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Ivy: Steinerne Wächter
DER SCHLÜSSEL ZU EINER MAGISCHEN WELT…
Die sechzehnjährige Lily träumt davon, an der Princeton University zu studieren. Dazu muss sie einen geheimnisvollen Test bestehen und einen Schlüssel finden, der angeblich ein Tor zu einer anderen Welt öffnet. Eigentlich glaubt Lily überhaupt nicht an Magie – bis sie von einem unheimlichen Wesen angegriffen wird und sich plötzlich zwischen den Fronten eines Konfliktes zwischen Menschen und magischen Kreaturen wiederfindet. Bald steht nicht nur ihr Leben auf dem Spiel, auch ihre Familie gerät in größte Gefahr …
Die sechzehnjährige Lily träumt davon, an der Princeton University zu studieren. Dazu muss sie einen geheimnisvollen Test bestehen und einen Schlüssel finden, der angeblich ein Tor zu einer anderen Welt öffnet. Eigentlich glaubt Lily überhaupt nicht an Magie – bis sie von einem unheimlichen Wesen angegriffen wird und sich plötzlich zwischen den Fronten eines Konfliktes zwischen Menschen und magischen Kreaturen wiederfindet. Bald steht nicht nur ihr Leben auf dem Spiel, auch ihre Familie gerät in größte Gefahr …
334 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2010
22 people are currently reading
5422 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Beth Durst
43 books7,078 followersSarah Beth Durst is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty-five books for adults, teens, and kids, including cozy fantasy The Spellshop. She's been awarded an American Library Association Alex Award, as well as a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. Several of her books have been optioned for film/television, including Drink Slay Love, which was made into a TV movie and was a question on Jeopardy! She lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. Visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 379 reviews
February 1, 2011
This book ought to have gotten 2.5 stars, but I've given it a grace of an extra half-star!
RECIPE FOR BLAND, GENERIC YOUNG ADULT FANTASY BOOK IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Ingredients:
Heroine: 1 (Make sure your selected heroine is nerdy, unpopular and supposedly smart. NEVER make your heroine both smart and popular, and as for a personality... forget it! This is just asking for trouble, because soon people will start expecting her to think, and fend for herself and acquire some emotional maturity... so don't mess with a successful formula!)
Hero/Love interest: preferably 2, but can make do with 1 in a pinch. (Make sure your love interests are unevenly matched. Never make both of them smart, sensible guys who are absolutely normal. Normal is BAD. At least one of them must always have unusual-colored eyes, and both of them most be willing to treat the heroine as a fragile flower who cannot survive without them. Oh, and they must hate each other.)
Powers: As many as you can load onto the heroine without forgetting to keep track. (On that note, please remember while selecting a heroine that she must be unaware of her powers/heritage, and must have lost at least one parent, although losing both tends to increase the flavour of the drama.)
Plots & Subplots: As many as you can bear to load onto the heroine, and this time, it doesn't matter if you do lose track, you can always pick it up again in that seven-sequel book contract you've signed. Or not. Who really cares, as long as one of the boys and the girl get together?
Fantasy Elements: As many as you know and/or can Google and Wiki.
Preparation:
Create a nice big Word document. Cut and Paste all required ingredients. Shuffle them all up. Find a location, for example, an Ivy League College with a gateway into an alternate magic world full of all the magical creatures you have just finished Wiki-ing. Set alame-ass test/quest for your heroine. Since she's such a smart person, make sure she has at least two guys helping her at all times. Make sure both of these supposedly gorgeous idiots love interests forget to behave like teenage boys and nobly fall in love with this not-very brave, not-very savvy, not-very interesting and not-very pretty heroine. Don't forget to add her mysterious past and dead father to the mish-mash.
After you have plotted the main course -- the love story, you can then whip up a few side dishes -- mystery, worldbuilding, etc that nobody is supposed to pay attention to, anyway, because the main course is the piece de resistance. Your main course should be tangy and spicy, thanks to the addition of the previously mentioned two love interests. If this item fails to spice up your dish, don't worry, you can just quickly wrap up dinner with some hastily concocted dessert... perhaps some Vanilla ice cream from the local supermarket? After all, you have managed to produce a whole entire meal (mostly pre-packaged, but who's to know?!) all on your own, so nobody ought dare to complain about the quality of the meal! In fact, you've put in so much hard work on this, they ought to be paying to eat your food!
RECIPE FOR BLAND, GENERIC YOUNG ADULT FANTASY BOOK IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Ingredients:
Heroine: 1 (Make sure your selected heroine is nerdy, unpopular and supposedly smart. NEVER make your heroine both smart and popular, and as for a personality... forget it! This is just asking for trouble, because soon people will start expecting her to think, and fend for herself and acquire some emotional maturity... so don't mess with a successful formula!)
Hero/Love interest: preferably 2, but can make do with 1 in a pinch. (Make sure your love interests are unevenly matched. Never make both of them smart, sensible guys who are absolutely normal. Normal is BAD. At least one of them must always have unusual-colored eyes, and both of them most be willing to treat the heroine as a fragile flower who cannot survive without them. Oh, and they must hate each other.)
Powers: As many as you can load onto the heroine without forgetting to keep track. (On that note, please remember while selecting a heroine that she must be unaware of her powers/heritage, and must have lost at least one parent, although losing both tends to increase the flavour of the drama.)
Plots & Subplots: As many as you can bear to load onto the heroine, and this time, it doesn't matter if you do lose track, you can always pick it up again in that seven-sequel book contract you've signed. Or not. Who really cares, as long as one of the boys and the girl get together?
Fantasy Elements: As many as you know and/or can Google and Wiki.
Preparation:
Create a nice big Word document. Cut and Paste all required ingredients. Shuffle them all up. Find a location, for example, an Ivy League College with a gateway into an alternate magic world full of all the magical creatures you have just finished Wiki-ing. Set a
After you have plotted the main course -- the love story, you can then whip up a few side dishes -- mystery, worldbuilding, etc that nobody is supposed to pay attention to, anyway, because the main course is the piece de resistance. Your main course should be tangy and spicy, thanks to the addition of the previously mentioned two love interests. If this item fails to spice up your dish, don't worry, you can just quickly wrap up dinner with some hastily concocted dessert... perhaps some Vanilla ice cream from the local supermarket? After all, you have managed to produce a whole entire meal (mostly pre-packaged, but who's to know?!) all on your own, so nobody ought dare to complain about the quality of the meal! In fact, you've put in so much hard work on this, they ought to be paying to eat your food!
November 9, 2010
Lilly has always had one dream. To get into Princeton University.
Now she has a chance. Take a test, but not just any test. A Legacy Test.
Task- Find the Ivy Key.
What's she get? An automatic acceptance to Princeton. That's right.
"Find the key and your future is assured. Your destiny, secured".
Sure...easy peasy.
I absolutely loved this book! Already a fan of Sarah Durst Ice. I couldn't wait to read her next book. It did not disappoint. Enchanted Ivy is a such a fun-filled fantasy treat that will stretch your imagination and open your eyes and heart to a magical realm of pure fascination.
What's not to love? A treasure hunt of endless possibilities, animated statues come to life, sweet romance, mystical amazing creatures, colorful characters and enchanted magic!
All of the characters are remarkably well written. Lilly believes she's just an ordinary girl, little does she realize just how extraordinary she really is. I loved her strength, her growth and her kindness.
Tye? In one word, adorable! Loved him to absoulte bits!
This storyline is unique and bizarrely brilliant. It's fast paced, suspenseful, intriguing, totally fun to read and very easy to get lost in, this book is my ideal for any great escape.
I don't know if this is a stand-alone or if more books are in the works, but I'll read anything Durst puts to pen. I'd love to read more about this fantastic world.
A Charming read!
Bravo!
Now she has a chance. Take a test, but not just any test. A Legacy Test.
Task- Find the Ivy Key.
What's she get? An automatic acceptance to Princeton. That's right.
"Find the key and your future is assured. Your destiny, secured".
Sure...easy peasy.
I absolutely loved this book! Already a fan of Sarah Durst Ice. I couldn't wait to read her next book. It did not disappoint. Enchanted Ivy is a such a fun-filled fantasy treat that will stretch your imagination and open your eyes and heart to a magical realm of pure fascination.
What's not to love? A treasure hunt of endless possibilities, animated statues come to life, sweet romance, mystical amazing creatures, colorful characters and enchanted magic!
All of the characters are remarkably well written. Lilly believes she's just an ordinary girl, little does she realize just how extraordinary she really is. I loved her strength, her growth and her kindness.
Tye? In one word, adorable! Loved him to absoulte bits!
This storyline is unique and bizarrely brilliant. It's fast paced, suspenseful, intriguing, totally fun to read and very easy to get lost in, this book is my ideal for any great escape.
I don't know if this is a stand-alone or if more books are in the works, but I'll read anything Durst puts to pen. I'd love to read more about this fantastic world.
A Charming read!
Bravo!
