D. E. Night

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret... For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald's mysterious gems. When Ivy s magic and her life is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.

The Crowns of Croswald

Moonchild

This book was given to me for free by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Derwin is sent to a royal family and his excited for what he will find, he dreams of a gigantic library to organize and lose himself on reading. But something terribly wrong happened and he must find a way to save and change the history. I enjoyed the writing in the book I felt that the story is very compelling and fast pace.
 This book evolves around Ivi lovely, she is alone works at the kitchens and draws on her free times, at her birthday she receives a letter that takes her to a magic school to become a scrivener. Ivi starts to see hope on her future, but strange things always happen to her and she must find a way to discover why.
This book gave me very warm and nostalgic feelings I loved ivi and her strength, between funny and dangerous situations she finds true friendships and fights to uncover her unknown past.

Night

alya adlina

4.5 ⭐️ for this cute book 

first of all i’m gonna thank the author for the free copy in exchange with an honest review.

this book literally harry potter 2.0. the way everything about this book is so magical and i can already felt in the beginning of the pages. you just can feel the magic in every page. that’s why this book is a page turner. 

the main character named is Ivy Lovely. she’s a young girl who doesn’t even know that she had power until she arrived at the magical boarding school, the Halls of Ivy. basically, i found myself easily predicting the main characters actions towards their adventures but i really enjoyed it. and overall the unique magic creatures and objects really caught my attention and i just want to know more.

the only thing i had an issue with was there’s some part that could get a little confusing and weren’t clear but yes i still managed to figure out. i think that’s all i’m gonna say. will try to pick up the next book.

Dave | Storyphoria

The Crowns of Croswald is a fun YA Fantasy read that feels much more Harry Potter than it does Lord of the Rings, which is a good thing. 

The book opens with a slightly familiar premise of an orphan girl living a life of relative obscurity and poverty, yet having some mysterious friends, a talent for drawing, and dreams that are vividly real. Almost immediately we're thrust into the story proper as Ivy(our main character and said orphan girl) is whisked away to a mysterious magic school. 

I enjoyed how the different types of magic were presented and while there certainly were more than a few Harry Potter vibes in terms of general themes, I feel like the magic system and story elements were unique in their own right, making this feel like a familiar yet unique story. 

In fact, the one qualm I have about this book IS the magic system itself. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil anything, but we see a lot of examples of the magic being used throughout the story yet we don't see a whole lot of explanation as to HOW the magic system works. But that may just be the "Non-YA Target Audience" side of me nitpicking AND it may be something explained/explored more in the following books in the series. 

Overall, as a YA Fantasy title I think the book was pretty decent. While I'm certainly not the exact target audience, I can see how this would be a highly enjoyable world for a younger audience to really get sucked into. For me, it felt a little bland(though I LOVE the concept of the Scrivenest and the magic in the quills) and a LOT predictable. I think from the earliest chapters, anyone that has enjoyed modern YA fantasy is going to find it's very predictable, yet still enjoyable, to read.

Marloes

Ivy grows up without a family, sleeps in a closet, gets taken away to this magic school and meets all her classmates. There's a mysterious headmaster, a weird female version of Filch, and then instead of Voldemort, there's a dark queen who's basically just second rate Queen Levana from The Lunar Chronicles. This is a Harry Potter RIP-OFF. This book tries to be original, but it absolutely is not.

I did not enjoy this book at all. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to give a more positive review. Not only that, but I just couldn’t, in good conscience, give anything other than my honest opinion.

Laura Kehoe

This was a really fun book that reminded me a lot of Harry Potter. If you didn’t already know, I’m a MASSIVE Potterhead, so anything similar to that franchise is automatically going to catch my interest. I mean, who doesn’t love a magic school?

That being said, this book seemed to drag a bit. While I enjoyed learning about the world and all of the magical creatures that lived in it, after getting over half through the book I realized I still wasn’t entirely sure what it was actually about. I would have liked the plot to move a little faster.

The characters were really fun to get to know. I loved Ivy’s spirit and Rebecca’s humor. They were great characters and I had a good time watching them grow and learn. I really appreciated how unique and individual every character was. Everyone had their own personality.

Overall, I’m really glad I read this book. It was fun and had plenty of wonderful magical goodness. I think it’s a really good Middle Grade fantasy and I’d recommend anyone interested give it a read. It might have been a bit slow at times, but I still think this book is worth reading!

Thank you to the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Claire Murray

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Ivy Lovely, a scaldron maid gets kicked out of castle plum into the slurry fields with no where to go. Once out of the slurries, hiding her magic, she is invited to the Halls of Ivy to attend school to study scrivenry. 

