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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This story was so fun and it reminded me a lot of harry potter, which I loved, yet was still distinct from it and was its own unique story. I loved the characters and the relationships between Ivy and Rebecca and Ivy and Fyn! The atmosphere and world building were amazing and one of my favorite parts of the book. The whole story just felt so nostalgic and magical! I did however feel like the pacing could have been better. Some sections of the book didn’t seem to have much going on plot-wise, which caused me to get a little bored. Overall though I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
This story was so fun and it reminded me a lot of harry potter, which I loved, yet was still distinct from it and was its own unique story. I loved the characters and the relationships between Ivy and Rebecca and Ivy and Fyn! The atmosphere and world building were amazing and one of my favorite parts of the book. The whole story just felt so nostalgic and magical! I did however feel like the pacing could have been better. Some sections of the book didn’t seem to have much going on plot-wise, which caused me to get a little bored. Overall though I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
“The Crowns of Croswald” by D.E. Night is an enchanting coming-of-age story about a young girl who is brought into a magical world and a magical school. First to note, the cover artwork is absolutely beautiful and does an incredible job of capturing the essence of this book. While I read via ebook, I would occasionally look at the artwork. The beautiful imagery is reflected in the colorful world that comes to life in Ivy’s journey.
The characters are all very likeable and I enjoyed reading about each of their quirks and magical talents. The various magical classes were equally entertaining, but I feel like it is the creatures that won my heart. I don't think it would have been the same without these adorable and fantastic creatures.
The pace of the book begins a little slow (which is perfect for younger readers) and picks up throughout the book. Then you're off on a magical journey with a bit of trouble and intriguing characters that you meet along the way. The writing may be a little confusing at first, with the new world and fantasy based verbiage being slightly difficult, but after a few chapters you jump right in.
Overall, this is a great first book to what I imagine to be a magical series.
Thank you D.E. Night and Netgalley for a copy of the book.
The characters are all very likeable and I enjoyed reading about each of their quirks and magical talents. The various magical classes were equally entertaining, but I feel like it is the creatures that won my heart. I don't think it would have been the same without these adorable and fantastic creatures.
The pace of the book begins a little slow (which is perfect for younger readers) and picks up throughout the book. Then you're off on a magical journey with a bit of trouble and intriguing characters that you meet along the way. The writing may be a little confusing at first, with the new world and fantasy based verbiage being slightly difficult, but after a few chapters you jump right in.
Overall, this is a great first book to what I imagine to be a magical series.
Thank you D.E. Night and Netgalley for a copy of the book.
Magic, an evil queen, a lost orpan and a whimsical world come together in The Crowns of Croswald a fantasy novel. Ivy an orphan who is clueless of her birth, her parents or her talents is suddenly invited to a magical school and what follows is an adventure for her and the readers.
A middle grade juvenile fiction is a wonderful book though its comparison to Harry Potter series is unavoidable. Lot of similarities do crop up between both the books and I loved reading both of them equally. The thing I miss though in the book is a map and a little background of Croswald. That said I would definitely look forward to the other books in the series.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review!
A middle grade juvenile fiction is a wonderful book though its comparison to Harry Potter series is unavoidable. Lot of similarities do crop up between both the books and I loved reading both of them equally. The thing I miss though in the book is a map and a little background of Croswald. That said I would definitely look forward to the other books in the series.
Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest review!
Thank you to Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for a free e-copy in exchange for a free review!
I loved this book so much! This review isn't going to be super detailed (because I've found out writing a lengthy review is exhausting) but here we go!
First, this book is a super cute and clean middle grade fantasy with strong Harry Potter vibes. while also leaning into the lost princess trope (somewhat spoiler, but not really because most readers will have figured the big twist out by the time it's revealed). The magical world is enchanting and very original. I was eager to learn about each and every new element that our main character Ivy came across with during her adventures.
