Morrigan’s home in the Republic is a perfect illustration of the Terrifying House. In these stories, the house feeds on its parasitic inhabitants just as they feed on others.” The house is… too empty for its size, which implies there is no life in the structure. The inhabitants have lived off the work of others, who typically dwell in the valley below, simply because of their birth. In The Anatomy of Story, John Truby writes, “When the terrifying house is a grand Gothic hulk, an aristocratic family often inhabits it. Morrigan’s house in the Republic: the Terrifying House Octavia the arachnipod makes a delightful passageway in between. Townsend uses Morrigan’s house in the Republic as a contrast to the Hotel Deucalion, her home in the Free State, to reinforce the story. Townsend uses Truby’s described “fish out of water” technique to show that Morrigan was an outcast in the Republic for the same reasons that made her a hero in the Free State. Morrigan hasn’t heard of the Free State or the Wundrous Society, but passing the four trials to become a member is her best chance for staying in the Free State and escaping from the torturous life she had in the Republic. However, when the New Age begins a year early, Morrigan escapes the Republic with the jaunty Jupiter North, a man from the Free State who has sponsored her as a pledge for the Wunder Society. She expects to die on her twelfth birthday, the expected dawn of the New Age. Nevermoor is the story of Morrigan Crow, a cursed child and daughter of the Chancellor of the Wintersea Republic.
Jessica Townsend’s book Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow is a great case study for how to do this. Phone orders min p&p of £1.In Chapter 6 of his book The Anatomy of Story, John Truby talks about building a story world that reinforces the story you’re telling. Free UK p&p over £10, online orders only. To order a copy for £11.04 go to or call 03. Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend is published by Orion (£12.99). It’s very firmly the first in a series – readers finish the book with as many questions as they started – but few will be disappointed: there’s still a whole Wundrous world to discover in future books. Add to this clever plotting, irresistibly quirky humour, a truly treacherous villain, and real heart in Morrigan’s quest for courage, hope and identity. Spectacular set pieces like the Fright Trial and the Battle of Christmas Eve lend a deliciously cinematic feel to her writing. And what a world it is: from the surreal Hotel Deucalion to giant Magnifi-cats and the Tube-inspired Wunderground transport system, Townsend’s vibrant world-building is what really sets Nevermoor apart. Once the mist rises over Nevermoor’s silver gates, a Wizard of Oz-style technicolor transformation takes place. Don’t be fooled by the gothic opening chapters.
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