I want to first thank the publisher for sending me an e-copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I will start by saying sci-fi and fantasy are not genres I typically read, therefore I struggled with that throughout this whole book. I will say, I think the right audience would like this story, as there are some really well done elements.

Pacing was the biggest issue I had throughout the whole book. There were times the plot line felt choppy and disconnected, which prevented me from truly getting into the story. I will also say that there are a lot of characters and magic terms introduced quickly, with little to no explanation and that can be confusing to the reading and off-putting at the very beginning of the story.

I think a young middle school esc audience with a love for books and stories such as Harry Potter would find a lot of enjoyment in this book. Ivy the main character is likable and her story arc is well written.

First I want to thank the publisher for reaching out to me and sending me the ebook via NetGalley!

This book was a fun read! It reminded me of so many books I read when I was younger. It was such a magical book with so many unique creatures, and whimsical magic in it. I thought a lot of Diana Wynne Jones books while I was reading this with the comedy, and wonderful heroine, and of course the magic!

Ivy was fantastic! So spunky and I love that she never backed down! When she wanted answers, she went for it! She got those answers! Nothing and no one, not even cute boys, could stop her. I admired her from the beginning. She never let her rough life get her down. And then when she was suddenly thrust into this magical world, she sought out answers. And I’m glad she did because putting myself in her shoes, I would have wanted answers too!

This book was such a whirlwind of adventure! I wish there was a bit more character building and maybe a little less world building, or maybe school building. I think there was a little too much focus on the school, rather than the story at times, and sometimes I got a bit confused as to what was happening or why, especially at the end.

The end is a nice segway into the next book which I’m sure will be just as magical 😊

This is a creative and interesting book full of magic, secrets, creatures and fun.

I really enjoyed this book. The story kept me guessing with where it was going. The storyline is well paced and very well thought out. Ivy is a wonderful character who is curious, mischievous, and very intelligent.

I really enjoyed Ivy's character development and growth, I think this was well done and well written. Little clues were scattered throughout the book which helped the reader to build up their own ideas.

Ivy has spent her life working as a maid for Plum Castle. There are plants around this castle which blocks magic. The day Ivy leaves and crosses its boundaries, her magic awakens and she is invited to attend the Hall of Ivy school of magic. Things don’t always go as expected, and Ivy finds herself struggling to fit in and stay out of trouble. Not only that, but there is the mystery of Derwin Edgar Night, a person no one but Ivy says existed, to solve.

This book was a lot of fun to read. I can see both younger and older readers enjoying this one. It was very magical, and the school setting helps give it kind of a Harry Potter vibe.

Thank you Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Stories Untold, D E Night, and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Crowns of Croswald is a young middle grade version of Harry Potter, though I'm sure the author tires of hearing that. Chosen One, Secret Heir, Spoiled Bully, Quirky Friend tropes are all present. We follow the unlikely heroine, Ivy Lovely, as she is found and installed at a magical school then must unravel the mysteries that call to her.

When I put it that way, it almost sounds boring. But it's not! This story caught me by surprise by its ingenuity, imagination, and heart! Though the story is full of tropes, the characters, places, names, events, and twists are wholly original! Every bit of magic and every creature was a delight to my imagination. The magical system and spells are so fun!

The writing is excellent. It was pleasant to read, easy to follow, and the settings were immersive. The fonts in my e-version were beautiful and fitting; I loved the little illustrations and clever chapter title names. The dialogue is lively, charming, and well written. The ending ties up very well with a great cliff hanger. I had guessed some of the answers and plot twists early on but was still surprised by how things turned out and how we got there! Love that!

I definitely recommend this book! Though it's middle grade and I'm an adult, I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

I did not finish this book. I made it to page 175 before I had to stop. It felt choppy, disconnected and very confusing. The first 50 pages had too many “magical” terms with inadequate explanation. I didn’t feel like I was joining in their adventure. I was struggling with “what is that? Who is that? What are they talking about?” Ivy felt more like 13 than 16.

My advice, skip the prologue and just start with chapter one. I think it was a bit too fast paced with too many things happening all at once. It mostly left me confused and didn’t give me that curious feeling a prologue is meant to give you about the story ahead.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story. You can tell the author was inspired by different fandoms, and I don’t think that’s a bad thing. You’ve got friendship, you’ve got magic and for good measure, a little bit of mystery thrown in with the action. Although I would’ve liked a bit more backstory and deeper explanations here and there, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything crucial to the main plot.

