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Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow
(Nevermoor #1)
by
Enter the Wundrous world of Morrigan Crow and Nevermoor - the most fantastical children's release of the year.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 eleve
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Hardcover, 374 pages
Published
October 12th 2017
by Orion Childrens Books
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Cecilie Jøhnk
Agewise, I would say it is very Harry Potterish. Enjoyable for the aloud-reading grown-up, too.
Don Hinkelman
I am a 64 year old guy and it was interesting and magical for me. There is no age limit to this book.
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30

Start your review of Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1)

This book is absolutely enchanting. Nevermoor is an exciting fantasy tale full of magic, mischief, and wonder. I cannot recommend it enough!
Nevermoor is by far the ONLY book I have read that comes close to bringing me the feelings I have while reading Harry Potter. It remains creative and unique while instilling the same emotions, excitement (and fear) of one of the greatest children’s novels of all time. That being said, Nevermoor truly stands on it’s own as a spectacular middle grade adventure ...more
Nevermoor is by far the ONLY book I have read that comes close to bringing me the feelings I have while reading Harry Potter. It remains creative and unique while instilling the same emotions, excitement (and fear) of one of the greatest children’s novels of all time. That being said, Nevermoor truly stands on it’s own as a spectacular middle grade adventure ...more

Middle Grade is NOT my genre. I'm usually always disappointed but I keep trying just in case... and this book made it worth it! I mean... there's literally a giant talking cat!
I'll continue the series! ...more
I'll continue the series! ...more

me: i don't really like middle grade
Nevermoor: hi
me: talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before ...more
Nevermoor: hi
me: talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before ...more


“The point is—as far as the Society is concerned—if you are not honest, and determined, and brave, then it doesn’t matter how talented you are.”
Whenever people compare things to Harry Potter I immediately become wary of whatever they are comparing to it. I know this mostly comes from nostalgia, but still, I feel like saying something is “the next Harry Potter” is not only the highest praise, but also setting that thing up for the greatest fall. It took me a while to pick Nevermoor: T ...more

Middle of the road middle grade.
That best describes this reading experience for me, which was a huge bummer.
Someone I follow gushed about this book and how "magical" it was...and it just didn't live up to those expectations for me, sadly.
In fact, this read like a book that was trying too hard to be the next big movie franchise. A lot of the elements of the book felt very choppy and very clearly borrowed from other huge blockbusters, i.e., Harry Potter (obviously), The Hunger Games, Mary Poppins ...more
That best describes this reading experience for me, which was a huge bummer.
Someone I follow gushed about this book and how "magical" it was...and it just didn't live up to those expectations for me, sadly.
In fact, this read like a book that was trying too hard to be the next big movie franchise. A lot of the elements of the book felt very choppy and very clearly borrowed from other huge blockbusters, i.e., Harry Potter (obviously), The Hunger Games, Mary Poppins ...more


My thoughts in a nutshell
Awww! This was so adorable. I don't really enjoy middle-grade category because I always feel too old myself for that, but I didn't feel it with Nevermoor. Everyone compares this book to Harry Potter. Nevermoor is not Harry Potter. They have nothing to do with each other. Keep in mind!
The story is about…
Skip over this point if you don't like the sneak peek.
Morrigan, who is a "cursed" child. She travels to Nevermoor and she has to do four trials to become a member of Wu ...more

Feb 2021 reread:

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Original Feb 2018 review:
Ok, I'm gonna have to rethink my "I don't like middle grade" stance. This was beautiful and perfect and I need the next book ASAP. It's so creative and special and I just can't find enough nice things to say about it.
Booktube | Instagram | Twitter
...more

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Original Feb 2018 review:
Ok, I'm gonna have to rethink my "I don't like middle grade" stance. This was beautiful and perfect and I need the next book ASAP. It's so creative and special and I just can't find enough nice things to say about it.
Booktube | Instagram | Twitter
...more

