What a magical world building! This kind of books reminds me of why I fell in love with reading fantasy novels
The story was magical and there’s a lot of elements that makes this a good fantasy story. There’s magical creatures, unique magical power for each student, magical boarding school, hidden identity and “chosen ones” trope actually makes this pretty much similar to the plot and the world building in the Harry Potter series.
Honestly, the world building is unique and interesting, but at the same time the world could get a bit confusing at times and I wish there are a map to help envision this universe better.
Other than that, the plot is good because I keep wanting to read Ivy’s adventure in Halls of Ivy and learning the truth about her past and her hidden powers. The story is pretty well written and the pacing is a bit slow at first but it eventually get better as the story progress.
Enjoyable, entertaining and recommended for young readers or a harry potter fan who love venturing on a magical land filled with unique powers and magical creatures!
Thanks to Netgalley, D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for the review copy in return for an honest review.
Author
readwkc
3 years ago
Wow such an amazing read! I could definitely feel a Harry Potter vibe and yet it still had its on uniqueness. I would actually give this book a 4.5 star because it was a little slow for me at the beginning but once the story got going it was really exciting. And at times, it was hard for me to imagine exactly what was happening maybe because of too much detail but I did get the overall gist of things. Overall, I think this is a very exciting fantasy for readers to immerse themselves in the magical world of Croswald.
Author
beyondapage
3 years ago
“Your visions, your dreams… there’s magic in you.”
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is an incredibly fun and whimsical coming-of-age story full of magic, myth, and realizing the possibility that you can be more than people say you are.
Ivy Lovely has spent her 16 years on the other side of a barrier that separates the mundane from the magical. As a lowly scalondry maid, she didn’t think she was made to be more than that until she stepped over the boundary. Suddenly Ivy is thrust into the enchanting world of scrivenry where she will attend the Halls of Ivy to master the powers she never knew she had. With vivid dreams of mysterious strangers and familiar places plaguing her mind, she has to discover the history behind her new school and its magical gems, before the Dark Queen sets her sights on all of Croswald.
Ivy is naturally curious about the world around her but finds that her curiosity constantly gets her into all kinds of trouble. She is joined in her adventures by her two closest friends, Fyn and Rebecca. Throughout the book, they form a great dynamic that seems to always get them into difficult situations: the curious troublemaker, the friend who asks to join in the trouble, and the one who tries to keep them in check. I absolutely adored the characters and their friendship and got attached to them very easily.
Above all, I admire the magic system and world-building of the book. There are two classes in the Halls of Ivy: the royals, who get their magic from the gemmed crowns they receive when they come of age; and scrivenists, those who have magic in their blood and use quills in place of wands. Upon their graduation, scrivenists will be assigned to a royal family to whom they will serve for the rest of their days. I also loved how the story gave special appreciation to the arts, like drawing and writing. The different magics, original creatures, and unique realm where a book is literally someone’s life is such a new take on what you usually find in a magical academy.
Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who:
– Would love to try their hand on the middle-grade genre,
– Want to start or would like to fall back in love with fantasy;
– Really want to go to a magic boarding school;
– Think that maybe wands are a bit overused;
– Want to read about new creatures;
– Love the trouble trio trope;
– Like pie :>
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night really brought me back to my childhood. There are no other words to describe it but it reads to me like a good dream. It gave me a wistful sense of nostalgia and affection for the fantasy and middle-grade genres. I highly recommend anyone of any age to pick it up! Its magic and the idea of attending such a fantastical school would make anyone want to cross an imaginable barrier and be a scrivenist (or at least wave a quill around in the air as I did hahaha). It captivated me from start to finish with every detail added to the plot that answered questions little by little. I admittedly had no idea where the story was headed, and although I could get a clue of the ending, I didn’t know how it would take me there–which is thrilling in itself. Granted this is the first book in the set, I definitely suggest the whole series if you’re in a magical, whimsical, nostalgic mood!
A million thanks to author D.E. Night for writing this gem and publicist Daniela for reaching out and sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Author
moonphoenix
3 years ago
What a charming story, very whimsical. Ivy Lovely is a young orphan who doesn’t know how important she is.
She works hard and dreams about a mystery castle until one day she is invited to study at a magic school (this part reminded me of Harry Potter)
Ivy is smart and cute, soon she makes friends … and enemies. She will learn about the royal family and their curse, also about the evil queen who still terrifies the community.
The story and writing style feels a little old fashion, like a fairytale, the world-building was amazing, magical creatures and magic with words, how lovely, I love the idea of Scrivenists, people who do magic using an enchanted pen.
Ivy is a loveable character, a bit naive, fun and loyal, she is delighted with the school, she wants to learn (the classes are so interesting) and make friends. Through her eyes, we will know a magical world.
The pacing is fast, there is action and mystery, young readers will love it.
Author
bondmom
3 years ago
Although a person of any age would like this book, I think it is perfect for ages 9-12 years. This will be a four book series and has a notably small semblance of the Harry Potter Series. Although I tend to think of more gloom & gray with Harry Potter, this book is the exact opposite since it is full of so much color.
Ivy is a teenage girl that lives in a fantasy world where dragons that cook food and horses that have fins (seahorses) actually exist. When she turns 16, she is surprisingly sent to The Halls of Ivy where she learns she is more than she thinks she is.
The author’s imagination pulls you into this fantastical, colorful story as you join Ivy in her magical and suspenseful adventure.
Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for my advanced reader’s kindle copy.
Author
mariel
3 years ago
The Crowns of Croswald (The Crowns of Croswald #1)
by D.E. Night
I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The first book in The Crowns of Croswald series opens with a tantalising snippet surrounding the character we come to identify as Derwin Edgar Night. He is described as a “Scrivenist”, a type of magical scribe and as the tale unfolds, we discover fully what this entails. After his establishment, the tale proceeds with our encounter with the protagonist, Ivy Lovely, and suddenly we are swept away by the circumstances that promptly arise. She passes her mundane existence, serving as a scaldrony maid in the kitchen of Castle Plum. On one eventful day, Ivy discovers Humboldt, a “scaldron”, suffering from “flue flem” and everything seems to go wrong from that point. Little does she realise the path her life is about to take and the unbelievable occurrences to follow!
