fictionfrog 's review for:

The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night

4.25

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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Books like these are why I'm so happy my inner child never fully grew up. (That being said, I did not at all feel babied or condescended while reading like can happen with many books meant for younger audiences). First off, what a beautiful, beautiful cover! It matches Night's writing from the very beginning. A descriptive, *fairy-tale* town is built which is a wonderful and accurate basis for the rest of the book. Fascinating details are woven throughout to anchor your immersion and connection to the places and characters without taking up too much inappropriate space. There were a few instances where the situation seemed random or out of character or lacking in description, but these were brief and could've just been my understanding (or lack thereof). My immersion quickly returned. And honestly, this may speak to the great expectations Night set with her writing, that little instances stuck out. And in her *first* book, such little instances are about as little as they can get!

The main character, Ivy, is likeable and believable as a young and shy but friendly girl. She worked as a great proxy for my own wide-eyed wonder. Most of the fleeting side characters are rather stereotypical, but for good reason and they are still handled well. The secondary characters really grew on me once they were given some time in the spotlight, and I hope to see them shine brighter in the rest of the series. Some of the circumstances or overcoming of obstacles felt a bit like lazy writing, but as it led to bigger obstacles and bigger pictures, I didn't really mind!

A beautiful journey, written with the very passion and magic found within its pages. I received a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.