Speaking of Ivy, all the characters are well-rounded and well written. Ivy's love for learning and adventure is so relatable and I wished I could actually be there with her along her journey. Even with what's revealed about her mysterious history by the end, there's enough yet to be revealed to get you excited about the sequels. Rebekah is a great best friend and I absolutely love the loyal and charming Fyn. The budding romance between Ivy and Fyn is downright adorable and I ship them super hard. The lack of information on the dark queen makes her ominous just enough to keep you excited for her final appearance, and then when she dramatically reveals just how terrifying she is it's hard to stop reading.
A small complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more explanation of new magical creatures and elements. Ivy is thrown into the magic world rather quickly and she learns very fast, but the reader has to keep up a little bit. Some more discussion of Ivy's instinctual magic would have grounded the plotline a bit more too. But overall the plot moves fast enough throughout the school year's timeline to keep you entertained with enough slow moments to let characters bond and keep you intrigued in the mysteries surrounding Ivy. I also wish some non-magical elements of the story had been a bit more original, like the rich kid who bullies the main character and blaming them for problems rich kid caused, but this wasn't too much of a big deal or distraction. And the magic system and original magical creatures (DOG SIZED PET DRAGON!) make up for it.
I don't have too much more to say, but TL;DR: this book is so charming I'll be buying a physical copy and the next book in the series as soon as possible!
I loved this book so much! This review isn't going to be super detailed (because I've found out writing a lengthy review is exhausting) but here we go!
First, this book is a super cute and clean middle grade fantasy with strong Harry Potter vibes. while also leaning into the lost princess trope (somewhat spoiler, but not really because most readers will have figured the big twist out by the time it's revealed). The magical world is enchanting and very original. I was eager to learn about each and every new element that our main character Ivy came across with during her adventures.
Speaking of Ivy, all the characters are well-rounded and well written. Ivy's love for learning and adventure is so relatable and I wished I could actually be there with her along her journey. Even with what's revealed about her mysterious history by the end, there's enough yet to be revealed to get you excited about the sequels. Rebekah is a great best friend and I absolutely love the loyal and charming Fyn. The budding romance between Ivy and Fyn is downright adorable and I ship them super hard. The lack of information on the dark queen makes her ominous just enough to keep you excited for her final appearance, and then when she dramatically reveals just how terrifying she is it's hard to stop reading.
A small complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more explanation of new magical creatures and elements. Ivy is thrown into the magic world rather quickly and she learns very fast, but the reader has to keep up a little bit. Some more discussion of Ivy's instinctual magic would have grounded the plotline a bit more too. But overall the plot moves fast enough throughout the school year's timeline to keep you entertained with enough slow moments to let characters bond and keep you intrigued in the mysteries surrounding Ivy. I also wish some non-magical elements of the story had been a bit more original, like the rich kid who bullies the main character and blaming them for problems rich kid caused, but this wasn't too much of a big deal or distraction. And the magic system and original magical creatures (DOG SIZED PET DRAGON!) make up for it.
I don't have too much more to say, but TL;DR: this book is so charming I'll be buying a physical copy and the next book in the series as soon as possible!
Thank you to Stories Untold Press and Netgalley for a free e-copy in exchange for a free review!
I loved this book so much! This review isn't going to be super detailed (because I've found out writing a lengthy review is exhausting) but here we go!
First, this book is a super cute and clean middle grade fantasy with strong Harry Potter vibes. while also leaning into the lost princess trope (somewhat spoiler, but not really because most readers will have figured the big twist out by the time it's revealed). The magical world is enchanting and very original. I was eager to learn about each and every new element that our main character Ivy came across with during her adventures.
Speaking of Ivy, all the characters are well-rounded and well written. Ivy's love for learning and adventure is so relatable and I wished I could actually be there with her along her journey. Even with what's revealed about her mysterious history by the end, there's enough yet to be revealed to get you excited about the sequels. Rebekah is a great best friend and I absolutely love the loyal and charming Fyn. The budding romance between Ivy and Fyn is downright adorable and I ship them super hard. The lack of information on the dark queen makes her ominous just enough to keep you excited for her final appearance, and then when she dramatically reveals just how terrifying she is it's hard to stop reading.
