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

by Jessica Townsend

But there was a noise. A very small noise that was barely a noise – like a tiny whisper or rush of air. She flicked on her lamp and the room flooded with light. It was empty. Morrigan’s heartbeat quickened. She jumped up and looked around, under the bed, threw open the wardrobe – nothing. No. Not nothing. Something. A small white rectangle stood out against the dark wooden floorboards. Someone had slipped an envelope under her door. She picked it up and creaked the door open to peek into the hallway outside. There was nobody there. On the envelope, someone had written untidily in thick black ink: Jupiter North of the Wundrous Society wishes to present his bid for Miss Morrigan Crow. Again. ‘The Wundrous Society,’ Morrigan whispered. She ripped open the envelope and pulled out two pieces of paper. One was a letter, the other a contract – typed and official – looking, with two signatures at the bottom. Above the word PATRON was the large, messy signature of Jupiter North. The second, above PARENT OR GUARDIAN, she couldn’t read and didn’t recognise at all. It certainly wasn’t her father’s handwriting. The third space – CANDIDATE – was blank. Waiting. Morrigan read the letter, feeling utterly bewildered. Dear Miss Crow, Congratulations! You have been selected by one of our members as a candidate for entry to the Wundrous Society. Please be advised that your entry is not assured. Membership in the Society is extremely limited, and each year hundreds of hopeful candidates comp...

Intrigue key plot point

particularly loud firecracker shattered the night sky, leaving a trail of flower-shaped smoke in its wake, the ghost of an explosion. The crowd made noises of delight.