logo
Nevermoor's Jessica Townsend on frantic fans, her fantasy smash hit – and feeling ‘gutted' by JK Rowling

Nevermoor's Jessica Townsend on frantic fans, her fantasy smash hit – and feeling ‘gutted' by JK Rowling

The Guardian11-05-2025

Jessica Townsend feels for George RR Martin. The author of the bestselling middle-grade fantasy series Nevermoor has just released the fourth instalment, Silverborn, two-and-a-half years after it was supposed to come out in October 2022. Readers who were nine when the third book, Hollowpox, was released in 2020 had become full-blown teenagers by the time Silverborn hit bookshops in April. Townsend is now wryly mortified to be 'One those authors where people are just tapping their watches and being like, 'Excuse me!'
'I had to turn off social media for a period,' she admits over Zoom from her home on the Sunshine Coast, where she lives with her two spaniels Vyvyan and Rik. 'I was getting so many well-meaning nudges of 'Where's the book?' I'm not having a fun time, guys. I'm not on a cruise. I promise you I'm in agony.'
It took her a decade to write the first book, Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow, about a cursed girl who escapes into a magical realm. Then, in a whirlwind aspiring authors dream of, it became the focus of a bidding war between eight different publishers. It has sold more than 400,000 copies in the English language alone since it was published in 2017. The sequel, Wundersmith, followed a year later.
Fantasy novels are given to heft and complexity at the best of times, and Townsend adds extra layers by incorporating genre elements. Wundersmith was a wizard-school story; Hollowpox was an outbreak story, with nods to zombie tropes. Silverborn weaves in a full-blown murder mystery – which is partly why it took longer than expected. Townsend says she gained a hard-won new respect for how many moving parts the genre involves. 'I mean, what was I thinking?' she laughs.
Nevermoor is a sprawling old city – inspired by Townsend's years living in London – full of sentient buildings, anthropomorphic animals, and not one but two magical rail systems. We discover it through the eyes of Morrigan, who has grown up in a grim town knowing she's cursed to die on her 12th birthday. Rescued and smuggled into Nevermoor by her patron, the gloriously ginger adventurer and hotelier Jupiter North, she trains to join the prestigious Wundrous Society, whose members wrangle the magical forces and phenomena throughout the city.
Morrigan finds herself making friends and settling into her new life, albeit gradually. While she's deeply empathetic and kind under her spiky, distrustful exterior, she's still a product of a traumatic childhood. Townsend has been careful not to suggest that a lifetime of conditioning can be cured by befriending enormous talking cats or having superpowers. 'I didn't want Nevermoor to be, 'Your problems are solved! Everything's magical and fine now,'' she says. 'Obviously there have to be dangers [and complications].' There are standard fantasy-fare monsters and hidden threats, as well as more quotidian dangers: 'Sometimes the monsters are in plain sight, and sometimes they're politicians,' says Townsend.
Townsend had planned Hollowpox as an outbreak novel well before the global pandemic that coincided with its release; despite her initial panic, parents told her the story of a terrifying new disease and how different people respond to it had actually helped their children make sense of what was happening. Other fans asked Townsend if she was evoking the Aids epidemic in her depiction of a brutal and dehumanising disease that affected only an already marginalised group.
Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning
'I wasn't saying 'How can I represent the Aids crisis in a fantasy children's book?'' she says. 'But we unfortunately have no shortage in history, and in our current world, of groups that are being oppressed in this way.'
Townsend, who identifies as queer, has lightly seeded the books with what she calls 'ambient' representation: a female teacher with an ex-girlfriend; a pair of aunts with a husband and a wife between them. She hoots with laughter recounting the occasional message from 'some silly goose' berating her for the very mention of same-sex relationships in a book for kids. 'When I was a kid … if it wasn't a coming out story or a story of queer struggle or a bullying story, [queerness] didn't make the reality of any fictional worlds that we were swimming in,' she says. 'As a queer adult, it's so funny to me when people tell me that I don't belong in the world I created. What a ridiculous thing … I can find it funny because I am a secure, openly queer adult, but there are children reading my books [for whom] there are so many voices that are shouting that it is not OK to be you.'
Townsend is going into her press tour for Silverborn at a time when the world's most famous children's author, JK Rowling, is publicly railing against the rights of trans people.
Sign up to Saved for Later
Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips
after newsletter promotion
'I'm very happy to be quite blunt about it: I'm gutted. It is so upsetting and it's so perplexing, and I will never understand it,' she says. But Rowling's ugly crusade has only reinforced Townsend's innate sense of duty towards the 'tiny brains and hearts' in her audience.
'I do feel a responsibility to make sure that every kid knows that they have a place in Nevermoor,' she says firmly. 'Some of these kids are going to grow up to be queer adults, and some of them already know that about themselves.'
As in much YA fantasy, the idea of chosen or found family is central to Morrigan's story. 'People love [the found-family trope] because we are not all fortunate enough to find that soft place in the family that we're born into,' Townsend says. 'I have a great family, but I also know plenty of people who don't. And it's desperately important, I think, especially in kids' books, to show that the family you were born into, if they are not the one, it doesn't mean that you will not find that soft place in the world somewhere.'
The great gift of stories, for Townsend, is that they help equip kids with a greater capacity to put themselves in others' shoes. 'I always talk about imagination when I'm talking to kids in schools,' she says. 'Imagination is so important, it gives us ingenuity, inventions, blah, blah, blah – but it also … allows us to grow those empathy muscles. Reading as a child helps you become a more empathetic adult.'
Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow is out now in Australia (Hachette) and the UK (Orion), and in the US on 24 June (Little, Brown). Jessica Townsend is touring Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in May and June.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Morning Mail: Aukus in doubt as Pentagon reviews pact; Beach Boy Brian Wilson dies, Australia fight back at Lord's
Morning Mail: Aukus in doubt as Pentagon reviews pact; Beach Boy Brian Wilson dies, Australia fight back at Lord's