A small complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more explanation of new magical creatures and elements. Ivy is thrown into the magic world rather quickly and she learns very fast, but the reader has to keep up a little bit. Some more discussion of Ivy's instinctual magic would have grounded the plotline a bit more too. But overall the plot moves fast enough throughout the school year's timeline to keep you entertained with enough slow moments to let characters bond and keep you intrigued in the mysteries surrounding Ivy. I also wish some non-magical elements of the story had been a bit more original, like the rich kid who bullies the main character and blaming them for problems rich kid caused, but this wasn't too much of a big deal or distraction. And the magic system and original magical creatures (DOG SIZED PET DRAGON!) make up for it.
I don't have too much more to say, but TL;DR: this book is so charming I'll be buying a physical copy and the next book in the series as soon as possible!
I loved this book so much! This review isn't going to be super detailed (because I've found out writing a lengthy review is exhausting) but here we go!
First, this book is a super cute and clean middle grade fantasy with strong Harry Potter vibes. while also leaning into the lost princess trope (somewhat spoiler, but not really because most readers will have figured the big twist out by the time it's revealed). The magical world is enchanting and very original. I was eager to learn about each and every new element that our main character Ivy came across with during her adventures.
Speaking of Ivy, all the characters are well-rounded and well written. Ivy's love for learning and adventure is so relatable and I wished I could actually be there with her along her journey. Even with what's revealed about her mysterious history by the end, there's enough yet to be revealed to get you excited about the sequels. Rebekah is a great best friend and I absolutely love the loyal and charming Fyn. The budding romance between Ivy and Fyn is downright adorable and I ship them super hard. The lack of information on the dark queen makes her ominous just enough to keep you excited for her final appearance, and then when she dramatically reveals just how terrifying she is it's hard to stop reading.
A small complaint is that I wish there would have been a bit more explanation of new magical creatures and elements. Ivy is thrown into the magic world rather quickly and she learns very fast, but the reader has to keep up a little bit. Some more discussion of Ivy's instinctual magic would have grounded the plotline a bit more too. But overall the plot moves fast enough throughout the school year's timeline to keep you entertained with enough slow moments to let characters bond and keep you intrigued in the mysteries surrounding Ivy. I also wish some non-magical elements of the story had been a bit more original, like the rich kid who bullies the main character and blaming them for problems rich kid caused, but this wasn't too much of a big deal or distraction. And the magic system and original magical creatures (DOG SIZED PET DRAGON!) make up for it.
I don't have too much more to say, but TL;DR: this book is so charming I'll be buying a physical copy and the next book in the series as soon as possible!
Title: The Crowns of Crosswald
Author: D. E
Score: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
English level: B1-B2
Recommended age: +13
First of all I want to thank Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read the book, I really wanted to read this story apart from the cover is beautiful !!! It tells us the story of Ivy, a normal girl who makes chores in a house together with her friend Rimbrick a goblin until one day she leaves and they offer her to study at the most prestigious school of magic in Crosswald. It made me a very original story and I loved the setting that the author managed to give it as well as Ivy the protagonist who made me a girl looking for her dream and a better life although sometimes she made decisions that made me nervous. The fantasy, romance and mystery behind Crosswald was very good. And the villain of the story brings me very intrigued with his past and what he can do. My favorite characters were Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca and Edwin Edgar Night who had me curious throughout the book. I recommend them to people who are beginning to read fantasy and those who read like Middle grade books as I do. And I want to read the second book since the end ufff was epic that last 20% left me surprised.
Titulo: The Crowns of Crosswald
Autor : D. E Night
Puntuación:⭐⭐⭐. 5
Nivel de inglés : B1-B2
Edad recomendada: +13
Primero que nada quiero agradecer a Netgalley y a la autora por darme la oportunidad de leer el libro, ya tenía muchas ganas de poder leer esta historia aparte por que la portada es bellísima!!!
