I was given a digital copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for a review, but all thoughts are my own!

I absolutely loved this! I love the idea of scrivenists going to a school alongside royalty and studying to one day go do magic for a specific family. The Dark Queen who terrifies everyone, even though not much is known about her, is such a fun idea and I love that we get to actually meet her towards the end. Ivy's journey to discover who she is was so heartwarming and I love that she never gave up, even when her friends couldn't remember the specifics of what she was telling them because of the Forgetting Room. The ending was just so good (even though I had called where Ivy came from, the reveal was still so good!) and I cannot wait to get my hands on the other book in the series.

Ivy’s a castle kitchen maid but when events involving a scaldron get her kicked out, her magic awakens. Being invited to attend the magical school – the Halls of Ivy – was beyond anything she’d ever imagined and it's there that she learns the art of scriveny whilst also tries to navigate the politics of the classroom. But something bigger is at play that involves a mysterious man that no one but Ivy can remember and the powerful Dark Queen.

This story was bursting with magic with a whimsical tone. The system was interesting between the scrivenists with their quills and the royals with their crowns and there was a strong, entertaining plot that kept me engaged to find out what was going to happen next.

But the passing of time and pacing was a bit jarring. I think including the change of seasons over the school year in the setting could have helped with this. Initially you’d think only a couple of days had passed but it had been months. Or it would be very fast-paced and then suddenly slow down.

Also I felt that character development was sacrificed for plot and magic. Ivy didn’t feel fully fleshed out and although she’s 16, sometimes she behaved much younger. There were just quite a few things that didn’t make much sense for her character. For one thing, given she’d spent her life as a servant, I can’t imagine why Ivy would constantly skip meals. Her relationships with Rebecca, Winsome, Fyn, Damaris, and the Selector were weak. Rebecca is meant to be her best friend at school but Ivy, for the most part, ignored her friend’s worries and own struggles. (Side note: why weren’t the school worried that they had a missing student for almost two days when she was locked in a cage?) Winsome is meant to be a mentor but there weren’t key defining moments shown to enhance this bond when they were training together. The fledgling romance felt forced. It would have been better if it was delayed till later books and instead had more of a build up as their feelings for one another intensified. And I still don’t know why Fyn consistently popped up randomly at just the right moments, but I’m very suspicious. After the climactic end, where is the Selector?

Every moment felt like it was there to push the plot along rather than to grow the characters and their relationships. There were a few plot holes too but I’m hoping they will be resolved in later books. So although I wasn't completely swept away by The Crowns of Croswald, I would like to revisit this world.


Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold for providing me with a copy to review.

This book follows sixteen year old Ivy Lovely who has been working as a scaldron maid (scaldrons are dragons who bake, treated poorly and has never know any different. One day she gets herself fired and crossed the scurry fields to a big bang that turns out to be an enchanted boundary. Suddenly Ivy’s magical powers awaken along with confusion over her family history and to how she gained these powers. Ivy finds herself at prestigious magic school, Halls of Ivy, where scivenists learn to document magic and Royal learn to harness the stones in their crown to perform magic.

I gave this book 3 stars because I really liked it but didn't love it. It had a lot of similar concepts to Harry Potter but I did enjoy the world building and the mystery running through the story. I definitely got caught up in it and wanted to find out Ivy’s story.

I liked Ivy as a character, her curiosity and determination to keep exploring to find answers. Fyn, Rebecca and Winsom were perfect side characters and I loved the humour they brought to the book.

The idea of scrivenists documenting everything through drawing and sketches whilst Royals had magic through the stones in their crowns, each stone giving the wearer a different ability was interesting. I liked that all the Royals had different abilities and how sometimes it didn’t exactly help them!  

I wanted to love this more and to be honest I couldn't really tell you why I didn't, it's got magic, cute dragons, all the things I love, it just wasn’t quite there for me.

A brilliant book that would help introduce young people to the world of fantasy. This book gives off Harry Potter like vibes - discovering magic at a certain age, magical school, grave danger, and good friends. I will definitely be recommending this series to my junior students at school.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

This was a cute MG read with a magical world like none other I have read recently, although it does have some Harry Potter vibes. I really loved the setting and the world building although it did take me some time to understand what was going on and really get into it.
The friendship between Ivy and Rebecca was one I really loved reading about. I also liked the love interest, Flynn and the easy banter between him and Ivy.
The characters were well develop although a bit childish for their age, considering they were 16, but I understood that since this was an MG book.
Overall, it was a mesmerising story about a fantasy land that I can not wait to read more about!

This middle grade fantasy novel surprised me and brought me back to my Harry Potter days as a kid. Such a fun world!

The Crowns of Croswald is the first in a series and follows Ivy Lovely, an orphaned girl whose life changes drastically overnight. One day she’s a scaldrony maid...the next, a student at a magical school! While honing her new skills, it’s clear she has forgotten part of her past. Her raging curiosity leads her to break rules in order to solve the missing memories. Little does Ivy know that remembering the past may put her and those she cares about in danger.

Overall, I give this 4 stars out of 5. Honestly, no thanks to my slump, I almost didn’t continue with this, but I’m so glad I pushed through. I loved the quirky characters, especially Winsome, and the changing relationship between Fyn and Ivy. I’m excited to read the next book in this series.

