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

Morrigan Crow is a cursed child. Born on Eventide, the unluckiest day of the year, Morrigan is blamed for everything that goes wrong in her town and beyond. Worse than that, all cursed children die at midnight on their 11th birthday. As Morrigan’s birthday approaches, she waits for her doom. Then, a mysterious man named Jupiter North appears and squirrels her away to a secret land called Nevermoor, where Morrigan must compete against hundreds of other talented children to earn a spot in the Wundrous Society. This fantasy adventure is sure to remind readers of Harry Potter and will grip them from the first page.

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Cover image of Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. Madsen, J. (2017). [Cover image of Nevermoor: The trials of Morrigan Crow]. Retrieved from https://www.lbyr.com/titles/jessica-townsend/nevermoor-the-trials-of-morrigan-crow/9780316508889/

Evaluation

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow starts at a funeral – Morrigan’s funeral. Author Jessica Townsend uses the technique of drawing a line in the sand to show the reader that even though the novel begins with Morrigan’s death, the reality is that she is not dead at all. In Morrigan’s father’s statement to the press, he says, “It has also taken with it the danger, doubt, and despair that plagued her short life… The town of Jackalfax – indeed, the entire state of Great Wolfacre – is safe again. There is nothing to fear” (Townsend, 2017, p. xiii). The reader is aware that Morrigan is not dead. Therefore, the reader can assume that the world is not safe and that there is actually plenty to fear. Townsend uses this literary technique to set up a story full of danger, intrigue and suspense.

Nevermoor is a fantasy, and therefore, the setting is key to the success of the novel. Townsend creates a new world that is very much apart from our own. The calendar is different; when Morrigan first arrives in Nevermoor, it is “6:13 a.m. on the first day of Morningtide, Spring of One, Third Age of the Aristocrats” (Townsend, 2017, p. 80). There are different states in the republic, each with their own unique characteristics. For example, Morrigan comes from the state of Great Wolfacre, where the towns are orderly and uniform. When she arrives in Nevermoor, she finds “cobbled lanes, narrow alleys, and sweeping boulevards, some neat and old-fashioned and others flamboyantly hectic” (Townsend, 2017, p. 82). Townsend describes the setting in such detail that readers can imagine themselves in the world of Nevermoor.

Everything in Nevermoor has a touch of magic, from the chandelier at the Hotel Deucalion that changes and grows, to the enormous cat who serves as the hotel’s housekeeper. In fact, the hotel almost seems to be another character in the novel. Morrigan’s room reworks itself, growing and shrinking over time. Her bed changes from a simple frame to an ornate wrought-iron bed, but “the Deucalion obviously thought it had made a mistake…because two days later she woke up swinging in a hammock” (Townsend, 2017, p. 175). Magic is infused throughout the hotel; the Smoking Parlor is not a room where hotel guests smoke pipes or cigars, but rather “a room that emitted great rolling clouds of colored, scented smoke that seemed to pour from the walls themselves” (Townsend, 2017, p. 107). The scent and color of the smoke depends upon what patrons need, such as honeysuckle for romance or lavender to aid sleep. Magic infuses everything in Nevermoor, but it is all believable and relatable, and the reader learns about this new place along with Morrigan.

Response

I thoroughly enjoyed Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow. Though it’s a fantasy, Morrigan deals with issues that affect all of us, such as finding home and community and dealing with problems. Morrigan’s own family considers her cursed and almost seems eager for her to die so they can move on with their lives. Morrigan is truly on her own, but in the land of Nevermoor, she builds her own community from scratch. At the same time, we all have problems, and while most of us aren’t struggling to get into a secret society, we can all relate to overcoming adversity and struggling to do so with grace. Even at the toughest moments, Morrigan shows compassion and understanding for others, and this makes her inherently relatable. While I enjoyed the book, one critique I have is that is remarkably similar to the Harry Potter series. Both Harry and Morrigan are cursed children who are introduced to a magical world at age 11. Both traverse trials, meet magical creatures and face an evil so terrifying that no one wants to say his name out loud. There are so many noticeable similarities between the novels, but Nevermoor novel is still enjoyable. Overall, Nevermoor was entertaining and a lovely addition to the fantasy genre.

Conclusion

Nevermoor is a delightful, engaging new fantasy that is perfect for middle grade audiences. Author Jessica Townsend draws a line in the sand at the beginning of the novel to let readers know that Morrigan has not died and that the world is not safe, as her father predicts. The setting and magical elements of the novel really bring the story to life for the reader; though it is a fantasy, the descriptions are so real that readers will be transported to the land of Nevermoor. The novel is exciting and engaging and readers will rip through it, trying to figure out what happens next. Though very similar to Harry Potter, the book will no doubt delight young fans of the fantasy genre. I recommend Nevermoor for students aged 8 and up. Readers who love Harry Potter or Fablehaven will surely find a spunky new protagonist for whom to root. 4 stars.

Citations

Madsen, J. (2017). [Cover image of Nevermoor: The trials of Morrigan Crow]. Retrieved from https://www.lbyr.com/titles/jessica-townsend/nevermoor-the-trials-of-morrigan-crow/9780316508889/

Mull, B. (2006). Fablehaven. Salt Lake City, UT: Shadow Mountain Publishing.

Rowling, J.K. (1997). Harry Potter and the sorcerer’s stone. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books.

Townsend, J. (2017). Nevermoor: The trials of Morrigan Crow. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.