Nos cuenta la historia de Ivy una chica normal que hace quehacer en una casa junto con su amigo Rimbrick un duende hasta que un día ella se va y le ofrecen estudiar en la escuela más prestigiosa de Crosswald de magia.
Se me hizo una historia muy original y me encantó la ambientación que logró darle la autora así como Ivy la protagonista que se me hizo una chica buscando su sueño y una vida mejor aunque veces tomaba decisiones que me ponían de nervios.
La fantasía, el romance y el misterio de tras de Crosswald fue muy bueno.
Y el villano de la historia me trae muy intrigada con su pasado y lo que puede llegar a hacer.
Mis personajes favoritos fueron Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca y Edwin Edgar Night que me tenía curiosa todo el libro.
Se los recomiendo a las personas que van empezando a leer fantasía y los que lees gusten como a mí los libros Middle grade.
Y quiero leerme el segundo libro ya que el final ufff fue épico ese último 20% me dejó sorprendida.
Author: D. E
Score: ⭐⭐⭐. 5
English level: B1-B2
Recommended age: +13
First of all I want to thank Netgalley and the author for giving me the opportunity to read the book, I really wanted to read this story apart from the cover is beautiful !!! It tells us the story of Ivy, a normal girl who makes chores in a house together with her friend Rimbrick a goblin until one day she leaves and they offer her to study at the most prestigious school of magic in Crosswald. It made me a very original story and I loved the setting that the author managed to give it as well as Ivy the protagonist who made me a girl looking for her dream and a better life although sometimes she made decisions that made me nervous. The fantasy, romance and mystery behind Crosswald was very good. And the villain of the story brings me very intrigued with his past and what he can do. My favorite characters were Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca and Edwin Edgar Night who had me curious throughout the book. I recommend them to people who are beginning to read fantasy and those who read like Middle grade books as I do. And I want to read the second book since the end ufff was epic that last 20% left me surprised.
Titulo: The Crowns of Crosswald
Autor : D. E Night
Puntuación:⭐⭐⭐. 5
Nivel de inglés : B1-B2
Edad recomendada: +13
Primero que nada quiero agradecer a Netgalley y a la autora por darme la oportunidad de leer el libro, ya tenía muchas ganas de poder leer esta historia aparte por que la portada es bellísima!!!
Nos cuenta la historia de Ivy una chica normal que hace quehacer en una casa junto con su amigo Rimbrick un duende hasta que un día ella se va y le ofrecen estudiar en la escuela más prestigiosa de Crosswald de magia.
Se me hizo una historia muy original y me encantó la ambientación que logró darle la autora así como Ivy la protagonista que se me hizo una chica buscando su sueño y una vida mejor aunque veces tomaba decisiones que me ponían de nervios.
La fantasía, el romance y el misterio de tras de Crosswald fue muy bueno.
Y el villano de la historia me trae muy intrigada con su pasado y lo que puede llegar a hacer.
Mis personajes favoritos fueron Ivy, Fhn, Rebecca y Edwin Edgar Night que me tenía curiosa todo el libro.
Se los recomiendo a las personas que van empezando a leer fantasía y los que lees gusten como a mí los libros Middle grade.
Y quiero leerme el segundo libro ya que el final ufff fue épico ese último 20% me dejó sorprendida.
This was a great book! I received a digital copy of the Crowns of Croswald in exchange for an honest review.
This book introduces a young girl named Ivy who works in a kitchen with Scaldron dragons. When one of the dragons gets sick Ivy gets kicked out on the street and must venture on her own away from her work and her home. She is picked up by a cabby who has been looking for her and Ivy is told that she has magic and will be attending a magical school. He drops her off to buy supplies. But once she gets to the school, the adventure and magic really begins! This book immediately pulled me in and I loved the characters and the story. I love books that have characters with powers and magical schools! This is a book that middle graders, teens, and adults should enjoy 😊
This book introduces a young girl named Ivy who works in a kitchen with Scaldron dragons. When one of the dragons gets sick Ivy gets kicked out on the street and must venture on her own away from her work and her home. She is picked up by a cabby who has been looking for her and Ivy is told that she has magic and will be attending a magical school. He drops her off to buy supplies. But once she gets to the school, the adventure and magic really begins! This book immediately pulled me in and I loved the characters and the story. I love books that have characters with powers and magical schools! This is a book that middle graders, teens, and adults should enjoy 😊
****I received a copy of this ARC from NetGalley, JKS Communications and Stories Untold Press in exchange for an honest review!****
I heard a lot of buzz about this book and when I saw it was on NetGalley, I jumped at the opportunity!
