| Title | : | Midnight Magic (Midnight Magic, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 1999 |
Midnight Magic (Midnight Magic, #2) Reviews
-
Reread as part of my ongoing shelf audit. Verdict: Clever, and I can see why I loved it as a kid, but probably not something I'd reread again. I'll send it into the used book world where a young reader can enjoy it.
I did keep having to check myself to remember that this wasn't a Lloyd Alexander book - it has a very similar cast to several of his (well-meaning but clueless male protagonist, clever princess, scheming royal advisor, wise mentor) and a very similar plot - all of which are archetypes which extend beyond these authors, of course, but since I've been rereading old favorites in (mostly) alphabetical order by author, the similarities were striking.
One thing that struck me - I'm not sure where this book would fall in modern distinctions of children's/middle grade/YA. My instinct is middle grade, partly because I think that's around the age when I first encountered it, but the diction and syntax is just a bit more complicated than a lot of today's MG. Now, granted, I don't read a lot of modern middle grade (unless it has dragons in it and my GF shoves an ARC at me) but I've been thinking for a bit that the late 90s-early 2000s period of children's lit had... a certain intermediate level of maturity and complexity that publishers seem to have moved away from. I might be wrong about that, but it's definitely the impression I've gotten from modern marketing, at least.
Anyway. This is a charming little medieval mystery with a castle (improbably) full of secret passages and conspiracies, and definitely a classic. (I mean, it's Avi, so...) -
This book was fantastically entertaining and adventuresome. I really enjoyed the timescale used here. You never really get nice, exciting mystery-type stories from the ancient past. Writing in a time on no technology as simple as the light bulb is an extravagant and hardly touched upon world. So much more is open to what we don't know from personal experience to what we do know in our everyday lives.
The fact that the author had to write this novel from doing research on the time period and from traveling to places to learn about culture and architecture, really enhances the "suspension of disbelief" factor most often seen in live stage productions, but used here, we can really get a sense of the time and place of such a setting in the book. the Characters that are brought to life by the professional words of the author and his skill in his trade make them live in his work and really flow together to form an exciting bunch, when thrown with a problem really work hard to get to the bottom of things. I enjoyed the book fully and found that although it was full of strange sayings and words, it was still and very clever way to write a child/teen fiction adventure. This is one of those books that can take you far away and bring you back again satisfied with everything that has transpired. -
A medieval mystery based on magic, or more accurately perceived magic.
Fabrizio is the servant of renowned magician Magnus. Magnus is fully aware that he is not really a magician and believes true magic does not exist. He is a master of slight of hand and has gained reputation in the kingdom. After a trial he has renounced the practice of "magic" basically on pain of death. Fabrizio, on the other hand, is superstitious as are most other members of the kingdom and fully believes is magic.
The king summons Magnus to solve the problem of a mysterious "ghost" who has recently began haunting his young daughter.
The story is well written and has unexpected twists -
I really enjoyed this historical mystery by Avi. It's been a while since I read anything by him and I wasn't disappointed. For such a short book, his characters were vivid and well-developed.
I loved the bits of history related to the printing press and attitudes toward modern inventions and progress. One of the characters did not want any modern inventions in Pergomontia (the Italian kingdom in which the story took place) and it reminded me that all technology and progress is met with skepticism and sometimes fear from people who want to hold on to their comfortable way of doing things. -
I must have read this book at least five times when I was younger. In hindsight, I don't even know why I liked it so much, but I think it was just the combination of mystery and magic that really sucked me in.The characters are interesting and likeable and I suppose I loved the cover too;)
Find more reviews and bookish fun at
http://www.princessandpen.com -
I first read this in fifth or sixth grade, and--after spying a used and heavily discounted copy at Second and Charles--I revisited it recently as a trip down memory lane.
In terms of plot, it isn't quite as good as I thought it was back then. The plotline definitely invokes common tropes.
However, the characters are charming and engaging, and the witty sayings that Fabrizio keeps mentioning are fantastic.
This has a fond place in my heart since it's probably the first mystery I ever read. -
Ok, before I say anything else I have to point out that this appears to be the second book in the Midnight Magic series and that I have not read the first one because I found this in a cozy café/book shop for second-hand books. So please excuse me if any of my comments would be void if I had actually read the first book. :)
That left aside, however, I thought the book was ok but not great. Apart from the clumsy and repetitive language which may, after all, be a problem of the German translation, the main points that put me off were the incredibly limited, almost non-existent world building and character development. Maybe this is due to this being the second book of the series and all these things were discussed in length in the first book but in that case that could probably have benefitted from a quick touch-up. As it is, I only learned that there is a medieval country called Pergamontia which appears to be Christian, has outlawed magic and is ruled by a king who allows his power-hungry first advisor to direct all his actions. When the prince and heir goes (mysteriously) missing, the advisor persuades the king to give him the princess's hand in marriage to placate the people who he argues might otherwise start a rebellion. Unsurprisingly, the princess isn't thrilled. And that's that. Honestly, maybe that's as much world building as the story needs because it all takes place in the confines of the castle but since all these hints of rebellion and adventure were consistently thrown in, I personally would have loved to learn more about that particular world.