As the book is aimed at middle grade/young adult readers, it’s an easy read and one I’d chose to pick up if I were in a reading slump and wanted to ease myself back into reading. And as an added bonus, there are some gorgeous graphics on the chapter pages as well.

I am very curious to see where the story unfolds in future books, so shall be reading on.

All opinions are my own. However, I was very kindly gifted The Crowns Of Croswald as and e-book for the purpose of an honest review. But shall be purchasing a physical copy for my home library.

This is a great middle-grade book. It left me with such a sense of nostalgia, reminding me of some of my childhood favourites, and I know that I would have been obsessed with this when I was younger!

This story follows Ivy, who after being thrown out from everything she knows, crosses the border into the magical world and a whole new life. It starts off a little slow but soon picks up when Ivy settles into her new life & her new school. I love how many different elements to this story there are with magic, mystery, and a bit of romance. Ivy finds some great friends in Rebecca and Fyn and it was fun reading about their adventures and seeing how the story unfolds.

Obviously I am not the target audience for this book as I would definitely say it is a children's novel instead of a YA but it was still very enjoyable, I love the magic system in this story, the world-building was amazing, and I am interested to see where this story goes.

This book was just adorable! The story, the characters, the illustration even down to the font used for each chapters title.

Ivy Lovely has lived for 16 years as a Scaldrony Maid sleeping in a room with no windows and enduring the horrible Helga with only her love of sketching and her friendship with a dwarf called Rimbrick making it bearable. When the Moonsday feast preparations go wrong and Ivy finds herself and her sickly Scaldron Humboldt thrown out of Plum Castle she crosses the slurry border and is transported to Croswald and the Halls of Ivy a school of magic for Royals and scrivenists.

Once there Ivy has a series of adventures, with her friends Rebecca and Fyn, and learns more about herself and the magic within her. Throw in a dark Queen and a fight to save Croswald.

I couldn’t put this book down it gave me Once Upon A Time meets Harry Potter vibes but was unique in it’s own right and beautifully written. It’s imaginative and descriptive and a joy to read. A book for any lover of fantasy and magic whatever age you are.

This is the first book in a series and I am excited to read the rest.

Without reading the book you’re not going to ever find out what a Scaldron, or a scrivenist, or a hairie, or a glanagerie is …. so just read it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.

The fans of Harry Potter and Princess stories will love this book. It is not a rip off, in fact it is an altogether different approach to magic. There are dwarves, dragons, magical stones, potions class and rare magical creatures. It is an enchanting story of self discovery, friendship and love.

I'd like to start off by thanking the publisher for my e-ARC.

I was drawn to the premise and comparison to Harry Potter, but unfortunately, it didn't quite pan out the way I hoped it would.
I'm sure many will love this, but it just wasn't for me. Maybe it's just bad timing or my mood. I don't know. But I couldn't get into the story. Sorry..

Disclaimer: I was granted an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've heard great things about this book and they say it's a wild mix of Harry Potter and other middle grade magic school setting, and I guess they're right! I loved how the first book turned out and I'm excited to continue with the remaining books in the series.

This is the kind of book you wished you read as a kid, and it's our responsibility now to let the younger ones discover the magic this series has to offer!

Book Review:

Thank you to Netgalley and D.E. Nights representative Daniela for reaching out to me for an honest review of “The Crowns of Croswald” by D.E. Night

When I first began reading this book I wasn’t sure this would be a book I would enjoy but to my surprise I found this book to be a fantasy that is beyond magical. The magic that you will encounter will most definitely surprise you at every turn. Think Harry Potter, Cinderella, Snow White and Fantastic Beasts and you have “ The Crowns of Croswald” all in one book.

Our first encounter is with Derwin Edward Night but it is for you my dear readers to find out his true part in this grand adventure and you most definitely will. From this point this novel focuses on Ivy Lovely, a poor scaldrony maid at Castle Plum who struggles and works day and night from childhood till we meet her at the age of 16. She is sweet, kind and sketches wondrous pictures whenever she has free time and has but one friend named Rimbrick. Rimbrick tells her of adventures and of magical places.

Ivy’s kindness leads to her demise at Castle Plum when she takes a sickly little scaldrone and runs off with him to save his life. He would come to be called Humboldt. Then comes a strange letter she finds from Rimbrick and a leather pouch filled with coins and 3 books written by Derwin Edward Night.