The Crowns of Croswald is an extraordinarily detailed story and is now securely on my favourite list. The entire world and underlying theme involved in the book, while equally entertaining, keeps the thrill and mystery presented to us at the start. A fascinating, wholesome style with a little of everything, D.E. Night has established a fantasy masterpiece; I would love to experience this in a film or a fantasy tv series!
Small sketches appear at the start of each chapter, a delightful extra detail that lends itself perfectly to the style of the book. It shows the added investment the author has taken, providing not only aesthetic appeal but still teases the reader with the incidents of the chapter we are about to begin.
The narrative is highly enjoyable. Reading the detail throughout, I could truly play out each part in my mind. Each scene reveals itself as if watching a film. One of my favourite parts is Ivy’s tour in the cabby, especially the goodies on offer, and I can only imagine the thoughts that went through her head. I felt somewhat envious that we don’t have the same privileges when we travel! If you are an admirer of all things mysterious and magical, illusion and fairies, The Crowns of Croswald is unquestionably for you. Added to this is the cover of the book which beautifully conveys the subject.
I didn’t want to stop reading, neither did I want the adventure to end, but what I can add is the ending is a satisfying conclusion. I appreciate how there is a resolution that still hints at many possibilities to come. Looking forward to the second novel in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold.
I rate The Crowns of Croswald 5 out of 5 stars.
Author
monrib
3 years ago
This is the beginning of this series that deals with the story of Ivy Lovely, a 16-year-old orphan who for various reasons ends up being thrown out of the castle where she worked, ending up in a school to improve her magical abilities, however, not everything is what seems and she has to face various adversities throughout her stay at school.
Main characters
Ivy is an intelligent, adventurous, and kind young woman, at first she was an entertaining and spontaneous character which I like, but little by little her character became predictable and somewhat unbearable. She always got into trouble, to begin with, she never wanted to listen to her friends or third-party advice telling her what not to do, basically, she was right, she did what she wanted and never really had any real punishment.
I really like her character because she was determined but I feel like she wasn’t developed properly and I really didn’t know in the end if I knew very well her character.
Plot
The plot is the reason for the score I gave, firstly, way too many things happen that honestly don’t add anything to the main point of the story, that is; she arrives at a magic school, strange things happen to her from day one and all she knows is that she has to find a man that no one remembers. Which is not addressed until the end and honestly the way it was presented wasn’t the best. Also, the writing was somewhat abrupt on many occasions, so it was tedious to continue reading or it was necessary to reread certain scenes.
Now the most important thing, we all know Harry Potter whether you have read the books or not, the point here is that when it comes to a fantasy book in a magic school with young characters it’s inevitable not to compare it with it. However, in this case, it was as if I was reading a different version of the story, let me explain, it has several original point yes of course, which I liked by the way, and make the story unique but practically the entire beginning of the book was like reliving Harry Potter and I don’t like that at all;
– Orphan girl who lives in a small room (closet) with powers she doesn’t know about
-A man comes for her to tell her that she was accepted to a magic school
-Buy her school supplies in the Diagon Alley
-It’s attacked by a dementor (I don’t remember what they were called in the book)
-Her rich blonde schoolmate (from royalty) hates her and makes her life miserable
All these are just small parts, I could say more but I don’t want to get in too deep.
Side characters
This is another big problem, there are too many characters and none of them are endearing. There are characters that are described and mentioned that we never see more than once, so they are unnecessary since they don’t add anything to the story. I’d also like to say that the few characters that really matter have no personality and are honestly one-dimensional.
Rebecca, Ivy’s best friend, I ask, How the hell did they become best friends? At what point? They never had a real interaction, more than when Ivy saved Rebecca from a situation, and boom BFF, it was so forced and it didn’t convince me at all, I don’t even consider it a friendship.
Instead, Fyn, can’t be a more forced love interest because it would be impossible. First of all, they met because he took her to buy her supplies, left her there, and only returned at the end for her, and that’s it. Literally, that was their only interaction before they saw each other again and began to have loving feelings. I don’t buy it and I don’t want it, thank you. It was also quite weird that he followed her everywhere.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a young audience who would probably like it, it has original points and is a quick read so anyone can read it to pass the time.
Is this book for you?
Perfect for: Fantasy, magic and adventure lovers.
Do I recommend it? No.
Heroine: 6/10
Romance: 1/10
Type of Relationship: F/M
Plot: 6/10
POV: third person
Type: Serie
Cover: 6.5/10
My thanks to the author D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review.
Author
boekensteeg
3 years ago
The Crowns of Crosswald is the first book in The Crosswald series by D.E. Night. While I’ve never read the Harry Potter books (I did watch the movies), this book really gives me the Harry Potter vibes. The story has the same structure and although the story is actually different, it seems as if D.E. Night really got her inspiration from Harry Potter. In addition, the story also resembles Alice in Wonderland. This however should not spoil the fun, since The Crowns of Crosswald is a unique story after all.
Ivy Lovely has lived in a dark and hidden castle for 16 years. She spends her day reading stories, and this is her real passion. When one day she suddenly receives a visit to the castle, she appears to have the unique opportunity to study at the most magical school in the country called The halls of Ivy. And although Ivy doesn’t believe she has any magic herself, she goes to school with her dragon. But once outside the castle’s borders, Ivy finds she might be more magical than she thought she was. Throughout her studies, Ivy becomes more and more curious about the secrets of the halls, and this leads to a threat from the dark queen. Will Ivy be able to unravel the secrets of the halls? What does the dark queen want from her? What magical powers will Ivy develop?
The story has a very long-winded prologue. In my opinion it could have been left out, because it doesn’t add much to the story. The events from the prologue are also explained again later in the story.
D.E. Night has managed to write a very magical story that takes you as a reader on an adventure. However, in my opinion the story remained superficial and I missed a bit of depth. What I really like is that D.E. Night takes the reader in search of a mysterious character named Darwin Edgar Night. And as you may already have figured out, this name is a huge reference to the author herself. Personally, I find a less pleasant reference in the story, although I am curious about the secrets of Darwin.
The Crowns of Crosswald is a must for fans of Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland and is very suitable for readers from the age of 12. It’s a nice introduction to the world of Crosswald, and I am curious what the next parts will bring in this series.
