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 Croswald was a delight to read; as a mother to be it felt like a test run to see if it was magical enough a journey to read to my son in time and it was fantastic.

This is a great middle grade novel, reminding me of why magic is fun in books and why I got so into reading years ago.

That being said as positive criticism, it is also kind of my negative, this book was a wonderful experience; but it was given to me far too late in life. I find it hard as an adult to read main characters, although Ivy was brilliantly written, when they are around 16.

I did thoroughly enjoy the moments where it gave me serious Harry Potter nostalgia, though.

Definitely a great magic ride for the designated age group or to be read between people of all ages together!

Thank you to Netgalley & the author for a copy of this in return for an honest review!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

I want to thank the publishers and netgallery for the book enchange for an honest review.

This book is very magical! It reminded me of different fantasy books I read as a child so it felt like I went back in time for a while. I think as a child I would of enjoyed reading this book apart.

The story is perfect for teen/ ya reader as it's a very easy read while being creative at the same time. Croswald world in general would general was easy to learn about Inc the school and the creatures.

My only problem with the story is it reads like a Harry Potter book. E.g
Ivy is a 16 year old orphan who’s found herself cast from everything she’s ever known and starting a new life that she could never have imagined.
This 100% screams female Harry Potter to me but otherwise it's a nice story

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!

There was a lot going on in this book. I wanna start off with something positive and say that I loved the illustrations at the start of every chapter, and I could really tell that a lot of hard work went into the making of this world.
At the start of this book you were immediately given a lot of information at once (which is to be expected in a fantasy book), but a lot of information was held off, and a lot of things just got left unexplained. There was not a lot of monologue, but when there was it didn't really feel natural, it was kind of weird and awkward. The lack of communicating between the main person and her friends also made it less convincing that they were actual friends. I did not come out of this book feeling like I really knew any of the characters, they were mostly bland and one dimensional in my opinion.
There was one thing in this book that really fired me up, and that's Woodley Butterlove. Being fat is NOT a personality trait. Lets start off with the fact that his name is Butterlove, yes that's his actual name, he is fat and his name is Butterlove h ah ha fun. His entire character was just that he was fat and liked to eat? He had NOTHING else going for him. Nothing. Woodley was in a total of four scenes, and in all four scenes he is only either eating or being bribed with food. Theres zero reasons for this character to exist, he is only there to be made fun of for being fat and liking food and I hated it SO MUCH. It's not hard to not stereotype fat people or to not ridicule them.
The book also sat up several different plots which just gets solved right away, off page, with underwhelming explanations. This book is was whimsical, but not in a Wayward Children kind of way, but in a "what the hell is happening to me in my life" kind of way.

I received an e-book copy of The Crowns of Croswald from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have had this book in my TBR list for a while. I found it very randomly because the author isn’t that well-known but the cover is beautiful and caught my eye from the first look. The abstract also sounded quite interesting because I love middle grade and YA fantasy stories with less romance and more magic. Because of that I was thrilled when the publisher (Stories Untold) contacted me on my bookstagram and offered a chance to get a free copy to review. 🤩

I wanted to love this book so badly but sadly I did not love it as much as I would have liked to. 😔It was very similar to Harry Potter and usually I don’t mind it but this time it was a bit haunting. The main character is whisked from a poor environment off to a magical school with amazing creatures and both nice and grumpy teachers. There are ghosts, a secretive headmistress, a weird housekeeper, a classmate turned into a nemesis, a quill as a magic tool etc. Loads of similarities but with reversed genders and swapped objects.😒

If the comparison to HP is set aside, then the story is a bit blotchy and doesn’t flow logically. Stuff just happens out of the blue, no previous introduction and the explanations are random or altogether missing. A lot of characters are introduced but are then forgotten, regularly used characters tend to lack of depth and backstories. 🧐

Ivy is the only character with some backstory and a big mystery in her childhood. She is flimsy and acts without valid reasoning and logic. She seems a bit anorectic because she uses every opportunity to skip her meals and finds pies disgusting…Also for a 16-year-old she behaves like a 12-year-old…Which probably is consistent with classifying it as a middle grade story.😃

Although all my previous points are valid and this is really not overly coherent story, it still has potential. It’s charming and has an interesting magic system. The magical creatures are fantastical, I really love the hairies and scaldrons. Quills as magical tools, books and stories as centerpiece should go well with any booklover. The Hollow Shaft, the Forgotten Room, balding hairies etc were very imaginative and fun to read. With better flow this book could actually have been great for everyone. As it sits, it’s best for kids to read, as they’re more easily impressed simply by cute magic alone. 🙂

I can get past animal cruelty, as the hero saved one ofnthe dragons. But fat shaming is where I put my food down.

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

*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!!*

I was offered a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. After looking up the book, I found out it was the first book in a middle grade series, recommended for fans of Harry Potter. This sounded like something I could enjoy so obviously I agreed to read it.

The book follows the story of Ivy Lovely, a scullery maid with an unknown past. After learning she is a schrivenist (her world’s equivalent of a wizard or mage), Ivy is offered a spot at the Hall of Ivy, a school responsible for teaching schrivenists and royals (who get magic powers from the jewels in their crowns) about their specific magic skills and how to use them. While at the school, Ivy finally begins to feel like she belongs somewhere and makes some friends. However, strange things begin to happen to Ivy and a mysterious man continues to appear in her dreams, asking for her help. As Ivy works to uncover what is going on and who the man is, she begins to learn more about her past and what that means for the future of her world.

The book totally gives Harry Potter, School of Good and Evil, and Inkheart vibes but still remained unique. I loved the magic aspect and learning about the different magic powers of schrivenists and royals. I also loved all the different creatures mentioned in the book and the school sounded magical (I mean whole rooms each full of books on a specific topics?! Yes, please!!) The plot was interesting and I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery with Ivy.

However, I felt that the book was very plot driven and that sometimes things were referenced as if the reader should know about them but were never fully explained. I also wished that the side characters were a little bit more developed, especially Rebecca, Ivy’s roommate and best friend, and Fyn, the cute, sarcastic guy who always seems to appear when Ivy needs him most. Both of these characters are super interesting and I wish I could have learned more about them.

Overall I did enjoy the book, just wished that some areas would have been fleshed out a bit more. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series though and hopefully I’ll get more information as the series progresses.

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.

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.