Following on that note, I would also have loved to learn more about the characters. Yet, all that was revealed were a few tidbits here and there that were necessary to advance the plot. Again, maybe the characters were introduced in detail in the first book, but it would still have been nice to know their fears and dreams and watch them grow throughout the story. Unfortunately, they don't. Instead they keep saying and promising things just to forget about them and do the exact opposite on the next page. Fabrizio, for example, promises his master not to do any tricks in the castle because it might cost them their lives. He then hurries up into his room to retrieve his magic utensils which he promptly uses upon arriving at the castle to astonish a group of guards who were not supposed to know their identities which, by the way, was a futile effort once the master (who for some unexplained reason always feels cold) removed his hood the moment they were left waiting for their audience with the king… Go figure. Well, in the end all those small things added up to the result that I could not sympathize with any of the characters. In the end of the book they had not grown or changed at all from how they were in the beginning and I did not care whether or not they solved their problems or "who won".
However, I did enjoy the plot and the mystery about the ghost. Even though I do believe that they could have solved the riddle much faster if Fabrizio had actually been as loyal to his master as he liked to believe himself to be. It was an entertaining little puzzle and moved along with a fast pace. So if you're looking for a short, plot-driven book with a sort-of medieval setting, a small cast of characters (who distrust and try to use each other without actually confiding any of their thoughts and secrets while) trying to solve a cute little riddle, you will probably like this book. :)
I liked the premise and conflict of the book, as well as the pace but I think that the characters could have been better developed and the world building could have been more detailed and more important to the story. So I am giving it 2/5 stars. -
Just finished reading this book out loud to my class!!!! Everyone loved it! It was a great mystery! Although, this is the second book in the series.... Oops! Should have read Murder at Midnight first! Guess I'll have to back track!
-
Avi did not disappoint. This is another good story by a great author. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat any guessing until the end. I highly recommend it.
-
Another book from childhood. This one taught me "niche."
-
Midnight Magic was one of my favorite books as I child. In fact, I remember checking it out of my elementary school library on multiple occasions, and I wanted to revisit it now as an adult. While not as mystical as I remembered it to be, I can definitely see why Midnight Magic wowed me as a child. It was so much fun to discover the story anew, and I loved thinking about how this book helped shape the person I am today.
From tarot cards, ghosts, and magic, to reason and logical thinking, Midnight Magic is a fun story that I'm sure many children will still enjoy today, nearly 20 years after its publication. -
This is a fun historical mystery that holds up in the sense that I'd still recommend it to kids, but there's not much here for adult readers revisiting childhood favorites. The writing is very simplistic.
-
7.5 -- fun middle-school medieval mystery.
-
I choose this book to read with my 11-year-old daughter since we were studying the Renaissance. By the title alone, I wasn't sure I would like it. Magic, wizards, sorcerers... not my thing. The story opens at the home of Mangus the Magician. His sole servant, Fabrizio, waits till midnight then casts tarot cards to shape the future for his master. I about stopped there. Although the book was hard to "get into" (the first 85 pages of a 249 page book), once we got past that point it was very hard to put down. Mangus is requested (strongly with no ability to decline)to go to the castello. Princess Teresina is being haunted by a ghost and Mangus is to help rid her of this plight. Conspiracy, lies, murder, reason and truth all come out in this book. The book is preditcable as far as; The King's family is in danger; A so called trusted advisor wants the throne; He will do just about anything to gain power of the kingdom, etc. But as far as "trying to solve the mystery", this book is full of surprises, twists, secret passages, hidden doors and assumed identities. Just when you think you have figured out who the murderer is, more information is disclosed and you have to "re-think" your conclusions. I did like the end, truth and reason win out over lies conspiracy. Good thing.
-
This is seriously one of my very favorite childhood books. I loved the way it was written. The characters were alluring and the story's pacing was so incredibly engrossing. Iconic read.
-
This was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. It was one of the first novels that I read for fun and more than once. I also always considered it the book that got me interested in the fantasy genre. Now that I am well past my formative years, and significantly less easy to impress, I thought it would be fun to go back and re-re-read this novel that left such a big impression.
First off, I was surprised to find that my memory totally betrayed me and that this is only debatably a 'fantasy' book, as it is about magicians rather than magic. More accurately, this is a mystery/thriller that takes place at a royal palace in a fictional Mediterranean kingdom set in 1491.
To be upfront, the characters are not the most original. A key exception though, is the sociopath 10 year old princess who upon hearing a man has died, casually responds with, "Has he? I suppose I should be sorry about it, but I didn't like him... You needn't worry" (Avi, 118). She's a hoot! In Avi's defense, I think the author's intent was to write her as a whimsically capricious princess. Yet, her total detachment from the reality of consequences, combined with a general lack of empathy, accidentally creates a really funny, reoccurring punchline.