While at school, Ivy finds trouble at every turn and with the help of many mysterious characters, discovers a huge secret about her past, present, and future.

My Review: 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this book so much! The world building D. E. Knight created was something to be applauded for. The imagery Knight creates was amazing, I could picture every setting in this book which I appreciate a lot in fantasy novels.

The Crown’s of Croswald was similar to Harry Potter in a lot of ways. The main character was “the chosen one” but in a different way. The adults in her life all lied to protect her from a terrifying destiny, but her curious nature allows her to find out these secrets on her own. A young teenage protagonist breaking the rules along with her friends to slowly bring all the pieces together.

I really enjoyed Ivy as a main character, she was curious, determined, and couldn’t care less about the rules - which is all great qualities for a character on an adventure.

Thank you to the publisher for reaching out to me on Instagram who encouraged me to request the novel on Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley and Stories Untold for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Janna Niemi

A story of a scaldrony maid becoming a magical being. Magic, magical school, royals and scrivenists. A darks queen. That is what a good fantasy novel is made of.

The Crowns of Croswald is interesting, full of action, mystery and magic. It’s full of interesting characters and creatures. It has a deep and complex story plot and I loved reading it and following Ivy on her journey. 
I’ve in my opinion is a very interesting character and it was very easy for me to keep up with her and wanting to know how her story will proceed. The supporting characters are all so very different and they fit the story well. 
The mysteries that the book is full of, keep the story going and your mind hooked until the end and beyond. I like how there are so many things and characters you have to wait to get to know and how that makes the story a page-turner as you simply have to keep on reading to get to the bottom of all the mysteries. 

The only negative thing about the book is that sometimes things get a bit confusing. Things are not always very well described and especially in the beginning it was a bit hard for me to understand all the different bits of the story. 

All in all, this is a great book and a great series and I cannot wait to keep on following Ivy on her journey. 

* ARC received from the publisher via Netgalley

The Crowns of Croswald was an absolutely magical read filled with adventure. Ivy and Wimsome's relationship reminded me a lot of Cinder and the doctor's relationship in The Lunar Chronicles. This magical school and staff also reminded me of Hogwarts. 

This book can be enjoyed by any age and by anyone looking for a magical way to escape reality. I'll definitely be continuing this magical series and I recommend this to anyone with middle graders that need some magic in their life. 

Selena-Marie Christian

The Crowns of Croswald was an absolutely magical read filled with adventure. Ivy and Wimsome's relationship reminded me a lot of Cinder and the doctor's relationship in The Lunar Chronicles. This magical school and staff also reminded me of Hogwarts. 

This book can be enjoyed by any age and by anyone looking for a magical way to escape reality. I'll definitely be continuing this magical series and I recommend this to anyone with middle graders that need some magic in their life. 

Carrington Kinslow

"Let's start with the basics. You, Ivy Lovely, are magic." 

The Crowns of Croswald is a fun, fast, and whimsical read. It has all the magical boarding school vibes I could have wanted, and I really enjoyed my time spent with Ivy Lovely, and her friends, Rebecca and Fyn. 

The Crowns of Croswald is rather atmospheric, D.E. Night pays great attention to detail and has constructed a world that is easy to get lost in, despite having only one primary setting. This has me excited to explore more of Croswald, outside of the House of Ivy, in the rest of the series! A magical boarding school full of hidden passageways, curiously locked doors, and piles and piles of books. I could not get enough of Ivy's escapades throughout her new home, and I enjoyed each of Ivy's discoveries as much as she did. This book is great for those who love to explore settings while reading.

This book also has a wonderful mystery element to it that I had not expected. I was a bit confused after reading the prologue, but then Night weaved it into Ivy's story so seamlessly. I was so invested in the mystery surrounding Derwin Edgar Night and I honestly didn't even see some of the revelations Ivy made coming. I really enjoyed how unpredictable this book was. Night really knows how to build suspense and reveal just enough information to feel satisfied but still wanting more.

One of the strongest parts of The Crowns of Croswald is the characters. Rebecca ended up being my favorite, I really adore strong friendships in books, and Rebecca was such a great best friend to Ivy. I look forward to seeing their relationship growth. Ivy is also a great protagonist, she's a bit impulsive and reckless, but also brave and fiercely devoted. I appreciate that Ivy is both flawed and admirable. 

As much as I enjoyed this story, I have to say that it started rather quickly. Ivy found herself at her new magical school rather quickly after discovering she had magic, and she just kind of accepted it. There was no grappling with her new life, which seemed unrealistic. In the beginning the story was moving very quickly, and I assume this was to get to the House of Ivy in order to really start the plot. But it seemed a little too convenient. Upon arriving at the school, Ivy and her classmates are learning magic and practicing almost immediately with no real introduction to the magic and what it can do. Because of the plot convenience, I didn't get too invested, as I was mostly enjoying the characters. 