July 21, 2016
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
This has been on my TBR shelf for awhile
What I thought
Something about this book didn't click with me. Sure it was cool that there were talking gargoyles,shape shifters and other magical creatures, but that's all it had going for it. First off Lily was a major Mary Sue, come on tell me i'm wrong, I dare you. Then there's the romance or the sorta love triangle, where each boy disappears while the other one shows up. Oh and what was with the declaration of love? Even she was like WTF. This book was just boring and made me cringe to hear the name Princeton yes it's true. Over an disappointing read
Why this book?
This has been on my TBR shelf for awhile
What I thought
Something about this book didn't click with me. Sure it was cool that there were talking gargoyles,shape shifters and other magical creatures, but that's all it had going for it. First off Lily was a major Mary Sue, come on tell me i'm wrong, I dare you. Then there's the romance or the sorta love triangle, where each boy disappears while the other one shows up. Oh and what was with the declaration of love? Even she was like WTF. This book was just boring and made me cringe to hear the name Princeton yes it's true. Over an disappointing read
October 24, 2010
Oh, Sarah! How do you do it? How do you consistently write books that are not only so GOOD, but also so DIFFERENT from anything else out there?
In ICE, she created something so new out of the East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon fairy tale that it took my breath away, and in ENCHANTED IVY, she takes Ivy League college traditions and gargoyles and . . . Okay, I can't tell you anything else. It would spoil it all! Sufficient to say, this book is a work of pure wonderment!
In ICE, she created something so new out of the East o' the Sun, West o' the Moon fairy tale that it took my breath away, and in ENCHANTED IVY, she takes Ivy League college traditions and gargoyles and . . . Okay, I can't tell you anything else. It would spoil it all! Sufficient to say, this book is a work of pure wonderment!
May 20, 2018
In the past, Sarah Beth Durst's writing hasn't really clicked with me, which is a shame because I DO like the kind of fantasy she writes. It feels a little different than so much of what's out there. No assassin princesses. This one worked fairly well for me. I like the setting and I liked the romance (though there wasn't much of it). So maybe I won't write her off yet.
August 5, 2012
Underwhelmed and annoyed.
Read this book after Ice, which reviewed lower ratings but is by far the better written book.
Basically, this book was a tribute to Princeton, which I understand the author attended because of her Acknowledgements section, but I felt it was so much of a knock towards Yale and Harvard that frankly, it got annoying. I understand that it must be a gorgeous place and the main character has family traditions that make her want to attend, but all this raving about the place and the inside jokes and the constant name-dropping of famous people who attended? BORING. Pretty soon, it turns out that the plot was NOT going to move from Princeton -- yes, I think the whole book takes place on the campus (but I couldn't get through the book in order to find out if they indeed go visit somewhere else, like maybe another college campus without famous people or gargoyles).
Another thing was that the main character seemed to be dumber than dirt pretty much from the beginning. She doesn't seem that driven and keeps on noticing how some guy is cute -- seriously, she keeps obsessing about the two guys in the book that I couldn't read on, especially since those are the two first guys that show up in the book. So, yes, she seems boy-crazy and silly. No wonder she couldn't get in the school except for this route.
Maybe if the author hadn't put in the Acknowledgements that she attended Princeton, the whole love-fest regarding the school wouldn't have been so nauseating. (Especially since most of the people I know went to other Ivy League schools and the only person I know that attended Princeton was a big stuck-up snob who liked to constantly allude to how pricey his college education was, which might have influenced me, yes.) But she did, and I read that before I read the book, so... yeah.
The best thing about this book is the summary that Goodreads put up for it, unless you really, really, really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY REALLY (get the message?) like Princeton and are hoping to either live there or relive there.
Read this book after Ice, which reviewed lower ratings but is by far the better written book.
Basically, this book was a tribute to Princeton, which I understand the author attended because of her Acknowledgements section, but I felt it was so much of a knock towards Yale and Harvard that frankly, it got annoying. I understand that it must be a gorgeous place and the main character has family traditions that make her want to attend, but all this raving about the place and the inside jokes and the constant name-dropping of famous people who attended? BORING. Pretty soon, it turns out that the plot was NOT going to move from Princeton -- yes, I think the whole book takes place on the campus (but I couldn't get through the book in order to find out if they indeed go visit somewhere else, like maybe another college campus without famous people or gargoyles).
Another thing was that the main character seemed to be dumber than dirt pretty much from the beginning. She doesn't seem that driven and keeps on noticing how some guy is cute -- seriously, she keeps obsessing about the two guys in the book that I couldn't read on, especially since those are the two first guys that show up in the book. So, yes, she seems boy-crazy and silly. No wonder she couldn't get in the school except for this route.
Maybe if the author hadn't put in the Acknowledgements that she attended Princeton, the whole love-fest regarding the school wouldn't have been so nauseating. (Especially since most of the people I know went to other Ivy League schools and the only person I know that attended Princeton was a big stuck-up snob who liked to constantly allude to how pricey his college education was, which might have influenced me, yes.) But she did, and I read that before I read the book, so... yeah.
The best thing about this book is the summary that Goodreads put up for it, unless you really, really, really, REALLY, REALLY, REALLY REALLY (get the message?) like Princeton and are hoping to either live there or relive there.
January 26, 2016
i don't really get why everyone is all about this book. it wasn't so terrible that i wanted to throw it across the room. or, even, sit in my apartment and nitpick it on the internet. (although i totally could if i wanted. just saying. ) but it was also not all that spectacular. much of it irked me and the characters seemed more like vehicles for the plot than actual characters. but maybe i am just jaded or biased by my obviously inferior not-ivy education. or something. a pretty cover and some blog buzz do not a good book make.
October 16, 2011
Lily Carter is just a normal girl.
*Sigh* When are they ever?
Lily Carter is just a normal girl. Who wants to go to Princeton just like her grandfather. So, on a surprise trip there, her grandfather and a large group of older folk invite her to complete a quest. If she fulfills it, she gains automatic entrance to Princeton.
Nice.
So, Lily is off to find the Ivy Key, whatever that is, all the while noticing that Princeton, yeah Princeton, is turning out to be stranger than she thought.
That's right, folks! Gargoyles coming to life, freaky fairy things, OMNOMNOMNOM monsters coming to eat you! This book has got it all!
And a conspiracy plot I totally saw coming. Oh, and some black and white characters/villains that make the book, in total, a very typical YA paranormal piece.
So the book kind of follows that standard plot. Girl gets quest. Girl notices weird things. Girl refuses to believe in magic, leading to lots of trouble for everyone else. Girl finally believes. Girl figures things out. Things happen because of trouble, and other devious plots. Girl solves it all.
And falls in love with some hot guy, too. And love triangle. Blarg.
Okay, let's be honest here, Enchanted Ivy is not a bad book at all. Seriously, good plot, good characters, a decent enough love story, and some nice original stuff to add to the mix.
But, you know what? I've read a lot of YA novels, and it's no secret that the plot I read in Enchanted Ivy is kind of typical for the genre, especially the paranormal one. And you know, there's nothing wrong with that because Enchanted Ivy is a good novel. Good pacing, good writing, just good everything.
But there's a difference between good and great, and this novel doesn't come close to the line. It's not the Hunger Games, it's not Harry Potter, it's not revolutionary. It's mediocre, and for most readers that's totally fine. For me, I'm a bit tired of this game, I'm a bit okay a LOT tired of the love triangles, and I don't really care for novels that don't push those boundaries, but just stay within those genre-defined lines, appeal to the masses, make money and move on.
I'm probably being really unfair, and I apologize to all those reading this and going JUST GET DOWN TO AN ACTUAL REVIEW ALREADY. I promise I will. But I just wanted to say what this book made me realize: That I'm a bit tired of this rehash.
Okay, actual review time.
So Enchanted Ivy is novel filled with the usual paranormal fun times. The plot, as described above, is average, but exciting, quick and keeps you reading and on your toes. There are no real slow moments, and the plots continues to push forward at a fun action-packed pace.
The characters are fairly generic, Lily is a typical I-don't-believe-in-magic heroine while the two members of the love triangle are boys, angry and calm, blah. There's a good development in terms of romance which quickly turns into luuurrrve, but it's not totally out of the blue or awkward.
The writing is fairly decent, but not in any way the beautiful prose that I like.
All in all, Enchanted Ivy is a good, but fairly predictable sort of novel. It follows those classic YA paranormal tropes, and doesn't really offer anything new or life changing to the field. An easy read for those who enjoy YA, and fun, light-hearted novels. 3.5/5
*Sigh* When are they ever?
Lily Carter is just a normal girl. Who wants to go to Princeton just like her grandfather. So, on a surprise trip there, her grandfather and a large group of older folk invite her to complete a quest. If she fulfills it, she gains automatic entrance to Princeton.
Nice.
So, Lily is off to find the Ivy Key, whatever that is, all the while noticing that Princeton, yeah Princeton, is turning out to be stranger than she thought.
That's right, folks! Gargoyles coming to life, freaky fairy things, OMNOMNOMNOM monsters coming to eat you! This book has got it all!
