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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
It is super obvious that this book was inspired by HP, which isn’t an issue, but it has some very noticeable similarities.
The world building here is fun and really easy to picture whilst reading and the magic system is unique and intriguing.
This book definitely reads middle grade, which doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story, but it isn’t usually the type of book I read.
Parts of the story dragged a little bit for me, but overall I did enjoy the plot.
The world building here is fun and really easy to picture whilst reading and the magic system is unique and intriguing.
This book definitely reads middle grade, which doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the story, but it isn’t usually the type of book I read.
Parts of the story dragged a little bit for me, but overall I did enjoy the plot.
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a Lovely book. It reminded me enough of Harry Potter to sweep me up in nostalgia but held its own delightful magic. I can't wait to read more about Ivy Lovely.
I received this book for free in a mystery box. But the opinion is mine.
I liked this book, I liked the story and the idea around it. Although it was probably a little too young for me. There was a lot of the book that I really did like. There was some I didn't like. But I liked it more than I didn't.
The world that it's set in and the main story (which we find out that the end) was actually better than the original story and I believe the next book will be better. But I do feel there was something missing. The ending was great, but I feel that the main character didn't have as many questions as I could of had. And also I wished to know more about the Dark Queen. But again I think this book is a build up for the next.
Three cups of tea for me to finish this book.
Love,
Christina
I liked this book, I liked the story and the idea around it. Although it was probably a little too young for me. There was a lot of the book that I really did like. There was some I didn't like. But I liked it more than I didn't.
The world that it's set in and the main story (which we find out that the end) was actually better than the original story and I believe the next book will be better. But I do feel there was something missing. The ending was great, but I feel that the main character didn't have as many questions as I could of had. And also I wished to know more about the Dark Queen. But again I think this book is a build up for the next.
Three cups of tea for me to finish this book.
Love,
Christina
I have some mixed feelings about this book. Yes, I would definitely say this is more middle grade, so someone a lot younger than I am would probably enjoy this book a lot more.
First off, I had a really hard time getting into this book. Like it took me about 65% of the way through it to finally enjoy reading it. It wasn't that it was bad or anything, it was just hard for me to get into the world. During my normal times that I would typically be reading, I would try to come up with something else to do so I wouldn't be reading this book. That kind of tells you something. There are two reasons why I think this was the case. 1) I just wasn't interested in reading fantasy right now. 2) I thought the world building could have been a little better.
So, the world building... It took some time. This was a fairly fast paced book. It occurred over the course of a school year. There were A LOT of different creatures and new things that didn't really make sense. It definitely took some time to really understand the world and what it was about. I still don't fully understand what Ivy was going to school for. The whole prologue made no sense when I first read it, but as the book got closer to the end, it made WAY more sense to the point where I almost reread it just to make sure I understood it.
The characters were good. I enjoyed Ivy and Fin. This was told in third-person, but followed Ivy. Even though I wasn't really invested in this book, the plot was interesting. I think this would have been a great book to listen to instead of read, mainly because it is middle grade.
Overall, I feel like this first book was a good introduction into the series. I'm not sure if I will be continuing it or not at the moment. Maybe I will see if my library has a audiobook I can play. I would recommend this book to kids who enjoyed The Impossible Quest series or Narnia. Probably Harry Potter too, but I never read those books. It's definitely a lot of magic.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Although I ended up just downloading it through Kindle Unlimited instead of reading the NetGalley one I was sent.
First off, I had a really hard time getting into this book. Like it took me about 65% of the way through it to finally enjoy reading it. It wasn't that it was bad or anything, it was just hard for me to get into the world. During my normal times that I would typically be reading, I would try to come up with something else to do so I wouldn't be reading this book. That kind of tells you something. There are two reasons why I think this was the case. 1) I just wasn't interested in reading fantasy right now. 2) I thought the world building could have been a little better.
So, the world building... It took some time. This was a fairly fast paced book. It occurred over the course of a school year. There were A LOT of different creatures and new things that didn't really make sense. It definitely took some time to really understand the world and what it was about. I still don't fully understand what Ivy was going to school for. The whole prologue made no sense when I first read it, but as the book got closer to the end, it made WAY more sense to the point where I almost reread it just to make sure I understood it.
The characters were good. I enjoyed Ivy and Fin. This was told in third-person, but followed Ivy. Even though I wasn't really invested in this book, the plot was interesting. I think this would have been a great book to listen to instead of read, mainly because it is middle grade.
Overall, I feel like this first book was a good introduction into the series. I'm not sure if I will be continuing it or not at the moment. Maybe I will see if my library has a audiobook I can play. I would recommend this book to kids who enjoyed The Impossible Quest series or Narnia. Probably Harry Potter too, but I never read those books. It's definitely a lot of magic.
I received this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Although I ended up just downloading it through Kindle Unlimited instead of reading the NetGalley one I was sent.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ok, this was surprisingly good. It starts off slow, and the pacing gradually gets quicker. While i could guess where the story was going, i still loved how the author wrote it. The writing was both whimsical and magical and drew me into the world. The magic system was really interesting, and I found the concepts of royals and scrivenists really intriguing. Ivy is a great main character, she is strong, driven and had great character development. I’m definitely interested to see where the rest of the series goes, and continue the journey with Ivy!!
