Enchanted Ivy

Every college-bound high school student dreams of being accepted into their first-choice college. For Lily Carter, getting into her family's alma mater, Princeton University, is an easier process than she thought it would be. During her grandfather's reunion, she discovers that if she passes the

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secretive Legacy Test by finding the Ivy Key, she'll not only be enrolled in a secret society on campus, she'll also be guaranteed admission to Princeton. She'll still have to formally submit an application, but it will all be for show. What high school student wouldn't want that guarantee, especially when it's for a prestigious Ivy League school?

As luck would have it, Lily soon discovers that locating the Ivy Key opens the door to a world she would have never dreamed of. Sarah Beth Durst's attention to detail really comes alive as she paints a picture of the beautiful campus architecture in a way that makes readers feel like they're actually able to see Princeton in their mind. She pays particular attention to the gargoyles, which inspired her to write the novel in the first place. The gargoyles are the protectors of the university, hailing from a fantasy world with a different Princeton. There is a gateway between our world and theirs located on campus, and if Lily manages to find the Ivy Key, citizens of each area will be able to travel back and forth.

Aided by both a mysterious student with tiger-striped hair and the grandson of the secret society's leader, Lily finds herself trapped in a love triangle as she embarks on her quest. The novel's romantic tilt isn't as eloquent as the one she painted in last year's Ice (review here), nor does it have the same level of depth, but because of this, a younger audience can discover this book. It's interesting to see the way Durst portrays each love interest. You can tell whom you're supposed to root for as a reader because one of the suitors has more depth than the other, who pales in comparison due to lack of fleshing out, one of the book's weaker elements. Even so, the main love interest is extremely likable and full of interesting quirks.

Another perk when it comes to Enchanted Ivy is the way the chosen typography design gets you in the mood for a good fantasy. Debra Sfetsios-Conover set the book in Brioso Pro, which gives the letters an elegant shape, especially the "s," while still being easy on the eyes. I don't know the name for the font used for the novel/chapter titles, but it's *gorgeous.* It suits the book well. The shimmer sheen on the book jacket (something that can be seen easily by the photograph accompanying this entry) gives the novel a nice finish that makes it eye-catching on the shelf.

While Ice is still my favorite of Durst's four novels, Enchanted Ivy is a fine addition to add to the shelf. It's wish fulfillment at its finest, thrown in with a splash of fantasy, romance, and adventure. It's definitely a good book to curl up with on a rainy day!

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When Lily accompanies her grandfather to his yearly reunion at Princeton the most she thought she'd see were the school grounds - maybe even take a tour of the school she hopes to one day attend. Little did she know that she would instead be participating in a top-secret Legacy Test that if she

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succeeds in will grant her an early scholarship to Princeton. She finds herself trying to unravel secrets that will help her on her quest to find the Ivy Key - with the help of a mysterious boy with hair that reminds her of a tiger and his instructions that the gargoyles know more than she thinks.... she'll discover a world or rather two worlds - her ordinary Princeton and a parallel Princeton that is full of all sorts of fantastical creatures.

I loved the premise of this story. Imagine getting the chance to visit your dream university only to find out that it's so much more than you thought it would be. I loved the descriptions of the university, the grounds... I especially loved the descriptions of the library, le sigh. Ms. Durst expertly creates a magical world filled with all sorts of magical creatures (my favorites being the talking gargoyles). I loved the mystery of the Ivy Key and Lily's quest to find it. While she's on her quest to find the key we are taken all around campus. We also meet Tye (the boy with the black and orange hair) who helps her along the way.

I really liked Lily -she was brave and smart, funny and witty. I especially enjoyed her friendship with Tye and how it eventually sparks a romance. I thought it was very nicely done, well-paced and credible (well of course, if you don't count flying on a dragon as a first date.) Ms. Durst's writing is pleasant and just brings such a light feeling to her story. I love books that although they are full of danger and mystery - still have you feeling happy. This is that type of book.

All in all, I think Enchanted Ivy is a wonderful fantasy that you will find yourself completed captivated with after a few pages. There was magic and adventure, mystery and danger... and of course, there was romance. I really enjoyed it and for fans of young adult fantasy - this is one you won't want to miss out on.

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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

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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.

