In a world of magic, tucked in a castle surround by slurry fields, which dampen magic, Ivy Lovely has been a scaldrony (think scullery) maid for as long as her sixteen-year-old self can remember. Just when she thinks there is no hope for escaping her boring and tedious life, she discovers a letter from her one friend and finds herself whisked away to become a student at one of the most prestigious school of magic in the world.
The strength of D E Night’s Crowns of Croswald, the first of her middle grade fantasy series, is the unique world and magic system she has created. Despite Ivy fulfilling the classic chosen one trope and being enrolled in a magical academy it doesn’t feel like Hogwarts, and few of the characters are rebranded versions from the Rowling universe. Magic users are divided between the non-Royals, or sqwinches, and the Royals who each have a crown with a gem that allows them special powers.
Most of the world-building is done quite naturally and flows well, especially once Ivy arrives at school and the pacing really hits its stride driving the book along at a exciting clip.
The places where Croswald stumbles is a few of the world building passages end up being more of an info dump. Sadly, the prologue and the final two chapters are the biggest casualties. The other instance of inconsistent world building is the focus of the book’s cover. The magical lights used through Croswald are hairies, basically fairies whose hair glows. It was only through the introduction of the Balding Hairies in one of Ivy’s classes that this information came to light.
The friendships amongst Ivy/Rebecca/Fyn appear to be reminiscent of Harry/Ron/Hermoine, but there is too little time where all three are involved in the same scenes for that chemistry to truly develop. Rebecca is introduced and is immediately set aside while Ivy delves into her studies with the long-forgotten and hidden Winsom Monocle.
Throughout the book Ivy and the reader are given nuggets of information about the Dark Queen. The foreshadowing is enough to know that by the end of the series a grand final battle will happen, but a showdown that occurs in the second to last chapter is jarring.
Overall, Ivy is an interesting and strong enough character to warrant further reading, and hopefully those other bumps are ironed out as the series progresses.

I was very fortunate to be given this book for review by Stories Untold Press. I think this is a really fun magical adventure story, and perfect if you're looking for magical school story. I do think this is more suited to a younger audience not that adults couldn't enjoy it, it's just the way the story is told I feel a younger person would get more out of the story.
I really liked the magic system I thought it was very unique, the idea that the Scrivenists used quills to write out magic and had photographic meomries was an interesting concept. I thought Ivy story arch was interesting, I did though that she read younger than 16 at times. I do think that is the reason for me only giving this story a 3 ⭐️ because at times it read quite young even though the main character was 16.
In saying that I would highly recommend this book to a middle grade audience or the parents of children around that age, as it is a generally fun and magical adventure that suck a child into the world.

Ivy Lovely is a scullery maid, spending her days with scaldron dragons in the kitchen dungeon of a castle. One day, after an unfortunate series of events, she gets kicked out, and finds herself past a magical border, and thrown into a whole new world. She is enrolled in the local magical school, The Halls of Ivy, and quickly discovers her aptitude for magic and parts of her past that have been hidden from her for her whole life.

This book is a great introduction to fantasy for young readers, and a fun read for Harry Potter fans. I found there to be a lot of parallels between this book and HP, but it still felt fun and new in a lot of ways as well. The author sets the scene well, and really immerses you in the world of Croswald among the scrivenists and royals, dwarves and dragons. I could have used a bit more character development and back-story for each of the supporting characters, but maybe that will come later on in the series.

Thanks so much to the publisher for this eBook in exchange for my review. I look forward to reading the second book in the series.

The crowns of croswald - D.E. night. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I could read this book via @netgalley
And thanks to @author.denight
When I started this book I was scared by all the terms that were specific for this world (english isn't my mothertongue so this can be difficult). But the story was built that the specific words were explained. I loved this world and Ivy going on adventures. A fun little book to escape reality. Fun fantasyworld, not like any other. I always like a book where books have a special place in the story. 4 stars, so would defenitly recommend this book.

Oh my gosh. ⁣
How I adore this magical book! ⁣
I had such an amazing, whimsical adventure reading The Crowns of Croswald. ⁣
I didn’t want the journey to end and I’m already excited to read the next one! ⁣
⁣
The magic system in the story is very unique, one that I’ve not come across before. An imaginative world of magic, quills, dragons, queen and castles. ⁣
⁣
I love reading about each character and the development of Ivy Lovely, the main character through her magical adventures. She’s so likeable and has a lot of spunk to her. ⁣
⁣
I couldn’t put the e-book down. ⁣
A great new world to explore and have my mind wander while reading. ⁣
Some might say that The Crowns of Croswald is influenced by Harry Potter. ⁣
There are some similarities but I have to say that this book holds its own. ⁣
⁣
I can’t wait to see what the author has in store for us next. ⁣
This is just the beginning ... ⁣
⁣
I highly recommend this piece of gem. ⁣
⁣
Thank you NetGalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review. ⁣⁣⁣
All opinions are my own. ⁣

Ivy spends her days as a scullery maid, slaving away by the hot scaldrons by day and sketching the mysterious castle in her dreams by night. After things go horribly wrong in the kitchen one morning, Ivy flees, leaving behind her terrible boss’s cries as well as the only life she has ever known.

