A Bitter Magic

by Roderick Townley

A deliciously quirky tale of secrets, magic, and illusions for fans of Circus Mirandus and Savvy.
 
Everything is in the packed theater, the grand magician, and, center stage, the magician’s mysterious assistant. Some have called her the most beautiful woman in Europe. Then, in a swirl of light, she vanishes!
 
An astounding illusion—but she never reappears. All that remains are a bloodstained white scarf and her daughter, Cisley, who lives in a glass castle and walks her pet lobster each morning by the sea. Enter Cole, a rambunctious boy from town and Cisley’s first true friend. Together they hunt for clues to her mother’s disappearance. They puzzle over broken mirrors, ever-shifting labyrinths, a closet full of whispering ball gowns, and a fatal quest for a pure black rose.
 
Roderick Townley spins a deliciously spooky tale of one girl’s journey to discover what’s real and what is simply an illusion.

“Plenty of magic, a touch of romance, an appealing heroine.” — Kirkus Reviews
 
“A magical adventure with a fascinating setting that will please most middle graders looking for spooky fantasy.” — School Library Journal
 
“Cisley is an immensely likable heroine who will attract readers.” — Booklist

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, Young Adult, Magic

272 pages, Paperback

First published November 10, 2015

About the author

Roderick Townley is an American author of juvenile, young adult, and adult books, including books of poetry, nonfiction, and literary criticism. He received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, and was for many years a poet and fiction writer, and for a time lived in New York City and wrote for TV Guide, The Village Voice and other publications. In 2001, he began the Sylvie Cycle, a metafictional series about the spunky, fictional Princess Sylvie who lives her life in a book.

Reviews

[evie *s-ia* · Rating 3 out of 5]

the ending is so weird but i enjoyed it lmao

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an inventive story. Cisley's mother and uncle are famous for their magic shows. Thing is, Uncle is an illusionist but Mom is actually magic. But when she disappears for real one day (not a spoiler; this happens at the beginning), Cisley has to try to figure out what happened to her, as well as what her non-magical uncle is up to trying to get powers of his own in the forbidding glass castle they live in. The writing is good, the characters are well-drawn and the plot moves at a good pace with some interesting turns.

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read so much I usually guess what is going to happen before it happens. This book kept me guessing until the end.

[Neitha Neisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really nice, I found this book in the school library. I couldn't stop reading and I want to know if there are other novels with this genre. A bit of fantasy, roance, fiction and suspense.

[Crystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually didn't read this, but here is what my fantasy-loving bookworm daughter says about this:

I didn't like this because it was weird and the end did not make sense.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would definitely recommend this book! The beginning is a bit confusing, but it makes more sense the more you read. I loved the twists and turns.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Bitter Magic is fantasy fiction that will appeal to ages 12 – 14. Cisley’s plight to find her missing mother is pieced together through magical clues revealed in the narrative. Sometimes predictable, readers may be slightly disappointed in the mystery, as all is not revealed in the last chapter. The tone begins at a breakneck pace that may leave young readers confused with what is happening. The narrative tends to jump, with Cisley’s thoughts moving quickly from one point to another without much transition. A strong reader would be able to keep up with the fast paced transitions, but a struggling reader would likely give up.
Girls with an interest in fashion will likely enjoy portions of the narrative where Cisley explores her mother’s closet. These moments hint at the coming-of-age transition that Cisley is experiencing. While these images are pleasing, some of the situations didn’t serve the plot and could be boiled down to contrivance. For example, Cisley discovers that when she hangs a dress in her mother’s closet, it magically becomes clean. If any damage was done to the dress, it is instantly repaired, so Cisley never has to deal with the guilt of damaging her missing mother’s prized possessions.
Librarians may want to take caution recommending this title to young children who are sensitive to blood and violence. The last chapter is particularly violent and contains descriptions of characters that bleed to death. There is also a small romance that takes place between Cisley and a boy, but there is no physical contact and it is treated with innocence. Recommend this title to tween or teen girls who enjoy fantasy novels. (Reviewed by Meghann MacMillan)

[Kristina Wojtaszek · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is definitely enough suspense to carry you through, and I like the snarky main character and the very mysterious beginning to the book, but I had a couple big disappointments, especially near the end. The best part of this book is that Cisley has a pet lobster she can talk to! I so wish he had truly been what he seemed in the beginning, and that his character had played a bigger role in the story. I felt used when he was tossed aside so early on, and explained later to not quite have existed, at least not in the way we first think he does. I also wanted so much more from the mother-- we are never given enough of her backstory, never told why she is so aloof and cold. There are some almost-intriguing characters in this book that could have been made much more intriguing, but Cisley's jaded voice and a few unique and imaginative elements are enough to make this an interesting read.

[Dale Safford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some strange magic going on here, but it is interesting. Her appreciation of the townspeople while her uncle hates them is a good contrast.

Cisley is the daughter of a beautiful magician's assistant, who one day literally vanishes. She and her magician uncle return to his glass castle, for it was really her mother who was magic, and the uncle is just a master at illusion, including his tourist attraction castle with unusual hallways. Cisley has some magical ability too, and her uncle tries to sap her talent to invent a pure black rose, which her mother had said was the secret to her power. Meanwhile, she is also trying to discover the secret of who her father is. With her pet lobster and new friend townboy Cole, she looks for answers - and her mother - herself.

[Serenity · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received a review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*

I enjoyed the magic in this book, and found Cisley an easy protagonist to cheer for. However, I just wasn't totally engaged in the story and found the ending to be a bit too quick. I am not sure I'll be putting this in my collection. Definitely more for older elementary (there is a very bloody scene at the end), I'm not sure most readers will stick with this book. Maybe if you have some die-hard fantasy lovers who are looking for a mystery.

[Jo Budler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a totally enjoyable read! It is a YA fantasy, coming of age story -- complete with first love. But it has some substance that is missing in so many YA books. Here we have a very strong female protagonist who has lost her mother (and does not know who her father is). She faces many challenges (no, I am not going to ruin the story by giving too much away) and makes mistakes along the way. The end is a little unexpected (I like it!) but positive and satisfying.

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A glass castle and a black rose. Whispering dresses. A lobster on a golden leash. A Bitter Magic is lyrical and original, a tale of magic that avoids cliches and draws the reader forward with a dark family mystery. It subtly tackles class division and income inequality, and left me feeling uplifted and satisfied. A great read.

[Bayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5 stars*

Buzzwords: Family, Friendship, Loss, Mirrors, Magic (real and sleight-of-hand), Character growth, coming of age, art, choices