First impression: please can they make a movie about this book!? I laughed a little during the first few scenes which introduced Ivy as a scaldrony maid, and throughout the book there were more scenes that brought out a giggle or two. I really did enjoy this story line.

The details were good, we got to see how Ivy's class schedule will look like, what her stationary contains and also the details of her dorm room. I enjoyed the moments Ivy walked through the halls and implanted specific details into our minds for us to paint a picture perfect university. I would have enjoyed more finer details (it seems that these kind of details only came in the last quarter of the book) so that I could live myself more into the scenes.

I liked the world building in this story, but what confused me was the jumping to and from different POV's without warning, it almost suggests that, although she's never been anywhere, Ivy knew everything about everyone and everything. This caused a difficulty in reading this book and following the original story since Ivy is the only character from whom we get a POV.

I really enjoyed the unexpected friendships between Ivy and Rebecca, the way they met per chance and it was just something that grew from there. Rebecca was there for Ivy by ensuring her that she is not alone and she has someone she can lean on - the same goes for Fynn who was there from the beginning of her adventure and through every obstacle that Ivy had to overcome, although I would have liked to see more of how things progressed between them. There was also this companionship that developed between Ivy and W.M during the process of her studies, I feel like this was an excellent aspect in the book since Ivy didn't have any family she grew up with so she never really had an older person to look up to.

The plot was great, it was something that I did not expect, although looking back now, the plot reveal started building from the moment that Ivy stepped into the Halls. To be able to write the story in this way without revealing the plot too early is exceptionally great skills!

I used to play the Harry Potter games on PlayStation, and this book definitely reminded me a bit of the challenges I had to do in that game as well as the classes you had to attend (definitely more the games than the movies).
Although I only rated this book a 3 star because of the confusion with POV's, I am excited to see what happens in the next books!

The Crowns of Croswald was an absolutely magical read filled with adventure. Ivy and Wimsome's relationship reminded me a lot of Cinder and the doctor's relationship in The Lunar Chronicles. This magical school and staff also reminded me of Hogwarts.

This book can be enjoyed by any age and by anyone looking for a magical way to escape reality. I'll definitely be continuing this magical series and I recommend this to anyone with middle graders that need some magic in their life.

I was hooked from the prologue. The story closes on very a cliffhanger as it’s near even though the story is fair starting where it wraps up off. I think the creator unquestionably did this purposely to keep you snared sufficient to study another book This is certainly a page-turning daydream perused full of fairytales, enchantment and an unconventional world. It truly reminded me of Harry Potter since of the enchanted boarding school and the classes but it’s still exceptionally much its claim world with its claim peculiarities. What’s not to like? I can see the appeal it will have for a middle school reading group, but I felt that the main character was written a little younger for his age in places. I also felt that the story was rushed in places and could have been a bit longer to give more description and explanation and to give the story room to breathe. Still, it was a fun and interesting first book in what I'm sure is a delightful series.

4.5/5 🌟

I’m so happy I agreed to get a copy of this book to review! Although I’m not in the middle-age category anymore. I ABSOLUTELY devoured this book. I honestly think that readers of any age could pick up this one and actually love it.

First of all, the world-building is just… *chef’s kiss.* 😘 It's so thoroughly detailed you can pretty much feel part of that world too.
The magical system? SO GOOD. I was like “OH MY GOD, THAT’S SO COOL!” at every mention of some magical thing starting with freaking dragons.
Even tho the start can seem a little slow since it has to well... build the world and give you all the necessary informations to not feel clueless about everything, I was so invested in the story, the characters (Ivy, I love you girl), and it’s so captivating that once you reach the final chapters be ready not to want to put down the book until it’s over because the plot twists will keep you on your toes until the last page. 🤯🤯

Also, loved (LOVED) the "Derwin Edgar Night" (D.E.N.) reference to the author’s name, D.E. Night. So cool.

