The Mystic's Spell

Shivers #9

by M.D. Spenser

Tired of being taunted and teased, beaten and bullied... Timmy isn't going to take it anymore. So when the carnival comes to town, he visits The Mystic and begs for strength and power. His wish granted, Timmy marvels at his new awesome might. But then his strength causes havoc he never envisioned. Timmy searches desperately for The Mystic along the carnival's freak show midway in the hope that the spell can be removed. Or else he's doomed to a life of POWER GONE MAD...

Genres: Horror, Childrens, Middle Grade

116 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1996

About the author

M.D. Spenser is a children's author, journalist and music critic. Born in the United States, he lives now in the UK.

"The Enchanted Attic," Book 1 of his popular SHIVERS series of novels for children, was republished as an e-book in August 2011. It is available at amazone.com, Barnes & Noble, Sony and iBookstory. Book 2, "A Ghastly Shade of Green," and Book 3, "Ghost Writer," followed shortly afterwards.


The rest of the 36-book series will be published as ebooks over time.

Also, an internet petition is circulating asking that the entire 36-book series be republished in paperback: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/md...

Reviews

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Timmy was devastated. He was doomed to a life of detention and toilet-cleaning."

Have you ever wanted something so badly that you begged and pleaded with your parents? Promised them everything in your powers and they still said no? Feeling defeated, you sit around sighing. Then your Grandma comes around and gives you a wink. That she’ll get you what you wanted. You want that name brand item so bad that you’ll die. The day finally comes and she hands you that item. You open it with such excitement and then your face falls once you see what it is. It’s the off brand of what you want. That scenario is this book.

You want Goosebumps? Or Point Horror? Nah, here’s some Shivers!

This book was totally cheesy and absolutely ridiculous. I remember reading this when I was a lot younger and thinking the same thing. Totally ridiculous. A great blast from the past but it’s no RL Stine.

[Alejandro Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the reputation this series has garnered, I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this one as much as I did! This book is like a reimagining of How I Learned to Fly but filled with a more familiar and basic plot. At the same time, this story is basically Revenge R Us meets Thumbprint of Doom, which are two stories I’m not whole heartedly fond of (Especially the latter; Thumbprint of Doom is NOT good lol). This story has strong writing and decent characters, and a simple plot with story that we’ve seen before—but done right. Nothing about this book blew me away, minus a line about the girl’s bathroom that got a good chuckle out of me, but nothing about this book dissatisfied me, either. The story is just good. Simply good. But I do wish that I could say this story was awesome, but it has faults in its simplicity. There’s nothing original or noteworthy in this book which really disappointed me. But aside from that, not much bothered me besides an entire chapter of filler and the wack ass final page. Overall, 7.5/10, rounded to a surprising four stars. Nothing truly bad, but I’m a good bit underwhelmed.

[Austin Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm getting the idea that these Shivers books just aren't any good... the writing is dull, the stories are uninspired and lack any sort of logic, and the characters are somehow even more thin and one-dimensional than Goosebumps characters. How that's possible I don't even know.
Yet, I managed to finish this book so, it's not complete garbo... I've read worse middle grade horror stuff.

[Amanda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple “be careful what you wish for” story. Overall a fun and quick read. I thought the ending was a nice surprise

[Wolverinefactor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow this is the first book on the series to not have a happy ending!

I found the trouble he got into with his super strength to be hysterical. Oh no he hit a softball too hard!

It’s not creepy or spooky just goofy.

Oh and once again it takes exactly 100 pages to reach where the book description says and the last 16 to tidy it up with no problems.

[Rizwan]

ITS NICE

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drags a bit and the adults in here are dim.