Before you know it we are at Hills Of Ivy and Ms. Lovely is taking classes on various forms of magic and learning of mystical creatures and places. Ivy herself is not sure how she ended up here but it’s worth every second for you the reader to find out.

Verdict:

I can say I absolutely enjoyed every moment of this book. I could not put this book down in the past 2 days. Ms. Night has created a beautiful, sometimes scary and overall magical book that will leave you wanting for more!! I give this book a 5/5. Looking forward to reading Book 2z

16-year-old Ivy Lovely has just found out that she has magic! And she gets sent to this amazing school that she's only ever heard about - the Halls of Ivy - to become a scrivenist.⁣
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First, this book has such a Harry Potter-esque feel to it. I mean, a girl who has had this pretty crappy life suddenly finds out she's "special" and gets whisked off to a magic school. Very HP. But that's not to say that it's a copy of HP.⁣
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𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗱 definitely stands on its own two feet. D.E. Night did a fantastic job of world-building and giving everything its own little place in the story. I also loved how one of the first characters you meet (and the one that keeps popping up quite a bit throughout the story) is Derwin Edgar Night ... D.E. Night. That was just such a fun addition for me 😆⁣
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So many twists and turns! I had sticky notes throughout the book, full of questions and guesses about what was really going on. Characters appeared here and there, always leaving me guessing at what was really happening. The biggest question on my mind as I read was: Who is Ivy Lovely? I mean, really. Who is she?

Even though this is a middle-grade/YA book, I would say it's definitely suited for adults, as well. I found myself sucked in from the beginning and it didn't feel like a super-easy read. It felt like a book that has substance. I suppose, seems Ivy is 16, this is more of a YA than a middle-grade ... either way, it's a fantastic book!⁣

I was kindly asked by @storiesuntoldpress if I would review @author.denight debut book so of course I said yes. The Crowns of Croswald is about 16yo Ivy Lovely, who is a scurry girl. She is forced out of Castle Plum and is taken to The Halls of Ivy where she learns the works of scrivenists. While at Halls of Ivy strange things happen to only Ivy Lovely and through her first year at school, she learns of a dark secret, a curse and who she really is.
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When I first dived into this book I was a little unsure, as I saw many reviews, saying it was very much like Harry Potter and not much originality. However I have to disagree. Now yes there is a lot of similarities of Harry Potter, but I felt like Night took that inspo and made it into her own. I loved the prologue of The Scrivenist Derwin Edgar Night, it explained in some ways the plot of the book and what a scrivenist is. I enjoyed the world playing of the story you are dived into the beautiful Croswald land and the amazing castle the Halls of Ivy. There was so much descriptive language, but for me it was not too much or off putting. It made you dive into that world and imagine that you are there. I felt like I was Ivy herself and seeing through her eyes.
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I absolutely adored the character builiding. You have the beautiful protagonist Ivy Lovely, who has had a poor and awful life and her only friends are a Dwarf and a Scaldron Humbdolt. She is dived into a world unknown to her but I loved her integrity to get onto it all. I really liked how stubborn she was and how she wouldn't give up even when disastrous things get following her. I loved that she made friends with Rebecca a Royal who would rather be a Scrivinest and Fyn a Scrivenist who seemed to be drawn to Ivy. I enjoyed how both their relationships blossomed. Then there is Derwin Edgar Night, who is constantly in Ivy's dreams but turns out to be very much real and very important to Ivy.
I loved how Night kept Derwins character throughout the book, even though he had no written part till the end 2 chapters, he was still in throughout the book, still a major play in the book.
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To the end chapters, I absolutely loved how it all played out, with the Dark Queen forcing Ivy out to her, to the massive climax and fight. I loved how everthing was all folded into place and you start finally getting the answers on why Ivy keeps being drawn to these strange occurrings. I appreciated Nights way of answering all the questions that were put through the book. I loved how Ivy finally realised who she is and who Derwin is to her. I absolutely loved the cliffhanger at then end. I knew there was 2 more books to this series and I've added them on my kindle as I need to know how Ivy manages with her new found status and magic.
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Overall I loved this book and for a debut it was exceptional. I hope the next 2 books have a bit more action this time as that was the only thing lacking in this book. A huge thank you on letting me read this book. I loved it and can't wait to see next happens.

Ivy Lovey is a scullery maid living behind an enchanted boundary away from magic. When she crosses the border one day, she discovers that she is a scrivenist and has magic. This leads her to the Halls of Ivy where she enrolls as a student to learn how to master her magic.

