I picked up the book because of its title. Nevermoor feels related to the Neverland, does it not? How could I not want to know about “Nevermoor?”
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend completely exceeded my expectations.
I’ve been reading a string of “good” books to start the year off, then selected a couple that weren’t hitting the mark. When I opened Nevermoor, I had no clue what was in store for me.
Nevermoor turned out to be the most delightful imaginary place I’ve experienced in a very long time.
Here’s the book summary:
“A cursed child destined to die on her eleventh birthday is rescued and whisked away to a secret realm called Nevermoor, and given the chance to compete for a place in a prestigious organization called ‘The Wundrous Society.’”
A few elements that make Nevermoor so very wondrous:
- The Deucalion Hotel. Its rooms are sentient, Once you settle in, the room transforms to your taste: bedding, artwork, windows, and bathroom. (Ahhh!)
- The Smoking Parlor in the Deucalion Hotel: billowing aromatherapy du jour.
- Jupiter, Morrigan’s rescuer and sponsor. Handsome, magical, charismatic, he’s just the kind of person you want to take a personal interest in YOU.
- Magical animals, including Fenestra, the Magnificat (a giant talking cat)
- “Brollies” —Umbrellas allowing you to float down from the top of a multi-story building, among other things. (This is far more fun than Mary Poppins ever had!)
The Deucalion Hotel alone is enough to want to move in to this book and stay for weeks on end!
Hard to believe this is Jessica Townsend’s debut novel—if she were to compete in her own Wundrous Society contest, her knack would be clear. Building sheer delight from words is a super-power indeed.
I look forward to more from Ms. Townsend, and hopefully more of Nevermoor.
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend is a must-read for anyone who loves imaginary worlds. The book flap boasts: “Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, as well as the Harry Potter and Mysterious Benedict Society series.” For once, the copywriting is spot-on.
Happy Reading!