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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
The first thing I'd like to say about this book is that the world building is absolutely fantastic. The author takes care to paint vivid pictures of her settings. Things that were invented for the story become real in your mind.
This is the first story driven novel that I've read in a while so that was a bit different for me. But once I got used to that, I did enjoy the story telling.
I did feel as if there was a barrier of sorts between the reader and the characters in some of the scenes that kept them at arms length, and some of the dialogue was a bit on the nose, but most of the time the story was lovely and fun and made me laugh along with the characters.
I enjoyed watching friendships bloom and working out the mystery of Ivy Lovely right along with her. If you are a fan of creative magical worlds, you should give this book a go.
I haven't read a book about magical school without continuously comparing it to Harry Potter, but while I did think that some of the spells and professors names were whimsical and creative enough to be found in Harry Potter, I didn't find myself comparing the two stories.
This is the first story driven novel that I've read in a while so that was a bit different for me. But once I got used to that, I did enjoy the story telling.
I did feel as if there was a barrier of sorts between the reader and the characters in some of the scenes that kept them at arms length, and some of the dialogue was a bit on the nose, but most of the time the story was lovely and fun and made me laugh along with the characters.
I enjoyed watching friendships bloom and working out the mystery of Ivy Lovely right along with her. If you are a fan of creative magical worlds, you should give this book a go.
I haven't read a book about magical school without continuously comparing it to Harry Potter, but while I did think that some of the spells and professors names were whimsical and creative enough to be found in Harry Potter, I didn't find myself comparing the two stories.
The world that D.E. Night brings the reader into is enticing. From Kalegulous Keys to glenageries, there are many fantastical elements to explore. I've personally spent hours already speculating about the possibilities and extents of the magic system introduced here! All that being said, the way that the main character is developed and portrayed leaves something to be desired. Perhaps it comes from my own familiarity with "Chosen One stories," as I call them, but seeing a character have abilities which defy the rules that have been introduced (in some cases immediately after the rules are established) can be jarring. Even so, I understand that this can work as a device to demonstrate that rules can be flawed or not fully understood, with some having unknown or undiscovered exceptions; I personally don't find that particular device compelling.
Altogether, this was a solid first work by the author. I look forward to reading the sequels. Perhaps, after all is said and done, I'll retrospectively correct my 4 stars to 5! Only time will tell.
Altogether, this was a solid first work by the author. I look forward to reading the sequels. Perhaps, after all is said and done, I'll retrospectively correct my 4 stars to 5! Only time will tell.
I really enjoyed a lot things about this book, such as the friendships between the characters and the plot of the book. But I felt like there wasn't much depth to any of the characters, and for me it was a struggle to get through this book because I just didn't care about the characters because there wasn't much to their personalities.
This could have been a typical formula for a fairytale – a girl working as a scullery maid, deprived of the niceties of a good life suddenly discovers there is more to her and the world. Brace yourself for an adventure!
Ivy Lovely finds out powers she had only heard stories of thrive in her blood and an evil force that threatens the world of Croswald. Having crossed the border of the slurry fields, she begins an adventure to uncover her history and save Croswald before everything crumbles to oblivion.
Many reviews have pinned The Crowns of Croswald a hybrid between Rowling’s Harry Potter and the nonsense of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Potterheads don’t fret! Although there are parallels in the story and magical elements, Night has crafted a tale that stands out on its own. She has crafted a world indelible with vivid settings and breathed life to magical creatures foreign to a rabid reader such as myself.
Scrivenists and Royals
The magic systems are one I find unique. The scrivenist element nods to readers and authors. I appreciate that they are both historians and wizards of some sort. The royals are those who were born from a bloodline imbued in magic who claims a stone worn on their crowns which grants them specific magical abilities (e.g. speed, shape-shifting, elemental control etc.). It is both a boon and bane to have two magic systems in a single tale but Night is successful in delivering this. This could be due to the fact that both scrivenists and royal magic are not contradicting forces but are complimentary to each other.
The World of Croswald
My memories of the wizarding world resurfaced as I read Ivy’s journey to the Halls of Ivy. Night conjures the whimsical strengths of a fairytale and the crisp imagery truly makes you feel as if you are part of the tour. I would have wanted a map to go with the book. I felt that the settings could have been explored better in terms of distance/proximities from each location. I had some difficulty picturing some of the locations but that did not take much away from the experience. It is also fascinating to meet new creatures that only Night could have conjured. I liked the hairies, expellers, and page-turners (I want one when I read books). There is also this complexity of the Glanagerie bottles and the world in them that adds another layer of interest.
Scriven this! DE Night writes DE Night and more…
It was a fun twist to make a character based from Night’s own name and he is an author, too. Whether this is a gender-bend of her persona or not, I loved that flare. She also crafted Ivy Lovely as a complex, brave, and loveable character. There were moments when she was stubborn but none that is too annoying. I find that her actuations sometimes do not match a 16-year old though. She may be a younger one at 13 or 14 maybe. She is relatable in many aspects and I think kids would love her as their heroine.