Author
mistyscornerreviews
3 years ago
The Crowns of Croswald has most certainly exceeded my expectations, wowing me on more than one occasion. I appreciated the likeness to Harry Potter, yet loved how this author was able to craft her unique magical adventure, set in the fantastical world of Croswald!
My kiddos and I were captivated right from the start; we had to take an unplanned hiatus in the middle, but once we could jump back in, we couldn’t stop! Luckily I was able to cast this ebook to our tv, and we took turns reading together, flying through the remaining pages.
Ivy Lovely was every bit the heroine I hoped she would be, always meaning well but not unflawed herself. Hidden away as a child to protect her well-being and Croswald, Ivy soon finds herself in the magical school of her dreams. Intent to learn all that she can as a sqwinch, a scrivenist-in-training, she gives it her all – of course, one thing leads to another, and she’s off, one unintended venture after another alongside her new friends.
We enjoyed the writing style, the intrigue, and the descriptive scenery. Even though I had to explain certain parts for the little ones to understand, I appreciated the varied word usage and creative ingenuity that came with the many spells and enchanted objects. On that note, I’d LOVE to possess the Olerium Stone! Who wouldn’t want to read faster?! So many books, so little time, am I right?
D.E. Night has created an engaging and whimsical tale, charming readers of all ages. Just as I remember experiencing the magical world of Harry Potter with my family growing up, it’s exciting to do the same with my children and The Croswald Series! I’d happily recommend this one far and wide; perhaps you’d enjoy reading this series with your family as well!
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for our complimentary copy of The Crowns Of Croswald. We have voluntarily and honestly reviewed this title.
Author
enc
3 years ago
RATED: 4.4/5
First and foremost, The Crowns of Croswald is one of the stories crafted with the BEST WORLD BUILDING ever. The prologue showcases exactly that and I am very happy to have been given the chance to read and review this wonderful book.
After having read the synopsis, you might be thinking: “sounds like a cliché to me…” and I’ll be honest, I thought so too. But I promise, it isn’t one. D. E. Night incorporated so many ideas, details and events that you wouldn’t see in any other book ever—unless of course fanfiction. Although, take note that there will be characters and occurences which will remind you of certain books, which I found to have given a positively nostalgic air to the book. I very much enjoyed the feeling!
The first pages induce a sort of spark which makes the reader wonder about what the story has in store for them—like a riddle waiting to be solved. A page-turner you will not only be reading The Crowns of Croswald overnight or in a few days, but it will also occupy your thoughts all day, that is certain.
Character development is what has allured readers to pick this book up and the other ones of the Croswald tales and I had seen a plethora of evidence for that, primarily through the main character. I have never before adored an MC as much as I do Ivy Lovely. (I also adore Humboldt).
The writing style, oh heavens, is absolutely glorious. If books had a social status, this one will be of the aristocracy in terms of how it was written. I love descriptive, verbally aesthetic (if such phrase exists) novels and this one really quenched my thirst for these types of works.
The Crowns of Croswald tackles various issues subtly which is perfect for those looking for memorable but light reads with morals.
Bountiful in imagery and of a very rich storyline—readers of all ages and fans of Harry Potter, Narnia and a bit of Chainini will enjoy this book, immensely.
Author
emmason16
3 years ago
This was amazing!!! It was like a blend of The Wundersmith, Harry Potter, and Keeper of the Lost Cities. We follow Ivy Lovely as she is whisked from a life of drudgery surrounded by slurry fields. As soon as she steps outside the boundaries she is whisked away to a secret school of magic. From there all sorts of mayhem ensues and I loved every bit of it! Secret chambers, mysterious wizards, new friends, dangerous enemies, and a hidden past all combine into the epic beginning of a series. Strong and intelligent female leads and great world building makes for a wonderful coming of age story. This is a story that will stand the test of time and will be enjoyed by all ages. I can’t wait to see what else happens to Ivy and her friends.
Author
greenaurorastar
3 years ago
I won a copy of this book back in April in a Goodreads Giveaway. & to my surprise when it arrived, I had also received a copy of the second book, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.
I very much enjoyed this book, surprised acutally considering someone had categorised it as “Middle-School Grade” level. I actually wouldn’t categorize is as such. I mean I know many middle schoolers would love this book, but so would high schoolers & young adults & even adults. Hey I’m 31 & I loved it.
I also read some people comparing it to Harry Potter. Now I’ve never read the books but I have seen the first movie. & yeah I guess I would compare it to Harry Potter, with it taking place in a magic school & a teenage girl not knowing she is magic until she is sent to the school.
I loved all of the characters, even annoying Damaris. I loved the friendships being Ivy &… wait I don’t want to give away too much details to those that haven’t read it yet. But yeah that friendship, if you read it you know. I also love “that” chemistry between “those” characters. I really hope to see more of it in the second book. & I am sooooo excited to find out more of Ivy’s family history & to see what adventures she goes on next.
So if you love magic, read this book. If you enjoyed the Harry Potter books & movies, you’re more than likely to love this one as well.
OOOOHHHH wouldn’t this make an awesome movie!! Okay I’m done. As a magic lover & book lover, I highly recommend this book. (This series.) Now on to the next one…
Author
sarinalanger
3 years ago
This was my first ever Netgalley book so I wanted to love it, but it fell short for me for several reasons.
It didn’t feel quite finished to me, and it was very heavily influenced by Harry Potter – in itself not a bad thing, but I would have liked to see Night’s interesting concept become its own thing a little more. It’s so similar it’s hard not to compare it.
There were a few developmental things I struggled with. For example, there are some creatures that are so rare they haven’t even been named, but instead of trying to learn more about them or save the species, a professor (I think – could be a shop owner from the nearby town) sells them, which probably pushes them closer to extinction
One thing I need in any book is a main character I can root for, and I didn’t care for Ivy. She grew up dreaming of magic and wishing her life was more exciting, then she gets whisked away to a school where she’ll learn magic and she’s kinda underwhelmed by the whole thing. She settled in too easily, and she’s weirdly picky with some things like the food the ghost chefs make, which made her read oddly snobbish to me. Like she’s been locked up as a kitchen slave all her life, and now that she’s entered a world full of magic it’s not good enough for her. Where’s your sense of adventure, Ivy? Where’s your curiosity? It was there for some things, but those usually got her ‘friends’ into trouble, and that she didn’t care or even consider their opinion made her more unlikable to me. Ivy wants and Ivy takes, no matter the consequences for anyone else.