The Guardian

time27 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Morning Mail: Aukus in doubt as Pentagon reviews pact; Beach Boy Brian Wilson dies, Australia fight back at Lord's

Morning everyone. The Pentagon dropped a metaphorical bomb this morning, with the news it is launching a review of the Aukus pact, central to Australia's defence policy for the next 50 years, to check whether it is 'America first'. Meanwhile the mayor of Los Angeles has accused the Trump administration of provoking six days of unrest as part of an 'experiment', as other American cities prepare for protests. And the world is mourning the death of Brian Wilson, the creative force behind the Beach Boys. At home, Choice has exposed the shortcomings of some suncreen brands, and research shows we're listening to less homegrown music. Plus: Australia's men's cricket team fought back strongly at Lord's. Tuned out | The international success of acts such as the Kid Laroi and Amyl and the Sniffers (pictured) is not translating into more listens for homegrown talent, new research shows, with only 8% of the top 10,000 artists streamed in Australia in 2024 from these shores. AI push | Australia must 'lean in hard' to the benefits of artificial intelligence or else risk ending up 'on the end of somebody else's supply chain', according to the new industry and science minister, Tim Ayres. Methanol hope | Australian researchers have developed a prototype methanol 'breathalyser' capable of detecting small concentrations of the toxic substance in alcoholic drinks or on someone's breath. Zero sum | The financial cost to reach net zero by 2050 may shape the Coalition's decision on whether to retain or abandon the target, says the new shadow minister, Dan Tehan. Screen test | Some of Australia's most popular sunscreens, including some made by Bondi Sands, Banana Boat and the Cancer Council, are falling short of the level of skin protection on the bottle, a Choice investigation has found. Vale Brian Wilson | Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys musician, songwriter and producer who created some of the greatest pop music ever made, has died aged 82. Wilson was the creative force behind songs such as California Girls, Good Vibrations and God Only Knows. Aukus review | The Pentagon has launched a review of the Aukus submarine and defence agreement to make sure it is aligned with Trump's 'America first' agenda, throwing the $240bn defence pact with Britain and Australia into doubt. Trump 'experiment' | US immigration officials have increased 'enforcement activity' in California's agricultural heartland and the mayor of Los Angeles accused the White House of trying to test federal power as the conflict between the state and Donald Trump's administration intensifies. Follow developments live as other US cities brace for protests. Trump's show of force in LA was years in the making, experts have claimed, while the rightwing media has stepped behind the administration to attack the protesters as 'invaders'. China deal | Donald Trump has endorsed the US-China trade deal struck in London that will ramp up supplies of rare earth minerals and magnets needed for the automotive industry, saying it will take total tariffs on Beijing to 55%. Gaza tragedy | A Palestinian doctor whose husband and nine of her 10 children were killed by an Israeli strike has been evacuated from Gaza, bound for Italy with her only surviving child. The shocking death toll from inaction in prisons Ariel Bogle and Christopher Knaus speak to Reged Ahmad about why warnings about ligature points in prisons are still being ignored and what it will take to stop preventable deaths. Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen $ In today's Grogonomics column, Greg Jericho delivers an impassioned plea that Labor's attempts to change superannuation tax concessions should be just the start of a concerted effort to reduce wealth inequality. With his illuminating graphs, Jericho argues that wealthy people oppose the changes because they're worried the rest of us will realise the system is rigged. When he became involved in setting up an animal sanctuary in the Indonesian jungle, Warren Ellis was a bit concerned he might come across as a 'Bono-like, grandstanding' figure. But the legendary musician need not have worried as a new film about the project reveals his life from Ballarat to sanctuary in Sumatra. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Cricket | Australia endured a topsy-turvy opening day of the World Test Championship at Lord's after they were skittled for 212 in two-and-a-half sessions before Mitchell Starc helped reduce the Proteas to 43-4 in reply. Football | The expansion of the World Cup means more teams from the Asian section in the US – and, as Australia's dramatic run shows, it has made for a more exciting qualifying competition. Plus, how Jordan qualified for the first time. Rugby union | The British & Irish Lions are confident the veteran tighthead prop Tadhg Furlong will be fit for their Australian tour despite some injury concerns. Investors, lawyers and governance experts say three major issues at Monash IVF require answers from management, the Age reports. A pizza maker in western Sydney can claim to be the best in the world after wining an international competition, the Telegraph reports. The city of Adelaide claims there is more parking than ever, but traders tell the Advertiser they think the council is waging a 'war on cars'. Business | Asic chair Joe Longo gives a speech and Q&A to the American Chamber of Commerce in Sydney at 12pm. Prisons | ABS figures on adult prisoners and community based corrections. Sydney | Speech on 'Trump and the West' at the Lowy Institute by John Hamre of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. If you would like to receive this Morning Mail update to your email inbox every weekday, sign up here, or finish your day with our Afternoon Update newsletter. You can follow the latest in US politics by signing up for This Week in Trumpland. And finally, here are the Guardian's crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow. Quick crossword Cryptic crossword If you have a story tip or technical issue viewing this newsletter, please reply to this email. If you are a Guardian supporter and need assistance with regards to contributions and/or digital subscriptions, please email

MAFS star reveals she was cruelly mum-shamed at son's sports day after giving him an ‘unhealthy' lunch
MAFS star reveals she was cruelly mum-shamed at son's sports day after giving him an ‘unhealthy' lunch

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

MAFS star reveals she was cruelly mum-shamed at son's sports day after giving him an ‘unhealthy' lunch

