Book review: Nevermoor – The Trials is Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Reviewer’s recommended reading age: 10+

The fatality of cursed child, Morrigan Crow, has been decided. Just not in the way that the vast populations thinks. One man, Jupiter North, has plans in store that even Morrigan will struggle to ascertain. Swept away to the land of Nevermoor, she has a handful of chances to prove her worth… if only she could convince herself first.

This magical-realism, coming-of-age feast has no doubt been compared and contrasted with JK Rowling’s masterpiece umpteen times. And so it should be. JK Rowling set a precedence and capitalised, very successfully, on an approved concept: child comes of age, is welcomed into new society and must find their feet whilst conquering challenges. It’s there in every teen high school movie from Sabrina the Teenage Witch to Clueless; it thrives in classic children’s literature from JM Barrie to Enid Blyton. And Jessica Townsend’s ‘wundrous’ addition to the list is well received.

The magic of Townsend’s imaginary world is, as ever, drip fed into the story to tempt us out of the gloomy darkness of Morrigan Crow’s home life and to follow her into the light-hearted, colour-infused, scent-sational Nevermoor. The latter is a land of the uncanny and inexplainable. There are rooms, festivals, gardens and selves to be explored. Identities questioned. Secrets moored. Talking animals of all shapes and sizes, run amok, run hotels and run races through piazzas like bulls in a china shop – or something more extraordinarily literal.

Townsend’s glorious descriptions are imaginative, visceral spectacles that have you flicking back to study the clues on the front cover. The faceless clock and daring leaps are just two of the joyous metaphors she extends for the wild abandonment and freedom from constraints that magical realism offers. Morrigan’s evolving bedroom decor is another sensational brief that leaves the reader doodling design concepts for the film adaptation.

The story is well structured with enough intrigue to hook and retain young readers. Some YA readers may demand more but compare the Philospher’s Stone to the Deathly Hallows and we can only dream what Jessica Townsend has in store as her writing prowess grows and blooms.

Artwork for Swedish Cover

Jessica Townsend’s Nevermoor is a must-read for ages 4-13 and a solid recommendation for the young at heart.

The first sequel, WUNDERSMITH, is due for publication in October 2018, which is also when Jessica Townsend will be appearing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival to discuss the creation of magical worlds.

If you have read Nevermoor or are intrigued to do so after reading this review, please do share your own thoughts and/or other recommendations in the comments below. Let’s talk books!