And a conspiracy plot I totally saw coming. Oh, and some black and white characters/villains that make the book, in total, a very typical YA paranormal piece.
So the book kind of follows that standard plot. Girl gets quest. Girl notices weird things. Girl refuses to believe in magic, leading to lots of trouble for everyone else. Girl finally believes. Girl figures things out. Things happen because of trouble, and other devious plots. Girl solves it all.
And falls in love with some hot guy, too. And love triangle. Blarg.
Okay, let's be honest here, Enchanted Ivy is not a bad book at all. Seriously, good plot, good characters, a decent enough love story, and some nice original stuff to add to the mix.
But, you know what? I've read a lot of YA novels, and it's no secret that the plot I read in Enchanted Ivy is kind of typical for the genre, especially the paranormal one. And you know, there's nothing wrong with that because Enchanted Ivy is a good novel. Good pacing, good writing, just good everything.
But there's a difference between good and great, and this novel doesn't come close to the line. It's not the Hunger Games, it's not Harry Potter, it's not revolutionary. It's mediocre, and for most readers that's totally fine. For me, I'm a bit tired of this game, I'm a bit okay a LOT tired of the love triangles, and I don't really care for novels that don't push those boundaries, but just stay within those genre-defined lines, appeal to the masses, make money and move on.
I'm probably being really unfair, and I apologize to all those reading this and going JUST GET DOWN TO AN ACTUAL REVIEW ALREADY. I promise I will. But I just wanted to say what this book made me realize: That I'm a bit tired of this rehash.
Okay, actual review time.
So Enchanted Ivy is novel filled with the usual paranormal fun times. The plot, as described above, is average, but exciting, quick and keeps you reading and on your toes. There are no real slow moments, and the plots continues to push forward at a fun action-packed pace.
The characters are fairly generic, Lily is a typical I-don't-believe-in-magic heroine while the two members of the love triangle are boys, angry and calm, blah. There's a good development in terms of romance which quickly turns into luuurrrve, but it's not totally out of the blue or awkward.
The writing is fairly decent, but not in any way the beautiful prose that I like.
All in all, Enchanted Ivy is a good, but fairly predictable sort of novel. It follows those classic YA paranormal tropes, and doesn't really offer anything new or life changing to the field. An easy read for those who enjoy YA, and fun, light-hearted novels. 3.5/5
Read
October 12, 2010This book reminded me what's so great about fantasy novels--they suck you into another world and you don't want to be pulled out. Gargoyles coming to life, were-tigers, knights, dragons...yeah, all that and more. I wish this alternate Princeton really existed! The author provides wonderful imagery and as the reader you want to walk through this magical campus, but you'll just have to settle through living it through Lily's eyes.
This story is so much more than just a quest for a key and hope for college admission. It's about Lily discovering who she really is, coming to term's with her family's secrets, and falling for a were-tiger...and trying not to get killed in the process. I found the story highly imaginative and there were twists and turn to surprise the reader and keep you in suspense. At times, you're not sure who the villain is or what new obstacle is going to come in Lily's way but it makes you keep guessing, which is fantastic. If you like fantasy and adventure, and of course a little romance along the way, then you'll enjoy ENCHANTED IVY.
This story is so much more than just a quest for a key and hope for college admission. It's about Lily discovering who she really is, coming to term's with her family's secrets, and falling for a were-tiger...and trying not to get killed in the process. I found the story highly imaginative and there were twists and turn to surprise the reader and keep you in suspense. At times, you're not sure who the villain is or what new obstacle is going to come in Lily's way but it makes you keep guessing, which is fantastic. If you like fantasy and adventure, and of course a little romance along the way, then you'll enjoy ENCHANTED IVY.
February 3, 2011
Although my feelings towards Sarah Beth Durst's other novel, Ice, could be summed up with a general "meh", I decided to give her another chance to wow me with Enchanted Ivy. Enchanted Ivy, the story of a narnia-esque fantasy world that is connected to the human world through the front gates of Princeton University, unfortunately fell flat as well. It was decently written. It had likable enough, if perhaps slightly dull, characters, along with your standard sexed-up cast of fuzzy fantasy friends - shapeshifters, werewolves, faeries, elves, dragons, centaurs and unicorns. I suspect that when more reviews start coming in there will be a lot of readers griping that Enchanted Ivy is too derivative, of Narnia, of LOTR, of HP and Percy Jackson, or of whatever is the current fantasy touchstone for which all books that come after get accused of copying. Although that wasn't a complaint for me personally because I find that all fantasy seems derivative and incredibly similar, I can see others being disappointed with the lack of originality. For me, it was just a decent book, not bad, but not particularly distinguishable. There wasn't any real spark or life in it for me.
The prose was incredibly simple, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're a middle schooler, but I think it caused the book to come across as a lot more juvenile than what I had been expecting. I was expecting something more at a teen level, since the main character Lily is 16 herself, but the vocabulary level was very low. There weren't any words that would challenge anyone above age 10 or 11 or so. Certain aspects of the plot seemed somewhat forced or contrived to me, especially the conflict between the two worlds. It almost seemed as if both sides of the dispute were being willfully obtuse, unreasonable and unbelievably prejudiced purely so that Ms. Durst would be able to write this big conflict between the worlds into the plot. It had a forced quality and didn't seem at all natural.
Let's talk characters. We have your standard YA love triangle trope, with two guys, Tye and Jake, vying for the affections of this girl, Lily, who possesses some weird abilities she is just discovering and has a mysterious past but is otherwise unremarkable and bland. Tye was by far the preferable of the two suitors - he had awesome hair, funny nicknames for people, a sarcastic sense of humour, compassion, and was just so much wiser about what the hell was going on. Jake unfortunately came across as incredibly arrogant and annoying. He was just so convinced that the Knights were always doing the right thing, even when they were clearly torturing and murdering needlessly, and so prejudiced against the magical creatures that he made himself insufferable throughout most of the story. He did finally come around, but it was far too late for him to redeem himself as actual competition for Lily's, or the reader's, affections.
Lily was a likable, reasonably strong heroine. She didn't wow me, but she wasn't so unimpressive as to get herself tagged with my "weak-heroines" bookshelf. She was fiercely loyal to her mother and grandfather, which was admirable, and she wasn't always dependent on those of the male persuasion to save her skin, nor did they treat her like a Bella, I mean, an object. She managed to do quite a few things for herself, although she did spend a fair bit of time getting lost in the boy's beautiful golden eyes/angelic smiles and swooning over how Tye's touch made her skin tingle.
One thing that I wasn't really comfortable with was the whole mentally ill mother plot-line. Something about it was just a bit "off", or perhaps dealt with a bit too flippantly for my liking. I can't really explain this aspect of the plot without spoilers, so you've been warned not to click the little yellow letters if you haven't yet read the book.
I also would have liked to see Lily's idealization of Princeton dealt with a bit more analytically. I'll openly admit that I don't really get the American post-secondary education system. Here in Canada, all schools are public, and more or less on the same tier - there are a few older schools that might be considered more prestigious depending on who you ask, but for the most part, all of them offer a similar quality of education and cost within the same price range. We don't have the intense snobbery that seems to exist in the US when it comes to colleges, nor do we have this complicated system with so many different levels of schools - Ivy League, private liberal arts, state schools, community colleges. All I know is that such a system only serves to foster socioeconomic divisions. I think the US needs to take a hint from Sweden, or at least from us Canucks - we pay 4000-6000 (with ample financial aid options) for a year of school, not the debt-for-life 20,000-40,000 that it costs in the US.
So my point is that I was a bit surprised that Lily, someone who hasn't had the best of lot in life, looked upon a school like Princeton, a school that is essentially a bastion of privilege and unfairness, with such complete adoration. I just wanted to see her engage a bit more critically with her ideas. I know I did when I was her age and selecting a school. Fairy-tale views about universities are for when you're 12, by the time you're 16 you should be looking at the world more realistically.
There was no mention of how Lily would afford the membership to a Princeton "eating club". I know that these private eating clubs are highly controversial because a membership costs sveral thousand dollars more than a normal student cafeteria meal plan, thereby essentially being just one more way to divide students into the haves and the have-nots. There was so much potential for Lily to criticize some of these institutions, but she just blindly loved them.
Lily even named the alumni "the Old Boy's Club", but didn't actually consider what that terms means, or question why she would want to go to a school where in 2010, there is still an Old Boy's Club controlling admissions. I was actually somewhat bothered by the idea of a "legacy test". We all know that there are often admissions spots saved/guaranteed for legacies, and that alumni's children can often get preference in admissions, but I can't help but laugh because the characters giving her a legacy test and automatic admission are probably the exact same type of people who bitch and gripe to no end about any kind of affirmative action. I guess the bottom line is that I just couldn't relate to the whole "ooooo I love Princeton, it's so perfect and gorgeous and amazing" thing and I found the worship-level adoration that Lily, who was otherwise down-to-earth, had for such a place and everything it stands for somewhat grating. I'm sure there are others who can relate to the Ivy League thing more, and they may enjoy this book, but personally, not something I could relate to. Of course, the author went to Princeton herself so it's probably not reasonable for me to have expected her to say anything even slightly critical of the place or its flaws, but a girl can hope.
