Ivy Lovely was nothing but a scaldrony maid and she works in Castle Plum’s kitchen making sure the castle’s dragons are hard at work for every meal and feast the Castle entertains. Haggled by the horrendous boss Helga, Ivy was sad and stressed at her job and wished to live a life of freedom beyond the castle’s walls. That is until one day, she is whisked away to a magical school for scrivenists (writers) and royals. Ivy is quick to learn that her new life is filled with magic, funny looking creatures, and the ever looming question of who is she and why was she brought to this school? However, as a dark power looms over Croswald, Ivy is on a mission to find a missing scrivenist before he disappears forever and his work is lost.
D.E Night creates a wonderful middle grade world that is in fact reminiscent of Harry Potter. Yes, every magical school these days is compared to J K Rowling’s ever-loved series, but the magic and setting of this novel creates the same mystical atmosphere. Never before seen mystical animals such as a shorehorse, a mix between a horse and a sea-horse, and hairies, little fairies that emit light and are used in lanterns to guide students throughout the halls.
Ivy Lovely is a well thought out character who defies the stereotype of an inferior young orphan destined for a better life, takes matters into her own hands. and searches for the truth about her family and heritage. With her best friend and sidekick, she battles against the royal bullies who believe they are better than her because of their money and socio-cultural statuses.
Since this novel is a middle grade novel it addresses many real-world issues without being overbearing for the younger audience with themes such as, grief, bullying, racism, prejudice, and abandonment are touched on. As an adult reader reading this book, I could see the deeper meaning behind D E Night’s carefully constructed world.
This is the first novel in a fantasy series, the amount of books and the following book have not yet been released or announced. The sequel is very highly anticipated and I cannot wait to have it in my hands. This novel is definitely recommended for older readers who miss reading Harry Potter for the first time and younger readers looking to introduce magic into their lives.
Thank you to Stories Untold Press for providing me with a review copy.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
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.
