Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

This book immediately began a bit dark and bleak, and I kept thinking the content was too dark for the intended reading age of 8 – 12 years of age. However, the interesting, quirky characters and story line pulled me in and I was reminded that serious topics of death and dysfunctional families are features in other fantasy books written for children. The vehicle for the main character’s (an 11 year old girl named Morrigan) transition to the next phase of her life depended on her exclusively trusting and depending on an odd adult male character who was a complete stranger and who required her to leave her family (though a very dysfunctional family). That did not sit well with me (with my adult perceptions) on several levels. The storyline is very creative and became more engaging the farther I got into the story and I did end up liking the conclussion, but I continued to have reservations about the way the girl/adult relationship was constructed throughout the story.

As with any book you want to share with your kids, I would recommend reading it yourself so you are familiar with the content and topics the story will expose your kids to, and be ready for any questions and conversation that it may generate.

Where do I begin? Townsend, herself, describes Nevermoor as a “kitchen-sink novel.” She said whenever she had an idea she liked, she’d just “put it in Nevermoor.” And that’s the way it reads. A jumble of ideas mashed together.

Making matters worse is the fact that the ideas just aren’t very clever.

What Rowling did brilliantly with the Harry Potter series was she had wizards use magic in a practical manner to solve the problems that wizards faced. If magic were real, it was reasonable to believe that wizards would use it in the ways Rowling described because those solutions made sense. Was there whimsy? Absolutely. But for everything that was whimsical, there were five other things that actually passed the smell test.

That’s not the case in Nevermoor. Everything in Nevermoor is whimsical or simply foolish. The Brawley Rail makes no sense. Why would they design a transportation system that puts its passengers in harm’s way? Surely there had to be a more effective solution. The smoke room? Why? Are we to believe that sitting in a smoke-filled room is somehow therapeutic? If so, is that what we want to communicate to middle-grade readers? The lantern room? Again, what’s the purpose? It’s obviously derivative of The Mirror of Erised. The difference is The Mirror of Erised was created to solve a problem and add value to the Wizarding World. The lantern is just shadow puppets, which are almost as annoying as mimes, so it just creates annoying problems.

Beyond the silly details of Nevermoor that are supposed to fascinate (but fail to), the plot comes off as contrived and pointless. The entire book feels like a McGuffin, which - I guess - is true for most fantasy books. But for “good fantasy” the McGuffins are offered up with subtlety and consistency.

All that said, I like Townsend’s style and voice, if not her plotting and characterization. I don’t understand the comments that claim “it was hard to get through.” I think it’s an easy read and that’s a compliment to Townsend’s ability. She’s competent, if obvious. I just wish everything weren’t all treacles and doilies. If Dolores Umbridge wasn’t vile and wrote a book, she’d write it in this literary voice. The Christmas stuff was so over-the-top cutesy flootsey sugary sweet, it’s a miracle I didn’t end up with rotting teeth after reading it. Not to mention, much of it appeared to be directly stolen from Harry-Potter’s-first-Christmas-at-Hogwarts scene. Replace Morrigan with Harry and Jack with Ron and...voila! You have the Gryffindor dormitory. And the whole Saint Nick versus The Yule Queen (or whatever) was just dumb filler.

One more thing, I’d wager the whole “illegal immigrant” subplot was added in well after the first, second or third drafts. It just doesn’t seem to fit. Nevermoorians - for reasons that aren't clearly articulated in the book - despise the people of Morrigan’s homeland. Are the denizens of her homeland basically Muggles? Do they have “talent” or not? If not, why are there “cursed children”? Why does being born on Eventide matter? What’s the story behind Eventide anyway? Why are some Nevermoorians blessed with “knacks” while others are not? Or do they all have knacks, but some are more valuable knacks than others? Are the knacks magic (or wunder) based? Is there a difference? None of this is explained.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m not looking to read the “Encyclopedia of Nevermoor.” A book of explanations would stink. But answering questions with finesse is the difference between showing and telling and distinguishes good writing from bad writing.

Even so, that’s probably the biggest problem with the book. Nothing’s explained. Nothing makes sense. There’s no “there” there. When reading fantasy, I’m willing to suspend my disbelief to indulge the plot. But not to the point of preposterity. Townsend asks us to abandon all common sense when entering Nevermoor. So, while I applaud Townsend’s effort to give Potter fans something new to chew on, Nevermoor ultimately fails to deliver. And, for that reason, if I were you, I wouldn’t bother. I wish I wouldn’t’ve.