I'd recommend Enchanted Ivy for youngsters or for those who really buy into that whole ivy league school spirit thing. Female fans of Eragon will probably enjoy it too, not so sure about the boys though.
The prose was incredibly simple, which isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're a middle schooler, but I think it caused the book to come across as a lot more juvenile than what I had been expecting. I was expecting something more at a teen level, since the main character Lily is 16 herself, but the vocabulary level was very low. There weren't any words that would challenge anyone above age 10 or 11 or so. Certain aspects of the plot seemed somewhat forced or contrived to me, especially the conflict between the two worlds. It almost seemed as if both sides of the dispute were being willfully obtuse, unreasonable and unbelievably prejudiced purely so that Ms. Durst would be able to write this big conflict between the worlds into the plot. It had a forced quality and didn't seem at all natural.
Let's talk characters. We have your standard YA love triangle trope, with two guys, Tye and Jake, vying for the affections of this girl, Lily, who possesses some weird abilities she is just discovering and has a mysterious past but is otherwise unremarkable and bland. Tye was by far the preferable of the two suitors - he had awesome hair, funny nicknames for people, a sarcastic sense of humour, compassion, and was just so much wiser about what the hell was going on. Jake unfortunately came across as incredibly arrogant and annoying. He was just so convinced that the Knights were always doing the right thing, even when they were clearly torturing and murdering needlessly, and so prejudiced against the magical creatures that he made himself insufferable throughout most of the story. He did finally come around, but it was far too late for him to redeem himself as actual competition for Lily's, or the reader's, affections.
Lily was a likable, reasonably strong heroine. She didn't wow me, but she wasn't so unimpressive as to get herself tagged with my "weak-heroines" bookshelf. She was fiercely loyal to her mother and grandfather, which was admirable, and she wasn't always dependent on those of the male persuasion to save her skin, nor did they treat her like a Bella, I mean, an object. She managed to do quite a few things for herself, although she did spend a fair bit of time getting lost in the boy's beautiful golden eyes/angelic smiles and swooning over how Tye's touch made her skin tingle.
One thing that I wasn't really comfortable with was the whole mentally ill mother plot-line. Something about it was just a bit "off", or perhaps dealt with a bit too flippantly for my liking. I can't really explain this aspect of the plot without spoilers, so you've been warned not to click the little yellow letters if you haven't yet read the book.
I also would have liked to see Lily's idealization of Princeton dealt with a bit more analytically. I'll openly admit that I don't really get the American post-secondary education system. Here in Canada, all schools are public, and more or less on the same tier - there are a few older schools that might be considered more prestigious depending on who you ask, but for the most part, all of them offer a similar quality of education and cost within the same price range. We don't have the intense snobbery that seems to exist in the US when it comes to colleges, nor do we have this complicated system with so many different levels of schools - Ivy League, private liberal arts, state schools, community colleges. All I know is that such a system only serves to foster socioeconomic divisions. I think the US needs to take a hint from Sweden, or at least from us Canucks - we pay 4000-6000 (with ample financial aid options) for a year of school, not the debt-for-life 20,000-40,000 that it costs in the US.
So my point is that I was a bit surprised that Lily, someone who hasn't had the best of lot in life, looked upon a school like Princeton, a school that is essentially a bastion of privilege and unfairness, with such complete adoration. I just wanted to see her engage a bit more critically with her ideas. I know I did when I was her age and selecting a school. Fairy-tale views about universities are for when you're 12, by the time you're 16 you should be looking at the world more realistically.
There was no mention of how Lily would afford the membership to a Princeton "eating club". I know that these private eating clubs are highly controversial because a membership costs sveral thousand dollars more than a normal student cafeteria meal plan, thereby essentially being just one more way to divide students into the haves and the have-nots. There was so much potential for Lily to criticize some of these institutions, but she just blindly loved them.
Lily even named the alumni "the Old Boy's Club", but didn't actually consider what that terms means, or question why she would want to go to a school where in 2010, there is still an Old Boy's Club controlling admissions. I was actually somewhat bothered by the idea of a "legacy test". We all know that there are often admissions spots saved/guaranteed for legacies, and that alumni's children can often get preference in admissions, but I can't help but laugh because the characters giving her a legacy test and automatic admission are probably the exact same type of people who bitch and gripe to no end about any kind of affirmative action. I guess the bottom line is that I just couldn't relate to the whole "ooooo I love Princeton, it's so perfect and gorgeous and amazing" thing and I found the worship-level adoration that Lily, who was otherwise down-to-earth, had for such a place and everything it stands for somewhat grating. I'm sure there are others who can relate to the Ivy League thing more, and they may enjoy this book, but personally, not something I could relate to. Of course, the author went to Princeton herself so it's probably not reasonable for me to have expected her to say anything even slightly critical of the place or its flaws, but a girl can hope.
I'd recommend Enchanted Ivy for youngsters or for those who really buy into that whole ivy league school spirit thing. Female fans of Eragon will probably enjoy it too, not so sure about the boys though.
December 30, 2010
What an amazing idea for a story! Who doesn’t love tales about alternate worlds? I know I do. However, ENCHANTED IVY cut some storytelling corners that unfortunately made it hard for me to invest in the story as fully as I wanted to.
As far as the premise goes, it’s extensive, but Sarah Beth Durst does an admirable job of condensing it to a magnitude appropriate for a YA novel. She creatively reimagines Princeton’s campus as one containing magical secrets in the most obvious of places. For anyone who’s acquainted with the university’s campus, as I am, or anyone who has felt the awe-inspiring austerity of an old and regal college campus, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine the gargoyles as “hibernating” magical professors and gateways existing everywhere.
Oh, how I wish this book had gone on for another 200 or so pages! And not exactly because I didn’t want it to end, but because I think that had the book been longer, elements of the story could have been explored more thoroughly, and the book wouldn’t have given me a harried, rushed feeling as I read it. There is just so much packed into 320 pages that I don’t think many elements were allowed breathing room to grow into fully realized beings. Many of the characters seemed like flat projections of people, from the villain of the story to the boys who help Lily on her quest. In particular, when Tye proclaims to Lily within hours of them meeting each other that, due to their similarities, which I won’t divulge here because of spoilers, they are obviously soulmates, I wanted to howl, “Noooooo! How could you resort to such a paranormal romance cliché?!?!” At that point, I still felt so lost with the story that I couldn’t fully invest in Tye as a love interest yet. Likewise with the “purposes” of many other characters.
That was the danger of having the pacing of this book be all snap-snap-snap, one dramatic event/revelation after the other after the other. No sooner was one crucial key to the plot revealed, and I was still digesting it, when another piled on top, and so on. The rushed pacing unfortunately made this book read almost like a parody of its intent: I knew this book could’ve been extremely awe-inducing and breath-stealing in the best way, but I couldn’t help but feel like it attempted to do too much in too little space—oh, here’s a big bad villain! Here’s a love triangle! Here’s a heretofore unknown magical heritage! And then here’s the big bad villain’s deserved horrible ending!—that little was allowed to reach its potential.
Still, ENCHANTED IVY had the power to surprise and delight me with its twists, turns, and revelations. I particularly loved Lily’s bittersweet relationship with her fragile mother, a woman whose sanity is questionable but all the more endearing as a result of her tremulous hold on reality. If you’re the kind of reader who is often ensnared by an incredible premise, action, and a magical gothic-like setting, do give this book a try.
As far as the premise goes, it’s extensive, but Sarah Beth Durst does an admirable job of condensing it to a magnitude appropriate for a YA novel. She creatively reimagines Princeton’s campus as one containing magical secrets in the most obvious of places. For anyone who’s acquainted with the university’s campus, as I am, or anyone who has felt the awe-inspiring austerity of an old and regal college campus, it’s not much of a stretch to imagine the gargoyles as “hibernating” magical professors and gateways existing everywhere.
Oh, how I wish this book had gone on for another 200 or so pages! And not exactly because I didn’t want it to end, but because I think that had the book been longer, elements of the story could have been explored more thoroughly, and the book wouldn’t have given me a harried, rushed feeling as I read it. There is just so much packed into 320 pages that I don’t think many elements were allowed breathing room to grow into fully realized beings. Many of the characters seemed like flat projections of people, from the villain of the story to the boys who help Lily on her quest. In particular, when Tye proclaims to Lily within hours of them meeting each other that, due to their similarities, which I won’t divulge here because of spoilers, they are obviously soulmates, I wanted to howl, “Noooooo! How could you resort to such a paranormal romance cliché?!?!” At that point, I still felt so lost with the story that I couldn’t fully invest in Tye as a love interest yet. Likewise with the “purposes” of many other characters.
