Morrigan Crow has finally found a place to call home.
Spending her days with her Wundrous Society classmates, and her evenings with the inhabitants of the magical Hotel Deucalion, Morrigan can now focus on her real task: mastering her growing Wundersmith powers.
But something strange is happening in Nevermoor. Well, stranger than usual.
Nevermoor’s peaceful Wunimals are turning feral. A disease dubbed Hollowpox stalks them, reducing them to vicious, violent creatures, and, as the virus spreads, panic soon sets in. While fear and intolerance of the Wunimals (infected or otherwise) rises, Morrigan faces an uneasy truth – the Wundrous Society might not be all it appears. And, worse still, it might be up to her to stop the Hollowpox in its devastating tracks.
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow is the third installment in Jessica Townsend‘s Nevermoor series. Picking up where Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow left off, it’s accessible enough to allow readers to dive straight into book three without prior reading. But, honestly, why deprive yourself of more Nevermoor?
After a delayed release, returning to Nevermoor is – as always – a delight. Charming and unapologetically whimsical, Townsend’s latest offers escapism in its sweetest, most engaging form – even with a pandemic plotline that, talking animals aside, feels all too real.
It’s pure coincidence, a planned turn in the tale that predates our current global climate, but it certainly does add some sort of edge to proceedings. And given the younger target audience of the series, it will likely open up some interesting conversations for families trying to navigate their kids through the pandemics and politics of 2020.
At the centre of it all sits Morrigan, who carries the series with resounding character and strength. She’s compellingly written and bursting with personality, anchoring all Townsend’s glorious might and magic with her journey towards acceptance and found family.
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow is packed with all the magic, humour, and heart that readers have come to expect from the collection so far. It’s another home run for Townsend and her wonderfully crafted heroine. Filled with twists and turns, and bolstered by a truly terrific cast of characters, Morrigan Crow’s winning streak continues.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Jessica Townsend’s Hollopox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow is out now, published by Hachette. Grab your copy from Booktopia HERE.
Read our review of Wundersmith: The Calling of Morrigan Crow HERE.
