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Nevermoor #1
The Trials of Morrigan Crow
Morrigan Crow tahu dia akan mati saat berulang tahun ke-12, tepat pada hari Eventide. Seperti halnya anak-anak lain yang lahir pada tahun yang sama, dia dituduh sebagai penyebab semua kesialan di kotanya, dari kematian, cuaca buruk, kekalahan dalam lomba, sampai makanan basi. Namun, siapa sangka Eventide tiba satu tahun lebih cepat? Dan, siapa sangka pula, bukannya Maut, malah Jupiter North yang menjemputnya, membawa Morrigan kabur ke kota rahasia, Nevermoor. Sejenak, Morrigan merasa aman. Namun, itu hanya sementara, karena tantangan lainnya telah menanti. Sebagai penduduk ilegal, satu-satunya cara bagi Morrigan untuk tetap tinggal adalah menjadi anggota Wundrous Society. Hanya sembilan anak yang akan diterima di akademi bergengsi bagi anak-anak berbakat itu, jadi, bagaimana mungkin Morrigan bersaing dengan ratusan anak hebat lainnya saat dia sendiri bahkan tidak mengetahui kemampuan yang dia miliki? Morrigan hanya ingin terlepas dari kutukan Eventide. Dia hanya menginginkan tempat yang bisa disebutnya rumah, orang-orang yang bisa dianggapnya sahabat dan keluarga. Sebegitu sulitkah?
454 pages, Paperback
First published October 12, 2017
3314 people are currently reading
70669 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 11,462 reviews
August 10, 2018
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 that will leave you craving more every time you set the book down.
This is the perfect tale of sweet and thrilling. It features a high stakes competition that will keep you on the edge of your seat at every trial, while also focusing on the importance of friendship and believing in yourself. Morrigan is such a fantastic protagonist with endless complexities and loveable traits. It is a charming, developed world with a unique magic system and fascinating characters. There are so many twists and turns and unanticipated events that it’s hard not to love.
Additionally, the audiobook is PHENOMENAL. If you are an audiobook listener, you MUST consume this story in that format. Gemma Whelan takes this story to new heights with unique character voices, fantastic acting, and flawless execution. There’s also these whimsical little jingles that signal the end of the chapter which was a really nice touch. This novel has absolutely become one of my favorite audiobooks of all time.
My only small critique of the book is that I felt the chapters ended at odd times. Sometimes it felt as if it would stop mid-conversation/mid-scene and there were better breaking points a page or two into the next chapter. It was a slight distraction at some points but did not impact my overall enjoyment of the story.
Nevermoor has truly stolen my heart. I’m irrevocably in love with this series from the first installment and am anxiously awaiting the sequel. I would highly recommend to any reader of any age. This is a whimsical tale you will not want to miss.
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 that will leave you craving more every time you set the book down.
This is the perfect tale of sweet and thrilling. It features a high stakes competition that will keep you on the edge of your seat at every trial, while also focusing on the importance of friendship and believing in yourself. Morrigan is such a fantastic protagonist with endless complexities and loveable traits. It is a charming, developed world with a unique magic system and fascinating characters. There are so many twists and turns and unanticipated events that it’s hard not to love.
Additionally, the audiobook is PHENOMENAL. If you are an audiobook listener, you MUST consume this story in that format. Gemma Whelan takes this story to new heights with unique character voices, fantastic acting, and flawless execution. There’s also these whimsical little jingles that signal the end of the chapter which was a really nice touch. This novel has absolutely become one of my favorite audiobooks of all time.
My only small critique of the book is that I felt the chapters ended at odd times. Sometimes it felt as if it would stop mid-conversation/mid-scene and there were better breaking points a page or two into the next chapter. It was a slight distraction at some points but did not impact my overall enjoyment of the story.
Nevermoor has truly stolen my heart. I’m irrevocably in love with this series from the first installment and am anxiously awaiting the sequel. I would highly recommend to any reader of any age. This is a whimsical tale you will not want to miss.
March 5, 2018
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!
I'll continue the series!
April 4, 2017
Great. Now I have to wait with bated breath for my Hogwarts letter AND Wundrous Society invitation to arrive? One was hard enough, two is just unfair.
December 24, 2017
4.5/5
May 27, 2024
2020: 4,5
2021: i znów się spotykamy Morysiu… 5/5
2024: Niezmiennie kocham całym sercem. 5/5
2021: i znów się spotykamy Morysiu… 5/5
2024: Niezmiennie kocham całym sercem. 5/5
December 11, 2023
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
Nevermoor: hi
me: talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before
April 14, 2021
4.3 W swoim gatunku, absolutnie świetna
May 17, 2022
"Ooh, fairy floss."
"Don't be alarmed. I'm ginger."
How refreshing is it to be back on fantasy... especially after a few months of complete non-fiction. Nevermoor paved the way perfectly to what would hopefully be my mid-year fantasy streak. This is the kind of story that makes a reader compelled to read the entire book in one sitting. Thank you, Miche for the recommendation.
"Good morning, ladies, gentlemen, and Wunimals."
