would happen next. I absolutely adore Ivy, Rebecca, and Fyn, and I cannot wait to read more of the series and learn more about their lives. The creatures, potions, and classes have whimsical elements that make them essential to the story.

A big part of the book is the relationship between royals and scrivensits. Both are important roles, but idea of Ivy studying to be a scrivenist is extremely interesting! I’ve never read a story like this, and it left me wanting more. She seeks to learn about another scrivenist, though it seems like she is the only one who knows about him.

The Crowns of Croswald is a great book for fantasy lovers, and I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, quick read!

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I received a RC of this book from Stories Untold Press for an honest review.

First off I want to say that for a debut novel it was beyond impressive. I enjoyed the writing style and the world building with the creation of some throughly unique creatures like the Scaldron was beyond impressive.

The main character Ivy Lovely is Scaldrony Maid, I mean a Maid who’s job it is to take care of the Scaldrons, that provide the fire for the kitchen in the Castle, I mean if you have to be a maid!

The story continues to follow Ivy as she discovers who she truly is, along the way foraging endearing and relatable relationships.

I think that this book is great for those that enjoy the magical aspect of fantasy and adventure and look forward to Ivy’s next adventure.

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This was a fun middle grade book! It took me a little bit to get into - it was pretty detail heavy at first, but overall, I enjoyed it. The world was fun, magical, and whimsical. I think this would be great for younger teens.

Ivy was a great main character. I can tell she would be a great role model for kids reading this book. I did struggle to connect with her, but I also realize that this is a middle grade book and I'm not the ideal audience. I would consider getting this series if I had kids.

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I enjoyed this book but it had a very slow pace to it. The world building was excellent but I had a hard time connecting to any of the characters. The story is whimsical and imaginative and will appeal to a middle grade audience.

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Fans of Harry Potter should not miss Crowns of Croswald. The novel centers around 16-year-old Ivy Lovely's journey as she discovers her powers at a magical school as well as unknown secrets about her past. This story is imaginative and quirky. This story is full of magic, long-buried secrets, and unfulfilled destiny.

Ivy's first appearance is as a maid working hard but not having the best of times. The kitchen ban suddenly changes her life, and an unexpected encounter reveals her true purpose. Having been gifted with magical talent, she's en route to a high-status magic school to study. However, the school proves to be more than she expected, and she quickly realizes that she falls out of place even when surrounded by other students who possess similar gifts to herself.

In her fantasy novel, D.E. Night tells a tale that comes to life with a plot that's rich with elements that detail the magical objects and creatures that Ivy encounters during her time at the school. It was a great book that kept me guessing throughout the story. The story's main character, Ivy, was a lot of fun to read and I liked how she embraces her peculiarity and is determined to help those who are in need.

Thanks so much to Stories Untold Press and D.E. Night for sending me this novel to read in exchange for an honest review.

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"Ivy lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is or what her powers could be when she cross the magical boundary, she discovers a new world of enchantment and mystery"

This story was really interesting. I was full of wonders and adventures. I also love all the characters and their stories too. Our main girl Ivy was so interesting and it was really interesting to follow her through this journey. I really love the world and magic system. It was so unique. It's debut book by the author but it was still very impressive and really caught my attention. One of my main complaint is first half of the book is very slow other that it was fantastic read.

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4.5 ⭐️ for this cute book

first of all i’m gonna thank the author for the free copy in exchange with an honest review.

this book literally harry potter 2.0. the way everything about this book is so magical and i can already felt in the beginning of the pages. you just can feel the magic in every page. that’s why this book is a page turner.

the main character named is Ivy Lovely. she’s a young girl who doesn’t even know that she had power until she arrived at the magical boarding school, the Halls of Ivy. basically, i found myself easily predicting the main characters actions towards their adventures but i really enjoyed it. and overall the unique magic creatures and objects really caught my attention and i just want to know more.

the only thing i had an issue with was there’s some part that could get a little confusing and weren’t clear but yes i still managed to figure out. i think that’s all i’m gonna say. will try to pick up the next book.

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This book is exactly what teenage me would have wanted to read! I have always loved fantasy books with lots of magic! This YA fantasy novel was beautifully written with amazing illustration! I think it would be perfect for teens/young adults!

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A really nice magical read for middle grade readers. Its very whimsy and imaginative, and I know I would have loved this as a kid.

This book is fast paced and filled with adventure, perfect for kids who may struggle with books keeping their attention

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I can honestly say that The Crowns of Croswald is much more than your average middle-grade fantasy. The world-building throughout this book was complex but written in a way that allows it to develop throughout the story, making it easy for younger readers to comprehend.
The Crowns of Croswald was exactly what I was hoping it would be. A well-paced and immersive fantasy book, with well-developed characters and fantastic dialogue.
I would highly recommend The Crowns of Croswald to anyone but I think it would be ideal for grades fourth through eighth or even as a family book to read before bed each night because of the exceptional themes. However, as a seventeen-year-old, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I absolutely loved Ivy’s and Rimbrick’s characters and thought the story was extremely well-paced.
I believe The Crowns of Croswald would be perfect for those wishing to continue in a world of fantasy after Harry Potter.

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Thanks to the publisher/author for providing this book in exchanging for an honest review.

I really liked this book. It brings me back to when I first started reading, being an excellent book for teens and young adults I think.

It's creative and magical and the little illustrations in the beginning of the chapters are really lovely. The small chapters are also a plus for me, as it gives flow to the story.
I like that the author gives a personality to the multiple creatures and involves them in the story and also as companions to help Ivy.
As for the characters:
Ivy: She was a bit flat for me in a big part of the book. For someone who is discovering a different part of this world, I felt she was way to calm. She's very intuitive and very curious, which leads her to where she needs to be, however I feel that, whith everything happening, she would ask more questions.
Rebecca: She was the friend Ivy needed by being trusful, helpful, caring and supportive.
Fyn: Was a bit of a surprise.
Humboldt: He's just adorable
Rimbrick and Winsome: I love that they are mentors to Ivy. But again, Ivy doesn't question them enough.
Also, D.E.Night: I see what you did there and i love it. :D

As a final thought: I did like the story and can't wait to see what comes next. Hoping for more character development.

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@storiesuntoldpress sent me on behalf D.E Night, her first middle-school novel The Crowns of Croswald in exchange of an honest review.

Spoiler alert : I had an amazing time reading it !

The story : Ivy, an orphan scaldron with a sketching talent, has a dream : attend The Halls of Ivy, the academy of magic. Her dream happens to come true when a mysterious man comes to bring her there. From that moment, she lives in her dream and study to become a scrivenist. There, two types of people meet : royals, princes and princesses with a lot of magic in them and special power granted by their crown and sqwinches, nobodies with a bit of magic in them and with a talent in sketching.
If everyone thinks of Ivy as a simple soon-to-be scrivenist, she’s actually more than that. Why is she able to remember things locked in the Forgotten Room ? Why the old Winsome is so happy for her arrival ? Why does she feel as if she already know the Halls of Ivy ? And the greatest question : who is Derwin Night ?

Review :
This is a great story for magic lovers, with cute characters and an interesting magical world. I loved the magic courses that students attend (Glanagerie 🥰), the creatures (Hairies seem so cute !) and magical objects !

Characters : They are actually quite common but it didn't bother me ! The main character, Ivy, is an orphan scaldron, curious, rules breaker and with a grand destiny. Rebecca, Ivy’s good friend who follows her in every plan and also a royal. Flyn, the mysterious boy who always helps Ivy when she's in trouble. Damaris, a royal who bullies Ivy for no reason and thinks that she’s better than everyone. The Selector, the headmistress of the Halls Of Ivy who scares everyone but Ivy.

I had a great time reading this novel even though my english skill was challenged haha. Thanks god Google trans exists.
I’m looking forward to read the 2nd tome !

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A brilliant fantasy series for teens and families. This is the first book in a four part series. Ivy Lovely, aged 16 years, orphaned and working in a kitchen, finds herself enrolled in a magical boarding school, where a world of magic potions, scrivenists, mythical creatures and Scaldron dragons await.
During her first year, Ivy finds herself on a rollercoastwr journey of fantastical adventures, and learning with a few broken school rules along the way. Del.E Night has penned a fabulous new fantasy world, reminiscent in style of JK Rowling's famous Harry Potter series. The sketches that mark each chapter opening are beautiful. I could easily imagine this series on TV or Film. #thecrownsofcroswald #familyfantasy #denight #storiesuntold #netgalley #teenfantasy #fantasybookseries

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Thank you to storiesuntoldpress and the author for gifting me an e-book of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange of an honest review.

This story follows Ivy Lovely, who thought herself to be an ordinary maid, until she gets called to a magical school; The Halls of Ivy. From then onwards, she gets swept up in a whimsical and well-constructed world filled with thrilling adventures, curses, sweet friendships and lots and lots of magic.

I haven’t read any middle-grade books in a long time and I absolutely enjoyed this one. The writing was descriptive and painted a very vivid image of the storyline and had a cliffhanger that set me on an edge. I can’t wait to read the next book.

I recommend this for anyone who likes to read middle-grade books/ books with magical schools.

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Disclaimer: I received a free copy from the publishers in exchange for a honest review.

“THE village, well, it had a lot of secrets. And its secrets need to be kept safe.”

I don’t read middle grade fantasy very often as I have grown out of that phase, but I loved to read about this strange and whimsical world the author has created. I was quickly engrossed in all the little details this world gave me, the hairies I found adorable and the strange potions was quite interesting. This world was so well developed that I fell right into this whimsical spell the author has created. If only there was a map!

I loved all the characters, especially Ivy. She got into trouble regularly and had the funniest sense of humor. Rebecca was absolutely the best friend ever and so resourceful, I mean how she got out of that forgotten room was so awesome. Fyn was so sweet and I loved how he supported Ivy no matter what happened. And Winsome! Oh hoe I loved Ivy’s mentor. He was so sweet and yet so crazy sometimes. He did not deserve that ending! The Dark Queen herself was the perfect villain and I loved hoe the author made her so mysterious, I still don’t quite know what’s up with her. I also loved the way the author played with her name to create the character Derwin Edgar Night, that was just so cool. All these characters were so well developed and interesting and I loved all their scenes together.

I really loved the concept of the royals and scrivinists (I hoped I spelt that right). The idea was so intriguing and how each group had different purposes and different skills.

This book was really good and I can not wait to read the next one. I have a feeling this is the start of another classical middle grade fantasy book such as the likes of Harry Potter. The author can be very proud of what she achieved here.

“The Town. The center of the scrivenist world. We all it Belzebuthe.”

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The crowns of croswald by
🌟🌟🌟🌟/🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you to the publisher and @ for reaching out to me and offering an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Summary:
The Crowns of Crosswalk is a delightful book. The book follows Ivy Lovely, a young lady who was born with magical powers. Since a very young age her mother has told her to keep her magic hidden and so she has for a very long time. However, in her sixteen birthday everything changes. Now Ivy's past and her family's past comes together to help Ivy find out who she really is and what her purpose is. She will now venture out of her safe little home on Old Still Lane where she will sneak into a very prestigious school named The Halls of Ivy. The Halls of Ivy is where princes and princesses attend to learn to control and improve their magic. Ivy intends to sneak into The Halls of Ivy in pursue of answers, but soon she finds she has more questions than answers. As Ivy discovers answers to some of these questions she will find out that the future of Croswald is on her hands.

Thoughts 💭:
-The pacing of the story is absolutely engaging and well executed. It is compelling and had me hooked from the prologue. If you are in a reading slump then The Crowns Of Crosswald has the ability to pull you out of reading slump.
-Our main character is likable enough. She doesn't know much about the magical world aside from strange dreams she seems to be having and through books that are gifted to her to read.
-The writing style was whimsical, and everything about the world was spectacular.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for those who enjoys magic stories . I can’t wait to read the sequel😆

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Muchas gracias a D.E. Night y a su publicista por mandarme este ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

Me gustó la historia, no es mi tipo de lectura y es para un publico menor pero en general me gustó.

Es un mundo mágico y los personajes son entrañables. Es un libro divertido y entretenido.

Le di un 3.5 estrellas.

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It's a really nice middle grade fantasy book where we find the protagonist , a young girl who has been removed from house discovering that she has the power of magic. She's then enrolled in a magic School to learn about magic and to discover her powers and soon the dark queen gets intrigued by her and the plot follows.
Recommended for the Harry Potter lovers, because it has such a wonderful touch of magic, elements of fantasy world , adventures and so on.
Really loved the book, looking forward to the other books of this series.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a perfect example of a middle grades fantasy book. We follow a young girl who discovers she has magic after being banished from the only home sha has ever known. She finds herself at a school for magic and begins to learn her true past and destiny that has been hidden for her.

This book has elements that remind me of the early Harry Potter books as well as some fairytale retelling vibes. The world building is flawless and the story itself was very interesting. I’m typically not a big fan of middle grade books but I really did enjoy this read.

We have mystery and we have magic, what more could you want? I was pleasantly surprised by this book and will likely continue the series!

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I received a copy of this from NetGalley for an honest review and over all I really liked the story. It felt a little jumbled at times and rushed but it kept me wanting to know what would happen. It feels a little bit like Harry Potter which I love so this was a fun fantasy. I want to read more in the series to see what happens.

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Crowns of Crowswald was an incredibly fun and sweet read that I really, really loved. It gave me all the nostalgic vibes of Harry Potter and magic school. I loved it's humor and nuanced characters. This felt like a read I'd love to recommend to my younger siblings or nieces or nephews. I don't even read a lot of middle-grade and I still though it did a great job with its plot and magic. The atmosphere is light and fun, but there are still stakes. Highly recommend this book.

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This is the first in a four part series and I think it provides a really strong base for what I think will be a great story!! We meet the mysterious Derwyn Edgar Night in the first chapter before being thrown in to the world of Ivy, a scaldrony maid in a castle.

The Crowns of Croswald gave be nostalgic vibes, reminding me of a certain other magical school but with more weird and wonderful creatures and classes. I really enjoyed the idea of training to be a Scrivenist and how the teens individual proclivities were nurtured and encouraged.

I loved the characters in this book, I wish they had been a little more fleshed out at times but I knew more than enough to be invested in each and every one of them! My heart broke a little at certain parts which is always a great sign of a well loved character.

On a note that's not about the story, I adored the beautiful illustrations at start of each chapter!

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be purchasing a hard copy for my shelves along with the rest of the series!

I can't wait to read more about Ivy, Rebecca and Fyn and hopefully learn more about Rimbrick, Derwyn and return to the Wonderful Halls of Ivy.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a story about identity and discovering who you truly are, full of magic and mystery, battling against evil.

There’s effortlessness in the writing which reminded me of the reason why I love middle-grade books so much.

I enjoyed Ivy’s story and I’ve been kept on my toes the whole time. Ivy’s inability to stay put gets her into great adventures, while she is learning magic and searching for who she is. I loved the characters and I was really curious about how their story will unfold.

The Magic school concept was okay, I liked how the story slowed down in some important to the plot parts but went faster in some other not-so-important parts. We dived along with Ivy into magic and the secrets of Croswald. I liked Ivy as a character, but I had the feeling that she was inadequate to her age (16 years old) and she gave me the vibe of being younger than that. The mystery and the secrets that surround the story make the reader want to dive into the next book, „The girl with the whispering shadow“ (which I already have!).

The Crowns of Croswald is a new, magical, series which I suggest to every middle-grade lover!

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When I received the message asking me to review this book I was definitely hesitant as it isn’t a genre I usually read. Saying that, I ended up really enjoying this read! It was a nice easy read, that was full of magic and I’m definitely looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

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3.75 stars 🥰

This was such a fun book!
I received a copy of this through NetGalley (thank you 🙏🏻) for an honest review.

As a lot of other people have said, I compared this to HP a lot of the time, but in saying that it’s a very different concept! Croswald seems like such a fun world that I would love to visit. The magic and magical creatures and the different roles of Royals and Scrivenists is unique too.

I adore Ivy’s character, and honestly all the supporting characters were so much fun! Rimbrick is 🥺

I think I struggled with the world building a little however, every time I felt like I had just gotten the hang of things there was something else to learn. I feel like the further books would probably have much less of this though!

The only other thing that prevented a higher rating- I feel like there was so much more potential to be reached here. There was a few things that I found were sort of mentioned and then either resolved super quickly or too simply, and other things that could have been taken into further depth. When Ivy found out some pretty big things, her reactions seemed quite downplayed and skipped over. I would’ve loved to see some more emphasis on those.

Overall, definitely a fantastic book for middle grade fantasy!! If I had read this as a kid I just know I would’ve loved it 🥰

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Harry Potter Reimagined. Similar to HP, The Crowns of Croswald had me hooked and reeled in before i even knew it. I immediately fell in love with each character and the beautiful, magical world within. I adored each and every creature and inevitably found myself wanting to cuddle each one! Especially the hairies! The world-building is immaculate and fun. I felt like i was walking right alongside Ivy Lovely, our brave main character.

Ivy Lovely is a 16 years old Scaldonry maid for a not so magical castle. She has grown up with the love and need to sketch and acquire as much knowledge as she can get her hands on. She has longed dreamt of going to the Halls of Ivy, a school of magic for royals and upcoming scrivenists. But there is no way she can go, she doesn’t possess a fragment of magic. Right? Throughout her life, she has had only one friend, who of which is a friendly dwarf named Rimbeck, and has provided her with books to keep her affinity for learning at bay. We quickly learn that he may know something she doesn’t and it opens the world up for a bunch of secrets that many may know about Ivy that she hasn’t a clue about.

Rimbeck flips ivys world upside down one night by telling her that she belongs in the Halls of Ivy and that she, herself, has magical abilities. The only thing stopping her is the slurry plants that grow around her home castle. This plant specializes in suppressing magic and has kept Ivy from learning more about the magical gifts she has had. On a rather stressful moonsday morning, Ivy is thrown out of her position as a maid and from the only place she has ever known. Quickly she is thrust into a life she can’t quite believe. She suddenly has to learn more about herself and where she has come from. On top of all this, she is to learn about magic and secrets that Rimbeck has kept from her. Secrets that the dark queen may know, and with her approaching, ivy's life may very well be on the line.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Though this is a middle grade novel this warmed my 24 year old heart. I swear the must have been some inner child healing as I read this book. This book made me feel comfortable and safe. It's such a cozy, fun, exciting book and I am so grateful the chance to have read it. I wish I could read it again for the first time. 5/5 stars. I'm excited to reads the sequels!

Thank you D.E. Night, her wonderful publisher, and Netgalley for getting in contacting me and giving me access to a eARC for a honest review !

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Such a lovely and magical book! Perfect for young readers, middle grade aged, to get swept away into this magical adventure.

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I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am so not a fantasy reader but, this story was good! I really enjoyed the fact that the main character, Ivy Lovely, is a female. I feel like most fantasy novels have males as their main characters. This is a middle-grade fantasy novel and I feel as though this is appropriate. The language and the pace of the book fits that age frame. I did find the beginning of the book to be a little confusing, but once I figured out what was going on the story was so fun and magical! D. E Night writes with such great imagery that I could really see Croswald and The Halls of Ivy. I also really enjoyed learning about Ivy’s character and what she discovers about herself.

This is a must read for any young fantasy fan!

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This is an enjoyable novel, with intriguing characters. I like the easy flow of this story and would definitely recommend it.

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** I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

What a neat little magical world this was. As someone who hasn't read middle grade for far too many years to divulge, I admit I did struggle to adjust to the way this was written. That doesn't mean DE Night didn't do a fantastic job writing this. If I was back at the age level to enjoy this, I would probably be thoroughly invested.

The magic system was well explained and very quirky. I liked the different creatures and factions of how magic could be used (royals vs scrivenists). Our main character is likable, and whilst the plot was pretty easy for me to gather what Ivy meant to this world, I did like the journey she undertook in her first year at the Halls of Ivy. I liked that her friendships were built with students and older scrivenists alike, and the squabbles with her rivals. The intrigue of her dreams and discovering the man who was seemingly forgotten was also a nice touch. I can tell that this world has a lot to build onto in further books in this series.

As I said above, I did find myself struggling with this book just because I normally read books with a more mature language and writing style, so for me, I would award this only 3 stars. It was enjoyable but not something I would naturally gravitate to, given I'm an adult. However, as someone with an autistic teenager in my home, I found this story perfect in its pacing and the excitement it could bring for her to read, and thought about how she would feel whilst reading this, hence giving it a higher star rating.

It delivered all that I expected after reading the synopsis, and I think this is a great fantasy for a younger reader base to enjoy.

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This is a such a fun book! Great world building. Love the magic system. Perfect series for Harry Potter fans.

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Ivy is a sixteen year old orphan, who has no clue to who she is, and the power hidden within her. She's been working as a scaldron maid in the heated kitchen of the Slurries. After one of her occasional mishaps, she is thrown out. Her luck soon took a turn for the better, when she is accepted into a prestigious school for Scriveners and Royals. There she makes new friends and goes on a whirlwind of adventures, that so happens to help her find out who she really was.

This whimsical, fantastical story, is a must read. I stepped into a magical world filled with mythical creatures, spells and a dark queen. A coming of age book, written with bold descriptions that literally transported me into a realm that I didn't want to get out of.

Now I haven't read any of the Harry Potter books, but I have seen all the movies. Although this book had a Harry Potter feel to it, it still stood firmly on its own in terms of world building and characters.
What I didn't like about the book, was the predictability of the storyline. However, even though it was predictable, you can't help but keep reading to see how everything turned out.

What I did love was firstly our hero Ivy. She was both shy and brave. Her curious mind, strong will and time growing up in the Slurries, helped shape and toughen her enough, to deal with the challenges she faced. I also loved that it was fast-paced. Whenever you think you're settling into a chapter, something amazing hits you around the corner.

The Crowns of Croswald, the first in a series, is a great middle grade fantasy, that I would recommend to lovers of magical realms, fascinating creatures and adventures, young and old alike.

I would like to thank Daniela from Stories Untold Press, author D.E.Night and NetGalley, for offering me this book for an honest review. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Great book! 👍
Happy Reading!

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I loved this cute, quick and fun, middle-grade read!

Yes, there are similarities to Harry Potter, however there are also a lot of differences. I felt this style of magic was really interesting and I also loved the creatures in this story.

I would definitely recommend this to a younger crowd but also to adults simply because it is a treat!

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I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley!

This is such a fun and whimsical read, it’s perfect for a middle grade audience but also serves well as a fun family read.

Teachers and librarians be sure to stock up on this one because your kids are going to love it! It’s a classic fairytale and a must read!

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This was such a magical and whimsical read, and I enjoyed it so much! The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy with a Harry-Potter-esque vibe, but it definitely has its own twists and turns that make set it apart. All of the characters are so interesting and loveable, and the magic system and world building is so well done. It's the right balance of intricate and logical, which makes it perfect for middle grade. This is a world readers can easily get lost in and will definitely want to return to. I loved getting to know Ivy as a character and am so excited to continue to watch her grow throughout the series. This is a book that keeps you reading, and the ending is a great setup for book two, which I will definitely be reading!

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This magical story is a wonderful exploration of a land of magic and power. Those who are fans of Harry Potter and the magical world building will love this middle grade/young adult coming of age story with magic intertwined. I loved the main character, and am excited to finish the rest of the series.

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Are you a Potterhead or a Narnian? Does the Nancy Drew series makes your adrenaline rush? If so then the Croswald series will make you addicted to this magic world. 💫

A very few of the authors have the ability to grasp the attention of the readers & D.E Nights is one of'em. The Croswald series is another level of fantasy.

