This was a fun and adventurous romp through a refreshingly original take on the magical boarding school premise! It recalled the wonder and warm comfort of 'Harry Potter', and it was like I got to experience the magic all over again in a different world.

The prologue, set years before our protagonist (Ivy) appears, builds up an intriguing mystery that the book gradually unravels. There were several really nice hints and exposition scenes - I particularly liked the allusions to shifting portraits (evoked a bit of Dahl's 'The Witches') and the entire Hollow Shaft segment was excellent.

Having lived her whole life slaving away as a scaldonry maid (basically a kitchen maid who tends to adorable little mini-oven dragons), Ivy is ostensibly ordinary, but there's certainly more to her than meets the eye. Side note: I found it utterly hilarious that I spent 97% (NINETY-SEVEN PERCENT!) of this book thinking Ivy was 11, like Harry Potter. She is, in fact, 16. Oops!

Ivy has hidden powers, might even be the 'Chosen One' - but the real questions are how and why. (Okay, also who, but then it just turns into the 5 W's.) While Ivy does show traits of the 'Chosen One'/hidden identity tropes, it doesn't feel rehashed or stale. At times though, she felt more like a plot vessel than a person - some of her actions felt contrived to extend the mystery and tension, for example (view spoiler) felt out of character, as she's typically impulsive and inquisitive to a fault. This wasn't a big issue though, and most of the time Ivy reads like a realistic person.

Whole stars should go to the school (Halls of Ivy), the magic system and the secondary characters Rebecca and Fyn. The names of the professors, shops, textbooks and spells were all so quirky and I loved it! (Similar wacky vibes to 'Harry Potter', as I've already mentioned.) I particularly liked the glanageries, which are little enchanted bottles that hold a miniature scene inside, sprung from the imagination of their owners. Glanageries may sound whimsical and cute, but rest assured, they can be very dangerous and play an integral role in this book's plotline. Rebecca was my favourite character - everyone needs a friend like her (and she was the real MVP in the ballroom scene) - and Fyn Greeley is just adorkable. To paraphrase Nina Zenik, Fyn's sweeter than mint meringues! (You know a budding romance is cute when you literally put down the book to smile at their exchanges.)

Throughout the book, the antagonist hovers like a storm cloud on the horizon - their motives are kept in the shadows for most of the book, but their unexplained, uninvited presence is enough to feel unsettling. However, during the actual confrontation, I did feel like the villain's monologues came off a little cartoonish. That being said, the spell used by the antagonist was certainly twisted (view spoiler) - and I definitely took them seriously after that.

I think there's definitely more to the story (along with certain authority figures that I don't quite trust), and I'm really looking forward to the sequel! There's a major question that I felt went unanswered by the Big Reveal™ (re: Ivy and the Forgotten Room) and I really hope that gets addressed in 'The Girl with the Whispering Shadow'.

Ivy is 16 years old.
She's a kitchen maid.
She also loses her job and her house.
She feels awful, because she already feels like she's not destined to be anything else but a maid. She wishes to attend "Halls of Ivy" which is a prestigious magic school. The school is for royal people and for those who have magical blood coursing through their veins. but something weird and magical happens where she can attend the school and that's where things start to get interesting and magical. Questionable things start happening within the walls of the magic school. Almost like Ivy is supposed to know about these things. One man comes across her dreams overnight and she wants to know who he is and why she has magical powers. I really enjoyed Night's attention to detail in the book. She describes everything so smoothly and vividly. I enjoyed learning about the scrivenerist's and their ability to have photographic memory so they can sketch. This resonates perfectly with Ivy, as she herself loves to sketch. I also enjoyed a few of the characters in the book as well, such as Rebecca and Humboldt. They added a cool aspect to the book. The magical creatures were also a plus. I will agree though, just like most people have stated, the book has major Harry Potter vibes and that's not necessarily a bad thing to me anyway.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I would consider it a middle grade book so it's good for the age group of 8-13 year olds. I love the magical journey this book took me on. It's reminds me of my childhood, and me getting lost in a different world. I think my fave characters was the evil queen and her cloaked brood. I believe I'm a major villain supporter. I wouldn't mind seeing a book about her life prior to being the evil queen.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for my free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really adored the whimsical wordplay and world-building of the first book in this middle grade fantasy series! Even the delightful illustrations with each new chapter helped you feel like you were stepping into the pages of a fairytale storybook. It was like if Alice in Wonderland met Harry Potter.

