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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I loved this! The focus on the magical academy of WUNSOC was SO interesting to me, and I loved learning more about Nevermoor alongside Morrigan. Also, Jupiter and Morrigan’s adopted father-daughter relationship is everything. Docked a half-star because the plot lacked a clear direction.
The audiobook was also, once again, incredible!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Death, Violence, Trafficking, Car accident
Minor: Ableism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Physical abuse, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic content warnings for blackmail. Minor warnings for mass death, drowning, capital punishment.
3.5 tähteä. Morrigan on hauska ja mielenkiintoinen päähahmo, jonka tekemisiä seuraa mielellään. Muutenkin Nevermoorissa hahmot ovat ihan mahtavia. Maailmanrakennus on ihan ok ja middle grade kirjaksi varmaankin jopa erittäin hyvää, mutta itse jään kaipaamaan syvempää uppoamista siihen. Nevermoor jää vähän epämääräiseksi minulle ehkä osittain myös siitä syystä, että maailma on niin monimutkainen. On taikuutta, vampyyrejä, enkeleitä, kaikenlaisia eläinolioita ja niitäkin useammassa eri luokassa jne, ja sen lisäksi vielä itse Nevermoorin maailma on hyvin mutkikas paikka, on seittiä, meitroa, kaikenlaisia kujia ja mitä kummallisempia oikoreittejä. Juonellisesti arvasin melkeinpä kaikki kirjan isot "paljastukset", mutta nautin tarinan mukana kulkemisesta siitä huolimatta. Lapsena olisin varmasti tykästynyt tähän erittäin paljon!
"i am saying that for one shining, triumphant moment you became a dragon."
how ... wondrous! hehe. but really, this is such a wonderful and amazing read. middle grade fantasy is a pretty questionable genre - but the nevermoor series is definitely at the front, with the definite exception of harry potter.
indeed, the school element was quite fun, and i totally felt the hp vibes; but in it's own way, wundersmith made it unique. such plausible characters! and brilliant writing! world-building! and ooh, all those twists! this book is unpredictable, in the best possible way. and i'm thankful i picked it up, for it was most creditably rewarding.
➵ 4.5 stars
how ... wondrous! hehe. but really, this is such a wonderful and amazing read. middle grade fantasy is a pretty questionable genre - but the nevermoor series is definitely at the front, with the definite exception of harry potter.
indeed, the school element was quite fun, and i totally felt the hp vibes; but in it's own way, wundersmith made it unique. such plausible characters! and brilliant writing! world-building! and ooh, all those twists! this book is unpredictable, in the best possible way. and i'm thankful i picked it up, for it was most creditably rewarding.
➵ 4.5 stars
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow, is the second installment in the Nevermoor series, and I loved it almost as much as the first. This is a series with a wonderfully lovable and multifaceted main character, a diverse and entertaining supporting cast, a delightfully unique setting that manages to feel both inviting and dangerous, plenty of tension, and strong enough writing and pacing to carry such an original story. I’m only two books in, but I would already feel secure in saying that Nevermoor is a nearly perfect middle grade fantasy series that I would happily, and eagerly, press into the hands of any young (or young-at-heart) reader I know.
In this book, we start to plumb the secret depths of the Wundrous Society as Morrigan and the rest of Unit 919 embark on the first leg of their schooling. We get to see the relationships that develop between Morrigan and her fellow unit members and teachers, and how hard she has to work in order to win anyone over once they find out the truth of her “knack,” the talent that makes her special and worthy of membership into the Wundrous Society. This would have been a miserable first year for Morrigan if not for her best friend, Hawthorne Swift the dragon rider, and Miss Cheery, Unit 919’s Conductor, who acts as a combination of bus driver and homeroom teacher and guidance counselor. Of all the newly introduced characters, she was my favorite. Her closest competition was actually Hawthorne’s parents, who reminded me of the Weasleys from Harry Potter. They were quirky and charming and utterly delightful for the few pages in which they appeared.
Morrigan is a strong, interesting young woman who is far edgier in appearance than she is on the inside, and I find her incredibly easy to cheer on. She has enough flaws to be believable while still being firmly planted on the side of good which, given her talents and situation, is laudable. I have loved seeing her grow and develop over the course of this book and the first, and I can’t wait to see how she changes in the rest of the series. Townsend has done a marvelous job with Morrigan’s voice, maintaining its consistency even as she grows and keeping a balance between her secret hopes and her completely understandable pessimism in light of the life she’s led thus far.
I remain fascinated by the land of Nevermoor in general; it sounds like such a delightfully magical place, and I would place it at the very top of the list of fictional places I would love to visit. I’m also intrigued by the Wundrous Society in particular, and was excited to learn more about them in this book. Unfortunately, I felt that the Society’s decision to hold Morrigan at arm’s length in her education kept me as a reader in the dark, as well, which was frustrating. But that’s really the only complaint I have, and the only reason I deducted a half star from my rating. I was happy that we get to spend so much more time in the Hotel Deucalion, and I loved ever minute Jupiter was present. I, like Morrigan, wished I could pin him down and make him stay longer.
