The Crowns of Croswald

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes at first—*another* ‘chosen one’ at a magic school? But *The Crowns of Croswald* disarmed me within chapters. Ivy Lovely isn’t just ‘the unmagical one’; she’s a girl who’s spent years *studying* magic she can’t use, which makes her the perfect guide to this world’s intricacies. When she finally steps into the Hall of Horizons, the audiobook *shines*: Haugen’s delivery turns the academy’s eccentricities (a sentient staircase that judges you? a library that *eats* books?) from whimsy into something vivid and slightly unnerving. His Ivy is sarcastic but never bratty, and his supporting cast—especially the smug, silver-tongued Reynard—are so distinct you’d recognize them in a crowded marketplace. That said, the middle act sags a bit under its own ambition. The political intrigue around the dragon clans feels rushed, and a few twists rely too heavily on characters *not* asking obvious questions. (Seriously, why doesn’t Ivy just *ask* about her parents’ disappearance sooner?) Haugen’s narration can’t entirely smooth over the occasional clunky exposition dump, though he tries valiantly. Still, the final act’s emotional payoff—particularly Ivy’s confrontation with her own ‘uselessness’—lands hard, thanks to Haugen’s raw, unfiltered delivery. The audiobook’s production is flawless: no distracting edits, no volume spikes, just a rich soundscape that makes the magic feel *real*. If you love fantasy that rewards close listening (and don’t mind a protagonist who’s brilliant but frustratingly passive at times), this is a gem worth polishing.