The curiosity-invoking beginning of the book is going to ensure that most of the readers would be hooked from page one, which was creatively oriented by the author using a couple of quick time jumps to enliven us. Then it was followed by a completely unexpected turn of events, which facilitated the recital of an amazing storyline. The character development is fantastic in my opinion, which I was not expecting from a book chiefly aimed at children. The 11-year-old protagonist, Morrigan Crow is a nicely balanced character, the kind that has much potential to grow in a myriad of ways depending on the author's imagination in future. But what's even better is the rest of the cast: it was not too many nor too few, but like the perfect amount for a first book of a series.
"I didn't make my first proper enemy until I was twelve."
Jessica Townsend's writing is quite captivating. It feels like driving on a smooth road without any bumps or potholes irrespective of the twists and turns you encounter all over (in fact, it was so good that as I'm writing this review, I'm already finished with book two!), while further enhancing it all with a perfect amount of humor. You get everything you expect from a first book in a series, in the same time having the assurance of knowing there are plenty of promising ways to take things forward.
"My own dragon? Are you mental? Whose parents can afford to buy them a dragon?"
Now, it may be not fair to make any comparisons (or notice similarities) between Nevermoor and Harry Potter, but if you're an HP fan, you're going to have to do it whether you like it or not: Both protagonists being the same age (11 years) when the story begins, despised by own family members, getting introduced to a magical world they didn't used to know of before, a 'magical school' where each learn new stuff while getting acquainted with the remainder of the society, and a legendary villain who is tied to the protagonist from the very beginning are all going to cause many comparisons. Usually, these kinds of similarities would've bothered me (at least to some extent), but, surprisingly, I have not had any such issues here. If anything, it just made me engaged more with all the characters and events.
"First impressions are important."
And sure enough, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow made an excellent first impression! Can't recommend enough!!
"Family. Belonging. Friendships to last a lifetime."
WELCOME TO NEVERMOOR!
"Don't be alarmed. I'm ginger."
How refreshing is it to be back on fantasy... especially after a few months of complete non-fiction. Nevermoor paved the way perfectly to what would hopefully be my mid-year fantasy streak. This is the kind of story that makes a reader compelled to read the entire book in one sitting. Thank you, Miche for the recommendation.
"Good morning, ladies, gentlemen, and Wunimals."
The curiosity-invoking beginning of the book is going to ensure that most of the readers would be hooked from page one, which was creatively oriented by the author using a couple of quick time jumps to enliven us. Then it was followed by a completely unexpected turn of events, which facilitated the recital of an amazing storyline. The character development is fantastic in my opinion, which I was not expecting from a book chiefly aimed at children. The 11-year-old protagonist, Morrigan Crow is a nicely balanced character, the kind that has much potential to grow in a myriad of ways depending on the author's imagination in future. But what's even better is the rest of the cast: it was not too many nor too few, but like the perfect amount for a first book of a series.
"I didn't make my first proper enemy until I was twelve."
Jessica Townsend's writing is quite captivating. It feels like driving on a smooth road without any bumps or potholes irrespective of the twists and turns you encounter all over (in fact, it was so good that as I'm writing this review, I'm already finished with book two!), while further enhancing it all with a perfect amount of humor. You get everything you expect from a first book in a series, in the same time having the assurance of knowing there are plenty of promising ways to take things forward.
"My own dragon? Are you mental? Whose parents can afford to buy them a dragon?"
Now, it may be not fair to make any comparisons (or notice similarities) between Nevermoor and Harry Potter, but if you're an HP fan, you're going to have to do it whether you like it or not: Both protagonists being the same age (11 years) when the story begins, despised by own family members, getting introduced to a magical world they didn't used to know of before, a 'magical school' where each learn new stuff while getting acquainted with the remainder of the society, and a legendary villain who is tied to the protagonist from the very beginning are all going to cause many comparisons. Usually, these kinds of similarities would've bothered me (at least to some extent), but, surprisingly, I have not had any such issues here. If anything, it just made me engaged more with all the characters and events.
"First impressions are important."
And sure enough, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow made an excellent first impression! Can't recommend enough!!
"Family. Belonging. Friendships to last a lifetime."
February 6, 2023
“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.”
This book stars a young girl named Morrigan Crow, who has lived her life feeling unwanted by a family who believes her to be cursed. And this curse has also lead everyone, including Morrigan, to believe that she will die on her eleventh birthday. That is, until Jupiter North comes with an invitation to compete to join the Wundrous Society.
Each year, kids compete to enter this exclusive Society, with the help of a sponsor. And all the children have different knacks, AKA: talents, which range from being able to grow hair on a whim, to being able to ride dragons, to being practically invisible, the possibilities are honestly endless. And Jupiter North has never taken a protégée under his wing, until Morrigan. So, everyone is wondering and assuming that she must have a talent unlike anyone has ever seen, but Morrigan doesn’t even know what special powers she possesses.
But to even get into the Wundrous Society, Morrigan must complete each of the four trials. And all the trials are so very different, and so very unique, and such a dang treat to read. The trials were truly my favorite scenes in this book. And that’s saying a lot, because we have a giant, talking cat who is sassy and perfect. And a hotel, where Morrigan stays, with such an amazing cast of characters. And the Christmas scene and competition in this book? Honestly perfection. I truly did love this story with my whole heart.
This book is such a love letter to found families. And I think this book could change so many lives of so many kids out there that feel so unwanted, when in reality they are so very wanted and the family we choose will always be greater than the family we are born into. This is something that took me a long while to figure out myself, but blood will always be just that – blood. Hell, every one out of fifteen people walking around Vegas are likely to have my blood type, and that’s all my blood has to say about me. Yes, this book is whimsical, and fun, but I also think it’s important. And my heart is so very happy just thinking about the message that will touch so many kids picking this book up.
