Really cute middle grade! Loved the world and the atmosphere. Definitely going to pick up the next one.

3.5 stars

So I had heard some comparisons to Harry Potter and that made me both skeptical and intrigued. Skeptical because I started reading Harry Potter when it came out (just after grad school for me) and I couldn't imagine anything being as good as Harry Potter but intrigued because I wanted something for middle school kids that could draw them into fantasy. I don't usually like comparing a book to another (especially one that is much-beloved) but it was very clear to me that this author was inspired by Harry Potter. There are many analogous situations and characters that occur in this book, including Rebecca (Ron), Demaris (Draco), Woodley Butterlove (Neville), Ivy living in a dark and dank place (closet under the stairs), acting as the lowest servant in the castle, even the various ghosts, the magical school, the big bad villain, the transportation, etc. With so many obvious nods to Harry Potter, it's hard NOT to compare it to Harry Potter. But I try to enjoy a book on its own merits as much as I can, and this book definitely had some. I really enjoyed the world that the author created, with two different ways of doing magic (with a magic stone as a royal, and with a natural talent with a quill), which implies that even those who don't have magical talent can do magic. That said, there is definitely a streak of privilege associated with the magic of the royals since that is limited to those who were born into the right families. I'm sure that idea will be further explored in future books. I really loved the dragons/scaldrons and Humboldt (Hedwig) was pretty cool. There were some other interesting creatures dreamed up by this author that I also enjoyed, and her imaginative worlds in a bottle were very cool. The illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were interesting as sketches are an important part of the magic in this world.

Overall, this was no Harry Potter, and honestly, you should just read Harry Potter if you're looking for that kind of book. But I thought this was a decent first attempt by a young author, and I also think it targets a younger group of readers than Harry Potter, and could potentially attract younger kids to the genre (which is always a good thing, in my humble opinion). Although there were some uneven spots in the writing and crafting of this story, I really enjoyed it and was fully immersed by the end, enough so that I really want to continue with this trilogy. So did this wow my socks off? No. But I still enjoyed the time I spent with this book and I want to continue spending time in this world, and yes, I will recommend this for my younger students looking for an adventure/fantasy.

I received a review copy from the publishers for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a really cute book. I would have loved to read this in grade school. It is very much reminiscent of Harry Potter, so if you liked that you'll like this. It was a very easy read but also had some really nice vocab words. There were some slower parts in the beginning after the initial "surprise". The twist in the story is pretty easy to guess, but there are some surprise details that make it interesting. I will definitely read the second book soon.

🌸Spoilery Review🌸
⭐⭐⭐/5
Crowns of Croswald follows Ivy Lovely, a seemingly mistreated nobody who works in a kitchen. Enter a dwarf she's known all her life to leave her a few blank books, a bag full of money, and a very cryptic note.
Everyone knows the Hall of Ivy exists and everyone knows that only Royals and Scriveners go to the hall, and Ivy is pretty certain she has no magical abilities.
She gets to "The Town", meets a cute boy, buys her school supplies, gets chased by some magic quills, and finally makes it to the school.
Classes start and Ivy meets the snooty rich girl girl bully who wants to make Ivy miserable. She makes friends with a sweet royal named Rebecca who has always wanted to be a scrivener. The Evil Queen is after Ivy as well and Ivy has no idea why. All the adults seem to know who Ivy is but they all act very cryptic. The only person who can help her is Derwin Edgar Night. Only problem is nobody even remembers Derwin Edgar Night due to the Forgotten Room, a room where things get locked away and get wiped from existence.
If you’ve read Harry Potter, you’ll see a lot of similarities. The story has just enough differences though to stand out on its own. The target audience is 8-12 year olds and I do believe my daughter would absolutely love it.
When Ivy found out she was actually a long lost princess, she reacted as if the Queen had told her she hated the cupcakes she baked her.
I did absolutely love the concept of the Forgotten Room. The head of school gets a little sketchy about the things she puts in the room though even if it is all to keep Ivy safe. At one point, Rebecca accidentally gets trapped in the room and her clothes disappear from her closet and her name disappears from the roster and Ivy is truly the only person to remember her.
I feel like the story went a little too quickly but it is only the first book in the series and I'm excited to see what is to come in the world of Croswald.
Slightly longer review in my goodreads.

#review #bookishcontent #magic #magicschool #worldofcroswald #booknerd #booksbooksbooks #bookdragon #bibliophile #bookstagram #fortheloveofreading

If you want to introduce a young reader to fantasy, this is a great way to start. It's a really thought out world with unique elements that make you want to be part of it. It is compared a lot with Harry Potter because it has the basic elements of a girl who finds out about magic, a boarding school and a darkness that is after her. However, the magic system, the mystical creatures and even the characters does set this apart from the familiarity with the HP series. As I mentioned, it is middle grade so although themes such as bullying, prejudice, and abandonment are touched, it's done in a very soft way that makes this a light reading for younger minds. Definitely, something that can be picked up and read out loud with the family and will be enjoyed with the fun creatures and witty characters.