One random fact: it took me a while to realize that hairies were indeed hairies and not fairies misspelled.

Thank you to Daniela @danielastoriesuntoldpress, @netgalley, and @author.denight for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

ivy finds herself propelled off to school at the House of Halls. She likes to draw and believers herself destined to be a Scrivenist, one who records the lives of the Royals. She spends her first year at school battling Royal princesses, making friends, and finding her own magic. She also sets on a quest to follow her dreams. Great characters, fun magic, ghosts, dwarfs, forgotten rooms and a mentor who no one knows about. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book.

I honestly tried to get through this book, but it became clear that this wasn't book for me. The concept of this book is interesting and the world whimsically inspired, but there was just a lot going on in the text that made it difficult for me to get into and enjoy the story. I was unable to finish it. This kind of book may work for someone else, it just isn't for me.

What do Cinderella, Harry Potter, and The Crowns of Croswald have in common? Awesome orphans, hiding away, and magic.

Yes, friendship is a theme in this book, however, it is not the first day at school gelled together, it's built like real-life friendships are made - commonalities and personality connections, turn into companionship through struggles which turns into loyalty and hardcore desire for protection.

What makes The Crowns of Croswald different than my old fairy tale favorite, and the ever-popular Harry Potter book series? Ivy Lovely is so much more endearing!! A little Scaldrony Maid who takes care of the dragons that cook the castle food (the fire squad) for the family she works for in the middle of the Slurry Fields on the far outskirts of a village that can't be found without knowing its name since this village is a secret as the author says, we will just call it "The Town”

The cast of characters in this book are unique. I especially loved Ivy's friend Fyn. The setting, like in Harry Potter, is at a school housed in a castle -- The Halls of Ivy, some hidden spaces, which I will not disclose as it will ruin the fun of the story, and a lot of great adult mentoring and a few questionable, curiously strange professors. Ivy, like Harry, is very much a rule breaker! I mean, come on, there are mysteries to solve! That is where the similarities end. Ivy's transformation isn't guided by teachers, her history isn't given to her straight out and little does she know what her future will hold.

At the beginning of Ivy's story, Ivy is thrown out of the castle she works at because one of the dragons becomes sick and pukes all over Ivy's boss after Ivy slept in. Wondering where she will go, what she will do with her life, Ivy finds a letter and a pouch of money left for her by her friend Rimbrick, "an ancient woods dwarf" who she only sees in the late evenings. In the middle of a foggy rainy open fields, she is picked up by a carriage where she meets Woolem, a cabby, he accompanies her into the carriage where she meets Lionel Lugg a scrivenist who is the admissions officer for the Halls of Ivy.

Ivy can't believe her ears, she is to go to the Halls of Ivy as a Sqwinch and learn to be a scrivenist?! She's just a little Scaldrony Maid!

I became invested in wanting to know who Ivy was, what made her tick, and why all these weird things kept happening to her. The adventures she goes on just add to the mystery and little does Ivy know what her future holds for her.

The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in The Crowns of Croswald Series. The Author D.E. Night created a world that had me hyperventilating off the Dock of an unknown scrivenist underworld; she had me cheering for a little girl who comes into more than she bargains for, the dangers that await her are vast, powerful and yet, I truly believe she can overcome them with her sassiness, her strength and her sense of humor. I look forward to the next book in the series -- The Girl with the Whispering Shadow then on to book three The Words of the Wandering.

To be honest, I thought I was going to be disappointed in this book, with the magical world similarities to Harry Potter, I thought It would just be a shadow of that series. Yet, I truly believe that Ivy Lovely and her friends are so much more realistic, so much more endearing and so much more of a classic than Harry Potter and that is saying much since it is one of my all-time favorite series! I think I might have found my new dreamy fantasy series.

The Crowns of Croswald has the makings of a beloved fairy tale. If you love a good fantasy filled with vibrant characters and/or if your child loves mysteries and magic, this book is for you and them. It is an instant hit for me and I NEED to read the next two books to find out where Ivy goes next.

I give this book 4.5 Stars which is all due to Ivy Lovely and her personality and great storytelling!

Thanks to D.E Night's publisher, Daniela of Stories Untold Press for reaching out to me for a review in lieu of my honest opinion. This is that opinion. Thanks to NetGalley for providing the E ARC, and especially to D.E. Night for such a fun, loving, and strong little character. She sure is one of a kind, that little Ivy Lovely.

With "The Crowns of Croswald" from the author D.E. Night we get transported into a magical realm. A land that is full of magic, magical creatures, and royals. Over the land reigns the Dark Queen, who is feared by her people.
We follow the life of Ivy a scaldrony maid. She is responsible for the dragons who cook the food. I loved that idea and is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to magical creatures in this book.

The main reason why I picked this book up was that it has a magical boarding school. And ever since Harry Potter I have to read everything that contains that. Because I love to read about all the magical lessons and life with magic. Some parts reminded me slightly of Harry Potter but otherwise, it has had its own charm and magic.

Ivy was a lovely character who I envied for her bravery to explore places she knows that was forbidden. More than once she got in trouble for that.
I don't want to tell you more about the story because you have to explore the world on your own.
Not just the story was magnificent but also the little drawings at each chapter beginning.

In all, I can highly recommend this debut novel which enchanted me. Also, I started the second book just after finishing the first one, cause it's so good.

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