(*3.5)
Ok, this was surprisingly good. It starts off slow, and the pacing gradually gets quicker. While i could guess where the story was going, i still loved how the author wrote it. The writing was both whimsical and magical and drew me into the world. The magic system was really interesting, and I found the concepts of royals and scrivenists really intriguing. Ivy is a great main character, she is strong, driven and had great character development. I’m definitely interested to see where the rest of the series goes, and continue the journey with Ivy!!
(*3.5)
Thank you @NetGalley for a copy of this book. This book is a great fantasy world novel for a middle school read. It reminded me a lot of Harry Potter in terms of a young adult fiction fantasy world where the magic kids go to a magic school. As an adult, I found certain parts of the story slow or over simplified/cliché. The world building was solid in some parts, and weak in others. The book really picked up the last 40% but the first 60% was a struggle to want to get back into the story. Looking back, I think my middle school self would have really enjoyed the story, world, and characters. Ivy was a protagonist I could see my twelve year old self really identifying with and enjoying. I am considering reading her D.E.’s second book in the series because this one ended on quite the cliffhanger!
HAPPY RELEASE DAY!
If you love the magic of HARRY POTTER and whimsical charm of CINDERELLA, then you will love THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD. Night creates such a fantastical setting with creatures like dragons, hairies (fairies), and shorehorses. And in the Halls of Ivy, all sorts of magic is taught. Instead of wands or wizarding hats, magic is found within ink and quills and stones and glanagerie bottles. I found this magic to be fun and creative, something I could easily picture in my head.
We follow Ivy as she goes from a maid to a student at the Halls of Ivy. But something I would have actually liked to have seen more of was her time as a maid. I only glimpsed a peek into Ivy’s horrible life, then she was suddenly swept up into the Halls of Ivy. I think this would have allowed for a bit more depth in character and story, but this was nothing major.
I really enjoyed following Ivy throughout her story. I must admit, the beginning was a tad slow, but once I was about half through, they tale picked up. We get to see more of Ivy’s friends—Rebecca and Fyn—and her magical potential.
For my full review of this whimsical spectacle, click here: https://taylormaemarie.com/2017/07/14/the-crowns-of-croswald-by-d-e-night/
If you love the magic of HARRY POTTER and whimsical charm of CINDERELLA, then you will love THE CROWNS OF CROSWALD. Night creates such a fantastical setting with creatures like dragons, hairies (fairies), and shorehorses. And in the Halls of Ivy, all sorts of magic is taught. Instead of wands or wizarding hats, magic is found within ink and quills and stones and glanagerie bottles. I found this magic to be fun and creative, something I could easily picture in my head.
We follow Ivy as she goes from a maid to a student at the Halls of Ivy. But something I would have actually liked to have seen more of was her time as a maid. I only glimpsed a peek into Ivy’s horrible life, then she was suddenly swept up into the Halls of Ivy. I think this would have allowed for a bit more depth in character and story, but this was nothing major.
I really enjoyed following Ivy throughout her story. I must admit, the beginning was a tad slow, but once I was about half through, they tale picked up. We get to see more of Ivy’s friends—Rebecca and Fyn—and her magical potential.
For my full review of this whimsical spectacle, click here: https://taylormaemarie.com/2017/07/14/the-crowns-of-croswald-by-d-e-night/
If you mix the Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Alice’s Wonderland together, you get the wonderful world of Croswald. And yet, despite some obvious similarities, the author has managed to tell a completely original story suitable for middle grade readers. As for me, I found it a little bit harder to really get into the story. I think that’s often the case when a new fantasy world is created and introduced and you, as a reader, are thrown into the action of it all and you have to figure out what everything means and what all the creatures and objects look like. Hairies, scaldrons, cabbies, these are not things you will have encountered prior to reading this book. However, after a couple of chapters I couldn’t put the book down anymore and I read the thing in two days.
Ivy is a lovely character: curious, brave, and she really stands for what she believes in. Fyn is supposed to be the love interest/sidekick/best friend, but somehow he didn’t seem that interesting to me. Rebecca, Ivy’s other friend, though, did! At first she comes off as a bit of a snob, but soon I found there was more to her than that.
Little fun fact: I love that the author named one of the most mysterious characters in the book Derwin Edgar Night (D. E. Night, get it?!)!
This is a fun, light, whimsical children’s novel perfect for family reading time, for children to read their first fantasy book on their own, or for everyone else who enjoys a nice fantasy world and adventures! I’d love to read the other books in the Croswalds series as well.
Ivy is a lovely character: curious, brave, and she really stands for what she believes in. Fyn is supposed to be the love interest/sidekick/best friend, but somehow he didn’t seem that interesting to me. Rebecca, Ivy’s other friend, though, did! At first she comes off as a bit of a snob, but soon I found there was more to her than that.
Little fun fact: I love that the author named one of the most mysterious characters in the book Derwin Edgar Night (D. E. Night, get it?!)!
This is a fun, light, whimsical children’s novel perfect for family reading time, for children to read their first fantasy book on their own, or for everyone else who enjoys a nice fantasy world and adventures! I’d love to read the other books in the Croswalds series as well.