I can’t speak about the Harry Potter comparisons that almost everyone is doing because I’ve never read HP but If you like magical, mysterious and coming-of-age books, this one is for you. I didni’t know I could love middle-grade books this much since I usually favor the YA/NA books but I’m so glad I was able to read this one!!

Thanks to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me the e-book in exchange of an honest review.

I'm not much of a fantasy nor middle grade reader, but this is a fun and lovely book that I'm glad exists for all the young kids out there - especially trans kids - who deserve a world of magic that isn't written by a violent transphobe. The world and language is very whimsical, although I have to admit some words even I had to look up so I'm not sure how easy of a time a middle-grade aged reader would have with it.

I loved the inclusion of all different kinds of mythological creatures, including completely new ones unique to this universe. That really enriched the world-building and was a fantastic touch. I was disappointed by some casual fatphobia almost right off the bat, but not surprised as this sadly happens in many books.

It was very nostalgic to me how it resembles the magical world of HP, however I also think in some ways it was a bit too similar in formula. That being said, JKR certainly doesn't own fantasy and magic books for kids, and once again it's great that there are more options now.

Definitely would recommend this to older kids, pre-teens and teens as an HP alternative!

I was sent this book to review by @author.denight and I honestly really enjoyed it. I don’t read a lot of middle grade books, but sometimes it’s nice to take a step back from those complex and intense adult fantasy worlds to just enjoy the magic of it all.

Croswald is a quirky world with magic held within stones for the royals and the blood of the scrivenists who serve them, making discoveries and recording them with their magic quills. There’s also plenty of fun creatures like the scaldrons and hairies. It sort of reminded me of The Princess Bride with all of the weird names. I could definitely see this being a great bedtime story!

The majority of the book was about Ivy learning more about magic and herself with little bumps in her path along the way, but it did culminate in a much larger finale than I was expecting, sort of like the first Harry Potter book.

Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book for any middle schoolers in your life, or if you’re just looking for a break after a more intense read, because it’s loads of fun!

This middle-grade fantasy is fun and is a good place to start if you are new to the fantasy genre. Thank you to Net Galley for my proof.

Firstly I would like to thank the author, D.E Night and the publishers, Stories Untold Press for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Now, I honestly had a hard time getting into this book & desperately wanted to like it a lot more than I did but I personally just didn't connect with it and whilst there's no doubt that a lot of hard work and effort was poured into this book by the author, it just felt a little too familiar to the Harry Potter series but just with a female lead. The further I got into the book the more I couldn't help but make comparisons between the two which, to be honest, ruined it for me, especially as the author had some really interesting ideas and original thoughts and so it just kind of seemed a shame.

The book is beautifully written, and the descriptions of both characters and places are done brilliantly, I also loved the little illustrations above the chapters. Moments that I particularly liked were, being introduced to Mr Munson and his shop, I thought he was funny, especially the way his entry sign on his shop door reflects how he feels. I also loved the part where Ivy & Fyn are on the lake and Fyn brings out his flutterflies to help give them light, I imagined the scene to be very pretty. I loved the idea of the upside-down pub on the lake for the scrivenests one last hurrah before they pass on, it was creepy but I liked it.

Whilst I didn't struggle trying to immerse myself within the MC’s world at all, I just felt that parts were not properly explained and so felt a bit lost but also that the timeline seemed to jump around a bit. I also worry that for middle-grade readers the language and particular word choices might be a bit too wordy and hard, there were even words I didn't know the meaning of, I just feel that if I was a child at that age and trying to have a go at this, id loose interest purely due to the word choices, I think this book might be better suited for an older age group, more Y/A than middle grade and any die-hard HP fans looking for their next magical fix may fully appreciate & enjoy this book.

All Ivy Lovely knows is the grueling work of tending her Scaldron dragons in the kitchens of a castle. She is sixteen, lonely, and her only joy in life is sketching by the light of the full moon with her only friend, a Dwarf called Rimbrick. When she gets kicked out of the Castle, Rimbrick leaves her a letter with a very mysterious message: She'll be attending The Halls of Ivy, a prestigious magical school! But Ivy is not magical... or is she?

