
Member Reviews

What a fun and unique twist on the inclusion of faeries. I requested this on a whim, and I am so glad that I did.

DNF. I was interested in the premise, it sounded fun! However, I just could not get into the story at this time. I hope to try again in the future, because the potential is there.

This was a fun and intriguing young fantasy story about royals and magic! It definitely gave Harry Potter vibes which was amazing to be thrown back in to a magical world of children going to a school for people with extra abilities and the trouble they get into. Written for 9-13 year olds, but I’m 37 and really enjoyed the world of Croswald. Left on a cliffhanger so I immediately ran to google where I could get the next in the series!!
If you’re looking for your next YA Fantasy please check this out! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

I really enjoyed this one! The magical world was well developed - I enjoyed the twist on the different kinds of magic. It was very creative - gave me Harry Potter vibes. I am eager to get my hands on the rest of the series to see what new adventures Ivy embarks on. Also I’d like be a scrivenist now

This book was a lovely surprise for me. I really enjoyed it very much and it made me want to read more, so I am definitely going to check the next books in the series.
The writing style was nice and the flow of the book is great. It was not a "hard" read, which made me even happier. I love the world creation and the magic in it. I adore that it is more like a fairytale story, which makes it even better for me to be able to read and actually enjoy in between reading other "harder" books.
I agree with other reviewers mentioning that it gives you Harry Potter vibes and it is one more reason that I adored it.
The only issue that I had was that it was a bit hard to go "in it" at the beginning, but that was more of a me issue, as I started reading it after I had just finished a "hard" book that I didn't really enjoy. But I am super happy that The Crowns of Croswald made me overcome it so fast and actually enchanted me in the best way.
I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves fairytales and magic. 💖

ARC
I received this as an arc in return for a review. I really enjoyed the crowns of croswald. Ivy reminds me of Mildred hubble in the worst witch and hermione granger in Harry Potter. It's about a girl called ivy that starts off a orphan that's a scaldron maid then gets stepped up in scrivenists world and magic and full of adventure and wonder and challenges, she very determined to find out everything.

This one wasn’t really for me personally, it was written more of middle schoolers. If I were to read it when I was that age I would’ve loved it! A great mixture of Harry Potter and fantasy. The plot was easy to follow and I would recommend it for someone who likes middle school level books. The writing style wasn’t for me personally.

Such a cute story. It felt almost like my childhood fairytale books. It really took me back. I’d recommend it to younger audiences. It was a fun and innocent read.

I really enjoyed this book. Thank you so much to the author for gifting me this book and for being patient with my review!
I think that is would be a great bed time read for kids!

This book needs more depth. Unfortunately not much more to say for it. I felt like it required more charcater driven charcaters. That lacked which pushed me away from

Thanks to the publisher and the author for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
This middle grade adventure features Ivy Lovely, a girl who has spent her whole life thinking she is ordinary and wishing to become something more. She often has strange dreams and one day she gets taken to a magic school and finds out there may be more to those dreams than she initially thought.
The world in this story is full of whimsy and magic. It has fun creatures we already know, like dragons, but it also innovates on the world building by not making exactly the same old thing. The dragons are scaldrons and they are used in kitchens in order to make food. Then there's hairies, fairy-like creatures who give off light. This world is very imaginative and I had a good time being immersed in it. The magic system is also very interesting because it's related to quills and inks. It was very unique and cool to learn about.
Despite all these good elements, I didn't quite click with the book as much as I wanted to. I felt like there was something missing. For one, the characters are 16, but they sound younger. This makes sense, since it's a middle grade book, but I think maybe it would have made more sense to lower their age a little.
The characters could have used a little more depth because by the end I didn't feel nearly as attached or invested as I would have liked.
The writing wasn't bad, but it could be improved in certain aspects. I think working on descriptions and the way settings are shown could really improve the atmosphere of the story, which is already one of the strongest points of this book. With a little work, there's potential for it to be elevated to another level.
In terms of the plot, I feel like it lacked slow moments. There was always something going on and while that's not necessarily a bad thing, I feel like having some room to breathe would help the reader better digest the plot and register what is going on.
I'd recommend this book if you're looking for something to scratch the itch of magical schools and whimsical worlds.

