An amazing book; full of fantasy; mystery, magic!

You need to read this book if you love Harry Potter.

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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.

.This was a fantasy tale filled with supernatural abilities, magical places, intriguing secrets and a young girl's quest to excel at the prestigious school she has been invited to attend while striving to uncover the hidden details of her family and heritage.

Unbeknownst to Ivy she has been sheltered behind a magical boundary for 16 years while she serves as a maid in a rundown castle. Life for her is mundane and hard but when she flees that land and crosses the spell cast to shield her, her dormant powers awaken. Her life takes a very different turn and she is accepted in to the Halls of Ivy, the most famous school in Town. Armed with this newly surfaced power, Ivy tries to make sense of the world she now lives, full of magical blood and mythical royal gems. As her first year in school progresses, she explores the castle, learns more about her powers and finds hidden places that reveal more than just a new location. She makes friends with Fyn and Rebecca who help her determine who the mysterious man is who frequents her dreams and also aids her bend some school rules in a quest to find out the truth about her past.

I enjoyed this story and give it 🌟🌟🌟🌟. Its aimed at the 12+ age mark but equally can be enjoyed by everyone. I think that this series does have some similarities with other fantasy books/settings but overall the author holds her own for originality and storytelling and that sets this book apart. It has plenty of scenes with amazing imagery, inventive creatures with their own powers and great characters. Ivy is spirited, adventurous and willing to keep going despite adversity. When she learns of the Dark Queen's attempt to harm her, this fact only spurs her on to find out the truth and save everyone around her. I like having strong female characters alongside strong male ones as it provides balance and reality to stories. The mythical creatures and world that the author has created is both stunningly visual and endlessly fascinating and I look forward to Ivy’s future adventures.

This is a really fun middle grade read. Ivy finds out she has been accepted into the Halls of Ivy to learn the art of Scrivenry (a kind of magic). What follows is a lot of magic, self discovery and fun. Until the Dark Queen shows up. ⁣
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I loved the world this story is set in. It is the first in a series, so I can only image how much more we will get to explore the world and discover. I also loved how much of a badass Ivy is - there needs to be more strong independent girls leading the way in literature! ⁣
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The only thing I didn’t like was that I found myself being reminded a bit too strongly of Harry Potter in some parts which took me out of the world a little bit. Croswald has so much of its own wonder and potential without borrowing from another world, though I do understand there will be inevitable similarities when both stories are about a magic boarding school. ⁣
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In all, I really enjoyed this book! I would be interested to see what is in store for Ivy in book 2 😊⁣
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Can we all just take a minute to reflect on how cool it is that there was a D.E. Night character as well?! Kind of made it feel like the character was writing the book 🤔⁣
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Thank you to @author.denight and @storiesuntoldpress for a free copy in exchange for an honest review ⭐️⁣

I grew up on fantasies revolving around schools of magic, and I'm not just talking about the one in Scotland. The Crowns of Croswald brings Ivy Lovely, our protagonist, to another institute of learning (the Halls of Ivy, thankfully shorted to "the Halls" in order to avoid confusion), and introduces a new and intriguing magic system. I think it might be one of my favorites from the last several years--the main type of practitioners take a scholarly approach to magic, focusing on texts, embracing experimentation, and prioritizing the expansion of knowledge. This is a school that (minus, perhaps, some of its royal scholars) addresses some complaints about previous magic schools--these students enjoy learning about magic as much as we would!

As the first book in the series, The Crowns of Croswald focuses first on Ivy herself and second on world-building. It answers enough questions about the magic system and our protagonist's journey, but not enough to leave the reader blind about where subsequent stories will take us. Night is a delightful story-teller, dropping enough hints to satisfy readers and let them solve the mystery alongside Ivy. (I had about fifteen theories throughout the book, which I devoured in one sitting.)

As an uncommon feature for a middle-grade book, the story centers on a 16-year-old, and the students in the Halls seem to range from 16 to 20 (First to Fourth Year students). For adults reading, this sometimes creates a sense of disconnect--our characters don't seem like young adults, but younger--though I doubt it would have the same effect on young readers.

Overall, I enjoyed my time in Croswald and this first story left me interested to read and learn more about Night's delightful world. While at times I felt as though some supporting characters were flat (mostly Ivy's classmates, especially her two closest friends) and some issues were wrapped up a little too neatly and easily, I think the book would be completely satisfying for its intended audience. And for those adults, like me, who read middle-grade books for the little ones in your life--well, I think you'll enjoy learning about Croswald, as well.