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Being a legacy applicant to Princeton University takes on a whole new dimension when magic is thrown into the mix.
Princeton University, already known for its magical Gothic-style architecture, is the setting, during Reunions no less, and Lily Carter, grand-daughter and daughter of Princeton alums,

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must unlock secrets to gain admission into Princeton.

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Amazon Product Description:

What Lily Carter wants most in the world is to attend Princeton University just like her grandfather. When she finally visits the campus, Grandpa surprises her: She has been selected to take the top-secret Legacy Test. Passing means automatic acceptance to Princeton.

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Sweet!

Lily's test is to find the Ivy Key. But what is she looking for? Where does she start? As she searches, Lily is joined by Tye, a cute college boy with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. That's weird. But things get seriously strange when a gargoyle talks to her. He tells her that there are two Princetons—the ordinary one and a magical one—and the Key opens the gate between them. But there are more secrets that surround Lily. Worse secrets.

When Lily enters the magical Princeton, she uncovers old betrayals and new dangers, and a chance at her dream becomes a fight for her life. Soon Lily is caught in a power struggle between two worlds, with her family at its center. In a place where Knights slay monsters, boys are were-tigers, and dragons might be out for blood, Lily will need all of her ingenuity and courage—and a little magic—to unite the worlds and unlock the secrets of her past and her future.

I liked the character of Lily a great deal. She does have some room to grow (provided of course there is a sequel), but she is after all on 16. However, sometimes her innocence is frustrating – she always seems to trust the wrong people.

It’s hard to believe so much takes place in the space of one weekend – there is so much going on – Lily’s Legacy Test, the battle, and hidden secrets.

Of course there is a love interest – two actually with an unexpected twist. Tye – a were-tiger and Jake, a freshman at Princeton.

Enchanted Ivy is a fast paced, engaging read – so engaging it leaves the reader wanting more. While some of the secrets are revealed, there are others to be explored.

If you like fantasy, this a must read for you.

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Lily Carter, Princeton legacy, visits the campus with her grandfather and sick mother and falls in love with it. A secret society that her grandfather belongs to offers her guaranteed acceptance—but only if she passes the test and finds the Key. What’s the Key? Accompanied by a cute guy named

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Tye, who may know more than he’s letting on to, Lily traverses the campus on her quest…and makes some shocking revelations about Princeton as well as her heritage.

For there are actually two Princetons, and the university’s famous main gate is the doorway between the Princeton we all know and the other, magical Princeton. And Lily’s family is somehow involved in the heart of a conflict between the inhabitants of the two worlds, and they might stop at nothing to possess her.

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.

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Lily, a high school junior, accompanies her grandfather and mentally ill mother to a Princeton reunion and suddenly learns she is eligible to take a test for a legacy admission. Things immediately turn weird, as Lily uncovers hidden truths about Princeton, herself, her family, and reality

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itself.

The descriptions I read led me to believe that this would be a magical-college-experience story. It is not. Instead, it all takes place that reunion weekend, with a coda six months later. If my expectations had been different, I might have liked it better.

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Enchanted Ivy is a rather unique spin on college admission and a girl's desire to follow her family's footsteps to attend an illustrious school. It also brings to life the beauty of the university's campus with its gargoyles and rich legendary stories. I enjoyed Lily's adventures to pass the Legacy

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Test - although it gets a little strange in the end when the truth comes to light. I wish there was more interaction with the mystical side of things, especially the gargoyles!

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This book has This book has the stereotypical YA plot line- Nerdy/ unpopular female character who is an overachiever. Check. Girl whose life does a complete 360 when she learns that everyone she has ever trusted/ cared about has lied to her? Check. Love triangle? Check. One of the boys being the

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all American apple pie kind of guy whereas the other is an outcast? Check. Girl falling for the boy who is immersed in the fantastical world/ the "dangerous" boy? Check.

But you know what? That didn't really bother me at all and I did quite enjoy the book. I think why I enjoyed this book so much was because Sarah incorporated all sorts of paranormal/ fantastical characters and the world that she created is really unique. Princeton University houses two campuses, the one in which the average person about, but the other which houses all things fantastical which only those fantastical individuals and the Princeton Knights (a group of people who have sworn to protect the regular Princeton residents from the fantastical individuals) know about. Sarah provides the reader with a ton of history about Princeton and it is extremely easy for the reader to fall into both worlds of Princeton.