I enjoyed this book a lot! The world was so enchanting and whimsical. There are all kinds of magical beasts, an evil queen, a pirate ship in a bottle and tons of other magical moments. I especially love the magic system that centers around writing quills and crowns, depending if you're a Squinch or a Royal. You'll have to read the book to find out what that means ;)

It was a fun story that hearkened back to my childhood favorites; I would have adored this if I read it as a kid! It also gave me a healthy dose of chuckles as it's quite funny. While I found Ivy a tad annoying at times, I really liked the banter between her and her newfound friends, Rebecca and Fyn and the fact that they always found themselves in comical situations.

The pacing was very quick, it went from one adventure to the next which, yes, that's entertaining, but it also felt like the school year had just begun when it ended. There was not much of a middle with which to show the progression of her friendships. That's just a small qualm and overall I would recommend this book if you like magic schools, middle-grade fantasy, and adventure!

I’m going to start off by saying WOW!
I love a book with a magic school setting and The Crowns of Croswald was no exception!
The heroine of our story, Ivy Lovely, is an orphan working as a maid in Castle Plum, but she is so much more than that!
After an incident causes her to leave Castle Plum, she crosses a magical boundary and her life takes an unexpected and adventurous turn! She discovers magic she never knew she had, sees unexpected and wonderful new things, and makes friends she never thought she would as she attends The Halls Of Ivy.
Ivy is curious, smart, brave, and doesn’t let anything stand in her way! She’s an incredible role model for any kid and teenager and an excellent heroine for the story.
Wonderful world building, excellent pacing, meaningful characters, and an adventurous storyline make this a truly wonderful read for any age!
One of the things that makes the book so good, is that it’s paced incredibly well. There’s not a lot of time spent going into small details, but it doesn’t detract from the story as you still get all of the information that you need.
And while the storyline isn’t completely unpredictable, it still manages to hold a few surprises. It also allows you to figure out Ivy’s life with her even if you think you know what’s going to happen.
Overall I absolutely loved it, it was fun, easy to read and easy to get lost in!

Page turning young fantasy. A completely unique magical fantasy full of intrigue. On a par vibe wise with Harry Potter or the Chronicles of Narnia. Despite being an adult it still had me totally gripped so it is suitable for all, although ages 11 and up will probably love it the most (great for getting younger readers into fantasy). I was totally fascinated throughout by the world building, I just would have liked to understand the main character Ivy a little more.

As many others are saying, the story, world, and characters of The Crowns of Croswald are STRONGLY reminiscent of the Harry Potter series. My thoughts:

Pros:
-Ivy is a loveable protagonist
-The author was extremely creative in coming up with the names and creatures and magical elements of the world
-Some lines were absolutely, laugh-out-loud funny

Cons:
-Some dialogue seemed stilted and awkward
-Some sections of prose seemed clunky/unpolished

Overall thoughts: As a MG/YA author myself, I generally enjoy Middle Grades fiction, but this book struck me as best suited to an even younger audience. I would recommend it to young readers who enjoyed Harry Potter.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, D.E.Night, and untold press for providing me with this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Crowns of Croswald is a book full of magic, there's no doubt about it. Ivy is a very likable character, and the characters within the school are also very interesting to read about. The book does start off a little slow, however once you reach the second act you do start to get drawn in to her world. The only thing I would have to nitpick about is the fact it doesn't flow as well as it could do, I found myself being pushed out of the world every now and then because it was a little bit jumpy here and there. I would say that this book would be best read by a younger age group (maybe 9-13) as a good way to get into the fantasy drama. However for any fans of harry potter, I would give this book a try.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

Crowns of Croswald is the first book in the Croswald series and I believe there are 4 books in total.

This was book was a fun, magical YA fantasy adventure. The main character, Ivy Lovely, is an orphan who, with the help of some allies, gets sent to Croswald, a magical boarding school.

