D. E. Night's The Crowns of Croswald is a magical, middle-grade adventure that follows Ivy, a special sixteen-year-old who escapes her horrible life as a scaldrony maid go to a magical school. Along the way, Ivy discovers magical creatures, friends and foes, mysterious secrets, and some of her own magic.
This book is magically written. Almost every page reminded me of Harry Potter with its whimsical creatures and similar plotline. I think it's a fantastic read for kids who find Harry Potter too large and intimidating, or want more of the magical world. This being said, I do wish this book departed from Harry Potter more. The plot, magic system, and the magic school were too similar to Harry Potter, making this book pale in comparison. I also felt like the characters were too disconnected from the reader and there was too little character growth. And there were many chapters that I felt could have been taken out without hindering the plot.
Simply, this book puts world building first, plot second, and characters third. I read books for the characters, so I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to. But it is still magical, especially for younger audiences.
Writing Aesthetic/Style: 3.5
Plot/Movement: 3
Character Development: 2
Overall: 3
Thank you, Stories Untold Press, for the free review copy!
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