While the plot of this first book was predictable, what with the lost princess trope smacking us over the head, I feel that this is going to be a series in which the highlight is going to be the world building and the characters. It's definitely an introductory book, but it does get you hungry for what comes next and what lengths these characters will go.
If we are treated to same loving care that J. K. Rowling gave her Harry Potter world, I can see Croswald and the Halls of Ivy being a mainstay in magical school fiction.
This can only be achieved if we are allowed to be introduced more closely to the side characters and teachers and hopefully a deep dive into the mind of the villain. I look forward to the next installment!
I heard a lot of buzz about this book and when I saw it was on NetGalley, I jumped at the opportunity!
While the plot of this first book was predictable, what with the lost princess trope smacking us over the head, I feel that this is going to be a series in which the highlight is going to be the world building and the characters. It's definitely an introductory book, but it does get you hungry for what comes next and what lengths these characters will go.
If we are treated to same loving care that J. K. Rowling gave her Harry Potter world, I can see Croswald and the Halls of Ivy being a mainstay in magical school fiction.
This can only be achieved if we are allowed to be introduced more closely to the side characters and teachers and hopefully a deep dive into the mind of the villain. I look forward to the next installment!
To find magic around you, you must carry magic inside you.
The Crowns of Croswald is about a town named Croswald, which is full of deception and wicked magic like any other magical land. However, the Queen has the upper hand, and the people have fallen into a rut, unaware that a savior may be on the way.
In this tale, we follow Ivy, a 16-year-old girl who has spent her whole life as a servant in a castle, oblivious of the power she has or who she truly is. Her sole companion is a dwarf who talks with her when she visits the gardens to sketch. She's been experiencing weird dreams recently in which she sees another palace and can sketch it precisely.
What she doesn't anticipate is for everything to change suddenly; one day, they appear and take her away to the Halls of Ivy, a magical school for "sqwinches" like her and "royals" who wield the magical stones on their crowns, each with a unique ability. They are extremely snobbish, but she makes a good friend named Rebecca, who doesn't want to be a royal at all.
The first thing I’m going to talk about is the characters in this book. I really liked reading about Ivy and her magical journey and felt that her personality was very well-rounded and sweet. Ivy is a fascinating character who enjoys sketching and has been looking for answers about her past and family. At first, she has difficulty with magic. The mystery hanging throughout the story that Ivy is attempting to put together is the recurring dream Ivy experiences, and as events develop, we learn the details of the magical world with her. However, I believe she was overly focused. I get that she was the main protagonist, but I would have wanted to see more growth of the other characters as well. The narrative included a number of characters, but none of them stood out. They merely appeared to be there, utilized as minor characters with no bearing on the storyline. Fyn is the love interest, and he's adorable, but we barely get to know him; he suddenly appears out of nowhere to save Ivy. The Dark Queen, the story's antagonist, was barely portrayed. I would have loved to know more about her history, rather than just reading about a power-hungry woman since that's how she was written.
I actually wished it would slow down a little, because I wanted more insights and world-building... the magic system was first rather perplexing. However, I do understand that being a middle grade has to be really entertaining in that way.
Furthermore, in many respects, the plot felt too similar to Harry Potter. Don't get me wrong, I like Harry Potter, but there were so many parallels that, while I adored the plot and everything about it, I felt it detracted from the uniqueness.