Main character Lily was an extremely strong individual, she was always looking after her mother whose health was declining, she was extremely intelligent and whatnot, but I just felt like her personality wasn't as well developed as it could have been. It just seemed that she was entirely too obsessed with getting accepted to Princeton and that she was wearing blinders to everything else that was going on in her life. Though Tye's (boy # 1 of the love triangle) personality more than made up for Lily's. He was just such a cute character and totally swoon-worthy. I really liked his conviction when he came up to Lily and in a very serious-like manner said something along the lines of, "Oh by the way, not only am I your guard but I am also your soul-mate"- I mean, wouldn't that totally be awesome? As for Jake (boy # 2 of the love triangle)? It is really hard to feel any real connection with him. He is very much one of those characters that I don't feel is necessary to the plot at all.

All in all, I do think that the world in this book is unique book and I do think I continue on with this author/ potential series, but I do think that some people may find the stereotypical YA plot line somewhat repetitive.

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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

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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!

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The Scoop:

Lily Carter doesn't know there are two Princetons (as in Princeton University). Two Princetons that exist parallel to each other--one mystical, one normal. All it takes is one step through the FitzRandolph Gateway to get from one Princeton to the other. As long as you have "the key."

Lily

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and her mother travel with Lily's grandfather to his 50th class reunion. Upon her arrival she is given the option for early admission that is guaranteed without having to submit grades or SAT scores. All she must do is find the Ivy Key. First she must figure out what the Ivy Key is. With the help of the mysterious Tye and his tiger-striped hair and the blushing and beautiful Jake, Lily uncovers the meaning of the key and also her own magical background and the truth behind her father's death.

My Thoughts:

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book I couldn't help but compare the character of Lily and her story to Harry Potter and the HP book series. Like Harry, Lily escaped an attack by a magical creature only to lose her father who was killed saving her life from the Chained Dragon that attacked them. She was left with her mother and grandfather (both much nicer than Harry's aunt, uncle and cousin). Like Harry, instead of Lily and her mother living in the magical world that she was born in they hid out with Muggles . . . uh, humans, until Lily reached a certain age.

I also want to say how satisfying it is to read a stand-alone book that has a full conclusion to the story. I've been reading so many books that are a part of a series lately that I'm feeling a bit of cliffhanger-itis. As well as an overload of background story and non-essential, superfluous information. It was good to get a book where the background information and the action part of the story were woven together instead of taking up almost half of the first book in a series. I enjoyed the pace of the story and how it came to a completion.

That being said I didn't like that it left little time for developing the characters emotional connections. I could already tell that Lily had a strong connection to her mother and grandfather but the two guys--Tye and Jake--didn't get a fair shake in making a connection with Lily before all hell broke loose. They did show their strengths and how their relationship to Lily was beneficial but I didn't feel that swoon aspect (or emotional connection) that makes me want to root for one or the other. The relationships just sort of fell into place without any work or conflict. I think that this whole story took place in just a few days made any emotional connection a little unbelievable and hard to feel. (In her other book, Ice, the story took place on a long adventure and the two characters spent a lot of time together and you felt when and how their connection was growing.) And after a similar magical connection that I just read in Hourglass (I know, I know, that is part of a series but it still gave us somewhat of a conclusion at the end of the book so I'll count it--albeit reluctantly) I was a little disappointed that it was written the way it was. Overall, though, I have to say that it was a really good read and I would recommend it to those that enjoy a well-written, stand alone story about magical universes. The relationship issue that I had was well overshadowed by the exciting story and interesting concept.

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I honestly wasn't expecting this book to be as good as it was. The incorporation of many various magical creatures made this book completely different than any out there in young adult which made it all the more interesting. Lily's character development was done very well and the reader gets quite

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a bit of background for most of the other characters (i.e. Tye, Jake, her mom). I really enjoyed this and would look forward to reading another book by Sarah Beth Durst.

(Full review to come soon...I still have computer issues but as soon as I get it fixed, I'll go back an do my full reviews...SORRY!)

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Did Not Finish

This is one of those YA books that seems solely geared towards a younger audience. It was overly simple, fluffy, and saccharine for my tastes. The main protagonist Lily was sweet, innocent, and naive, which isn't always a bad thing, but it felt a bit heavy-handed in this book.

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Moreover, the plot was rather slow paced, and I found the main love interest to be a creepy, obsessive stalker (Note: Authors, please, enough with the insta-love predestined soulmate BS!).

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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

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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.