The one thing I found intriguing was the magic system. The idea that Scrivenists turn into books themselves when they die and go to a massive archive instead of a graveyard sounds so tempting to me XD
Overall, I think this could be a great book for younger readers – I could see it as someone’s introduction to epic fantasy – but I’m afraid I’m a bit too picky for it.
Author
paulawilliams
3 years ago
I was provided a copy from Night’s publicist via NetGalley to read and give my honest review. I was pleasantly intrigued while reading this book. I don’t generally read much fantasy, but this one kept me wanting more. I was drawn in by Ivy and her life from the start. Many say it’s much like Harry Potter, though I can’t honestly say that since I haven’t read HP. However, I found myself seeing the premise of Sleeping Beauty and loved it! This series continues, which is great because the ending leaves you wanting to follow Ivy as she finds more out about her past!
Author
angelwhite
3 years ago
This is perfect for those who love a middle grade fantasy. While the first half of the book is slower paced than the remaining half, that’s to be expected as the characters are introduced and the world is built. This is highly reminiscent of Harry Potter and while I thought I would enjoy that factor, it bugged me more than made me fall in love with it…simply because it’s TOO much like Harry Potter so (in my eyes at least) it’s not very original.
The MC is also supposed to be 16 but her mannerisms and thoughts are those of someone younger, which does fit I suppose, since this is a middle grade book, but if her age wasn’t stated I would have figured she was a lot younger. Overall it’s a fun & magical journey, but I am not interested in continuing the series. However, I would recommend for those who aren’t huge Harry Potter fans as you may really enjoy it.
I appreciate receiving this E-Book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
Author
jcaesara
3 years ago
This was a nice reading, without drama or too much tension throughout the book.
The writer has a great imagination and provides us with vivid images while deschid the castles, the school, the surroundings and the ball dresses (sometimes a little too much for my taste. But that is just my case, everyone has different tastes )
At times I felt transported to Harry Potter’s world: the alley with the shops, the description of the school and classes, etc. but it didn’t bother me because the story is fun and entertaining and the magic here works differently: high creativity or given by crown stones.
The book also introduces us to a wonderful world full of strange and beautiful creatures such as dwarfs, unicorns, shorehorses, porcupines, hairies, etc.
I wish I had a hairie. They are like little beings with glowing hair (similar to fireflies ).
I liked Ivy too because she is not scared to face the world even if she thinks she doesn’t belong.
She is ambitious and always does what she wants and not what is expected.
It was a fun reading, great world building and new and interesting magic.
This is great for middle school readers
Author
arcticbooklover
3 years ago
I was contacted by Story Untold Press some time ago and they asked if I were interested in reading “The Crowns of Croswald” by D.E Night.
Since I never been a huge fan of fantasy (both teen and ya) I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book, but then I saw the cover (I know one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover) and it was like something spoke to me and said that I had to say yes and read this book.
It was a long process from receiving the book until I finished it. It’s a relative new genre for me to read and the first few chapters were “long”. Then something shifted, I got to know more of the story and the characters and I had all these images flying around in my mind,like a movie while I was reading.
And then, an early morning I reached the end and I was left wanting (needing) more.
“The Crowns of Croswald” is the first of three books.
If you like stories like Harry Potter and Narnia, you might enjoy this story as well.
Author
susanhcampton
3 years ago
Welcome my Serpentine Sentence Swallowers to Saturday’s Child. Our Gem this evening is quite beautiful. Look at it. Deep, deep pink, the color of a raspberry popsicle on a hot day when the ice hits the hot air and frosts over. If we look deeply we can see a bit of light seeming to bounce about within, in the shape of a fairy. Mystical and magical, this Gem is “The Crowns of Croswald” by Gem Maker D.E. Night.
This is the tale of Ivy, a ‘scaldrony’ maid who works in the kitchen of the castle. A scaldrony maid, in case you are wondering, dear Book Dragons, is a maid who is responsible for cooking food in the ‘Scaldrons’, dragons who cook the royal family’s food in their mouths. Ivy is very good at her job, but also very kind and compassionate. She tries to help the youngest scaldron when he becomes ill and in the process gets both of them kicked out of not only a job, but the castle and this is where our adventure begins.
If you and your nestlings love fairy tales such as Cinderella, and you love tales such as Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter (and if you don’t I really must ask you if you truly were ever a nestling or did you just drop out of the sky a fully formed crotchety old person) then you are going to love this book. I honestly believe dear Ms. Night lives in a little cottage in the woods somewhere and put elements of all these stories in a pot with fairy dust and enchanted the mixture by reciting nursery rhymes in Latin several times and POOF! came this book! I loved it!
How can one not love a world where dragons exist, fairies are real, where records are kept by ‘scrivenists’, beings with photographic memories who can keep perfect writings, and where finally there are magical gems and lastly, there is a Dark Queen to threaten to destroy it all? I truly didn’t want it to end so imagine my delight when I found out there is a second book! “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” is now out as well!
You will find both books on Amazon and wherever fine children’s literature is sold.
Until tomorrow I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received this book in a drawing.
Author
ashepard
3 years ago
Amazing! This book has loads of adventure and mystery. You will fall for the magic and fantasy in Croswald. Absolutely brilliant world building and Night does a fantastic job painting the perfect picture with detail. If you love magic, you will love The Crowns of Croswald.
Author
mamamiareads
3 years ago
I received a free copy of this book from Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review.
In The Crowns of Croswald, we meet Ivy. Ivy is a scaldrony maid in a castle for a royal family. She is kicked out of the castle and with nowhere to go she starts walking. Its when she crosses the border that her life completely changes. Ivy has powers, powers that had been dormant for the past sixteen years. What follows is a magical adventure into a very unique world. I really enjoyed all the characters, both evil and good, and I loved how their magical abilities are all different from one another. There was a mystery of sorts throughout the book regarding Ivy that kept you guessing throughout the story complete with a twist at the end that I really did not expect to happen. I felt the ending was rather abrupt but it leaves it open for book two which I cannot wait to read. I think young and young at heart will thoroughly enjoy this book.
