This is a page-turning fantasy in the tradition of fairy tales, whimsical worlds, and coming-of-age stories.

The Crowns of Croswald invites young readers to explore themes of stepping into their own magic, discovering their true selves, and battling evil head-on. Hailed by Kirkus Reviews as “an action-packed treat […] with a relatable heroine facing challenges in a vivid world of magic and mystery,” and called a new classic by readers, The Crowns of Croswald series is a magical romp through a fully formed universe with dragons, magical quills, potions, and mythical creatures.
This book was so magical! It reminded me a lot of different fantasy books I read as a kid so it felt very nostalgic to me. If I had read this as a kid, I know I would have loved it.

The whole story was very whimsy and imaginative, perfect for young middle grade readers. It was so creative. I loved learning about the school, the creatures, and just the world of Croswald in general. The world building was fantastic.
I also loved the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter. They were so cute and just added to the magic of the story. If only there was a map!

I have read some reviews that compared this book to Harry Potter, but since I haven’t read Harry Potter I can’t say how it compares.

The only thing I had an issue with was that it got a little confusing and convoluted towards the end. Some things weren’t totally clear, but I still managed to figure it out.

Overall, I recommend this book for young readers who love fantasy or want to get more into reading. This book has enough action, mystery, and magic to keep them entertained. Plus, it’s the first book in a series.
Thank you to Stories Untold and Netgalley for an eARC of this book in return for an honest review.

This book was not my favorite. But not the worst I’ve ever read. There was, at times, so many details I found myself struggling to catch up. The world building was almost too much for me. I also am not personally one for the type of narration that was used. I thought this book was a mixup of Harry Potter and Cinderella, but almost too much on the Harry Potter side. I probably won’t buy this book but the cover is really pretty. I might try to read it again in the future to see if I can better understand it.

Thank you to Net Galley and Stories Untold Publishing for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.

"there's magic in you. You're different. The slurry is fighting it. But even the slurry can't win every time."

This book was lovely (no pun intended). If you are a fan of Harry Potter, if you are still waiting for someone to come whisk you away to a magical boarding school, if you are or ever have experienced the confusion and excitement of growing up and figuring out who you are and where you belong in the world, then you should read this book. The story centers around Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid in the non-magical castle of Plum, living in the midst of the magical-cancelling slurry fields. Her only friend is an aged dwarf named Rimbrick, and she longs for more than a life of working in the kitchens.

As the story begins, Ivy discovers she has magic and is rushed off to the Halls of Ivy (interesting, no?) to learn the art of becoming a scrivener. She is impulsive, headstrong, insecure, and really has no idea what is happening in the world around her. She is such a relatable character. She is chased (sometimes literally) by magic she can't explain, dreams of a scrivener mysteriously forgotten by the world, feels a deep sense that she must save him, and finds herself as an enemy to the enigmatic Dark Queen. Add to this a witty roommate who uncontrollably turns into a mink, a sweet boy who always appears at exactly the right moment, and an ancient mentor who lives in a secret laboratory, and Crowns of Croswald is a recipe for a whimsically good time.

My greatest criticism of the book is that the world-building was so naturally woven throughout the story that I found myself having to flip back and forth to remember terms, places, and names and make sure I was correctly identifying them. A map and/or a glossary would have been a fantastic addition to the book. I've seen some reviews complaining about the lack of depth in some of the characters in Crowns of Croswald, but I felt like all of the main characters were reasonably developed for the first book in a middle grade series. Do I know the characters deeply yet, no, but in part that's because they don't know themselves--a large part of this novel centered around their self-discovery. I enjoyed getting to journey with them as they figured out who they were and connected with each other. It felt authentic and I am looking forward to seeing who they become and how the story develops over the next two books.

Crowns of Croswald was a fun, big-hearted, middle-grade adventure. It ticked all of the boxes for me, and I am looking forward to sharing it with my kids and to exploring the rest of Ivy's story.

This is great for those who watched House of Anubis and Harry Potter. Magical school with not so great adults and children who are made to be something more. There was parts where I had to pause and reread, for it got confusing, but for the most part I enjoyed reading it. 4 stars.