Ivy Lovely is a scaldrony maid living a dull and tedious existence among the slurry fields of Castle Plum. Hidden away as a baby in the most unmagical of places, Ivy believes herself to be an orphan, knowing nothing of her former life. Until the day a large, flying creature unexpectedly shows up to transport her from her life of drudgery to an incredible magical school, and she discovers not only her magical bloodline, but a whole fantasy world she had only dreamed of. Except now that she's no longer hidden behind all that magic-dampening slurry, the spells that had previously kept her hidden have begun to unravel. Will Ivy be able to crush the curse before it crushes her and all she holds dear?
This was an enchanting read, reminiscent of Harry Potter with a magical school, and quite suitable for both young readers and adults alike. However, that's where the (story) similarities end. The Crowns of Croswald contains it's own unique story quite distinct from Harry or similar books. Ivy is a kickass MC—spunky, inquisitive, and full of adventure. Her escapades captivated me and took me places beyond my imagination. The world building was phenomenal with a richly drawn world and fun, lovable characters. So well written, it's hard to believe this was D.E. Knight's first book. I'm very much looking forward to reading the remaining books in this 4 part series.
<i>Thanks to NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.</i>

This is well written and adventurous, but it was a little more slow in the worldbuilding and plot development. This would be a great book for readers who enjoy long series and want to invest time into their build up!

I’m so glad I was able to read this as I do not usually read fantasy novels but this has definitely opened my mind to reading more. The story follows Ivy lovely and her discovery of her family, magic and the school where she learns it. There is a lot of mysteries to the book and a lot of creativity from the author. Ive seen a lot of reviews mentioning the parallels to Harry Potter which I noticed myself, however, whenever there’s a story about magic and a school for magic our minds automatically connect it to Harry Potter whether or not they are same. Although the novel is magical, it definitely takes a different approach. Royalty, mysterious creatures, a room of forgetting, and a dark queen wanting to destroy the true queens line. Not only the writing is very colourful and creative so is the art work for the book. This is the first book of a series and it has definitely made me want to read more about Ivy and the mysteries surrounding her family and magic.

🌟📚✨ **Book Review: The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night** ✨📚🌟
Hello, fellow Booklovers of Magical Wonders! 🌈
I just had to share my latest magical adventure with you all! 🧙♀️ A massive thank you to @Zackstoiresuntold for the ARC via NetGalley! I was whisked away into the enchanting world of Croswald, and oh, what an adventure it was! ✨
In this captivating series opener, we meet Ivy Lovely, a young girl who believes she's entirely ordinary in a world brimming with magic and mystery. Imagine her surprise when she discovers a hidden realm beyond a magical boundary, filled with dragons, mystical stones, and the most wonderful friends. Together, they unravel age-old secrets, confront evil, and embark on a journey that will keep you on the edge of your seat! 🐉🔮
Ivy is a heroine after my own heart – fearless, curious, and oh-so-relatable. The world-building by D.E. Night is beyond imaginative; gems with power, quills casting spells, and creatures that will steal your heart. The language is so descriptive, I felt like I was right there with Ivy, discovering the wonders of Croswald. 📚✨
If you adore a strong, independent female lead, a realm brimming with creativity, and a cast of characters that leap off the page, then this gem is for you and your young readers! 🌟
I couldn't help but be reminded of the magical comfort of 'Harry Potter,' with a unique twist that made the experience entirely fresh and exciting. It's like rediscovering the joy of magic all over again! 🎩🔮
This book was published on 17th July 2017, but let me tell you, it's a pure gem that has stood the test of time! 💎 And guess what? I can't wait to read the next one – "The Girl with the Whispering Shadow"! 📖✨
So, fellow bookworms, if you're seeking an enchanting read for the whole family, or if you know a young reader between 8-13 who craves adventure, mysteries, and magic, do yourselves a favor and dive into the enchanting world of Croswald. You won't want to leave! 📖✨
Happy reading, magical souls! 🌟✨
Warmest bookish hugs,
Mysterious Shy 📚💖

A fun magical adventure, with great inter personal relationships, which are very well drawn. It didn’t inspire me to read the series but it was a neat fun time that I was happy reading while it lasted!

This is a fun middle grade/young adult read! Very Harry Potter-esque but with its own spin on things. I'm excited to pass this on to my daughter to read. She'll love it!

Did not finish The Crowns of Croswald by DE Night.
Unfortunately the first few chapters did not pique my interest.

This was a fun magical MG read that I think could easily be a replacement suggestion for the boy wizard series (you know the one). Following Ivy as she discovered her powers at a magical academy is very reminiscent of said series, but felt both new and nostalgic. I think the author did a great job of not only creating an immersive fantasy world, and school, but also creating incredibly loveable characters. Looking forward to the rest of the series and adding this to my list of magical middle grade book/series recs.

This was a very interesting book. It wasn't something I would pick up as I am not a fantasy reader. But someone reached out to me and asked if I wanted to read it so I did. To be honest, it just wasn't for me. Nothing wrong with the book, however it just wasn't for me.