That was the danger of having the pacing of this book be all snap-snap-snap, one dramatic event/revelation after the other after the other. No sooner was one crucial key to the plot revealed, and I was still digesting it, when another piled on top, and so on. The rushed pacing unfortunately made this book read almost like a parody of its intent: I knew this book could’ve been extremely awe-inducing and breath-stealing in the best way, but I couldn’t help but feel like it attempted to do too much in too little space—oh, here’s a big bad villain! Here’s a love triangle! Here’s a heretofore unknown magical heritage! And then here’s the big bad villain’s deserved horrible ending!—that little was allowed to reach its potential.
Still, ENCHANTED IVY had the power to surprise and delight me with its twists, turns, and revelations. I particularly loved Lily’s bittersweet relationship with her fragile mother, a woman whose sanity is questionable but all the more endearing as a result of her tremulous hold on reality. If you’re the kind of reader who is often ensnared by an incredible premise, action, and a magical gothic-like setting, do give this book a try.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 14, 2010
After reading and falling in love with Sarah Beth Durst’s Ice, I had some pretty big expectations for Enchanted Ivy. But fortunately, the book surpassed soared high above every single one of them. Like Ice, it’s a gorgeously crafted story that takes something mundane like college and turns it into a fast-paced adventure.
What I really loved is how the plot takes dramatic shifts; Lily begins the book by accepting a challenge to find a ‘key’, and in exchange, she’ll receive an automatic acceptance into Princeton. But as she unravels clues and meets interesting enemies and allies, like Tye, the strange but cute boy with tiger striped hair, her aim changes and the story takes us to a completely new plot.
One thing that I love about Sarah Beth Durst is her ability to create these compelling creatures for characters. Even the evil enemies are ones that you want to know more about. I was happy to see that Enchanted Ivy didn’t stray from the strange either. Good gargoyles, bad gargoyles (that she based off of the real gargoyles at Princeton! How cool is that?) dryads, shape-shifters and fairies? Further proof of just how much of an epic fantasy this book was.
Overall, Enchanted Ivy was, well .. enchanting. The story puts on a new twist to the hardships of applying to colleges while pulling you on an adventure through mythical creatures, alternate universes that will put your imagination to shame, cute knights and shape-shifting boys. Sarah Beth Durst is one of my new favorite fantasy authors and I can’t wait for another adventure from her!
What I really loved is how the plot takes dramatic shifts; Lily begins the book by accepting a challenge to find a ‘key’, and in exchange, she’ll receive an automatic acceptance into Princeton. But as she unravels clues and meets interesting enemies and allies, like Tye, the strange but cute boy with tiger striped hair, her aim changes and the story takes us to a completely new plot.
One thing that I love about Sarah Beth Durst is her ability to create these compelling creatures for characters. Even the evil enemies are ones that you want to know more about. I was happy to see that Enchanted Ivy didn’t stray from the strange either. Good gargoyles, bad gargoyles (that she based off of the real gargoyles at Princeton! How cool is that?) dryads, shape-shifters and fairies? Further proof of just how much of an epic fantasy this book was.
Overall, Enchanted Ivy was, well .. enchanting. The story puts on a new twist to the hardships of applying to colleges while pulling you on an adventure through mythical creatures, alternate universes that will put your imagination to shame, cute knights and shape-shifting boys. Sarah Beth Durst is one of my new favorite fantasy authors and I can’t wait for another adventure from her!
December 17, 2012
Have I mentioned lately how much I adore Sarah Beth Durst? Probably, but it's worth saying again. I love how each book I pick up is completely different from the one before it. Durst obviously has a talent that is above par.
While Enchanted Ivy isn't really my favorite so far, it was fun. I enjoyed Ivy's adventures at Princeton. If you couldn't tell by the synopsis, the story takes place at Princeton University-- both the real college and it's mytholigical counterpart. It was a new take on the uppity boarding school setting.
I was a bit disappointed to see that this book lacked the amazing descriptive details that I have come to love and adore with Durst's writing. This was written a few years before the other books I've read, so I think it's safe to say that she has come a long way. Drink, Slay, Love was vivid and fun, while Vessel blew me away from page one with its imagery. Unfortunately, Enchanted Ivy didn't have that same impact. It was, however, action packed. Classic Sarah Beth Durst style. I flew through the pages to see what was going to happen next.
All SBD fans will probably enjoy this one. It's worth reading. It's also squeaky clean enough for younger readers, so middle grades readers could read it too.
While Enchanted Ivy isn't really my favorite so far, it was fun. I enjoyed Ivy's adventures at Princeton. If you couldn't tell by the synopsis, the story takes place at Princeton University-- both the real college and it's mytholigical counterpart. It was a new take on the uppity boarding school setting.
I was a bit disappointed to see that this book lacked the amazing descriptive details that I have come to love and adore with Durst's writing. This was written a few years before the other books I've read, so I think it's safe to say that she has come a long way. Drink, Slay, Love was vivid and fun, while Vessel blew me away from page one with its imagery. Unfortunately, Enchanted Ivy didn't have that same impact. It was, however, action packed. Classic Sarah Beth Durst style. I flew through the pages to see what was going to happen next.
All SBD fans will probably enjoy this one. It's worth reading. It's also squeaky clean enough for younger readers, so middle grades readers could read it too.
February 4, 2011
2 - 2.5 stars
I loved Sarah Beth Durst's Into the Wild and the sequel, but Ice was not quite as good. Enchanted Ivy has a few good sections, but is overall just lacking. The characters just do not come alive and the magical aspect of the world is not explored at any length and the themes that are there just are not followed up on. It was so easy to call the bad guy and the romance? Not feeling the soulmate vibe there. At. All. And while there are certainly an abundance of amazing descriptions of Princeton, which Sarah lovingly and magically portrays, that alone is not enough to make this book enjoyable.
I would not personally recommend it, but I am really looking forward to Sarah's next work, Drink, Slay, Love!
I loved Sarah Beth Durst's Into the Wild and the sequel, but Ice was not quite as good. Enchanted Ivy has a few good sections, but is overall just lacking. The characters just do not come alive and the magical aspect of the world is not explored at any length and the themes that are there just are not followed up on. It was so easy to call the bad guy and the romance? Not feeling the soulmate vibe there. At. All. And while there are certainly an abundance of amazing descriptions of Princeton, which Sarah lovingly and magically portrays, that alone is not enough to make this book enjoyable.
I would not personally recommend it, but I am really looking forward to Sarah's next work, Drink, Slay, Love!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2019
Actual rating 4.25
I am trahs for Sarah Beth durst and her neverending creativity. I really had a great time reading this one. I loved the gargoyles and the idea of the Feeders. Even if the plot itself was predictable I just had so much fun reading this. In my opinion Sarah Beth Durst can do no wrong and I cannot wait to pick up another one of her endlessly entertaining and delightful reads!
I am trahs for Sarah Beth durst and her neverending creativity. I really had a great time reading this one. I loved the gargoyles and the idea of the Feeders. Even if the plot itself was predictable I just had so much fun reading this. In my opinion Sarah Beth Durst can do no wrong and I cannot wait to pick up another one of her endlessly entertaining and delightful reads!
December 14, 2014
'Enchanted Ivy' is a magical book. Sarah Beth Durst created fascinating world, even two of them - the magical Princeton inhabited by dragons, dryads, werebeasts and other fantastic creatures, and the human Princeton, where knights protect humanity from monsters with gargoyles guiding them. The book left some questions about this world and its history unanswered, but overall I truly enjoyed the trip to Princeton.
Our hero, Lily Carter, enters these worlds without even knowing it - and the plot is kicked into action. An acceptance quest where one clue leads to another is only the starting point: tensions rise between two worlds, and it turns out Lily's grandfather keeps some old family secrets from her. Besides, he is not the only one who has secrets... There is a villain plotting behind the scene, who is a remarkable character on his one. The reveal of his true nature was quite a shock to me, even though there were hints. The scary thing is that his intentions are truely good, and even after the reveal he shows his good qualities. Till the very end it looks like he has just gone too far in his desire to fight evil and still has a chance... till we see what he is willing to do to achieve his goals.
One of the main reasons I loved this book so much is that it's awfully easy to relate to Lily. She is smart, sensible and down-to-earth heroine who thinks for logical explanation each time she faces something out of the ordinary. Actually, it's quite natural to interpret such things as a result of some kind of prank involving robots, microphones, etc. Seriously, she still doesn't believe in magic Princeton even after being attacked by a magical creature! Even though she does a couple of really silly mistakes and doesn't foresee some easy to guess things, it hadn't made her look stupid. With such a crazy weekend she was having, it's no wonder one can forget things; and with being in situation so desperate as she is, it's no wonder one can make stupid decisions.
There is a romance in this book, but it always takes second place to the actual plot and therefore don't turn into overwhelming all-consuming love story. That brings us to Tye. I just loved this guy, and not only for his interactions with Lily, which were sweet - I liked him as a person. He is a nice guy and brave to boot. Special mention goes to his relationship with Jake. They start as enemies, always arguing and picking up fights - and then they find out they have much more in common than they originally thought. It's such a joy to see these two at the book's end!