If you like...
1️. a fearless female heroine
2️. a creative, magical realm
3. inventive concepts & creatures
4. colorful, memorable characters
5. descriptive, imaginative language
...then this story might just be for you or your kids!

Be prepared to enter into a fascinating world filled with sqwinches, scaldrons, hairies, glanageries, potions, magic schools, special stones, powerful forces, mysterious happenings, and a dark queen... a place where the pen (or should I say quill) is mightier than the sword, where people called scrivenists record history and perform magic, where royals channel their magical gifts through the use of unique gemstones, and where we meet a young girl named Ivy Lovely, who is destined for more than she ever thought possible.

This is a story I wish was written when I was growing up, and though I don't have kids yet, it's just the kind of story I would love reading to them. Bonus? Even as an adult I enjoyed the heck out of this tale because it still speaks to the young at heart.

So even though the story might feel best suited to a younger audience and the plot is occasionally predictable, overall, this is a fun, fantasy romp that illustrates how life is about the journey, rather than just the destination. And getting immersed in this fantastic world for a little while was the perfect escape that I needed.

I already know I want to read the second book The Girl with the Whispering Shadow. And on top of that, I discovered that the author's third book in the series -- The Words of the Wandering -- is now available for pre-order and coming out May 30th, 2020!

A version of this review will be listed on Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Crowns of Croswald is book one of a trilogy that follows the life of Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid. The book starts with an epilogue of sorts that gives us a brief yet magical overview of the world that we are about to step in. There are dragons, flying carriages and mysterious palaces. My first thought after reading this chapter was how much it reminded me of Hogwarts from Harry Potter which was a good thing because we need magic in such uncertain times.

Ivy Lovely is a sweet-lovable girl who has been mistreated throughout her life until she is thrown out of the palace she lives in. Along the course of the book we discover that Ivy is not ordinary but has special powers that she cannot understand. Despite being with people like her, she realized how different she is and wonders if she would ever fit in. As she explores the school, she makes an unusual bunch of friends and an arch-nemesis who likes to make others feel bad about themselves. The book then develops into a series of adventures that almost always turn out hazardous.

Here's what I enjoyed the most about the book:
- Fyn, he's such a dorky yet charming guy. Obviously, I have a crush on him immediately. Even though his initial mysteriousness is a little suspicious.
- Magical creatures like scaldrons are completely adorable. The author has done great justice while exploring these beasts and the concepts of each of them was great fun to read.
- The magical system and learning had my attention. It would be a spoiler if I mentioned what I loved the most but let's suffice it to say that magical bottles were my favourite.
- The fairytale like narration of the book made me feel like it was one of those Prince and Princess stories that we all know and love. Also, the book has a lot of magic related to the moon and dwarves which I felt was completely endearing.

So if you like books with new magical systems, good protagonists who aren't twisted and adventures, then this is the book for you. I'm super excited to read Book 2 and get more of Fyn!
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of this amazing book!

I received an e-ARC for The Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book and loved every moment of it. Even though it is a middle grade fantasy novel, I found myself totally engrossed and intrigued by it.
Ivy is a 16 year old orphan working as a maid in Castle Plum. She has only one friend and loves sketching. Little does she know, she is placed under magical protection to protect her from people who could harm her.

One day she receives a letter from Halls of Ivy, a prestigeous school of magic in Croswald. It is going to be nothing short of wonders and dangers alike! Soon she understands how her recurring dream is related, her magical powers and connection with Croswald. Here she makes some really good friends.
The book is full of magic and creatures, it reminded me of Harry Potter. I loved the magical places and the classes/subjects taught. It was intriguing and wonderful! Looking forward to reading the next in series. If you love magic and fantasy you will like this book.
Thank you @netgalley and @storiesuntoldpress for the e ARC.