Thank you to the D.E Night and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review!

Ivy Lovely is 16 and she has no idea who she is—or what her powers could be. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. Making friends that will last a lifetime—and save her life—she steps into her own abilities and discovers more about her hidden past, magical blood, and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But all is not well: a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough?

Plot
I started of by really enjoying this book, the introduction to the characters and this universe were interesting and I was hooked from the first chapter. However, after the first quarter of the book, I felt that the overall pacing slowed down and the plot of the story was beginning to level out. Ivy begins to attend a magical school and we end up wrapped up in her daily life and all the drama that comes with starting a new school - a magical one, at that, rather than the plot itself. As the book progresses, the plot tries to come back to the forefront and I’d forgotten what it was about by that point, which ended up being quite confusing. I would have also liked to learn more from this book with regards to explanations of where the magic powers come from, some of the terminology needed explaining better as did a few of the world building elements.

Ending
I’ve read some reviews of this book which said the ending was quite predictable, and with regards to the main character, it was. I was expecting a bigger twist with the characters and their true identities. However, predictable doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyable. I really liked the ending, it was fast-paced and full of action which was a relief from long build-up.

Characters
There were a lot of characters in this book and at times I found myself getting confused over who was who. It seemed as though there was a lot of names being thrown around and they would come and go without any necessary presence. I also lacked any strong feelings towards the main characters. The main character, Ivy, was well written but I would have loved to feel more from her and for her narrative to express more of her emotions. They begin to show at the end of the book, but I’d have loved to see it from the beginning.

Universe
The magical world we’re thrust into is one of my favourite things about this book. The vivid descriptions and what was happening, made it really easy to visualise and I could picture myself there. I do feel, however, that I am a little too old to really feel the full impact of this book and the adventure, but younger readers will most definitely love and appreciate this.

Similar To
If you love magical worlds full of mystery and adventure, then this is a great read for you, although I would keep in mind that this is targeted at a younger audience.

3.5 stars. This was a fun middle grade read, with dragons, fairies, pirates and princesses. And a magic school (which is always a plus!).

It’s about a kitchen maid named Ivy who finds out she has somehow secured a coveted place at the prestigious magic school, The Halls of Ivy. She leaves her hum drum life and meets new people, learns new skills and discovers that there may be more to her mysterious birth and heritage than she thought.

I enjoyed the initial world building and character development- but I feel it stopped with Ivy. I didn’t really know the other characters (these may develop in the second book). The mystery element was ok but the conclusion felt a bit rushed and confused at the end.

All in all, a fun and entertaining read - and may be just the thing for the child (or young at heart) who is pining for Harry, Hermione and Ron.

I was very kindly gifted a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a whimsical, fantastical, and magical family read!

Our protagonist Ivy Lovely works as a lowly Scaldondry maid (a keeper and carer of a castles Scaldrons; colourful Dragons that cook the food and need considerable attention), for Castle Plum, a Royal's home located in the middle of the magic repelling, Slurry flower field (say that five times fast!)

Whenever she can, Ivy sneaks off to a hilltop to sketch the magical places of her dreams by moonlight and meet her only friend, Rimbrick, an ancient woods dwarf that regales her with stories and gifts her books, and knowledge.

She believes she is destined for a life of drudgery with her only happiness being her moonlight getaways on the hill, but on her 16th birthday her life changes in a way she had only ever wished for. She is suddenly thrust into the world of her dreams as she attends The Halls of Ivy, a prestigious school of magic.

There she learns about a history she never knew and begins to unravel a dark plot.


This is the first book in what promises to be a wonderful series for young readers and their families alike. Compared to Harry Potter and Alice and Wonderland, The Crowns of Croswald brings such a mystic and magical setting, with a cast of characters and storyline that will keep you on your toes.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a little bit to get into, but once I did I was lost in this story. It's an onion plot, with so many layers that just keep building and building, creating connections throughout the book and keeps you guessing as to where it's going to go.

