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!

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!

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!

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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'.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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!!!!

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.

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!
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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.
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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.

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.

*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!

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!!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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/

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

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

** 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! ✨

“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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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!

"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.

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. 💗

I received this book from @storiesuntoldpress to read and write and honest review.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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Overall, it is a good YA story that gets you engrossed in the magical world of Croswald and the life of Ivy Lovely.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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!!

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!

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

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 !

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.⁣
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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.⁣
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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 😆⁣
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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!⁣

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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

📖 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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3470172458?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

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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.

*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.

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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 😊

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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*

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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.

.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.

*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!!*

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.

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. ⁣
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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! ⁣
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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. ⁣
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In all, I really enjoyed this book! I would be interested to see what is in store for Ivy in book 2 😊⁣
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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 🤔⁣
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Thank you to @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⁣

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.

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.

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!

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?

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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 :)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!