Morrigan Crow is cursed. Her family, along with her entire hometown of Jackalfax, blames her for every bad thing that has ever happened to them. Simply because she was born on Eventide. Everyone knows that a child born on Eventide is not only cursed, but set to die by the next Eventide, usually twelve years later, but this Eventide came early. As Morrigan waited for her death, she is surprised by a rescue by the charismatic Captain Jupiter North. It is a rescue that not only saves her from certain death, but takes her to the amazing city of Nevermoor and her new home in the Hotel Deucalion. Nevermoor and the mysterious Wundrous Society hold the keys to Morrigan’s life, fate, and future.
Nevermoor is one of the most amazing, immersive worlds that I have ever read. It was brilliantly written and was a joy to explore. Very few fictional worlds have me longing to jump into a book than the Hotel Deucalion. Every room, from the smoking parlor, to the hotel lobby, to the rain room is an adventure in and of itself. Nevermoor is everything I dreamed of as a child. There are not enough words to describe how much I appreciated the time and effort put into creating a magical atmosphere that, while aimed at middle grade, was immersive for all ages. There are many middle grade books that talk down to the reader and appear to doubt their intelligence, but not this one. This book created a complex world in a way that felt understandable without losing the wonder (or in this case Wunder) and mystery of the unknown.
Not only was the atmosphere well written, but the characters were as well. Morrigan was fully fleshed out and very likable. Her fears and worries about getting into the Wundrous Society were palpable and I found myself getting worked up and worried the closer she got to the final round. Her fears were realistic, which added to her relatability. Compared to someone like Harry Potter, who had a similar escape to a magical world, Morrigan carries emotional scars of her upbringing. She is more human because of the mark that her “curse” left on her psyche.
Characters that are relatable and can share their emotions are incredibly fun to read. They offer an escape from one’s own reality and worries. Morrigan’s best friend, Hawthorne was great fun to read. He balanced Morrigan so perfectly and added fun to each scene he was in. Whenever I was worried about Morrigan, it was reassuring to know that she had such a great friend by her side.
The pinnacle of the book for me had to be Jupiter North. While it was frustrating how little information he would give Morrigan, his kindness always won out in the end. It was encouraging to have a character that encouraged and respected children. He was both incredibly fun and at the same time, authoritative. Jupiter showed Morrigan that she mattered. She mattered not only in when she was born, but who she was as a person. Jupiter and his ability to find the good in everything was a great counter to the mysterious Wundersmith.
The plot stayed steady, though at times, a bit slow. Instead of taking away from the book, the slow pace gives readers the chance to fully immerse themselves in the world. The concept of trials that allow the MC to gain access to some sort of society is not new. However, the trials themselves that Morrigan must go through are unique. They are unexpected without being over the top.
The narrator in the Audible version of this book is also phenomenal, putting so much heart and soul into each and every character. Listening to the book, the reader knew who each and every character was simply by the voices the narrator used. This is quite the feat simply because of the sheer number of characters.
This book is the book to choose for anyone looking to start a series with amazing world building, realistic characters, and a well thought out plot. After diving into the world of Nevermoor, it is impossible to stop at just the first book. While it is not a complete series, it is well established with three books currently in circulation.
5/5 and more if I could!
The Novel Llama 