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The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night Review

Hello Bookish Friends :)


I hope you're all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.


Do you have any fun plans for the rest of the week? My hubby and I are actually in the middle of a small vacation. We spent the weekend in one city, now were back home until tomorrow, and then we'll be leaving for another short holiday to a couple of different cities. I'm very much looking forward to it.

I will definitely still be posting on my blog while I'm gone, but I'm not sure if I'll be posting the full three times a week or not.


Today, as I'm hustling and bustling about to get all the last minute things done before we leave, I knew I had to make some time to share a review for an amazing middle grade novel that I just recently finished.


I've mentioned quite a few times on my blog how much I love middle grade, but I don't too often get a chance to review it. I'm excited to share all my thoughts about this one with you all today.


The Crowns of Croswald by D.E. Night:



Source: Complimentary Copy Provided By The Publisher and Author

Publisher: Stories Untold Press

Publication Date: July 21st, 2017

Genre: Middle Grade/Fantasy

Series: The Crowns of Croswald


Synopsis:

In Croswald, the only thing more powerful than dark magic is one secret…

For sixteen years Ivy Lovely has been hidden behind an enchanted boundary that separates the mundane from the magical. When Ivy crosses the border, her powers awaken. Curiosity leads her crashing through a series of adventures at the Halls of Ivy, a school where students learn to master their magical blood and the power of Croswald’s mysterious gems. When Ivy’s magic––and her life––is threatened by the Dark Queen, she scrambles to unearth her history and save Croswald before the truth is swept away forever.


(synopsis from goodreads)





My Review:

The Crowns of Croswald is a whimsical, imaginative tale full of magic, long buried secrets, and destinies waiting to be fulfilled. I was unfamiliar with this series and its author when I was contacted about reviewing it, but reading the synopsis had me instantly intrigued, and very much looking forward to reading it. I know a lot of other reviewers have mentioned the Harry Potter parallels, and while I will agree that they are there, this story is so much more in its own right.

We first meet Ivy as she's working as a scaldrony maid, and not having the easiest time of it. Her life changes in an instant when's banned from the castle kitchen, and a chance encounter reveals her true destiny. She's been gifted with magical abilities, and she's on her way to study at the prestigious magic school, The Halls of Ivy. However, the school is not entirely what she's expecting, and she soon begins to learn that even amidst other students with the same gifts as herself she doesn't quite fit in.

Author D. E. Night has crafted a truly imaginative tale that comes to life with an intricate plot that's woven with details about the magical objects and creatures that Ivy comes into contact with during her time at the magical boarding school. I personally love when magic boarding schools are the setting for fantasy books, and the Halls of Ivy was an incredible example of why I do. 

I appreciated the fact that the story kept me guessing, and that the plot doesn't follow a predictable timeline. Ivy was an interesting main character to follow along with, and I loved how she embraces her oddities, and is determined to do whatever she can do help whoever's in need. 

I personally really enjoyed this one, and I highly recommend it for anyone who's a fan of middle grade or fantasy novels. The writing was atmospheric and immersive, I loved the emphasis on friendship, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. 

The only thing I found a tad odd with the story overall was the fact that Ivy's character is supposed to be sixteen. Her mannerisms and actions made me believe she was younger, around twelve or thirteen, and I just thought that was a tad strange. This little bit definitely didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story however, it just seemed like it was a tad out of place. 

Final Rating: 4/5

This is definitely a new favorite middle grade read, and I'm thankful I got the opportunity to read it.


Thanks so much to Stories Untold Press and D.E. Night for providing me with a complimentary copy of this novel to read and review.


I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.  


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