What a magical world building! This kind of books reminds me of why I fell in love with reading fantasy novels
The story was magical and there’s a lot of elements that makes this a good fantasy story. There’s magical creatures, unique magical power for each student, magical boarding school, hidden identity and “chosen ones” trope actually makes this pretty much similar to the plot and the world building in the Harry Potter series.
Honestly, the world building is unique and interesting, but at the same time the world could get a bit confusing at times and I wish there are a map to help envision this universe better.
Other than that, the plot is good because I keep wanting to read Ivy’s adventure in Halls of Ivy and learning the truth about her past and her hidden powers. The story is pretty well written and the pacing is a bit slow at first but it eventually get better as the story progress.
Enjoyable, entertaining and recommended for young readers or a harry potter fan who love venturing on a magical land filled with unique powers and magical creatures!
Thanks to Netgalley, D.E. Night and Stories Untold Press for the review copy in return for an honest review.
Wow such an amazing read! I could definitely feel a Harry Potter vibe and yet it still had its on uniqueness. I would actually give this book a 4.5 star because it was a little slow for me at the beginning but once the story got going it was really exciting. And at times, it was hard for me to imagine exactly what was happening maybe because of too much detail but I did get the overall gist of things. Overall, I think this is a very exciting fantasy for readers to immerse themselves in the magical world of Croswald.
“Your visions, your dreams… there’s magic in you.”
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night is an incredibly fun and whimsical coming-of-age story full of magic, myth, and realizing the possibility that you can be more than people say you are.
Ivy Lovely has spent her 16 years on the other side of a barrier that separates the mundane from the magical. As a lowly scalondry maid, she didn’t think she was made to be more than that until she stepped over the boundary. Suddenly Ivy is thrust into the enchanting world of scrivenry where she will attend the Halls of Ivy to master the powers she never knew she had. With vivid dreams of mysterious strangers and familiar places plaguing her mind, she has to discover the history behind her new school and its magical gems, before the Dark Queen sets her sights on all of Croswald.
Ivy is naturally curious about the world around her but finds that her curiosity constantly gets her into all kinds of trouble. She is joined in her adventures by her two closest friends, Fyn and Rebecca. Throughout the book, they form a great dynamic that seems to always get them into difficult situations: the curious troublemaker, the friend who asks to join in the trouble, and the one who tries to keep them in check. I absolutely adored the characters and their friendship and got attached to them very easily.
Above all, I admire the magic system and world-building of the book. There are two classes in the Halls of Ivy: the royals, who get their magic from the gemmed crowns they receive when they come of age; and scrivenists, those who have magic in their blood and use quills in place of wands. Upon their graduation, scrivenists will be assigned to a royal family to whom they will serve for the rest of their days. I also loved how the story gave special appreciation to the arts, like drawing and writing. The different magics, original creatures, and unique realm where a book is literally someone’s life is such a new take on what you usually find in a magical academy.
Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who:
– Would love to try their hand on the middle-grade genre,
– Want to start or would like to fall back in love with fantasy;
– Really want to go to a magic boarding school;
– Think that maybe wands are a bit overused;
– Want to read about new creatures;
– Love the trouble trio trope;
– Like pie :>
The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night really brought me back to my childhood. There are no other words to describe it but it reads to me like a good dream. It gave me a wistful sense of nostalgia and affection for the fantasy and middle-grade genres. I highly recommend anyone of any age to pick it up! Its magic and the idea of attending such a fantastical school would make anyone want to cross an imaginable barrier and be a scrivenist (or at least wave a quill around in the air as I did hahaha). It captivated me from start to finish with every detail added to the plot that answered questions little by little. I admittedly had no idea where the story was headed, and although I could get a clue of the ending, I didn’t know how it would take me there–which is thrilling in itself. Granted this is the first book in the set, I definitely suggest the whole series if you’re in a magical, whimsical, nostalgic mood!
A million thanks to author D.E. Night for writing this gem and publicist Daniela for reaching out and sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.
What a charming story, very whimsical. Ivy Lovely is a young orphan who doesn’t know how important she is.
She works hard and dreams about a mystery castle until one day she is invited to study at a magic school (this part reminded me of Harry Potter)
Ivy is smart and cute, soon she makes friends … and enemies. She will learn about the royal family and their curse, also about the evil queen who still terrifies the community.
The story and writing style feels a little old fashion, like a fairytale, the world-building was amazing, magical creatures and magic with words, how lovely, I love the idea of Scrivenists, people who do magic using an enchanted pen.
Ivy is a loveable character, a bit naive, fun and loyal, she is delighted with the school, she wants to learn (the classes are so interesting) and make friends. Through her eyes, we will know a magical world.
The pacing is fast, there is action and mystery, young readers will love it.
Although a person of any age would like this book, I think it is perfect for ages 9-12 years. This will be a four book series and has a notably small semblance of the Harry Potter Series. Although I tend to think of more gloom & gray with Harry Potter, this book is the exact opposite since it is full of so much color.
Ivy is a teenage girl that lives in a fantasy world where dragons that cook food and horses that have fins (seahorses) actually exist. When she turns 16, she is surprisingly sent to The Halls of Ivy where she learns she is more than she thinks she is.
The author’s imagination pulls you into this fantastical, colorful story as you join Ivy in her magical and suspenseful adventure.
Thank you to @danielastoriesuntoldpress and @netgalley for my advanced reader’s kindle copy.
The Crowns of Croswald (The Crowns of Croswald #1)
by D.E. Night
I received a copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The first book in The Crowns of Croswald series opens with a tantalising snippet surrounding the character we come to identify as Derwin Edgar Night. He is described as a “Scrivenist”, a type of magical scribe and as the tale unfolds, we discover fully what this entails. After his establishment, the tale proceeds with our encounter with the protagonist, Ivy Lovely, and suddenly we are swept away by the circumstances that promptly arise. She passes her mundane existence, serving as a scaldrony maid in the kitchen of Castle Plum. On one eventful day, Ivy discovers Humboldt, a “scaldron”, suffering from “flue flem” and everything seems to go wrong from that point. Little does she realise the path her life is about to take and the unbelievable occurrences to follow!