This book was pressed into my daughter's hands by a bookseller at our favorite independent book store. My daughter, when given the opportunity to pick a book, was overwhelmed by the choices. The bookseller raved about Nevermoor and said that it was not only the best children's book she had read in 2017, but was among the best books in all genres. What high praise, and I couldn't agree more.

Nevermoor tells the story of Morrigan Crow, a ‘cursed’ girl who learns that there is a completely different, magical world beyond her limited knowledge. It’s a bit Harry Potter, a bit steampunk and a bit Wizard of Oz, and yet all its own. I confess that 1) I love children’s fantasy novels; but 2) I find many to be derivative of better works. Nevermoor spins a familiar tale of a child longing to find her place and family in a new and delightful way. Highly recommend!

Jessica Townsend’s debut novel deserves every bit of praise it receives for the incredible journey on which it takes the reader. This story has been described as Doctor Who meets Alice in Wonderland, the narration like J.K. Rowling meets Neil Gaiman. Townsend combines the best pieces of all of these worlds, and builds an extraordinary new tale of her own.

Sure, there might be a few too many parallels to Harry Potter and other stories: Lonely eleven-year-old lives with an emotionally abusive family until a witty, bearded, mysterious madman who sees something special in her whisks her away to a magical world to live in a fantastical building that has a mind of its own, where she feels out of place until she can finally prove to herself and everyone else that she belongs there. Oh, and there’s a big, evil bad guy that everyone is afraid to even speak of who’s been missing for years and has a particular interest in said child.

That being said, I think maybe those general parallels don’t matter as much as what the author does with them, and how she creates her own world, characters, and riveting story from that skeletal frame. Jessica Townsend manages to take the readers to a place that is both thrilling and scary, whimsical and curious. I would have been completely captivated by this book as a child, and desperately yearning for the rest of the series...just as I am having read it as an adult.

It’s simply Wunderful.

I picked this up in the book shop in Oxford based mostly on the British version of the cover and was delighted to find it a total page turner. I love middle grade fantasy with a lot of personality like this and find it difficult to find, perhaps moreso in the States these days where everything is made to look and sound the same. Really enjoyed this book, sped through it, and can't wait for the next one.

This is a fantastic young adult book that pulls you into it's world. However, the characters were a bit flat in their stories, leaving me wanting a more fleshed out version of each.

I will be sticking with this series though, as the fantasy element is really interesting and I can see a ton of potential in the author.

Overall a very well written book for a first time author!

This is the start of an exciting new middle grade series, perfect for fans of Harry Potter. Morrigan Crow is a lovable and relatable character, and I found myself rooting for her from page one. Young readers will be drawn into her world and will likely fly through the pages, desperate to find out what her "knack" is. I can't wait for the next installment.

Morrigan Crop is a cursed child. From the cat falling over dead to crops failing, it's her fault. Her home is gloomy, people don't look her in the eye, and she is going to die at 11 years of age.

I liked this book. The world building is fast, the concept interesting, and overall the book is well written. I think most people who liked Harry Potter, Series of unfortunate events, Mrs peregrine Etc will like this book. There is the best friend, the snotty enemy (how cool would it be if once, just once, the snotty enemy was poor with a giant chip as a bully instead of the oh so usual wealthy, privileged beauty or golden boy?) The mentor who keeps secrets, the assorted interesting characters, human and not, tests and trials.

Don't get me wrong, it's well written, but one or two steps outside the box might be nice. It's also a little frantic with ever more and bigger trials, tests, etc. That sounds harsh, but despite the somewhat formulaic storyline, and frenetic paste, the writing is strong and the characters and situations interesting enough to make this a 4 star read.

This is an excellent, clever, highly original story that ticked all the boxes for me. The characters have wit and personality, the world they live in is intriguing and just enough like our own to be recognizable, and the plot is unlike any story I’ve read in quite some time. I hope this is the start of a series. I could read five or six more like this.

I really enjoyed this book. I’m looking forward to the second one. Morrigan Crow is a delightful character as is her best friend. I found it a bit darker than Harry Potter, but just as enjoyable. The darkness added to the story and it’s characters.

Morrigan Crow is cursed and doomed to die on her eleventh birthday on Eventide night. She is blamed for every bit of bad luck and misfortune that plagues the residents of the town of Jackalfax in the Wintersea Republic.