Overall, The Crowns of Croswald is a fun, magical read that I would recommend to people who enjoyed Harry Potter and Keeper of the Lost Cities. I look forward to the rest of the series!

The Crowns of Croswald - 3/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Stories Untold Press for the E-Copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars
Story was fast paced, I enjoyed the characters. It gave me somewhat of hogwarts feel. great for middle schoolers or kids that are starting to take in interest in YA, beautifully written. I love that the author included Art as one of the strengths of the main character, she was kind, funny, and brave. Definitely will be recommending this one!

Jordynn Beedle

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. 

Going into this I knew this book was middle grade Fantasy, so I was excited to read a fun, easy adventure. And this book does have a lot going for it - an interesting magic system, all kinds of magical creatures, and a magic school. 

However, despite all of this, I really struggled to get through this book. The writing was a little overly verbose (sometimes felt like there was obscure wording just for obscure wording's sake, that kind of thing). On top of this, the plot was a little all over the place and I often would get kind of disoriented. Overall, this left me fairly disappointed with this book. I wanted to like it more but these items were just too much for me to really get into it.

Finally, I do want to note there are a lot of comparisons to a certain middle grade fantasy series in reviews for this book. While there are a lot of superficial similarities (which do feel a little too specific and are honestly kind of distracting in how close they are), the story itself does differ quite a bit. 

I probably won't be finishing this series myself, but if you're someone who doesn't mind the writing style and plot-pacing this book might be worth picking up!

Julie Janis

This is a fun, whimsical, and imaginative fantasy book for young readers. It has a lot of similarities to Harry Potter, but it wasn't bad. The school and magic definitely has enough uniqueness to set it apart from Harry Potter. The characters were fun and I liked how each of them had their own unique voice. The only thing I had a hard time with was how slow the book was. I couldn't immerse myself well into it or care for any of the characters. Maybe because I'm not the target audience? Not sure exactly, but I'd still recommend this book to a young, middle grade reader, even though the main character is 16.

Marissa Davis

As much as I love Harry Potter I have to say that was way better. The story follows Ivy who has no clue about her past or her family. At age 16 she gets invited to attend Hall Of Ivy school. As she begins school she makes friends with Fyn and Rebecca. I will give a full on review on my monthly wrap up. But I love that we’re was so much more action in this first book. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

3.5 rounded up! I started this book while I was at school and would read a few pages when I had free time. It was the perfect escape from a stressful school week into a new magical world. D.E. Night's writing was encapsulating and her characters are so lovable! A great read for all aged lovers of magic, fantasy, and adventure.

kanchan singh

Are you a Potter's head? If yes, then “D.E.Night brings a treat of magic, a mesmerizing fantasy world, dragons, and many more in her book “The crowns of Croswald”.

Let's jump into the fantasy world of 16-year-old orphan girl Ivy, who is unaware of her magical powers. One day her powers awaken, she wants to attend the “Hall of Ivy” a school for those who want to master their magic. As the story move, she finds out about the danger and challenges she has to face to save herself and Croswald.

Any reader who enjoys the epic adventures of Harry Potter will adore this fantasy read. The descriptions are terrific and from the beginning of the narrative, the reader is introduced to the unique magical and fantasy world. all characters are well-written into the story, adding depth to the already fascinating fantasy world the author has invented. 
If you enjoy dark magic, and creative fantasy, do not hesitate to pick this book.

Thanks, Netgalley and D.E.night for sending review copy in exchange of honest review.

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

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

Ebony Cropper

Such a spellbounding book! At first we a thrust into a world of royalty with magic crowns and scrivenists with natural magic. Mesmerised by the authors portrayal of glowing hairies (yes hairies) and THE TOWN and the land of Croswald.
Ivy Lovely who has only known a life of a Sculdrony Maid  and Scurry fields has always dreamt of joining the Halls of Ivy School. After a series of unfortunate (or fortunate) events Ivy finds herself heading to the Halls of Ivy. 

When Ivy arrives she notices some peculiar events happening. Meeting her best friend and roommate and her prefect friend, Ivy finds herself having backup on her journey to discover the truth of her strange reoccurring dreams. Who is the faceless man? Is he good or part of something much darker? 

Forming unassuming friendships and alliances Ivy finds herself the target of a dark being. Slowly beginning to uncover elements of a 16 year old mystery with connections Ivy would never have believed only a few months earlier, the book ends with Ivys life being flipped and landing herself with knowledge, alliances and gifts she yet knows what to do with. I cannot wait to explore the story further. 

