Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow: Nevermoor 4

By Jessica Townsend

Reviewed by Helen Gearing

Sunshine Coast author Jessica Townsend explores themes of family belonging, secrecy, and shame in the gripping fourth installment of her middle-grade fantasy series Nevermoor.

‘Silverborn’ sidesteps from high fantasy to murder mystery as 13-year old Morrigan Crow meets her long-lost extended family – high-ranking members of the fabulously wealthy Silver District. Desperate to understand her mother’s past, Morrigan ignores her beloved guardian’s advice and seizes the opportunity to connect, embroiling herself in the privileged, and ruthless, machinations of Nevermore’s mysterious elite. And when a member of the Silver District is murdered, Morrigan is determined to find the killer before suspicion turns on her, an outsider with mysterious powers.

Increasingly isolated from her school community and adopted family by a dreadful secret, Morrigan must decide who to trust before the current Age moves into its next phase and the entire city is vulnerable to a new, devastating danger.

Silverborn takes a significant detour from the overarching series plot while providing fascinating insights into Morrigan’s backstory. There are many new characters, all interesting and well-rounded, but fans may miss time spent with their old favourites at the dazzling Deucalion Hotel (Morrigan’s home for the past three years) which only makes a brief appearance, as does her school academy.

Having said this, Morrigan is growing up – she turns 14 in this book – and finding her own way in new spheres outside the protection offered by school and home seems an appropriate direction for Townsend to explore.

Readers 10 years and older will thoroughly enjoy this engaging mystery, which Townsend keeps fast-paced throughout all 663 pages (a significant increase in length from previous titles in the series).

Teacher Resources

Lothian Children’s Books 2025