When Eventide arrives early ushering a new Age across the realm, Morrigan is faced with the prospect of her premature death until a strange man named Jupiter North arrives. Together the two escape the Hunt of Smoke and Shadow and arrive in the Free State city of Nevermoor. Miraculously alive and possibly no longer cursed, Morrigan can make a fresh start.

With Jupiter's help she has the chance to compete in a series of trials for a place in Nevermoor's most revered group: The Wundrous Society. If she makes it she'll also earn her place in Nevermoor and finally have a home and family who cares about her.

Despite Jupiter's assurances, Morrigan dreads the final Show Trial where the remaining competitors will have to demonstrate their astounding talents--something Morrigan is quite certain she doesn't possess. Morrigan will have to step boldly and learn to trust her new friends if she hopes to pass the trials and join the Wundrous Society in Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (2017) by Jessica Townsend.

Nevermoor is Townsend's debut novel and the start of a middle grade trilogy. The story revolves around Morrigan's struggle to find her place and discover her own worth. All while she completes magical tasks and investigates the strange world of Nevermoor.

This dynamic novel is filled with intricate and carefully detailed world building that brings the renowned figure of Jupiter North and the rest of Nevermoor vibrantly to life. Set over the course of Morrigan's year of trials this entertaining and fast-paced story is filled with wondrous things like the Hotel Deucalion where Morrigan's room changes to suit her mood, the Wundrous Society grounds which turns the weather up a notch, and even a giant talking "Magnificat" named Fenestra.

Nevermoor is filled with adventure, magic, and wonder. Readers, like Morrigan herself, will feel at home in these evocative pages where magic and confidence go hand in hand. Highly recommended.

Possible Pairings: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy by Karen Foxlee, The Doldrums by Nicholas Gannon Foxheart by Claire Legrand, Furthermore by Tahereh Mafi, A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty, The Cabinet of Wonders by Marie Rutkoski

I picked this up for my 8yo then wound up not giving it to her because I was too hooked to put it down. One of the most inventive middle grade novels I've read in the last few years. Cannot wait for the sequel.

What an enchanting story; I loved it! Inevitably, it will be compared to the Harry Potter books because it features a child who is miserable in a home where s/he is not loved. Then a person comes along and whisks them off to a land full of wonder and magic. But there's another similarity too, and it's that both books are well written, the characters just as lovable and the plot just as compelling. I finished it in record time and am already eager for the next!

I liked this book so much because there are so many good characters. Morrigan was highly relate-able, Jupiter was interesting but my favorite has got to be Hawthorne with his mischievous ways and fierce loyalty. And you know, Fenestra, with all her surliness, has a special place in my heart too. And the world of Nevermoor is so wondrous and interesting that you want to come back for more.

Even though I got an advanced reader's copy, I will likely buy the hardcover when it gets released - that's how much I liked it!

I enjoyed the creativity if the story. I liked that the setting was in a place that lended itself to a wonderful chance for imagination and escape to another land. The only reason I rated it 3 instead of 4 was because the ending felt very rushed. It seemed as if the author thought she could keep going on and on, or just basically wrap it up quickly and leave a little nugget of a hint that there will be a sequel.

This is not Harry Potter, though there is plenty of derivative material in it. However, it's a charming book that may appeal to its target audience. From the title, I thought (and hoped) that there would be a lot of allusions to literature, such as Poe (quoth the raven...) but I didn't find them. There is a fair amount of humor, and out of respect to the age of the prospective reader, violence is kept to a minimum and often offstage. The one thing I disliked about the book was that I didn't find sufficient character development. Just about everyone is the same at the end as when you first meet them, and most are one-dimensional. That's a big flaw, but the book is entertaining and children may not notice the issue.

Really really enjoyed this book. I read it because my wife and I bought it for our granddaughter as a gift and I like to know what I am giving.
The book is certainly Potter-esque, but doesn’t feel like a rip off.
Lots of good humor in the story, and the characters are enjoyable, real, and well defined.

I picked up my daughter’s new book because I was at loose ends and was immediately entranced! I coukdn’t put it doen and days later find myself still thinking about Morrigan et al. Can’t wait for book 2!

Aiming for somewhere between Harry Potter and A Series Of Unfortunate Events, this books cracks along at a good pace, although it never really goes anywhere especially new or interesting. There are definitely touches of Gaiman here, some magical realism, but not enough to really engage me.

The characters are well-written, though, and the book really does move, which is nice.

What a fun adventure to fall asleep to. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to others. My daughter is 7.5 years of age and could read this book with no problems. She is a strong reader though.

