Title:The Crowns of Croswald
By : D.E. Night
Published by :Stories Untold
Genre: Middle Grade | Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date : 21 Jul 2017



I was given this ARC by the authors team and NetGally for an honest review.


Girl works in castle kitchen with kitchen dragons.
Girl gets fired.
Girl finds out she has magic and is sent to magic school.


I had to DNF this book after only 55 pages.

Though I liked the magic element of the book and was looking forward to learning more I could not continue to ignore the fat shaming/ fat phobia in this book.

By page 55 we had already read the following:

"eating was the best kind of body building"
"overly wide hips"
"However her size would suggest she lived beside the town baker instead"

There were probably more that I didn't take note of. On top of these quotes it seemed that any one deemed nice or kind was referred to as skinny physically .

The book did have great descriptions and transported me to a different world. However there was repetitive use of certain words such as just and reveries.

Unfortunately as some one from the plus size community I couldn't let the fat shaming slide. I will probably not read anything else by this author.

If you like Harry Potter and are not adverse to fat shaming then this is the book for you.

As a fan of Harry Potter and a middle-grade librarian, it's hard to find new titles that encompass the world-building and empathy of the Potter series. The Crowns of Croswald is a fast-paced, refreshing, middle-grade alternative. It is safe to call Harry Potter a classic, but given the recent opinions of the author, I think many people are looking for alternatives to share with their children. It was also refreshing to read something written by a woman of color and have the protagonist be a girl. Middle-grade fantasy holds a special place in my heart and I will absolutely be buying this series for my library.

Everything about the imagery of this first in a series was so vivid and easy to put yourself there. Like most fantasy, there was new world-building to learn, but D.E. Night makes it accessible and easy to digest. It's exciting and new and left me wanting more.

The first thing about this book that grabs your attention right away is the cover. The gorgeous colors pop and grab your attention. For anyone who loves Harry Potter, royalty, and fantasy, this book is for you. Ivy is such a great character who goes from working in a kitchen to The Halls of Ivy. A wonderful magical school filled with imaginative characters. It was fun to read and follow Ivy on her wondrous adventure and find out where she is really meant to be and what her purpose is. Lastly, I love the author names a character after herself, D.E. Night. I recommend this to all YA readers who love fantasy. I received this book for free from the publisher (Stories Untold) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Stories Untold Publishing, for the opportunity to read this book

The Crowns of Croswald is a middle grade fantasy series. I was lucky enough to be gifted a digital copy of the first book, from the publisher through Netgalley.

I was immediately enthralled by this whimsical world. The description and imagery throughout, made for a wholly immersive reading experience. The fast moving, action-packed plot had me tearing through pages, eager to find out what happened next. The masterful world building and witty banter between Ivy, Fyn and Rebecca is excellent. I delight in seeing fierce female protagonist’s in any book but especially books aimed at a younger audience. Role models, both real and fictional, are immensely important.

My only gripe with the book is the parallels that can be drawn between it and Harry Potter. As someone who devoured Harry Potter when I was younger, I could see quite a few similarities in Ivy’s origin story. That being said, the plot of the Crowns of Croswald takes on a life of its own as the story progresses. If you have never read Harry Potter and are looking for a story equally as magical, minus the transphobic author, look no further than The Crowns of Croswald. In fact, if any of you are contemplating reading Harry Potter, just read this instead.

I am really looking forward to reading the rest of this series. While it is middle grade, it is the perfect balance of nostalgia, comfort and excitement. A series that all ages will find joy in.

Thank you to the author D. E. Night & her publicist Daniela for reaching out and offering me a digital copy of the book. What a wonderful and enchanting world you have introduced me to!

This happens to be my first sci-fi & fantasy in a longggg while. It just upped my imagination game and I kinda liked it. This is usually a genre I try to stay away from but I’m glad I accepted to read and review this. I can’t wait to read the next three books in this series.
Get ready for some adventure and a new world of magic, mythical creatures, and a bit of humor. I know you will love it 😍.

I received this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I read the book through the eyes of a middle school student as that is who it’s written for.

The story was very imaginative. Kinda like a Harry Potterish universe where there’s a forgotten/hidden child, Ivy, who gets an invitation to a school of magic. She’s discovering who she is and how the world of magic works as the bad queen comes for her. It was a little confusing towards the end but easy enough to figure out.

Honestly I enjoyed this YA book as a 34 year old adult so imagine middle school me would have loved it!! This was a magical book and she did a wonderful job building the world with students and creatures alike.

Overall I would definitely recommend this book for young readers of fantasy or who liked Harry Potter.