The magic world is engaged with dwarves, royals and scriveners. Every scrivener is assigned to the Royals, but what happens when the Wandering family gets lost!

New mysteries start to unfold when Ivy Lovely explores the outer magic world along with her Humbolt. The journey became more beautiful when she finds real friends to back her up.

The book is full of magic, thrill, curiosity, self-grooming, everlasting friendship, with a little tinge of love, the sarcasm between the fellas, light humour and lots of adventures, a perfect combo for an amazing roller coaster ride.

This book is one of them, which I really want to see in cinemas.

Highly recommended to every fantasy lover! 💓

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Don't you just hate it when you have to write a review for a book you loved so much, but don't really know how to put it in words? The Crowns of Croswald is one of those. What a magical story! And with magical I mean the whole spectrum of the word: Fantasy, suspense, strong characters, legends, princesses, queens, dragons, mirrors, secret doors, potions and the most imaginative creatures you can think of.

Meet Ivy Lovely, 16 and a scaldron maid. No, you don't know what a scaldron maid is, because you don't know what a scaldron is. It's also not even almost a scoundrel, if you were wondering. I believe scoundrel will always refer to a person and a scaldron is non-human. A scaldron is a kitchen dragon and the Croswald version of a Hogwarts owl.  Seeing that I am a cat, I can write this whole review only about the magical creatures we've encountered during our adventures at the The Halls of Ivy and Ravenshollow. But my Mommy says we should rather focus on the scoundrels, I mean the humans.

As most fairytale heroines, Ivy is an orphan with a secret past and no idea that she has magical powers. Of course she is also not aware that she is most probably a princess or a queen or something very regal in the world of fantasy. As most fairytale kitchen maids, who are actually bound for higher purposes, it's the last place she should have been placed in the palace to begin with. It didn't take her or her sickly scaldron, Humboldt, long to be kicked out of the palace by a dreadful scoundrel.

All fairytale heroines always have non-conventional friends, like frogs or geese or snowmen or dwarfs. Ivy's only friend in the whole wide world, is one such creature. Rimbrick, an ancient wood dwarf. Luckily for her, Rimbrick is old and wise and he told her all the old tales of deep magic and spinning yarns about trolls and dragons, princesses and castles, scrivenists and their quills. (These are all very applicable in our current fairytale, so pay attention in class!). So when Ivy got cast out into the big, bad world for an hour or so before the got caught up in her new magical reality, all she had with her, was her scaldron and the books on magic Rimbrick gave her, written by Derwin Edgar Night. (See what the author did here? D.E. Night??). And as we know, books contain knowledge and knowledge is power. Especially if you love to sketch and have a photographic memory (once again, very applicable information. Please take notes in class).

Our story really gets going when Ivy receives an invitation to study at the Hall of Ivy, a school for magic. No, I don't think they play Quidditch against Hogwarts and I do not know who was the Inter-school Spelling Bee Champion. Upon accepting her invitation, the magic begins. But so does all other mysterious occurrences and the questions get piled up.

As in most schools, magical or non-magical, friendships and allegiances are quickly formed and students are unfortunately labeled as to where you originate from. In our world, it's which side of the track you come from, in Hogwarts is Muggles against Pure-Bloods. In the Halls of Ivy, it's royals and sqwinches.

There was a clear distinction between the royals and the sqwinches: the former were bejeweled and becrowned, and the latter seemed to carry their own weight in books.

Both me and my Mommy loved the characters in The Crowns of Croswald and although it really is very easy to draw similarities between this tale and other tales of magical schools and long forgotten princesses, this truly is a unique tale in a whimsical world of its own.

The only thing that bothered us ever so slightly, was the pace of this fairytale. In some places, especially the start, it was dragging a bit. In other places it went too quickly and we felt as if we had a glitch and missed a few things. But I am sure it will come together in the rest of the series and we are already searching for book two, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.

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This book was like taking a journey back to my middle school reading days. What a magical and whimsical book. I loved the characters, magic, and adventure. I would recommend for the fantasy loving tweens in your life.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a fun and magical adventure, geared towards middle grade readers. I received a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review, and I enjoyed the book a lot! It was a nice break from my usual fantasy reads, and exciting to go back to the basics of magic.

Ivy Lovely is a wonderful protagonist, though I can definitely see some room for growth throughout the series as she comes into her own. There is a lot of influence from a certain children's series about a magical school; protagonist hidden away from the magical world to protect them, Chosen One plot, and I noticed some similarities to Minot characters as well. I do think this book is unique enough to not be called a direct retelling. However, I can see the inspiration for sure.
Overall, I enjoyed it! I may continue reading the series in the future to see where the story goes.

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I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Stories Untold in exchange for an honest review. Rounding up from 3.75 starts. The Crowns Of Croswald is an intriguing middle-grades fantasy about a girl whisked away to magical boarding school and into the middle of several mysteries.

Our protagonist, 16 year old Ivy, is a scaldonry maid, in charge of keeping the cooking dragons of Castle Plum. She is kicked out of the castle for oversleeping on Moonsday and is almost immediately picked up by scrivenist Lionel Lugg and taken to school at the Halls of Ivy, as Lionel claims she is full of magic and will be studying to become a scrivenist herself. Ivy is dubious, but once she arrives at school and finds it is the castle she has been dreaming of for as long as she can remember, she sees that she really might belong there. However, she gets into (repeated) trouble trying to find the man in her dreams and unravel the mystery of him, especially after she finds his belongings in the Forgotten Room. Along the way, she makes an enemy of class bully Damaris, but also excellent friends in Fyn and Rebecca, who are there to help her along the way.

Ivy is a likeable protagonist, but I did find myself forgetting that she is 16, as she and the other students read as younger than that. She is a little shy, but also very determined to get to the bottom of the mysteries she has found herself involved in. Ivy also cares greatly for Humboldt, the scaldron she brought from Castle Plum, as well as for Fyn and Rebecca. I adore Rebecca; she is the typical bubbly best friend of the more reserved main character, but she is always willing to follow Ivy regardless of the risk. Fyn is a self-appointed protector-type, but is also very sweet. I would have liked to get to know the side characters better, as while likeable, they fall a little flat and seem to have little to do outside of their interactions with Ivy.

This book was pretty fast-paced, but I did find the plot a little convoluted at times, although it all mostly worked itself out in the end. The worldbuilding is really interesting, but details about how and why things are they was they are seem sparse in some places and overabundant in others. I do feel like the overall concept borrows a lot from Harry Potter, but the story does make itself stand out from the orphaned chosen one at magic boarding school concept popularized by HP. The wide variety of magical creatures was fun to read about and I love how involved the creatures, from hairies providing light to scaldrons providing heat, are in daily life. The magic system also stands out, but was confusing at times, as there are multiple ways to "be" magical that could have been expanded on more in the exposition. Overall, the world of Croswald is enthralling, if a little confusing. However, this is the first in a series, so that opens up a lot of time for the world to be fleshed out and explained more as the wider story progresses.

Tween me would have probably finished this book in a matter of hours, and I would recommend it to any fantasy-loving tween today. Not really related to story quality, but the cover is gorgeous and I loved the sketches at the beginning of each chapter.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a fun adventure and magic-filled story for middle-grade readers. While I have seen a few listings calling this YA Fantasy, I would put it firmly in the middle-grade category. I enjoyed this fun trip to a world filled with newly discovered magical abilities for Ivy Lovely, whose story begins while she is working as a scullery maid for a large house. The blending of a Cinderella story retelling with a magical world not unlike Hogwarts was a nice twist on combining "something old and something new". I liked the distinct character development of Ivy and her new friends at school, as well as the cast of supporting characters. The plot was filled with fun adventure with perils for the heroine, but nothing too scary for younger readers.

The pacing was a bit slow for me but I think would be fine for younger readers, especially if this was a book being read to them. Following Ivy's journey from kitchen maid to student of magic, and navigating all of the twists and turns to unveil the mysteries and unknown details made for an engaging read. This is a series I would recommend to friends with kids, with a great first book to kick off the set.

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This book gave me Nevermoor vibes from the start. It was a fun ride, with plenty of whimsical descriptions.
While I enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald, I simply don't think I'm the target audience for this one, but I did but a paperback copy for my daughter to read, so I definitely appreciate the story and characters, and think a younger audience would love this one!

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The Crowns of Croswald was a fun read that young fantasy lovers are sure to enjoy. It started out slower and took me a while to really get into it. The pace picked up and there was action and adventure that had me hooked, I thought it was quite fun.

I'm intrigued by the world and magic system. I like all of the characters but the side characters were my favourites.

I will definitely recommend this to younger readers.

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This book is a great target to the young audience and if I was a middle schooler, I would love this book and I did love it when reading this book. This book had so my description of new and fascinating creatures and terms that I could imagine the whole scenery as I read this book. The main character's (Ivy) curiosity and her character development is what caught my attention and loved how Ivy's world was portrayed as. Definitely a binge worthy book and hope everyone has the chance to read this especially if you are in a reading slump and don't know what to read.

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Beautiful world, fun vibrant story, characters with unique magic, and some great generational literary references! Thank-you so much for the excellent read D. E. Night!

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I was transported to my middle school years myself and can guarantee that the audience it is intended for is going to love the book.

The book is about Ivy Lovely, who finds herself in Halls of Ivy, a school for fellow scrivenists and royals for learning about their magic. She goes from being a scaldrony maid to an eager sqwinch who learns a lot more than she ever expected.

It is full of magic and new terms and creatures that I was wide-eyed with imagination of the setting of the book. The book is an experience which I had with all the curiosity of the main character herself.

The book is not over explanatory with its world-system and rather focusses on what the audience of the book might be interested in. It is entirely up to Ivy and her curious mind as she lands herself in one trouble after the other. The best part of the book, was that the situations were so dangerous, that it was also comical that it was happening to a girl, who is just a child.

Ivy’s life has made a complete 360 degree turn but her friendships with Fyn and Rebecca always bring us back to her innocence and yet lays emphasis on her determination to know everything about the secrets that she is turned away from. In fact, the entire story is full of secrets that the readers will love to uncover in the entire series.

The Crowns of Croswald is a story that should be placed in every library of every school and should be enjoyed by every child who dreams of adventures not possible in real life.

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*I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Stories Untold, the publisher, for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I gave this book 3.7 stars.

y grows up as a maid and is constantly mistreated by her supervisor her whole life. However, at 16, she escapes the castle where she worked and finds out she has magical abilities when she's given an invitation to enter a famous magical school, where she's meant to unveil many secrets and mysteries.

I saw this as a late middle grade/early YA fantasy story.

The writing style was appropriate for the target audience and sometimes gravitated towards the lower end. It made this book a quick and easy read without being too simplistic.

The story is full of well-known tropes, such as "the chosen one", "the evil queen", "the servant that ends up being the heir", etc., which makes the plot quite predictable although you never really know what's going to end up happening until the last chapters. This may be biased given that I was expecting something completely different or the previous information to be misleading.

However, I did enjoy reading this and it took me back to my adolescent years. I would have given the world to have a female chosen one badass heroine's story for emotional support and validation. Ivy is not perfect; she makes mistakes and is too sassy at times, which gets her into trouble, but she's real and doesn't really need a partner's love to succeed, but friendship.

I feel I still need an explanation to how certain things were too easy they didn't make sense even in a fantasy story, such as her friendships and her winning over the bully.

The world building was quite well done and I could vividly imagine every character and place described throughout the story, including the colours.

If you want a fast-paced, tropey, and beautiful fantasy story with a happy ending, this book is for you. It warms the heart and puts a smile upon your face.

Let me know in the comments if you're interested in reading this, what was the last ARC that put a smile upon your face and what you think about books like this one.

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The Crowns of Croswald

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I sunk into Ivy’s world, discovering the magic as she herself did. It was such a comforting book which I cannot wait to share with my daughters.

The main character Ivy really does have a talent for mishaps and misunderstandings which makes for such an interesting story. Especially as she has such a kind heart with genuinely good intentions which makes me hold my breath hoping she will find a way out of each experience.

As I move through the story I crave more information about the other characters in Ivy’s world. For most of the book, I don’t feel like I know them and following Ivy without sharing the experiences she would be having with these characters feels like I’m missing out. She is such a likeable girl that she would surely have some amazing friends around her. As I move through the final chapters I’m excited to start to get to know Rebecca and Fyn more.

I really enjoyed the unfolding of the storyline in little puzzle pieces as each time I learnt a little more I felt a buzz of excitement. When Rimbrick left at the beginning of the story I wanted to know more about where he fit in, and as I neared the end of the story he finally returned leading me towards Ivy’s true identity.

It is not often that you find a series of books that you just know will be regular comfort re-reads. Thank goodness for The Crowns of Croswald, our family loves a good magical story and with a strong, caring and kind female main character we have found new book friends.

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I liked this book and thought it was entertaining. It is YA, so keep that in mind! The world building and magic of it is fun and not like anything I have read before. It is a fast paced book for the most part, but I did not find myself connecting with any of the characters.

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This was a magical feel good fantasy. I truly loved this book and could tell that the author was inspired by some of their childhood favorites like Harry Potter however this story was all their own. I loved the idea of a magic school for royalty and their potential advisor/sorcerers. The magic system itself was also interesting for example the Scrivenists (wizard/witches) had photographic memory and could use their quills to do some spells. That alone would have made this book worth reading but the author also included a lost princess, a curse that had to be broken, evil queen, a love interest and some other mysteries. I felt totally immersed in the world of Croswald and would therefore recommend every young fantasy reader pick this up.

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I received this book via eBook for free for an honest review.
Wow wow wow....This book was so fun! The world building was fantastic. The way the author described every setting was so vivid and magical. I love the unique creatures and magic system they created. I also liked how they dove deep into the class room settings and the lessons the professors taught in the class. I've read a lot of books that involved magical academia but you never actually get to experience what the students are actually learning. Ivy Lovely is an amazing main character. She literally starts at the bottom and is working her way up to greatness. She definitely isn't perfect because she falls into this new world like "what the heck is going on?!" She doesn't realize how big her world actually is and it's so fun to get to watch her learn all these new things. I honestly can't wait to pick up the next book in the series because that ending left me wanting more! Every page kept you on your toes and there was never a dull moment in this book. Like honestly it makes me want to have Hairies flying all over, illuminating my room while I read the rest of the series. (If you know you know). For sure going to be in my top favorite books of the year!

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I love a good fantasy novel and this book was like a Harry Potter Fairy Tale. 👸
Crowns of Croswald by D. E. Night follows the story of 16 year old Ivy Lovely, a poor servant girl who gets invited to study magic at the Halls of Ivy. Her time at the Halls is filled with magical mishaps, daring adventures, princes and princesses, dragons and fairies, and even an evil queen. There is a lot going on in this story and it's just the beginning for this series.
The storyline was fun and interesting but a little bit confusing at times. And as an adult reading a middle grades novel I felt it was somewhat predictable. However, when I remembered to put myself in the mindset of my students I was able to enjoy the story a lot more and by the end I couldn't put it down. I would definitely recommend for middle schoolers or high readers in upper elementary, especially young girls who love the Harry Potter books or fantasy novels.

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This was such a fun read! If you’re into magic or things similar to Harry Potter I definitely recommend this. The relationships between the characters I absolutely adore, and I most definitely loved the ending! Definitely recommend:)

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3,5*
This book was provided to me by the publisher for my honest opinion. Thanks for offering me this chance to get to know this series.

I always find it hard to give my opinion without mentioning specific events as an example, because I don't want to include spoilers. So I'll try to keep it more general ;)

It's a middle grade book and though I'm far beyond that (st)age in my life, I still read MG and YA books. Because they are often fun, eventful and quick reads and because English is a second language to me. I do read adult books, but sometimes the stories written for younger people are just a bit easier to get through.

As was the case with this book, The Crowns of Croswald. I liked it that a lot was going on. Maybe a bit chaotic at times, but for me it made it easier to keep myself focused on the story. I think it fits with the whirlwind of thoughts and events going through and around Ivy, the main character. As she leaves her really small world and starts discovering the world and herself.

Regarding her friends, I missed getting to know them better. Besides their characters, in way of behaviour, we know very little about them. They felt a bit flat because of that. I would have loved to learn more about them. Their background. But maybe we will find out more in the next books?

The world building was not extensive, but enough for this story I think. The magical world and its beasts, customs and magical rules were clear too me. Some of the creatures are quite fun. In the beginning I had to look up some words to find out if they existed or where imagined by the author. But besides that it was all easy to follow.

Though I liked the general story, some things didn't add up, or people said one thing and acted the other. It didn't always make sense.
But, still I liked this adventurous and magical story enough to want to read the rest of this series. I already ordered the second book.

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Review

I was given a copy of The Crowns of Croswald through NetGalley! Thank you Daniela for reaching out and letting me read this story!

I had read reviews before reading this book and people said it was similar to Harry Potter. I have to disagree. Yes there is magic and magical beings but I don’t think it relates to the Harry Potter series in any type of way.

I personally think this is a cute little read. I would think the age range would be between 8-14. It’s a quick/fast pace book. There were times I got confused and felt like the story was all over the place though. I also do feel like more things could have been explained or drawn out more.

I don’t feel like the characters had much development but since this is the first book, I’m sure the next in the series will go more into depth or at-least that’s what I’m hoping for. All in all, the story is worth the read. If you like fantasy and magic then this I would definitely recommend this book!

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I have only recently delved into middle-grade reads and fantasy is not a genre I would normally pick for myself, however, after reading 'The Crowns of Croswald' by D.E Night I will be picking up more books such as this one.

What a magical and engaging read this was. The entire story enthralled me from the cute illustrations at each chapter head to the magic and adventure to Ivy as a whole. The world-building and character development surprised me to no end.

This book was easy to read and understand despite it being rather chunky and extensive. I would absolutely recommend this to a middle-grade book lover of fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Untold Stories for allowing me to read this fantastical book.

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Ivy Lovely gets kicked out of the castle she works at as a scullery maid but as she steps over the boundaries of the fields surrounding it, she feels a tremor. She then finds herself collected and taken to the Halls of Ivy to learn all there is about magic but during her time at the school she soon starts to discover more about the family she never had.
I’m not normally into this genre and I had heard very mixed reviews due to its similarities to a certain well known wizarding series... However I was pleasantly surprised! The descriptions were magical (literally) and the way this world was built up really complemented the story. The writing makes you vividly imagine exactly what Ivy is seeing and doing and it almost catapults you into the story with her.
You know little about Ivys background but as the story goes on you start to get hints for where she really came from and who her family is just as she is getting the answers herself. You start to guess the unanswered questions with her and it really makes you intrigued for what will happen next. I really grew to like Ivy and her new friends at the school and wonder what the future holds for them. The story is fast paced and full of excitement and I would recommend it to any young reader, a lovely series for a new generation who is past the Harry Potter years.

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I really enjoyed this book. It was a magical, fun read. The character development and world building were great. I liked that everything wrapped up at the end and no bows were left untied.
I will be purchasing a physical copy to share with my kids when they are a bit older.

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I absolutely enjoyed this book! It’s marketed as a middle grades fantasy, which isn’t a genre I am usually drawn to, but this book can appeal to all ages. The world building is flawless and the setting was somewhat reminiscent of Hogwarts, to me. That is NEVER a bad thing, in my opinion!
Ivy’s story reminds the reader that our self worth is not always reflected in worldly possessions. Even when we live a humble existence, we can still be destined for greatness.
The Crowns of Croswald is an ongoing series, with the fourth book’s pub date just around the corner.
This first book in the series gets a definite recommendation from me for anyone who is into the magical fantasy genre. An absolute must if, like me, you have a child who falls into that middle grades category. My son and I will definitely be finishing this series together!
Thank you to author D.E Night, Untold Stories Press, and NetGalley for the free digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This was a great book! I received a digital copy of the Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.
This book introduces a young girl named Ivy who works in a kitchen with Scaldron dragons. When one of the dragons gets sick Ivy gets kicked out on the street and must venture on her own away from her work and her home. She is picked up by a cabby who has been looking for her and Ivy is told that she has magic and will be attending a magical school. He drops her off to buy supplies. But once she gets to the school, the adventure and magic really begins! This book immediately pulled me in and I loved the characters and the story. I love books that have characters with powers and magical schools! This is a book that middle graders, teens, and adults should enjoy 😊

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What a fantastically fun middle-years read! As an adult I really enjoyed The Crowns of Croswald and will absolutely pick up the rest of the series in the future, and I know that 14 year old me would have obsessed over the characters, world and magical story.

The series was compared to Harry Potter to me which I think is a decent comparison. What captured me early on was the fun language. The author uses such colourful prose and really is artful with the picture of fun words painted on the page.

I enjoyed the characters, world and especially the domesticated dragons - can’t imagine cooking my food on a frying pan in a dragons mouth haha!!

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The minute I saw the cover for this book I was totally intrigued by it and the blurb pulled me in even further!! The world seemed to have a familiar feel, the aesthetic of it felt homely and the illustrations are amazing but it just seemed to be a bit lacklustre for me personally, there wasn’t enough depth the the characters and it just didn’t quite hit the mark unfortunately.

It is however, I think, perfect for middle grade readers who are just dipping their toes into the world fantasy. Especially if they have read certain books about a school aged wizard. It’s fun and totally magical, and I would totally recommend to anyone a little younger than me!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the e-Arc

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The Crowns of Croswald is a magical middle-grade adventure set in the world of Croswald. Overall, I liked the story. It was a quick and fun read and it made me curious to find out more about the magic system, the characters and the world they live in. I couldn’t help but notice that there are some similarities to Harry Potter, which is why I think this series could be a magical new discovery for every fan of that series, or for the next generation of young readers who would rather read about a bookish teenager saving the world from a Dark Queen.
The story follows our main character, an 15-year-old orphan named Ivy Lovely, as she discovers the world around her after growing up in a castle situated in a field full of flowers that are dulling all kinds of magic. One day, she leaves that “bubble” behind, while running after her pet dragon Humboldt, and a man suddenly shows up. He introduces himself as Mr. Lugg, a scrivenist (the magicians in this world, using quills as wands), and gives her a letter inviting her to a magic school, The Halls of Ivy. Though wondering if she could ever fit in at such a prestigious school, she is nonetheless excited to start her studies to become a scrivenist herself one day. Ivy is a bookish girl; she has a thirst for knowledge and loves to read and sketch in her free time.
At the Halls of Ivy, Ivy meets her fellow students, both royals and future scrivenists, including Fyn (third-year scrivenist student) and Rebecca (roommate, royal). Together with Ivy, those two form some kind of Golden Trio, and during the school year, they will support her in any way they can. While studying different kinds of magic and fantastical creatures, Ivy’s also trying to find out more about her past, the parents she never met, the mysterious man called D. E. Night that no one seems to remember and a Wandering Family, now that she has a library full of magical books at her disposal.
I enjoyed the combination of academia and mystery. I also liked the way the story developed as Ivy learned more about the world she lives in, the magic that’s in her. The world-building is great; the author managed to build a magical and curious world that might take inspiration from other magical worlds, but still creates a new world that’s there for the reader to discover. Ivy is, as her surname suggests, a lovely character that’s relatable and you just love following her through Croswald and her discoveries. The ending makes me curious about how the rest of Ivy’s story will proceed, what more there is to explore in Croswald, so I can definitely see myself continuing this series in the future.

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This book is about a girl who her whole life thinks she's alone, and powerless and then she gets told she's going to Hall of Ivy. This book is amazinggggggg. I definitely recommend it for a upper elementary to middle school. This book is perfect for any librarians especially one that I know personally!