As far as first-time authors go, I believe Jessica Townsend has created in "Nevermoor" a unique world that is brought to life vividly as the reader follows Morrigan Crow on her adventures. A “cursed child,” Morrigan is blamed for most every misfortune befalling the citizens or even the city of Jackalfax in the Republic. The citizens only have twelve years to fear all the mishaps, however, as cursed children suffer a young death. Morrigan, however, finds herself still alive the day after her birthday, but as an illegal in the Free State. Taken under the wing of Captain Jupiter Amantius North , she faces trials over the next year to determine if she'll be able to live the entitled life of a Wundrous Society member, or...well, you'll just have to read the book to know what happens.

Meanwhile, along the way, she meets a vampire, enjoys a unique smoking room, and never knows what her room in Jupiter's hotel will look like when she wakes. Most importantly, she has yet to discover her skill, seemingly the most important test, other than accidentally causing mayhem, which Jupiter promises she has. I was drawn to this book initially because it was recommended for "fans of Harry Potter," of which I am a big one. I suppose there are a few fantasy similarities here, but I was impressed that this book stood on its own to deliver something unique and engaging. I am certainly interested in future adventures in this series and will likely try to get my nine-year-old interested as she just recently finished the last Harry Potter book and is more and more interested in fantasy stories.

This is a book that made me laugh out loud multiple times. And it wasn't just "that one funny character." There are multiple characters that are delightful and they enrich the world of this story so deeply, you want to crawl into the pages and live in the Hotel Deucalion.

There were some parts in the middle that felt to drag for me a little, but I fear that may have been less to do with the writing and more to do with my mental state. I'm not certain, but there was never a point where I wasn't going to finish the journey Morrigan and I were on.

I want Jupiter North to be my mentor. He's FANTASTIC! As someone who always appreciates an adult character that doesn't lord over children in a MG novel, I LOVED his character.

The sibling rivalry between Jack and Morrigan is so great because they're not siblings, yet their antagonistic relationship is solely because they are sibling equivalent.

A great book that is worth the time to savor the dialogue and truly enjoy it.

My ten year old daughter read this book over the summer and says she gives it FOUR STARS. She's a fan of Harry Potter and Tolkein, so it seemed this type of fantasy was right in her wheelhouse.

For children's books, I always defer to the kids on their opinions. She read it over the course of three weeks during summer vacation, and I frequently saw her nose in the book which made me happy.

What an awesome book!! If you liked Harry Potter, this is a great read. This book takes you on a magical adventure that will pull you right in (and very hard to put down).

Morrigan Crow is a cursed child, she had the misfortune of being born on Eventide. Everything that goes wrong in the local town in blamed on Morrigan. Hail storms, heart attacks, messed up marmalade, anything that is negative is her fault and her father must pay for them. Then Bid Day comes and everyone is beyond shocked that someone even bid on a cursed child to continue her education when she would die in a year. (All cursed children die on the next Eventide).

When Eventide comes earlier than expect Morrigan excepts her fate. That is when Jupiter steps in and whisks her away to become his candidate for the most prestigious Wunderous Society (his first ever candidate). And to compete in the trials.

I wont give anymore away, but it is a great read that is hard to put down. I can wait for more of the series.

My brother got this book for Christmas and brushed it aside, since he wasn't interested. I wasn't either, until today when I was bored. To my suprise, the book was fabulous. Fantastic world building. I am going to recommend this book to my brother. He'll LOVE it!!!

Just finished Nevermoor. Overall an amazing read. Jessica Townsend has an uncanny ability to pack each paragraph with ticklish one-liners. This is a long book, but the plot moves at a great pace to keep readers engaged all the way to the end.

I can't believe this is her first book. It's really well-written with terrific characters and events. She doesn't hit you over the head with the morals; they're just out there (sometimes on low branches, sure) for you to pick up. There are some really interesting concepts that I think make the book a good read for everyone (to prove that point, I read Jane Eyre, David Copperfield and The Bone Clocks several times a year). The plot is very well paced and I'm pretty excited for the next one.

Doomed to on Eventide in her eleventh year. All bad things that happen are attributed to her. Instead of dying she is “rescued” by Jupiter North and taken to Nevermoor, where she is to face 4 trials to try and become a member of the Wunderous Society.

Morrigan Crowe has a Harry Potter like feeling to her. She is someone that starts with a great disadvantage that plagues her in various forms throughout the story. I enjoyed the mystery and watching it unfold. Surely there will be more stories from Nevermoor. I can't wait!