Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow
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| Products | Books |
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow is a 2020 novel authored by Jessica Townsend and published by Little, Brown and Company. As the third book in The Nevermoor series, it debuted on September 29 in Australia, followed by releases on October 15 in the United Kingdom and October 27 in the United States. The narrative continues Morrigan Crow’s journey—a girl cursed yet rescued from death by Jupiter North—as she grapples with her formidable Wundersmith abilities that threaten to consume her. The story is succeeded by Silverborn: The Mystery of Morrigan Crow, which was published in Australia and New Zealand on April 30, 2025, with subsequent launches in the UK and US during May and June 2025.
Characters
- Morrigan Crow: a young Wundersmith who was saved from an untimely death by Jupiter North; she possesses the power to manipulate wunder, a magical energy.
- Jupiter North: Morrigan’s guardian and proprietor of the Hotel Deucalion; a member of the Wundrous Society gifted with the 'Witness' knack, enabling him to perceive tangible manifestations of thoughts and memories.
- Hawthorne Swift: Morrigan’s closest companion, a dragon rider affiliated with Unit 919 within the Wundrous Society.
- Marina Cheery: conductor of Unit 919’s train home and acquaintance of librarian Roshni Singh.
- Rook: Scholar Mistress at the School of Wundrous Arts, capable of altering her appearance and demeanor; also known as Ms Dearborn and Ms Murgatroyd.
- Sofia and Conall O'Leary: pupils at the School of Wundrous Arts; Sofia specializes as a Foxwun Major with an undisclosed knack, while Conall possesses clairvoyant abilities.
- Ezra Squall: the sole surviving Wundersmith besides Morrigan, exiled due to a prior massacre; he aims to take Morrigan as his apprentice, succeeding during the events of Hollowpox.
- Fenestra: a colossal talking cat (Magnificat) who manages housekeeping at Hotel Deucalion, noted for her fiery temperament.
- Unit 919: among the youngest units in the Wundrous Society, including members such as Morrigan and Hawthorne:
- Francis John Fitzwilliam: a culinary expert who evokes emotions through his cooking.
- Mahir Ibrahim: a linguist fluent in thirty-nine languages.
- Thaddea Millicent Macleod: an accomplished combatant.
- Lambeth Amara (Princess Lamya Bethari Amati Ra): an oracle specializing in short-range foresight.
- Anah Kahlo: a skilled medical student.
- Cadence Lenore Blackburn: a mesmerist with mind control capabilities that cause others to forget her presence; only Morrigan remains unaffected.
- Archan Tate: proficient pickpocket.
Plot
On the final day of their inaugural year at the Wundrous Society, Unit 919 participates in an introductory course titled Containment & Distraction to prepare for more demanding classes ahead. During a Society assembly, volunteers are requested to assist in controlling the population of the Nevermoorian Scaly Sewer Beast as it nears breeding season. Unexpectedly, Thaddea steps forward, while leader Gavin Squires collaborates with Holliday Wu from Public Distraction to devise strategies aimed at diverting non-Wundrous citizens’ attention to prevent widespread alarm. Concurrently, at Hotel Deucalion, Jupiter prepares an elaborate cake for Morrigan while noting that Christmas approaches. During the festive parade, Morrigan encounters Hawthorne; later, on a bus journey with his family, Hawthorne’s toddler sister suffers an attack by a Leopardwun—a leopard-like Wunimal. Following this event, Morrigan notices unusual behavior from Fenestra. At Christmas dinner, Dame Chanda Kali discloses that her favorite designer was once a Wunimal resembling Fenestra, causing unease among hotel personnel.
The first school day after New Year introduces new instructor Rosenfeld, who escorts Morrigan to the School of Wundrous Arts where students hone abilities such as Professor Onstald's time-stopping techniques and study Wundersmith lore. There, Morrigan meets educators Conall and Sofia. She confronts dangers from aggressive Bearwuns and witnesses Dame Chanda Kali attacked by a Horsewun; both victims exhibit an eerie green glow in their eyes. Dame Chanda explains that although Wunimals were historically regarded as inferior beings, they are now threatened by "Hollowpox," a virus exclusive to them that induces aggression and catatonia. As infections escalate, Jupiter and Jack employ their Witness talents to track infected Wunimals while Unit 919 persists with their lessons. Morrigan increasingly retreats to the School of Wundrous Arts where she discovers The Book of Ghostly Hours, granting her access to experiences of previous Wundersmiths.
