paperback
Published Sept. 8, 2018 by Orion Children's Books.
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 …
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.
Seeing all the gush about this series during years and the high rating on Goodreads, I maybe went into this with too much expectations... I just found it pretty basic, character wise too, although I find Morrigan so cute as well as the relationships that she's building.
When was the last time I finished a book in 3 days? Gosh, I can't even remember, but [b:The Trials of Morrigan Crow|34219873|The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor, #1)|Jessica Townsend|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1573171204l/34219873.SX50.jpg|55271407] was unputdownable from the moment it lit up my e-reader screen. Am I glad there are still two follow-ups waiting for me! :)
In the beginning, it reminded me a lot of The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, but once the border into the Free State was crossed, the story shifted away from that.
I very much liked the colourful, cheery atmosphere and I wish there were books for adults in that fashion. Until there are, I'll just have to read kidlit again.
Oh, does this series have potential! Will definitely be recommending this to kids.
A fun read, with sufficient intrigue and interesting world-building choices.
3.5 rounded up because it's really good for a middle-grade book.