The writing in this book is so cute and absolutely enchanting! Everything about the imagery of this story was so vivid and so easy for me to picture and get lost in. I especially loved the images of creatures like the scaldrons! This brought me back to my childhood and I know I would've adored this book even more than I do now when I was younger! I can't wait to read the rest of this series! Some of my favorite characters included Ivy, Winsome, and Fyn (but really so many more magnificent characters). It's been so long since I've read a middle grade fantasy novel and after this one I want to go and devour as many as possible! The plot had some common fantasy elements such as royalty, an evil queen, and young people discovery their powers but also had unique elements to the magic system and new mythical creatures I wasn't familiar with before the story. There also was a small amount of romance if that is something that appeals to you but wasn't overwhelming to the plot if you prefer fantasy without romance.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Crowns of Croswald is a cute middle grade fantasy book about Ivy Lovely. When she crosses a magical boundary, she discovers a whole new world of enchantment and mystery. She discovers more about herpast, magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mystical stones. But a dark history and an evil Queen threatens all that is good. Will Ivy’s bravery and wit be enough? The Crowns of Croswald is the first book in a series and the next two books are already published.

I immediately liked the main character Ivy and it reminded me of books I enjoyed during my childhood and my teenage years. However, I found the book a bit difficult to get into and confusing at times. To me Ivy didn’t seem like a 16-year-old but she seemed younger. I expected to read through it more quickly but it was more of a slow book.

I liked the general idea of the story and the magic system because scrivenry was definitely a new concept for me. The world building was creative and whimsical. I think it’s a good book for young readers who like creative fantasy worlds. However, it isn’t a new favourite and there were parts I didn’t enjoy as much and skimmed through.

My Instagram review:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CNakzBVLMUx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Thank you to Stories Untold and NetGally for providing me with a copy of The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for my impartial and honest review.

The Crown of Croswald follows 16 year old Ivy. A girl with hidden magic, destined to attend a magical school to harness her magical powers and discover her past.

This book was a slow burner for me, starting steadily. I had to will myself to continue at times but I believe this was largely due to the fact that the story follows that of another wizarding series.
I felt the book was different enough to claim its own merit, largely due to the depth of the world, its creatures and objects, but none the less it follows a similar structure. You know the one I mean, discovers a magical gift, gets an invitation to magic school, shops in unique and mystical streets, attends quirky classes and meets a variety of teachers.
This lead to me kind of plodding through the first half of the book, willing it to take its own path and to be less predictable.

Then.... at 50% I couldn't put it down!

Suddenly the book came into its own, It took a completely unique direction and we discover the depth of the world in its own right. Its so beautifully throughout and I thoroughly enjoyed all imagination of events that followed and the creatures and objects within Croswald. I felt the world was portrayed and described really well by the writer and I felt right there in the action with the characters.

I would really have liked to get to know more of Fyn and Rebecca and their relationships with Ivy but I can see this as a strong start to a series that will continue to build on its world and its characters further along so I'm not mad at that, it just makes me want to read the rest now that the scene is set.

Overall, this whimsical adventure defiantly holds it own, I will certainly pick up the rest of the series at some point and would highly recommend for ages of around 9-12 years old

Disclaimer: I was kindly gifted an electronic copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I haven’t read a Middle Grade read in quite some time, so I was thrilled to dive into a world filled of whimsical and magical moments.
I really loved learning about the school and Ivy’s classes, especially how each of her reading lists were so descriptive. It really made me feel like a school like this could possibly exist in the real world and of course I wish it did!

Author D.E. night has a really great way of getting one’s imaginative wheels rolling. The world-building and character development were beautifully written. That I couldn’t help but picture this world in all it’s entirety.

I also thought the illustrations at the beginning of each chapter were so beautifully executed that I would spend some time just studying them, trying to figure out if I could guess how they would tie into that chapter. They really did add that touch of magic to each chapter.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to young readers / lovers of middle grade fantasy. This book ticked all the boxes, it has magic, mystery and action which was very captivating.

💫 Book Review 💫

💫 The Crowns of Croswald by D.E Night

💫 Publication Date - 21st July 2017

💫 Thanks to @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

💫 The Crowns of Croswald is a thoughtful, action-driven middle grade fantasy.

💫 I don't know if it's my age speaking here but I just could not get into the book as much as I wanted to. I wanted to love this book! I had read it compared to Harry Potter and was super excited but the first few chapters were hard for me to get into. I can see the comparisons but can also see where the author has given it her own spin.

💫 Ivy is a young orphan destined for a better life, she takes matters into her own hands. Searching for the truth about her family and heritage. With her best friend, she battles against the royal bullies who believe they are better than her because of their money and statuses.

💫 This novel is aimed at middle grade aged kids and it addresses many real-world issues with themes such as, grief, bullying, racism, prejudice, and abandonment.