Classes focusing on disruption and distraction grow more intense with tasks involving inciting panic or orchestrating thefts without detection. Miss Cheery proposes a visit to the Golbeian Library—a vast pocket-dimension repository—where Morrigan intends to pilfer an unabridged tome favorable to Wundersmiths. During this excursion, they are assaulted by insects emerging from within a book; amidst the turmoil, the Wunimal Colin contracts Hollowpox. They manage to escape but incur the wrath of librarian Roshni Singh. Senator Laurent St James initiates an anti-Wunimal campaign advocating for their confinement or prohibition from city venues—alarming both Morrigan and Hotel Deucalion staff. After inadvertently revealing her Wundersmith powers publicly, St James discredits her claims and offers a reward for evidence confirming her abilities. This forces Morrigan deeper into training at the School of Wondrous Arts where she masters the Inferno Art and encounters The Kindling, a deity revered within Wunder society who acknowledges her proficiency.
Upon returning to campus level Sub-Nine, Morrigan discovers Sofia afflicted with Hollowpox. Fenestra confides that she shelters Wunimals fleeing from Wintersea Republic—Morrigan’s home state where these creatures lack rights—and Morrigan suspects that Hollowpox originated there; Fenestra denies this assertion. Traveling through the Gossamer portal to Wintersea Republic, Morrigan meets President Maud Lowry who admits to developing a Hollowpox antidote and promises its distribution throughout Nevermoor and Free State. Visiting Crow Manor reveals Morrigan’s half-brothers Guntram and Wolfram playing with her childhood stuffed rabbit Emmett. Prime Minister Gideon Steed nearly encounters Lowry but misses her; meanwhile, Squall reveals that Lowry commissioned him to engineer Hollowpox.
With Squall’s assistance, Morrigan combats the virus despite nearly succumbing amid converging infected Wunimals. She awakens two days later in hospital surrounded by allies including Hawthorne, Cadence, Fenestra, and Jupiter. Observing some Wunimals recovering as ordinary animals—some retaining intelligence while others do not—and others remaining unresponsive, she confronts Squall. He asserts recovery is impossible but agrees to undo Hollowpox if she consents to become his apprentice. Accepting this condition, Morrigan signs a contract binding her to Squall’s mentorship before returning to Hotel Deucalion for recuperation.
Development
Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow was released in September and October 2020 across Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Originally intended for an early 2020 launch, the publication experienced two postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ultimately arriving in the latter part of 2020. With a total of 560 pages, it stands as the lengthiest entry in The Nevermoor series to date.
Reviews
The platform Better Reading characterized Hollowpox as "a fast-paced thriller" that delves into ethical challenges and societal values, labeling it the "darkest" installment within the series so far. MuggleNet commended Townsend's "boundless" creativity and emphasized Morrigan Crow’s dual nature as both vulnerable and formidable. BookTopia highlighted the narrative style and storyline as "immensely enjoyable," featuring "unexpected twists and surprising revelations" that enrich the plot. Olivia Farr from Books Central drew favorable comparisons between the series and Harry Potter, underscoring its captivating and magical elements. Another critique described Hollowpox as "enchanting and delightfully whimsical."
Awards
In 2020, Hollowpox: The Hunt for Morrigan Crow secured the Waterstones Children's Book Prize and was shortlisted for the 2021 Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year in the younger children’s category (ages 7–12).
Sequels
Serving as the third book in The Nevermoor series, Hollowpox is set to be succeeded by a fourth novel. In May 2019, Hachette Book Group revealed plans for fifth and sixth volumes, with author Jessica Townsend expressing excitement about further expanding the series. Additionally, Townsend has disclosed intentions to write three more books beyond the originally announced six.