Thank you to Untold Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a magical story reminiscent of Cornelia Funke's Inkheart in it's magical world building and like Harry Potter in it's exploration of a magical school. Ivy's character was strong, relatable, and just wonderful to follow through her journey. All the different pieces of magic coming together was such a whimsical and charming read, I will hopefully delve into the rest of this series soon. This book seemed to be very fast paced as well, which I found to be perfect for a middle-grade fantasy, where too many details or downtime can be daunting for or not exciting enough to keep young readers engaged. I believe I would have loved this book when I was younger, and love it still now!

Ivy Lovely had been a maid in a castle containing slurry fields that suppressed magic. When she is sixteen and kicked out, she crosses the boundary and is swept into the world of magic. She is brought to the Hall of Ivy, a place where those with magic in their blood or given a crown imbued with magic are taught to hone their talents. The Dark Queen had been in isolation for some time, but now is on the move and going into magical towns. Ivy has to learn how to use her magic and unearth the history of her birth before Croswold is destroyed.

In keeping with other magical academy books, Ivy is awakened to her powers and then leads the reader into this new world with her. She has to buy her school supplies and textbooks, using up the carefully explained money that had been left for her. As she learns about the different texts and shops, so do we. There are different kinds of magic uses, different magical creatures, as well as the class system of royals, nobles, and differently ranked commoners. Inevitably, there will be comparisons to Harry Potter for middle grade magical academy books. Ivy needs quills and some oddly named textbooks, for sure, and her scauldron dragon is welcomed in the school. At the same time, this is not meant to be a separate magical world in the modern day, but it’s all a medieval inspired world.

Everyone knows about the Cloaked Brood working for the Dark Queen, though what they’re looking for isn’t well known as we begin. Time is spent more on worldbuilding, meeting Ivy’s friends, learning about magic and the items in the world. Of course there’s a mean girl who bullies Ivy and likes to poke fun at the mistakes she makes or get other students to turn against her. Ivy makes friends and discovers more about the lost Princess Isabella, as well as mysterious scrivenists that were lost to time. The school year passes rapidly in the book, until we get to the showdown between Ivy and the Dark Queen. Ivy knows about her heritage now, and her role for the future of Croswold.

I was contacted by the publishers, Stories Untold, for a review in exchange of a NetGalley copy of this book. This book had been on my radar for years and so I definitely snapped this offer up.

Sadly this book just didn't live up to my expectations. It feels like it wants to be a MiddleGrade but the main character is 16 years old and yet I honestly forgot this for most of the book because she constantly acts younger than this - in fact all of the characters act younger than this. I also find it confusing that they start this school at the age of 16... there is not a lot of information really explained and everything seems a bit all over the place. I couldn't really get to grips with the worldbuilding or the plot and constantly felt like I was missing most of the information. I honestly don't feel there was much worldbuilding to this one and could just not picture the world of the events.

Our main character felt a bit too mary-sue-esque for me; i'm not one for the lost royal trope and this slammed that right in there front and centre. I think because we didn't really get any focus on any other characters it just really made this trope stand out even more.

I do think it had potential, it just never quite sold it for me.

This story was given to me on NetGalley for free by the publisher Stories Untold Press for an honest review.
I feel this was an adorable story and would recommend it to anyone who reads middle grade books. It has some “Harry Potter” vibes but with some twists and turns to the story. We start the story with a young scrivenist named Derwin Edgar Night. He just finished school and is on his way to his new family that he was assigned to when something mysterious happens. Fast forward sixteen years later and we then are introduced to the main character of the story, Ivy Lovely a young scaldrony maid. She works in the castle kitchens tending to the scaldrons, which are cute dragons that are used to cook with, that only grow as large as the cage they are in.
Ivy lives a rather normal life cooking for the royal family that lives in the castle she works in. After a rather terrible day, Ivy wanders out of the boundaries of the slurry fields and her magical adventure begins. She then attends the magical school The Halls of Ivy where she learns she has magic in her blood and learns to use it to become a young scrivenist. Scrivenists are magical beings that have photographic memories that are assigned to royal families and document everything about the family as well as any discoveries they make during their lives. Royal prince and princesses also attend the Halls of Ivy to learn how to harness the power of the magical stones in their crowns.
Mysterious things start to happen to Ivy and her friends while at school during her classes. Ivy then goes on an adventure to find Derwin, but nobody seems to know about him except for her. You will not want to miss reading out on this adorable and fun story. I cannot wait to read the second book in the series! What will happen to Ivy, her tiny dragon Humbolt and her friends as they continue their magical education and adventures?

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review.

I have been looking for a series like this for ages and I am so pleased to have discovered The Crowns of Croswald books. They are set in a fantasy world, with a historical feel and Book 1 (possibly the others, I'll have to read them to find out) is largely based in a magic school - one of my favourite settings! It has all the elements of a fantasy middle grade that I love, while also having a complex plot that will keep older readers entertained. I think this is the perfect book to recommend to 10 - 13-year-olds as it is full of intrigue and high stakes, with a the seeds of potential romance, but none of the overly mature content that sometimes ends up in YA!