There were a lot of similarities to Harry Potter that made it rather difficult for me to not compare the two. But I’m a huge fan of HP, so I didn’t find it all that much. I would have just enjoyed a different approach a lot more.

I enjoyed the world building and Ivy’s character very much. The author also creates a character in reference to herself and I thought that was incredibly clever. I would be interested in reading the rest of the series to see what direction it goes in.

I would definitely recommend this for YA readers!

The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight was an amazing middle grade read! It would definitely be loved by all ages especially by ones who adore Harry Potter. Ivy was an orphan maid at a castle who found herself attending a magical boarding to become a screvinist. She soon finds herself solving a great magical mystery. The characters in the book were so descriptive. Definitely made me root for the good guys and roll my eyes at the bad ones(I’m looking at you Damaris!). The story was excellent. The world building was superb!i wanted to live and study with them! The only negative thing which isn’t very negative I had to say was it was really wordy! A lot of people love that, though, and definitely helps create the world!

Originally posted on bookstagram 7/13/2020.

I was very kindly offered a digital copy of the book to read in exchange for an honest review and I actually loved it!

I loved the magic that this book brings. I loved Ivy as a character and the world of Croswald. I found myself not wanting to put it down as I wanted to continue reading about her adventures. It makes me want to continue reading more about the story and so I will definitely look into reading the next book as soon as possible.

Would recommend to anyone who loves a magical fantasy that’s easy to consume and keeps you engaged from the beginning!

I'm sorry I just couldn't get into this book. I liked a lot of the aspects on the story but felt there was too much focused on food. The cover is beautiful and I may still give the rest of the series a chance but it seemed too young for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for letting me read the DRC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

And to be honest, this book is not for me.

For it being heavily inspired by Harry Potter I don't really mind as i'm very interested in magical fantasy. The book also has unique concepts that intrigued me. However, it wasn't executed very well. The writing style was too flowery and a bit all over the place to my liking. The settings and environment were overly described, but the plot, characters, and concepts lacked in description/explanation. Hence, it was jumpy, full of 2D characters that i couldn't care about, made we wish there was a glossary, and it was a bit of a chore to read. It was all telling less showing.

I feel like the book is not exactly middle grade but not YA either. The word choices were a bit advanced for elementary kids, but the plot and writing style was lacking in depth for older kids to relate or stay interested.

This book has potential if only the writing is well thought out and balanced. I might be too old for middle grade books. But I believe that any age group can enjoy a middle grade book if it was written well.

This is the first book of a series so it’s really about introducing the world and revealing the main character’s purpose, so the exciting part started around the middle of the book.
The world building was great, the story was creative, the writer had pretty good original ideas, even though I can see the influence of the Harry Potter series in it.
I really liked the heroine, Ivy’s character, because she wasn’t that basic girl we usually get, she was badass and had a great personality.
Maybe I’ve read too many fantasies, but the secrets were predictable for me, and I already have my suspicions for the next book.
Overall I liked the book about average and I’m looking forward to read the next books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and her publicist for giving me the opportunity to read Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately I did not. I had to DNF at 35%. While im not generally a bug fan of reading YA/childrens fantasy, the premise sounded good and I was intrigued.

In what I did read, I sensed a lot of inspiration from the Harry Potter world. Ivy is kept secret from the magical world to suppress her powers and keep her hidden. When she crosses the magical threshold hiding her, her location is immediately discovered and shes tsken to Croswald to begin her schooling and education in magic.

For me, I was incredibly confused. I feel it is very important, when world building and introducing new terms, creatures, etc., the author needs to do so in a way that the audience immediately understands what it is, what it looks like, etc. I did not grasp many things. The writing felt basic and disjointed, it seemed as though the story jumped around from character to character and place to place without explaining the trajectory.

I wanted to push on to read more, hoping it would get better. But I am a firm believer if your attention is not held early on in the book, it likely will not be captured further on. This is why I made the decision to stop. Perhaps for less advanced readers this would be more enjoyable, but I fear my experience in reading older, higher level fantasy contributed to my disappointment in this book.