City of Magic

Midnight Magic

by Avi

From Newbery Medalist Avi comes a richly imagined, action-packed companion to his bestselling medieval mysteries Midnight Magic and Murder at Midnight



* "The novel’s pace is quick, and. . . the ending completely satisfying." – Booklist, starred review

When King Claudio sends Mangus the Magician and his faithful servant, Fabrizio, to Venice to steal a manuscript that explains a magical method of making money, they must succeed in their mission or risk death. The manuscript is key to obtaining great profits for the king—and a secure future for Mangus and Fabrizio.

But Venice in 1492 is a dangerous place, full of foggy canals, cunning informers, and harsh punishments for those who steal its secrets. Before long, Mangus is snatched away into prison, and it’s up to Fabrizio and his secretive new friend, Bianca, to navigate the city, find the manuscript before their enemies do, and keep Mangus alive!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Adventure, Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens

301 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2022

About the author

Avi is a pen name for Edward Irving Wortis, but he says, "The fact is, Avi is the only name I use." Born in 1937, Avi has created many fictional favorites such as The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Nothing but the Truth, and the Crispin series. His work is popular among readers young and old.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Close to a quarter century in the making, City of Magic (published 2022) is the sequel to Midnight Magic (1999), the novel that began the odyssey of Fabrizio and his master, Mangus the Magician. The year is 1492, and thirteen-year-old Fabrizio has helped Mangus dodge more than one murder plot by politicians in Pergamontio, the small Italian kingdom where they reside. City of Magic introduces a new villain, Lorenzo Rozetti, King Claudio's royal tax collector. Rozetti has heard of a secret method for increasing tax revenue, and orders Mangus to travel to Venice and steal the secret from Luca Pacioli, the religious scholar and author who invented it. Mangus is old and frail, but King Claudio insists he make the trip or be executed. Just like that, he and Fabrizio are off to parts unknown.

"To be sure, ignorant questions bring ignorant answers."

—Mangus, P. 64

"It's foolish to see enemies everywhere when in fact you see none."

—City of Magic, P. 119

Fabrizio is eager to see Venice for the first time. Often he has entreated Mangus to teach him his magical powers, but the old man insisted his only magic is sleight of hand; sorcery is a fiction he has no interest in. Could Fabrizio learn sorcery in Venice, so he is no longer powerless against the king's cruel whims? The sea voyage to Venice is arduous, and Mangus's health worsens. He may perish before they step foot off the boat, leaving Fabrizio alone in the world. A Venetian order of spies known as the Black Robes pressures Fabrizio and Mangus as soon as they debark the boat. Stealing Luca Pacioli's finance secret may be impossible under such scrutiny.

"If the world makes no sense...nonsense must do."

—Fabrizio, P. 10

After hearing supernatural stories about Venice before coming here, Fabrizio is disappointed. The city seems earthly, though massive and magnificent. The Black Robes continue harassing Fabrizio and Mangus, looking for petty reasons to put them in prison. Fabrizio meets a potential ally in a girl his age named Bianca, who offers the boy and his master a place to stay. Will she remain loyal when the Black Robes make it painful? Mangus appears to be on death's door and the stress isn't helping; Fabrizio needs to find a copy of Luca Pacioli's book immediately so they can get back to Pergamontio. If the result of their mission pleases King Claudio, maybe Fabrizio and his found family will survive.

"Let it be said: Nothing is more shocking than what is real."

—City of Magic, P. 115

I won't classify the Midnight Magic series as one of Avi's best. I appreciate his love of obscure historical periods, but I never felt emotionally invested in these books. I like their themes of magic versus reason, powerful versus the powerless, and their commentary on how damaging unproved allegations can be. I might rate City of Magic two and a half stars; I enjoyed following Fabrizio to glorious Venice in the late fifteenth century.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review originally published in Looking For a Good Book. Rated 4.5 of 5

It is 1492 and King Claudio has heard that someone in Venice has written a manuscript that explains a magical method for making money. King Claudio then orders Magnus the Magnificent (and Fabrizio, Magnus's assistant) to go to Venice and steal the manuscript. To fail will mean death, but Venice doesn't look kindly on magic or magicians and to get caught will also mean death.

Fabrizio (who is the focus of the book) talks a bit too freely and Magnus is thrown in a Venice jail, but the mission to steal the manuscript is still important.

Fabrizio befriends a girl by the name of Bianca. She lives mostly on her own - her father has been away on a voyage and her uncle who operates a canal boat keeps an eye on her. Bianca is resourceful and manages to get Fabrizio into the jail where Magnus is being held (and where his health is failing) who instructs Fabrizio to continue on with the mission.

It takes some doing, but Fabrizio and Bianca do find the man with the manuscript explaining the magical money-making method. But of course they aren't the only ones looking for it. When Fabrizio was talking a bit too freely ...? Others are now also looking for this special book. But the author, a monk, tries to explain that there's nothing magical about it ... it's an accounting method to keep better track of money, which only makes it look like it is creating money. Still, it's valuable to Fabrizio and Magnus (who is rescued from prison) as they return to manuscript to King Claudio (who clearly doesn't understand it, but is happy to get it).

This is an Avi book, and if you aren't already familiar with his work then you need to get over to the library and read as many of his books as you can.