What in the world...
Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow had garnered an exceeding amount of praise and recognition throughout news articles, catching my attention as well. From the film rights already sold to a 7-figure deal between major publishers and even being likened to Harry Potter (I mean no I didn't buy it of course, but c'mon don't we readers all get hopeful that the next big thing is finally here?) Nevermoor ignited so much buzz on the web that I had to see for m ...more
Jessica Townsend's Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow had garnered an exceeding amount of praise and recognition throughout news articles, catching my attention as well. From the film rights already sold to a 7-figure deal between major publishers and even being likened to Harry Potter (I mean no I didn't buy it of course, but c'mon don't we readers all get hopeful that the next big thing is finally here?) Nevermoor ignited so much buzz on the web that I had to see for m ...more

Actual rating: 4,5 stars
This was really good!
If you ask me, all the hype this book got was totally justified.
The novel is often compared to Harry Potter and I can see why (young chosen protagonist, villain who's name people are afraid to say out loud, magic), but still, those are two very different stories.
It's rare when book compels me from the prologue, and that was what happened with Nevermoor.
I lost myself in this magical world, but if I'm being honest, at times I was also lost.
I ascribe tha ...more
This was really good!
If you ask me, all the hype this book got was totally justified.
The novel is often compared to Harry Potter and I can see why (young chosen protagonist, villain who's name people are afraid to say out loud, magic), but still, those are two very different stories.
It's rare when book compels me from the prologue, and that was what happened with Nevermoor.
I lost myself in this magical world, but if I'm being honest, at times I was also lost.
I ascribe tha ...more

Oh my! That was *Magnificat! I mean Magnificent!
I realize that the below quote is quite long... But it sets the tone of this fantastic book! Enjoy!
Jupiter was gazing anxiously out the window now, a frown creasing his forehead. “You did actually sign the contract before you burned it, though,” he said without looking at her. “And who says you’re going to die? You don’t have to die if you don’t want to.”
Corvus slammed his fist on the table. “This is intolerable! Who do you think you are, waltzi ...more
I realize that the below quote is quite long... But it sets the tone of this fantastic book! Enjoy!
Jupiter was gazing anxiously out the window now, a frown creasing his forehead. “You did actually sign the contract before you burned it, though,” he said without looking at her. “And who says you’re going to die? You don’t have to die if you don’t want to.”
Corvus slammed his fist on the table. “This is intolerable! Who do you think you are, waltzi ...more

The Trials of Morrigan Crow is one of those middle grade children's books which is still perfectly readable by adults who like fantasy. I loved it.
Jessica Townsend introduces her magical world by saying little but showing lots - just the way it should be done. There's a wonderful talking cat and a hotel which creates itself according to the resident's needs and desires. There are dragons and dragon riders. There are witches and people who can perform amazing tasks. And there is much more!
All of ...more
Jessica Townsend introduces her magical world by saying little but showing lots - just the way it should be done. There's a wonderful talking cat and a hotel which creates itself according to the resident's needs and desires. There are dragons and dragon riders. There are witches and people who can perform amazing tasks. And there is much more!
All of ...more

Apr 10, 2018
Cass Burton
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorite-middle-grade
It will be a challenge to find many books that I love more than this one.

This is a wonderful story that sends you on a journey, quite like Harry Potter. I think that if I had read this as a child, I would’ve given it 5 stars. But reading it as an adult was very much like reading the first Harry Potter book (and probably also other fantasy children’s books I can’t think of now), which made me able to clearly predict and guess the storyline before it played out.
That being said, this was a wonderful story that contains everything that a children’s book should contain: ...more
That being said, this was a wonderful story that contains everything that a children’s book should contain: ...more