Our hero, Lily Carter, enters these worlds without even knowing it - and the plot is kicked into action. An acceptance quest where one clue leads to another is only the starting point: tensions rise between two worlds, and it turns out Lily's grandfather keeps some old family secrets from her. Besides, he is not the only one who has secrets... There is a villain plotting behind the scene, who is a remarkable character on his one. The reveal of his true nature was quite a shock to me, even though there were hints. The scary thing is that his intentions are truely good, and even after the reveal he shows his good qualities. Till the very end it looks like he has just gone too far in his desire to fight evil and still has a chance... till we see what he is willing to do to achieve his goals.
One of the main reasons I loved this book so much is that it's awfully easy to relate to Lily. She is smart, sensible and down-to-earth heroine who thinks for logical explanation each time she faces something out of the ordinary. Actually, it's quite natural to interpret such things as a result of some kind of prank involving robots, microphones, etc. Seriously, she still doesn't believe in magic Princeton even after being attacked by a magical creature! Even though she does a couple of really silly mistakes and doesn't foresee some easy to guess things, it hadn't made her look stupid. With such a crazy weekend she was having, it's no wonder one can forget things; and with being in situation so desperate as she is, it's no wonder one can make stupid decisions.
There is a romance in this book, but it always takes second place to the actual plot and therefore don't turn into overwhelming all-consuming love story. That brings us to Tye. I just loved this guy, and not only for his interactions with Lily, which were sweet - I liked him as a person. He is a nice guy and brave to boot. Special mention goes to his relationship with Jake. They start as enemies, always arguing and picking up fights - and then they find out they have much more in common than they originally thought. It's such a joy to see these two at the book's end!
December 2, 2010
Enchanted Ivy seduced me with it's rich lore, and held me captive by it's vivid setting. Sarah Beth Durst's breathe taking descriptions of her setting had me wishing I could travel to Princeton to walk through the FitzRandolph Gate just to see the land that lies on other side.
Lily Carter has a dream to attend Princeton University like her parents and grandfather before he did. When she and her mother accompany her Grandfather to a reunion weekend at this prestigious university, Lily is offered a chance to attend Princeton. She must find the Ivy Key. IF she passes this secret test, she will not only be granted the right to attend the University, but she'll be apart of a secret society. There's a whole lot more to Princeton that meets the eye.
Lily is a fun character to get to know. She's real and relatable as like many high school juniors, she stresses about college applications and if she had enough credits and passed her exams. She's also loyal and very caring and concerned about those she loves. Even when unthinkable things happen, she more or less goes with the flow of it. She's also stubborn and strong when she needs to be. I really enjoyed watching her relationship with Tye evolve. While I'd like to say I was torn between Tye and Jake, as both guys are strong, warriors, and protectors of their secrets and Lily, Tye won me over. I should say, it's hard choosing between a were-tiger and a knight, as both characters have very little flaws and were at times entertaining as they fought for their right to protect Lily.
Enchanted Ivy is a mesmerizing, fast paced, engaging read that left me yearning to read more. With twist and turns and wonderful characters, it's definitely a book I'll be picking up again. It's rich in history and lore, and has a simple, yet fascinating love story at it's core. Enchanted Ivy is filled with magic, talking gargoyles, dragons, faeries, goblins, unicorns, were-tigers, centaurs, dryads, a secret society, action and much more. If you want to get lost in a beautiful world that resides in both the real world and in the realm of the unbelievable, go pick up Enchanted Ivy today.
You can take a tour of Princeton via Sarah's tour on her blog here http://tinyurl.com/2fpf6nj.
You can read more about the gargoyles found on the grounds of Princeton here http://tinyurl.com/247lhf7
Lily Carter has a dream to attend Princeton University like her parents and grandfather before he did. When she and her mother accompany her Grandfather to a reunion weekend at this prestigious university, Lily is offered a chance to attend Princeton. She must find the Ivy Key. IF she passes this secret test, she will not only be granted the right to attend the University, but she'll be apart of a secret society. There's a whole lot more to Princeton that meets the eye.
Lily is a fun character to get to know. She's real and relatable as like many high school juniors, she stresses about college applications and if she had enough credits and passed her exams. She's also loyal and very caring and concerned about those she loves. Even when unthinkable things happen, she more or less goes with the flow of it. She's also stubborn and strong when she needs to be. I really enjoyed watching her relationship with Tye evolve. While I'd like to say I was torn between Tye and Jake, as both guys are strong, warriors, and protectors of their secrets and Lily, Tye won me over. I should say, it's hard choosing between a were-tiger and a knight, as both characters have very little flaws and were at times entertaining as they fought for their right to protect Lily.
Enchanted Ivy is a mesmerizing, fast paced, engaging read that left me yearning to read more. With twist and turns and wonderful characters, it's definitely a book I'll be picking up again. It's rich in history and lore, and has a simple, yet fascinating love story at it's core. Enchanted Ivy is filled with magic, talking gargoyles, dragons, faeries, goblins, unicorns, were-tigers, centaurs, dryads, a secret society, action and much more. If you want to get lost in a beautiful world that resides in both the real world and in the realm of the unbelievable, go pick up Enchanted Ivy today.
You can take a tour of Princeton via Sarah's tour on her blog here http://tinyurl.com/2fpf6nj.
You can read more about the gargoyles found on the grounds of Princeton here http://tinyurl.com/247lhf7
December 31, 2010
Lily was a good daughter and a good granddaughter. Unlike most YA characters that I encounter, Lily was family-oriented and that was one of the things I liked about her. She lived by the ‘family first’ code. Having a mother who had psychosis and suffered from brain hiccups was difficult. There was always an extra safety measure to take. But her love for her mother overpowered everything else.
Enchanted Ivy was set in Princeton University, a place of wonder and mystery. Lily was given a chance to take the Legacy test, a test that would grant her an automatic acceptance into Princeton, if she passes. But what seemed like a college-related scavenger hunt turned out to be something she never expected. As she searched for the key, she unlocked secrets that will defy reality.
Talking gargoyles, tiger-weres, blood-sucking goblins, a library filled with books on mythology and fantasy, a vengeful dragon, dancing tulips and unicorns – all of these creatures graced Enchanted Ivy with their presence. A great cast of characters, magical and human, brought to life a story filled with surprises, with just the right combination of drama, betrayal, suspense, action and mystery. Everything that would make a reader want to read more was rolled in this novel. This was Alice in Wonderland meets Harry Potter minus the wizards and the witches. It was really enjoyable. When I started this, I thought it would take me three days to finish it. It just took me four hours, a good night sleep and a few more hours when I woke up to finish the story. It was a magical experience.
Lily and Tye’s similarity drove them close to each other. The romance was sweet and pure, Disney-like, but with a little hesitation and a healthy dose of challenges and obstacles. The will to stay and protect was there, untainted by the tension and thirst for change and vengeance.
The ending was just right for me, satisfying. But it made me want a sequel because it was simply sweet. I wanted to see how Lily’s relationship with Tye would come to be. I wanted to know more about Lily’s father.
Enchanted Ivy will have you lost between worlds and reading for magic, secrets, love and vengeance. Durst is a pro at storytelling. I lost myself too. I recommend this to fans of fantasy and magic, and to people who like old campuses with lots of greenery, as well as the story behind them.
Enchanted Ivy was set in Princeton University, a place of wonder and mystery. Lily was given a chance to take the Legacy test, a test that would grant her an automatic acceptance into Princeton, if she passes. But what seemed like a college-related scavenger hunt turned out to be something she never expected. As she searched for the key, she unlocked secrets that will defy reality.
Talking gargoyles, tiger-weres, blood-sucking goblins, a library filled with books on mythology and fantasy, a vengeful dragon, dancing tulips and unicorns – all of these creatures graced Enchanted Ivy with their presence. A great cast of characters, magical and human, brought to life a story filled with surprises, with just the right combination of drama, betrayal, suspense, action and mystery. Everything that would make a reader want to read more was rolled in this novel. This was Alice in Wonderland meets Harry Potter minus the wizards and the witches. It was really enjoyable. When I started this, I thought it would take me three days to finish it. It just took me four hours, a good night sleep and a few more hours when I woke up to finish the story. It was a magical experience.
Lily and Tye’s similarity drove them close to each other. The romance was sweet and pure, Disney-like, but with a little hesitation and a healthy dose of challenges and obstacles. The will to stay and protect was there, untainted by the tension and thirst for change and vengeance.
The ending was just right for me, satisfying. But it made me want a sequel because it was simply sweet. I wanted to see how Lily’s relationship with Tye would come to be. I wanted to know more about Lily’s father.
Enchanted Ivy will have you lost between worlds and reading for magic, secrets, love and vengeance. Durst is a pro at storytelling. I lost myself too. I recommend this to fans of fantasy and magic, and to people who like old campuses with lots of greenery, as well as the story behind them.
