A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world–but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she’s blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks–and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It’s then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart–an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests–or she’ll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.
Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers
TL;DR of this review – Nevermoor was fantastic.
This summary doesn’t lie when it says fans of Harry Potter will enjoy. Nevermoor held the same kind of magic and mystery that Harry ever had.
After Croswald and Incorrigible Children, I have very high standards for my middle school literature. I expect to be just as captivated by the story and plot as I would be by any adult or YA novel. Jessica Townsend did not disappoint.
Nevermoor was filled with a vibrant, magical new world. With a mashing of magic and steampunk-esque qualities, the story telling was colorful and vibrant. The world had magic and mythical creatures galore, ranging from all kinds of origins and genres. This kind of mashup could be read as choppy by most. However, it read very smoothly, and really captivated me as I read.
The characters are wonderful as well! Mog was a defeated, depressed child at the beginning of the story, and I watched her character arc as she became what one would expect from a twelve year-old girl thrown into a different world. She was spunky, and hesitant, ever the skeptic. I loved her character, as she was written in a very realistic way, that even I – many years her senior – related to every one of her actions, and felt just as much invested in her story as someone her age would’ve.
Jessica Townsend managed to write a story that sparked my imagination in such a childlike, magical way. It was so ingenious, she should patent her methods.
Nevermoor was beautifully written, and I can’t praise it enough. Make sure to go check it out on U.S. its release – October 31st!
5 out of 5
Maddie