And this book has such an overwhelming message about how we can truly be anything we want to be. That good and bad are in all of us, and as long as you’re striving to do good, you can be good, no matter your past, and no matter who tells you otherwise.
Overall, I can honestly say that each time I opened this book up that I experienced pure joy. From the messages, to the writing, to this fantastic story in general. There is so much to love about this book. If you are on the fence, please pick this one up. It’s honestly such a bright shining light in middle grade. And I cannot wait to see what comes next in Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow!
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Trigger and content warnings for emotionally abusive parents and abandonment.
Buddy read with Sue & Lourdes! ❤
Readalong for the BooktubeSFF Awards! ❤
July 31, 2022
I didn’t love it like I did on this reread so I’m unhauling all three books I own in hardback. I haven’t even read the other two. It’s all good 😉
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
June 26, 2020
This was SO GOOD. It’s no surprise that I’m not much of a fantasy or middle grade reader but I still found this to be absolutely charming
August 17, 2018
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 and The Wizard of Oz, to name just a few.
Full disclosure, though: the fact that I read this on the heels of my FIRST read of Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (my first read of the HP series ever in general) probably didn't help matters any.
All that said, while the story didn't blow me away, I DID enjoy it well enough. The main character, Morrigan, read pretty flat for me this go-round; but, I really liked Jupiter North and Hawthorne Swift and I will still read the next one to find out what happens.
And who knows, maybe I will like this better upon a second read when I'm prepping for book two.
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 and The Wizard of Oz, to name just a few.
Full disclosure, though: the fact that I read this on the heels of my FIRST read of Harry Potter and the Prizoner of Azkaban (my first read of the HP series ever in general) probably didn't help matters any.
All that said, while the story didn't blow me away, I DID enjoy it well enough. The main character, Morrigan, read pretty flat for me this go-round; but, I really liked Jupiter North and Hawthorne Swift and I will still read the next one to find out what happens.
And who knows, maybe I will like this better upon a second read when I'm prepping for book two.
July 17, 2019
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 Wundrous Society.
What impressed me
Nevermoor is such a fascinating and imaginative read. I adored the whole world-building, it was so magical and whimsical.
If something terrible happened, society blamed Morrigan because she is a cursed girl. So, the book started with Morrigan's apologies letters. I laughed so much about that.
I loved the characterization of this novel. Every character has a personality even though it is a middle-grade book!
Morrigan is a brave, intelligent little girl. I liked her temperament. She is an excellent protagonist.
I don't know why, but I thought through the book that Jupiter is a woman. I saw that he is a gentleman, but my brain kept telling me he is a she. LOL. It makes no sense, I know.
Anyway, he was my absolute favorite person. His attitude and humor worked for me perfectly.
I enjoyed the trials. All were interesting and exciting, but my favorite was the first one, the talking paper. I want the same exam method at my school.
Nevermoor's most powerful point is the writing style. Jessica Townsend is a talented storyteller. I admire how fluent and fabulous her book is.
The ending was predictable, but I still enjoy it. I will probably read the second and third book.
I listened to the audiobook version, the narrator did a fantastic job. Her voice brought the story to life.
What I don't like
It was a bit long. I felt some part was over-written and I noticed I started to feel some boredom. This is just a personal opinion. I'm starting to get bored soon if the book is too repetitive.
Make a conclusion
Overall, Nevermoor is a real page-turner. I highly recommend it to young and adult as well. It is an utterly delightful and lighthearted read for the summer. I gave it a strong 4 stars.
October 18, 2018
This took me literally no time at all because this story is SO. GOOD. This world is the most unique thing I’ve read in a very long time, and the whole thing was filled with so many twists and turns and surprises I was left on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE. TIME. I need the next one NOW. NOOOWWWWW.
November 7, 2017
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 myself if this novel was worth the hype.
Most unfortunately, it wasn't. Not even close to it.
How to describe Nevermoor? A mash-up of Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, and Hotel Transylvania. I use the Harry Potter card carefully. It is not thrilling, sophisticated, and creative as Harry Potter. I say Harry Potter only because there were similar aspects like how Morrigan is a "cursed child" and grows up being very lonely and feared/hated by others. And there are plenty of other scenes that are reminiscent of Harry Potter, which isn't a bad thing, but only is if it feels redundant and unoriginal. Now, I say Marry Poppins because Jupiter North is Marry Poppins much in masculine form. Period. And lastly, I say Hotel Transylvania because Halloweenish characters appear throughout the novel.
I cannot express enough how utterly disappointed I am. Nevermoor did not wow me, amaze me, entertain me, impress me, or even amuse me. It did not do the very thing news articles, Goodreads reviewers, and blurbs relentlessly promised: to wow me and us readers. It was a long, jarring flop.
Morrigan Crow was one dimensional. She always feels like the background, experiencing everything from afar and not keen to make her own decisions nor ask questions when she needs to. She's not independent nor strong-minded. Jupiter North once again is Mary Poppins. Eccentric, warm hearted, and a mentor to Morrigan. Now, the story lacks conflict and tension. And I've seen and loved plenty of children's novels that have those essential aspects. So the whole book from beginning to end felt like a long, exhausting, and taxing read. It literally drained the energy out of me.