October 15, 2010
Lily Carter just wants to get into college, or if you want to be specific, Princeton University, the alma mater of her Grandpa. So when Grandpa invites her to come along during Princeton Reunions weekend, Lily jumps at the chance to visit her dream school. So when she’s asked to take the secret Legacy Test, which will guarantee admittance to Princeton if she passes, of course she accepts this challenge to find the Ivy Key. Little does Lily know that this undertaking will change life as she knows it, because while on her search, she encounters more than just Princeton students and alumni—try a were-tiger and talking stone gargoyles. It turns out that there are two Princeton campuses, and Lily has just found the magical one. Before she knows it, Lily finds herself caught up in an age old conflict between the two worlds, a conflict that has defined her life as it is now and has the potential to destroy it. Will Lily discover the magic in her own heritage in time to do something about it?
I love reading novels by Durst because I know I can count on her to deliver an enthralling and wholly enjoyable fantasy. Enchanted Ivy particularly appealed to me because, like Lily, I have gone through the tedium and fright of the college application process. Lily’s path to college is certainly untraditional and quite fantastical, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to read about. I just loved following Lily around as she ran around both Princeton campuses with magical creatures. Learning about Lily’s history and its connection to the rift between the two worlds added depth to what would otherwise be a more simple and plot driven story. Enchanted is just a fun and lighthearted read spiced up by a bit of magic and romance, and though it didn’t quite grab me as much as Durst’s previous novel Ice did, I still found the story quite lovable and entertaining.
Enchanted Ivy is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Durst’s earlier novels, especially Ice, as well as by readers who also liked Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood and The Emerald Tablet by P.J. Hoover.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
I love reading novels by Durst because I know I can count on her to deliver an enthralling and wholly enjoyable fantasy. Enchanted Ivy particularly appealed to me because, like Lily, I have gone through the tedium and fright of the college application process. Lily’s path to college is certainly untraditional and quite fantastical, but that doesn’t make it any less fun to read about. I just loved following Lily around as she ran around both Princeton campuses with magical creatures. Learning about Lily’s history and its connection to the rift between the two worlds added depth to what would otherwise be a more simple and plot driven story. Enchanted is just a fun and lighthearted read spiced up by a bit of magic and romance, and though it didn’t quite grab me as much as Durst’s previous novel Ice did, I still found the story quite lovable and entertaining.
Enchanted Ivy is sure to be enjoyed by fans of Durst’s earlier novels, especially Ice, as well as by readers who also liked Why I Let My Hair Grow Out by Maryrose Wood and The Emerald Tablet by P.J. Hoover.
reposted from http://thebookmuncher.blogspot.com
November 2, 2010
Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst has a story line that at first seems only mildly interesting, but once started, the book is difficult to put down. Durst take the "interesting" story line and with her deft prose and runaway imagination creates a tale filled with rich characters, wonderful story-telling, and puzzle pieces that fall together perfectly.
Lily, the protagonist, is a wonderful heroine--not too perfect, not too beautiful, not too athletic--but like Goldilocks, she's just right.
Lily didn't have an easy childhood. Her mother suffers from a mental disorder and takes daily medication. Lily also takes medication as the disorder is inherited. Her dream is to be accepted into Princeton, the university her grandfather and father attended.
The adventure begins when Lily, her mother, and her grandfather visit Princeton for a weekend reunion, and Lily discovers that she is expected to take a test that, if she passes, will guarantee her early acceptance into Princeton. She eagerly accepts, but soon she realizes that the test is far bigger than any test she could have imagined.
Those readers who loved Durst's Into the WIld and Out of the Wild will adore the melding and juxtaposition of the magical and the mundane. Lily discovers that the gates that surround Princeton lead not simply to neighborhood shops, but to an alternate Princeton which exists in an alternate magical reality.
Things are not what they appear to be, which should be no surprise to the experienced reader. Who is ally and who is enemy becomes a big question as Lily and her two friends struggle to make things right between two worlds on the verge of war.
Sarah Beth Durst's writing just gets better and better--and that's not to say that her first books weren't very enjoyable. Her last book, Ice, and this book raise the bar and will present a challenge to the author. She has created extremely high expectations for her future endeavors.
Lovers of fairy tales must visit Sarah's website. Her retelling of obscure fairy tales with a running commentary is side-splitting fun, and there is also a link to her blog.
Lily, the protagonist, is a wonderful heroine--not too perfect, not too beautiful, not too athletic--but like Goldilocks, she's just right.
Lily didn't have an easy childhood. Her mother suffers from a mental disorder and takes daily medication. Lily also takes medication as the disorder is inherited. Her dream is to be accepted into Princeton, the university her grandfather and father attended.
The adventure begins when Lily, her mother, and her grandfather visit Princeton for a weekend reunion, and Lily discovers that she is expected to take a test that, if she passes, will guarantee her early acceptance into Princeton. She eagerly accepts, but soon she realizes that the test is far bigger than any test she could have imagined.
Those readers who loved Durst's Into the WIld and Out of the Wild will adore the melding and juxtaposition of the magical and the mundane. Lily discovers that the gates that surround Princeton lead not simply to neighborhood shops, but to an alternate Princeton which exists in an alternate magical reality.
Things are not what they appear to be, which should be no surprise to the experienced reader. Who is ally and who is enemy becomes a big question as Lily and her two friends struggle to make things right between two worlds on the verge of war.
Sarah Beth Durst's writing just gets better and better--and that's not to say that her first books weren't very enjoyable. Her last book, Ice, and this book raise the bar and will present a challenge to the author. She has created extremely high expectations for her future endeavors.
Lovers of fairy tales must visit Sarah's website. Her retelling of obscure fairy tales with a running commentary is side-splitting fun, and there is also a link to her blog.
April 12, 2012
I have had this book on my to-read list for awhile, and I'm glad I finally read it. Lily thought she was a normal junior in high school looking to apply to her dream university, Princeton. She visited Princeton for alumni week with her mom and Princeton alumni grandpa. When her grandpa surprised her with the Legacy Test, a way for her to get an automatic acceptance letter, Lily's world was turned upside down.
I liked Lily. It seemed like she had a pretty normal life except for her stress associated with her mom's problem. Rose was loosing her memories. She didn't even remember Lily's father anymore who died when Lily was a baby. Lily had to constantly worry about her mother's well-being, making sure she hadn't wondered off or colored with permanent marker on the walls. Even though Lily's mom had "brain hiccups" the two were a fun pair. I enjoyed the scenes with the two of them joking and having fun.
The romance in the book was perfect, not too much not too little. Tye was a mystery even to the end. I loved the parallel worlds of Princeton. The magical world was full of unicorns, dryads, talking animals, elves, etc. Lilly got caught up in a war between worlds. The action was great. I did feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I wished I could completely delve into them more. I can't pinpoint a reason, just a general feeling at times.
Enchanted Ivy was a great read that I really enjoyed. It was exciting, romantic, and magical. I don't think there's a sequel, but if there is I'll definitely read it.
There is more profanity in this book than I prefer, but not so much to make me stop reading. Details in my content ratings.
Content Ratings on my blog, Clean Teen Fiction
I liked Lily. It seemed like she had a pretty normal life except for her stress associated with her mom's problem. Rose was loosing her memories. She didn't even remember Lily's father anymore who died when Lily was a baby. Lily had to constantly worry about her mother's well-being, making sure she hadn't wondered off or colored with permanent marker on the walls. Even though Lily's mom had "brain hiccups" the two were a fun pair. I enjoyed the scenes with the two of them joking and having fun.
The romance in the book was perfect, not too much not too little. Tye was a mystery even to the end. I loved the parallel worlds of Princeton. The magical world was full of unicorns, dryads, talking animals, elves, etc. Lilly got caught up in a war between worlds. The action was great. I did feel slightly disconnected from the characters. I wished I could completely delve into them more. I can't pinpoint a reason, just a general feeling at times.
Enchanted Ivy was a great read that I really enjoyed. It was exciting, romantic, and magical. I don't think there's a sequel, but if there is I'll definitely read it.
There is more profanity in this book than I prefer, but not so much to make me stop reading. Details in my content ratings.
Content Ratings on my blog, Clean Teen Fiction
April 12, 2020
I fell in love with Sarah Beth Durst’s writing and storytelling abilities after reading her debut novel, Ice. When I heard that she was going to come out with another book, I jumped at the chance of receiving a copy for review! I wanted to know if Sarah would fall in the horrible second book mode or if she would prevail. I’m happy to say that I am wholeheartedly happy with this one!
Sarah’s writing ability and how she is able to weave such great stories together continues to astonish me. The plot was thought out, well paced (it’s such a great adventure) and just awesome. I love how going to college and Lily’s background is introduced and brought about in the plot. We learn new things along with Lily and that makes it all the more fun!
This book has a vast range of characters, from the humans, to the dryads, fairies, and gargoyles that are pulled out wonderfully. I loved how her gargoyles and the setting were based on the real Princeton so I got a really good fell of that place! Lily was a teen with whom I could relate to (in certain ways of course!) and I felt for during the tough times. I liked how she weighted her options instead of just not accepting the challenge at all.
Enchanted Ivy was a really great book with strange but cool creatures, a fierce and loyal protagonist and a great adventure, one full of twists, turns, surprises, and my favorite, romance. The reason, and only reason, that this book did not receive a full five stars is because I wanted MORE. More from the characters and the world and the story itself. I would love it if somehow Sarah Beth Durst brings us back into this…enchanted world she created!