Ivy is an honest, impulsive and kind character that has you rooting for her from the very start. She sticks up for what she believes in, helps her friends and those in need, fully accepting whatever the consequences of those actions may be. She is driven by her need to know the truth about who she is and the desire to help others. She is an iconic, young heroine who goes on the journey of a lifetime.

There are some really clever details in this book, that I won't give away, but absolutely LOVED. They brought a whole other element to this book and really added to the magic and world.

If you're looking for something the entire family can enjoy, this is definitely a good choice!

All her life, Ivy Lovely has been pushed aside, hidden away as a maid in the castle kitchen. But after her sixteenth year, Ivy is cast out and discovers the magic just outside the castle walls that the land of Croswald has to offer. Awakening to a new world of possibility, Ivy enters her first year at the Halls of Ivy, ready to learn spells, make friends with her fellow first year classmates, and interact with magical creatures like hairies. Of course, nothing has ever seemed easy for Ivy, and her first year at the Halls isn’t any different. There’s something dark brewing on the horizon, dark magic from a Dark Queen, and Ivy’s introduction to the magical world of Croswald is going to be anything like the mundane life she was used to.

Wow! This young adult fantasy novel is a great start to this magical series. D.E. Night brought Ivy’s world to life with vivid descriptions of both these new magical locations as well as the magic itself. It was very easy to imagine all these new experiences that Ivy was having; Night writes as if the reader is experiencing this new world right alongside Ivy and that magical wonder (and sense of danger) comes through on the page. I found the overall idea - young person discovers they have magic, goes off to a magical school, and encounters remarkable, dark threats - very reminiscent of a certain, famous boy wizard, but The Crowns of Croswald has so many unique details that it is easy to forget any comparisons to other young adult fantasy series. I found Ivy to be easy to empathize with, which made her journey that much more engaging as a reader. There is plenty of magic, adventure, and villainy to satisfy all young adult fantasy fans. The Crowns of Croswald is a fantastic foray into a new, magical world and I recommend it to any fans of magic and fantasy and will pull both younger and older readers in.

The crowns of croswald review

The Crowns of Croswald by @author.denight

Book review :
4⭐️/5⭐️

As soon as I received this book, I was looking forward to starting reading it. At first, this story seemed a little stretched to me: the action went very slowly until finally little by little everything accelerated.

The writing style was light, easy to read, I liked the fact that the author put a lot of effort into describing in details, in what was going on around and it helped to imagine everything better.

In some places, there was a lack of action, and there was too much detail. the book was reminiscent of the books of harry potter - full of magic and adventure, but it definitely wasn't replica of JK Rowling.

Also I really liked that in the book I found some illustrations in begging of chapters - which helped me to imagine things even more and it added unique feeling about book.

In overall I would say that this book is for more younger audience as teen books or YA rather than New Adults. Anyway if you enjoy reading magical books full of spells and mystical creatures - I would definitely recommend this book to add to your reading list.

What a fun, magical story for middle-grade readers!

The world building and magic system were great! The story started off a little slow for me, but picked up about 1/3 of the way through.

I always love magic school stories! The writing was easy to read and understand, allowing me to fall into the story. I’ve already recommended this book to my cousins entering middle school. I hope they enjoy it as much as I did!

**Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This story is good, like really good. I enjoyed Ivy and the mystery as to who she is and why she's been having these mysterious dreams for so long. However, this is a middle grade and maybe that's why I struggled. The details were incredibly lacking. It was like reading Harry Potter if they didn't explain Hogwarts, how they learned their magic or even what Diagon Alley is. The story would only scratch the surface of something that could be so much more.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this fun read! It has been a while since I have read a young, children's fantasy.I really enjoyed the book and it was incredible.
First of all, It really gave me Harry Potter Vibes which is one of my favourite childhood books which made this book even harder to put down. I really enjoyed the world building and loved the main protagonist as she was fun, strong and did not let people get her down basicallyI love in my heroines. Overall this was a great read and for it’s focused audience of middle graders would do really well. The only problem I had has to do with that as I am an older reader and often found the pace to be slow but for the target audience it would be perfect.

