Midnight Magic (1999) by Avi is a suspenseful middle-grade historical mystery set in Renaissance Italy, blending intrigue, humor, and a touch of the supernatural. The story follows Mangus the Magician, a washed-up conjurer who is enlisted by a princess to solve a chilling royal crisis: the king’s son, Prince Lorenzo, claims to be haunted by the ghost of a murdered boy. With the help of his sharp-witted servant boy, Fabrizio, Mangus must unravel the truth behind the eerie occurrences before the superstitious king takes drastic measures.
Avi crafts a taut, atmospheric tale filled with twists, mistaken identities, and clever wordplay, while subtly exploring themes of skepticism versus belief and the power of perception. The novel’s brisk pacing and witty dialogue make it accessible to young readers, yet its rich historical backdrop and moral complexity offer deeper rewards.
A standout in Avi’s diverse body of work, Midnight Magic is a gripping whodunit that proves sometimes the greatest magic is the truth itself.
Reintroducing a magical, bestselling medieval mystery from a Newbery-winning author! The release coincides with Avi’s exciting new companion to this book, MURDER AT MIDNIGHT.
