If this series had existed when I was ten or so, I would have been so obsessed with it. It would have been right up there with Percy Jackson and Fablehaven for me, in terms of the best fantasy series. As it is, I still really enjoy this series and think that more middle grade kids should read it!

In Silverborn, the fourth installment in the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend, Morrigan is struggling with various problems. Although the Hollowpox sickness has been resolved among the wunnimals of the land, Morrigan’s control over her powers has yet to stabilize. She wants to learn more, wants to be able to harness the power she knows is accessible to her—but to do so, she has to team up with Ezra Squall, the only other known Wundersmith still alive. However, his reputation as the most dangerous foe of Nevermoor means that Morrigan has to complete these lessons in secret. And lying to her friends and family is taking its toll. Worse still, relatives of Morrigan’s late mother have reached out and want to make a relationship with Morrigan, who isn’t quite sure how to feel. Then, a murder occurs at her aunt’s wedding, throwing Nevermoor once again into chaos—although Morrigan is sure that she can solve this crime, and hopefully fix all her problems.

Okay, before we truly begin, I have to establish something: If there are one hundred fans of Jupiter North, I’m one of them. If there are ten, I’m one of them. If there are zero fans left, then I am no longer on this planet. He is the LOVE of my LIFE.

Anyway, while it should now be pretty obvious who my favorite character is, first let me talk about Morrigan. I forgot how much I like her! I recently reread the previous book, Hollowpox, to refresh myself on the world, characters, etc., since it’s been around five years since it was published. And doing so reminded me just how fun this world is. It’s full of adventure and whimsy and so many clever characters, including our protagonist. She’s so witty and smart, and I love seeing her learn and grow. And this book brings in some excellent angst and drama, which makes sense as she’s a young teenager now.

However, it isn’t all just teen angst. Morrigan faces some difficult decisions, mostly in terms of her family. As she discovers, her obscenely rich relatives and she don’t always see eye to eye, and yet she feels drawn to their affection, since she’s never really experienced familial love before. So for her to fight back against Jupiter’s worry that they aren’t good for her makes perfect sense; of course she’d be drawn to these people who promise to take care of her. In fact, everything about the ensuing arguments with Jupiter make sense, adding a realistic and grounded conflict among all the magic of this world.

And really, Jupiter is by far the best character in this book (well, and this series). On the surface, he’s a flamboyant, wacky character, but also clearly brave, capable, and caring. And the conflict with Morrigan, the wedge that is driven between them, is so heartbreaking because it’s so evident how much he wants to protect her. I’m genuinely obsessed with how it pans out, and the lessons that are presented about what the nature of family is. I could scream from the rooftops for days about Jupiter, and about his bond with Morrigan, but luckily I’ll show a little restraint.

Along with learning more about Jupiter, Townsend does an admirable job in shedding light on certain elements from the first book. It demonstrates a lot of foresight in the plotting, and I’m highly impressed. And even though it’s been years since I read that book, I was never confused about any revelations in this one, because she took the time to explain in a way that felt organic rather than a sort of “previously on Nevermoor” kind of narration. I’m impressed.

I’m further impressed with how the murder mystery was integrated into the family drama, how Morrigan’s lessons with Squall affected her relationships with her friends, and how her friendships informed her family dynamics. Everything is woven together so well, and while yes, there’s a lot going on, it all just works. Moreover, the murder mystery on its own is gripping, as it involves various interesting suspects, class dynamics, and dragons! Frankly, I couldn’t ask for anything else from a murder mystery.

In the end, I feel like I only talked about a fraction of what makes Silverborn so good. There are so many funny moments, as well as heartfelt ones. The magic Morrigan learns is so cool, and even the politics of Nevermoor are intriguing. The side characters (shoutout to Hawthorne and Cadence especially) are personable and fun, even the unlikable ones. And the themes of found family and standing up for justice elevate this book even above its predecessors. I can’t believe how underrated this series is, and more kids need to read it! It’s one of the best middle grade fantasy series I’ve ever read!

Silverborn is available now!