Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst

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.

Rating: 4.0

Review copy from author Sarah Beth Durst