Review has been posted on Goodreads and will be posted on my Instagram by 08/08

Many thanks to D.E. Night and NetGalley for providing me a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my honest review.

Ivy Lovely, a 16-year-old scaldrony maid, suddenly enters a world she never dreamed she’d be a part of when she is accepted to a school in which she will train to become a Scrivenist. She quickly gets wrapped up in mystery after mystery, all while an evil Queen lurks in the shadows.

The Crowns of Croswald definitely gave me Harry Potter vibes—a magical school, hijinks with friends, and an evil villain threatening to end it all. This is fantastically written and is different enough from Harry Potter that it didn’t feel redundant in any way. I realized while reading that I may have outgrown this genre, but it’s absolutely a book I would’ve loved had I read it at the same age I was when Harry Potter came out.

This would be a wonderful book (and series) to read aloud with middle grade children!

I find it a little tough to review this since this is book is meant for middle schoolers. For that audience, I think this is a suitable book for them!

For me, we jumped right into the world too quickly and I had a hard time keeping up with the new terminology created for this book. Also, this book felt very influenced by Harry Potter.

I love a magical story for middle schoolers and I think a lot of kids would enioy this even if I thought it was derivative.

I received this book to review through NetGalley.

As a HP Stan, I was excited to see what the new world of fantasy books has to offer. The author D.E. Night did not disappoint with her imagination and creativity, I believe the fantasy world is in good hands.

Her imagery and her world building is fantastic. The intended age range of middle grade will love it and anyone who is looking for fantasy read can gladly enjoy it.

The characters and creatures are very detailed. At first it’s a little confusing but by the end of the book you catch on to terms and types of magic. Ivy as a heroine and getting into good trouble is the perfect role model for young girls. If you want fairytale fantasy but not a romance this is the perfect story.

Thanks so much to the publisher and author for this e-book through Netgalley. I am happy to have had the opportunity to see what’s out there for middle age readers and in the fantasy genre.

Once you learn to push your fears aside, your powers will shine as brightly as mine do now!
•••••••••••
For Ivy Lovely, a 16 year old girl that worked as a mere scaldrony maid being free from the miserable place called The Castle Plum is a bliss. Little does she knows, a world of adventure awaits her when she crossed the border that been keeping her safe and hidden from the lurking darkness her whole life. As her power awakens, Ivy was admitted to The Hall of Ivy where she starts to unravel about the mystery of the man that keeps appearing in her dream. Thus, Ivy adventure begins.

The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderful middle grade fantasy that packed with adventure and a unique magic system. It is a real page turner and I really recommend this book to anyone that would love to enjoy an intriguing light and easy fantasy read. I can't stop thinking about the ending, as I feel like there's more to this book that I'm yet to understand. I'm looking forward for the second book in the series which is The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.

Title: The Crowns of Crosswald
Author: D. E
Score: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
English level: B1-B2
Recommended age: +13

First of all I want to thank Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read the book, I really wanted to read this story apart from the cover is beautiful !!! It tells us the story of Ivy, a normal girl who makes chores in a house together with her friend Rimbrick a goblin until one day she leaves and they offer her to study at the most prestigious school of magic in Crosswald. It made me a very original story and I loved the setting that the author managed to give it as well as Ivy the protagonist who made me a girl looking for her dream and a better life although sometimes she made decisions that made me nervous. The fantasy, romance and mystery behind Crosswald was very good. And the villain of the story brings me very intrigued with his past and what he can do. My favorite characters were Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca and Edwin Edgar Night who had me curious throughout the book. I recommend them to people who are beginning to read fantasy and those who read like Middle grade books as I do. And I want to read the second book since the end ufff was epic that last 20% left me surprised.

✨ Thank you to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review✨

The Crowns of Croswald is a mesmerizing story about magic, mystery and betrayal. D.E. Night created a world so vivid, and enchanting that I was captivated from the very beginning.

Ivy Lovely is living dreadfully as a Scaldron maid in a hidden Castle. Scaldrons are dragons that are used to cook food in their mouths, so when they get sick, it is detrimental to the kitchen. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happens. Ivy tries to save the Scaldron from the wrath of Helga who is just an awful human but also in charge.

After being thrown out, Ivy meets a cabby who tells her she had been enrolled in an academy meant only for those who are scrivenerists with natural abilities or royals who have gems that aid in their abilities. This is where the magic begins. There's mythical creatures, a Dark Queen, danger at every corner and adventure after adventure.