The Crowns of Croswald is an extraordinarily detailed story and is now securely on my favourite list. The entire world and underlying theme involved in the book, while equally entertaining, keeps the thrill and mystery presented to us at the start. A fascinating, wholesome style with a little of everything, D.E. Night has established a fantasy masterpiece; I would love to experience this in a film or a fantasy tv series!
Small sketches appear at the start of each chapter, a delightful extra detail that lends itself perfectly to the style of the book. It shows the added investment the author has taken, providing not only aesthetic appeal but still teases the reader with the incidents of the chapter we are about to begin.
The narrative is highly enjoyable. Reading the detail throughout, I could truly play out each part in my mind. Each scene reveals itself as if watching a film. One of my favourite parts is Ivy’s tour in the cabby, especially the goodies on offer, and I can only imagine the thoughts that went through her head. I felt somewhat envious that we don’t have the same privileges when we travel! If you are an admirer of all things mysterious and magical, illusion and fairies, The Crowns of Croswald is unquestionably for you. Added to this is the cover of the book which beautifully conveys the subject.
I didn’t want to stop reading, neither did I want the adventure to end, but what I can add is the ending is a satisfying conclusion. I appreciate how there is a resolution that still hints at many possibilities to come. Looking forward to the second novel in the series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold.
I rate The Crowns of Croswald 5 out of 5 stars.
This is the beginning of this series that deals with the story of Ivy Lovely, a 16-year-old orphan who for various reasons ends up being thrown out of the castle where she worked, ending up in a school to improve her magical abilities, however, not everything is what seems and she has to face various adversities throughout her stay at school.
Main characters
Ivy is an intelligent, adventurous, and kind young woman, at first she was an entertaining and spontaneous character which I like, but little by little her character became predictable and somewhat unbearable. She always got into trouble, to begin with, she never wanted to listen to her friends or third-party advice telling her what not to do, basically, she was right, she did what she wanted and never really had any real punishment.
I really like her character because she was determined but I feel like she wasn’t developed properly and I really didn’t know in the end if I knew very well her character.
Plot
The plot is the reason for the score I gave, firstly, way too many things happen that honestly don’t add anything to the main point of the story, that is; she arrives at a magic school, strange things happen to her from day one and all she knows is that she has to find a man that no one remembers. Which is not addressed until the end and honestly the way it was presented wasn’t the best. Also, the writing was somewhat abrupt on many occasions, so it was tedious to continue reading or it was necessary to reread certain scenes.
Now the most important thing, we all know Harry Potter whether you have read the books or not, the point here is that when it comes to a fantasy book in a magic school with young characters it’s inevitable not to compare it with it. However, in this case, it was as if I was reading a different version of the story, let me explain, it has several original point yes of course, which I liked by the way, and make the story unique but practically the entire beginning of the book was like reliving Harry Potter and I don’t like that at all;
– Orphan girl who lives in a small room (closet) with powers she doesn’t know about
-A man comes for her to tell her that she was accepted to a magic school
-Buy her school supplies in the Diagon Alley
-It’s attacked by a dementor (I don’t remember what they were called in the book)
-Her rich blonde schoolmate (from royalty) hates her and makes her life miserable
All these are just small parts, I could say more but I don’t want to get in too deep.
Side characters
This is another big problem, there are too many characters and none of them are endearing. There are characters that are described and mentioned that we never see more than once, so they are unnecessary since they don’t add anything to the story. I’d also like to say that the few characters that really matter have no personality and are honestly one-dimensional.
Rebecca, Ivy’s best friend, I ask, How the hell did they become best friends? At what point? They never had a real interaction, more than when Ivy saved Rebecca from a situation, and boom BFF, it was so forced and it didn’t convince me at all, I don’t even consider it a friendship.
Instead, Fyn, can’t be a more forced love interest because it would be impossible. First of all, they met because he took her to buy her supplies, left her there, and only returned at the end for her, and that’s it. Literally, that was their only interaction before they saw each other again and began to have loving feelings. I don’t buy it and I don’t want it, thank you. It was also quite weird that he followed her everywhere.
Overall, I would recommend this book to a young audience who would probably like it, it has original points and is a quick read so anyone can read it to pass the time.
Is this book for you?
Perfect for: Fantasy, magic and adventure lovers.
Do I recommend it? No.
Heroine: 6/10
Romance: 1/10
Type of Relationship: F/M
Plot: 6/10
POV: third person
Type: Serie
Cover: 6.5/10
My thanks to the author D.E. Night, Stories Untold, and NetGalley for the opportunity to get this ARC for an unbiased review.
The Crowns of Crosswald is the first book in The Crosswald series by D.E. Night. While I’ve never read the Harry Potter books (I did watch the movies), this book really gives me the Harry Potter vibes. The story has the same structure and although the story is actually different, it seems as if D.E. Night really got her inspiration from Harry Potter. In addition, the story also resembles Alice in Wonderland. This however should not spoil the fun, since The Crowns of Crosswald is a unique story after all.
Ivy Lovely has lived in a dark and hidden castle for 16 years. She spends her day reading stories, and this is her real passion. When one day she suddenly receives a visit to the castle, she appears to have the unique opportunity to study at the most magical school in the country called The halls of Ivy. And although Ivy doesn’t believe she has any magic herself, she goes to school with her dragon. But once outside the castle’s borders, Ivy finds she might be more magical than she thought she was. Throughout her studies, Ivy becomes more and more curious about the secrets of the halls, and this leads to a threat from the dark queen. Will Ivy be able to unravel the secrets of the halls? What does the dark queen want from her? What magical powers will Ivy develop?
The story has a very long-winded prologue. In my opinion it could have been left out, because it doesn’t add much to the story. The events from the prologue are also explained again later in the story.
D.E. Night has managed to write a very magical story that takes you as a reader on an adventure. However, in my opinion the story remained superficial and I missed a bit of depth. What I really like is that D.E. Night takes the reader in search of a mysterious character named Darwin Edgar Night. And as you may already have figured out, this name is a huge reference to the author herself. Personally, I find a less pleasant reference in the story, although I am curious about the secrets of Darwin.