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3.5/4
Thank you to the publishing team for reaching out and sending me a copy via Netgalley for review. I enjoyed this one but it wasn't my favorite it was just good. It felt really similar to The Trials of Morrigan Crow but it still lacked that magical spark that makes a great middle grade for me. I might still pick up book two to see how it is but I'm not sure. Overall it was a good read but it won't be an all time favorite and I'm not sure how memorable it will be in the long run.

Will also be posted on Instagram eventually my reviews are posted in order of reading so it may take a bit.

Review
This was an interesting story. Some aspects of Ivy’s story (especially towards the end) were a hair predictable, but not to the level where it would ruin the story. Fans of Middle Grade and the Harry Potter series would really enjoy this one. Harry Potter fans especially will notice some tropes and plot details that are similar to Harry’s story, although this one still stands on its own.

The characters in the book were not fleshed out too much, but they were still likable. Ivy was a fun MC to follow, as the reader learns about the world with her. Fortunately, since this appears to be the first book in a series, I think a trilogy, but don’t quote me on that, there is plenty of time for the characters to be explored more and for arches to grow. The magic system in the books is extremely creative. I love that we’re following two different magic systems that interact and play off each other. I can’t wait to see how this is explored in future books.

The plot was an interesting pace. I honestly did not realize that an entire school year had passed when reading the book, but the pace of the story didn’t feel too slow or too rushed. That being said, there was a lot of exposition thrown at the reader in the last chapter, setting up for the sequels. It will be interesting to see where the plot goes in the future books. I’ll definitely be looking forward to them and continuing on with this series.

Final Thoughts
This was a solid Middle Grade, fantasy book. The story had an intriguing enough premise to keep readers excited while still leaving plenty of story for future books. Fans of Middle-Grade fantasy will enjoy this one. Also not related to the review at all, but the PR* packaging for this book was super cute!

A very magical read with every turn of the page!

This story follows a girl, named Ivy Lovely, who comes out from her unfortunate life as a scaldron maid (a maid that tends to mini dragons who in turn is used as an oven to bake goodies) entering into a school of magic to become a scrivenist (protector of royal families with their expert practice of magic and writing their adventures in a journal) with no knowledge of the power that runs in her blood.

This book reminds me a lot of Harry Potter as royals wield their magic through precious stones while scrivenists with their quills. This story also contains various magical creatures that I think Hagrid would adore too!

What I love about this book was the magical plot. The mystery and adventures were all so thrilling and I found myself longing to know what will happen next. The characters were also very vibrant and full of energy. The writing was easy to read and very suitable for middle grade readers (everyone should know that it's my fav genre by now). I also thought that the setting was very unique - in a town with no name so that it remains hidden.

The only part that took me aback was the abrupt and brief entry of the Dark Queen. I guess that keeps the story mysterious and I can't wait to learn more in the sequel.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from D.E. Night through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was such a endearing and entertaining read.
The world of Croswald is a fantastic one, full of color and enchanting creatures. It’s fun to read about young mages again, here called scriveners since their magic is done using a magic quill who channel the users magic power, or are of royal blood accessing magic through gem stones filled with specific powers.
The magic is however threatened by the loss of the line of queens and the new Dark Queen who rules Croswald.
The main character is a mysterious young girl called Ivy whose power will call her to where she belongs.
There is definitely a similar feeling to the Harry Potter books although the characters are young adults, and the world is all a magic one.
It’s a bit predictable and I’d have loved more exploration of the main characters character and emotional world. Nevertheless, the writing is flawless and the descriptions of the amazing quirkiness and fantasy of the land, and adventures is awesome, transporting you totally to a colourful and magical world
I definitely recommend it to anyone who loves Harry Potter and enchanted worlds.

You can also see my review here - https://www.instagram.com/p/B-w-PNggcpQ/?igshid=1e8mhuo4q2f57

I immediately fell in love with the whimsical and imaginative world of Croswald and all the creatures who reside within.

