Instead of prompt writing, I'm doing a book review (book rave? book praise? should I name these something else considering these are definitely not proper reviews?), seems par for the course. I joke, but I actually wanted to talk about this book, well, it's entire series.
I recently went to the book release for Silverborn, the fourth book in the series. It involved an interview conversation, some Q&A and you bet I got my brand new copy of the book signed. Jessica Townsend is an Australian author too, so I love the local spirit. She's amazing, funny and also incredibly honest. Because of course a few of the audience members were aspiring authors and if she couldn't answer a question about writing, she'd admit it before giving advice the best way she knew how. It was educational and inspiring.
Now, on to why everyone should read the series.
For the most part, yes these are children's books. But let's be honest, most adult reader's still have a little kid inside them somewhere. A side of us that loves a good adventure story. (As a side note, to any parents, I do recommend this book for your children, and the teacher librarian in me must insist an age limit of 11+).
There's the premise of this little girl who is cursed and is destined to die at midnight on her eleventh birthday. Logically we know the main character can't die, but boy you certainly wonder how she's going to get out of it.
Get out of it, she does, but barely. And then she finds herself in this magical city she's never heard of before called Nevermoor. Honestly, I think I want to live there. The magic is in every pore of this city and this book series. I love everything that Jessica Townsend has done to bring this world to life.
This story has the unique magic yes, but that isn't all that this story is about. There's that little girl who thought she was going to die finding not only a new family, but she finds herself as well. She also finds herself living in the kind of Hotel I would love to live in.
Okay, another joke aside, Morrigan Crow goes through the ringer, and while she doesn't quite come out the other end entirely unscathed, she does come out. The point is that if she wants to stay in this city, she needs to complete four trials to join the Wundrous Society. If she doesn't, she will return to the damning fate she escaped. Okay yes, it can get a little dark, but it's still a kids book, so stay calm.
There is also such an eclectic collection of characters that you're sure to have more than one favourite.
Jessica says that she writes these books because she loves the world she's created, she believes in writing a story for herself to love and everyone else who loves it is just a bonus. And it shows how much she loves this series, you can feel the passion and energy that goes into every word. Maybe that means it takes longer for release, but let's be honest, you can't rush a quality book.
This was basically a rant and maybe some of the reasons I gave aren't the kind of things that draw you in, but I'll just say this. Read it. There, I'm ordering you to now. No excuses.
Okay, if you like middle grade fantasy that is incredibly well written, then you definitely have no reason to say no.