The writing wasn't anything special. I believe the writer doesn't know how to write figuratively. It was extremely dry, plain and unoriginal. It didn't help that the main character was almost always in a drab and gloomy mood. Another issue about this book is that the relative location of the characters in a scene isn't described thoroughly. For example, there was a scene where Morrigan went into the elevator with Jupiter, but all of a sudden there were a bunch of people with them and Martha the maid was there. And this happened consistently. Or supporting characters were not described very thoroughly in detail like their physical appearance and personalities. And they felt like placeholders, not unique or charming in any way. It was sometimes very frustrating.
Another biggie problem was how the conflicts were solved. Goodness! Trial after trial, Morrigan smoothly passed through all including the climax of the novel by slim needle hole of luck that she'll easily pass through. It was strange and upsetting. None of it felt believable. It didn't support or enrich Morrigan's character. Because she slipped through so easy in all of these "daring and difficult" trials and other conflicts, the conflicts didn't feel like conflicts at all.
Overall, this novel did not meet up with all the hype. It's actually really mediocre. I still cannot understand how so much praise was given to this novel. There wasn't a deep meaning or theme within the book that could outshine the slow paced, dull plot. This is just a typical children's novel that is easily forgotten.
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 myself if this novel was worth the hype.
Most unfortunately, it wasn't. Not even close to it.
How to describe Nevermoor? A mash-up of Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, and Hotel Transylvania. I use the Harry Potter card carefully. It is not thrilling, sophisticated, and creative as Harry Potter. I say Harry Potter only because there were similar aspects like how Morrigan is a "cursed child" and grows up being very lonely and feared/hated by others. And there are plenty of other scenes that are reminiscent of Harry Potter, which isn't a bad thing, but only is if it feels redundant and unoriginal. Now, I say Marry Poppins because Jupiter North is Marry Poppins much in masculine form. Period. And lastly, I say Hotel Transylvania because Halloweenish characters appear throughout the novel.
I cannot express enough how utterly disappointed I am. Nevermoor did not wow me, amaze me, entertain me, impress me, or even amuse me. It did not do the very thing news articles, Goodreads reviewers, and blurbs relentlessly promised: to wow me and us readers. It was a long, jarring flop.
Morrigan Crow was one dimensional. She always feels like the background, experiencing everything from afar and not keen to make her own decisions nor ask questions when she needs to. She's not independent nor strong-minded. Jupiter North once again is Mary Poppins. Eccentric, warm hearted, and a mentor to Morrigan. Now, the story lacks conflict and tension. And I've seen and loved plenty of children's novels that have those essential aspects. So the whole book from beginning to end felt like a long, exhausting, and taxing read. It literally drained the energy out of me.
The writing wasn't anything special. I believe the writer doesn't know how to write figuratively. It was extremely dry, plain and unoriginal. It didn't help that the main character was almost always in a drab and gloomy mood. Another issue about this book is that the relative location of the characters in a scene isn't described thoroughly. For example, there was a scene where Morrigan went into the elevator with Jupiter, but all of a sudden there were a bunch of people with them and Martha the maid was there. And this happened consistently. Or supporting characters were not described very thoroughly in detail like their physical appearance and personalities. And they felt like placeholders, not unique or charming in any way. It was sometimes very frustrating.
Another biggie problem was how the conflicts were solved. Goodness! Trial after trial, Morrigan smoothly passed through all including the climax of the novel by slim needle hole of luck that she'll easily pass through. It was strange and upsetting. None of it felt believable. It didn't support or enrich Morrigan's character. Because she slipped through so easy in all of these "daring and difficult" trials and other conflicts, the conflicts didn't feel like conflicts at all.
Overall, this novel did not meet up with all the hype. It's actually really mediocre. I still cannot understand how so much praise was given to this novel. There wasn't a deep meaning or theme within the book that could outshine the slow paced, dull plot. This is just a typical children's novel that is easily forgotten.
September 1, 2018
What a fun middle grade read!! I don’t read of this genre & I am kicking myself for not! This was so whimsical & just downright fun!!
☂️
☁️
I would highly recommend if your looking for a fun read!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
☂️
☁️
I would highly recommend if your looking for a fun read!
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 12, 2021
Oh man this was so charming and so much fun! I loved the world, the characters, and all the twists and turns. Definitely a new favorite series.
January 29, 2023
TW: bullying
This is a delightful middle grade book about a young girl who gets swept up into magical society after thinking she’s been cursed all her life. It’s whimsical and has an eccentric cast of characters that are easy to love. I will be continuing on with this series for sure.
This is a delightful middle grade book about a young girl who gets swept up into magical society after thinking she’s been cursed all her life. It’s whimsical and has an eccentric cast of characters that are easy to love. I will be continuing on with this series for sure.
August 16, 2020
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 that to the fact that English is not my first language, and I am still exploring fantasy. Since this is aimed to middle graders, I think it will be easy to follow to most readers, if not everyone.
I loved Morrigan as a main character, but I also enjoyed reading about all of her friends.
My favourite was Fenestra, the giant cat, and I wish I could have one for myself.
If only one of my cats could became a magical creature similar to her (but not GiGi because he would be dangerous!).
I loved The Trials of Morrigan Crow so much that I plan to visit a bookstore by the end of this week to buy myself a sequel!