Everything from the names of the characters to mystical items like the Glanagerie bottle and the Compass Startus, the author's universe was mind-blowing to me. Night has clearly put a lot of passion and attention into the creation of Croswald, and it reflects.
However, I thought that several parts of the book were not adequately described. For instance, when the opening first presented the concept of quills (a kind of wand), I had no idea what they were. Although the name indicates that they are used to write, they are featured in this book for completely another purpose. I wish I had known about them earlier in the book so that I could have completely grasped the concept. However, the extensive vocabulary appealed to me.
Magical quills, flying cabs, charms, and enchantments all kept me hooked to this book.
Overall, I think The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderful and enjoyable novel for middle graders. The entire narrative is well-thought-out, and I personally loved D.E. Night's writing style! I adore it when authors can completely transport you to their magical realms through their writing, and hers accomplished just that for me!
The Crowns of Croswald is about a town named Croswald, which is full of deception and wicked magic like any other magical land. However, the Queen has the upper hand, and the people have fallen into a rut, unaware that a savior may be on the way.
In this tale, we follow Ivy, a 16-year-old girl who has spent her whole life as a servant in a castle, oblivious of the power she has or who she truly is. Her sole companion is a dwarf who talks with her when she visits the gardens to sketch. She's been experiencing weird dreams recently in which she sees another palace and can sketch it precisely.
What she doesn't anticipate is for everything to change suddenly; one day, they appear and take her away to the Halls of Ivy, a magical school for "sqwinches" like her and "royals" who wield the magical stones on their crowns, each with a unique ability. They are extremely snobbish, but she makes a good friend named Rebecca, who doesn't want to be a royal at all.
The first thing I’m going to talk about is the characters in this book. I really liked reading about Ivy and her magical journey and felt that her personality was very well-rounded and sweet. Ivy is a fascinating character who enjoys sketching and has been looking for answers about her past and family. At first, she has difficulty with magic. The mystery hanging throughout the story that Ivy is attempting to put together is the recurring dream Ivy experiences, and as events develop, we learn the details of the magical world with her. However, I believe she was overly focused. I get that she was the main protagonist, but I would have wanted to see more growth of the other characters as well. The narrative included a number of characters, but none of them stood out. They merely appeared to be there, utilized as minor characters with no bearing on the storyline. Fyn is the love interest, and he's adorable, but we barely get to know him; he suddenly appears out of nowhere to save Ivy. The Dark Queen, the story's antagonist, was barely portrayed. I would have loved to know more about her history, rather than just reading about a power-hungry woman since that's how she was written.
I actually wished it would slow down a little, because I wanted more insights and world-building... the magic system was first rather perplexing. However, I do understand that being a middle grade has to be really entertaining in that way.
Furthermore, in many respects, the plot felt too similar to Harry Potter. Don't get me wrong, I like Harry Potter, but there were so many parallels that, while I adored the plot and everything about it, I felt it detracted from the uniqueness.
Everything from the names of the characters to mystical items like the Glanagerie bottle and the Compass Startus, the author's universe was mind-blowing to me. Night has clearly put a lot of passion and attention into the creation of Croswald, and it reflects.
However, I thought that several parts of the book were not adequately described. For instance, when the opening first presented the concept of quills (a kind of wand), I had no idea what they were. Although the name indicates that they are used to write, they are featured in this book for completely another purpose. I wish I had known about them earlier in the book so that I could have completely grasped the concept. However, the extensive vocabulary appealed to me.
Magical quills, flying cabs, charms, and enchantments all kept me hooked to this book.
Overall, I think The Crowns of Croswald is a wonderful and enjoyable novel for middle graders. The entire narrative is well-thought-out, and I personally loved D.E. Night's writing style! I adore it when authors can completely transport you to their magical realms through their writing, and hers accomplished just that for me!
Thank you to Net Galley and Stories Untold Publishing for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
"there's magic in you. You're different. The slurry is fighting it. But even the slurry can't win every time."