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I read Into the Wild, another of Sarah Beth Durst's books (not to be confused with Jon Krakauer's ode to being really stupid--aka cool--when hiking), in 2008. I wasn't super impressed (I didn't even read the sequel), but I still wanted to read this one and her other book, Ice. I love fantasy and

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fairy tales, which is her niche. Unfortunately, she still has yet to really engage me. This one was definitely preferable to Into the Wild, mostly because the protagonist is a bit older and easier for me to relate to. Also, the title is a pun, which you have to love. Enchanted Ivy, both because Princeton is an ivy league school with magic things running around and because there are some vines that are enchanted. Awesome.

There were three things that really kept me from connecting with Lily and the book:

1) Lily is too damn trusting. She never really suspects anyone until they openly admit that they are terrible people. She has a tendency to expect others to save her, which gets really frustrating. That's part of the growing she does in the progress of the novel, but it happens in such a way that I do not feel thrilled for her. Instead, I feel even more judgmental.

2) She manages to be a big flirt while claiming to be complete out of the league of the only two young males in the book. Cry moar. I mean, really.

3) Every time one of the characters touches her, she feels tingles. And it does get mentioned every single time. Except for that time where she sat behind him on a ride with her arms around him for a matter of minutes, so good consistency there. She attributes this tingly feeling not with her romantic feelings (certainly an improvement), but with the magic she senses within him. Well, that's great. Except that she has never noticed magic anywhere else through this same tingle, even in the other magical creatures she meets. What does this mean? Is Lily stupid or is all the powerful tingle of love?

Final verdict: just okay. A bit too cheesy and obvious to be particularly good, but interesting enough in spite of that to be readable.

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Great book for young adults, magical world meets princeton

A wonderful read.I love it.But somehow I guessed from the start who was the bad guy.I am not complaining though.It was still awesome,super-magical and full of twists.Everyone who likes adventure type fantasy,should read it.

Lily has always wanted to go to Princeton, her Grandpa's alma maters. So when she goes to Princeton with her Grandpa and mom for her Grandpa's reunion, her Grandpa surprises her with the legacy test – to find the Ivy Key. If she manages to find the key, she is automatically accepted into

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Princeton.

As she starts to find the Ivy Key she meets a strange boy, Tye, with orange and black hair who says he's her guard. Crazy things start happening, gargoyles move and talk to her, a rabid animal tries to hurt her, and bookshelves move on their own. Turns out there are two Princeton's, the real one, and the magical one. The key Lily needs to find is what will open up the gate to the magical Princeton. As Lily starts to uncover the secrets of Princeton she also uncovers who she really is all while in the middle of a battle.

Her Grandpa was part of a secret club in Princeton, called the Knights. They protect Princeton from the feeders. Feeders are magical creatures from the magical Princeton that are trapped in the real world and the only way they can survive is feeding off humans, which usually ends up fatal for the human.

I absolutely loved Ice by Sarah Beth Durst and was so excited when I heard she had another book coming out. I was a little scared that since I did like Ice so much that I wouldn't like this one as much, but I was not disappointed.

This story had so many turns in it, so many that I didn't see coming. Sometimes I would have an AHA! moment, but then find out that my AHA! moment was completely wrong. Lily got on my nerves a little but just by how stubborn she was being in the beginning. It took her forever to realize that the gargoyles were really talking to her and wasn't a microphone hidden anywhere.

I really loved that this was like a mystery. Lily didn't know who she could trust, what was real, and what was really going on. I also loved all the magical creatures, the dragons, unicorns, dryads, faeries, were-tigers, everything! So this book basically had everything I love in a story. The only thing I didn't like was that the magical Princeton wasn't described as much. It was only slightly touched on and I would have liked to learn more about it.

Overall I really love this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves a little mystery, magic, and battles.

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Lily Carter joins her grandfather and mother on a trip to Princeton for her granddad's reunion and learns that if she passes the "legacy test" she is assured entry into Princeton. What Lily also discovers during this test is that there are actually two Princetons, one in the human world and another

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in the magical world. Her grandfather is one of the "knights" sworn to secrecy to protect the campus and foster good relations with the magical creatures on the other side. However, there are dissenters on both sides of the gate...and a war is brewing. Pedestrian writing with an overuse of similies (everything is like something else!) which some readers may not notice. The two boys interested in one girl drama will entice some, as well as the "magical" element.

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