The characters are so well written. there were so many times I kept getting questions in my head along with Ivy trying to solve question about why she's the only one who can remember Derwin Edgar Night and who he is. And also we come to find out who Ivy is as well and how she isn't a normal human girl and how she is practically royalty. The plot was amazing And I can't wait to find out who the betrayer is on who let the queen near Ivy. I definitely will be continuing this series because I WANT to know what happens next.

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I was hesitant at first to read this book when it was offered to me by Stories Untold (instagram). It’s been a while since I read a middle grade fantasy book. But since it’s a fantasy book, and I love that genre so much, I gave in.

I’m glad I did!!! First, the book was indeed magical. You can imagine how the entire world looks like just by reading it. Second, the story picks up immediately around chapter two when they introduced Ivy Lovely. I’m so used to fantasy books picking up around the middle already. I guess the author wrote it in a way that those teens who are just starting to read, or trying to get into reading will further be inspired to finish the book and love it.

Over all I love it. I recommend it to my daughter as well. She likes the film adaptation of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter but those series requires reading commitment for her very young age. 😅 But this book is a fast and easy read which I’m pretty sure she’ll devour in a day or two as well.

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Such a fun, whimsical fantasy that swept me away into its magical world. I struggled a little bit in the beginning to keep everything straight, but I’m positive that’s only because I’m an aphant and can’t see anything in my mind.

Ivy Lovely is a Scaldrony Maid and has grown up in a castle surrounded by slurries. When she finds herself ousted from the castle, she is suddenly thrown into the adventure of a lifetime! She’s told she has magical blood, a sqwinch, and will be admitted to study at The Halls to become a Scrivenist. Throughout her first year of study, she makes friends, gets in trouble and attracts the unwanted attention of The Selector one too many times. What is so special about Ivy Lovely? She’s even brought the Dark Queen to The Halls!

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Hi! The Crowns of Crosswald by D.E. Night are a fantasy series for middle school graders. If you want to know whether this book is worth reading, this is the post for you! I’m going to keep this review short and sweet :)

Reasons to read The Crowns of Crosswald

Firstly, I will begin by saying that this is a book I would have absolutely loved as a middle grader and would definitely recommend it to children above the age of 8 years. The writing was simple but full of great vocabulary. The books were written beautifully in a manner where it’s as if you are seeing the story through Ivy, the protagonist’s eyes itself!

The plot was great and unpredictable. But what made me really love this book was the no added drama. Usually, in a lot of books you see a lot of angst created just to lengthen the book and that often ruins it but this was not the case here. There was just the perfect amount of angst, no more, no less.

The characters are wonderful! Well- rounded personalities that were larger than life. One thing that I especially liked was that Ivy was not a helpless protagonist who needed saving. She was smart, resilient, loyal and in no way, helpless.

The ending practically makes you continue reading the series. Without giving too many spoilers away, the book ends with Ivy being in danger and having to train and continue her studies at The Town. Having been introduced to it in the prologue, you, as a reader are intrigued to know more about The Town. Moreover, there are so many questions yet to be answered. Will Ivy’s friends go to The Town with her? What will the Dark Queen do next? Do we see Rimbrick in the next book?

Honestly, the book sucked me in right from the beginning and I recommend it for children above the age of 8! Thank you for my free digital copy of this book in exchange for this honest review!

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This story sparked a nostalgic nerve with me, a young orphan finding out that they are in procession of great magic and is spirited away to a magical Hall of learning. Ivy Lovely finds the things she’d been dreaming of; the friends she’s wanted, the chance to gain knowledge, the halls of the very castle she’s been exploring in her dreams and possibly most important- a place to belong.
The twists and turns of Ivy’s adventures are one I’ll not soon forget.

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Thankyou publisher for the copy of this amazing master piece. The first thing that I would like to highlight here is that, I basically read mystery suspense genre more than any other genre. BUT THIS BOOK CHANGED MY PREFERENCES. This book, for me has changed my mind set and has influenced to the deepest of the layers.
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I never ever read something so magical. I read through the book, I could see things happening at the back of mind- lanterns of hairies, castle of the dark queen, the dark and evil queen.
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I am speechless. First in thr trilogy The book revolves around Ivy Lovely, set in a magical town, who goes to the school called Hall of Ivy- school for magical abled children. On the other side of the story, is a dark queen, who possesses all evil magic, superior to everything and has lived more than any other magical creature.
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But why is this dark queen so interested Ivy? A tale of magic, love, friendship, family secrets.
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I adored this book more that any other fantasy book ever. Now that I think about it, why did I not read this one earlier. I am very grateful to the publisher to have provided me with a copy of this mind blowing book. I would really love to explore the other two in thr trilogy.

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My daughter and I read The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night and absolutely loved it. It also makes us want to craft a fairy lamp! This novel brings the wonders of magic and fantasy and combines them with an exciting mystery that captures the imagination.

My daughter (5th grade) had a little trouble reading it because the vocabulary was advanced, but we pressed through and she ended up loving it!

I highly recommend this for those who love the Harry Potter series. It’s a great story, filled with adventure, and we are looking forward to reading the next in the series.

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I was gifted a copy of this e-book from the publisher in return for an honest review via Netgalley. That being said, I did enjoy this book even though it is written towards a younger reading audience. The only other fantasty book series I’ve read have been the Harry Potter series, and there were many similarities. I loved Harry Potter, though, so it’s not a bad thing …just hard to not make obvious comparisons while reading! I did enjoy the descriptive writing even when it was a little choppy and hard to follow at times. Ivy was also a very likable character and I enjoyed following her journey. For a non-fantasy reader, I enjoyed the book and would be open to read the continuing books in the series. Thank you again for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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What I loved most about this book was the writing style. The descriptions and imagery are so well done. I also enjoy the magical elements to this book and the world. I had a lot of fun learning the magic system!

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Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Age recommendation: 9 and above

I was approached by @storiesuntold and offered an e-copy of the book in return for an honest review. I'm so glad they did as I was introduced to a magical world of Ivy Lovely.

Ivy is a scaldrony maid and her only friend is Rimbrick, an ancient woods dwarf. Her life is pretty uneventful until the day she gets an invitation to join the prestigious Halls of Ivy as a sqwinch. Here, she becomes friends with Fyn and Rebecca and it looks like she may finally have found a place that feels like home.

However, wherever she goes, Ivy keeps finding references to a mysterious Derwin Edgar Night (clever! :) and she feels that she must find him. So begins Ivy's quest but it looks like the Dark Queen and her Cloaked Brood will do everything to stop Ivy from finding Derwin and learning the truth about her past...

'The Crowns of Croswald' is a gripping read filled with evil curses, glanagerie bottles and Forgotten Rooms (you definitely don't want to get stuck in one of those!). It's a coming-of-age story with themes of friendship, loyalty and finding your own path. Ivy is a very down-to-earth character and it's really hard not to like her.

When I first started reading the book, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it - I found the prologue quite weak and rather confusing. Luckily, it was just a blip as the story only gets better. D. E. Night created a fascinating world with some brilliant characters. There were moments that begged for more of an explanation or extension and that's my only tiny complaint. I really enjoyed the book and I can't wait to read part two of the series.

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Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Stories Untold Press for the gifted copy of this book, in exchange for my review.

The Crowns of Croswald is unlike anything I usually read. Fantastical. Sweet. Aimed at the young. And yet, I really enjoyed the experience of reading it. I sat down one morning in the midst of a slump and read it straight through. The magical, adventurous and enchanting world was a sweet escape. I highly recommend it.

Croswald is a charming place filled with palaces and quaint shops, but The Halls of Ivy (a magical school) is the real draw. What child wouldn't want to study there? Our main character is Ivy Lovely, a sixteen year old orphan girl who works as a maid. She has only one friend who is a dwarf. But one day she discovers her destiny to attend the House of Ivy alongside the royal and wealthy kids who are there. Ivy is thrilled!

What follows is danger, magic, adventure, silly antics, and mysteries. Of course there are similarities to Harry Potter, but the story is still wonderful and unique. The characters are relatable, and likable.

The book would be a wonderful gift for any child in your life, but especially for girls.

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I literally finished this in one day!!! SO GOOD! I need the second book ASAP, The world building, the characters, everything was done tastefully. The magic in the author's words made me feel like I was in the her world physically. It was a much needed escape from everyday life, (even for a day). I really need to go buy the sequel. Alas it is not in the budget for this month. But I will be annoyingly recommending this book to allllll my friends and book club friends! Also a great read for the younger crowd! All around very well written and beautifully done. My Fae and Fantasy heart is very happy after reading this book! :)

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4 stars.

Summary:
Ivy is 16 years old and has no idea of her magical powers. She’s grown up as maid without any family. When she is fired and kicked out -she begins school at a magic boarding school. Ivy gets into all sorts of adventure and trouble as she discovers who she is. There’s so many mysteries and secrets at Croswald that Ivy is itching to explore. But as Ivy grows closer to discovering her heritage, she also discovers that there’s a Dark Queen in power ready to destroy everything Ivy has grown to love.


Review:
This was a middle grade fantasy which is a tad out of my bubble but I was instantly sucked into the story.
While reading it- I thought to myself how it felt like a combination of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, and Harry Potter. There were a few action scenes that I was confused, trying to understand what was happening. But overall- a really good read.
I loved Ivy’s adventurous spirit. This felt very coming-of-age, and as this is a series, I can see there’s still so much to be explained and explored. I honestly see myself reading the remaining books in the series because I want to know what happens with Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca. If you love magic and fantasy and adventure- I definitely think you would enjoy this book. As a kid- I know I would have loved this one.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author for this ARC.

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I heard about this book from a friend and she could not have sung its praises any higher so I just had to read it for myself!
The story reminded me of Harry Potter which I have also really enjoyed so it was easy to get into. The magical elements were very creative and the way the author described it all made it easy to picture everything as if I was there.
I love this type of story and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

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A magical school with a magical adventures. Wonderful characters and a well written story. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone that likes fantasy.

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first in a four book Middle Grade/YA fantasy series. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and the magical elements of the book! There were so many unique and interesting magical creatures, and I love the concept of a written/drawn magic system.
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One of the pieces that missed the mark a little bit for me was in the pacing. It felt a little too fast paced throughout and there were areas that I felt could have been fleshed out/slowed down a little. Some side characters felt rather one dimensional, and a few of the mini conflicts felt rushed/easily resolved.
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Overall, the story did keep me interested and wanting to read more! I’ve heard that the series only gets better as it goes on, so I am looking forward to reading the next one :)

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The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely as she ventures outside her small world of kitchen work and into the Halls of Ivy. Who is Ivy and what makes her so important that she’s attracted the attention of the Dark Queen?

Armed with a porcupine allergic to ink and a kitchen dragon (scauldron), Ivy finds herself facing a mysterious and magical world where she herself possesses powers she never knew of.

Other reviewers have made the connection to Harry Potter and I definitely see it! I do feel that this book fell a little into the same trap HP did with ugly=bad. This isn’t something that was very overt in this book, but I first noted it with the character Helga.

As someone who has worked with animals, I also tend to dislike when animals (magical or not) are used as tools to the point of it being mistreatment. This is common, I think, in middle grade books. What is more magical than a dragon that cooks your meals? I’m probably being sensitive to this due to my background in animal welfare.

What I think this book got right was a sense of whimsy that is fun for younger readers (my kid called it ‘wild!’) and an adventure full of possibilities. The magic system is very reminiscent of Harry Potter, but with its own touch that sets it apart.

Still, you’ll find bottles that remind you of a pensive, quills, and interesting magical creatures!

Ivy is a kind hearted character with a bit of a backbone and the ability to roll with the punches and keep going. She’s curious and brave with a thirst for knowledge that catapults her through the story as she solves the mystery of who she really is.

However, I do feel that the plot needed some separation from Harry Potter as it felt so heavily influenced. The world building is great, but you may feel as though you’ve read this plot before.

I think that would mostly matter to adults reading this though. My daughter has not read Harry Potter and therefore obviously didn’t make any connections. She found the book to be a lot of fun and enjoyed all the different creatures in the book.

My kiddo and I discussed it and we are going with a 3.5 star rounded up to 4! We received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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A magical adventure story for fans of the "Chosen One" tales and a little whimsy with their dark magic. I enjoyed reading but this didn't leave me craving a sequel.

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I think it's a fantastic read that lots of people can enjoy. Thank you for letting me read this book. I really felt captivated by this plot and story. It's a great and completely interesting read.

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*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in The Crowns Of Croswald series and I want to read the next ones. Reading this story was a very fun and entertaining experience that immerses you in a fantastic magical world and I adored the beautiful illustrations at start of each chapter.

The construction of the world was amazing and complex. The author pays great attention to detail and has constructed a world that is easy to get lost in. The setting was what I liked the most, it's a combination of things that I love like castles, magic and dragons.

Ivy Lovely is a strong female lead, inspiring readers to stand up for what they believe in. I really liked this character and her evolution.

There were a lot of secondary characters. Rebeca is very funny and Fyn is cute, I'm glad that Ivy found friends to share adventures with. The Dark Queen is very mysterious I hope to get to know her better in the next books.

In conclusion, I've really enjoyed reading this book. I think middle grade readers will enjoy this book!

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Thanks to the publisher and author for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just wow!!! I was given the opportunity to read this amazing book and I have to say, I'm blown away! Not only did I love it, I had to order the next book cuz I want to read more. Very well written and the way it flows its just amazing.
"Let's start with the basics. You, Ivy Lovely, are magic."

This world is so magical it made me feels like Harry Potter vibes honestly. I definitely recommend it, and specially for kids! It's just so perfect.

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If you're a fan of fairy tales and Harry Potter, then this one is for you.

We have a 16 year old girl who suddenly finds out she has magic (and a mysterious heritage), a boarding school for magic, blooming friendships, a dark queen and a whole lot of questions. Of course, it wouldn't be much fun unless our heroine was also both inquisitive and a little bit of a trouble maker.

The world building was delightful - it took very little time to fall into the world of magic Night was creating. At first, I felt like there were too many questions but as the story evolved, tidbits were released. I would have liked to see a little bit more character development, especially a few of the secondary characters, and a little more depth to some of the friendships BUT there are three more books so I think there's room for it to develop.

Year one of our heroine's magical education is complete. She knows a little bit more of who she is. She has some faithful friends (aka sidekicks). Looking forward to the next one.

Audience:: For the middle grade reader.

Thank you to Net Galley and Untold Press for my e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

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My initial thoughts of this book was that it was going to be an adaption of Harry Potter as they share many of the same elements. Once I got a couple chapters in, I realized that this book was something entirely it’s own.

This book follows Ivy Lovey, a young girl from the slurry, as she is invited to study at The Hall of Ivy - the school for all young princesses and scrivenists to learn their trade. During Ivy’s first year she makes new friends (and enemies) and, most importantly, learns that she is not who believed she was.

This story was truly such a comfort read for me. As much as I enjoyed this book as a college student, I know this would have been an absolute favorite of mine had I read it whilst in middle school. While yes this book did remind me of Harry Potter, there was something else about this book that felt tremendously nostalgic for me; like coming home in a sense.

This book is categorized as middle grade but I would recommend this one for anyone who enjoys a whimsical fantasy world to escape to for a while!

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I had the publisher, Stories Untold Press, reach out to me via Instagram on behalf of the author, D.E. Night. They asked if I would be willing to read and review this book, and after reading the synopsis, I happily agreed.

I found this book reminiscent of Harry Potter, Sorcery of Thorns, and any story that has royal and academia vibes. It had heavy thematic elements, including creating a large and comprehensive magical world, complete with new creatures, magical tools and unique lore.

I found the writing to flow easily, for the most part. The way the author describes the atmosphere, environment or the physical representation of characters and situations provoked my internal-mind to conjure up exciting images. I did find that some scenes that included a lot of action sometimes became hard to follow. Some parts of the story jumped around a bit and I found myself re-orienting from time to time.

I will say the similarities to Harry Potter were uncanny, particularly the "chosen one" trope, the trio of friends in a magical school, the classes and tricks, the magicked portraits and even the eerie parallels of the side of evil: the Dark Lord and his death eaters mirrored by the Dark Queen and her Cloaked Brood. However, that being said, there were pieces that set it apart from these common themes that give this story the potential of becoming wholly original.

I really enjoyed the ample pieces of foreshadowing and connections. Things like the Halls of Ivy, and their ultimate link to the titular role. The play on words with D.E. Night (the author) and the ever-elusive scrivenist, Derwin Edgar Night. Also, the visualization of the after life for scrivenists is something notable: their souls essence entering a tome to be held in a limitless library.

As I expected in a middle-grade novel, romance wasn't the forefront - and that's okay! I truly believe stories that focus on friends and self-discovery are so important for young minds to devour. The story touches on friendships and companionships between Ivy and others, including Fyn, Rebecca and the incidental character of Humphrey, the scaldron she saved. I would've loved to see further development into these friendships, as well as expanding on the actual school setting, as the story jumped from her bedroom, the classroom and the library without much transition between.

I would've loved to dig deeper into the lore - to understand how the crown stones worked and how the royals and scrivenists worked together. I'm a bit of a history nerd, and this doesn't stop at fictional worlds. Give me ALL the worldbuilding and you would create a perfectly content bookworm. Maybe this is something we'll see in the next few books in this series?

All that being said, I am truly interested to see where the rest of Ivy's story goes. The end of this book set the scene for an epic quest of discovery, investigation and piecing together the past!

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The Crowns of Croswald was a magical, whimsical tale that made me nostalgic for the types of books I read as a child. I felt the reminiscent feelings of the Tamora Pierce and Deltora Quest vibes that capivated me in my youth, coupled with more sophisticated writing that helped me to feel like this was a book worthy of my current age.

I would love to continue this series, it has left a few things hanging open which I would love to read more on!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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The story does give off those Harry Potter vibes. . My favorite part is the little dragon creature. Not to give away any spoilers. I read the second book recently and realized I never made a review on the first one. The world building is my favorite and just the imagery of the scenes with the ship really capture my imagination.
I love that the story does focus on the friendship between the main character and her friend Rebecca.

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*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review* Let me start by saying the cover art is beautiful and gives a peek in to the world between the pages. The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a four-part middle grade fantasy series. Book 4 looks to be released soon. It follows the journey of 16-year-old scullery maid, Ivy, who unbeknownst to her, has been hidden in a castle behind a magical boundary which suppresses magic. A boundary which has kept her past and her destiny a secret. When Ivy breaks free of the castle, a magical world awaits for her on the other side. The story is fast-paced, delightful and imaginative. Some reviews have said it is a cross between Harry Potter, Cinderella and Alice in Wonderland. The imagery the author creates in this world is vivid and enchanting. It does not end on a cliff hanger but does leave you excited to see what happens next. Even though the MC is 15-16, it is definitely geared towards middle schools readers, not high school or YA. This review was written with the intended middle school demographic in mind.

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I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"The Crowns of Croswald" is the beginning of Ivy's adventure written by D. E. Night. Her story is full of magic, fantasy creatures and cuteness!
I really enjoyed learning things about the world our hero lives in and Scrivenist.
School of magic? Yes, please! It really brought me back to my childhood and reminded me of "Harry Potter" - but not too much, luckily. I loved how Ivy had to gain friends and study about her powers.
I enjoyed this book, but I would say it's for people in younger age than YA, because it was a little bit childish for me, but I would absolutely have no issues few years ago. It's just the beginning of the serie, so things will probably become even more interesting later.

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An absolutely magical book, the children loved it with its great magical details and touches. A super book to read to children. The second book in the series is just as good !

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Book: The Crowns of Croswalds
Author: D.E. Night
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: Untold Stories Pres
Publication Date: July 21, 2017
Date Read: 2/7
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ivy Lovely is 16 and has no idea who she is. She is magic. This is a super cute story of a young woman finding her place and getting to know who she really is with the help of some really good friends.

Humans and Ghosts alike. The concept is interesting and made for a very enjoyable read. Well written and easy to read.

Middle Grade kids would love this book. The magic is very interesting and the Scrivenist and their world is intriguing. This was the my first time reading D.E. Night and it. Am be safely said that I’d love to read more from her.

I was given a free copy through NetGalley by the author in exchange for an honest review.


#NetGalley #TheCrownsofCroswald

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Thank you to Netgalley and Stories Untold Press for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

4/5⭐️ I quite enjoyed this story and I’m excited to read more of it. It started a bit slow for me and I was nervous that I wouldn’t be able to fully dive into the story, but the main character, Ivy, made me want to know more.

I found the beginning to be a bit confusing because there was a lot that happened that you needed to keep up with that had very little explanation. Due to this book being advertised as middle grade fantasy, I was worried because I was even confused by the way the story jumped around a bit. The confusion was well worth it because as I kept reading, it was like uncovering a mystery.

The is a magical and whimsical story of an orphaned girl living as a maid dreaming of a better life through books and stories. Unexpectedly, she’s thrown into school where she gets to experience what she’s only really been able to read. Ivy Lovely find that she fits into this world in perfectly imperfect ways. She seems to keep finding herself in trouble while finding friends willing to help her out.

Although, there were moments where I predicted the what was to happen. I found that the author wrote a beautiful story that was filled with magic and fun that kept it lighthearted, but the darker parts found you wanting more. I can’t wait to see what comes of Ivy, Humboldt, Fyn, and Rebecca next. Where will the story take them and who cannot be trusted?

This was the perfect book to curl up to and read a few chapters before bed to unwind for the night!!

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🌸 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 🌸

Review: 5/5⭐

"𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩'𝙨 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩."

**Huge thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.**

Picture in your mind a Harry Potter story, but with a female main character and a mixture of many different magical creatures and royals. This book will have you hooked from the start.

The Crowns of Croswald is a nostalgic yet new spin on magic, mysteries, and chosen-ones. What I loved the most about this story, besides all the amazing characters and the magic, is that in this story a young woman is in the center of it all and I couldn't love that more. From the first page I was enchanted with the story and I couldn't put the book down. This book has everything I personaly want, and love, in a story. A lead female character that is badass, holds her ground and doesn't let anyone tell her what to do and amazing friends that support her along the way, along with the exciting storyline.

The Crowns of Croswald is perfect for all of us who love Harry Potter. Trust me you will love this one just as much, if not even more. I adored the nostalgia and magical feeling of finding a world to escape in. This novel brought me back to my childhood and to all of my dreams of me being a magical creature and I couldn't love it more. I can't wait to read all the books in this series.

After this first book I read and me having to love it so much, I am excited to have all 4 of the books in printed form in my personal library.

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Fun, quick middle grade school. Magical school, dragons, Dark Queens, with twists and turns leaving you wanting the questions answered to what is in store for Ivy's future will have you wanting and waiting for the next book!

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This is such a fun story about a young girl with magical abilities. I really enjoyed the magic system and the characters. The writing is whimsical which I thoroughly loved. It reminded me a lot of fantasy books I read as a kid. I would recommend this if you loved Harry Potter!

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This book was fantastic. I loved the characters the magical creatures the magic system the development of the story the protagonist and everything about the story.
Kudos to the author for a job well done. I look forward to reading the rest of the books in the series

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It takes guts to write pure-play fantasy about a disadvantaged youngster who brushes off early adversity, matriculates into an ancient school of magic and discovers their singular place in an enchanted universe.

The invitations for comparison to a certain magical Franchise-That-Must-Not-Be-Named are loud and sometimes defensible, but also unfair to the writer of “The Crowns of Croswald” and the lovely world she’s created. The first installment of this five-part YA fantasy saga distinguishes itself with originality and oodles of adventure.

Endearingly, the spells of teenage heroine Ivy Lovely are cast from a tool of the written word. In lieu of a wand, the power of a “Scrivenist” is wielded through the use of a quill.

