Customer Reviews

Midnight Magic

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Avi weaves an intricate web of political plots and magical suspicions. In a Renaissance country that resembles Spain or Portugal, a reported magician named Mangus and his servant boy Fabrizo are brought to the king. A ghost is haunting the young Princess Teresina, who is to be wed to villainous Count Scarazoni in a few days time. All the while, the possibility that the ghost is the murdered Prince Lorenzo hangs over them.

Fabrizo soon is submerged into a twisting tale of treachery and power, spirituality and trickery. Avi's characters are intriguing and real, especially weary Mangus, independent Fabrizo, and mischievous Teresina. Some of the characters are a bit flat, including the queen and Scarazoni, but it does not detract much from the story; Lorenzo's whereabouts are somewhat obvious after a while. However, Avi's imagery and dialogue are wonderful, and the magic woven into the words makes this an interesting and enjoyable read.

Harry Potter isn't the only magician with an engrossing and enchanting tale to tell. There's also Fabrizio, the young protagonist in prolific `tweenage author Avi's latest page-turner. Fabrizio is apprenticed to senior mage Mangus the Magician, who has decided to leave all the smoke and mirrors-type fakery behind in favor of the pursuit of Reason --- a most appropriate endeavor, set against a Renaissance Italy backdrop with its astounding triumph of Reason and Science over the dark mysteries and intrigues of the Middle Ages. This plot, as often with Avi's stories, twists and turns and doesn't fail to engage and delight. There's a ghost involved, which evokes the lingering question of whether there is actually anything supernatural or if it's merely something science has yet to explain. Avi is simply a master at entwining serious ethical and philosophical thought within an exciting and frolicsome bit of fiction. This may be his best work since The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle. And while Potter fans won't find precise comparisons to that magician's saga, this is a great story with fun and memorable characters, just as in Harry's books.

This was one of the best books i have ever read. Avi is one of my favorite authors. I started reading this book in a book store and i couldn't put it down. My mom finally bought it and after that day I couldn't put it down. I found my self laughing and shivering and once I almost crying. I htink this is a great book for children my age. Avi has really out-done himself this time!

I have never read a book by Avi that I didn't enjoy, and this one is no exception. I've read a lot of YA / Juvenile Lit. books but I've never run into such an interesting mixture of 'magic', mystery, royalty, and ghost stories (but not the scary around the fire type) and it all begins on a dark, stormy night at the stroke of midnight. Mangus, a retired Magician, is called to the castle to cure the princess of her night visions of ghostly apparitions. He journeys to the castle, accompanied by his devoted servant, Fabrizio, and together they find more interesting affairs than mere ghost sightings. A crown prince is missing, is the apparition all that remains of him? A count makes a pawn of the king, will he marry the young princess and take over the kingdom? A tutor is dead, by whose hands? And everyone knows more than they're telling, will the web ever be untangled? I hope you enjoy unravelling the mystery as much as I did!

This book is excellent. Avi creats a story similar to the Harry Potter books but adds more realistic adventure. This is a book is the kind of book you just can't stop reading! It is a book that should be read by your self and not in school as a large group because it is not a good if you pick it apart.

I thought this book was great- before, i'd started two of Avi's books, and didn't like them. Now i'm encouraged to read more. The structure of the plot was good- it kept me wanting to read, and find out what was going to happen next. it also kept me guessing, becuse you never knew which one of the characters you could trust. This was good, seeing as it added to the mood of the story. I wasn't sure about the ending- it could have been better, as i don't think it fitted with all the mystery and fantasy that should have surrounded the climax. I also think Avi could have made the 'bad guy' less obvious. But overall, i think the characters and the setting were really good, and it was a great read. I would reccomend it to anyone.

This story is about a servant boy who knows more than his magician master and a mischievous Princess who teams up with the two out siders to solve a ghost and murder mystery. They soon find out that everything is fake and uses it to trick the King and Queen to hold off an event that is soon to happen. They teams soon finds out who is doing it and why they are doing it. I thought that Midnight Magic was an excellent book. I would give it five stars. You could never tell what was going to happen next. It's a book that I would read over and over again. Also in some places I loved how it was funny. I would reccommend this book to anyone who is eight and up and who likes medieval realaistic/fantasy stories. Also any one who likes Avi.

Set in medieval times in a fictitious kingdom, this story reads easily, with a pace that moves as swiftly as superstition in a dank castle. Despite the young protagonist's distinct lack of sleep, this tale is characterized by an abundance of dialogue and many plot twists. Elementary readers will delight in guessing who is to be trusted and who is not, as conspiracies abound concerning the throne.

Ten-year-old Fabrizio is the devoted servant of an old and
respected magician named Mangus, who was previously forced to recant his sorcery and is now living under house arrest. Summoned to the castle under dark and stormy circumstances both master and boy immediately feel dread in the presence of the King's most influential minister, Count Scarazoni. The nervous King commands Mangus to use his dark arts to free the young princess from the cursed haunting of a ghost. The midnight apearance of this wispy spectre has been seen by others as well--causing the superstitious King to demand an end to these ghostly visitations.

But Mangus has sincerely given up all dabbling in Magic,
despite the King's recent order. How can a man who does not believe in ghosts confront one and lay him to rest? What does this spectre want of the Princess anyway--this slender girl who seems to have two personalities? Should Fabrizio trust the princess or the friendly kitchen boy? Or No One, since spies are lurking everywhere? How many hoaxes are being perpetrated in the castello? A delightful Castle Who-Dunnit, MIDNIGHT MAGIC stresses the true magic of friendship and loyalty. A fun read for kids of all ages.

Midnight Magic is a terrific book filled with mystery, suspense, and magic. I enjoyed the book very much, I could never put it down! I would recommend this book to everyone. This book is about a boy named Fabrizio who is the servant of a magician named Magnus. Magnus was under house arrest because he admitted that he was a magician. One night, Magnus was called to see the king at the castello. Fabrizio, loyal to his master, joined him. When they got there, they found out that the king wanted them to save the princess from a ghost that had been haunting her. The story was written very well, Avi did a fantastic job. As you read, the story gets better and better and you won't put it down unitl you find out what happens in the very end!!!!!!!!

The book Midnight Magic is a thrilling tale of a street illusionist and his sevant boy Fabrizio. You never know who is behind a window or on the other side of a door. Fabrizio turns the Tarot cards and foretells the future in this exciting and suspenseful mystery. Mangus, the illusionist and Fabrizio are thrown into a world of treachery and conspiracy while trying to discover a way to rid the castello (castle) of a haunting spirit. Teh lives of many characters will be changed forever in this 15th century kingdom. Our 6th grade teacher read this book to our class as we all tried to put together the clues. This book was awesome and our class would recommend it to you.