💫 I will definitely buy the series for my 10 year old daughter as I know she'll love it!

DISCLAIMER: I unfortunately, could not bring myself to finish this book. So it is a DNF. However, I still think I can provide a decent amount of positive feedback with my limited reading.

The Crowns of Croswald is beautifully written, and richly imaginative! There's an incredible set of magic you are introduced to that, honestly, makes me think of the power that authors themselves hold! The characters seem fun and interesting enough — and there does seem to be a plot direction. However, I could not get myself to remain focused on the book, and found myself struggling to continue it.

This is a reader problem, not a writer problem. This book is in a genre that I thought I could read, but wound up not being particularly engaged enough with! The book definitely had potential, and has a lot of care put into it — so despite not finishing it, I will be providing a positive 4 star review. For its audiences intended age range and genre, it seems promising and very fun!

P.S. Rimbrick is my fav, I will take no criticism.

2.5 Stars

*I was asked by the author to read and review this book in exchange for a free copy of the book*

This story had a lot of potential following 16 year old Ivy throughout her discovery of possessing magic and going to attend her first year at the magic school.

Unfortunately, it felt like there were parts of the story that jumped from scene to scene which was a bit disorienting. I also wish the characters had been more developed.

Overall, a cute, fun middle-grade fantasy to read for fans of Harry Potter and other related stories. I definitely think that the book stays true to its age category despite the protagonist being 16 years old.

I like the writing style of the author. The book is very easy to understand. I found my way into the story and was very captivated, especially at the end. One thing I didn't like was that the protagonist's feelings are not described enough for me. Thoughts are often described, but in context, the feelings were just missing for me.

Ivy Lovely is the protagonist in this book. As I just said, I missed the feelings from her and thus had difficulty investing myself in her. That improved by the end of the book.

The story reminds me a lot of a mixture of Harry Potter and Nevermoor. I like both of those books very much. The book is full of magic and set in a whole new world.

At the beginning I was missing some tension. But it gets better and especially on the last 100 pages I could hardly put the book down. Despite the lack of suspense at the beginning, the book is not boring. The world and many magical creatures are introduced.

I really enjoyed the book. In the beginning I was a bit skeptical but as the pages go by it gets better and better and I really liked the ending. I will definitely read the next parts

When I started reading The Crown of Croswald, I found it to be such a easy, fun, and magical read - full of adventure and mischief!

This is definitely a fun and easy to read alternative to that other series, and the characters were fun! Especially the main character, Ivy.

I enjoyed reading about the forgetful room, and I could imagine how chaotic it would've been to be in the same world as this was written in!

Rating: 3.5/5

Thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this title for review!

Magic, mystical creatures, fantasy, and magical lands! Wow! I love fantasy-this book was a fun read with a world of magic that you can get lost in and escape reality!

The main character is Ivy-when we are introduced to her she is nothing but a maid slaving away in a kitchen-but she longs for so much more in life. We follow her on a magical adventure throughout the book. There are a few things that Ivy does not know about herself-that she soon finds out-such as how she has magical powers! Ivy attends a school called Croswald-where she will learn to use and perfect the magical powers she has.

This book is a fun YA fantasy-it is an enjoyable and light read. I loved the magic surrounding the story, the characters were enjoyable-although I had a hard time connecting with the main character-Ivy.

Many reviews compare this to Harry Potter-which I can totally agree with, although Croswald is definitely its own world.

Overall, I definitely recommend this fun magical book! I could picture myself at Croswald-and oh what a magical adventure!

*The publisher gave me a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*
When I started this book I did not like it at all. I did not understand what was going on and why the author made the choice to start that way. The more I read, the more I was able to understand and see some connections. In a way you are learning how things work as our main character Ivy does, so the initial mystery works. This book is definitely middle grade and would be great for people who love magical worlds and schools. I think people who enjoy the Percy Jackson series, would find enjoyment in this book. The magical world is interesting because you have royals who have specific powers and then the others who are basically magical archivists. I thought that was a weird distinction, but it worked for the book. I thought the friendships made in this book were rushed and there were some things done that personally, I would not stay in a friendship with that person. The mystery portion of the book is good and helps to overshadow the parts I was not fond of.
This book would be a good book for younger readers who love magical worlds and magical schools.

Thanks to NetGalley, D.E.Night & Stories Untold Press for giving me access to this fantastic book!

This book is beautifully written & immerses you into the magical world where Ivy Lovely lives. Ivy is invited to go to the Halls of Ivy to become a scrivenist. In a world where royals and scrivenists work together, Ivy feels like the outsider. What she stumbles into however will change her life forever. The Dark Queen is lurking about searching for something. Scrivenists of the past are roaming the magic school’s halls & nothing is what it appears.