The Crowns of Crosswald is a must for fans of Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland and is very suitable for readers from the age of 12. It’s a nice introduction to the world of Crosswald, and I am curious what the next parts will bring in this series.
The Crowns of Croswald has most certainly exceeded my expectations, wowing me on more than one occasion. I appreciated the likeness to Harry Potter, yet loved how this author was able to craft her unique magical adventure, set in the fantastical world of Croswald!
My kiddos and I were captivated right from the start; we had to take an unplanned hiatus in the middle, but once we could jump back in, we couldn’t stop! Luckily I was able to cast this ebook to our tv, and we took turns reading together, flying through the remaining pages.
Ivy Lovely was every bit the heroine I hoped she would be, always meaning well but not unflawed herself. Hidden away as a child to protect her well-being and Croswald, Ivy soon finds herself in the magical school of her dreams. Intent to learn all that she can as a sqwinch, a scrivenist-in-training, she gives it her all – of course, one thing leads to another, and she’s off, one unintended venture after another alongside her new friends.
We enjoyed the writing style, the intrigue, and the descriptive scenery. Even though I had to explain certain parts for the little ones to understand, I appreciated the varied word usage and creative ingenuity that came with the many spells and enchanted objects. On that note, I’d LOVE to possess the Olerium Stone! Who wouldn’t want to read faster?! So many books, so little time, am I right?
D.E. Night has created an engaging and whimsical tale, charming readers of all ages. Just as I remember experiencing the magical world of Harry Potter with my family growing up, it’s exciting to do the same with my children and The Croswald Series! I’d happily recommend this one far and wide; perhaps you’d enjoy reading this series with your family as well!
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for our complimentary copy of The Crowns Of Croswald. We have voluntarily and honestly reviewed this title.
RATED: 4.4/5
First and foremost, The Crowns of Croswald is one of the stories crafted with the BEST WORLD BUILDING ever. The prologue showcases exactly that and I am very happy to have been given the chance to read and review this wonderful book.
After having read the synopsis, you might be thinking: “sounds like a cliché to me…” and I’ll be honest, I thought so too. But I promise, it isn’t one. D. E. Night incorporated so many ideas, details and events that you wouldn’t see in any other book ever—unless of course fanfiction. Although, take note that there will be characters and occurences which will remind you of certain books, which I found to have given a positively nostalgic air to the book. I very much enjoyed the feeling!
The first pages induce a sort of spark which makes the reader wonder about what the story has in store for them—like a riddle waiting to be solved. A page-turner you will not only be reading The Crowns of Croswald overnight or in a few days, but it will also occupy your thoughts all day, that is certain.
Character development is what has allured readers to pick this book up and the other ones of the Croswald tales and I had seen a plethora of evidence for that, primarily through the main character. I have never before adored an MC as much as I do Ivy Lovely. (I also adore Humboldt).
The writing style, oh heavens, is absolutely glorious. If books had a social status, this one will be of the aristocracy in terms of how it was written. I love descriptive, verbally aesthetic (if such phrase exists) novels and this one really quenched my thirst for these types of works.
The Crowns of Croswald tackles various issues subtly which is perfect for those looking for memorable but light reads with morals.
Bountiful in imagery and of a very rich storyline—readers of all ages and fans of Harry Potter, Narnia and a bit of Chainini will enjoy this book, immensely.
This was amazing!!! It was like a blend of The Wundersmith, Harry Potter, and Keeper of the Lost Cities. We follow Ivy Lovely as she is whisked from a life of drudgery surrounded by slurry fields. As soon as she steps outside the boundaries she is whisked away to a secret school of magic. From there all sorts of mayhem ensues and I loved every bit of it! Secret chambers, mysterious wizards, new friends, dangerous enemies, and a hidden past all combine into the epic beginning of a series. Strong and intelligent female leads and great world building makes for a wonderful coming of age story. This is a story that will stand the test of time and will be enjoyed by all ages. I can’t wait to see what else happens to Ivy and her friends.
I won a copy of this book back in April in a Goodreads Giveaway. & to my surprise when it arrived, I had also received a copy of the second book, The Girl with the Whispering Shadow.
I very much enjoyed this book, surprised acutally considering someone had categorised it as “Middle-School Grade” level. I actually wouldn’t categorize is as such. I mean I know many middle schoolers would love this book, but so would high schoolers & young adults & even adults. Hey I’m 31 & I loved it.
I also read some people comparing it to Harry Potter. Now I’ve never read the books but I have seen the first movie. & yeah I guess I would compare it to Harry Potter, with it taking place in a magic school & a teenage girl not knowing she is magic until she is sent to the school.
I loved all of the characters, even annoying Damaris. I loved the friendships being Ivy &… wait I don’t want to give away too much details to those that haven’t read it yet. But yeah that friendship, if you read it you know. I also love “that” chemistry between “those” characters. I really hope to see more of it in the second book. & I am sooooo excited to find out more of Ivy’s family history & to see what adventures she goes on next.
So if you love magic, read this book. If you enjoyed the Harry Potter books & movies, you’re more than likely to love this one as well.
OOOOHHHH wouldn’t this make an awesome movie!! Okay I’m done. As a magic lover & book lover, I highly recommend this book. (This series.) Now on to the next one…
This was my first ever Netgalley book so I wanted to love it, but it fell short for me for several reasons.
It didn’t feel quite finished to me, and it was very heavily influenced by Harry Potter – in itself not a bad thing, but I would have liked to see Night’s interesting concept become its own thing a little more. It’s so similar it’s hard not to compare it.
There were a few developmental things I struggled with. For example, there are some creatures that are so rare they haven’t even been named, but instead of trying to learn more about them or save the species, a professor (I think – could be a shop owner from the nearby town) sells them, which probably pushes them closer to extinction
One thing I need in any book is a main character I can root for, and I didn’t care for Ivy. She grew up dreaming of magic and wishing her life was more exciting, then she gets whisked away to a school where she’ll learn magic and she’s kinda underwhelmed by the whole thing. She settled in too easily, and she’s weirdly picky with some things like the food the ghost chefs make, which made her read oddly snobbish to me. Like she’s been locked up as a kitchen slave all her life, and now that she’s entered a world full of magic it’s not good enough for her. Where’s your sense of adventure, Ivy? Where’s your curiosity? It was there for some things, but those usually got her ‘friends’ into trouble, and that she didn’t care or even consider their opinion made her more unlikable to me. Ivy wants and Ivy takes, no matter the consequences for anyone else.
