Book Review: The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor #1) by Jessica Townsend

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Middle Grade Fantasy
Length: 465 pages
Author: Jessica Townsend
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 31st, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who 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.

Perfect for fans of the Harry Potter series and Neil Gaiman, this fast-paced plot and imaginative world has a fresh new take on magic that will appeal to a new generation of readers.

OH WHAT FUN.

I haven’t read a middle-grade book in a bit and I forgot how much I enjoyed them! This was such a gem.

I flew through this (definitely a perk of a middle grade read) and was captivated by the story of Morrigan! I loved her character and demeanor. She was spunky, capable of going with the flow and was someone I wanted to cheer for during the trials for the Wondrous Society.

The rest of the cast was fantastic as well. Such a mix of different personalities and backgrounds. I look forward to watching friendships blossom and seeing how this story progresses. There’s plenty of action and the fast-paced keeps anything from getting slow. I think it’s a wonderful and appropriate read for younger audiences, but it definitely has the ability to draw in the older crowd too.

Loved this, will be continuing the series to see what happens next! I love following a longer series with a great group, a bit of mystery and a lot more of the world to explore.

Overall audience notes:

• Middle grade fantasy
• Language: none
• Violence: some minor altercations and run-ins with ghosts and other creatures, but nothing overtly violent

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