This started off okay, although the premise is a bit cliche — a young girl who doesn’t know she has powerful magic suddenly discovers the secret that’s been kept from her for years. But I liked Ivy. She has a zest for life and wonderment that was endearing. However, she didn’t feel like a sixteen year old to me. I would have put her age at around eleven or twelve.

There were some really great ideas in here however a lot of the time it did feel like regurgitated Harry Potter with slightly different names.

My biggest issue though was the writing. It was hard to follow along sometimes. So much of it was overwritten which led to the story being muddy. There was no flow, it felt like the storyline jumped around from one random scene to the next with a lot of unnecessary dialogue. I found it quite a slog to get though which was a shame because it did have some fun ideas. Might suit an older MG or young YA reader but just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to the publisher for the gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating more like 2.5

I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much from this book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it so readable and enjoyable!

Ivy Lovely is a Cinderella-like character, who has lived her life so far as a scaldrony maid (a kind of scullery maid who tends to kitchen dragons) in the home of a Royal (magical) family, dreaming of becoming a Scrivenist (a kind of biographer to the Royal families? I’m still not 100% clear on what they do). Little did she know she actually has magical blood and soon finds herself at the magical Halls of Ivy school, where she will study her craft, get into trouble and try to solve the mystery of who she really is.

This book will inevitably be compared to Harry Potter; the influences cannot be denied (in fact I kept picturing Hogwarts as I read) but I defy any author of children’s fantasy not to be influenced by HP. It’s part of this book’s appeal! But it must be said that Night made a solid effort to make the world of Croswald her own.

Night used language well and very descriptively to bring Croswald to life, and I think this series is going to appeal to young, imaginative readers. However, I did find I was getting confused about things a little (as I said above, I’m still not sure what exactly a Scrivenist is, and are they friends with Royals or is there some class issue there? Why do they all study together?) so were I the target reading age for this book I may have got even more lost on a few things. As with any fantasy world, there are many things to learn and take in as you read, which I remember being overwhelming as a child!

Minor criticism:

Ivy is 16; this seems old for the behaviour of the character and the target age of the readers. I know the readers want to look up to someone older but 16 seems to be creating an age gap.

The story has a strong plot, but I thought we might get to experience more of Ivy’s lessons and time at school – those Hours of Discovery sounded really interesting! I would have liked to have got to know Ivy’s friends better too, most were just names.

In short, this was an unexpected hit for me. If you or your children love Harry Potter or magical fantasy in general, you’ll get some enjoyment out of this series!

Thank you Daniela @StoriesUntoldPress for getting in touch and #NetGalley for this ARC of #TheCrownsofCroswald

This was a fun book full of magic and was a fairly easy read. It felt quite similar to Harry Potter in places, making it feel like a story we have heard before, but if you are a young girl I can imagine you might prefer this, as Ivy is a wonderful main character who doesn't let anyone stop her from getting what she wants.
However, the pacing of this book felt off, with it seeming as if about a third is dedicated to the first week, a third to the last week, and the third in the middle is the rest of the school year. I didn't realise we were almost at the end of the school year until we learnt about the Ball, and I think the author was a bit too ambitious trying to fit a whole year into this book.
I did really like the idea of magic being incorporated through crowns and gems and crystals, and that was the most unique part of the story for me, However, while this did not feel like an original story, it did feel like a fun fantasy adventure story, and easy to understand, especially for someone who doesn't read a lot of fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy for review!

Ivy Lovely is just another scaldrony maid, unknown to all except the unkind Helga and her one beloved friend, the dwarf Rimbrick.

But all her anonymity is about to be swept away.

A world of Scrivenists and Royals awaits, of magical training, and mysteries untold. But dangerous enemies are lurking, and it remains to be seen whether Ivy Lovely, with the help of a few enduring friends, is up to the task of facing them.

D.E. Night has successfully woven an enchanting tale full of magical wonders and excitement. The world-building is rich and the descriptions of Croswald and its residents so vivid that readers will feel as if they've been swept into a glenagerie bottle, a world of pure and vivid imagination, right along with Ivy and her friends.

The world of Croswald is unlike any other, and there is no doubt that all who pick up this book will find themselves better off for having visited it.

This series was the perfect magical fantasy world I needed to fall into! Ivy Lovely is our teenage heroin discovering her powers. It was nice to read a magical book with a female heroin. She goes to a school where students learn to master their magical abilities and along the way she discovers her destiny. Each book gets better and better. Ivy grows stronger with each book and the friendship relationships just get better and better.