What follows is one adventure after another as Ivy discovers the world of magic and royalty, scriveners and sqwinches. She attends a magic school for the first time, where she meets new friends, makes enemies, and gets closer to discovering the mystery of her recurring dreams and surprising aptitude for magic.

I thought the Crowns of Croswald was very creative with lots of intriguing magic concepts sprinkled throughout the entire book. I enjoyed the various personalities in this book, although I would have liked to see more character development from Ivy. It seemed as though the things that happened to her were often resolved a little too easily, without Ivy having to overcome any misbeliefs or character flaws.

Despite this, the story was action-packed and fun to read! Although towards the end I found myself getting confused with so much happening at once. Overall, this book was enjoyable and a good read for people who enjoy books about schools, magic and royalty.

This was a lovely read! I first want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free Kindle version of this book to read and provide an honest review for.

For fans of Harry Potter, magic and spells, and lovely fantasy novels, this one is one you should consider reading. Though its target audience is middle grade/YA, I believe it can be enjoyed by many others.

The characters are interesting and the plot moves in a nice pace that keeps the reader entertained. Ivy is unlike your typical main character in that she diverges from what we’ve seen in the past from other fantasy books. That and the different magical elements of Croswald and the deeper messages here make DE Knight’s novel stand out and shine on its own. She’s created a lovely new magical universe that makes one root for the heroes and cheer at their triumphs. This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger but for good reason: there’s a sequel or two which I am confident we, the readers, will truly enjoy.

What a beautifully magical book! We get to follow the protagonist Ivy who discovers she has magical powers after having been banished from home. She is taken to a magical school where she must past through the trials that she is put through to determine what her future will be. If you love magic, adventure and a bit of mystery, this book is for you. It is definitely captivating and easy to read. I would recommend this to young middle school kids as I feel it is the best age group for it. Overall, it’s a fun read…very reminiscent of when I was younger and read Harry Potter for the first time :)

I was very kindly provided an e-copy by Net Galley and author D.E. Night in exchange for an honest review!

📖 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐝 (#𝟏)
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: D.E. night
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Middle Grade Fantasy
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 249
𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

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

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
It is a wonderful magical book. It's light, breezy and fun, just what I needed at the moment. I loved the magic of Croswald. I loved how the writer created newer versions of some well known creatures often seen in fantasy books. There were Hairies - fairies whose hair lights up, so they are used as lamps. There were dragons who helps cook food! It was a book full of childish wonders and who can say no to that.

I love seeing a strong female protagonist and Ivy Lovely fits the description just right. The book contains some very common and well loved tropes, the chosen one and the dark lord. These were pretty well executed. The storyline was well written. It had twists and turns, nail biting climax sequences, beautiful moments of friendship and love. The school setting gives major Harry Potter vibe and honestly who can get enough of that?! I can't wait to dive into the next installment of this series.

Thankyou @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for giving me a free copy via @Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

The Crowns of Croswald follows the story of Ivy Lovely, sixteen year-old, a scaldrony maid who ends up attending a magical school, the Halls of Ivy. As she learns to master her power, the Dark Queen threatens her life. She must uncover the mystery of her past to save herself and Croswald.

⚜️⚜️⚜️

This was a fun and magical middle grade fantasy! It's full of excitement and thrilling adventure. It started confusing and slow then it picks up the paced when Ivy finds herself in The Halls of Ivy. The author did an amazing job with the world building, it's amazing! I love how the settings was described, they were breathtaking and magical. The plot flowed easily although a bit predictable. The writing style was beautiful, enjoyable and descriptive. I especially enjoyed the unique magical objects, and supernatural creatures. I love the scrivenry, glanagerie, notcials and the maps. I would have enjoyed this more if there was a map and a glossary.

There are a lot of fun characters although the side characters could've been fleshed out a bit more. The Dark Queen could use a little more background, too. Ivy, the protagonist, was intriguing and likeable enough to keep my interest. She's curious, brave, and intelligent. She's endearing with an obvious personality.

As many other reviewers have mentioned, The Crowns of Croswald is heavily inspired by Harry Potter. While there are similarities, D.E. Night creates a unique and entertaining magical world.  It is perfect for middle grade children, and to anyone who are fans of magical school trope.

Thank you Stories Unfold and Netgalley for the opportunity to read The Crowns of Croswald.

I loved this book! This was my first foray into the fantasy genre in quite some time, and the story of Ivy captivated my heart! We follow Ivy as she is brought into the Halls of Ivy school to become a scrivenist (or so she thinks). We experience her trials and tribulations at the school as she seeks to unlock the truth she suspects certain people are trying to hide from her. The details of Ivy’s journey were phenomenal, and the author painted such an elaborate picture I felt as if I was right there along side Ivy. I can’t wait to read what happens next!!