A MARRIED At First Sight star has revealed she was cruelly mum-shamed at her son's school after she opted to give him an unhealthy lunch. MAFS AU bride Cyrell Paule took to her Instagram stories to reveal the shock in-person encounter which happened during her child's sports day. 4 4 The reality TV star revealed she had been sick all week and had been struggling to make a packed lunch for her child to take with him to school. Her illness even left her debating whether to bother to go and watch her son during his sports day at all after being left feeling so run down. As a result, she told how when she did manage to make it along to his school, she decided to buy him a McDonald's for his lunch after being unable to make him anything healthier. But she was soon bashed by another mum who shamed her for feeding her son fast-food during a sports day. On Instagram, Cyrell wrote: "Today I was mummu shamed... at least that's how it felt." She then spoke to the camera, in which she said: "By the time it was lunch time, I thought, do you know what, there is a Maccas [McDonald's] down the road. "I was so sick and so yeah, I won't lie, I didn't really pack him a suitable lunch for a sports carnival. "He didn't have the carrots or a cut-up cucumber. "One kid close-by was saying like, 'ah yum I love nuggets, I had McDonald's the other day,' but the mum was like, 'you aren't getting McDonald's today, you are at a sports carnival, you are not supposed to be eating that'. "Dude, yes I admit it is a lazy lunch and I could probably have done better but you know what, I don't need you to tell me I am doing a s*** job." MAFS star Sacha shows off new nose after surgery She then said: "So to all the mums out there who feel like what your doing isn't enough, you do you. "Stop judging each others parenting, no one knows your child or your situation. "Do what makes your family happy." The former healthcare assistant shot to fame on the 6th season of the Aussie show that was filmed back in 2018. She became a mother to her baby boy Boston on February 9 2020. His father is Love Island Australia star Eden who she met at a party in March 2019. On MAFS, she was married to Nic Jovanović. After an explosive relationship, the pair called it quits before filming wrapped after a series of arguments. Things then got messy back in March 2019 when Cyrell said on Instagram that dating Nic was a 'huge' mistake. Commenting on Nic's height, the fan wrote: 'He looks huge', to which Cyrell replied: 'Yeah he is huge... a huge mistake.' She also accused her ex of flirting with MAFS co-star Jessika Power throughout filming, but he denied this. 4 4

Farmer Wants A Wife triumphs in TV ratings war as the reality show trashes the competition leaving MasterChef in the dust
Farmer Wants A Wife triumphs in TV ratings war as the reality show trashes the competition leaving MasterChef in the dust

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Farmer Wants A Wife triumphs in TV ratings war as the reality show trashes the competition leaving MasterChef in the dust

Seven's Farmer Wants a Wife has triumphed in Tuesday's overnight TV ratings war. The wholesome dating show scored an impressive total national audience of 853,000 viewers. Over on Nine the latest season of Lego Masters Australian managed a far less impressive rating with a total of 741,000 tuning in to the quirky contest. MasterChef Australia on the 10 Network managed 648,000 - a slight improvement from this time last week when it won 619,000 viewers. The ratings numbers for the national average combine the audience watching on broadcast and as well as viewer-on-demand in metro and regional areas. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Over on Nine the latest season of Lego Masters Australia (pictured) managed a far less impressive rating with a total of 741,000 tuning in to the quirky contest It comes after eagle-eyed Farmer Wants A Wife fans have noticed a striking resemblance between a woman appearing on this year's series and an iconic Hollywood star. Fans have taken to social media to point out that Farmer Jack's potential match Olivia looks remarkably like former Hollywood child star Mara Wilson. Wilson, 37, had an incredible career as a child star in the early '90s, appearing in Mrs Doubtfire with Robin Williams and Matilda with Danny DeVito. 'Olivia is the adult version of Matilda,' commented one fan. 'For sure! How uncanny,' wrote another before a third added: 'I see this every time she talks.' Meanwhile, one of the country boys faced a major life decision on Tuesday night. The question of whether or not Farmer Jack's love interest Olivia wants children became an important discussion for the pair and their budding romance. Olivia took the opportunity to clarify the conversation she'd previously had with Jack, 26, saying having a family was all about timing. 'I don't want kids right now, but I have seen the possibility of kids in the past with a previous partner, so I know that's possible for me if I'm with someone,' Olivia said. The 27-year-old added that she didn't want to be defined solely as a mother. Jack was pleased to hear Olivia speak about family still being on her radar and asked her outside. The pair shared a one-on-one chat which led to their first kiss. Knowing that Sarah and Olivia were now his top two contenders, Jack asked Hayley outside to break the sad news to her – she would be going home at the end of the night. While past seasons have ended with heartwarming updates and countryside lovebirds riding off into the sunset, this year's reunion promises fireworks, behind-the-scenes truths, and a few very awkward catch-ups. In a major spoiler for fans, Daily Mail Australia can reveal that Farmer Jack ends up choosing Sarah – and the couple are already making big plans for their future. An insider close to production spills: 'Jack and Sarah were inseparable by the end. She's planning to move down to Tasmania to live on his farm full time. They're the real deal.' While their romance flew under the radar for much of the season, sources say their chemistry became undeniable behind the scenes.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store