This book was described to me as like Harry Potter but still being completely unique, and I have to agree. I loved everything about this story. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. 5⭐

I was hesitant at first when I was approached for this book since I don’t normally read a lot of middle grade. However, as soon as I started it I was immediately drawn in. Turned out to be a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to the Publisher and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Crowns of Croswald by D E Night 2017
In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…
For sixteen years, Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her to crash through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald's mysterious gems. When Ivy's magic—and her life—is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.
This story is entertaining and powerful, and I was picked up and swept into the City of Crosswald with its attractions and inhabitants.
The plot is very similar to Harry Potter's story, going to a magical school and being different. Still, I can honestly say that the author has done a great job constructing a unique whole new magical fantasy world with extraordinary characters but keeping fantasy favourites like fairies and dragons. In addition, there are some great twists and turns to keep you entertained.
An enjoyable read; I look forward to reading the next book in this four-part series.

i have been loving reading middle grade books recently and this was the perfect read. It has all the elements from a magical world, witches, wizards and spells. If you are a Harry Potter reader and loved that world , you need to pick this up! This was my first book from this author and i loved the writing and illustrations throughtout the book

I was fortunate enough to get this for free through netgalley!
I really enjoyed this book! a fantastic middlegrade with amazing characters and great world building!
it was pitched as having similarities to Harry Potter. I agree on that to some extent and did enjoy that part of the story. even with the similarities I found that the author succeeded in making the story her own.

I adored Ivy I thought she was a great main character with good attributes. She is someone I would have loved to see on the page when I was younger

Are you a Potter's head? If yes, then “D.E.Night brings a treat of magic, a mesmerizing fantasy world, dragons, and many more in her book “The crowns of Croswald”.
Let's jump into the fantasy world of 16-year-old orphan girl Ivy, who is unaware of her magical powers. One day her powers awaken, she wants to attend the “Hall of Ivy” a school for those who want to master their magic. As the story move, she finds out about the danger and challenges she has to face to save herself and Croswald.
Any reader who enjoys the epic adventures of Harry Potter will adore this fantasy read. The descriptions are terrific and from the beginning of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the unique magical and fantasy world. all characters are well-written into the story, adding depth to the already fascinating fantasy world the author has invented.
If you enjoy dark magic, and creative fantasy, do not hesitate to pick this book.

Thanks, Netgalley and D.E.Night for the review copy in exchange of an honest review

The Crowns of Croswald is enchanting book. There is a problem in Croswald a wandering family is still lost. Of course Derwin Edgar Night can’t be bothered with such news he is about to meet the royal family he will be serving as their scientist. Derwin arrives at the castle but then is never seen or remembered again.
Ivy Lovely as lived a mundane drudge filled life for the past 16 years she has only known a life of loneliness and isolation. She works at Castle Plum as a scaldrony maid her main job is to tend the scaldrons, a type of domesticated dragon, used for cooking meals. The only solace Ivy finds is spending time sketching on the hill of Plum with her friend Rimbrick, a dwarf, who she finds fascinating. Rimbrick spends the nights telling Ivy tales about magic and scrivenists, people who study and write magic and serve royal families. Ivy longs to be a scrivenist to study and learn about magic. Little does Ivy know that her dream is about to become a reality. Her life is about to change and in that change mystery and adventure await. She will make new friends, learn about who she really is and fight against an evil that will try to take over Croswald. Looking forward to reading the second part of this trilogy. Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read this thrilling book.

This book is absolutely magical, in more ways than one. It is about Ivy Lovely, a scaldrony maid at Castle Plum in the middle of the slurry fields. After some terrible mishaps in the kitchen with a scaldron, a type of dragon that cooks food in its mouth like an oven, she is kicked out of Castle Plum and is invited to go to a magical school, The Halls of Ivy and become a Scrivenist.
When she arrives, strange things begin to happen, like being chased by hundreds of quill pens, and over time they only get stranger. Throughout the course of the year, Ivy manages to get herself into scrape after scrape, but Fyn and Rebecca are always there to help her out, or get into even more trouble with her. In the end, Ivy realizes she is not who she thought she was and is stronger than she ever imagined. There are so many magical aspects in this book, from the lanterns lit by Hairies that are magical fairy like creatures, to the Glanagery bottles that suck you in and take you to imaginary places. I had a hard time putting this book down and didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to read the second and third book in this series to find out where Ivy’s adventures take her next. I would highly recommend this book to any child, or adult, who enjoys fairytales and fantasy. If you are a fan of Disney’s Descendants, or Harry Potter, you will definitely like this book.

The Crowns of Croswald is filled with magic and adventure and I adored getting lost in the intricate fantasy world. I found the book to be a very enjoyable read and I think it is an excellent middle grade novel.

The book follows sixteen year old Ivy a girl who has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary away from magic until one day she crosses over and her powers are awakened. Leading her on a striking path, and ending up a student at Halls of Ivy a school for those who need to master their magic. After events unfold, Ivy has to delve into the mysteries of her past in order to save herself and Croswald before history is swept away.

The entire book was a fun read and I would definitely recommend it for younger readers just getting into reading. It's an ideal starting point and has so many interesting aspects. In a way it is very similar to other books out there but the whimsical feel of the tale and D.E. Night's writing made it more of an original read. I am a lover of books about magic schools so I knew going into this that I would most likely enjoy it but I was also wary because it's been done and it's been done extremely well. But the author managed to put her own spin on the trope and still create a thrilling plot.

This is a fantastic magical adventure with well developed characters and great world-building. Fans of Harry Potter will love this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.