D.E Night has created a whimsical & magical world that will be a hit with children (and adults!) who enjoyed the Harry Potter series. I loved the characters in this book and I really look forward to reading book 2 & 3 in this series. There are mystical creatures galore in this book, from shorehorses to hairies and many more in between. The author’s love of all things magical can clearly be seen in the loving way she spins this wonderful story.

If you or your child want a book which will allow them to escape into a magical world full of danger and adventures, I highly recommend “The Crowns of Croswald”!!

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is a magical adventure, perfect for anyone longing to be sucked into a new world with mystery and intriguing characters at every turn of the page. Ivy Lovely is a great strong female lead in this story. Even when she is thrown into the unknown, Ivy dives in head first! Be ready to be thrust into a world with dragons, magical potions, intoxicating slurry fields, special stones, storm-driving cabbies, and evil queens.. this tale is packed with fun characters, intriguing details, and a lot of suspense along the way. I highly recommend this book to any Harry Potter fan or MG reader. The Crowns of Croswald is an impeccable mix of MAGIC and MYSTERY rolled into one!

Thank you, NetGalley, D.E. Night, and Stories Untold for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Man. I went into this hoping I would like it, I really did, but The Crowns of Croswald was just not for me... I didn't like this book at all. I hate to write a negative review, especially for an author's debut, but I was asked to give an honest review and so that's what I'm gonna do.

The bad:

✦ So, right off the bat, the writing style came across to me as quite juvenile. This makes sense to some extent since this is marketed as a middle-grade book, but let me say why I mention this. The first is that this has been shelved by several users on Goodreads as YA fiction. It's not - at all - and I'd warn anyone picking this up thinking that this has been written for a young adult audience. The main character is a 16-year-old girl, but she reads more like a preteen. The other reason is that I strongly believe that just because a book has been written for a young audience, doesn't mean that it can't also be enjoyed by an older audience. For example, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Percy Jackson and Skulduggery Pleasant are all series targeted at young audiences but are written in such a way that I, a 23-year-old woman, could and would go back and read them. This isn't the case for TCOC.

✦ Continuing along the theme of writing, the text was written confusingly. I was already confused by the end of the prologue (which, by the way, could've probably been removed completely). The book is difficult to get through because the reader goes paragraph to paragraph having to sift through info-dumping, flowery descriptions bordering on purple prose, a tone that can't seem to decide whether it's gearing towards children or young adult readers (the number of words I had to look up makes me wonder what kind of children are expected to read this), and characters who have little to no plot relevance but who are given full-blown descriptions. And speaking of characters...

✦ The characters are so. dull. Ivy, our main character, has no personality. None at all. I got halfway through the book and realised that I could hardly tell you a thing about her, aside from her tendency to be pretty dumb. She's just a generic main character, and there's so little to invest in. The best friend is just... there. The (unnecessary) love interest is definitely not a fully fleshed-out character. The big bad is an underwhelming character who's shrouded in mystery, but as a result, is someone we don't know enough about to be interested in or fearful of. And the antagonist is a mean girl who exists for no reason other than to cause a minor inconvenience every now and then. And, I guess, to pit girls against girls.

✦ Another issue with this is that it's basically Harry Potter v2.0. I was waiting for something to come along which distinguished this book from HP, but it's really a very similar story with superficial changes. The book literally starts out as "orphaned kid kept locked away without a friend in the world whisked off to a magical school in a castle by a strange man with a strange transportation vehicle and a list of magical school supplies to purchase from quirkily named shops on a magical street". So... make of that what you will.

✦ Also, the plot is lacklustre and boring. Too much of the book is just day-to-day school life which isn't particularly interesting to read about. It's very much a "things happen" kind of story for the book's majority. People act OOC just to advance the plot and I'm sure there were some plot holes but to be honest I could've just missed things because I was so bored that I started skim-reading halfway through the book.

The good:

✧ Um... I hate to say it, I really do, but there was not really anything I enjoyed about this book. I suppose if I was to say one thing, it's that this book might work for its intended young audience, probably for kids no older than 12 or 13. Though, in honesty, I think there are higher quality books out there for kids. I'm trying to think back as to whether I would've liked a book like this, and honestly, I'm not sure that I would've.

Again, I hate to give such a negative review, but this wasn't an enjoyable read. I would have DNF'd one or two chapters in but did want to give a full and honest review. Sadly there wasn't anything here that would compel me to pick up the next book in the series, but I sincerely hope that it does pick up later on.

Regardless of my feelings about The Crowns of Croswald, I'd like to give a massive thanks to Stories Untold Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.