On the flip-side, there is more to be desired from the rest of the characters. They could have been more fleshed-out. There is great potential in Fyn as a love interest but he sits around the edges. He is mysterious, popping in and out at the right moments, in a sense that does not make sense. I also did not feel much of the tension which the antagonist could have brought throughout the story. The Dark Queen poses as an evil force placed there as a figure but her actions never really threatened the protagonists or the world (well not as explicit that could have driven the motivations of the protagonists and their cause more valuable). We never really learn anything about her until towards the ending of which her origins could have added another layer to the narrative.
I also found the pacing a bit jumpy. There were chapters that occur in a day and in some, weeks have already passed and I did some rereading to fully grasp the events in the new chapter. However, in the end, the book closes neatly. There were still missing pieces in the puzzle but I am sure Night has these ready for the next adventure.
Tome’s aftermath…
Overall, this book is a fascinating, darker novel recommended for young teen readers. DE Night’s writing style tastefully wraps the story up in preparation to the second installment. She proves a sleight of hand in storytelling and offers a world readers will yearn to explore.
FORMAT: Print Paperack
PUBLISHER: Stories Untold Press
ISBN-10: 0996948651
ISBN-13: 978-0996948654
RATING: 3.75 stars
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All opinions on this piece is mine with no influence from any outside force.
Ivy Lovely finds out powers she had only heard stories of thrive in her blood and an evil force that threatens the world of Croswald. Having crossed the border of the slurry fields, she begins an adventure to uncover her history and save Croswald before everything crumbles to oblivion.
Many reviews have pinned The Crowns of Croswald a hybrid between Rowling’s Harry Potter and the nonsense of Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Potterheads don’t fret! Although there are parallels in the story and magical elements, Night has crafted a tale that stands out on its own. She has crafted a world indelible with vivid settings and breathed life to magical creatures foreign to a rabid reader such as myself.
Scrivenists and Royals
The magic systems are one I find unique. The scrivenist element nods to readers and authors. I appreciate that they are both historians and wizards of some sort. The royals are those who were born from a bloodline imbued in magic who claims a stone worn on their crowns which grants them specific magical abilities (e.g. speed, shape-shifting, elemental control etc.). It is both a boon and bane to have two magic systems in a single tale but Night is successful in delivering this. This could be due to the fact that both scrivenists and royal magic are not contradicting forces but are complimentary to each other.
The World of Croswald
My memories of the wizarding world resurfaced as I read Ivy’s journey to the Halls of Ivy. Night conjures the whimsical strengths of a fairytale and the crisp imagery truly makes you feel as if you are part of the tour. I would have wanted a map to go with the book. I felt that the settings could have been explored better in terms of distance/proximities from each location. I had some difficulty picturing some of the locations but that did not take much away from the experience. It is also fascinating to meet new creatures that only Night could have conjured. I liked the hairies, expellers, and page-turners (I want one when I read books). There is also this complexity of the Glanagerie bottles and the world in them that adds another layer of interest.
Scriven this! DE Night writes DE Night and more…
It was a fun twist to make a character based from Night’s own name and he is an author, too. Whether this is a gender-bend of her persona or not, I loved that flare. She also crafted Ivy Lovely as a complex, brave, and loveable character. There were moments when she was stubborn but none that is too annoying. I find that her actuations sometimes do not match a 16-year old though. She may be a younger one at 13 or 14 maybe. She is relatable in many aspects and I think kids would love her as their heroine.
On the flip-side, there is more to be desired from the rest of the characters. They could have been more fleshed-out. There is great potential in Fyn as a love interest but he sits around the edges. He is mysterious, popping in and out at the right moments, in a sense that does not make sense. I also did not feel much of the tension which the antagonist could have brought throughout the story. The Dark Queen poses as an evil force placed there as a figure but her actions never really threatened the protagonists or the world (well not as explicit that could have driven the motivations of the protagonists and their cause more valuable). We never really learn anything about her until towards the ending of which her origins could have added another layer to the narrative.
I also found the pacing a bit jumpy. There were chapters that occur in a day and in some, weeks have already passed and I did some rereading to fully grasp the events in the new chapter. However, in the end, the book closes neatly. There were still missing pieces in the puzzle but I am sure Night has these ready for the next adventure.
Tome’s aftermath…
Overall, this book is a fascinating, darker novel recommended for young teen readers. DE Night’s writing style tastefully wraps the story up in preparation to the second installment. She proves a sleight of hand in storytelling and offers a world readers will yearn to explore.
FORMAT: Print Paperack
PUBLISHER: Stories Untold Press
ISBN-10: 0996948651
ISBN-13: 978-0996948654
RATING: 3.75 stars
I was provided a copy by the publisher in exchange of an honest review. All opinions on this piece is mine with no influence from any outside force.
When I was approached by the publisher to read this book I at first thought it might be more geared for middle schoolers. I was pleasantly surprised at the detail and imagination in this story. It definitely had a Harry Potter feel to it, but it was different enough that kept me engaged.