I didn't know much about this book when I started reading it but was pleasantly surprised it was a magical boarding school! I would definitely pick up the second book to see where the story is going and how the author develops Ivy further.

I will admit... I haven’t read many fantasy books lately, especially middle-grade/YA. So, when the opportunity was given to me to read & review this wonderful book, my nerdy side was thrilled!

It is a wonderful YA fantasy book for middle-grade readers that’s packed with adventures, friendship, & my favorite -🄼🄰🄶🄸🄲-!

💭 Final Thoughts:
- I adored the characters. There’s just something about pairing friendship & magic that gives me the warm & fuzzies 🥰.
- This book is perfect for readers who love HP & Narnia.
- Your child is going to LOVE this series. I was hooked in the story, and I’m 26. 😂
- Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars

♥️ A huge THANK YOU to Danielle & #UntoldPress for this e-copy of The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night in exchange for my honest review.

What a magical world full of imaginative creatures, enchanting settings and a Dark Queen. I was pulled in immediately by Ivy, a 16 year old orphan who finds her life’s purpose is much more than she could ever imagine. When faced with uncertainties and evil, Ivy shows bravery and morality. I was rooting for Ivy and the relationships she formed at her new magical boarding school. The descriptive writing transports you to each setting and is perfectly whimsical. If you are looking to get lost somewhere, try The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night. It’s pure magic.

I was not sure what to expect going into this one. I do read middle grade books frequently as part of our homeschooling adventures so I jumped at the chance to get this one. This definitely gave me Harry Potter vibes. My son is not quite to that reading level yet but this one he could definitely handle. It’s an interesting story with a cliffhanger ending. Of course there are more in the series, which is helpful for the continuation of the story. I definitely believe that middle grade readers would love this. It explores the magical realm through a young girl that was unaware she had magical powers of her own before she left the place she’d been living in as long as she can remember. There are twists and turns, friendships, enemies, school drama, love interests - it’s a great read!

Leave the world you know and give in to the mystery and magic of Croswold. This series is a must for a middle school media center or a middle-grade fiction collection, perfect for students looking to grow from the Tui T. Sutherlands and elementary fantasy series. This is good coming of age and escapism between the pages of a book that doesn't make you look for the magic, but instead wraps you in it. More books in series.

I really struggled to get into this book and found myself constantly distracted where I usually wouldn’t be. I was really hoping to love this one but I felt like it was a chore to keep picking it up. I have dnf’d for the time being. I may return to it at a later date.

"All Things Scrivenist, hmm? Not a bad place to start."

I was very conflicted when I started this story; primarily because it's a middle grade book and secondarily it's focus on a magic school. I still dove in with wide eyes. I've seen a lot of people compare this book to Harry Potter but I have to say, I don't see it. Yes, when a magical school comes into play it's hard not to draw those similarities but Croswald is anything but Hogwarts.

Ivy is a young maid who feels invisible, she makes food and manages dragons in what appears to be the darkest place on earth. Her entire life though, she's felt she needs more. Having the help of some unlikely mystical companions, Ivy is swept up to go to a mystical school called Croswald. A school that will help her perfect her talents as a scrivenist and learn of the royals all until she is matched to serve a family. I spent a good part of the beginning of the book confused because I felt that Ivy was just constantly left alone and I wanted her to find people to support her quickly. But she finally got there. With her stubbornness to learn even more than her first year knowledge and her insistence in breaking rules; she teams up with several other students who per their trust in her.

I left this book feeling so fulfilled in her journey. Despite the book being targeted for younger readers, I genuinely enjoyed the story and escaping to Croswald when I was reading. Thank you D.E. Knight, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books that revolve around magical academics and knew as soon as Untold Stories reached out to me on Instagram that I would be obsessed with this story. The Crowns of Croswals by D.E. Night is a fantastical story of the new age which made me love it even more. My students even loved it and obsessed over the cover in great length. Ivy is so intriguing as a character and everything I think that middle grade readers want to be. She's brave, ambitious, naive, but intricate and I just can't help by love her and continue to root for her throughout the entire story.

Overall, this story was unlike any middle grade novel I've read. I am not the core demographic but I do teach kids who are the age to read this book and they loved it just as much as I did. We are so excited to read the second book in this series.

Thanks you to Netgally and Stories Untold for the chance to read to this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Oh em geeee!!! I was getting Harry Potter feels while reading this! 😍 The book has few interesting twists and turns along the way with superb descriptions! And I felt that the world continued to unfold as the pages turned!!!! While I did enjoy the overall story, the writing just wasn't really my style! 🥺 I kinda felt like I didn't get to know any of the characters in depth! Anyways, I really wanna know what happens in the next installment! ❤️❤️

P.S Thanks to the publisher and author for providing me a free copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!!!! 😃😃