Nevermoor

I thought Hogwarts was special until I discovered the magical city of Nevermoor–a whole society filled with intrigue, surprises, and whimsical twists. (Giant talking cats, anyone?)

The central mystery is also gripping stuff, as cursed child Morrigan grapples with her powers and the dark presence of a powerful evil lurking just out of sight.

I bought this book for my niece for Christmas but found it difficult to wrap it because I was so immersed in the world Jessica Townsend conjured! Morrigan's main character has such a wry and endearing voice, and I loved following her on her adventures!

I especially loved the Hotel Deucalion, with its shifting rooms and smoking lounge filled with different flavors of mist—it felt like an utterly charming place to stay. Ultimately, this book was a lovely, magical escape!

My son bought the first three Morrigan Crow books as a set this year and read them in quick succession. He loves the characters, especially Jupiter North and Fenestra, and the overarching plot that continues across the series. He’s really looking forward to the fourth book.

I can also add my own recommendation – he was so enthusiastic that I read them, too, and thoroughly enjoyed them. It's an exciting story and very funny in places.

Morrigan believes she is cursed. Everything that goes wrong for her and those around her is her fault. The only person who likes her is her powerless grandmother.

Nevertheless, part of her curse is that she is doomed to die on her 11th birthday  Instead, A man from Nevermoor rescues her and takes her to a new country – with new problems. But here she finds people who don’t think she is cursed and who try to help her. I enjoyed how the author showed Morrigan exploring her new world, and felt as if I was exploring it with… show more.

I was privileged enough to be a part of the first wave of the Harry Potter phenomenon. Like many others I’m sure, those books irrevocably captured my imagination, and sparked the flame of my own story-telling pursuits. I didn’t think there’d ever be a story that would match the sheer wonder and imagination that Rowling created. Then I read Nevermoor. And my imagination was re-captured in the same invigorating, child-like wondrous way. This book is something truly special. It’s full of wonder and wit, including a Willy-Wonker-esque patron, a giant talking cat, and a magical, room-changing hotel. And the… show more.

Okay, it's not exactly laugh-out-loud funny. In fact, my grandmother was so distressed by the first two pages because, spoiler, we find ourselves at the protagonist's funeral. I explained that obviously it is a red herring and this cannot be the case, as we were only two pages in. But, you know, my grandmother. Anyway, this is the perfect series for lovers of Harry Potter and all things quirky. You won't laugh a lot. But you'll definitely be smiling throughout. 

I haven’t been this excited about a series since Harry Potter. I love, love, LOVE Morrigan and have read this series over and over. They’re magically mysterious with amazing characters and wondrous world-building! I was especially impressed with the Christmas Eve parade, the gigantic Magnificat, and the magical battle between St. Nick and the Yule Queen. Fantastic series!!