Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Collections
Publication
Scholastic Press (1999), Edition: 1st, 256 pages
Description
In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.
User reviews
LibraryThing member krau0098
I have heard about Avi for a long time; he has written a ton of young adult novels and after reading the synopsis for this novel I decided it was probably an Avi novel that I would enjoy. I was mostly curious about what all of the buzz about Avi was about. This book was an okay children's book;
Fabrizio is the apprentice to the former court Magician; his master stopped practicing magic when he was accused by the King of dark magic. The former Magician has lived in seclusion since the King's accusation and has focused on sharpening his reasoning skills instead of his illusion skills. Then the King is forced to call on the Magician for assistance when the King's daughter is haunted by a terrifying ghost. Fabrizio comes along to help the Magician solve this mystery. As time goes on Fabrizio begins to wonder if the hauntings are real or if a more elaborate scheme is playing out.
This was a solid mystery story set in medieval times. It was not really a fantasy, as the magic involved is more your traditional slight-of-hand type. All of the characters were okay, but none of them really stood out. They were all your typical types of characters for a story such as this one. The mystery surrounding the hauntings was interesting, but easily solved very early on in the book which was a bit disappointing.
The only thing that really stood out in this book for me was all the clever bits of wisdom that Fabrizio spouts throughout. They were clever and cute; sometimes the banter of clever sayings between Fabrizio and his master were fun to read too.
In general this book was okay, somewhat engaging, yet forgettable. I thought it was more of a children's book than a young adult novel. It didn't make me want to go out and read a ton more of Avi's books.
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nothing spectacular but amusing and interesting.Fabrizio is the apprentice to the former court Magician; his master stopped practicing magic when he was accused by the King of dark magic. The former Magician has lived in seclusion since the King's accusation and has focused on sharpening his reasoning skills instead of his illusion skills. Then the King is forced to call on the Magician for assistance when the King's daughter is haunted by a terrifying ghost. Fabrizio comes along to help the Magician solve this mystery. As time goes on Fabrizio begins to wonder if the hauntings are real or if a more elaborate scheme is playing out.
This was a solid mystery story set in medieval times. It was not really a fantasy, as the magic involved is more your traditional slight-of-hand type. All of the characters were okay, but none of them really stood out. They were all your typical types of characters for a story such as this one. The mystery surrounding the hauntings was interesting, but easily solved very early on in the book which was a bit disappointing.
The only thing that really stood out in this book for me was all the clever bits of wisdom that Fabrizio spouts throughout. They were clever and cute; sometimes the banter of clever sayings between Fabrizio and his master were fun to read too.
In general this book was okay, somewhat engaging, yet forgettable. I thought it was more of a children's book than a young adult novel. It didn't make me want to go out and read a ton more of Avi's books.
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LibraryThing member DBPeeples
This is a great book for students who my like Harry Potter. It has the mystery and magical spin to it but also something that you can relate and see yourself doing. Mangus and Fabrizio are looking to heal a princess from a cure and they truly get more involved than expected. Overall, the book was
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not maybe something I would read again but it did keep me involved. Show Less
LibraryThing member makalinao17740
This book has an exciting plot with many, many twists and turns. Why is there a ghost in the castle? Who's behind a sinister plot to take down the monarchy? Avi as once again succeeded in captivating the reader with an unpredictable plot and literary embelishments that make it all the more
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interesting for the reader. Fabrizio is an out of the ordinary hero... giving the reader a break from the high morale, perfect and steryotypical hero. Avi really captures the monarchy of Italy in this tale of a ghost, a sorcerer, and his apprentice. One of the best books I've ever read, though this book was a really light read. Show Less
LibraryThing member prkcs
In Italy in 1491, Mangus the magician and his apprentice are summoned to the castle of Duke Claudio to determine if his daughter is indeed being haunted by a ghost.
LibraryThing member br14jafa
Midnight Magic is an “on the edge of your seat” novel about medieval friendships, magic, and betrayals. Magic is banned in the Kingdom of Pergamontio. Mangus the Magician and many others have been forced to repent magic and promise never to practice it again in order to avoid execution.