I LOVED this. It has everything I want in a middle grade book - magic, danger, humour - and a giant grumpy cat called Fenestra.
Morrigan Crow is a cursed child, the blame of every misfortune that happens within her home town. Heart attack? Morrigan’s fault because she asked after your health. Storm destroyed your house? Morrigan’s vault because she stated it was a nice day. Anything and everything considered unlucky is the result of Morrigan. And she’s also destined to die on her eleventh birthda ...more
Morrigan Crow is a cursed child, the blame of every misfortune that happens within her home town. Heart attack? Morrigan’s fault because she asked after your health. Storm destroyed your house? Morrigan’s vault because she stated it was a nice day. Anything and everything considered unlucky is the result of Morrigan. And she’s also destined to die on her eleventh birthda ...more

I enjoyed this book. I liked Morrigan as a character, she’s very charming. As always, there’s a villain and the good, and there are many messages while she’s going through the trials. The writing was quite good. Townsend made the story very exciting, very action packed. The world is described in detail that was very enjoyable to read. The side characters were even very well thought through.
If you’re going to pick up a middle grade book to enjoy your time and get lost in a magical world with a cu ...more
If you’re going to pick up a middle grade book to enjoy your time and get lost in a magical world with a cu ...more

This was fun to read! And it built really well toward the next book with a series of exciting mysteries. The world is especially vivid with cool magic.
It's interesting to see the ways that books like this work to build on Harry Potter's legacy while keeping things fresh. For me that also meant that it took a lot of the bad of HP with the good. There's a He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and people are described with negative bodily descriptions that I found mildly offensive. There's even a weird focus o ...more
It's interesting to see the ways that books like this work to build on Harry Potter's legacy while keeping things fresh. For me that also meant that it took a lot of the bad of HP with the good. There's a He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, and people are described with negative bodily descriptions that I found mildly offensive. There's even a weird focus o ...more

Nevermoor has been making great waves for a while now. Upon its release, came the inevitable comparisons to other commercially successful book series, as did the stories of bidding wars and movie rights, so I was keen to see what all the fuss was about, and having read it, I can confirm that it is truly and utterly brilliant.
Apparently, it took Jessica Townsend almost ten years to write and from very early on it’s evident that this is a book with tremendous scope, a story many years in the makin ...more
Apparently, it took Jessica Townsend almost ten years to write and from very early on it’s evident that this is a book with tremendous scope, a story many years in the makin ...more

I don't know why, but this book made me feel extremely nostalgic, and somehow I loved it. I cannot wait to get to the second book so I can be back in this world with all these amazing characters! (4.25)
p.s. I loved the way this book dealt with immigration, it absolutely broke my heart, but I think it's important to talk about the way immigrants are treated, and this book did that brilliantly
“Fasten your seat belt, Morrigan Crow. And whatever you do, don’t close your eyes.”
“What happens if I clos ...more
p.s. I loved the way this book dealt with immigration, it absolutely broke my heart, but I think it's important to talk about the way immigrants are treated, and this book did that brilliantly
“Fasten your seat belt, Morrigan Crow. And whatever you do, don’t close your eyes.”
“What happens if I clos ...more

Born as a cursed girl destined to die on the night of her eleventh birthday, Morrigan Crow was resigned to the fact that it was her fault whenever things went wrong. But as the hours crept toward midnight, Morrigan was rescued – whisked away in an unusual vehicle by a total stranger. Jupiter North was her saviour, and patron, and their arrival in Nevermoor, a magical place which had Morrigan enthralled, felt like a dream.
Hotel Deucalion was to be her home; it was where Jupiter lived – in fact he ...more
Hotel Deucalion was to be her home; it was where Jupiter lived – in fact he ...more

Yeah, this was brilliantly fun. I see why it's so often compared to Harry Potter, but it's unique in its own right and I really found it a fun story!
This follows Morrigan Crow, a young girl who is cursed and blamed for all of the problems that occur in her town. However, although Morrigan's life up until now hasn't been the best, she is trying to make the most of it because within a year Eventide is due to come and start a new Age and that means she's due to die.
Morrigan was a character I liked ...more
This follows Morrigan Crow, a young girl who is cursed and blamed for all of the problems that occur in her town. However, although Morrigan's life up until now hasn't been the best, she is trying to make the most of it because within a year Eventide is due to come and start a new Age and that means she's due to die.
Morrigan was a character I liked ...more