This book mainly follows the story of Ivy Lovely, a sixteen year old maid who has grown up in a land surrounded by an enchantment which keeps out magical powers. Following a disasterous series of events, Ivy leaves her home and sets out to discover what the world has in store for her. Once beyond the border, Ivy's magical abilities appear and she is invited to attend the Halls of Ivy. This is a school for the magically gifted and future rulers, to help them harness the magic that runs in their blood and, for some, control the power of the mysterious gems they have inherited. As Ivy begins to have new experiences and adventures in this magical world, she makes friends (and enemies). She also starts to realise that there are many unexplained mysteries surrounding her and it's not clear who she can trust.

I loved the way in which this story was told. From the many 'in-world' creations, to descriptions of meals or how the magic worked, everything was captivating and made me want to enter the world of Croswald - though with the option to jump back to our world when things start getting dangerous! I was amazed by how complete the worldbuilding was, even down to the little things like the tea cupboard (got to get myself one of those!) Everything I read about felt 'right' and fit into this world perfectly and I am excited to discover new additions to the world in the coming books.

I really liked all of the characters (the one's you're supposed to like) and found Ivy's interactions with them endearing and hilarious. Humboldt is brilliantly grumpy and cheeky but also fiercely loyal and I loved watching Ivy's friendships develop. Plus, the fact that these friends weren't just their to watch Ivy do everything, they got involved and sometimes, it was their skills and not Ivy's that were needed. The only part of the characterisation that bothered me was the feeling that the characters didn't seem to act like they were 16 (Ivy and the girls in her classes felt more like a 12-year-olds to me). I understand why Ivy needs to be 16 and towards the end of the book, she did feel a bit closer to this age but it was definitely a little unbelieveable for most of the book. Having said that, I really liked Ivy as a character and wouldn't want to change the way she is (just her age).

The mysteries in this book were plotted and revealled brilliantly. I was constantly on the look out for little crumbs of information that might help me discover what was really going on. Everything was woven in very cleverly and there is still plenty of mystery to keep me intrigued and wanting to read on with the series and find out what happens next - the stakes have been raised to another level!

Overall, this was an excellent start to a series and I would recommend this book to readers 10+ who are looking for an immersive fantasy world, with an interesting mystery, plenty of magic and a dash of romance.

Rating 3.5/5
The plot gave off strong Harry Potter vibes throughout and it was hard not to compare the two. However, the author eventually made it her own as the story progressed. There’s your typical magical school tropes of magical blunders, sneaking into forbidden rooms, going out of school grounds, class bully and magical rare creatures. Everything comes to an almost sudden explosive end where lots happen in the last few chapters but still leaves you curious for what’s going to happen next.

Overall it was an enjoyable story with its fast pacing and likeable characters. I finished this book in one sitting. One niggle for me was that Ivy just seems to take everything in her stride a bit too easily (considering she grew up without magic) and would have liked a little bit more curiosity and digging around. But who couldn’t love the Scaldeon dragon Humboldt and the dining halls served by three ghosts! I would happily read the next book to find out what is in store for Ivy.

I would recommend this book for a fun and easy read with it’s whimsical magic school setting for younger middle grades.
Thanks for the opportunity to review- also posted on Instagram.

Thank you to the publisher, Stories Untold, for bringing this delightful book to my attention. I think it has a place right alongside Harry Potter and Nevermoor (by Jessica Townsend). This book will also especially appeal to fans of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, since the magical creatures in this book are so well imagined and described.

The Crowns of Croswald tells the story of Ivy and her adventures in this fantasy world's magical school, the Halls of Ivy. I really enjoyed how every student had some kind of different magic, and how their incredibly patient teachers taught them to control this magic. As Ivy learns of her magic, and through her classes, she discovers a scrivenist, with magic similar to her own, who is being forgotten to history. Ivy discovers that there is more to this than she realizes and she is the only one who can use her magic to uncover the truth.

The setting of this book was incredibly magical. I found myself wanting to spend time in the Halls of Ivy, wandering around the beautiful classrooms and especially the library. Oh, that library. What I would give to hang out in that library! I loved reading about Ivy's classes and friends, especially Rebecca and little Humboldt.

The only thing I didn't love about this book was the prologue, but I'm glad I got past it, because once I did the book got much better. I loved how fast paced this book was, and would be absolutely perfect for those reluctant readers. Though the book was told from 16-year-old Ivy's perspective, the book is written at a middle grade level, and has the innocence of a middle grade novel. This works for those higher middle grade readers, as well as teens who want to read about a teen, but may not want the more mature content or reading levels of other YA novels. There is definitely a place for this book among library shelves, both in the middle grade and YA sections.