I highly recommend this one to all middle graders and adults who enjoyed Harry Potter, but want to read something original.
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 that to the fact that English is not my first language, and I am still exploring fantasy. Since this is aimed to middle graders, I think it will be easy to follow to most readers, if not everyone.
I loved Morrigan as a main character, but I also enjoyed reading about all of her friends.
My favourite was Fenestra, the giant cat, and I wish I could have one for myself.
If only one of my cats could became a magical creature similar to her (but not GiGi because he would be dangerous!).
I loved The Trials of Morrigan Crow so much that I plan to visit a bookstore by the end of this week to buy myself a sequel!
I highly recommend this one to all middle graders and adults who enjoyed Harry Potter, but want to read something original.
February 20, 2018
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 the characters are delightful especially Jupiter and Hawthorne. Morrigan Crow herself shows tremendous promise of good things to come in future books. The story is excellent and is complete in this book but with plenty of hints about what is to come.
And all of this was well written, nicely paced and thoroughly enjoyable. Five stars for this first episode in the series and I look forward to much 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 the characters are delightful especially Jupiter and Hawthorne. Morrigan Crow herself shows tremendous promise of good things to come in future books. The story is excellent and is complete in this book but with plenty of hints about what is to come.
And all of this was well written, nicely paced and thoroughly enjoyable. Five stars for this first episode in the series and I look forward to much more.
Read
February 26, 2020Oh 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, waltzing into my home and upsetting my family with this nonsense?”
“I told you who I am.” Jupiter spoke patiently, as if to a senseless child. “My name is Jupiter North.”
“And I am Corvus Crow, the state chancellor of Great Wolfacre and a ranked member of the Wintersea Party,” said Corvus, puffing up his chest. He was on a roll now. “I demand that you go at once, and allow me to mourn the death of my daughter in peace.”
“Mourn the death of your daughter?” echoed Jupiter. He took two deliberate steps toward Corvus and paused, his eyes glittering. The hairs on Morrigan’s arms stood up. Jupiter’s voice dropped an entire octave, and he spoke with a cold, quiet anger that was terrible to behold. “Can you possibly mean the daughter standing right in front of you? The one who is demonstrably, superbly, brilliantly alive?”
Corvus sputtered and pointed to the clock on the wall, his hand shaking with outrage. “Well, give it a few hours!”
Morrigan felt something squeeze in her chest, and she wasn’t sure why. She’d always known she was going to die on Eventide. Her father and grandmother had never kept it secret. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Corvus was so resigned to her fate, but Morrigan suddenly realized that to him, she might as well be dead already. Perhaps in his heart she’d been dead for years.
“Morrigan,” said Jupiter, in a voice very different from the one he’d just used on her father, “don’t you want to live?”
Morrigan flinched. What sort of a question was that? “It doesn’t matter what I want.”
“It does,” he insisted. “It matters so very, very much. Right now it’s the only thing that matters.”
Her eyes flicked from her father to her grandmother to her stepmother. They all watched her intently, uneasily, as if seeing her properly for the first time. “Of course I want to live,” she said quietly. It was the first time she’d ever spoken the words aloud. The tightness in her chest eased a little.
“Good choice.” Jupiter smiled; the cloud disappeared from his face as quickly as it had arrived. He turned back to the window. “Death is boring. Life is much more fun. Things happen in life all the time. Unexpected things. Things you couldn’t possibly expect because they’re so very… unexpected.”
He stepped backward, inching away from the window and reaching blindly for Morrigan, fumbling to take her hand. “For instance, I bet you didn’t expect your so-called death to arrive three hours early.”
Morrigan felt something powdery land on her face. Wiping it away, she looked up to see the light fixtures shaking and cracks appearing in the plaster. The lightbulbs stuttered and buzzed. The windows began to rattle. There was a faint smell of burning.
“What’s that?” She squeezed his hand automatically. “What’s happening?”
Jupiter leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Do you trust me?”
She answered without thinking. “Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“All right.” He looked her in the eye. The floor trembled beneath their feet. “I’m going to take that curtain down in a moment. But whatever you see out there, you mustn’t be afraid. They can tell when you’re afraid.”
Morrigan swallowed. “They?”
“Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine. Yes? No fear.”
“No fear,” repeated Morrigan. Meanwhile, fear had set up camp in her stomach and was having a festival. A Ferris wheel of fear spun idly in her abdomen. Dancing circus elephants of fear somersaulted through her intestinal tract.
“What the devil are you talking about over there?” said Grandmother. “What’s he saying to you, Morrigan? I demand to—”
In a rush of sudden movement Jupiter pulled a handful of silver dust from his pocket and blew it toward Corvus, Ivy, and Grandmother like a cloudy, starry kiss, then leapt up to the window and ripped down the curtain, dropping it in a crumpled, messy pile in the middle of the floor.
He stood back to gaze at his handiwork and shook his head slowly, mournfully. “I am so sorry. How tragic to have lost her so young.” Corvus frowned and blinked, looking unsure. His eyes were glassy. “Tragic?”
“Mmm,” said Jupiter. He threw an arm around Corvus’s shoulders and led him closer to the pile of fabric. “Dear, dear Morrigan. So full of life. So much to share with the world. But taken! Taken too soon.”
