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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I received an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Netgalley!
This is such a fun and whimsical read, it’s perfect for a middle grade audience but also serves well as a fun family read.
Teachers and librarians be sure to stock up on this one because your kids are going to love it! It’s a classic fairytale and a must read!
This is such a fun and whimsical read, it’s perfect for a middle grade audience but also serves well as a fun family read.
Teachers and librarians be sure to stock up on this one because your kids are going to love it! It’s a classic fairytale and a must read!
This is a magical book that gives a mix of Hatty Potter and City Of Bones vibes. I loved the writing style given by this author. It is easy to follow and entertaining to imagine the story playing out in your head. In this book, a young woman discovers that she has the gift of magic and is exiled from her home. Sent to a school to help a master magic user she soon finds she must understand her past to have a future. The Queen takes interest in this young woman but it isn't just any Queen; its the dark queen. A battle between good and evil must always take place.
I received a free digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I think kids in the middle grade category would really love this book although I found it enjoyable as an adult.
This story was magical. The plot was interesting. The mystery of it all keeps you reading. It was full of vivid imagery and great little details that really make you feel part of this magical world. Overall it was a fun adventure and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
I think kids in the middle grade category would really love this book although I found it enjoyable as an adult.
This story was magical. The plot was interesting. The mystery of it all keeps you reading. It was full of vivid imagery and great little details that really make you feel part of this magical world. Overall it was a fun adventure and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next.
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and her publicist for giving me the opportunity to read Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately I did not. I had to DNF at 35%. While im not generally a bug fan of reading YA/childrens fantasy, the premise sounded good and I was intrigued.
In what I did read, I sensed a lot of inspiration from the Harry Potter world. Ivy is kept secret from the magical world to suppress her powers and keep her hidden. When she crosses the magical threshold hiding her, her location is immediately discovered and shes tsken to Croswald to begin her schooling and education in magic.
For me, I was incredibly confused. I feel it is very important, when world building and introducing new terms, creatures, etc., the author needs to do so in a way that the audience immediately understands what it is, what it looks like, etc. I did not grasp many things. The writing felt basic and disjointed, it seemed as though the story jumped around from character to character and place to place without explaining the trajectory.
I wanted to push on to read more, hoping it would get better. But I am a firm believer if your attention is not held early on in the book, it likely will not be captured further on. This is why I made the decision to stop. Perhaps for less advanced readers this would be more enjoyable, but I fear my experience in reading older, higher level fantasy contributed to my disappointment in this book.
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately I did not. I had to DNF at 35%. While im not generally a bug fan of reading YA/childrens fantasy, the premise sounded good and I was intrigued.
In what I did read, I sensed a lot of inspiration from the Harry Potter world. Ivy is kept secret from the magical world to suppress her powers and keep her hidden. When she crosses the magical threshold hiding her, her location is immediately discovered and shes tsken to Croswald to begin her schooling and education in magic.
For me, I was incredibly confused. I feel it is very important, when world building and introducing new terms, creatures, etc., the author needs to do so in a way that the audience immediately understands what it is, what it looks like, etc. I did not grasp many things. The writing felt basic and disjointed, it seemed as though the story jumped around from character to character and place to place without explaining the trajectory.
I wanted to push on to read more, hoping it would get better. But I am a firm believer if your attention is not held early on in the book, it likely will not be captured further on. This is why I made the decision to stop. Perhaps for less advanced readers this would be more enjoyable, but I fear my experience in reading older, higher level fantasy contributed to my disappointment in this book.
A whimsical and magic book that had me dreaming of studying to become a scrivenisy along with Ivy at the Halls.
A story with a Harry Potter vibe that will satisfy anyone's craving for adventure and magic. The events of a school year filled with mischief danger and a looming threat kept me reading on to find out more about Ivy a maid turned student.
I cannot wait to read the sequel and find out what Corswald has in store for Ivy Lovely and her friends Rebecca and Fyn.
A story with a Harry Potter vibe that will satisfy anyone's craving for adventure and magic. The events of a school year filled with mischief danger and a looming threat kept me reading on to find out more about Ivy a maid turned student.
I cannot wait to read the sequel and find out what Corswald has in store for Ivy Lovely and her friends Rebecca and Fyn.
