Wundersmith

January 1, 2019
In Nevermoor, Morrigan learned she's a Wundersmith, able to summon and shape the magical substance that flows all around. But the only other living Wundersmith is so evil that the Wundrous Society teachers now refuse to train Morrigan. Townsend stacks hazard upon peril for her beleaguered characters in this magical world, ensuring that the high-stakes action will keep fans riveted. Illustrated with occasional black-and-white spot art.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2019
Having been admitted to the Wundrous Society in Nevermoor (rev. 9/17), Morrigan Crow now faces another problem: her fellow scholars don't trust her, and while they're off learning exciting lessons such as Treasure Diving for Beginners and Bomb-Defusing Basics, Morrigan is confined to the boring and punitive History of Heinous Wundrous Acts. Morrigan's knack ?although she can't yet control it?is that she's a Wundersmith, able to summon and shape the magical substance that flows all around and through the Free State. But the only other living Wundersmith, the exiled Ezra Squall, is so evil and powerful that Morrigan's teachers refuse to train her as a Wundersmith lest she turn out the same way. Jupiter North, charismatic hotelier and Morrigan's mentor, believes in her and tries to find examples of good Wundersmiths for her to follow, but Jupiter is frequently called away to look into a rash of recent abductions, leaving Morrigan to fend for herself. Readers delighted by Nevermoor's zany absurdities and enchanting incongruities will welcome further peeks into this magical world; meanwhile, author Townsend knows how to stack hazard upon peril for her beleaguered characters, ensuring that the high-stakes action will keep fans on the edge of their seats as Morrigan faces down Ezra Squall and learns of an even greater danger not yet revealed. Illustrated with occasional black-and-white spot art. anita l. burkam

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Starred review from October 15, 2018
The tests are over; now it's time to get down to business.Morrigan Crow returns in this thrilling second installment of the Nevermoor series. Townsend picks up almost immediately where she left off and introduces readers to Morrigan's fellow scholars in Unit 919, a group of nine students who made it through the trials and tribulations of the first book. Although skin tone is not discussed, the group is implied to be ethnically diverse based on naming convention. Equally diverse are the talents, or "knacks," of these individuals, ranging from the previously introduced Cadence's mesmerism to Lambeth's "short-range orac[ular]" powers. This motley group must come together as one while learning all they can as members of the Wundrous Society. Morrigan (who presents white) is also tasked with attempting to control her Wundersmith abilities while learning about the (potentially dubious) history of past Wundersmiths. Townsend's sophomore endeavor once again fully immerses her readers in a world that intermixes the magic of the Emerald City with Howl's pithiness, Percy Jackson's humor, Coraline's darkness, and perhaps a dash of the depravity of Katniss' District One. Fantasy fans will not be disappointed. Savvy readers will appreciate how the themes of otherness, group privilege, prejudice, and activism are masterfully interwoven into the overall plot. The only sad spot in an otherwise enjoyable text is the hanging question: How long until Book 3 comes out?A worthy title that deserves a spot on the fantasy shelves. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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