This first book was full of magic, mystery and coming of age stories. Mystical creatures, projections of deceased scrivenists and carriages who have there own weather... if you are looking for a book to keep you on your toes, this is the one!

Ida Kristine Aanonsen

I just finished The Crowns of Croswald and I love it so much. I know this is a middle-grade fantasy book, but it did not feel like it, and I love that D. E. Night did that. I was so invested in this story and did not want to put it down! This book is about Ivy and her journey at the Halls of Ivy. We got to follow Ivy from before she goes to the Halls of Ivy and we got to read about her journey with her new powers and we follow her when she learns the truth about her family and who she really is. I can't wait to read the next book and follow her through her next adventure

Olivia Camarena

It had been a long time since I had read a magic story aimed at a middle grade audience, however, it was just what I was looking for on this occasion. 

The Crowns of Croswald lets us meet Ivy, an orphan who has spent her 16 years working as a scaldron maid, not knowing who she really is and the capacity of her powers (which she also doesn't know she has). Undoubtedly, Ivy dreams of a different life and a castle beyond her reality. As fate would have it, she is invited to attend Halls of Ivy to begin her magical studies and eventually become a scrivenerist. 

What can I say about that book other than it's what I needed? It felt like a journey and, like Ivy, I had no idea what was going on at many points. But it's okay, it's the first book and it does the job of building the world and explaining its magic to you. You slowly learn about the school, its creatures, the magic and the world of Croswald. 

It may sound similar to Harry Potter because of the theme of a school of magic and an orphan girl, but beyond that... I couldn't find any similarities. 

The Crowns of Croswald is very cute, it feels soft. Hopefully my niece will want to read it in English, as it isn't in Spanish.


ESP

Llevaba mucho tiempo sin leer una historia de magia dirigida a un público middle grade, sin embargo, era justo lo que buscaba en esta ocasión. 

The Crowns of Croswald nos permite conocer a Ivy, una huérfana que se ha pasado sus 16 años trabajando como scaldron maid, sin saber quién es realmente y la capacidad de sus poderes (que tampoco sabe que tiene). Sin duda, Ivy sueña con una vida distinta y un castillo más allá de su realidad. Por azares destino, es invitada a asistir a Halls of Ivy para iniciar sus estudios mágicos y finalmente convertirse en scrivenerist. 

¿Qué puedo decir de ese libro además de que es lo que necesitaba? Lo sentí como un viaje y, como Ivy, no tenía ni idea de qué estaba sucediendo en muchos momentos. Pero está bien, es el primer libro y hace muy bien el trabajo de construir el mundo y explicarte su magia. Poco a poco vas aprendiendo sobre la escuela, sus criaturas, la magia y el mundo de Croswald. 

Puede sonar similar a Harry Potter por el tema de una escuela de magia y una niña huérfana, pero más allá de eso… no pude encontrar similitudes. 

The Crowns of Croswald es muy lindo, se siente suave.

Tatiana Alvarez 

Thank you Net Galley and D.E. Night for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

For fans of Harry Potter or Charlie Bone, The Crowns of Croswald is definitely one to add to your TBR! This book is definitely suitable for younger readers - in fact I would label this serious Middle Grade rather than Ya, despite the main character being 16.

Speaking of Ava, her characteristics and mannerisms reminded me greatly of Alice from Alice in Wonderland. Ava has the same naivety and accepting nature, but is an overall likeable character.She's eager to talk to people she doesn't know and very curious for information. She is an protagonist you root for and one you want to follow along with her journey.

There is no denying that D.E. Night is a fantastical writer. She is descriptive, though not overly descriptive, and provides amazing imagery. The only thing I had problems with in this book was the major similarities it had to Harry Potter. I often found myself skimming most of the chapters and not surprised when major plot points happened. Even though this book wasn't for me, I can see the appeal it would have for my students who would greatly enjoy this novel.

Maria Elena Vitale Zelaia

*I was asked to read this book for an honest review*

If only scrivenists were real...
This book was fantastic! I had been planning on reading this book ever since my sister had read it and loved it and when I was contacted by the publisher to read it, since I already had a copy of the book, it finally seemed like Fate was telling me it was time to pick it up. 

 The Crowns of Croswald  is the story about this sixteen year old girl, Ivy Lovely, who has nothing and no one but a dwarf as a friend, until one day she is invited to join the Halls of Ivy, a school of magic that reminded me very much of Hogwarts. Here she studies to become a scrivenist, people with magic in their blood that learn how to use said magic through these enchanted quills. Here, Ivy makes friends. Here, Ivy makes important discoveries about her past. 

