I had a great time reading this book! Such a fun middle grade novel. The magic system is so unique and I loved reading about the spells, potions and creatures. Ivy’s friendship with Fyn and Rebecca was a great part, especially Fyn, I just love him. Definitely would love to continue with this series.
If you are a harry potter fan, magic boarding school fan, and lost princesses who don't know they are queens then this book is the book for you. We have a lovely character named Ivy who for the first part of the book is slumming away in a kitchen and we get the pleasure of meeting the unique Scaldrons dragons who bake in their mouths. While we are meeting these we get a real glimpse in to the misery that is Ivy life and how she is thrust out into the world quite suddenly after a hiccup with one of these Scaldrons and Helga the kitchen head staff person.
Once Ivy is thrust out into the world all the exciting magic stuff begins to happen, we get to find out all about these queens and scrivenerist who all study at this magic school. Scrivenerist are the discoverers who sketch and record all that see and have photographic memory. Ivy loves to sketch and so she is happily immersed in what she loves and then the queens are who the Scrivenerist get assigned to serve once they graduate from school.
As the book progresses poor Ivy get her self in more and more trouble and you have this wonderful companion Fyn who has no problem breaking the rules but loves to remind Ivy all the time about how she should not be breaking them nor should she be attempting things that are beyond her training as she just a first year.
I was memorized throughout the whole story as each secret that is reveled is unwoven as you move through the story and the ending wow i was not expecting that. Like i said if you love harry potter this will delight you as it has some traits that are familiar but this story stands well on its own and is perfect for the age group of middle grades but as a 38 year old i was thoroughly entertained. Thanks to the publishing company for providing me with an ARC copy and the wonderful swag to go with.