“Too soon.” Corvus nodded in shell-shocked agreement. “Much too soon.”
Jupiter put his other arm around Ivy and drew her into his chest. “You mustn’t blame yourselves. Although you could a bit, if you wanted to.” He winked at Morrigan, who felt a small, hysterical laugh working its way up out of her throat. Did they really believe that curtain was her, lying dead on the floor? She was standing right in front of them!
“She looks so small.” Ivy sniffed and drew her sleeve across her nose. “So small and thin.”
“Yes,” said Jupiter. “Almost as if she were… made of fabric.”
Morrigan snorted, but the Crows made no sign that they’d heard her.
“I’ll leave you to make the necessary arrangements. You’ll need to prepare a statement for the press, Chancellor. But before I go, may I suggest a closed casket for the funeral? Open caskets are so tacky.”
“Yes,” said Grandmother, gazing down at curtain-Morrigan. “Indeed. Quite tacky.”
“What did you do?” Morrigan whispered to Jupiter. “What was that silver stuff?”
“Highly illegal. Pretend you didn’t see it.”
The light fixture swung violently, casting shadows across the room. An unmistakable smell of woodsmoke filled the air. The floor began to shake again, and in the distance Morrigan heard something like heavy rain or rolling thunder or—was it—hoofbeats?
She turned to the window and felt a hot, prickling fear all the way down her spine. Panic rose like bile in her throat. She could see it. She could see her death coming.
********
The audiobook edition of The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a difficult book to put into words as I loved every minute of it. Until it ended that is. 🙁
So my review is brief but I think it get right down to the heart of my thoughts.
In short, the dynamic combination of Jessica Townsend's unbelievably glorious debut and the phenomenal narrative performance of Gemma Whelan creates a stunning and absolutely magnificent listen! The story jumps off the pages into living color and tangible reality!
The *Magnificat I mentioned is one of my favorite characters!
It's a collosal rollercoaster ride full of a range of emotions that will send listeners into hours of exciting entertainment! Loaded with amusing, hilarious, and uplifting fun that made me laugh out loud along with perilous adventures that bring fear, dread, and uncertainty that gave me goosebumps.
And, of course, there's the teasing cliffhanger of what will be happen next in Morrigan's future.
I loved and adored this audiobook!
Do give it a listen! YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!
When I listened to this the first two times I read book two, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, as it wasn't available on audiobook. However, just a few days ago I searched again and discovered that there IS an audiobook edition AVAILABLE NOW! Even more exciting is that it is, once again, performed by Gemma Whelan! Stay tuned for my review of the second installment! I've already started listening to it even before I wrote this review! And now there will be the release of book three, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow, in August, 2020. Sadly I can't find an audiobook but I'm not bothered about it as the Nevermoor/Morrigan Crow series is an absolute favorite of mine and I'm excited to read it!
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, waltzing into my home and upsetting my family with this nonsense?”
“I told you who I am.” Jupiter spoke patiently, as if to a senseless child. “My name is Jupiter North.”
“And I am Corvus Crow, the state chancellor of Great Wolfacre and a ranked member of the Wintersea Party,” said Corvus, puffing up his chest. He was on a roll now. “I demand that you go at once, and allow me to mourn the death of my daughter in peace.”
“Mourn the death of your daughter?” echoed Jupiter. He took two deliberate steps toward Corvus and paused, his eyes glittering. The hairs on Morrigan’s arms stood up. Jupiter’s voice dropped an entire octave, and he spoke with a cold, quiet anger that was terrible to behold. “Can you possibly mean the daughter standing right in front of you? The one who is demonstrably, superbly, brilliantly alive?”
Corvus sputtered and pointed to the clock on the wall, his hand shaking with outrage. “Well, give it a few hours!”
Morrigan felt something squeeze in her chest, and she wasn’t sure why. She’d always known she was going to die on Eventide. Her father and grandmother had never kept it secret. It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Corvus was so resigned to her fate, but Morrigan suddenly realized that to him, she might as well be dead already. Perhaps in his heart she’d been dead for years.
“Morrigan,” said Jupiter, in a voice very different from the one he’d just used on her father, “don’t you want to live?”
Morrigan flinched. What sort of a question was that? “It doesn’t matter what I want.”
“It does,” he insisted. “It matters so very, very much. Right now it’s the only thing that matters.”
Her eyes flicked from her father to her grandmother to her stepmother. They all watched her intently, uneasily, as if seeing her properly for the first time. “Of course I want to live,” she said quietly. It was the first time she’d ever spoken the words aloud. The tightness in her chest eased a little.
“Good choice.” Jupiter smiled; the cloud disappeared from his face as quickly as it had arrived. He turned back to the window. “Death is boring. Life is much more fun. Things happen in life all the time. Unexpected things. Things you couldn’t possibly expect because they’re so very… unexpected.”
He stepped backward, inching away from the window and reaching blindly for Morrigan, fumbling to take her hand. “For instance, I bet you didn’t expect your so-called death to arrive three hours early.”
Morrigan felt something powdery land on her face. Wiping it away, she looked up to see the light fixtures shaking and cracks appearing in the plaster. The lightbulbs stuttered and buzzed. The windows began to rattle. There was a faint smell of burning.
“What’s that?” She squeezed his hand automatically. “What’s happening?”
Jupiter leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Do you trust me?”