The main character, Ivy, has been hidden from magic for 16 years. Once she enters the magical world, readers get to experience twists and turns as secrets are revealed and magic unfolds. This book has many Harry Potter similarities, but is also a fantastically unique spin on a magical world. I absolutely LOVE the idea of the Scrivenists - people who posses magic and use magical quills to harness their powers.

I read this book with my kids (ages 5, 10 and 12) and they all loved it. We are ready to order the next book and learn what happens to the wonderful characters of Croswald. I have already recommended it to every family member and friend who loved HP and needs a new magical series to immerse themselves into!

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

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved everything about this book! It kept me hooked from the beginning

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Stories Untold through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks to NetGalley and Stories for providing me the opportunity to review.

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.

This book was so magical! It reminded me a lot of different fantasy books I read as a kid so it felt very nostalgic to me.

The whole story was very whimsy and imaginative, perfect for young middle grade readers. It was so creative. I loved learning about the school, the creatures, and just the world of Croswald in general. The world building was fantastic. You get pulled into a mystical adventure right from the beginning.

The Crowns of Croswald! Wow what a fun book, and book two is already out! If you loved Harry Potter trust me you’re gonna love this series. First the world building, the world building in this series is incredible. It's all very well thought out and the nature of magic and the history of it in this book is such a cool interesting take on all things magic. Ivy lovely as a character is a perfect middle grade character, she’s fun, she’s brave, even a bit naive but that’s okay because she’s so young but you can already tell she’s gonna be a kick ass adult.

Not to mention what dragged me to this book is how freaking beautiful it is! I’m absolutely in love with the cover and the inside too everything about this book feels very well put together and concrete. D.E. Night is a freaking incredible author and she loves her followers just as much as her book, she’s super interactive on social media and honestly super nice.

I don’t want to spoil much about this book but it has a lot of adventure and running and Ivy being thrown into the world of croswald feels like you’re being flung in there with her. I’m supper excited to read book two but this one is definitely a 5 star book to me!

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. But that doesn’t affect my opinion and thoughts about this book.

This book follows the journey of a girl who has a power that that she didn’t know about. It started off with her in the slurry, where Ivy grow up. But one day she received a letter, inviting her to study at a very famous school, the Halls of Ivy. And her journey begins there!

In all honesty, I was having a hard time in reading the first few chapters of the book. I was having troubles with the world building. But don’t get me wrong, it is beautifully written, I just find it difficult because I’m such a noob when it comes to Fantasy books. I really struggle with world building. I honestly have reread the first few chapters to get it all.

The characters in this book reminds me so much of Harry Potter. It’s great and it motivated me to read this book more. And I enjoyed it! I also like the fact that despite it being similar to a very famous franchise, it has so much unique things in it! (We’ll discuss that in the spoilers section of this post).

I like the idea of the Forgotten Room. It still confuse me how it works but knowing the everything that is thrown into the room, everyone would surprisingly forget that specific thing. It’s a mystery for me, to be honest. I like it though. I really do.

I love the ending but at the same time, wished that I have the second book already! Like NOW! I wanna see how things would turn out in the next book. I wanna see Ivy develop and fulfill her destiny.

Full review: https://wandersbetweenpagess.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/book-review-the-crowns-of-croswald-by-d-e-night/

So beautifully magical! This book reminded me a little of sleeping beauty - princess hidden away for many years not knowing her true destiny to hide from a ruthless dark queen. But the princess has magic and goes to a magic school! Which reminded me a lot of Harry Potter. But it had its own twist which was lovely. I loved the descriptions of the country, the town, the school, the lake, the creatures of this world - but I wish there was more! This book has definitely left me wanting more more more. More of everything I’ve just explained. To be honest, I’d be happy just reading about the world itself, the creatures, the scenery, the hairies. Love the hairies (fairies whose hair lights up to create lanterns). But the story was good. It was beautiful!

A young girl discovers she has magic after she is banished from her home. She is whisked away to a school to help her master her magic. The dark queen has taken an interest in her, and she must figure out her past so she may have a future.

This story is a mix between Harry Potter and Fablehaven. I loved it. The story is different enough to not be considered a Harry Potter copy but familiar enough to love it immediately. I look forward to more in this series!