The words cast by author D.E. Night get better and better as Lovely encounters new friends, repulsive rivals and ultimately the shock of a lifetime. Middle grade readers are certain to fall in love with Lovely.

Her growth from a halting adolescent into a self-assured young lady is all the more relatable given her innate gifts: for even the most magical among us, the price of maturity is paid in experience.

As the “Dark Queen” consolidates power from a distance, the cost of Lovely’s emotional growth is sure to be high. Is this unlikely hero ready for the mysterious challenges to come? After a few chapters of “Croswald,” you’ll be dying to find out.

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a fantasy series by D.E. Night. The story follows Ivy Lovely, who after being banished from her home, discovers she has magic. She is then taken to a magical school where she can learn to grow and master her powers. Unfortunately due to her powers, the dark queen takes notice of her and Ivy must figure out her history in order to save herself and Croswald.

Although this book is perfect for middle grade readers, I would have liked to see a little bit more exploration of the main character, but this is my preference and we may get to see more of Ivy and her growth in the next books.

The world building and descriptions in this book were lovely. I loved how the school, country, and magical creatures were described, it really felt like you were in the book. I also enjoyed the magic system, and how brave Ivy is as a character, but also naive which makes for great character development in the future books.

If you like fearless main characters, unique creatures and world-building, descriptive and imaginative writing, a creative magic system, and a world full of fun magic, then this book may be for you!

Overall, this was a good read and great start to a magical series.

Rating:
4/5

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This story was very whimsical, magical, and fantastical. The storyline wasn’t completely unique, however, that doesn’t stop it from being incredibly fun to read. Ivy is a girl who gets kicked out of the castle and is sent to a magical school to learn and practice this worlds magic system. Any fan of Harry Potter or any boarding school stories will instantly fall in love with this book! It will be especially fun for younger readers who are interested in magic schools, exotic creatures, and interesting characters. If I were a kid again, I know this would’ve have been a favorite that I would read again and again. It had a very nostalgic and similar feel to other fantasy books that I read when I was in middle school, which made this book so much more fun to read and re-visit those feelings. If you haven’t bought or read The Crowns of Croswald yet, what are you waiting for?! This book will captivate you within the very first sentence.

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An enjoyable whimsical tale.

It’s packed with magic: magic wielders in a way I hadn’t seen before (quill); magical crowns (which I adored because barbie princess charm school); dragons (fricking dragons!); unicorns; and more

It also uses a rags to riches Cinderella esque tale of normal life to magical destiny that is perfect escapism.

On Instagram (@disneycrossings), on goodreads (Niamh Austin) and Amazon (Naome).

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4.5 Stars!
I was completely absorbed in this quick read from D.E. Night. Ivy Lovely takes the chance to break out of her surroundings and crosses a magical barrier where she discovers a whole new life. She finds herself being helped into a school of scriveners and Royals, with specific powers and roles, all as she begins to learn more about who she really is.

There are more than one similar theme in this to another magical school series, but there are plenty of differences and I was all in for more magical moments! Specifically, I enjoyed all the strong women in this story. There were strong male roles, but it felt much more a boost to female representation. I enjoyed the mysterious undertones throughout the adventures that all came together in the end. As the first in the 4-part series, there was a well-crafted world building here that included all the fun magical creatures and potions.

I am excited to keep reading this fun series and hold on to the magic! There is definitely more adventures for Ivy and her friends against the Dark Queen.

Thank you to @NetGalley, & D.E. Night for sharing this story! I can't wait to share it with friends who love all the magic!💖

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This book is perfect for young readers wanting to get into the fantasy genre. I loved the magical aspects, world building, and the adventures that Ivy went on. I will definitely be reading this one aloud when my daughter gets a little older!

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Thank you to NetGalley, Stories Untold Press, and D.E. Night for the free review copy of this book.

This middle grade novel is great if you enjoy the magical aspects from Harry Potter and some of the characters from the Lunar Chronicles (though no sci fi here). I also kind of got some House in the Cerulean Sea vibes.

Overall, I really enjoyed the main character and her friends throughout this book, and I thought the magic system was really interesting. Though a bit predictable, I think this story is great for nostalgia or someone entering into a magical story for a first or second time. Super cute read!!

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I haven't read this good of a book about magic in ages! Not since Harry Potter! To put it in fewer words : this book is a genius amalgam of Harry Potter, Enid Blyton's Faraway Tree series, and for quite a few reasons, made me nostalgic in remembrance of a movie I watched as a kid called Arthur and the Invisibles. What extraordinary world building and character framing! Every single one of Ivy's adventures felt like my own, and every moment she spent in the Halls of Ivy made me envious of her. I'd love to have a pet dragon and what I'd give to be taken away on a cabby flown by beasts. I would not be exaggerating when I say that I've had dreams of being able to experience whatever Ivy had in this magical book. I can't wait to read the parts that follow. Great big thanks to NetGalley and the author fot providing me with the chance to read the first book of this series that I will faithfully follow through.

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“To the One to Whom This Box is Entrusted … The Hand That Left Her”
“Clearly it’s not what’s on the outside that counts … but on the inside”
“Magic … that’s who you are”
When I was first asked to read and reviewed this book ( a middle grade book with magic and mystery ) I thought : “Yes, this is exactly what I need now”
I had no clue I would have turned out absolutely loving it !!!!
For fans of Harry Potter … you’re gonna love this !!!
The magic, the world building, the characters and the mystery surrounding the identity of this amazing protagonist, Ivy, was beautiful !!!!
It completely captivated me… meaning that I couldn’t stop reading it.
Once you’re in, you’re in and you’re there through the corridors of the Halls of Ivy trying and figure out what magic means and why dreams can be so vivid.
Plus D.E. Night ??? Saying this I honestly would like to know if I’m taking about the author or a character … I guess I’ll have to read the other books to know !!!
All I know is that this adventure is not over for me and I couldn’t be happier about it !!!
For a story where magic, family, power, knowledge and friendship intertwined, where twists and turns happen when maybe you’re expecting it maybe not …
Read it because you won’t regret it !!!
“With memories, especially those affected by a decades-long Wandering Curse … well, you win some, you lose some, right?”
“Forgotten by all expect me”
“The story that you seek is dangerous, Ivy. For you and for others”

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I just love a middle grade book and know I would have absolutely devoured this book in middle school! This brings me back to my childhood while I read Harry Potter with my mom in our old recliner.

This book was full of imagination, whimsy, and a magic school which I am a total sucker for. I enjoyed Ivy's character and loved reading about her as she discovered her many talents. The world building was great and I loved learning about the magic system and Croswald overall.

This is a great book for a younger audience and I would absolutely recommend to anyone who enjoys a little magic in their life!

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I was very excited when I was asked to read and review this book! I found it to be compatible to a lot of magical books I read growing up for sure! It has a lot of neat magic systems and world building detail. If I picked this up in a book store when I was 10 or 11 I would have loved it for sure.

It’s compatible to Harry Potter or Howl’s Moving Castle. The plot is fun and the characters are witty and amusing. I really enjoyed reading it :)

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I absolutely loved this book! It has been awhile since I have read a middle grade book but after starting this, my worries of whether or not I'd enjoy it disappeared. This book is perfect for fans of Harry Potter as it takes the magic and adventure we all love from these books and builds on it, giving us a whimsical world I enjoyed way more!
The world building of this book was absolutely fantastic. From the scaldragons to the hairies, the creatures were innovative takes on classics and helped add even more magic to the books! D.E Night's character building allows you to fall in love with the characters easily and keep wanting more!
Overall, this book was a great middle grade and a nice read if you want to dive into a new, whimsical world!

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I got the opportunity to read this book thrue netgalley in exchange for an honest rewiev.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Then this book is totally for you. Though it has alot of recemblance to Harry Potter there are loads of things that are quite unique to this story.

I have to say it's part HP and some Alice in the wonderland and little of sleeping beauty, (mostly the evil queen 👑 part) mash into this amazing bok of adventure and magic.

I just loved this. ❤️❤️❤️❤️
The characters the world building, the atmosphere, the magic. And the main character Ivy was so likeable.
I was pulled into this so fast I read halv the book in one setting. 😂🙈

I will definitely read the other books in this serie. I can truly recommend reading this and disaper in a wonderful magical world and go on an adventure full of wonder.

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The first thing I thought going in to this book is how heavily influenced it is by Harry Potter. This is a delightful YA fantasy story involving a young lady with magical abilities and a magic school where she finds herself belonging.

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Wonderful middle grade book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and seeing the transformation of Ivy was wonderful.

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I received this book as an ebook from the publisher (stories untold) in exchange for an honest review. I would rate this around 3.75 if goodreads allowed decimal points. I found it hard to get into although that might be due to it being an ebook rather than the story writing in itself. However, once started, the story was so magical, thrilling, humorous, it carried me effortlessly til near the end. The bit just before the ending seems a little convoluted, maybe due to the excitement of me trying to finish it before nursery run, I had to tell myself to slow down and really read it to “untangle” it.

I also found certain bits familiar although not the same as the writing of Harry Potters series. I can see that it is published in 2017, I would say it is probably inspired by the magical world. It has been a long time since I last read anything fantasy, I wouldn’t find the familiarity off putting as it is bound to happen, just like within romance/ chic lit/ crime novels.

However, I suspect the much younger version of me (which is the target reader of this book) would totally enjoy it because the adult me is looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

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Thanks to NetGalley and DE Night for the gifted copy of The Crowns of Croswold.

My girls adored this book. With a real Harry Potter vibe but with a feminine lead, this book is packed full of magic, spells and a dark queen - we fell in love with Ivy - a girl who has been locked away for 16 years only to discover she has magical powers. Heading off to the Halls of Ivy (a magic school), Ivy has to learn how to use her powers without drawing the attention of the dark queen.

The girls now desperately want to read the next!

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Thank you @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for this digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. The world building was lovely and I felt like the use of many magical objects really added to the story without getting confusing.

It did give some Harry Potter vibes, which I enjoyed because who doesn’t love HP?! Ivy’s character was whimsical and adventurous and easy to become connected to.

I felt that the writing was perfect for the intended Middle School audience. It was exactly like the fantasy books I enjoyed reading at the age. Overall, lovely read ♥️

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This would be such a great read for a Harry Potter fan! I found the world intriguing and full of interesting characters and creatures. It was fast paced, but easy enough to keep straight.

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3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable and uniquely magical book, and I plan to read the next in the series! While it wasn’t unputdownable, it held my attention and I was invested in the characters throughout.

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The Crowns of Croswald
By: D.E. Night

This book was magical! Full of whimsy, intricate characters and a story line that kept me turning the pages. This is definitely a young adult novel, but just like Harry Potter, it can be enjoyed by all audiences.

I loved meeting Ivy and following her adventures and misadventures and everything in between! I loved meeting all the brilliant characters Ivy meets along the way, too.

The world of Croswald is one I’d love to visit again! I look forward to more by this author!

Many thanks to D.E. Night, Stories Untold Press, and Goodreads for a digital copy of this book. I read and reviewed this voluntarily and opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

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📕 REVIEW: The Crowns of Croswald

⭐: ☆☆☆☆ / 5
👩🏻‍💻 Author: @author.denight
📃 # Pages: 249

Okay but I love the cover!!!I actually really enjoyed this! I was a bit unsure to start with but it quickly drew me in. This is the first book in the series (which I absoloutely will read!) And it kinda gave me a bit of Tangled vibes with a lot of similarities to Harry Potter (very similar actually). This was a very easy read and the writing was enjoyable.

I definitely think this is something I would have given 5 stars to if I was younger (as this is middle-grade fiction) but was still an awesome read!

The story follows Ivy Lovely (16) who was banished from all she knew and was taken to Croswald. The Halls of Ivy, the school where she would learn more about her family and herself then she ever new before.

*I would like to thank @storiesuntoldpress for reaching out to me to read this novel via @netgalley And also, a special thank you to @author.denight

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This was such a cute story, full of adventure and magic. Ivy gets whisked away to a magical school for royalty and aspiring scrivenists (royal scribes), learning how to use their magic and perfect their craft. We get pulled into the adventure when Ivy is in one of her classes and something goes wrong, which then opens Pandora's box and she's got to figure out why it happened and who she saw and why is this person significant to her. The end definitely leaves it open to dive into the second book and I definitely will continue this journey with Ivy and her friends!

The verbiage is a little difficult to keep up, just the different names for different objects, creatures, people with titles, ect. But definitely a great story for middle grade!

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The book was great, but I did not feel it was time for this type of fiction. I'll be continuing reading it in another period of time and for sure I'll love it!

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3.75/5 stars
*NetGalley and Stories Untold provided me with the ebook in exchange for an honest review*
-
Our story follows 16 year old Ivy Lovely who doesn’t quite know who she is yet. When she ends up crossing the magic border, she’s whisked away into a world of more magic and mystery than she can ever imagine. She makes friends, foes, and learns magic along the way. Ivy soon realized not everything is as good as it seems, as the Dark Queen is threatening all that’s well.

I’ll just start by saying that I did truly enjoy this book. I’m not quite the target audience for this story as it’s more of a middle-grade book, but I just know that younger me would absolutely adore this. That being said, you can tell this book takes heavy inspiration from other fantasy stories, which I didn’t mind, and I think it’s nice for a younger audience as it can incorporate some of their favourite stories. You could tell the author took major inspiration from School for Good and Evil, Narnia, and Harry Potter. I also got a Barbie Princess Charm School Vibes which I honestly loved.

Characters - I loved the “main trio” if that’s what you’d call it. Fyn was definitely my favourite. I loved to see the relationship between the three, it was so much fun all around.

I also thought it was so fun for the author to include their own name on the book. It’s such a cool name too, so why not include it?

I had a few criticisms for this book, resulting in the 3.75 rating. The main one being the story line. I did really enjoy it, but I found myself so fused at times and it was kind of choppy. We’d switch from one thing to another chapter to chapter.
The second criticism is that I didn’t find myself connecting to Ivy that much. I liked the main trio together, but Ivy as an individual was slightly lacking. I wish we saw more character depth within her, but ultimately, these two criticisms weren’t “bad” enough for me to dislike the book, just small things that I would’ve liked the author to build upon. I definitely recommend you pick this up if you’re into middle grade fantastical, magical, and mysterious stories.

Thanks again NetGalley, Stories Untold and the author for providing me with this ebook. I truly enjoyed it!

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I was contacted by stories untold press on my Instagram asking if I would like to try this book for free in exchange to give my honest opinion and I jumped at the chance.

It's not my sort of go to genre of book so it was nice to try something different,I did enjoy the book it gave a sort of harry potter vibe but in its own individual/querky way which was Great. The only reason I didn't give it a five star as it did take a while for me to get into and so much was going on that I got slightly confused of where I got to and what was happening which is a bit of a shame.
It was great how detailed everything was so helped give a clear image in your imagination of how things and characters looked. Which is good in a book as I like to be able to picture everything whilst I'm reading.

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Title: The Crowns of Croswald
Author: D. E. Night
Genre: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Adventure
Rating: 4 stars

Synopsis:
The Crowns of Croswald encourages young readers to investigate themes such as embracing their own magic, exploring their true selves, and confronting evil head-on. The Crowns of Croswald series is a magical thrill ride through a fully formed world with dragons, magical quills, potions, and mythical creatures, hailed by Kirkus Reviews as "an action-packed treat [...] with a relatable heroine facing obstacles in a captivating world of magic and mystery," and called a new classic by readers.
Ivy Lovely is 16 years old and has no clue who she is or what powers she possesses. She eventually finds a whole new realm of enchantment and intrigue when she traverses a magical boundary. She learns more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald's mystical stones as she makes friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life. But not everything is as it seems: a tragic history and an evil Queen jeopardize all that is good.

Plot and pacing:
I thought the book was a little bit slow at the beginning, but as I read more the pacing also catches up with the turns and twists in regards to the plot. The mysterious, whimsical, and addictive themes are well-developed and entertaining. The hidden pasts and unanswered questions lingered long enough to build up my curiosity over this book. Personally, this is my second time reading a middle-grade book, and I actually love the plot so much I keep on reading it every day. Because this is a middle-grade novel, it touches on many real-world issues without being harsh for the younger crowd, which include grief, bullying, racism, prejudice, and abandonment. As an adult reader, I could see the profound meaning behind the cleverly crafted world in this book.

Writing and setting:
The writing is mellifluous and flowery, which is quite a hit or a miss for young readers. I, as an adult reader, find this book to be quite verbose which is taxing my experience. However, I understand that new vocabulary is a great practice for me to improve my reading. However, the setting makes up for it. It was full of illustrative and picturesque world-building that left me in awe. The author did a great job in describing the things that need to be imagined by the readers. Some might find it a bit difficult in the beginning, but after a while, the writing and setting are quite easy to navigate through.

Characters:
Ivy is a protagonist who appeals to me because she is inquisitive and whimsical, as well as shy and valiant. She went through a roller-coaster of adventurous rides ever since she was a scaldrony maid. She was barred against doing what she loves the most; to read and draw. However, Ivy aspires to attend the Halls of Ivy, a school where royals learn to control the magical stones in their crowns and sqwinches train to become scrivenists. I also love a dragon that she brought with her after being fired from her scaldrony maid job, Humboldt. He’s just super adorable and always there for her. Ivy also has some friends which are Fyn, the guy who helps her and went through a wind whirl of adventures, and Rebecca, a loyal friend who is from a royal family.

Overall:
The Crowns of Croswald is a middle-grade novel, a gripping adventure emboldened enchantment and charming imaginary world, suitable with readers of Harry Potter, Narnia, and Alice in Wonderland who relish in a magical world full of the wondrous fixture.

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This book took me back to the years when I was obsessed with Harry Potter, The Famous Five, The Chronicles of Narnia and so many more adventure packed books that made me fall in love with reading.

This book is very well written and an amazing book for budding readers to get lost in. the world is full of magic, scaldrons (dragons) and students going about life. If I had to compare it to a book, then I’d say Harry Potter is a good fit. There are similarities but the book itself is different with a different world.

I feel like this is a book that can be enjoyed by a child as well as an adult. I would definitely love to read more of this world and I have three more books to do so!! The only thing that bothered me a bit were the long chapters so, it was a bit difficult to just dive right into this book but, as I read more I didn’t notice the length of the chapters as much.
I would like to acknowledge and thank netgally, the author and the publisher for a DRC.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this middle-grade book with my 9-year-old daughter. The characters (especially Ivy) and magical creatures were fantastic, the magic system brilliant and the world building fabulous. The story has such a whimsical/magical feel to it and definitely gave off those Harry Potter vibes. Would definitely recommend.

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Ivy Lovely didn't expect her life to turn from being a maid from the slurry to a student at the Halls of Ivy to become a scrivenist, people who have magical blood that serves the Royals.

As her journey goes she grows more curious about her new world, but her vivid dreams leave her bothered about a certain room, and the secrets that lie within it.

This book is very detailed with a little explanation; it is complicated to understand at the first half, but as you go on with the story you won't be able to put it down (Once I hit the 50% mark I finished the book in a few hours🤭), it's full of mystery and magic, perfect for children and fantasy lovers.

I love the titles and the illustrations in each chapter.

I'll definitely follow through with this book until the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Stories Untold for the copy!

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Marketed as the first book in a middle grade fantasy series, I think that this book holds up perfectly. I'm not the biggest reader of middle grade literature, but this book was very entertaining. The storyline follows Ivy, who recovers her past and her magical abilities, while trying to find the mysterious Derwin Edgar Night.

This book had a lot going on in it. The story unfolded with a very fast pace and I'm sure that this is exactly what younger people look for in fantasy books. For me personally this was a bit too fast, but regardless it was easy enough to follow along.

There were many details that I absolutely loved about this book and many ideas that were so unique and interesting. The characters were peculiar, but in the most charming way possible. The descriptions of scenes in the book was fabulous. I could imagine the castle, the fields, the sea with so much clarity, all thanks to the colourful imagination of the author. I was very impressed by this book and how it was written, especially with regards to the target audience.

(Also the whole Derwin Edgar Night and the author's name corresponding is super interesting and I can't wait to see how this unfolds in the next book.)

Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me with a copy for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more.

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I was gifted this book from the publisher (Stories Untold) in return for an honest review:

‘In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret..’

This is definitely a page-turning fantasy read full of fairytales, magic and a whimsical world. It really reminded me of Harry Potter because of the magical boarding school and the classes but it’s still very much it’s own world with its own quirks. What’s not to like?

I loved how the author sneakily included herself in the book with using Derwin Edgar Night as one of the most mysterious characters.

The story ends on quite a cliffhanger as it’s almost as though the story is just beginning where it finishes off. I think the author definitely did this deliberately to keep you hooked enough to read the next book! (Which has worked for me because now I can’t wait to delve into the next one)

It’s a wonderful little YA book and something you can definitely try if you’re looking to start a fantasy genre as this is easy to follow and feels very nostalgic.

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I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.
This is my honest review, I don't hold back if don't like a book and not everyone likes what I like and vice versa.
I loved this book, It had me reliving my middle school and high school days. This is exactly the type of book I would have picked up then. I still would, even though it’s marketed at a middle-grade level it is enjoyable for an adult. It has a great story, fantastic world-building, lovable characters, and an overall lovable coming of age/finding yourself book. In a brief blurb for what the book is about I would say, you follow the story of young girl named Ivy who is scaldrun maid turned aspiring student scrivenest. What secrets does this new school have for her to uncover? What dangers lurk in the shadows? This book is wonderfully whimsical and thoroughly detailed, this leads to the book reading lengthy and a slow-paced. That isn't something that was a problem for me but I know some readers find slow-paced books to be hard to get into. I would say you will get fully immersed at about 40 percent through. That is where I had a hard time putting it down and just kept reading. Loved this world and I will be checking out the next books in the series. Also think this would be a lovely book to buddy read with your kids, because as I said this is an enjoyable read for all ages.

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This is such a fun and magical ride! Crowns of Croswald is story for people who love Harry Potter, but wish it had more of an Alice in Wonderland feel. Thanks to Untold Press and Netgalley for access to this wonderful story in exchange for an honest review. I will be continuing on with the series.

The story follows a tween girl names Ivy, in a land called Croswald. We join her in the kitchens of a castle where she is tending to the domesticated dragons called scaldrons, who are used to cook food. The charm and whimsy don't end there: stones set in crowns that grant the owner a specific magical power, a Forgetting Room and wonderful characters to root for keep you turning the page. The reader learns more about the world as Ivy does, when she is unexpectedly swept away to a magical school, The Halls of Ivy. The school, is where Ivy begins to grow into herself and realize her power, all while trying to avoid the sinister Dark Queen.

One mystery is wrapped up by the end of the book, but the larger story line is set up well for the remainder of the series. It did feel a bit short, but as it is a Middle Grade Fantasy, I can easily understand that.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a magical adventure in a world full of scaldrons and hairies. The concept of scrivenists is really interesting! I would like one for my family. Ha!

Croswald has themes from Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter. However, the story has enough of it's own plot to remain it's own story. The Wonderland reference is due to the whimsical elements of the book. The magical school setting reminded me of HP.

I loved Humboldt! He was the best sidekick/pet for Ivy. The creatures were clever throughout the story and would appeal to younger audiences. This book is geared towards middle grades, and it would be a good introduction into the fantasy genre for younger readers.

While the writing style was beautiful, I would have preferred more descriptions for certain creatures and characters. I have an idea of what they all look like, but I could be way off from the next reader.
There was so much world building in this book that I felt lost at times. There was a lot to learn and take in, including magical vocabulary, that sometimes it was a bit confusing.

The story ends very neatly, yet leaves room for continuing Ivy's story as she learns more about her family and her magic.