She answered without thinking. “Yes.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“All right.” He looked her in the eye. The floor trembled beneath their feet. “I’m going to take that curtain down in a moment. But whatever you see out there, you mustn’t be afraid. They can tell when you’re afraid.”
Morrigan swallowed. “They?”
“Just follow my lead and you’ll be fine. Yes? No fear.”
“No fear,” repeated Morrigan. Meanwhile, fear had set up camp in her stomach and was having a festival. A Ferris wheel of fear spun idly in her abdomen. Dancing circus elephants of fear somersaulted through her intestinal tract.
“What the devil are you talking about over there?” said Grandmother. “What’s he saying to you, Morrigan? I demand to—”
In a rush of sudden movement Jupiter pulled a handful of silver dust from his pocket and blew it toward Corvus, Ivy, and Grandmother like a cloudy, starry kiss, then leapt up to the window and ripped down the curtain, dropping it in a crumpled, messy pile in the middle of the floor.
He stood back to gaze at his handiwork and shook his head slowly, mournfully. “I am so sorry. How tragic to have lost her so young.” Corvus frowned and blinked, looking unsure. His eyes were glassy. “Tragic?”
“Mmm,” said Jupiter. He threw an arm around Corvus’s shoulders and led him closer to the pile of fabric. “Dear, dear Morrigan. So full of life. So much to share with the world. But taken! Taken too soon.”
“Too soon.” Corvus nodded in shell-shocked agreement. “Much too soon.”
Jupiter put his other arm around Ivy and drew her into his chest. “You mustn’t blame yourselves. Although you could a bit, if you wanted to.” He winked at Morrigan, who felt a small, hysterical laugh working its way up out of her throat. Did they really believe that curtain was her, lying dead on the floor? She was standing right in front of them!
“She looks so small.” Ivy sniffed and drew her sleeve across her nose. “So small and thin.”
“Yes,” said Jupiter. “Almost as if she were… made of fabric.”
Morrigan snorted, but the Crows made no sign that they’d heard her.
“I’ll leave you to make the necessary arrangements. You’ll need to prepare a statement for the press, Chancellor. But before I go, may I suggest a closed casket for the funeral? Open caskets are so tacky.”
“Yes,” said Grandmother, gazing down at curtain-Morrigan. “Indeed. Quite tacky.”
“What did you do?” Morrigan whispered to Jupiter. “What was that silver stuff?”
“Highly illegal. Pretend you didn’t see it.”
The light fixture swung violently, casting shadows across the room. An unmistakable smell of woodsmoke filled the air. The floor began to shake again, and in the distance Morrigan heard something like heavy rain or rolling thunder or—was it—hoofbeats?
She turned to the window and felt a hot, prickling fear all the way down her spine. Panic rose like bile in her throat. She could see it. She could see her death coming.
********
The audiobook edition of The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a difficult book to put into words as I loved every minute of it. Until it ended that is. 🙁
So my review is brief but I think it get right down to the heart of my thoughts.
In short, the dynamic combination of Jessica Townsend's unbelievably glorious debut and the phenomenal narrative performance of Gemma Whelan creates a stunning and absolutely magnificent listen! The story jumps off the pages into living color and tangible reality!
The *Magnificat I mentioned is one of my favorite characters!
It's a collosal rollercoaster ride full of a range of emotions that will send listeners into hours of exciting entertainment! Loaded with amusing, hilarious, and uplifting fun that made me laugh out loud along with perilous adventures that bring fear, dread, and uncertainty that gave me goosebumps.
And, of course, there's the teasing cliffhanger of what will be happen next in Morrigan's future.
I loved and adored this audiobook!
Do give it a listen! YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED!
When I listened to this the first two times I read book two, Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, as it wasn't available on audiobook. However, just a few days ago I searched again and discovered that there IS an audiobook edition AVAILABLE NOW! Even more exciting is that it is, once again, performed by Gemma Whelan! Stay tuned for my review of the second installment! I've already started listening to it even before I wrote this review! And now there will be the release of book three, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow, in August, 2020. Sadly I can't find an audiobook but I'm not bothered about it as the Nevermoor/Morrigan Crow series is an absolute favorite of mine and I'm excited to read it!
July 6, 2025
It will be a challenge to find many books that I love more than this one.
July 15, 2018
Nope. The girl gets blamed for the most stupid things ever. This makes the premise completely unbelievable and the book not worth reading.
Why would the children be made to read this? In order to damage their potential for logical thinking or something?
DNF.
Why would the children be made to read this? In order to damage their potential for logical thinking or something?
DNF.
June 2, 2025
Reread 2025: Still one of the best children's books I've read over the last 15 years or so. I just wish we didn't have to wait so long between installments because I love this world.
Original review: 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 birthday. Worded luck ever. Until at the stroke of midnight on Eventide she’s whisked away by a ginger bearded man called Jupiter North into the magical Free State of Nevermoor. Here, she’s told she’s to be Jupiter’s sponsor to the Wunder Society. A society that accepts a handful of pupils each year. Pupils who are extraordinary. But Morrigan’s nothing but a cursed child. Or so she thinks.
I loved Morrigan. Her upbringing as a cursed child has led to her being incredibly self deprecating and full of woe at times, which blends well with the more outgoing personalities she meets in Nevermoor. She lacks confidence and constantly undermines herself, making her instantly endearing and likeable. I could relate to her a lot, and found her multi faceted and complex in nature. Combine this with the mystery surrounding who Morrigan really is, and why Jupiter wants her in Nevermoor, and I was completely invested in her story.