The Crowns of Croswald is a middle-grade fantasy I’ve heard compared to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. While CoC has a wonderful magic system, I find it much more whimsical and fantastical.
The way Ivy carries herself seems a bit young for sixteen years, but her inquisitiveness, love for schooling, and intrinsic optimism are infectious.
I found the pacing quite quick and jumpy throughout the first half of story, making it somewhat hard to follow. But once I reached about 60%, the writing and the story came together and finished beautifully.
Something I would have loved to have had more of was relationship building between Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca. It came and went in such short spurts until that 60% mark. But I felt throughout the first half of the book Ivy was just floating through the story with wise old men as friends.
I look forward to more of Ivy’s story in the Town of Belzebuthe!
The way Ivy carries herself seems a bit young for sixteen years, but her inquisitiveness, love for schooling, and intrinsic optimism are infectious.
I found the pacing quite quick and jumpy throughout the first half of story, making it somewhat hard to follow. But once I reached about 60%, the writing and the story came together and finished beautifully.
Something I would have loved to have had more of was relationship building between Ivy, Fyn, and Rebecca. It came and went in such short spurts until that 60% mark. But I felt throughout the first half of the book Ivy was just floating through the story with wise old men as friends.
I look forward to more of Ivy’s story in the Town of Belzebuthe!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I sunk into Ivy’s world, discovering the magic as she herself did. It was such a comforting book which I cannot wait to share with my daughters.
The main character Ivy really does have a talent for mishaps and misunderstandings which makes for such an interesting story. Especially as she has such a kind heart with genuinely good intentions which makes me hold my breath hoping she will find a way out of each experience.
As I move through the story I crave more information about the other characters in Ivy’s world. For most of the book, I don’t feel like I know them and following Ivy without sharing the experiences she would be having with these characters feels like I’m missing out. She is such a likeable girl that she would surely have some amazing friends around her. As I move through the final chapters I’m excited to start to get to know Rebecca and Fyn more.
I really enjoyed the unfolding of the storyline in little puzzle pieces as each time I learnt a little more I felt a buzz of excitement. When Rimbrick left at the beginning of the story I wanted to know more about where he fit in, and as I neared the end of the story he finally returned leading me towards Ivy’s true identity.
It is not often that you find a series of books that you just know will be regular comfort re-reads. Thank goodness for The Crowns of Croswald, our family loves a good magical story and with a strong, caring and kind female main character we have found new book friends.
I cannot wait to read the next books and continue following Ivy on her adventures.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley and willingly offer my honest review**
The main character Ivy really does have a talent for mishaps and misunderstandings which makes for such an interesting story. Especially as she has such a kind heart with genuinely good intentions which makes me hold my breath hoping she will find a way out of each experience.
As I move through the story I crave more information about the other characters in Ivy’s world. For most of the book, I don’t feel like I know them and following Ivy without sharing the experiences she would be having with these characters feels like I’m missing out. She is such a likeable girl that she would surely have some amazing friends around her. As I move through the final chapters I’m excited to start to get to know Rebecca and Fyn more.
I really enjoyed the unfolding of the storyline in little puzzle pieces as each time I learnt a little more I felt a buzz of excitement. When Rimbrick left at the beginning of the story I wanted to know more about where he fit in, and as I neared the end of the story he finally returned leading me towards Ivy’s true identity.
It is not often that you find a series of books that you just know will be regular comfort re-reads. Thank goodness for The Crowns of Croswald, our family loves a good magical story and with a strong, caring and kind female main character we have found new book friends.
I cannot wait to read the next books and continue following Ivy on her adventures.
**I received an ARC from NetGalley and willingly offer my honest review**
From 5 stars to 3 during the reread. I just didn't enjoy it nearly as much as I did the first time. I guess my taste has vastly changed.
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Thank you to Stories Untold Press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed it but I don't think Middle Grade Fantasy interests me anymore :'). Ivy was a really interesting character and I loved the mystery that surrounded her existence. I have a soft spot for boarding school type settings so that was great! I don't think it spoke to me but if I read this in Middle School I would have loved it. Highly recommend! <3
Things I liked:
- simple story
- great world building
- interesting plot