Thank you to the author, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for providing me an E-book copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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"To the One Whom This Box is Entrusted.
- The Hand That Left Her"

I'll be honest... at first, I had a hard time getting into this story. Probably because it's the polar opposite of what I have been reading as of late. But as I settled into the pages, I came to adore its whimsical ways. It had some major Harry Potter vibes throughout with a bit of sleeping beauty thrown in there, which in no way is a bad thing. I adored Ivy Lovely and wanted to uncover what is so different about her.

The story follows an orphaned 16-year-old girl named Ivy Lovely. After being banished from the only place she's ever known Ivy finds her story has just begun. There is magic in her blood and as she crosses the boundary of her so-called home, her powers awaken. She's whisked away to the Halls of Ivy, a school where she will learn how to master the magic within her. Friendships are formed, enemies are found, and as events unfold Ivy finds the mystery of her past may be the answer to her future and the only way to save Croswald.

This story was magical. The world-building is perfect, you follow right along and find yourself completely immersed in a new world of magical beings. I loved the descriptions that D.E Night painted with her words. I was able to picture every scene as if watching a movie. Not one piece felt out of step with the entire storyline. The secondary characters were perfect and well-developed additions, I loved Flynn and Rebecca. Overall I thought The Crowns of Croswald was cute, funny, and adventurous. A real magical gem! A perfect read for young middle-grade readers. I will definitely be recommending this to my niece.


This is the first book in a four-book series. Book II, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow, and Book III, The Words of the Wandering are available wherever books are sold; Book IV will be released in 2021.


Thank you to Stories Untold and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️🥰✨👏

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Read this if you love:
Harry Potter
Magical worlds
Tea

Ivy is a cook for the scaldrons, but she doesn't even get to enjoy the lovely things she's cooked. She was raised in the here and had only one true friend Rimbrick. One day she is thrown out to never return and finds a gift left by Rimbrick telling her to cross the scurry. When she does, the magical world of the Halls of Ivy open up to her. She's invited to go to school there and in that time she unravels a deep family secret.

This book was SOOOO magical! I absolutely loved it. I was transformed into a world of creatures and stones, and just so much magic. It reminded me a bit of Harry Potter. The only the I can criticize is sometimes it was a bit confusing because the names are similar.

I really enjoyed Ivy obviously. She's the center of the story, but I loved her friend Rebecca. She goes against the grain. She's brave, but also cautious. She holds no grudges.

Thank you netgalley and D.E night for this beautiful read!

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I was gifted this book on NetGalley from the author! As someone who loves Harry Potter but had sworn off fantasy books, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! Obviously I’m older than the intended audience, but I really enjoyed it. The writing really does make you feel like you’re in Croswald and going to The Halls of Ivy!

At the start of the book, I wondered if it was basically just Harry Potter set in a different imaginary world, but as the book went on it developed its own storyline. It took me a while to get into it but then the pace picked up and it was easy to keep on reading!

I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Harry Potter or similar books and wants to travel to a different fantasy world!

Thanks to the author for gifting this to me! It’s shown me that I can branch out of my normal genres!

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One should read "The Crowns of Croswald" by D.E. Night if you lie:

1. Long lost royal lines
2. Harry Potter
3. Fantasy Worlds
4. The Chosen One Trope

Thank you to the team for reaching out to me to read and review this novel. Night's descriptive writing kept me enthralled from page one (1). While some plots and timelines could have been better developed as I felt I lost part of the story, for the most part, this high fantasy novel deserved more readers. While mostly catered for younger audiences, any fantasy, world-escaping, bibliophile would thoroughly enjoy this series. I cannot wait to continue myself. I need to see what happens after Book One!

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In a surprising twist of events, I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did!! Crowns of Croswald was a 5 star read for me almost right from the get-go.

Harry Potter-level world-building created rich imagery that even though dense sometimes - made me feel like I was truly transported somewhere else.

Does she then find herself at a school for people with magical abilities learning that maybe she's not just an orphan after all? Hints of young love and a little Beauty and the Beast-esque style mystery make this totally worth a read even if you typically don't read young adult fantasy!!!

Plot Synopsis:
The main character Ivy finds herself magically bound by the 'slurry fields' surrounding where she was found as an orphan. After enduring a lifetime of abusive conditions as a 'sculldroney maid' tending to kitchen dragons. She then leaves the castle she grew up in as a servant and upon leaving discovers that possesses magical abilities! Starting with a magical carriage ride to a town to gather her school supplies, on to learning she possesses more magical talents than just about everyone her age - Ivy Lovely is in for one heck of a school year!!

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When it comes to middle grade fiction, is there anything more magical then the “non-magical protagonist finding out they’ve magical this whole time — now off to magic school” trope?

While that trope sounds oddly specific, there is nothing odd about the whimsical adventure @author.denight’s The Crowns of Crosswald sent me on!

Our protagonist, Ivy Lovely, like her name is a sweetheart! Both charming and chaotic and very hungry for magic and mystery, which often lands her sticky situations! The characterisations and characters-plots of the supporting cast is very cookie-cutter but in a familiar way that gave me comforting rushes of nostalgia to my days reading the Harry Potter series for the first time. None the less, they were all well-written and fun to get to know throughout the story!

D. E. Knight does a wonderful job with world-building by paying attention to detail — be it the unique magical knick knacks used by Ivy and co., the fun character dynamics and the rich descriptions. I love it when fantasy books paint vivid smaller pictures in a story as it makes the bigger picture more authentic.

So all in all, I enjoyed this! While I have outgrown the tendency to be surprised over the plots of middle grade reads, reading was a fun bit of nostalgia! I can easily see this book, and any that follow it, being well-loved books on the shelves of new readers, young readers and lovers of magic!

🌟 4

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I've been curious of this book from the last year, so when they let me read this book for free I was so grateful. As you can see in Goodread's reviews, this book is indeed reminded me of harry potter, it involved magic, curious creatures, dark powers, magic school and an orphan with misery-cladded life.

But I found the world building in this book is quite unique and it makes you want to be a Scrivenist too. Imagine you can enter the world you have been drew/wrote in your imagination! Oh, I would love to do that for sure~

Ivy's adventure in her academy was fun and you can tell that she is a super curious child. And Fyn!! Oh well, I know how this story will develop into Ivy and Fyn's relationship later, but Fyn's character just a bit suspicious to me I dunno...

I definitely will recommend this for middle grade lovers, and YA books lovers too

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Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
Thank You To Netgalley, Storiesuntoldpress and Author D.E. Night for the DRC in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

This first book in a four part series tells the story of 16 year old Ivy Lovely.  Ivy is portrayed initially as a servant to a royal family.  She really has no idea the magical powers she holds and her world is about to change forever.  Readers are taken on an adventure where Ivy crosses an enchanted boundary to a school to explore her abilities.  Her curiosity gets the best of her and she starts questioning who she really is and her significant importance in this magical world.

Who says your too old to read a middle grade fantasy book?  While this is not a genre I would typically read, it was quite enjoyable!  I loved watching Ivy's personality change from quiet girl to bold and risk taking.  The story is smoothly written and descriptive in nature, which helps the reader easily visualize this magical world.  My only dislike is that the plot in general was similar to a popular children's fantasy involving a boy named Harry.  Although the plot was similar, the narrative was different and unique.  I would absolutely recommend this fun and adventurous book to any age reader that enjoys magical fantasy.

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Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While it's meant for a younger following (elementary/middle school age), it's still a great, easy read for an adult. It gave me nostalgia for the days I read Harry Potter as a kid - the imagination used to create this world and detail provided to make you feel as if you're there was well done. While the world it's set in differs from Harry Potter, there are similarities to the plot. A child, Ivy, unknowingly possesses great magical strength and is sent to a school for magic where she encounters many obstacles while trying to hone her skills and learn of her family's history. The greatest threat against her is an evil queen who's goal is to steal her power, and she'd have to kill Ivy to do so. This is definitely a book I'd recommend for younger readers!

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I received this e-book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

“The Crows of Croswald” is classified as middle grade fantasy, and I would like to start by saying I’m not very familiar with the different types of fantasy there are out there, but I enjoyed it a lot.

I tend to prefer fantasy that is, somehow, related to our world – such as Discovery of Witches and Harry Potter, that start in our world and go from there. In here, we have a full world construct and I felt it worked very well. The beginning is slow, which gives us time to get used to the reality – I highly appreciated it, plus the fact that we get a main character that is discovering this world at the same time that we are. I don’t like being put in a fantasy world without any context and it doesn’t happen here! The descriptions are very detail, if you like world build well done, definitely give it a chance.

I sensed some Harry Potter meets Red Queen vibes. I was going to lower the score because of this, but it pretty much only happens in the beginning. When the story starts, and we get involved, we forget other fantasy series and are able to focus just on this one.

The writing is really nice, which is always a plus for me me, and makes me want to upper the score right away. Overall, I really enjoyed it!

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5 stars! I loved the magical world, the characters and the adventure! A perfect read for fans of Harry Potter. The magical world was fresh and interesting but felt familiar and nostalgic all at once. This would be perfect for middle and high school readers as I know Ivy would resonate with so many! I was very satisfied with how the ending felt like a conclusion yet was still the perfect lead into the next novel in the series. Fantastic

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in the Croswald Series by D.E Night.
It follows the story of Ivy Lovely who has thought the past 16 years of her life that she was a mere mortal... but she was wrong. When she crosses the border of mundane and magic, her powers awaken. She starts school at the Halls of Ivy and tries to unlock secrets of her hidden past, while the Dark Queen keeps getting in her way.
This book is full of adventure and is honestly perfect for fans of middle grade books or younger children.
••
4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I did really enjoy this story and how we got to learn so much about the school, the creatures and the world of Croswald.
This book is comparable to a lot of middle grade fantasy novels I read as a child and made me feel a bit nostalgic while reading it.
Overall I do recommend this! And I definitely could see myself continuing on with this series ❤️
••
✨ Disclaimer ✨
I was sent a free copy of this novel by @storiesuntoldpress in exchange for an honest review! But, as always, all opinions are my own 🤍

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This was such a fun read with my kids! My kids are ages 11-5 and the youngest 2 were slightly interested my oldest 2 loved it! This reminds me of the magic I felt when reading Harry Potter as a kid but the stories are uniquely their own. This is the perfect middle grade fantasy!!

I love finding strong female MC for my girls to look up to! Ivy is strong and smart and stubborn. Once realizing she has magic all sorts of fun adventures unfold! The side characters are interesting! The world building is great! This was a fun read and we can't wait to continue the series!!

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Loved the world this book is set in!! It gave me HO vibes…. The characters were colorful and I think middle graders will be on the edge of their seats to see what happens in Ivy’s magical world!

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As bad as it sounds, do yourself a favor and don't read any opinions on this book. If you are unlucky like me, you will read one that will stick with you and you won't be able shake it of. It does resembles one series, that's all.

What is great about this book is a world creation! Author has an amazing imagination, and is paying attention to the details. I was impressed with the magic system which not always is so easy to come up with. This shows how creative the author is.

This is a first part of a series, so there is lots of introductions and we are nicly getting to know the whole world and characters.

As a 31 year old reader, I must say that it is definitely a middle grade book, for an older audience it can be a little infantile. I can imagine myself to read it to my future kids or recommending it other parent, kids are going to be entertained, that's for sure.

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I loved reading this book, the perfect fantasy book to experience nostalgia from when I was younger. This book is honestly one of the most creative books I’ve read in a long time. It was super magical. If you enjoy lost princesses who have secrets they don’t know about or dragons that bake in their mouths this is for you.
I love the Harry Potter vibe throughout and the quirks the book holds.

Ivy is a 16 year old orphan who has found herself starting a new life and everything just seems to tip her in the right direction! The book is fast paced and action packed which keeps the book exciting. I personally found it quite hard to bond with Ivy as a character but I know had I read this book a couple of years ago I would have been an instant connection. The writing style is really enjoyable and the book is super easy to read which is always a plus!

This book definitely appeals to those of middle/high school age or anyone who wants a slice of nostalgia

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Ivy Lovely, a 16 years old girl  who has lived as a scauldron maid at castle Plum. She likes to spend her time to sketching,  reading some books with her friend—Rimbrick, and dreams of going to the Halls of Ivy to learn how to become a Scrivenist. 

One day, on the morning of the Moonsday an incident forced her to leave the Castle. When she crossed the border, she discover that she has magic inside her and it made her end up to Hall of Ivy. Her adventure started there, She tried to find out about the things happened around her and find out about who she really is. 

It is similar to Harry Potter, but it's a different world and have its own stuff.

Aku cukup menikmati ceritanya, walau sampai pertengahan aku masih agak bingung ceritanya mau di bawa ke mana. Tapi dari pertengahan sampai akhir ceritanya mulai seru dan aku dibuat penasaran sama apa sih hubungannya Ivy sama dark Queen. Gaya tulisannya juga enak diikutin. 

I love the world building—I really like the concept about the Glanagerie and the Hollow Shaft, it's really amazing! And also magic system in this books, some of the students have stones with specific magical that they have to learn to control. 
 
Untuk tokohnya, aku suka karakter Ivy, dia pemberani dan penuh rasa ingin tahu, walau dibeberapa bagian aku merasa sikapnya agak kurang konsisten. Terus kadang aku ngerasa dia ini agak kekanakan untuk ukuran 16 tahun :) Sayangnya aku juga ngerasa ceritanya terlalu fokus sama Ivy jadi tokoh lainnya kurang keliatan gitu. 

If you're a fan of Harry Potter an like to read middle-grade books, you may like this book series.

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I went into this book completely blind and was pleasantly surprised from the first line. Imagine Harry Potter with a long lost princess who doesn’t know shes the princess. Even though this is clearly YA but i was still highly entertained and loved it.

Got this free ARC from NETGALLEY in exchange for an honest review.

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The Crowns of Croswald
Author, D.E. Night
Pub date: 7.21.2017

Thank you, Stories Untold Press and author, D.E. Night for the opportunity to read and review this magical middle grade novel!

For middle grade fantasy fans, lovers of creative creatures and magical characters, The Crowns of Croswald is an action-packed and fast- paced novel for you!

In this magical, coming- of- age story, Ivy Lovely is about to learn exactly who she is and of a mysterious and enchanting new world. There is action, adventure, mystery, darkness and of course, plenty of light. As Ivy discovers more about her past, her magical blood, and the power of Croswald's mystical stones, readers are taken on a brave and mysterious adventure filled with magic, dragons, potions, and more.

I am now introducing this story to my children who loved Dragon Masters, Narnia, Harry Potter, and Wings of Fire. They are thrilled because there are now four book s in the Crowns of Croswald series!

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I wanted to thank the publisher for letting me read this for free for a review.
First of all, reading this book was like drinking hot cocoa on a cold winter day. It made me feel warm and it made me smile.
I was going to give this book a 5 star at first as it started really well. The story was compelling and the narration was quite enchanting. The world building was really great and I felt like I was in the Halls of Ivy. I loved the characters and Ivy but not a fan of Fyn. I wanted more of Rebecca.
When it came to past halfway of the story, I felt like the pace got slow and then the next chapter, so many events were happening at the same time.I felt like it needed more chapters to fully get into the story. That’s the reason why it’s only 4 stars.
I liked the book overall and it got me out of my reading slump. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

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Looking for a fun, fast paced read you can share with your family? Check. A magical school and a royal family shrouded in mystery? Check and check. The Crowns of Croswald quickly enshrouded me in the magical world of Royals and Scrivenists where magic flows but is strictly ruled by the looming shadow of the powerful yet secretive Dark Queen. The moment the story began, D.E. Night’s tale of 16 year old Ivy Lovely took me on a delightful adventure where we continue to meet lively and enjoyable characters, such as the mysterious man that only Ivy seems to know of and the spunky Princess Rebecca whose dream is to trade her royal crown for a quill and live out her dream as a scrivenist.

Though reminiscent of the spirit of Harry Potter discovering Hogwarts, it does a great job of creating its own enchanting world full of lore, magic, and it’s easy to become lost in the story. I would (and will) be reading this book with my youngest, who’s headed into third grade, but for my eighth grader, who is currently obsessively creating his own Dungeons and Dragons worlds, this may be too “young” for him in his opinion.

Personally, I love reading tales in all age ranges and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will say that though it was nice that the pacing moved quickly, it sometimes skipped over months at a time and I did feel a loss of getting to know more about the main characters and their growth and story arcs during those time jumps. I have so many questions that were left unanswered at the end of the book and am so thrilled that there are more in this series so I can continue my journey with Ivy. If you are an older reader used to incredibly detailed descriptions and prefer action similar to that of Lord of the Rings or A Court of Thorns and Roses, this may not be the read for you. If you have a young reader that finds long, overly wordy books difficult to get through, then this will be an amazing read!

Ultimately, The Crowns of Croswald was a fast read and one I would definitely recommend for readers that have a love of fantasy, mystery, and an adventurous main character who has a knack for always getting in trouble and has a fondness for blueberry pie!

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I thought this was a great book! I absolutely loved the storytelling and world building. The world was definitely unique but really fun! I will say that the world building wasn’t too heavy either. I also loved the main character Ivy. She wasn’t annoying or overbearing like a lot of YA characters are, which was a relief. The plot twist was a little predictable, but it’s ok because I liked it. I also thought the magic system was pretty cool because the royals and scrivenists had different types of magic. The writing was really clear and pretty easy to read for the most part. Overall it was a fun quick read!

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For the past sixteen years, Ivy Lovely has been nothing but an ordinary scaldonry maid. When Ivy crosses an enchanted border, magical powers she didn’t know she had come to life. She ends up at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their own magic. When Ivy’s magic and her life are threatened by the Dark Queen, she races to discover the truth about her past before it disappears forever.

This book was so magical! Ivy was a likeable character, as well as Rebecca and Fyn. I also loved learning about the creatures and the world of Croswald. Although this book is aimed towards a younger audience, this was a fun and easy read. If you like Harry Potter or fantasy, this is the book for you!

Thank you @storiesuntoldpress for gifting me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

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The Crowns or Croswald by D.E. Night

Ivy Lovely has had a hard life. Stuck as the lowest kitchen maid working the fires, she has few friends, few free time, and even fewer comforts. One day after an unfortunate event in the kitchen, Ivy finds herself alone and kicked out of the only home she has ever known. As she leaves the castle grounds to find her way in the world, her magic awakens and Ivy discovers a world she never knew she belonged in.

Ivy is admitted to a magical school, the Halls of Ivy, and begins to learn about herself and what she is really capable of. The Crowns of Croswald immerses you in a whole magical world, complete with magical terms that you learn as you read the book. I found as I was reading I did have a lot of questions, but the author did a great job of answering a lot of those during the last couple of chapters. The book contains some fun twists and I am excited to keep reading as this is the first in a series! Recommended for any and all fans of middle grade fantasy.

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Fans of magical schools and the problems that arise with the power of major will appreciate the setting and themes of this book.

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Fantasy books can be hit or miss for me. I'm not a huge fan of world building and can get frustrated just wanting the story to get on with it. That said, I didn't have that issue at all with THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD by D.E. Night. This story pulled me in right away and held on tight until the end.

I have to admit that I was a little confused as to why a book about a fifteen/sixteen-year-old was being pitched as middle grade but once I was into the book it didn't matter. It's a magic story about a magic school that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. And, at it's heart, it is a book about how we must remember our past and grow from it, not hide it away from everyone to see, a lesson that I think we could all use right now.

If you are looking for a fun, adventurous escape from the real world, I definitely recommend escaping into THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD.

Thanks to @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

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This gave me Harry Potter vibes. Ivy is sixteen, young and adventurous. She learns she has magic and gets to attend the Halls of Ivy. I think the author did such a great job of world building in this book. It was just so fantastical and magical. I could imagine the world and all the colors.

Ivy herself was adorable. I thought her character growth was good. You really see her grow into herself and her abilities. Her confidence really starts to shine and she is just a character you find yourself cheering on.

The story was unique. It isn't something I've quite read before so I didn't find it super predictable or too complicated. Because sometimes I feel like that is super easy to do with magic and schools surrounding magic. It gets so complicated and a bit too tedious for me.

I think if you enjoy pure fantasy and magic, this is the right book for you. It is well done and very immersive.

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This story brought me back to the feelings I had when reading Harry Potter as a kid. A new and whimsical land with a MC that is unsure of their family heritage and a life that is going to go from simple to completely magical. It was very fun to read and if you or your child want something Harry Potter like without the baggage of a problematic author I recommend you check this one out!

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The Crowns of Croswald was such a fun and magical coming of age story that I thoroughly enjoyed! ⁣

Ivy was such a great character who is thrown into this new world of magic and it was impossible not to root for her! ⁣

The pacing was perfect and I'm honestly looking forward to reading the rest in this series to watch Ivy develop! ⁣

This is the perfect middle grade book for readers of all ages. With a unique magic system, I recommend this to anyone looking for whimsical read!

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This book was a delight. There’s a lot to be said for the magical boarding school trope, and this one sits perfectly within the genre.

The world building is tremendous. Part magical, part mysterious, part quirky and part whimsical, DE Night trusts the reader and lands them in an unpredictable, critter-filled land of imagination. Ivy Lovely and her cast of friends and mentors were also sweet and complemented the mood and tone of the book. Like Ivy, I now have a little crush on Fyn and hope this relationship develops!

Is it perfect? No. The action climax builds the tension but then feels a little rushed. There’s also a touch too much explanation by way of dialogue in the final chapter, and certain elements were overly predictable. That said, I wish this had been published when I was a wee reader because I would have absolutely inhaled this. It makes me nostalgic in a way I don’t often feel - not to mention, the perfect escapism during a busy time of life.

I received a free copy from the publisher on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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Wow. The world building was great. The plot was unique and gripping i really loved the way it was paced even though it might not be the masses favourite pacing. The characters were amazing but at times i was questioning them and myself too🤣

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I enjoyed the author's lyrical writing style and the fantastical story line. Anyone who enjoys Harry Potter, Narnia, or Nevermoor will enjoy this book. We follow a teenage girl who discovers she is a scrivenist. A scrivenist is someone who can utilize magic by drawing or writing. The story is very enjoyable for me as an adult, but it is clean enough for me to share with my elementary and middle school age children. There were times in the story where I felt the very curious and bright protagonist was not asking enough of the right questions. However, other than that the character development and plot were great.

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"In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…"

Synopsis:
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 crashing 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 book follows the story of Ivy Lovely. She is a simple maid working in the kitchen of Castle Plum. Her books Helga is continuously breathing down her neck, to the point where she continuously hours for freedom. One day, she is taken away to a magical school for scrivenists (writers) and royals. Ivy quickly learns about this new line, and wonders why she is brought to this school in the first place. However, there is as a dark power looming over Croswald, and Ivy is on a mission to find a missing scrivenist before he disappears forever and his work is lost.

The author, D.E Night, creates a wonderful middle grade world. There are some very interesting creators and magical concepts that haven't been seen before!

Ivy Lovely is a well written young character who defies the stereotype of being an inferior young orphan destined for a better life and takes matters into her own hands. With her best friend and sidekick, she goes up against the royal bullies who think they are much better off.

Being a middle grade novel, it tackles several real-world issues without being overbearing for the younger audience, covering a wide range of themes such as grief, bullying, racism, prejudice, and abandonment . I really enjoyed the journey the author took us on in this world, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed it at a much younger age as well

This is the first novel in a fantasy series, I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy.