Highly readable and recapturing the feel of Harry Potter in an impressive manner, despite the sometimes over familiar feel
The point is—as far as the Society is concerned—if you are not honest, and determined, and brave, then it doesn’t matter how talented you are.
A combo of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass and Howl's Moving Castle.
The writing of Jessica Townsend is lovely imaginative and sucked me into the world of neglected half ...more
The point is—as far as the Society is concerned—if you are not honest, and determined, and brave, then it doesn’t matter how talented you are.
A combo of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass and Howl's Moving Castle.
The writing of Jessica Townsend is lovely imaginative and sucked me into the world of neglected half ...more

There is more than just a little of Harry Potter in this book and I still don't quite know what I think about that.
I love the world the author is creating, but those similarities make me uncomfortable. Having said that, The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a debut and I guess debut novels often reflect the author's influences.
And the story really is magical. I believe 20th Century Fox have snapped up the movie rights to it already after only one book. ...more
I love the world the author is creating, but those similarities make me uncomfortable. Having said that, The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a debut and I guess debut novels often reflect the author's influences.
And the story really is magical. I believe 20th Century Fox have snapped up the movie rights to it already after only one book. ...more

**5 OUTSTANDING, WELL-EARNED STARS** .
WOW. I feel speechless. I know I said this before about another book, but this is the best book I have read in 2019 so far. Each book I read this year is better than the last. It has been a long time since I entered a fantasy world as magical, charming, disarming, and unique as The Trials of Morrigan Crow.
The story follows a cursed young girl destined to die on her eleventh birthday, until she is swept up into Nevermoor, a magical, hidden realm. In Never ...more
WOW. I feel speechless. I know I said this before about another book, but this is the best book I have read in 2019 so far. Each book I read this year is better than the last. It has been a long time since I entered a fantasy world as magical, charming, disarming, and unique as The Trials of Morrigan Crow.
The story follows a cursed young girl destined to die on her eleventh birthday, until she is swept up into Nevermoor, a magical, hidden realm. In Never ...more

Feb 22, 2019
¸¸.•*¨*•♫ Mrs. Buttercup •*¨*•♫♪
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
owned,
2019-favorites
I am completely blown away by this book. The last time I read a children's book so marvelous for adults was when I read Harry potter. I really can't say more. I will get to the second one with very high expectations. Praise for Townsend!
...more
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Theme song opinions? | 1 | 2 | Apr 02, 2021 07:39AM | |
YA Buddy Readers'...: Nevermoor #1: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend - Restarting November 10th 2020 | 76 | 113 | Nov 30, 2020 11:33AM | |
Middle Grade Marv...: Middle Grade Marvels - June BOTM | 5 | 17 | Jun 02, 2020 05:29AM | |
The Lunar Book Club: Middle Grade: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow | 1 | 4 | May 21, 2020 03:32PM | |
Around the Year i...: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, by Jessica Townsend | 1 | 21 | Jun 16, 2019 10:51PM | |
The Literary Lane...: Let's Discuss: Nevermoor | 9 | 115 | Jun 06, 2019 03:52AM |
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“The point is—as far as the Society is concerned—if you are not honest, and determined, and brave, then it doesn’t matter how talented you are.”
—
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“Fenestra was silent for a while, and Morrigan thought she’d fallen asleep standing up. Then she felt something warm, wet, and sandpapery lick the entire right side of her face. She sniffled again, and Fen’s big gray head rubbed her shoulder affectionately. “Thanks, Fen,” Morrigan said quietly. She heard Fenestra padding softly to the door. “Fen?” “Mmm?” “Your saliva smells like sardines.” “Yeah, well. I’m a cat.” “Now my face smells like sardines.” “I don’t care. I’m a cat.” “Night, Fen.”
—
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