Additionally, the narrative is often pushed forward by characters being stupid, and does contain a few plot holes. So why did I give this book 4 stars? I still really liked it, sociopath princess and all! The plot can be messy, but it has enough clever twists, and moves forward in a quick and engaging manner.
I have discovered though, that the main reason the nostalgia rooted so deep with this novel, was that this book is super Italian. In addition to all of the characters having Italian names, the key moral themes throughout the book include loyalty, respecting your elders, and not trusting rich people. This was probably one of the first narratives I ever read for fun where I got to see my own family's weird and lovable idiosyncrasies authentically reflected.
In conclusion, I liked this book for the purely selfish reason of getting to learn about myself.
Bonus: My childhood was not ruined, at least not today. -
I enjoyed this more than I did the first. Mangus the magician is called upon to determine if the princess is seeing a real ghost or not. Mangus only does sleight of hand magic for entertainment, but unlike his master, Fabrizio, the young assistant, uses sleight of hand to make himself look more than the ordinary boy he is, and he believes magic can be real. In friendship with the princess, he tries to convince Mangus that the ghost is real. If it is not, the princess must marry Count Scarazoni.
"A weary mind makes weary thoughts."
". . . though time is the most valuable thing a man can have, it can buy him no more time."
"Respect is golden."
". . . my life's work is to search for truth with reason. Quite often, reason leads us to places neither expected nor wanted. . . . Can I turn from reason just because it does not please me? No."
"The fastest way to judge the honesty of a person is to ask a question for which you already have the answer."
"You may wrap a monkey in the skin of a lion, but he remains a monkey."
"The more there is to see, the less one sees." -
I have to give this book a five because it was my absolute FAVORITE when I was in sixth grade. Not a lot of books from my childhood are super memorable, but this one certainly was. It inspired me to write a rip-off of it when I was twelve called "Midnight Mischief." (And of course in my story, there were also secret passageways behind tapestries.)
But really, what is there NOT to like about this book? You've got a fabulous mystery, memorable characters with great personalities, plot twists, intrigue, a little magic... it's a wonderful book for kids! (And adults, if you haven't ever read it.)
This was my second time reading it, and yes, it is better the first time when you don't know the ending, but I still loved it. :) Put it on your to-read list! -
Probably 2.5 stars really (not that there’s anything wrong with it! It’s just not super “wow”).The book has been sitting on my shelf for years and I’ve ever gotten around to reading it an I think if I had read it when I was a child I would have absolutely loved it. There’s just the right amount of mystery and magic, a plot to overthrow the throne, and a playfully deceitful princess all explored through the eyes of a magician’s servant boy. The entire time this book was giving me major “Macbeth” vibes but in a good way! All in all as an adult it wasn’t quite hitting the mark but this is a fantastic children’s book!
-
This book is easy and quick read. I thought I saw what was coming, but it turns out I don't. This has the same vibe as "A Series of Unfortunate Events." Wish there were more books with this vibe. That witchy, ethereal vibe. Love the tarot reading part and the 1st chapter. It really got me hooked. I wish there was more of that. It's also very similar to scooby doo with the ghost haunting stuff and all. So for me, it's a 3 star, it's entertaining, but it's not life changing.
247 pages
28 chapters
"Smiling broadly, Fabrizio turned the next card. . . ." -
Usually I love Avi's books, and the cover of this one is very attractive, but this story felt like he wrote it in a hurry. I was intrigued by the medieval setting but disappointed that nothing was adequately developed: the characters were shallow, the writing felt repetitive, and the mystery was not very involving. Another draft or two and this might have been more compelling. The best part of the story was the clever aphorisms that Fabrizio and Mangus kept throwing at each other.
-
I had picked this up for my nephew to read and he liked it. So, I decided to give it a try. This is my first time reading anything by Avi and I was not impressed. Character development was light and conventional. The mystery was boring. The sense of place was okay, but not great. I'm way over the intended reader age for this title, but that shouldn't matter so much. The author is acclaimed, so I may try another book one day.
-
4.9!!
This Book had my mind blown🫶🏻
The plot twists ✓
The characters✓
The story✓
The settings✓
The cover✓
About the author✓
This Book is now my fave! I actually borrowed this from our school library so I will buy my own since I really love everything about this book!
I expected something that didn't actually happen so that's why I gave it 4.9 stars!
Overall it is so good!
It is my pleasure if you read this piece of art. -
Read this to my eight year old at bedtime over a few weeks. Overall a fun story with some intrigue and humor but by the end I was going absolutely bonkers with how often someone says “with permission.” It’s gotta be in the hundreds by the end of the book. 😆
Also, the Princess is TEN. Her age isn’t specified until well after you know she’s being married off to the Count, so for many chapters I just assumed she was at least a teenager. Nope. Ten. 😳😬 -
It was a really interesting book although it was not what i expected. I thought it was the type of book that i like to read but it was not, so i felt that i did not enjoy it very much but it was okay.the book was about a servant boy who is better than his master, and a magician who does not believe in magic and they team up to confront a mysterious ghost that is harassing the castle.