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I absolutely loved this book!! It was the perfect mixture beteween fantasy, magic and mystery. I truly emphatized with Ivy and was looking foward to know how the story will go. I liked that I didn't see coming the ending. It was such a surprise. I hope some characters would be evil and I just want to know more about this incredible world. I would love to know more about the friendship beteween Rimbrick and Ivy and also Rebecca and of curse know more about the love story with Fyn, hoping he isn´t the mole. I wish toknow more about the dark queen and discover how she become evil.

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This book should be your next read if you're looking for middle-grade fantasy and a light read. This book is full of magic and adventure–a great away to escape reality for a while!

I didn't realize this was the first book in a series, no wonder why the book ended that way, but still, it was a good read. I totally went in blind on this book, the start of the book had me struggling because there wasn't that much happening, but as I went on, things started to make sense and probably helped with the world building. The characters were lovable, especially the protagonist–Ivy Lovely– a strong-willed girl who just wants to know who she truly is and what she's capable of and is not afraid of the world.

Ivy Lovely is introduced as a servant in a royal family, but little did she know that she is royal herself. Her protectors kept her hidden in order for the antagonist–the Dark Queen–who has taken interest in her power as Ivy Lovely as she is the only one left in her bloodline who possesses a power in order to save Croswald. The Dark Queen has not been shown much in this book yet, only at the near end of the book but it has not been much important yet. This book focuses more on Ivy Lovely first as she is dragged back to Croswald as she explores around, goes to an adventure while she is at school and meets new friends.

With that, I'm excited to know what happens in the next book and how the characters would grow in the series. Thank you, D.E Night for creating a magical world!

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Magic boarding school? Lost princess? Amazing? Check. This book was amazing. It feels good for middle school readers, overall just a fun experience.

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Really enjoyable and magical story. I found this really easy and fun to read and once I'd finished it I gave it to my daughter to read who also devoured it. Lovely book and we'll definitely be continuing the series

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4.25/5 stars

Books like these are why I'm so happy my inner child never fully grew up. (That being said, I did not at all feel babied or condescended while reading like can happen with many books meant for younger audiences). First off, what a beautiful, beautiful cover! It matches Night's writing from the very beginning. A descriptive, *fairy-tale* town is built which is a wonderful and accurate basis for the rest of the book. Fascinating details are woven throughout to anchor your immersion and connection to the places and characters without taking up too much inappropriate space. There were a few instances where the situation seemed random or out of character or lacking in description, but these were brief and could've just been my understanding (or lack thereof). My immersion quickly returned. And honestly, this may speak to the great expectations Night set with her writing, that little instances stuck out. And in her *first* book, such little instances are about as little as they can get!

The main character, Ivy, is likeable and believable as a young and shy but friendly girl. She worked as a great proxy for my own wide-eyed wonder. Most of the fleeting side characters are rather stereotypical, but for good reason and they are still handled well. The secondary characters really grew on me once they were given some time in the spotlight, and I hope to see them shine brighter in the rest of the series. Some of the circumstances or overcoming of obstacles felt a bit like lazy writing, but as it led to bigger obstacles and bigger pictures, I didn't really mind!

A beautiful journey, written with the very passion and magic found within its pages. I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

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"**Thank you to the publisher and author for sending me a NetGalley copy in exchange for an honest review.**

A fun interesting magical world! It has all the coming of age, learning of magic, and royals not knowing your history or status.

Yes, this seems to have a lot of nuisances and comparisons to that of the Harry Potter world. Walking into this book without reading the synopsis, I can see how others choose to make that correlation. However, that can be said about any romance book with a ""chase scene"" or falling in love with the guy from the local failing coffee shop.

This was written as a detailed outside perspective and it was a wonderful way to learn about the magical world along with Ivy. It made me feel just as confused as I imagine she would be. The characters are great and constantly keep you guessing on who to trust - is it a friend or foe? However, I was left with some more questions and felt that it was left on a cliffhanger for the rest of the story to continue.

Oh my! The beauty and thoughtfulness of the artwork! From learning what the eye- catching book cover actually was and the sketches at the beginning of each chapter is absolutely amazing. There was so much thought put into it that I found myself trying to guess what the chapter was about... 5/5 for artwork! "A fun interesting magical world! It has all the coming of age, learning of magic, and royals not knowing your history or status.

Yes, this seems to have a lot of nuisances and comparisons to that of the Harry Potter world. Walking into this book without reading the synopsis, I can see how others choose to make that correlation. However, that can be said about any romance book with a ""chase scene"" or falling in love with the guy from the local failing coffee shop.

This was written as a detailed outside perspective and it was a wonderful way to learn about the magical world along with Ivy. It made me feel just as confused as I imagine she would be. The characters are great and constantly keep you guessing on who to trust - is it a friend or foe? However, I was left with some more questions and felt that it was left on a cliffhanger for the rest of the story to continue.

Oh my! The beauty and thoughtfulness of the artwork! From learning what the eye- catching book cover actually was and the sketches at the beginning of each chapter is absolutely amazing. There was so much thought put into it that I found myself trying to guess what the chapter was about... 5/5 for artwork! "

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I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am usually not into fantasies book but this one was really interesting. I loved the characters, I enjoyed the story itself. The only part missing for me is I wish there was a little more details about certain things (the background story and somewhat more character development) just to give us a better view and imagination but of course, it was very entertaining. I was able to imagine the whole fairy magic and everything!

Many people have compared this to Harry Potter and I see the similarities but I also love how the author still managed to create a unique story with great creativity. I would suggest this book to anyone new to the fantasy world, if you like a good fantasy and if you love magic, this book is for you!

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If I were middle-grade I would have stayed up all night reading this!

While this book has heavy Harry Potter influence, the author manages to make the world all their own.

Ivy is a lovable character and the world is enthralling.

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I loved this book! It was such a nostalgic read for me, as I used to read lots of books like this but haven’t in a while. I really enjoyed this magical world and the descriptions were just beautiful. The magic was very well developed and it was all very cleverly though out. The plot twists and the way all the loose ends slotted together at the end was very well written. The imperfectness of the characters made them very realistic and the friendship between Ivy and Rebecca was so nice, as well as the little bit of romance which was a lovely added touch to the book. Would highly recommend this book. Such a great middle grade fantasy. I can’t wait to read the rest in the series!

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It gave Tinkerbell vibes to me😍 those classic magical realm with persistence main character. The creatures!!!! From beast to elfish and dwarves. The adventure and world building was super nice!!! Give it a go to read this book!!!

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Full Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher, Stories Untold Press, in exchange for my honest review.

First off, I wish this book was around when I was growing up, since I was and am strongly interested in the fantasy genre. D.E. Night created a beautifully-written world, in which any reader—no matter the age—can easily fall. After reading this first book in the series, one can expect a wonderful adventure ahead.

The story’s protagonist, Ivy Lovely, finds refuge in the Halls of Ivy, after fleeing an unfortunate, parentless upbringing. At the the Halls of Ivy, a prestigious school in Ravenshollow of Croswald, Ivy seeks out curiosities and meets new friends along the way. Looming over the entire magical realm, the Dark Queen’s constant unforeseen presence creates another curiosity to which Ivy feels deeply connected. Throughout her first year at the Halls, Ivy gradually learns of her mysterious past and ties to Croswald’s critical history.

I gave this book 4/5 stars, because of D.E. Night’s very skillful world-building. I struggled a bit with some of the dialogue—that’s not to say it was not good; it merely paled in comparison to the situational imagery crafted by the author. I was a bit confused at times by the characters; I mixed up certain characters at times and wished they had been fledged out a bit, particularly Colleen Holley Woodley Butterlove. That being said, Rebecca Connell was probably my favorite and seems an eager sidekick to Ivy’s future adventures.

All in all, I would highly recommend this book! To be honest, I was in a bit of reading lull and this booked helped me out of it.

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"𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡, 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠; 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓, 𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠."

When the publisher reached out with this book, and I read that it's about a magical world, I knew I had to read it.

Likes:

✨Magical world. Resembling Harry Potter in way too many aspects. I almost thought it's a Harry Potter retelling.

✨The writing style was gripping.

✨A bird that tells when it's time for classes to end, and baking in a dragon's mouth. Super cool.

✨Chapter headings. I'm a sucker for beautiful chapter headings.

✨The food, magic, adventures, friends, ballrooms, ghosts, picture frames, forbidden forests. Imagine another Hogwarts but a bit different.

✨It started off slow, but it picked up towards the end.

Dislikes:

✨It was pretty slow in some chapters.

✨Damaris. Imagine a female Draco Malfoy.

✨✨✨✨✨✨

Overall, if you want something akin to a Harry Potter retelling, I'd suggest you pick this book up. It was pleasant to read, and the resemblances made it more fun, for me at least.

Thank you @netgalley & the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review💕

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In "Crowns of Croswald" we meet sixteen-year-old girl, Ivy. Ivy is very inquisitive, and maybe a bit mischievous which tends to get her into interesting situations. After living a life that’s less than desirable, she crosses the magical border into a world of magic where she attends the Halls of Ivy. Halls of Ivy it's a magical school, where all the students learn how to become masters of magic.

I truly loved the world building, and characters as they were well executed. Descriptions were really well written, and it shows that the author has taken pride in her work.

I would say that the plot was very similar to Harry Potter, but it is still enjoyable to read if you like the fantasy/magic book genres.

**thank you to D.E. Night, NetGalley, and Stories Untold Publishing for a free copy in exchange for my honest review**

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I absolutely loved this book! It was such a captivating read! I couldn’t stop reading! I loved the characters and the story! Highly recommend!

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Loved the book! The characters were really enjoyable and loved where the story was heading, would love to read the rest of the series as well!
The magical side of this book was so beautiful and easily imaginative. Beautiful story!

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The Crowns of Croswald is such a great start to a middle grade fantasy series and I had so much fun reading it.
I loved being introduced to a whole new group of fascinating and mysterious characters as well as exploring a new, magical setting for the first time.
Ivy is such a cool character. Headstrong and brave, she is mysteriously invited to study to become a scrivenist at a very prestigious school. Her new life is world’s away from where she grew up (without her family) but what should be a simple new start suddenly becomes more exciting and dangerous than ever. Ivy is a great friend but is also portrayed as the child she is. She makes rash and sometimes selfish decisions and most children of her age would. I think any middle grade aged child would relate to her in some ways. Her friend Rebecca is fun too. I also enjoyed some of the mystery surround school teachers and the unseen Dark Queen.
I enjoyed the setting of a school and definitely had Hogwarts vibes but also unique in its own way. I really wish someone would invent all those teas and pies for real as I could certainly use them in my office at work.
I really enjoyed the beginning of Ivy’s adventures and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Book 1 really lays the foundations, and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

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I was kindly sent this book from the publisher to review - and I'm so happy I was!

This book was full of whimsical creatures and fascinating places. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter and books I read when I was younger, the perfect book for middle-grade readers, or those who love fantasy.

I really enjoyed getting to know Ivy and her friends and joining her on her journey to find out why strange things were happening. I would love to read more about them and I loved the inclusion of the authors name/initials within the story! The world the author has created is a magical place that I'd love to explore and be part of, I loved finding out more about what being a Scrivenist entails.

I was a little confused at the beginning as to what was going on, but things soon made sense after a few chapters. I won't lie, I was a little disappointed with the end because I felt some questions were left unanswered and that it might have been rushed, but despite this it ended on a good note and prepared you for the next adventure. I would have enjoyed a little more action but I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery solving and the perilous situations the characters managed to get themselves in to!

I would highly recommend for younger readers, I know if I'd had this when I was little, I would have loved it. Overall a really enjoyable and easy read, was almost over too quickly! Interested to see how the series continues.

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This was an enjoyable story to read, with an interesting lead character. I can see the appeal it will have for a middle-grade reading group but I did feel that the main character was written a little younger for their age at various points. I also felt that the story was rushed in places and could have been a little longer to give more description, explanation, and give the story room to breathe.

That being said it was a fun and interesting first book in what I'm sure will be a lovely series.

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This was such a fun book to read! Thanks to @storiesuntoldpress and @author.denight for the opportunity to get a copy ofThe Crowns of Croswald!

Ivy has spent the entire 16 years of her life as a lonely orphan and servant to a royal family. One day she leaves the only home she has known and discovers a world of magic and powers that she didn’t know she held within. She is swept away to the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to use magic and harvest the powers of the precious stones of Croswald. A visit from the Dark Queen Ivy’s life in danger and she must find out the truth of her past to save her future.

What I liked:

- D.E. Night has created an intricate world full of magic and history in the kingdom of Croswald. Her writing made it is easy to get absorbed in all the details.
- The Halls of Ivy,where young royals and other gifted children learn about magic and prepare for their futures after school, was such a fun setting.

What I didn’t like:
- The story felt a bit similiar to Harry Potter and I kept going back to that thought as I was reading (a new/unknown magic power, orphan who was hidden away, first year at a school of magic). By the end I found that although there were a lot of similarities it was still a good book and a great story.

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Great magic school fantasy middle grade. When I started reading the book I wanted to just dive in and let myself be a part of the story without any extra information. I was able to understand the characters and stories well by being open to a new magical world.
I really think this is a great first book, totally recommend.

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I did receive this book in exchange for an honest review. I must admit that this is not what I usually pick up and read. However, what a fun ride this story is! I do know I am a bit old for this novel however I know 10-year-old me would have LOVED this book and the exciting adventure Ivy goes on. In saying that, I did struggle to get through it as I think it is aimed at a younger audience and not someone in their mid 20's.

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Ivy is a mere scaldrony maid. But her fortunes seem to have turned when she is accepted into the halls of Ivy to study magic.
The book is so adventurous as the story proceeds we learn new things about the main characters.it can be a little fore shadowed but the journey is just so fun to pass on.
The world building in this book is exceptional and I could relate so many things that the mc was going through
It is a light and breezy fantasy series that was very much needed.

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This series is full of wimsy and magic and draws you into the beautiful World D.E Night created. I grew up reading Harry Potter and loved it so I loved getting back into my fantasy roots and reading The Crowns of Croswald. A wonderful read for any age and will make you feel like you are in the book!

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night
4 Star Review (Very Good/I Liked it)

The Crowns of Croswald is a coming of age, fantasy novel intended for middle school aged children, full of magic, dragons, and whimsical worlds. Ivy Lovely is a 16-year-old scaldron maid at Castle Plum. When she has had enough of maid Helga’s shenanigans, she decides its time to set off on her own adventures. Ivy has her heart set on going to magic school and perfecting her talents as a scrivenist.

D.E. Night is putting off all the “Harry Potter mixed with a whole lot of Cinderella and a dash of Alice and Wonderland” vibes with this novel. Containing a creative story plot, amazing world building, and lively, enjoyable characters, Night has you sucked in from the very beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. And the cover is absolutely stunning!

Although Crowns of Croswald is intended for middle school aged children, it could be read by anyone of all ages who enjoy adventures of exploring magic, discovering their true selves, and battling evil head on. This novel was fast paced from the beginning which I thoroughly enjoyed. It did, on occasion, jump from one period of time to another quickly causing me to wonder what happened during that time frame. It did end on a cliffhanger, leaving me desperately wanting to read the next in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.

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The Crowns of Croswald is a great middle grade fantasy! Ivy, Rebecca, and Fyn are all very likeable characters. The author did a great job with her fantasy world building. I don't read many middle grade books but I really enjoyed this one. The scenery sounded amazing and the side characters were amusing. I would recommend this to young readers who like magical stories as well as adults who want a lighter fantasy read.

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I always enjoy picking up a Middle Grade novel and this one did not disappoint. It was really reminiscent of Harry Potter with the magical school but a it stood out in a unique and imaginative way. As an adult reading the middle grade novel it did seem more age appropriate for a little bit older audience with the storyline but apart from that it was interesting and kept me hooked.

The main character Ivy was determined and stubborn and ready to do her best, while of course getting into some trouble along the way. Definitely perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson.

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This book was such a wonderful breath of fresh air. The Crowns of Croswald is the beginning to a middle grade series about a magic school. After the author of my favorite series about magical schools turned out to be extremely problematic, I was more than excited to give this one a try. It definitely delivered. This book has many wonderful characters, solid world building, and some really interesting magical concepts. Our main character Ivy is a fascinating character who really starts to come into her own over the course of this book. I loved her perspective and seeing the world through her eyes. It's also such a fast read, it just flies by. I will definitely be picking up the next books in the series, and I can't wait to see where this one goes.

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Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Ivy had spent her days as a scaldrony maid in a castle hidden behind a magical barrier, dampening and shutting out the magical outside world from the mundane world of the castle grounds. That is until she is forced from her home and soon taken to a magical school for royals and scrivenists alike to learn and hone their magic. But, perhaps her new life is not all it seems, with an evil Queen making an appearance in the kingdom and the dark brood searching for something, or someone.

This book is whimsical and full of magic right from the beginning. Its themes are very much like the Harry Potter books or even The Chronicles of Narnia series, so I think any young reader who likes these will like this book too! It was really interesting to see magical creatures that we haven't seen before and learn about them as Ivy does too. The school is fantastic also, I really liked the idea of the different restaurants that have different food, hosts and chefs. Also, I fell in love with Humboldt the scaldron!

At first, I wasn't very sure if I liked this book or not, the first half of the book is very quick and jumps a bit so I felt it was a little hard to follow at times. I felt like some of the new things in the book that Ivy experiences for the first time could have been explained more and I had to guess for myself what these things are. But, the second half of the book really took off for me and I found I was much more interested in the direction that the plot was heading.

Overall, I think that the whole premise of this story is very interesting and I always love reading a book from a strong female POV, I'm looking forward to reading the next one so I can learn more about Ivy and the magical world she lives in! I also want to mention that the book has lovely artwork on each chapter page!
4/5 stars

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Made me feel like I’m 11 again. I love schools of magic, gave me so much of a Harry Potter vibe. At first it was kinda slow since I was only getting to know the names, the terms and the places. But after knowing everything I was really enjoying it so much. I got so curious about what’s gonna happen that I was not able to put my Kindle down.

Reading only the first book is like a tease. I need to know more. I can’t wait to know more about the story, the school and the Dark Queen.

This book is what I actually need after reading 5 romance books in a row 😆 Shared it with my little cousin and she loved it too.

Thank you so much NetGalley 💕

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The Crowns of Croswald is a middle-grade fantasy I’ve heard compared to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. While CoC has a wonderful magic system, I find it much more whimsical and fantastical.

The way Ivy carries herself seems a bit young for sixteen years, but her inquisitiveness, love for schooling, and intrinsic optimism are infectious.

I found the pacing quite quick and jumpy throughout the first half of story, making it somewhat hard to follow. But once I reached about 60%, the writing and the story came together and finished beautifully.

Something I would have loved to have had more of was relationship building between Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca. It came and went in such short spurts until that 60% mark. But I felt throughout the first half of the book Ivy was just floating through the story with wise old men as friends.

I look forward to more of Ivy’s story in the Town of Belzebuthe!

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An enjoyable tale that pulls on familiar themes of a magical school and a forgotten history. This was such a fun read that really made me nostalgic for my childhood. It's a great and easy read that really pulled me in right from the get-go! Definitely a solid middle-grade fantasy with plenty of intrigue to expand on for more books.

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I adored this world, it’s magic, and it’s creatures. The world building was exquisite. It had literal out-of-this-world imagery and the creatures and beasts were so whimsical and creative.

I can picture myself reading this book to my son when he’s a bit older before bed and him begging to hear more about dwarves and magical crowns.

As soon as this book began I thought to myself, “oh how fun, I haven’t read something like this since Harry Potter!” Personally, I felt it was a bit too much like HP, hence my 4/5.

You would enjoy this if you like magical schools and/or evil queens. This story is a magical blend of Sleeping Beauty & HP!

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I was gifted this book through NetGalley by Stories Untold Press for an honest review. It is the first from a series of award-winning middle grade fantasy books, The Crowns of Croswald. The four-part series is written by D.E. Night.

In this first book, we meet Ivy Lovely, our 16 year old protagonist, as she is forced to leave behind the only home she has known. Her journey takes her to a world full of magic and mystery, and Ivy begins to discover that there is more to her than she could have ever imagined. But not everything magical is a blessing, as a dark and evil Queen is in hot pursuit, determined to destroy her before Ivy has even started to solve the riddles of her own past.

As a story about an orphan finding a magical world, the comparisons with Harry Potter is inevitable. However, I was happy when I read how this book creates its own world and system, combining both fairy tale and magical academia. The pacing of the story is well done, giving the readers time to get absorbed in this new world. We also meet the various characters as the story unfolds, letting the readers get to know them without being overwhelmed. The new places and new magical abilities and classes are certainly interesting to read about. I don’t think I have read any similar ideas before. For me, the vivid descriptions of the places and Ivy’s curious personality are the highlights of the book. I enjoyed taking this ride alongside Ivy, as she discovers new magical abilities, makes interesting friends - both in and outside the classroom, and fights the devious enemy, while uncovering a secret and saving more than just her new home.

If you love fairy tales combined with magic and academia, then this book is for you!

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The Crowns of Croswald was a fun little adventure. Following Ivy on her unexpected journey into a new world to become a scrivinist. This fantasy book is definitely for the middle grade age category and not quite for me. Although I did enjoy the wonderful story telling by this author. If your a fan of Harry Potter then this is a series for you.

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This book is pretty interesting. I wouldn’t say it was my cup of tea but it was beautifully written. I liked how it was detailed and not confusing like many fantasy books are. Overall I’d rate it a 3.7 stars.

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What a fun read!

If you have middle school age kids I would add this to their summer reading list.

Magic, adventure and fun characters made this an easy 5 star review for me. Following Ivy’s adventure and growth through the chapters kept me engaged and looking forward to returning to the pages everyday.

Enjoyed the pictures at the beginning of every chapter, felt it added to the magic of the book and set the tone for what was ahead.

This is book one of a series so if you enjoy the first pick up the rest.

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Great world building, plus I'm a sucker for a magical school setting. I enjoyed this read. It definitely reads like middle grade (though the characters are older than most middle grade, and at times acted much younger than their age because of this), but it was fun, fantastical, and action packed to keep you guessing exactly who Ivy is and what her purpose will be. (Posted on GoodReads February 18, 2021)

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The first book of this series follows the story of a young girl who is just discovering her true potential. I enjoyed the characters and story line. While some twists were predictable (it is directed towards middle-grade readers), I really had no idea how it would all come together. I was on the edge of my seat towards the end. I will definitely be continuing the series ASAP and I am sure I will fly through them!

This Middle-grade book is an absolutely magical addition to your fall TBR shelves.

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Wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I did! Perfect, quick, and filled with magic. This book is perfect for fans of Harry Potter, but it has it's own special flare.

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What a magical world that was created! If you are a fan of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings, you need to check out this series. It is a world full of unfamiliar magical things, possibilities, and people. It does take a little bit to start placing all of the magical terms and items, but overall a great story. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!

Ivy was just a maid at a castle surrounded by a field that dampened magic. After one too many incidents, she left and was immediately surrounded by magic. Join Ivy as she explores magic shops, goes to a special school, and goes on adventures that tend to get her into trouble.

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Format: eBook via NetGalley

Disclaimer: Thank you to Untold Stories publishing for approaching me & offering me a free e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a whole, I enjoyed this book. It's a coming of age fantasy novel that's perfect for middle grade/younger readers but still an enjoyable read for all ages. This writing style is great, and D.E.Night really knows how to create a magic system and world that is both original and interesting.

Throughout, Ivy grows as a character through her confidence and is a really likable protagonist. It's fun to read as she leaves her mundane life of a scaldrony maid to go to this school of magic where we're introduced to a wide range of new characters.

I also really liked the character descriptions throughout, for example: "His workshop’s slanted shelves were as crooked as his goggles and full of his finds. Five hairie lanterns, mismatched like his ensemble".