This book was lovely (no pun intended). If you are a fan of Harry Potter, if you are still waiting for someone to come whisk you away to a magical boarding school, if you are or ever have experienced the confusion and excitement of growing up and figuring out who you are and where you belong in the world, then you should read this book. The story centers around Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid in the non-magical castle of Plum, living in the midst of the magical-cancelling slurry fields. Her only friend is an aged dwarf named Rimbrick, and she longs for more than a life of working in the kitchens.
As the story begins, Ivy discovers she has magic and is rushed off to the Halls of Ivy (interesting, no?) to learn the art of becoming a scrivener. She is impulsive, headstrong, insecure, and really has no idea what is happening in the world around her. She is such a relatable character. She is chased (sometimes literally) by magic she can't explain, dreams of a scrivener mysteriously forgotten by the world, feels a deep sense that she must save him, and finds herself as an enemy to the enigmatic Dark Queen. Add to this a witty roommate who uncontrollably turns into a mink, a sweet boy who always appears at exactly the right moment, and an ancient mentor who lives in a secret laboratory, and Crowns of Croswald is a recipe for a whimsically good time.
My greatest criticism of the book is that the world-building was so naturally woven throughout the story that I found myself having to flip back and forth to remember terms, places, and names and make sure I was correctly identifying them. A map and/or a glossary would have been a fantastic addition to the book. I've seen some reviews complaining about the lack of depth in some of the characters in Crowns of Croswald, but I felt like all of the main characters were reasonably developed for the first book in a middle grade series. Do I know the characters deeply yet, no, but in part that's because they don't know themselves--a large part of this novel centered around their self-discovery. I enjoyed getting to journey with them as they figured out who they were and connected with each other. It felt authentic and I am looking forward to seeing who they become and how the story develops over the next two books.
Crowns of Croswald was a fun, big-hearted, middle-grade adventure. It ticked all of the boxes for me, and I am looking forward to sharing it with my kids and to exploring the rest of Ivy's story.
"there's magic in you. You're different. The slurry is fighting it. But even the slurry can't win every time."
This book was lovely (no pun intended). If you are a fan of Harry Potter, if you are still waiting for someone to come whisk you away to a magical boarding school, if you are or ever have experienced the confusion and excitement of growing up and figuring out who you are and where you belong in the world, then you should read this book. The story centers around Ivy Lovely, scaldrony maid in the non-magical castle of Plum, living in the midst of the magical-cancelling slurry fields. Her only friend is an aged dwarf named Rimbrick, and she longs for more than a life of working in the kitchens.
As the story begins, Ivy discovers she has magic and is rushed off to the Halls of Ivy (interesting, no?) to learn the art of becoming a scrivener. She is impulsive, headstrong, insecure, and really has no idea what is happening in the world around her. She is such a relatable character. She is chased (sometimes literally) by magic she can't explain, dreams of a scrivener mysteriously forgotten by the world, feels a deep sense that she must save him, and finds herself as an enemy to the enigmatic Dark Queen. Add to this a witty roommate who uncontrollably turns into a mink, a sweet boy who always appears at exactly the right moment, and an ancient mentor who lives in a secret laboratory, and Crowns of Croswald is a recipe for a whimsically good time.
My greatest criticism of the book is that the world-building was so naturally woven throughout the story that I found myself having to flip back and forth to remember terms, places, and names and make sure I was correctly identifying them. A map and/or a glossary would have been a fantastic addition to the book. I've seen some reviews complaining about the lack of depth in some of the characters in Crowns of Croswald, but I felt like all of the main characters were reasonably developed for the first book in a middle grade series. Do I know the characters deeply yet, no, but in part that's because they don't know themselves--a large part of this novel centered around their self-discovery. I enjoyed getting to journey with them as they figured out who they were and connected with each other. It felt authentic and I am looking forward to seeing who they become and how the story develops over the next two books.
Crowns of Croswald was a fun, big-hearted, middle-grade adventure. It ticked all of the boxes for me, and I am looking forward to sharing it with my kids and to exploring the rest of Ivy's story.