The one thing I found intriguing was the magic system. The idea that Scrivenists turn into books themselves when they die and go to a massive archive instead of a graveyard sounds so tempting to me XD
Overall, I think this could be a great book for younger readers – I could see it as someone’s introduction to epic fantasy – but I’m afraid I’m a bit too picky for it.
I was provided a copy from Night’s publicist via NetGalley to read and give my honest review. I was pleasantly intrigued while reading this book. I don’t generally read much fantasy, but this one kept me wanting more. I was drawn in by Ivy and her life from the start. Many say it’s much like Harry Potter, though I can’t honestly say that since I haven’t read HP. However, I found myself seeing the premise of Sleeping Beauty and loved it! This series continues, which is great because the ending leaves you wanting to follow Ivy as she finds more out about her past!
This is perfect for those who love a middle grade fantasy. While the first half of the book is slower paced than the remaining half, that’s to be expected as the characters are introduced and the world is built. This is highly reminiscent of Harry Potter and while I thought I would enjoy that factor, it bugged me more than made me fall in love with it…simply because it’s TOO much like Harry Potter so (in my eyes at least) it’s not very original.
The MC is also supposed to be 16 but her mannerisms and thoughts are those of someone younger, which does fit I suppose, since this is a middle grade book, but if her age wasn’t stated I would have figured she was a lot younger. Overall it’s a fun & magical journey, but I am not interested in continuing the series. However, I would recommend for those who aren’t huge Harry Potter fans as you may really enjoy it.
I appreciate receiving this E-Book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed herein are mine and mine alone.
This was a nice reading, without drama or too much tension throughout the book.
The writer has a great imagination and provides us with vivid images while deschid the castles, the school, the surroundings and the ball dresses (sometimes a little too much for my taste. But that is just my case, everyone has different tastes )
At times I felt transported to Harry Potter’s world: the alley with the shops, the description of the school and classes, etc. but it didn’t bother me because the story is fun and entertaining and the magic here works differently: high creativity or given by crown stones.
The book also introduces us to a wonderful world full of strange and beautiful creatures such as dwarfs, unicorns, shorehorses, porcupines, hairies, etc.
I wish I had a hairie. They are like little beings with glowing hair (similar to fireflies ).
I liked Ivy too because she is not scared to face the world even if she thinks she doesn’t belong.
She is ambitious and always does what she wants and not what is expected.
It was a fun reading, great world building and new and interesting magic.
This is great for middle school readers
I was contacted by Story Untold Press some time ago and they asked if I were interested in reading “The Crowns of Croswald” by D.E Night.
Since I never been a huge fan of fantasy (both teen and ya) I wasn’t sure if I wanted to read this book, but then I saw the cover (I know one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover) and it was like something spoke to me and said that I had to say yes and read this book.
It was a long process from receiving the book until I finished it. It’s a relative new genre for me to read and the first few chapters were “long”. Then something shifted, I got to know more of the story and the characters and I had all these images flying around in my mind,like a movie while I was reading.
And then, an early morning I reached the end and I was left wanting (needing) more.
“The Crowns of Croswald” is the first of three books.
If you like stories like Harry Potter and Narnia, you might enjoy this story as well.
Welcome my Serpentine Sentence Swallowers to Saturday’s Child. Our Gem this evening is quite beautiful. Look at it. Deep, deep pink, the color of a raspberry popsicle on a hot day when the ice hits the hot air and frosts over. If we look deeply we can see a bit of light seeming to bounce about within, in the shape of a fairy. Mystical and magical, this Gem is “The Crowns of Croswald” by Gem Maker D.E. Night.
This is the tale of Ivy, a ‘scaldrony’ maid who works in the kitchen of the castle. A scaldrony maid, in case you are wondering, dear Book Dragons, is a maid who is responsible for cooking food in the ‘Scaldrons’, dragons who cook the royal family’s food in their mouths. Ivy is very good at her job, but also very kind and compassionate. She tries to help the youngest scaldron when he becomes ill and in the process gets both of them kicked out of not only a job, but the castle and this is where our adventure begins.
If you and your nestlings love fairy tales such as Cinderella, and you love tales such as Narnia, Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter (and if you don’t I really must ask you if you truly were ever a nestling or did you just drop out of the sky a fully formed crotchety old person) then you are going to love this book. I honestly believe dear Ms. Night lives in a little cottage in the woods somewhere and put elements of all these stories in a pot with fairy dust and enchanted the mixture by reciting nursery rhymes in Latin several times and POOF! came this book! I loved it!
How can one not love a world where dragons exist, fairies are real, where records are kept by ‘scrivenists’, beings with photographic memories who can keep perfect writings, and where finally there are magical gems and lastly, there is a Dark Queen to threaten to destroy it all? I truly didn’t want it to end so imagine my delight when I found out there is a second book! “The Girl with the Whispering Shadow” is now out as well!
You will find both books on Amazon and wherever fine children’s literature is sold.
Until tomorrow I remain, your humble Book Dragon, Drakon T. Longwitten
I received this book in a drawing.
Amazing! This book has loads of adventure and mystery. You will fall for the magic and fantasy in Croswald. Absolutely brilliant world building and Night does a fantastic job painting the perfect picture with detail. If you love magic, you will love The Crowns of Croswald.
I received a free copy of this book from Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review.
In The Crowns of Croswald, we meet Ivy. Ivy is a scaldrony maid in a castle for a royal family. She is kicked out of the castle and with nowhere to go she starts walking. Its when she crosses the border that her life completely changes. Ivy has powers, powers that had been dormant for the past sixteen years. What follows is a magical adventure into a very unique world. I really enjoyed all the characters, both evil and good, and I loved how their magical abilities are all different from one another. There was a mystery of sorts throughout the book regarding Ivy that kept you guessing throughout the story complete with a twist at the end that I really did not expect to happen. I felt the ending was rather abrupt but it leaves it open for book two which I cannot wait to read. I think young and young at heart will thoroughly enjoy this book.