The Trials of Morrigan Crow / Nevermoor Book One // Book Review

 Book:The Trials of Morrigan Crow (Nevermoor 1) by Jessica Townsend
Release Date: October 12th 2017
Tags: Middle Grade / Fantasy / Hounds / Curses / Family / Friendship / Trials /  Competition  / Dwarves / Vampires / Magical Creatures

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.
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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.
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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.

Another stellar middle grade book that I finally picked up. I’ve had this on my shelves for a good year but was afraid of all the hype that surrounded it. I shouldn’t have been. This is truly a great start to a series.

Morrigan Crow is cursed. From the very first chapter I knew I was going to love her. I love how she responds to the people that point at her and her curse for every wrong thing that happens in their lives. She could have let them and her father beat her down but I am so glad to see that she didn’t. Not to say that her situation doesn’t affect her (it certainly makes her insecure) but she still retained who she was. That made me love her right away.

On the night she is suppose to die we are whisked away on a grand adventure right alongside of her and I enjoyed every minute. There was so much to discover in Nevermoor and we still have so much left. I love the fantasy elements of this that is intertwined with some tech. The way that energy is used for instance or the way of transportation (though hanging on a train like thing with your umbrella seems way too scary for me).  The world building was done well. There was little info dumping and throughout the book we learn the things we need to.

I liked how Morrigan made friends right away with one of the other contestants who was a bit of a mischief-maker. Their friendship was true. She shared pretty much everything with him. The addition of the nemesis but not really,  was interesting. I am very curious to see how it will be developed further over the course of the series.

I am in desperate need of the sequel.  I can’t even really word my love for this book truly.