The story centers around a young girl named Ivy Lovely (around 17) who works as a maid under a castle tending to the dragons that keep the stoves heated for cooking. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out that she has an invitation to attend a school for magic that has students who are either Royals, given their powers through their crowns, or squinches, students who may have some magic but are basically scribes assigned to royal families once they complete school.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be looking forward to the rest of the books. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Harry Potter, magical worlds and adventure. I think both Young Adult and Middle Schoolers would enjoy this series.
The story centers around a young girl named Ivy Lovely (around 17) who works as a maid under a castle tending to the dragons that keep the stoves heated for cooking. Her world is turned upside down when she finds out that she has an invitation to attend a school for magic that has students who are either Royals, given their powers through their crowns, or squinches, students who may have some magic but are basically scribes assigned to royal families once they complete school.
This is the first book in the series and I will definitely be looking forward to the rest of the books. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Harry Potter, magical worlds and adventure. I think both Young Adult and Middle Schoolers would enjoy this series.
I really, really enjoyed this fantastic story! This new magical world was so exciting to learn about, an absolutely creative adventure to join. I loved learning about the magic and history of this new world, and drove into the ending of the book due to the exciting reveal of a great secret. I cannot wait for the next book to be revealed!
#goodreadsgiveaway
#goodreadsgiveaway
For fans of the Harry Potter books, The Crowns of Croswald is a fun read for both middle school students through adulthood. If you're looking for something you can enjoy reading with your teen, you've found it! There's certainly something magical about it.
In The Crowns of Croswald, you'll meet Ivy. She's a teenager who grew up working her butt off in the slurry fields but finds out that she's got some magic in her. Fate brings her to the Halls of Ivy, a magical school, where she studies to embrace her magic alongside other students learning to embrace powers through gems. What she doesn't realize is a dark power is after her; she'll have to learn who she can and can't trust and discover her family's history to fight what is happening.
Ivy, on some level, is a typical teenager. I love that she doesn't let others discourage her from asking questions and learning. However, she is on the naive side which can be irritating at times. The author really painted a picture for me of the worlds throughout the book, and I could always feel the tension where appropriate. I'm looking forward to diving into book two, which was recently released!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. I have voluntarily read this book and the review expresses my own personal opinion.
In The Crowns of Croswald, you'll meet Ivy. She's a teenager who grew up working her butt off in the slurry fields but finds out that she's got some magic in her. Fate brings her to the Halls of Ivy, a magical school, where she studies to embrace her magic alongside other students learning to embrace powers through gems. What she doesn't realize is a dark power is after her; she'll have to learn who she can and can't trust and discover her family's history to fight what is happening.
Ivy, on some level, is a typical teenager. I love that she doesn't let others discourage her from asking questions and learning. However, she is on the naive side which can be irritating at times. The author really painted a picture for me of the worlds throughout the book, and I could always feel the tension where appropriate. I'm looking forward to diving into book two, which was recently released!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. I have voluntarily read this book and the review expresses my own personal opinion.
"This book is definitely aimed at a younger audience, but I can still say that it was a very entertaining read. The clues were always too obvious and the writing style was not my favorite part of this adventure, but the characters and the plot were a delight."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review
I recieved this eBook in exchange for an honest review.
*I was sent this book by the publisher (Stories Untold) on behalf of the author in exchange for an honest review!
Wow, I knew I was going to enjoy this story because of the magical boarding school aspect but I didn’t know how much I was going to love it!
Ivy Lovely is a maid at a castle for 16 years, but dreams of adventure and magic on her free time. One day she is forced to leave the grounds, where her power awakens and finds herself being whisked away to a magical school where trouble seems to find her every step of the way! But something is off in the halls of her school and she’s determined to figure out what it is. Mystery and intrigue surrounds Ivy and soon trouble will find her.
I love love love this book! Honestly, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, I feel like this book definitely was influenced by the magical world we all love BUT it was still very unique and undeniably original! This story was very magical, whimsical and just completely took me out of my world, which is what I needed at this point in my life!
I loved the way the magic system worked in this book and all the little creatures, ESPECIALLY the scaldron Humboldt! I also really loved the characters and the mystery that revolves around Derwin Edgar Night (he conveniently has the same initials as the author
Wow, I knew I was going to enjoy this story because of the magical boarding school aspect but I didn’t know how much I was going to love it!
Ivy Lovely is a maid at a castle for 16 years, but dreams of adventure and magic on her free time. One day she is forced to leave the grounds, where her power awakens and finds herself being whisked away to a magical school where trouble seems to find her every step of the way! But something is off in the halls of her school and she’s determined to figure out what it is. Mystery and intrigue surrounds Ivy and soon trouble will find her.
I love love love this book! Honestly, if you’re a fan of Harry Potter, I feel like this book definitely was influenced by the magical world we all love BUT it was still very unique and undeniably original! This story was very magical, whimsical and just completely took me out of my world, which is what I needed at this point in my life!
I loved the way the magic system worked in this book and all the little creatures, ESPECIALLY the scaldron Humboldt! I also really loved the characters and the mystery that revolves around Derwin Edgar Night (he conveniently has the same initials as the author