I have been given an opportunity to read this book . Here are my two cents
The book is a middle grade fantasy with lots of magical creatures.
The story is fast paced and gripping. One fall.in love with the protagonist as she is strong and determined.
There are many characters and I feel there might be a bit more story about some of the characters.
These type of books are not my niche but I can't wait to give this to my son when the time is right.
The book has lots of magic and the climax scene was gripping and entertaining and was on spot I was totally thrilled by the big reveal.
I will recommend the book to every fantasy lover.

I really loved this book. It was really easy to read and keep interest. I loved everything about it and will keep reading everyone that comes out!

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this fun read! It has been a while since I have read a young, children's fantasy. However, D.E. Night did a wonderful job in creating a vibrant world that any kid would love to get lost in. The magical aspects reminded me a lot of Harry Potter, and will definitely attract a new fanbase of that type. As an older reader, it was hard for me at times to relate to the story and I felt that there could have been more clarity in some of the world-building. With that said, I do think that my younger 9-year-old self would have loved these stories!

Thank you Netgalley and author D.E. Night for the review copy of this book.
I really enjoyed the book and it was incredible.
First of all, It really gave me Harry Potter Vibes. It’s like Harry Potter, Alice in wonderland, Cinderella, fantastic Beasts and all the fairy tales I’ve ever read but all elements in this book is very unique and once I started reading it was hard to put down. 😍📚
This is a middle grade fantasy book. So the main character is 16 year old  Ivy Lovely. She has magical powers  but she herself  is not so aware of her abilities .She is really curious to know about her life and her past so she ends up going to a magic school known as “Halls of Ivy”. There she gets to learn the skills of a Scrivenist. Scrivenists have photographic memory and they can remember their dreams clearly and sketch very well. Princes and princesses of various royal families go to Halls of Ivy in order to learn magic and enhance their magical abilities. While Ivy is in the school, mysteries start to unfold and the story continues from there. I’m not going to go through too many details. It’s more enjoyable if you do not do too much research. 😊
It was a bit slow paced but that wasn’t a problem for me cause I wanted to read about this world more and more. I would definitely want to read the other books from this series. Overall it was a fun read and the story was beautifully crafted.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5
Short Chapter Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5


Overall I thought it was cute. A young girl who discovers magic and a world she never knew about - very Harry Potter-esque but less dark. Think more whimsical and light. At times I was a bit lost in the dialogue and had trouble following all the Crownswald terminology, but it kept me interested and so I looked forward to reading and seeing what would happen next.

Is this book for you? If you like magic, fantasy, female leads who are the chosen one, Harry Potter, middle grade series, you will enjoy this.

The cover is gorgeous too!

Such an awesome book! I'm being honest here I really thought I wasn't going to be into this type of book!
But I was so write. It grabbed me and had me hooked!
Great characters and story. It has some magic and Royals and princesses.
The Characters in this books are amazing and very unique.
Their you NetGalley, Stories Untold Press and Author for this copy!
I truly enjoyed this book!

I really like this kind of book : the feel good, full of magic, strong protagonist, quick paced type. The story itself it's interesting and engaging, the characters are fun, although, being a short book, leaves some aspects of secondary characters a bit undeveloped (perhaps the second and third book helps with that).
The only downside for me was the big reveal: there was so much going action wise (I loved the scene, it was very gripping) that the revelation fell a bit flat and got lost. Otherwise, a really entertaining book, I will definitely read the next ones!

I received this book for free from the publisher for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! Especially the world-building and the pacing, I had trouble putting it down. It’s about a 16-year-old girl named Ivy Lovely. Suddenly she is thrust into a whole new world with magic in it. I have to say, I am a sucker for chosen one tropes and for magic schools. My favorite character would have to be Rebecca. I feel like friendships where the two people didn’t start off on the right foot can be some of the best. I also absolutely love characters that start off a bit mean or snobby but once the main character gets to know them they turn out to be really nice.

I know others have said this too, but I would definitely recommend this book for people who like books like Harry Potter.