Sarah’s writing ability and how she is able to weave such great stories together continues to astonish me. The plot was thought out, well paced (it’s such a great adventure) and just awesome. I love how going to college and Lily’s background is introduced and brought about in the plot. We learn new things along with Lily and that makes it all the more fun!
This book has a vast range of characters, from the humans, to the dryads, fairies, and gargoyles that are pulled out wonderfully. I loved how her gargoyles and the setting were based on the real Princeton so I got a really good fell of that place! Lily was a teen with whom I could relate to (in certain ways of course!) and I felt for during the tough times. I liked how she weighted her options instead of just not accepting the challenge at all.
Enchanted Ivy was a really great book with strange but cool creatures, a fierce and loyal protagonist and a great adventure, one full of twists, turns, surprises, and my favorite, romance. The reason, and only reason, that this book did not receive a full five stars is because I wanted MORE. More from the characters and the world and the story itself. I would love it if somehow Sarah Beth Durst brings us back into this…enchanted world she created!
December 21, 2010
(4.5 stars) Enchanted Ivy is a beautiful, magical, and entrancing read. Sarah Beth Durst did such a fantastic job at describing Princeton, I had no trouble envisioning her stunning scenes. The pace is very fast (but not in a hurried sense) and engaging. It kept me turning the pages, craving to read more about Lily and her new life that she is so unceremoniously thrown into. A life that is now filled with gargoyles, knights, unicorns, were-tigers, dragons, goblins, elves, faeries, dryads, and much, much more. It is all very magical, and I absolutely loved getting lost in this clandestine world!
It starts off as a treasure hunt, and then quickly turns into so much more, as she learns that she is actually the Key. I loved getting to know Lily. She is very caring and has a "go with the flow" type of feel about her. Very much down-to-earth (literally!) She is loyal and is very determined when it comes to things that matter to her most; she doesn't let anything get in her way. I also loved Tye, he is absolutely adorable! Tye is so cute and humorous. He is open about his feelings, and fights for what he believes in, even when no one believes him.
This is a fascinating read, and highly recommend it if you want to get lost in this magical world. This is my first book that I've read by Sarah Beth Durst, but I'm sure it won't be my last! Her story-telling is just simply beautiful and vivid.
It starts off as a treasure hunt, and then quickly turns into so much more, as she learns that she is actually the Key. I loved getting to know Lily. She is very caring and has a "go with the flow" type of feel about her. Very much down-to-earth (literally!) She is loyal and is very determined when it comes to things that matter to her most; she doesn't let anything get in her way. I also loved Tye, he is absolutely adorable! Tye is so cute and humorous. He is open about his feelings, and fights for what he believes in, even when no one believes him.
This is a fascinating read, and highly recommend it if you want to get lost in this magical world. This is my first book that I've read by Sarah Beth Durst, but I'm sure it won't be my last! Her story-telling is just simply beautiful and vivid.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2011
Who knew that Princeton could be so magical? At first, I was bored by the idea of the entire novel revolving around Lily's dream to attend Princeton. Thankfully, things picked up and Lily was soon swept up into a tale of incredible creatures and dark secrets.
Lily Carter is a witty and brave protagonist. She cares deeply for her family members and desperately tries to protect them. Although Lily comes up with many smart solutions, she also makes mistakes. I was never annoyed with her, and I honestly enjoyed tagging along on her adventure. The secondary characters were also fun to read about. Tye and Jake held the potential to be fantastic characters, and I wished I gotten to know them a little better.
The premise of Enchanted Ivy was entirely unique and fantastical. The idea of Princeton being the gateway to a parallel universe was simply awesome. The fantastical other-world that Lily stumbles upon reminds me so much of the days I was obsessed with fantasy novels. In my opinion, everyone needs to read a pure fantasy novel every once in a while.
Overall, Enchanted Ivy is a imaginative tale bursting with astonishing creatures and intriguing characters. Durst's whimsical writing makes for a truly wonderful read. I'd definitely recommend it to any lover of fantasy or young adult!
Lily Carter is a witty and brave protagonist. She cares deeply for her family members and desperately tries to protect them. Although Lily comes up with many smart solutions, she also makes mistakes. I was never annoyed with her, and I honestly enjoyed tagging along on her adventure. The secondary characters were also fun to read about. Tye and Jake held the potential to be fantastic characters, and I wished I gotten to know them a little better.
The premise of Enchanted Ivy was entirely unique and fantastical. The idea of Princeton being the gateway to a parallel universe was simply awesome. The fantastical other-world that Lily stumbles upon reminds me so much of the days I was obsessed with fantasy novels. In my opinion, everyone needs to read a pure fantasy novel every once in a while.
Overall, Enchanted Ivy is a imaginative tale bursting with astonishing creatures and intriguing characters. Durst's whimsical writing makes for a truly wonderful read. I'd definitely recommend it to any lover of fantasy or young adult!
October 16, 2010
Two stars is low, possibly a little lower than the book deserves. The fantasy elements are cleverly drawn, and the setting is inventive. What I couldn't get into was Princeton itself. The whole of the story felt like an insider's ode to Princeton, rather than a descriptive view of a notable location. I couldn't get past the unfamiliar use of terms (I would expect to hear about Reunion Weekend, for example, rather than Reunions Weekend, no matter how accurate the latter might be), the inclusion of Princeton trivia (how many non-Princeton people are deeply interested in what the class of '69 wears or the formula for the parade chants?), and the implication that Princeton is the center of the enlightened world (plain alma mater pride on my part).
Also, Tye was a little creepy. Would you seriously fall for someone who repeatedly informed you that the two of you, after knowing each other a matter of hours, are soulmates? Personally, I would run far far away. It's just creepy.
People will like this book. I'll probably even recommend it and pass along my ARC. It just wasn't as objective and removed from its inspiration as it could have been.
Also, Tye was a little creepy. Would you seriously fall for someone who repeatedly informed you that the two of you, after knowing each other a matter of hours, are soulmates? Personally, I would run far far away. It's just creepy.
People will like this book. I'll probably even recommend it and pass along my ARC. It just wasn't as objective and removed from its inspiration as it could have been.
December 15, 2010
I didn't cave to the pressure of The Ivy or any of the other gossipy-type books dealing with ivy league schools, but I couldn't resist the fantasy element of Enchanted Ivy. I'm glad as well, because this was an incredibly fun book with a lot of fun information filling its pages.
Sarah Beth Durst went to Princeton and the cover indicates that she spent some time there wondering what the gargoyles would say if they could talk...and so a story woven around the history and architecture of Princeton was born.
Lily has a mother who is fading away mentally and a grandfather who is an alumnus of Princeton. Lily wants more than anything to attend Princeton, but must first finish high school to do so. While there are some strange resolutions to the book with regard to the age of Lily, the story itself is fun, fast-paced, filled with magic and lore.
Enchanted Ivy is a satisfying fantasy book and one I'll be recommending to the teenage girls in my life. It's fun to read about college, even more fun to read about the Ivy Leagues and when you toss magic and fantasy into the mix - well, it just can't get better than that.
Sarah Beth Durst went to Princeton and the cover indicates that she spent some time there wondering what the gargoyles would say if they could talk...and so a story woven around the history and architecture of Princeton was born.
Lily has a mother who is fading away mentally and a grandfather who is an alumnus of Princeton. Lily wants more than anything to attend Princeton, but must first finish high school to do so. While there are some strange resolutions to the book with regard to the age of Lily, the story itself is fun, fast-paced, filled with magic and lore.
Enchanted Ivy is a satisfying fantasy book and one I'll be recommending to the teenage girls in my life. It's fun to read about college, even more fun to read about the Ivy Leagues and when you toss magic and fantasy into the mix - well, it just can't get better than that.
March 30, 2016
I really enjoyed this book. The concept was very interesting, and I thought the characters were great. The plot was great and it kept me interested. I thought Lily was a great character. One heroine that I can see myself being. She is smart, and I think she has a cool personality. I thought the romance did not overpower the book. It was very interesting to see. Cant wait for a sequel. Hopefully, it comes. Overall, a great read.
January 15, 2011
Fun read!A little twighlity with the two boys but there was enough of of a twist that it was a good read. I loved that It was very different form anything I have read before. Would recommend for teens because of the boyfriend-girlfriend stuff. But it was very clean with some violence.
July 14, 2011
This is the stand-alone book I have been CRAVING!
When I read this book I was reading a bunch of different series and it HIT THE SPOT! So if you been searching for a great stand alone book- which are desperately needed in this sea of never ending series- you have found the book.
When I read this book I was reading a bunch of different series and it HIT THE SPOT! So if you been searching for a great stand alone book- which are desperately needed in this sea of never ending series- you have found the book.
March 15, 2016
3.5 stars This was super fun. It is a one and done story, it moves quickly and there are a lot of folks with an agenda. Much is revealed, some good, some bad and a heroine who is brave and tries her best.
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