A breathtaking, enchanting new series by debut Australian author Jessica Townsend, about a cursed girl who escapes death and finds herself in a magical world – but is then tested beyond her wildest imagination.

Morrigan Crow is cursed. Born on an unlucky day, she is 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 Eventide.

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 there that Morrigan discovers Jupiter has chosen her to contend for a place in the city’s most prestigious organisation: 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. Except for Morrigan, who doesn’t seem to have any special talent at all.

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.

+++ Image and blurb from Hachette Australia website+++

4.25 Go Boldly Stars!

Did I read this book in less than 24 hours?

Yes. Yes, I did.

Was I pleasantly surprised?

Yes. While it didn’t touch Harry Potter’s place in my heart (as it has been compared to that glorious series), it did possess a charm of its own. The writing was engaging and lyrical, beautifully depicting the mad world of Nevermoor, without being stuck in the description and kept the action flowing effortlessly.

I was also pleasantly surprised by the characters, diverse and unique, they quickly enchanted me and I very much wanted to be their friend or at least a well-known guest of the Deucalion. Morrigan Crow’s character development was a little weak at times – as she is clearly a worrier – but fits well into the narrative as her future is unknown (and not just to her…).

However, a few hours after finishing the book I am craving more Nevermoor. Jessica Townsend has created a beautiful world where everyone can delight in the abstract and wonderful. Luckily for us, this is a sparkling debut and the author has promised us two more books, if not an entire series of nine, each I hope exploring further into this wundrous world.

Would I recommend this book?

Yes. It is well written and would appeal to a large age range of readers – from well-read eight-year-olds to anyone with an active sense of adventure (warning: the puns and jokes are aged for a younger audience and I did not derive as much pleasure from them than a younger read may).

Slated for worldwide release, you can find Nevermoor on the shelves in your local bookstore from 10th October in Australia, 12th October in the UK, and 31st October in USA/Canada. There are no publication dates yet for translated editions but I hope you can get your hands on a copy soon.