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stories Untold through NetGalley.

This was a quick read, with a coming-of-age magical trope where the main protagonist finds her powers awakened on her sixteenth birthday. With similarities to Harry Potter with the school of magic and untold events and mysteries of Croswald, fans of HP would probably like this and enjoy the world building.

While I liked this book, it’s not the level of fantasy I’d usually read. I think this would be best enjoyed by younger fantasy readers, those just getting into the genre and are looking for another captivating magical adventure.
.

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This entire book brought me so much nostalgia as I know it's definitely something I would have picked up when I was in elementary/middle school. That being said, I still found this an enjoyable read. The main character, Ivy, gets accepted into Halls of Ivy to become a scrivenist among royals (basically, wizards among mudbloods lol). It follows her journey throughout; getting accepted into the school, the classes she takes, how she improves in her courses, and the trouble she gets into/causes. She goes on a long quest only to find out what she really is and where she comes from.

The plot was similar to Harry Potter, but I didn't really mind since it's a series I love. All the characters are likeable, except for Damaris, we don't talk about her lol.
When I first picked up this book I was unsure whether I would like it or not because it's not a genre I typically pick up anymore, but I'm certainly glad that I gave it a shot. It's not a 5 star read, but I do believe it's a solid 4 stars. Honestly, if I had children, this is definitely something I would encourage them to read.

The first few chapters of the book I will admit that I wasn't SUPER into, but towards the middle and end I was completely hooked. There were definitely things I didn't see coming, but there were others that were predictable. I guess you gotta have both for it to balance out, which was good.
I only got the first book in the series, but now I want to read the rest of it to find out what happens.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy :)

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Thank you to the publisher (Stories Untold) and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This middle-grade fantasy belongs up there with all the greats: Harry Potter, The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It fits in seamlessly to this beloved genre, whilst simultaneously offering a fun and fresh delve into a fantastical realm.

The writing is whimsical, fun, and fast-paced. In the best way possible, it is an easy book to read. In particular the world-building was well done, which is often not the case in the first book of a series. D.E. Night knows how to craft a story.

Ivy Lovely is a great protagonist and a great role-model for readers, particularly the younger ones it is aimed at. I will definitely be recommending it to my younger relatives.

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This is the first book in a series of 4 and our introduction to Ivy Lovely and the world of Croswald.

It is such a joy as a reader to read a book where the love an author feels for their work is evident in every word. You can feel from the very first page how much D E Night enjoys sharing the vibrant world she has created.

It is an immense world and I will admit, especially in the first half of the book, that I struggled to keep up, there was simply so much being described.

The plot involves Ivy escaping her dreary life as a maid and being called to attend a magical school. It would be easy to draw comparisons to Harry Potter here and I will admit there were similarities but I felt the magical world, with its vibrancy and humour reminded me much more of one my all time favourite films Stardust (I have not read the Gaiman novel so can only compare to the film)

I was immediately taken with the main character Ivy. She is compassionate and brave but she is also strong willed and stroppy; so a typical teenager! I loved seeing her take pleasure in the simple things in life like making a friend and her first hints of romance.

There was a lot of humour in the book. I loved Ivy's clumsiness and her magic classes were very entertaining.

I felt the story lacked a little direction until the final act,which was fantastic, with the Masquerade ball and the threat of the Dark Queen was finally revealed. She was marvellous and I wish she had appeared in the book sooner. I have high hopes for her in the following novels!

Overall I really enjoyed the book, I can appreciate it was foundation building for the rest of the series which I look forward to reading.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing me with a digital ARC to provide an honest review.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is a middle grade academia fantasy novel. Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid at the Castle of Plum, which is surrounded by slurry fields, a magic dampener. One day Ivy is kicked out of the castle, and she goes past the field and the world of magic opens up to her. She makes new friendships, learns more about her new abilities, and starts discovering her past. There is also a Dark Queen in the realm that she doesn't want to cross. Can Ivy figure out who she is and be trained in her magic?

I really liked this new world of magic. I love that the royals have to use stones, but the scrivenists have magic in their blood. It does remind me a lot of Harry Potter due to the academia setting, but I loved Harry Potter growing up. I also really want a scaldron. There was also something I noticed about the scrivenist in the prologue. They have the same name as the author, so it makes me wonder if they are the ones "writing" this novel. So fun!

I recommend this for middle grade readers who love a magical world.

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I really enjoyed this book! It is super imaginative especially with all the cool creatures we get to meet.

This book has the magical school trope which I can’t get enough of, however, there were so many aspects of the story that are original to this world, you don’t feel like your reading the same boarding school story over and over again so it kept me engaged throughout the whole book.

Would definitely recommend this for any young reader who wishes to escape reality for a while and immerse themselves in the magical world D.E Night has created.

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This book was great. As a lover of the Harry Potter series this definitely caught my interest early, without being a copy paste type books. I felt Ivy was a character I liked quickly and i enjoyed the quirkiness of the side characters.

I gave this book 4 stars because it was written well and the characters were well fleshed out BUT it's very very similar to Harry Potter. This isn't necessarily a bad thing in general, but it does make your mind wander to compare the two.

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Pairs Well With: Bedtime Story snack

Thank you to @netgalley and @storiesuntold for the ARC digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

The Crowns of Croswald is an enthralling, fantasy novel best suited for middle-school age readers. While the heroine (Ivy) is a young woman, the story is full of mystical creatures, magical spells and enchantments, evil queens, Dwarves, dragons and more.

Ivy is a kitchenmaid at Castle Plum, alone except for her friend Rimbrick- a dwarf with knowledge of her past that he keeps hidden. While out of the castle one day, Ivy is picked up by a strange carriage and whisked away to The Halls Of Ivy- a school for magical youth (scrivenists) and the royalty they serve. With no idea why she is there, and a sneaking suspicion there is more to her past and identity than she is aware of, Ivy begins making friends and learning everything she can about the new world around her.

I found the beginning of the story a bit hard to understand- there were a lot of new terms being introduced, new characters, and I believe a fairly large time-jump. As the story progressed, there were moments I went “Oh! THAT’s why this happened” and I was able to piece it together, but I did feel a bit lost in the initial few chapters. Additionally, the timeline of the story seems to be represented by moon phases, and not knowing what that meant, I didn’t know if a day or week or months had passed from one chapter to the next.

I felt the story was strong in the sense of character development- Ivy was a character I was pulled towards, rooted for, and felt I understood. She was brave, inspiring, a good friend and had a good sense of self, despite not truly knowing who or what she was. Her friend Rebecca was unique and a great compliment to Ivy; I also found myself wondering if Fyn would play a larger role in the next few books (I look forward to reading them!).

As a Mom, I enjoyed reading this story and would definitely read it to my kids as they get a bit older. I think it has a beautiful message about being brave and loving yourself, and doing the right thing even when it’s hard.

If you enjoyed Harry Potter, the Chronicles of Narnia or Lemony Snickett’s work over the years, I think you’ll enjoy this series as well!

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Harry Potter who?

Wow, let me tell you, this was a ride right from the start! (And I don't mean just in the cabbies!) Magic, dragons, magical quills, magic schools, royalty....so much fun from start to finish! I loved Ivy and how she grew from where she began, but she still kept her wits about her and helped the people she cared about. Not to mention, keeping her head when she found out who she really was! The writing was just as magical as the story and the imagery was wonderful.

The only thing I would've liked to see more of is the dark queen, and how/why she was after Ivy. We see her in the last couple chapters, and we see her Cloaked Brood through the book, but she's only really mentioned before that. Maybe we'll see more of her and her evil schemes in the other books!

I'm looking forward to reading more from D.E. Night and learning more about Ivy's magical life!

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3.75⭐/5

In this middle-grade fantasy book, Ivy finds herself at the extraordinary school that she never thought she would be able to attend.

I loved the world-building, and the creativity used for the magical creatures (especially the hairies). It was very easy to understand it and follow the action, and the writing was truly amazing.

However, the events themselves are quite similar to the ones in the first HP book, especially in the beginning, so this can go one of two ways: you either like it, or dislike it for this reason.

The action was quite dull in the first half of the novel, but it picked up after, and that's when I started being intrigued by it. I wish I could have seen some development in Ivy's character, because often she was unlikable, brushing off other student's concerns towards her plans.

I didn't like the pace at the end, it was too rushed compared with the rest of the novel, but it made me curious to read more about Ivy and her adventures, so it wasn't a complete loss.

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Thank you NetGalley, Stories Untold, and D.E. Knight for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Description:
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 crashing 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.

I really enjoyed this book. This isn't my normal genre of choice, but I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read it. As stated in other reviews, I get Harry Potter vibes from the story, and as someone who grew up reading Harry Potter, I was immersed in The Crowns of Croswald almost immediately and had a hard time putting the book down. If I wasn't reading I was thinking about the book and wondering what was going to be happening next. I love it when a book can do that.

I found that some of my hunches about Ivy ended up being correct (no spoilers), but I found myself immersed in the book right up until the very end. I found the story line easy to follow and personally I liked the main characters. The descriptions of Croswald and the magical world are great. So much information and wonderful descriptions. For me, it didn't take away from the main story line. I felt that without it, it wouldn't have felt complete and maybe a little lost. I now want to read the rest of the series just to know what happens, or my curiosity will get the best of me.

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✨ B O O K R E V I E W ✨
"𝘠𝘰𝘶, 𝘐𝘷𝘺 𝘓𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤."

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘥 by D. E. Night

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5

This is a middle grade - YA novel following Ivy Lovely, our 16 year old protagonist as she learns of her mystical history and blood. When her life changes, she finds herself in a magical school where mystery awaits. Ivy Lovely is relatable and courageous, and the world building is well done. The artwork on the chapter pages is beautiful. 🥰

The author did a nice job establishing a consistent writing style and I thought the reference to their own name with the mysterious end character that gets introduced was clever. 🕵️‍♀️ I do agree that this book is very similar to Harry Potter. However, it doesn't necessarily feel like a copy to me. I enjoyed this read, and I think it would be a good read aloud for middle grade audiences.

✨ D I S C L A I M E R ✨
I was sent this book for an honest review.

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A book full of magic and life! It reminded me so much of Harry Potter. Though I'm not much of a fantasy reader, D.E. Knight did a wonderful job with world-building. This is the foundation of the book where readers can truly immerse themselves into their world. Ivy is a like-able character and I loved following her experiences an adventures.

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Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free e-book copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice fantasy break among the high fantasy I had been reading lately. We follow the main character when she is forced to leave the only home she has know and it turns out that she is to attend a magical school. This may make you think that it is very similar to Harry Potter. I thought it different though. I loved that the magic system is different from what I have read about before. I love the idea of royalty and the idea of scribes and the various spirits and dragons. What exactly the scribes are capable of, wasn't really explained too well. I hope that and the magic system in general will be addressed more in the next volumes.

Another thing that stood out for me, was that it was harder for our MC to make friends. A lot of these books make the main character have their best friends from the beginning of the year. That doesn't happen here and to me, this was a lot more believable. I always had problems making friends at school too. It felt like a bit of a relief here.

Ivy's true identity was rather predictable for me, but it didn't make it any harder to read or made it boring. I did have my suspicions about one character though and that turned out to be wrong, but hey, it could still happen later on. Some of the additional characters were also a lot of fun to read about.

All in all, a very enjoyable read.

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This magical coming-of-age tale is such a delightful read! It’s intriguing, charming and creative. There’s something about this book; it’s so colorful, like a movie. Your imagination can’t resist it. Strong recommendation for this first of a series.

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About the book:
It is the story of Ivy Lovely who is a scaldrony maid at Castle Plum. On the night that she was chased away from the castle, she crosses the enchanted boundary that separates the mundane world from this magical place called Croswald. Without knowing, her arrival in Croswald awakens her power and the Dark Queen started to show up. The setting of the story is in the Halls of Ivy, a school of magic. The place where she learns more about her powers and where her adventure to the magical world begins. Within a year, the mystery behind her identity started to unfold.
My Thoughts:
The beginning of the story is so similar to Harry Potter, which for me is a downside. This set my mind to compare everything that I read. It will probably create its own identity if the few chapters start differently. But as the story goes, it started to get interesting and I began to drift from comparing it to Harry Potter. I began to see the story by itself. I noticed the uniqueness of the magical creatures, the mystery, and magics surrounding the story.
I thought I wouldn’t want to read the next book. But as I reached the exciting chapters up to its end, I decided that I have to read the next book and join Ivy’s adventure.
I will give this book a 4 star.
Title and Cover: Intriguing title, it will capture your curiosity. The cover doesn’t have a deeper meaning but shows that the hairies are the most used creature in the story.

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A highly engaging and revising plot, this YA book is a reminder of the power of reading and the imagination. A great gift for the young adults in your life!

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Thanks to the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book is really descriptive, I feel that there is more description that plot. It was really hard to pick up the pace of the reading , the first part, for me, was eternal, too much description for my taste. On the second half of the book, when Ivy, our protagonist, stars classes, the story stars to keep up the pace; however, I felt that everything happened too fast and everything comes so easy for Ivy.

Tt the begining, I didnt felt that much connection with the characters, because I didn’t feel that they have addressed or mentioned enough about their feelings and emotions, but then, I started liking Ivy and Rebecca a lot. However, I think this group of three has the potential to explore and develop.

I believe this book is more suited for children and that this story will work really well for them, it has a well developed magic world and a easy to understand plot, that is why I think is a good introduction to the fantasy reading for kids.

Finally, I think the best of the book is the world building, that is amazing,

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I received this book as an eARC in exchange for an honest review....

Ivy our female FMC is extremely curious, strong, loving, and coming into her own. She is such a lovely character and I love how D.E. Night shapes Ivy by the end of the book setting our heroine up for book two.

The side characters are amazing in rounding out this story. I believe side characters are always important if not more important then main characters to get the plot to thicken and across. And D.E. knocks it out of the park with them.

The Crowns of Croswold is a middle grade fantasy series. Full of magic and adventure! It is a strong start to the series which I really appreciate. Crowns is quite reminiscent to Harry Potter but had enough differences to make Crowns its own novel. The differences make it new and fresh. I wish I would have had this story as a little girl. Because I would have connected instantly with Ivy. Picture myself being in Ivy's shoes and being the heroine of the story. So, I definitely recommend this to middle grade girls so they can know they can be heroes of their own stories too. Sometimes I wish there was a little more world building/descriptions. It got a little confusing at times and I couldn't always picture the place, person, or creature. And I think that is so important for middle grade readers.

I can not wait to read what is next in Ivy's magical journey!

Thank you again NetGalley and D.E. Night's team for reaching out to me...for the eARC! It truly is a beautiful story!

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If you are a Harry Potter fan and magical schools then this book is a must for you. I was delighted to find a new world filled with magic, teenagers, and enchanting creatures. The main character is a girl called Ivy where we get the first glimpse at her miserable life but then things take on a sudden change. You get to meet what in this story called 'Scrivenerist' who are well known for their captivating sketching abilities with a photographic memory.
The implied reader for this book is for younger readers however I still found myself enjoying every single chapter.
I also found the world-building credible and whimsical whilst the writing was atmospheric. The only thing that got a bit confusing at the end was the plot however this book was still a very enjoyable read and definitely recommend to read.

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The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight was an amazing middle grade read! It would definitely be loved by all ages especially by ones who adore Harry Potter. Ivy was an orphan maid at a castle who found herself attending a magical boarding to become a screvinist. She soon finds herself solving a great magical mystery. The characters in the book were so descriptive. Definitely made me root for the good guys and roll my eyes at the bad ones(I’m looking at you Damaris!). The story was excellent. The world building was superb!i wanted to live and study with them! The only negative thing which isn’t very negative I had to say was it was really wordy! A lot of people love that, though, and definitely helps create the world!

Originally posted on bookstagram 7/13/2020.

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I was very kindly offered a digital copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest review and I actually loved it!

I loved the magic that this book brings. I loved Ivy as a character and the world of Croswald. I found myself not wanting to put it down as I wanted to continue reading about her adventures. It makes me want to continue reading more about the story and so I will definitely look into reading the next book as soon as possible.

Would recommend to anyone who loves a magical fantasy that’s easy to consume and keeps you engaged from the beginning!

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3.5 ⭐

✨The Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely, a young girl who discovers she is magic✨

I've seen a lot of comparisons of this book to Harry Potter, and while there are some similarities, I think Ivy's story easily stands on its own.

I really enjoyed the world building in this book. There isn't a ton of action but I didn't mind that because I was so intrigued by Croswald, it's magic and it's history. The different types of magic (Scrivenists vs. Royals, quills vs.crowns) we're really interesting. I also LOVED all the magical creatures present throughout the story! Dragons, and hairies and shorehorses...oh my!

Ivy was such a loveable character. I adore her friendship with Rebecca and her possible romantic connection with Fyn. I can't wait to see how these relationships grow in the rest of the series!

There were a few times I was a little confused but I'm hoping things will become clearer as I read the series. I am very interested in learning more about the Dark Queen!

Overall, this was a fun, easy read and I am looking forward to reading the next book!

Thank you Netgalley, Stories Untold and D.E. Nichgt for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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I honestly really enjoyed reading this book. This is a delightful YA fantasy story involving a young lady with magical abilities and a magic school where she finds herself belonging. I have to agree that this book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter it definitely gave me some Hogwarts vibes with the magic and the classes and that intrigued me to want to read the whole series.

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I honestly love middle-grade books and I don't ever seem to have the opportunity to read them. Or to be completely honest reading more "adult" books always seems to take precedent. Children's books, especially middle-grade books are so full of magic and imagination. In a children's book, there is nothing stopping the author from being silly or creating scenarios where physics is absolutely thrown out the window with no explanation because kids don't care about physics. The Crowns of Croswald has all of what makes a middle-grade book fantastic without a care as to whether or not it makes sense, just that it's magical.

Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid, her job is to keep the Scaldrons the domestic dragons that do all of Castle Plum's cooking in line. Ivy has spent her whole life in Castle Plum berated by Helga the maid and forced to sleep in a tiny room, but she wants more. She dreams of going to the Halls of Ivy to learn how to become a scrivenist. Little does Ivy know that on the morning of Moonsday when everything seems to go wrong a sick little Scaldron will end up the being the catalyst to an adventure of a lifetime; one where Ivy discovers who she really is and that there are people in Croswald who will stop at nothing to keep Ivy from her destiny.

I only have one complaint about this book and that's that Ivy seems to be really adventurous and brave *most* of the time but at some of the most important times she loses her courage. Obviously, this is to create tension but it is in so much contradiction to who Ivy is in the rest of the book that it got old after a while. It's another case of the wishy-washy protagonist, she second-guesses herself just a little bit too much for my liking. That being said it wasn't enough to keep this from being a five-star book.

As I said in my opening I love children's books. There is absolutely nothing holding an author back when they write a child's book but their own imagination and Night seems to have no problems there. Fantasy books that are written for adults always seem to need an explanation of how things work or *why* it works within our own knowledge of our world. Children's book authors don't seem to have that problem because for the most part kids don't care. And if they do they can just make up their own reasons why it works that way, if no explanation is forthcoming. Night takes advantage of that and crafts a unique world with recognizable fantasy elements that are just this side of not like anything else you've read before. Dragons serve as ovens, fairy-like creatures create light, and ghosts serve up dinner.

And while yes I did have some complaints about Ivy overall I loved her character, she's so inquisitive and very set on her path, even though she knows it could get her in trouble. And since this is a story set in a school there has to be a character that is kind of the school bully, however, Night spends very little time on that character and I found that refreshing. The Bully character is there to help Ivy discover things about herself she didn't know, not to be a constant thorn and a distraction from the real story. Rebecca, Ivy's best friend, is absolutely wonderful as well. She's that perfect side character who is completely down to help Ivy no matter what crazy plot she has.

Finally, I loved that this is a story about a girl discovering herself but also staying true to herself. Ivy's character really doesn't change much in this story because there's not much that needs to change. Ivy knows she's going to get herself in trouble time and again and yet she bullheadedly keeps down her path and ends up discovering just how powerful she is and that in itself is a bit of magic.

Overall, this was a fantastic fairy tale. And yeah I feel comfortable calling it that, it hits all the right elements. I really can't wait to read the next book and find out what happens to Ivy next!

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I think that middle grades readers would enjoy reading this book.
Positives:
This book has a magical atmosphere that kids will enjoy. It also has a school environment to which they can relate. They will be familiar with the boarding school-style system from other popular magical-world books.
For children who tend to stress when reading books with a lot of tension, this is fairly light with only one scene that I would consider tense.
Things that could be better:
I feel like the main character is too old for a middle grades book, but the content and style is appropriate for middle grades reader. I wish Ivy were younger so that middle grades readers could relate to her in that aspect as well.
There were some plot holes, but kids may not notice that.
It does have several similar elements to a popular wizarding-world series, but the overall plot is different enough that it is a different story. Kids may enjoy that if they are looking for books with familiar elements.

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This magical world is introduced to us through Ivy who is a sculdron maid who has magic in her blood. She was whisked away to a school to learn how to use her abilities but she attracts the attention of an evil queen
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This book was sent to me through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
The setting for this book is so vividly described I felt like I was there learning things and seeing things with ivy, it’s all very exciting.
The characters are brilliantly fleshed out and relatable.
I found some parts slightly rushed but overall I adored this introduction to this series and I can’t wait to read the rest!

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Fantastic! Marketed as a middle-grade read, I find this first book of the series to have the emotional development of an adult novel, but with the fantasy & young, relatable characters of a YA book. The imagery puts you right into Ivy Lovely’s world & I didn’t want to leave! I will be ordering the other books in the series to continue with Ivy’s story.

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All Ivy Lovely knows is the grueling work of tending her Scaldron dragons in the kitchens of a castle. She is sixteen, lonely, and her only joy in life is sketching by the light of the full moon with her only friend, a Dwarf called Rimbrick. When she gets kicked out of the Castle, Rimbrick leaves her a letter with a very mysterious message: She'll be attending The Halls of Ivy, a prestigious magical school! But Ivy is not magical... or is she?

I enjoyed this book a lot! The world was so enchanting and whimsical. There are all kinds of magical beasts, an evil queen, a pirate ship in a bottle and tons of other magical moments. I especially love the magic system that centers around writing quills and crowns, depending if you're a Squinch or a Royal. You'll have to read the book to find out what that means ;)

It was a fun story that hearkened back to my childhood favorites; I would have adored this if I read it as a kid! It also gave me a healthy dose of chuckles as it's quite funny. While I found Ivy a tad annoying at times, I really liked the banter between her and her newfound friends, Rebecca and Fyn and the fact that they always found themselves in comical situations.

The pacing was very quick, it went from one adventure to the next which, yes, that's entertaining, but it also felt like the school year had just begun when it ended. There was not much of a middle with which to show the progression of her friendships. That's just a small qualm and overall I would recommend this book if you like magic schools, middle-grade fantasy, and adventure!

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I’m going to start off by saying WOW!
I love a book with a magic school setting and The Crowns of Croswald was no exception!
The heroine of our story, Ivy Lovely, is an orphan working as a maid in Castle Plum, but she is so much more than that!
After an incident causes her to leave Castle Plum, she crosses a magical boundary and her life takes an unexpected and adventurous turn! She discovers magic she never knew she had, sees unexpected and wonderful new things, and makes friends she never thought she would as she attends The Halls Of Ivy.
Ivy is curious, smart, brave, and doesn’t let anything stand in her way! She’s an incredible role model for any kid and teenager and an excellent heroine for the story.
Wonderful world building, excellent pacing, meaningful characters, and an adventurous storyline make this a truly wonderful read for any age!
One of the things that makes the book so good, is that it’s paced incredibly well. There’s not a lot of time spent going into small details, but it doesn’t detract from the story as you still get all of the information that you need.
And while the storyline isn’t completely unpredictable, it still manages to hold a few surprises. It also allows you to figure out Ivy’s life with her even if you think you know what’s going to happen.
Overall I absolutely loved it, it was fun, easy to read and easy to get lost in!

