After a lifetime of being blamed for the misfortunes of others, ten year old Morrigan Crow, a cursed child, is doomed to die at the stroke of midnight on her eleventh birthday. Before she can be taken by terrifying wolves from the deadly Hunt of Smoke and Shadow, she is whisked away from her miserable existence by the colorful Jupiter North of Nevermoor. Once in her new, magical world, Morrigan is expected to compete in a series of trials for admittance into the elite Wunder Society, the only thing that can save her from certain death back home.

Townsend delivers a world rich in captivating and imaginative detail in this touching Harry Potter read-alike about finding friendship, family, and yourself. Led by the charismatic Jupiter, who is not unlike Willy Wonka, the story is full of likeable characters, as well as delightfully obnoxious adversaries. Though the villain, the Wundersmith, comes across as less than formidable – Morrigan shows more fear for the wolves who serve him – and the fright trials are anticlimactic, the series shows signs of increased darkness as it progresses. Remarkably, Townsend presents an all too real view of immigration and the dangerous nature it can have for some immigrants in a youth-friendly package that is neither preachy nor heavy-handed. An enchanting debut for middle grade fantasy fans.