Review: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Title: Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow

Author: Jessica Townsend
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Yong Readers
Publishing Date: October 31st, 2017

Pages: 480 
Genre: Middle-Grade Modern Contemporary

Series: Nevermoor #1

Source: Hardcover 

  

A cursed girl escapes death and finds herself in a magical world - but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination
Morrigan Crow is cursed. Having been born on Eventide, the unluckiest day for any child to be born, she's blamed for all local misfortunes, from hailstorms to heart attacks--and, worst of all, the curse means that Morrigan is doomed to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday.
But as Morrigan awaits her fate, a strange and remarkable man named Jupiter North appears. Chased by black-smoke hounds and shadowy hunters on horseback, he whisks her away into the safety of a secret, magical city called Nevermoor.
It's then that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city's most prestigious organization: the Wundrous Society. In order to join, she must compete in four difficult and dangerous trials against hundreds of other children, each boasting an extraordinary talent that sets them apart - an extraordinary talent that Morrigan insists she does not have. To stay in the safety of Nevermoor for good, Morrigan will need to find a way to pass the tests - or she'll have to leave the city to confront her deadly fate.

Wish you could be nevermoor? Morrigan Crow lives in a town where nobody likes her. No one even wants to talk to her or her to talk to them. Morrigan was born on Eventide and is apparently cursed. She is blamed for dead pets, local misfortunes, hail storms, and even heart attacks. And what's worse, she has been prophesied to die on her 11th birthday. Yikes, and you think you have it bad.
But as luck/fate/destiny would have it before her death she gets many bids to join internships at various places under some very important people. But, she also gets a visit from a very peculiar man named Jupiter North of the Wonderous Society.
Morrigan Crow is offered a chance to join the Wondrous Society in the hope of becoming someone important like Jupiter. The catch is she has to go through many trials to be accepted. Each one harder and more bizarre than the last.
The Wondrous Society will accept someone who is honest, determined, brave and has a unique skill or knack. But Morrigan seems to have no knack and she is worried that Jupiter must have chosen her by mistake. A policeman seems to be concerned about her entering Nevermoor illegally and is determined to have her sent back to where she came from. And there is the hunt of smoke and shadow which is hunting her down.

This book is magical and engaging and has some similarities to Harry Potter. But has some unique developments along the way. I really like all the character interactions and the big huge cat.

"Nevermoor. If it's so great, why haven't you heard of it? Truth is, Morrigan, this is the best place- the best place- in all the Unnamed Realm." 

An engaging and magical story that is well developed and has some great characters. An exciting fantasy yarn that will have kids and adults engaged from the very first page.

Jessica Townsend lives on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Her pet fascinations include public transport, ancient cities, hotels, opera singers, Halloween, secret societies and gigantic cats - all of which have weaselled their way into Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, her award-winning first novel released in 2017. Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, the second book in this record-breaking series, will be released in 2018.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow was the biggest-selling Australian children's debut since records began. It has won the 2018 ABIA for Book of the Year, Book of the Year for Younger Readers and Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year; the 2018 Indie Book Awards Book of the Year and Children's Category; the 2017 Aurealis Award for Best Children's Fiction; the 2018 Waterstones Children's Book Prize for Younger Fiction and was named a CBCA notable book.