Prepare to be amazed as Avi takes you back in time to the age of magic and surprises you with every new twist, turn, and of course cliff-hanger. Avi’s writing style grasped my attention and had me guessing the solution to this magical mystery until the very end. The main character Fabrizio was hard to relate to due to the vast differences between medieval and modern times, but I connected with Princess Teresina almost instantly. Very rarely did my attention stray from the book as it often does when reading Avi’s other works. Although the plot could have been a little more exciting in the middle, the ending could not have been better. Overall I give Avi 3 out of 5 stars for Midnight Magic.
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Fabrizio, Mangus the Magician’s servant, still practices magic in secret, but not true magic, just tricks and illusions as Mangus used to do. One night while Fabrizio is casting his master’s fortune in secret someone knocks on door and summons Mangus the Magician to the castle. Disaster has struck the kingdom, the prince has gone missing and may be dead, and the princess is being haunted by his “ghost”. Desperate, the King, has called upon Mangus the Magician, the only one who can free his daughter from a terrifying ghost. Fail and he shall face execution, succeed and he may live life as a free man. Join Fabrizio as he searches for answers that could save his master’s life.Prepare to be amazed as Avi takes you back in time to the age of magic and surprises you with every new twist, turn, and of course cliff-hanger. Avi’s writing style grasped my attention and had me guessing the solution to this magical mystery until the very end. The main character Fabrizio was hard to relate to due to the vast differences between medieval and modern times, but I connected with Princess Teresina almost instantly. Very rarely did my attention stray from the book as it often does when reading Avi’s other works. Although the plot could have been a little more exciting in the middle, the ending could not have been better. Overall I give Avi 3 out of 5 stars for Midnight Magic.
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LibraryThing member ChazziFrazz
Magnus the Magician has sworn not to do magic, after having been brought to trial and threatened with death if he were to do magic again. Now he has been ordered to the castle by the King to prove or disprove if the Princess is being haunted by a ghost. His life is once again at stake.
Accompanied
While investigating the matter, charges come up that the Princess' brother has been murdered while on a journey to visit the Pope, and that the perpetrator is Count Scarazoni. Also there is the matter of the kitchen worker, Rinaldo, who has interest in the mystery and helps show Fabrizio the secret passages that abound within the castle.
I've read a number of books by Avi and have more on my shelves waiting to be read. He writes in an inviting way and moves the story along at a good and even pace. Written for the juvenile audience, he is enjoyable for the adult looking for a quick read that isn't childish.
Accompanied
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by his young assistant, Fabrizio, the two try to discover if the appearances are real or hoax. If the ghost is real, the young Princess will not be forced to marry the Count Scarazoni, but if it is all not real she will marry the evil Count.While investigating the matter, charges come up that the Princess' brother has been murdered while on a journey to visit the Pope, and that the perpetrator is Count Scarazoni. Also there is the matter of the kitchen worker, Rinaldo, who has interest in the mystery and helps show Fabrizio the secret passages that abound within the castle.
I've read a number of books by Avi and have more on my shelves waiting to be read. He writes in an inviting way and moves the story along at a good and even pace. Written for the juvenile audience, he is enjoyable for the adult looking for a quick read that isn't childish.
Show Less
Subjects
Awards
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2004)
Sequoyah Book Award (Nominee — Children's — 2002)
Utah Beehive Book Award (Nominee — Children's Fiction — 2002)
Charlie May Simon Children's Book Award (Nominee — 2002)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2002)
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Nominee — 2002)
Sunshine State Young Reader's Award (Nominee — 2003)
Nēnē Award (Nominee — 2002, 2003)
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-9 — 2002)
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (Selection — 2000)
Teacher Favorites Award (2000)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1999
Physical description
256 p.; 8.75 inches
ISBN
0590360353 / 9780590360357
Local notes
Mangus the Magician must free a princess from a terrifying ghost. Naturally, Mangus doesn't believe in ghosts. However, his servant boy, Fabrizio, is a secret friend of the princess and is determined to prove the ghost is real.