Wundersmith introduced some intriguing magic and compelling new characters, while never neglecting what we had already been given in the first book. This is a world that I fell in love with immediately, and that love only seems to deepen the longer I spend there. I can’t wait to see where Townsend takes Morrigan and her Unit next, and what happens with the Deucalion and the Society and all of the wonderful characters who populate both.
In this book, we start to plumb the secret depths of the Wundrous Society as Morrigan and the rest of Unit 919 embark on the first leg of their schooling. We get to see the relationships that develop between Morrigan and her fellow unit members and teachers, and how hard she has to work in order to win anyone over once they find out the truth of her “knack,” the talent that makes her special and worthy of membership into the Wundrous Society. This would have been a miserable first year for Morrigan if not for her best friend, Hawthorne Swift the dragon rider, and Miss Cheery, Unit 919’s Conductor, who acts as a combination of bus driver and homeroom teacher and guidance counselor. Of all the newly introduced characters, she was my favorite. Her closest competition was actually Hawthorne’s parents, who reminded me of the Weasleys from Harry Potter. They were quirky and charming and utterly delightful for the few pages in which they appeared.
Morrigan is a strong, interesting young woman who is far edgier in appearance than she is on the inside, and I find her incredibly easy to cheer on. She has enough flaws to be believable while still being firmly planted on the side of good which, given her talents and situation, is laudable. I have loved seeing her grow and develop over the course of this book and the first, and I can’t wait to see how she changes in the rest of the series. Townsend has done a marvelous job with Morrigan’s voice, maintaining its consistency even as she grows and keeping a balance between her secret hopes and her completely understandable pessimism in light of the life she’s led thus far.
I remain fascinated by the land of Nevermoor in general; it sounds like such a delightfully magical place, and I would place it at the very top of the list of fictional places I would love to visit. I’m also intrigued by the Wundrous Society in particular, and was excited to learn more about them in this book. Unfortunately, I felt that the Society’s decision to hold Morrigan at arm’s length in her education kept me as a reader in the dark, as well, which was frustrating. But that’s really the only complaint I have, and the only reason I deducted a half star from my rating. I was happy that we get to spend so much more time in the Hotel Deucalion, and I loved ever minute Jupiter was present. I, like Morrigan, wished I could pin him down and make him stay longer.
Wundersmith introduced some intriguing magic and compelling new characters, while never neglecting what we had already been given in the first book. This is a world that I fell in love with immediately, and that love only seems to deepen the longer I spend there. I can’t wait to see where Townsend takes Morrigan and her Unit next, and what happens with the Deucalion and the Society and all of the wonderful characters who populate both.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The first half was quite boring! Also the more I was listening, the more I thought it could easily have been titled "Wunsoc: the villain origin of Morrigan Crow" and honestly I wound't have been mad at it! By the end of the book, I wouldn't have been surprised to see Morrigan choosing the "Dark Side". It's a Middle Grade book so of course the MC didn't choose the dark side (They would have had it coming though!)
The second half was much better! More actions, adventures, revelations. Just MUCH more interesting!
The second half was much better! More actions, adventures, revelations. Just MUCH more interesting!
A magical as the first one if not more! I pretty much enjoyed them at the same way, but I think this book a bit more.
The audio was fantastic. The narrator is wonderful with voices, she truly makes you feel part of the story, you totally believe you're near Morrigan and you're living the adventure together. I adored the music at the end of each chapter, some were so creepy I had chills.
I absolutely love these characters and this world, it's truly something else. I didn't have this much love and dedication to a series in a long long time. Jessica Townsend's writing is whimsical, magical and fun. There's not a point in the book where you feel bored or you think "well i don't really care" she doesn't let you.
I absolutely adored the new setting, to see Morrigan dealing with her being a and the prejudice that comes with it. I also loved how her friendship with Cadence evolved, and how her relationship with Jupiter, Hawthorne and Jack got deeper. It was so overwhelmingly sweet, i had so many feelings.
Squall is so compelling. I honestly believe he has so many layers, it's difficult to understand him or his intentions yet and I adore those kind of characters.
Fen is still the best and I love her.
I definitely can't wait for the third book!
The audio was fantastic. The narrator is wonderful with voices, she truly makes you feel part of the story, you totally believe you're near Morrigan and you're living the adventure together. I adored the music at the end of each chapter, some were so creepy I had chills.
I absolutely love these characters and this world, it's truly something else. I didn't have this much love and dedication to a series in a long long time. Jessica Townsend's writing is whimsical, magical and fun. There's not a point in the book where you feel bored or you think "well i don't really care" she doesn't let you.
I absolutely adored the new setting, to see Morrigan dealing with her being a
Spoiler
WundersmithSquall is so compelling. I honestly believe he has so many layers, it's difficult to understand him or his intentions yet and I adore those kind of characters.
Fen is still the best and I love her.
I definitely can't wait for the third book!