The secondary characters are also full fleshed and wonderful. Jupiter North is instantly warm and welcoming to Morrigan, a pillar of friendliness and kindness that Morrigan hasn’t experienced before. Yes, he keep secrets from her which at times I found infuriating, but his reasonings behind it are understandable. The other characters we see in the hotel Deucalion are all a hodgepodge of eclectic, exciting, colourful creations - ranging from a Vampire Dwarf, an opera singer and (my favourite) Fenestra the Magnificat. She’s grumpy, competitive and a previous cage fighter. Never did I realise I needed such a character in my life, but I did. Together they make a wonderful found family, and I loved them all - the hotel itself included, which feels like a character in itself.
The writing is wonderful too. It’s full of humour and warmth that lights up the pages and makes the story feel even more magical than it is. There’s mystery and magical trials, adventures, zombies and races, all wrapped up with snippets of history about Nevermoor itself to help sustain and support the readers view of this world. It’s fast paced, but it doesn’t compromise on character development either, building up this wonderful story that hurtles full throttle to the end and a satisfying conclusion that also leaves it open for the series to continue.
Honestly, this was the best middle grade book I’ve read this year. If not in the last couple of year. Highly, highly recommend and I can’t wait to read the next one.
Original review: 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 birthday. Worded luck ever. Until at the stroke of midnight on Eventide she’s whisked away by a ginger bearded man called Jupiter North into the magical Free State of Nevermoor. Here, she’s told she’s to be Jupiter’s sponsor to the Wunder Society. A society that accepts a handful of pupils each year. Pupils who are extraordinary. But Morrigan’s nothing but a cursed child. Or so she thinks.
I loved Morrigan. Her upbringing as a cursed child has led to her being incredibly self deprecating and full of woe at times, which blends well with the more outgoing personalities she meets in Nevermoor. She lacks confidence and constantly undermines herself, making her instantly endearing and likeable. I could relate to her a lot, and found her multi faceted and complex in nature. Combine this with the mystery surrounding who Morrigan really is, and why Jupiter wants her in Nevermoor, and I was completely invested in her story.
The secondary characters are also full fleshed and wonderful. Jupiter North is instantly warm and welcoming to Morrigan, a pillar of friendliness and kindness that Morrigan hasn’t experienced before. Yes, he keep secrets from her which at times I found infuriating, but his reasonings behind it are understandable. The other characters we see in the hotel Deucalion are all a hodgepodge of eclectic, exciting, colourful creations - ranging from a Vampire Dwarf, an opera singer and (my favourite) Fenestra the Magnificat. She’s grumpy, competitive and a previous cage fighter. Never did I realise I needed such a character in my life, but I did. Together they make a wonderful found family, and I loved them all - the hotel itself included, which feels like a character in itself.
The writing is wonderful too. It’s full of humour and warmth that lights up the pages and makes the story feel even more magical than it is. There’s mystery and magical trials, adventures, zombies and races, all wrapped up with snippets of history about Nevermoor itself to help sustain and support the readers view of this world. It’s fast paced, but it doesn’t compromise on character development either, building up this wonderful story that hurtles full throttle to the end and a satisfying conclusion that also leaves it open for the series to continue.
Honestly, this was the best middle grade book I’ve read this year. If not in the last couple of year. Highly, highly recommend and I can’t wait to read the next one.
November 3, 2019
This was funny, magical and very entertaining.
The world and its magic, while being very loosely defined, were described super vividly and it was just fun to read about it.
I instantly ordered the second book after finishing this one hehe
The world and its magic, while being very loosely defined, were described super vividly and it was just fun to read about it.
I instantly ordered the second book after finishing this one hehe
January 9, 2019
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 cute character, it's a good choice.
Somehow when I read this first, I was more excited about it. But, as time passed, I realised I didn't care for the sequel that much. So, maybe on reflection, I didn't find it that memorable.
If you’re going to pick up a middle grade book to enjoy your time and get lost in a magical world with a cute character, it's a good choice.
Somehow when I read this first, I was more excited about it. But, as time passed, I realised I didn't care for the sequel that much. So, maybe on reflection, I didn't find it that memorable.
July 25, 2018
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: Discoveries about yourself, magic, alluring creatures, and friendships contrasted with the ultimate antagonist. There’s especially one scene that made me realize how connected I was to the characters - a scene that made me feel sheer injustice and stomp my feet as a child as I was reading it.
This was an alluring start to a series that I’m definitely going to continue reading once the second book comes out in September. Hopefully, that sequel will be less reminiscent of Harry Potter and have more of a plot on its own.
That being said, this was a wonderful story that contains everything that a children’s book should contain: Discoveries about yourself, magic, alluring creatures, and friendships contrasted with the ultimate antagonist. There’s especially one scene that made me realize how connected I was to the characters - a scene that made me feel sheer injustice and stomp my feet as a child as I was reading it.
This was an alluring start to a series that I’m definitely going to continue reading once the second book comes out in September. Hopefully, that sequel will be less reminiscent of Harry Potter and have more of a plot on its own.
April 13, 2018
Oh mein Gott, ich LIEBE dieses Buch!!! ❤❤❤
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