The Crowns of Croswald - Book Review

The Crowns of Croswald (The Croswald Series #1)
by D.E. Night

What is it about:
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.

What did I think of it:
When I was offered to receive a bookish box that included a signed ARC of this book, I jumped at the chance, because this sounded like a fun read.

And this book is indeed fun and very entertaining.

Ivy is an interesting character. It's clear there's more to her than she herself knows and it was fun to discover both what that is and the magical world this story is set in.

After an introduction to Ivy and the world she grew up in, Ivy is soon on her way to a boarding school where she will learn what gifts she has. You might know how I love a good boarding school story, so you bet I was hooked from the start.

With a young orphan enrolling in a school of magic it's impossible not to compare with other such books, Harry Potter being the most famous of course. Although there are certainly similarities, there are enough differences that this book isn't a clone of any of those other magical boarding school books. It can firmly stand on its own.

I really liked the setting and the world Night created. I like the thought of the Scriveners: a mix between alchemists and magic users, their quill and imagination the tool they use instead of a wand.

The story is fast paced and works up to an action packed finale. The ending is satisfying: no cliffhanger, but enough has happened and has been revealed to promise lots of adventures for Ivy in a future book.

You bet I'll keep an eye out for the next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a fun and entertaining Middle Grade read.


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