I really like that this (along with one of the last books I read by the author) is set in this 15th Century time period. There is definitely a sense of wonder and magic that comes with this time period (and the location of Venice!) and it provides some great opportunities for the author to toss in some teaching moments - something that is often found in these kinds of children's and middle grade reader books.

The story moves along swiftly but we never feel that we sacrifice any story for the pace. The characters are just a little bit 'simple' - not too deeply defined - but it is all quite appropriate for the target audience and I actually really liked all the characters in the book.

Looking for a good book? It's really fantastic that Avi is still writing these really great books for young (and older) readers, and City of Magic is an excellent read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since I was a child, Avi has been one of my favorite authors, and many of his books remain favorites to this day. Now, as an adult and children's librarian, it thrills me that I can introduce a new generation to his books. Midnight Magic is one of my favorites of his, Murder at Midnight was ok, and I had no idea there was a third book in the series until I happened upon it at the library. I was very excited to read it, and while it had many of the elements I enjoyed from the first two: clever banter between Mangus and Fabrizio, excellent world building, an underdog who is easy to root for, and a knowledgable local without whose help Fabrizio would not succeed in his quest, I found the story as a whole lacking. The majority of the book centers around Fabrizio and Mangus' journey to Venice - the titular "City of Magic" - in order to find a mysterious book written by a friar, which King Claudius of Pergamontio has demanded they find, steal, and bring to him. Along the way they are trailed by a member of the king's court who wants to get the book for himself and who tries, unsuccessfully, to kill Fabrizio and Mangus in the process. However, Mangus has fallen ill, so Fabrizio's task is complicated by having to keep Mangus safe and alive. I found the addition of Mangus' illness to be superfluous, and Mangus' involvement in the story was so small that he may as well not have even been on the journey to Venice. I am aware that his illness was meant to present conflict and provide a sense of urgency to Fabrizio's quest, but it bothered me more than it evoked feelings of sympathy. Additionally, I found the ending to be lacking. It just...ended. All the questions and conflicts presented throughout the book were tied up quickly and neatly in the last chapter and it felt very rushed.

Overall, the plot did move along, but I felt it to be the weakest of the three books in the trilogy.

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in 14th century Italy Fabrizio and his Master Magnus are ordered by their King and Royal Tax Collector to Venice to find an accounting book by Franciscan friar Luca Pacioli, was an actual historical figure, but on their way they seemed to followed and someone doesn't want them to make it to Venice. They arrive and with the help of an orphan Bianca they try to track Brother Pacioli only Magnus has been imprisoned for being accussed of practicing magic which is illegal and those accussed are sentenced to death. This is a fast paced book as the story moves along but when the villian is revealed there really is no explanation why this character is after Mangus and Fabrizio. A cookie cutter adventure story that might appeal to some 10-12 year-old readers who like adventure stories in historical settings.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabrizio accompanies his master Mangus the Magician to Venice, Italy to find the book that explains the magic to making money because the king demands this information. A page turning adventure ensues getting to and searching through the winding streets of Venice, the city of magic.

My fourth star is awarded for the descriptions of Venice and the islands because they were so vivid and made me recall our three visits there, although not at Carnival time.

Readers might enjoy this adventure back in time, gain some background knowledge Venice, of medieval times, be inspired to learn about math related to accounting, and even about Luca Pacioli's connection to Leonardo Da Vinci.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will truly miss Fabrizio, Mangus, and Bianca as well as all of the supporting characters in this book. I love that Avi wove in some true history into such a fantastic tale (which is explained in the Author's Note at the end). Highly exciting and full of vivid characters, this was a quick but truly ejnoyable read. I highly recommend this book as well as this series.

[Pamela Leonardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a trilogy, but can stand alone. An orphan and his master travel to Venice in the 1400’s (?) to find the magic of making money. The king of their village threatened them and left them know choice. The story tells of the boy’s adventure of trying to find the money book and exploring the ‘magical’ city of Venice while being chase by the king’s tax collector and a Venice Black Robe.

[Deb M, Avid Reader Circle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned interesting history! Luca Pacioli (1447-1517), Italian Mathematician during the Renaissance. The bookkeeping method he developed became the international standard, still in use today. He was a close friend of Leonardo da Vinci and co-authored books on proportion with him. It is believed that he helped design the painting, "The Last Supper."

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Ordo Mundi" is Latin for "God has a way of connecting everything."
This is certainly an advantage for Fabrizio who accompanies his master on a mission to medieval Venice. Fabrizio is the one who accomplishes the task with friends he makes on the way and despite those who attempt to stop him.

[Katherine "Kj" Joslin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently stumbled on this series and really adored it. It's a trilogy that follows a young servant / apprentice to a grudging Magician. I had not read any other books by Avi but found myself looking into his others. I recommend it as a cute book for any one in the family!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 3 in Midnight Magic. Fun to visit with Fabrizio one again, this time in Venice.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus or Netgalley

[T.J. Gillespie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bed time story with my daughter. She gave it a 9.5/10.

Action and adventure in 1492 Italy.

[Jennifer Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good middle grade read. I enjoyed the discovery that the characters realized they were in Italy and the voyage to Venice.

[PottWab Regional Library]

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