This book is a very entertaining, light and interesting read. The story is intriguing, the magic system of this world interesting and original, the characters fun. I especially enjoyed reading about the Selector, who I am still not convinced if I can trust or not, Ivory Lucky, a woman who is physically split in half by two different personalities, and Fyn because... well, because I have a crush on him, okay? But what I especially loved about this book were the moments of pure cleverness by the author, for example when we're introduced to a character called Derwin Edgar Night. D.E. Night. Get it? Like the author! Genius! 

I would defintely recommend this book to anyone, really. It's easy to read so both English and foreign readers can read it, but also children and grown ups alike.

Chiara Vitale Zelaia

*I recieved an ARC copy from the author to review*

If I had to describe The Crowns of Croswald in a few words, I would say "Harry Potter meets Alice in Wonderland." I don't know how each of you would react to such a definition, but in this case, it's an absolutely successful combination!
What I immediately loved about the Crowns of Croswald was the strong presence of magic that can be felt already in the beginning pages of the book. You can feel the magic with every flip of the page and that is something every fantasy book worthy of the name should be able to tranfer to a reader.
The Harry Potter of this story is a beautiful female character called Ivy Lovely. Much like Harry, Ivy is not aware of being gifted with magic until she finally leaves her unimpressive life with nothing but the clothes on her back and a scaldron--an adorable mini dragon who is unable to fly! Did I say dragon? Yes I did! And I love dragons, anyone who knows anything about me is aware of that. 
To learn about her magic and her mysterious past, Ivy joins a magical boarding school, the Halls of Ivy, and it is on her numerous adventures in school that we come across those characters that have that hint of folly and hilarity that reminded me of the characters in Alice in Wonderland.
This is an extremely entertaining read, very easy to read so it's perfect for native English speakers and also foreign readers and suitable also for younger readers.
A great debut novel for D.E. Night and I am excited to continue Ivy's journey!

Taylor Embrey

I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley and Stories Untold in exchange for an honest review. Rounding up from 3.75 starts. The Crowns Of Croswald is an intriguing middle-grades fantasy about a girl whisked away to magical boarding school and into the middle of several mysteries. 

Our protagonist, 16 year old Ivy, is a scaldonry maid, in charge of keeping the cooking dragons of Castle Plum. She is kicked out of the castle for oversleeping on Moonsday and is almost immediately picked up by scrivenist Lionel Lugg and taken to school at the Halls of Ivy, as Lionel claims she is full of magic and will be studying to become a scrivenist herself. Ivy is dubious, but once she arrives at school and finds it is the castle she has been dreaming of for as long as she can remember, she sees that she really might belong there. However, she gets into (repeated) trouble trying to find the man in her dreams and unravel the mystery of him, especially after she finds his belongings in the Forgotten Room. Along the way, she makes an enemy of class bully Damaris, but also excellent friends in Fyn and Rebecca, who are there to help her along the way. 

Ivy is a likeable protagonist, but I did find myself forgetting that she is 16, as she and the other students read as younger than that. She is a little shy, but also very determined to get to the bottom of the mysteries she has found herself involved in. Ivy also cares greatly for Humboldt, the scaldron she brought from Castle Plum, as well as for Fyn and Rebecca. I adore Rebecca; she is the typical bubbly best friend of the more reserved main character, but she is always willing to follow Ivy regardless of the risk. Fyn is a self-appointed protector-type, but is also very sweet. I would have liked to get to know the side characters better, as while likeable, they fall a little flat and seem to have little to do outside of their interactions with Ivy. 

This book was pretty fast-paced, but I did find the plot a little convoluted at times, although it all mostly worked itself out in the end. The worldbuilding is really interesting, but details about how and why things are they was they are seem sparse in some places and overabundant in others. I do feel like the overall concept borrows a lot from Harry Potter, but the story does make itself stand out from the orphaned chosen one at magic boarding school concept popularized by HP. The wide variety of magical creatures was fun to read about and I love how involved the creatures, from hairies providing light to scaldrons providing heat, are in daily life. The magic system also stands out, but was confusing at times, as there are multiple ways to "be" magical that could have been expanded on more in the exposition. Overall, the world of Croswald is enthralling, if a little confusing. However, this is the first in a series, so that opens up a lot of time for the world to be fleshed out and explained more as the wider story progresses. 

Tween me would have probably finished this book in a matter of hours, and I would recommend it to any fantasy-loving tween today. Not really related to story quality, but the cover is gorgeous and I loved the sketches at the beginning of each chapter.

The Crowns of Croswald

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