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Page turning young fantasy. A completely unique magical fantasy full of intrigue. On a par vibe wise with Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia. Despite being an adult it still had me totally gripped so it is suitable for all, although ages 11 and up will probably love it the most (great for getting younger readers into fantasy). I was totally fascinated throughout by the world building, I just would have liked to understand the main character Ivy a little more.

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The Crowns of Croswald was an absolutely magical read filled with adventure. Ivy and Wimsome's relationship reminded me a lot of Cinder and the doctor's relationship in The Lunar Chronicles. This magical school and staff also reminded me of Hogwarts.

This book can be enjoyed by any age and by anyone looking for a magical way to escape reality. I'll definitely be continuing this magical series and I recommend this to anyone with middle graders that need some magic in their life.

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I was hooked from the prologue. The story closes on very a cliffhanger as it’s near even though the story is fair starting where it wraps up off. I think the creator unquestionably did this purposely to keep you snared sufficient to study another book This is certainly a page-turning daydream perused full of fairytales, enchantment and an unconventional world. It truly reminded me of Harry Potter since of the enchanted boarding school and the classes but it’s still exceptionally much its claim world with its claim peculiarities. What’s not to like? I can see the appeal it will have for a middle school reading group, but I felt that the main character was written a little younger for his age in places. I also felt that the story was rushed in places and could have been a bit longer to give more description and explanation and to give the story room to breathe. Still, it was a fun and interesting first book in what I'm sure is a delightful series.

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4.5/5 🌟

I’m so happy I agreed to get a copy of this book to review! Although I’m not in the middle-age category anymore. I ABSOLUTELY devoured this book. I honestly think that readers of any age could pick up this one and actually love it.

First of all, the world-building is just… *chef’s kiss.* 😘 It's so thoroughly detailed you can pretty much feel part of that world too.
The magical system? SO GOOD. I was like “OH MY GOD, THAT’S SO COOL!” at every mention of some magical thing starting with freaking dragons.
Even tho the start can seem a little slow since it has to well... build the world and give you all the necessary informations to not feel clueless about everything, I was so invested in the story, the characters (Ivy, I love you girl), and it’s so captivating that once you reach the final chapters be ready not to want to put down the book until it’s over because the plot twists will keep you on your toes until the last page. 🤯🤯

Also, loved (LOVED) the "Derwin Edgar Night" (D.E.N.) reference to the author’s name, D.E. Night. So cool.

I can’t speak about the Harry Potter comparisons that almost everyone is doing because I’ve never read HP but If you like magical, mysterious and coming-of-age books, this one is for you. I didni’t know I could love middle-grade books this much since I usually favor the YA/NA books but I’m so glad I was able to read this one!!

Thanks to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me the e-book in exchange of an honest review.

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I read this book last month and there's only one thing I have to say: "I LOVE IT"

Writing style 10/10
Story 9.5/10
Characters 9/10
Cover 10/10

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫/5

This is about the journey of Ivy Lovely discovering who she really is. Living in a world of enchantment and mystery she has to battle evil. This is a fast-paced book. It is a perfect magical book. It wasn't boring at any point. This was a fun roller coaster ride for me. It is very entertaining and is somewhat similar to Harry Potter maybe because both are set in magical schools. But apart from that, the story is unique in its way.

And yes, I love FYN!!!

This is just the first book of a series and I can't wait to read the other books.

If you loved the Harry Potter series, this is for you.

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I was sent this book to review by @author.denight and I honestly really enjoyed it. I don’t read a lot of middle grade books, but sometimes it’s nice to take a step back from those complex and intense adult fantasy worlds to just enjoy the magic of it all.

Croswald is a quirky world with magic held within stones for the royals and the blood of the scrivenists who serve them, making discoveries and recording them with their magic quills. There’s also plenty of fun creatures like the scaldrons and hairies. It sort of reminded me of The Princess Bride with all of the weird names. I could definitely see this being a great bedtime story!

The majority of the book was about Ivy learning more about magic and herself with little bumps in her path along the way, but it did culminate in a much larger finale than I was expecting, sort of like the first Harry Potter book.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book for any middle schoolers in your life, or if you’re just looking for a break after a more intense read, because it’s loads of fun!

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This book totally brought me back to my childhood. It reminded me of all my fav magical childhood movies. This was a super fun read. Ivy was such a great character. From start to finish this book had me hooked waiting to see what happened! I will be reading the rest of this series asap!

So if you like:
Magic &
Fun reads….

This book is for you!

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Wow. I could not put this book down. It's a middle grade fantasy that follows a girl named Ivy Lovely on her journey of discovering who she really is and it made me feel so nostalgic even though it was my first read. Thank you to Netgalley, DE Night, Daniela, and the publisher Stories Untold for allowing me to read this whimsical book. I NEED MORE. The magic system was so realistic and I enjoyed the concept of the academic point of view as well. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

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Ivy Lovely is a girl who hadn't been living in the magic world, but eventually is able to. She gets to go to school for magical powers. This reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, because it is a similar premise, but it was different as well. My daughter is 11 and she and I read this book together. We took turns reading the chapters. She is very much into wizards and magic and loved this story. She liked that the main character was a strong female character. I liked that there was magic all throughout the book, the author really took you into the magic. I wish we lived in the same world. We both loved the cute creatures, the Hairies. I like this this is a series because we want to continue reading it together.

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

Looking for a good fantasy underdog turned heroine book, well here it is!

Ivy Lovely is a scaldron maid in the slurry fields, she has never seen the daylight, nor has she ever experienced true love. Well, that's not quite true she has one friend, Rimbrick. Rimbrick always gets her books about magic written by scrivenists and it is an understatement to say that she is fascinated by them. One day she gets kicked out of castle plum and picked up by a carriage of The Halls Of Ivy. A magical school, whose building is the castle of the forgotten family. The same exact place Ivy has been dreaming about her entire life. Once she gets to school strange things start happening and Ivy is caught between what she believes to be true and the strange occurrences that tell a different story. And as if that isn't enough The Dark Queen seems to plan something malicious. No one knows what she's after or maybe the people that do know prefer to keep it a secret. Only sixteen years old and Ivy needs to figure out who her enemies are and which friends she can actually trust.

The book is fairly short and obviously you need to be introduced to the whole world and some characters at first before you can start to properly enjoy the plot, which is why there isn't much happening in the beginning (aka the first 50%). However, I am sure that the other books won't have that problem since you already know he basic rules of this fantasy world

Let me tell you the last 15% or so had me on my feet. At that point I was already so anxious to finally figure out what's really going on, that I was barely able keep my socks on. Some questions do get answered however a lot of them are still left in the blue. Hopefully those will get explained in the following 3 books. Something that will happen a lot is that you think you know what's going on but you never really do. Like I said, I've finished this book and I still am unsure about whether what I read is the real truth. If you don't already have trust issues, after this book you definitely will.

The book is about 200 pages nonetheless it is supposed to cover an entire year worth of happenings so quite often, the time jumps are fairly big / some of them aren't even that big but you just feel like a lot of time has passed, cause you're still processing what you read only seconds ago.

And last but definitely not least (to be honest this has me fangirling so hard) is the subtle name reference. You see a constantly reoccurring character is Derwin Edgar Night (a very important scrivenist) has the same initials as the author (D.E. Night). I thought that that was kind of ironic since D.E. Night has the answers to all of the readers’ questions (in relation to this story) and so has Derwin for all of Ivy's questions.

I hope that you found this review somewhat helpful!!!!!


Bookstagram account: minasbookcorner

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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

It’s one of the first fantasy books I’ve read in many years because I’m not really into the genre. However, I think this book may just have rejuvenated my like for the genre. It has everything; magic, action and so much more. The story is engaging, the characters unique and it’s just a fun book. It keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more.

Plus I think Harry Potters would like this too; the magic, the school of magic etc. it’s a good fantasy book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author’s team for the e-book

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I was a bit hesitant to pick up this book. I know that books compared to another popular wizarding world can be quite a letdown if not done properly. The comparisons are definitely there. I was worried that this series wouldn’t be able to stand on its own. However, as the storyline matured, I was impressed by the originality that was injected into the narrative, especially by the end. This is the first book in a four-part series. I’m excited to pick up the next book to see how this story and its characters will progress.

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*Thank you to NetGalley, D.E Night, and the publisher for my copy of this book in exchange for review *

I really enjoyed the characters and world building in this middle grade fantasy novel.
I will start by saying middle grade is not something I normally gravitate towards but this book was full of wonder and mystery and I loved every second of it.

The main reason I am giving this a 4/5 stars is because I couldn't get past some of the weird names for things, "hairies" for instance just kind of bugged me, I also thought some of the words and phrasing used was a bit too advanced to be considered a middle grade book.

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This book was a great start to the series! I was engaged the entire time and had a hard time putting it down after the 20% mark. Can't wait to finish the series! I had a hard time putting it down and I read it within a couple days because of that. Quick and easy read that will bring you into a world of magic.

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I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book even as a 28 year old woman! "The Crowns of Croswald" creates a fantasy world that I can't help but fully immerse myself into. While reading the book it reminded me a lot of the magical school world of Harry Potter but with the magic turned up even more. Combine that with the storybook style characters of the Chronicles of Narnia plus the classic story of a chosen one and you've got an all new story that is easy to fall in love with. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

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With its magical campus setting, myriad strange fantastical creatures and unlikely heroine with humble beginnings and a heart of gold, this middle-grade fantasy novel has mayhem and mystery enough to captivate readers of all ages. ⁣

It follows young maid Ivy Lovely as she is whisked away from her miserable life of service to the Halls of Ivy, a school for future magic-users and royalty. Completely at a loss as to why she is there, she and her newfound band of friends (and rivals) must unravel the mystery of her past before it brings everything crashing down. ⁣

A younger me would have been sold by the magical creatures, from the 'hairies' (fairies with glowing hair that act as light sources) to the 'noticals' (little creatures that love to read quickly and highlight key passages in your schoolbooks for you). I also loved Ivy's longsuffering sidekick dragon, Humboldt. ⁣

The rest of the novel is fast-paced and interesting, with a well-thought-out magic system and memorable characters. I did find some of the reveals predictable, but the ending was satisfying all the same, and I would definitely read the next in the series. ⁣

Thank you to NetGalley and D.E. Night for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Ivy has spent her entire life slaving away to make the royals’ meals at the House of Plum. Destiny intervenes when she is fired from her duties and a whole new world is revealed to Ivy. She makes true friends, learns about the past and most importantly, interacts with magic. The evil Queen looms in the distance and Ivy must find her courage as all that is good in Croswald is threatened.

Great read for middle grade readers! This book is adventurous, endearing and enchanting. Ivy is a strong main character, and D.E. Night does a beautiful job outlining her development. Ivy is inquisitive, smart and has a sense of humor while also going through the turbulence of her life completely changing. The world building was easy to follow and it’s easy for the reader to immerse themselves in Croswald. The other characters are also very relatable and their interactions with Ivy flow really well throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for the e-book copy. This copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

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This whimsical story is great for young readers (ages 9 - 14)
The book is full of magic, I felt is greatly influenced by Harry Potter while still maintaining its unique world. Both The world and the magic system are greatly interesting and entertaining

We’re introduced to the character Ivy and get a glimpse of her difficulties. She’s cast from all that she’s familiar with and starts a new life.

The book is well written, vivid and creative. It brings back a certain nostalgia for fantasy readers.
For all young readers and Harry Potter fans, you should definitely give this one a go.

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This book was very cute and I really enjoyed it. I don't read a lot of middle grade but I know that my younger self would have been obsessed with this series and I definitely would've gotten lost in it!

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What a fun middle grade story! D.E. Night put her own refreshing twist on the classic trope of a young hero discovering a new world and coming into their new found powers, which is a trope that I will never get tired of. This is a story that I feel can be loved by all ages, captivating a younger audience with its whimsy while tugging on the heartstrings of older readers with the feeling of nostalgia. This is an amazing magical world that I can't wait to delve deeper into!

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I received a digital copy of this book thanks to the publisher StoriesUntold and NetGalley in exchange for a review.
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this and if I have to be honest it took me a while to really get into it at first, but once the story picked up its pace I found myself getting more and more involved.
Our protagonist is Ivy Lovely (and she's as lovely as her name suggests), she works in a castle as a scaldrony maid, basically managing little dragons who function as kitchen's cookers. She's an orphan, about to turn sixteen and her only friend is an ancient woods dwarf, that pretty much sums up all her life up to this point. But the day of her birthday marks the beginning of the adventure, Ivy is destined to something far more grand, a world full of magic, and she'll come to discover it all. Being the first volume of a series of course you won't find all the answers to your questions at the end, if anything, you'll have even more of them... just the right amount to make you want to pick up the next one. I enjoyed reading this more than I anticipated and even if it is targeted as middle grade fantasy I think that everyone who wants to savor a little bit of magic and adventure could easily appreciate it despite of their age.

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It’s been the perfect season to read this one, it’s full of magic and mystery, the essentials for autumn/spooky season

It did take me a minute to get into it since it’s been a while since I’ve read anything in this genre/age group but I found that once the main character Ivy entered the magic school and we met her classmates then it really picked up for me.

The writing was lovely and descriptive, I could picture the world and all the whimsical elements within it easily. There’s lots of unique characters to help keep the plot going and plenty of twists and mysteries to keep you guessing throughout.

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What’s not to love about an action-packed fantasy novel filled with showy magic and adorable creatures? From the first to last chapter, this novel was intriguing and enchanting; the characters, mystery, and setting kept me curious and engaged. Ivy is a fantastic protagonist– she is spunky and not afraid to bend the rules, even when faced with protest from her two more cautious sidekicks– Fyn and Rebecca. While I loved our human characters, the real draw for me was in the magical creatures and creations; Knight’s creativity was truly showcased in the magical elements of the world.

I went back and forth on whether to rate this book three or four stars, because, truthfully, I felt that the novel lacked a lot of the depth that I thoroughly enjoy in a fantasy novel. Where were the chapters spent on tireless world building, the currency system, and geo-politics? Why wasn’t there a chapter-long monologue, a plot-less conversation, and a multi-page description of trees? They were absent! And as I sat down to write this review I realized it was a good thing! Knight knew her audience. Every page of this book is action-packed and moves along the plot– as it should be for a book meant to get young people invested in reading. I would recommend this to the young people in my life as a fun, adventurous tale of curiosity and bravery.

/A copy of this book was gifted to me in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Stories Untold Publishing, D.E.Knight, and NetGalley for valuing my review./

Read more reviews @sgt_books

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This book was pure magic!! Reading this book brought back the euphoric feeling of reading a fantasy book when I was a kid as this book had all the best fantasy elements that I enjoyed back then and enjoy now. The story line was so imaginative and fun, and the perfect read for middle grade readers (and even adult readers!)

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I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I’m one of those people who don’t read the synopsis in the back of the book so I had no idea what to expect. This is the perfect middle grade fantasy for Harry Potter and Percy Jackson lovers alike. The author creates such a unique world full of whimsy, dragons, magic, and coming of age adventures. The book centers around Ivy Lovely as she is thrusted into a world of learning and wonder. It’s refreshing to read something clean and entertaining. Thank you to the publisher Stories Untold and the author for a copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own!

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A fantastic start off to a fantasy series! In The Crowns of Croswald we follow Ivy on her journey to discover her past as well as her magic. She is able to enroll in a school to enhance her magic and learn what she is capable of. As the school year goes on she makes many discoveries as her powers grow. She also learns everything may not be as it seems. Ivy’s powers grow so large that she attracts the attention of the Dark Queen who has sworn to end her bloodline. The side characters who help Ivy along the way are a a wonderful addition to the story. The book includes Ivy’s schedule and I have never wanted to take classes so badly. They sounded like a wonderful experience. The author named one of the characters after themselves and I thought that was such a cute fun little touch. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series and see what other adventures await Ivy and her friends.

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This is a fun fantasy that takes you away to a magical world. I would say this book reminds me of Harry Potter in the similarities that Ivy (The MC) grows up not knowing she had any magic to being taken away to a school to learn about magic. This would be a great book for children and middle school aged kids. I am not quite the target audience for this book but I still enjoyed reading it and know that my 13 year old self would have loved it.

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The Crown’s of Croswald by DE Knight is a Middle Grade Fantasy book. I would compare it to Harry Potter. 4/5 ⭐️

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 crashing 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.

Thanks Netgalley for the arc

#childrensbooks #middleschool #fantasybooks #crownsofcroswald #deknight #netgalley

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The Crowns of Croswald was an intriguing read, with beautiful world-building and a wonderful magic system. An MG appropriate story about building friendships and finding out who you are, with magic, adventure and a 'chosen one' storyline. As she reached her new home at the school, I sometimes longed Ivy to feel more curious about the strange incidents happening around her, but she soon put two and two together, and started figuring things out. The adventures rolled by non-stop then! It's fast-paced and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and look forward to reading the sequel.

I've already recommended this to my MG daughter, and will recommend to the children where I work.

Congratulations D.E. Night on an exciting, magical fantasy with a strong FMC and brilliant side characters. I loved it.

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*Thanks to the author, netgalley, and publisher for providing me a copy of this book to review*

Ivy Lovely is a teenage orphan working as a maid but dreams of something more. She soon discovers that her dreams are becoming a reality when she runs away and is invited to a prestigious school to work on honing her dormant magical powers. As she explores this school and meets some new friends, and adversaries, she discovers there is a deep dark secret that only she can uncover.

I absolutely love a good fantasy series but I have to admit I do not usually read many middle grade books - so my expectations were not too high. However, this book quickly drew me in. The author does an excellent job of creating a unique world with a fascinating magic system and fun characters - a perfect story for fantasy fans of any age. The story was fast paced and engaging throughout. The cliffhanger at the end of this book has me excited to continue the series.

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The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in the series. There are currently four books in total available now. I am very intrigued to see how this series continues and look forward to continuing the adventure.

D. E. Night does a great job of explaining the setting and characters. It was so easy to visualize the school and creatures. All the imagery is amazing.

The story follows a sixteen-year-old named Ivy, she is such a good character. She was a maid that never thought she would be anything more. You follow her journey to the Halls of the school. It was great watching her grow throughout the book.

This is a great read for anyone that loves fantasy and magic in whimsical settings. It has all the Harry Potter vibes you need. This is great for fans of magic and whimsical settings.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This is a magical book that gives a mix of Hatty Potter and City Of Bones vibes. I loved the writing style given by this author. It is easy to follow and entertaining to imagine the story playing out in your head. In this book, a young woman discovers that she has the gift of magic and is exiled from her home. Sent to a school to help a master magic user she soon finds she must understand her past to have a future. The Queen takes interest in this young woman but it isn't just any Queen; its the dark queen. A battle between good and evil must always take place.

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This was a cute story and although it’s written for teens I think anyone who likes Harry Potter style of books would like this series. I know my daughters would absolutely love this book. It was a quick read for me and while, I didn’t like certain aspects of how the magic was taught and it ended in a dreaded cliffhanger, I would love to read the rest of the series.

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What a fun, magical read! I really enjoyed being introduced to the world of Croswald. I loved how magic could take so many forms and that even though there was a separation between royals and scrivenist they still learned together and could work together to solve problems.
Speaking of problems, Ivy was constantly dealing with them. Poor girl just couldn't get a rest. She did exceptionally well, thanks to Fyn, Rebecca and her mentors.
I'm really excited to see how this series continues, and what trouble Ivy Lovely will get into next.

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This book was such a wonderful breath of fresh air. The Crowns of Croswald is the beginning to a middle grade series about a magic school. After the author of my favorite series about magical schools turned out to be extremely problematic, I was more than excited to give this one a try. It definitely delivered. This book has many wonderful characters, solid world building, and some really interesting magical concepts. Our main character Ivy is a fascinating character who really starts to come into her own over the course of this book. I loved her perspective and seeing the world through her eyes. It's also such a fast read, it just flies by. I will definitely be picking up the next books in the series, and I can't wait to see where this one goes.

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I finally got around to reading this and honestly I'm not sure why I put it off for so long!

I've always been a huge fan of Harry Potter and this book was just up my alley! The world building, the writing and the characters are all super entertaining and well-written. I am a huge fan of strong women as main characters and I absolutely loved Ivy. The fact that the main villain is also a woman is a big plus for me too, and love the fact that so much is still unresolved. Looking forward to the next book!

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The Crowns of Croswald (The Crowns of Croswald #1) by D. E. Night
✰ ✰ ✰ ✰
Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Adventure, Middle Grade

This is a middle grade book set in a magical world full of adventure and mystery. The majority of the story takes place in a special school for magic so with that and the magical aspect as well as the adventure Ivy has been thrown into, it’s hard not to think of Harry Potter. However despite some similarities, overall it is quite different. I loved the world the author built. It wasn’t too difficult to understand but also not overly simple. By the end of the book things definitely weren’t resolved and I can only imagine what Ivy will discover next and how the threat of the dark queen will develop.

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Rounded up from 3.5 stars.
First, let us just get the most obvious point out of the way. Yes, this has severe Harry Potter vibes.
Now that doesn't have to be a very good or a very bad thing. In this case, it was complex. In some places it felt amazing to get the nostalgic feeling of Hogwarts taking over but - a book needs to be mostly original (unless it is an actual retelling) for it to fully work. The amount of parallels I can draw from that series is astounding. Not necessarily in the best way. Too many similarities I'd say. The vibes are good, don't get me wrong - they just seem a tad bit more similar than they ought to be.

What worked in this book? Well, Ivy is pretty awesome.
A middle-grade fantasy series with a female lead is not something as common as one might want it to be and for a rare entity, you have higher expectations. And Ivy delivered.
The world-building is good and I do absolutely admire the original aspects that the author has brought to the book. A very intriguing fmc and an enigmatic female villain that we know pretty much nothing about yet, even after book one - two BIG wins in my opinion honestly. It really is interesting to learn about Ivy's past and I do want to find out what is up here and why the villain became the villain.

I felt that the writing was slightly anachronistic for the setting. Certain words and phrases don't actually fit in with the otherworldly, fantasy space that this was set in.

Thank you Netgalley and D.E.Night for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Huge thanks to the publisher for approving my request to read this on NetGalley. I really enjoyed this one. If you're a fan of magical school settings I can guarantee you're gonna love this one. The characters were interesting and properly motivated. The plot moved fast and I never felt bored while reading it.. I was sick in bed these past two weeks but this book kept me company and helped me escape my suffering. I can't wait to
pick up the rest of the books in the series and see how the world and characters continue to develop.

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I adore middle grade fantasy, so obviously I was drawn to this book but was extremely lucky to be given a netgalleu addition by the author. The Crowns of Croswald explores finding your own magic, which is such a fun but important subject for this books audience. Night creates an exciting world full of magic, adorable creatures and brilliant characters. I loved the protagonist, Ivy, and couldn't help but think I would have wanted to be her (and still do) as a child. I hope to see this on more bookshelves soon!

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This book was such a blast! I want more worldbuilding! Not because it was lacking but because the world is so wonderfully and interesting I just want to be able to explore it all!
I've never ever read of a more interesting magic school than this one!

I want myself some of these adorable creatures pretty please I am in love !

I absolutely cannot wait to read book two and discover more of the amazing secrets of this world and our sweet main character!

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