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jesus_lover's review
5.0
4.75 ⭐️
I didn’t think I’d be tricked by the plot twists at the end (cause I’m usually not) but I was??? It was so good??? I love this author sm
I didn’t think I’d be tricked by the plot twists at the end (cause I’m usually not) but I was??? It was so good??? I love this author sm
sonshinelibrarian's review
3.0
Meh. This was fine. The resolution felt really clunky. The footnotes were entertaining. Parts of it felt like the author was trying a little too hard to be clever.
gracenextdoor's review
3.0
I read a brief preview of the book, heard people were excited about this book, and was eventually given a promo copy, so I thought I'd give it a go.
In Bad Magic, Clay is a young boy who hates magic because it reminds him of his older brother who disappeared years ago. One summer, he finds himself mixed up in trouble and subsequently gets sent to Earth Ranch, a camp for delinquents on a desert island in the middle of nowhere.
There are killer bees, weird characters, a llama that understands Spanish, a possibly haunted library and a volcano that casts a fog all around the island. Very much like its setting, the book is curiously strange and mysterious. Clay works to follow solve the mysteries of the island while trying to make friends and stay out of more trouble.
The narration reminds me a bit of Lemony Snicket, in that he makes you feel very much part of the story, with funny and snarky comments. Still, I was left wanting more at the end of the book--perhaps it's just not what I expected it to be (in a disappointed sort of way). I think the major downfall was there was so much buildup and little payoff, except for the dangling promise of more sequels...
In Bad Magic, Clay is a young boy who hates magic because it reminds him of his older brother who disappeared years ago. One summer, he finds himself mixed up in trouble and subsequently gets sent to Earth Ranch, a camp for delinquents on a desert island in the middle of nowhere.
There are killer bees, weird characters, a llama that understands Spanish, a possibly haunted library and a volcano that casts a fog all around the island. Very much like its setting, the book is curiously strange and mysterious. Clay works to follow solve the mysteries of the island while trying to make friends and stay out of more trouble.
The narration reminds me a bit of Lemony Snicket, in that he makes you feel very much part of the story, with funny and snarky comments. Still, I was left wanting more at the end of the book--perhaps it's just not what I expected it to be (in a disappointed sort of way). I think the major downfall was there was so much buildup and little payoff, except for the dangling promise of more sequels...
librarydreams's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Bosch is back! This book (and probably the rest of the series) reads a lot like Bosch's Secret series, except this time we follow the adventures of Max Ernest's little brother, Clay. There's not much to say about this book that won't give things away. Bosch masterfully guides the reader through a maze of twists and turns, all leading to a very surprising conclusion. Old faces make brief appearances, which hopefully means we'll see more of them later on.
I was personally delighted to discover how much of the story revolved around Shakespeare's The Tempest. The Tempest was the first Shakespeare play I encountered (while reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle), and it led to a lifelong love of Shakespeare. Hopefully, Bosch's work will do the same for a new generation.
I was personally delighted to discover how much of the story revolved around Shakespeare's The Tempest. The Tempest was the first Shakespeare play I encountered (while reading A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle), and it led to a lifelong love of Shakespeare. Hopefully, Bosch's work will do the same for a new generation.
annushka79's review
5.0
Ok, I was reading this to my son at bedtime but i must admit i became captivated by this story which has interesting plot twists and lots of literary references.
thestoryowl's review
4.0
An action-packed adventure that follows a young man named Clay, who swore off magic ever since his older brother disappeared.. Clay gets shipped off to the mysterious Earth Ranch where his resolve will be tested by the extraordinary hints that keep happening.
franuary's review
3.0
In Bad Magic, the first in a new series by Pseudonymous Bosh (author of the bestselling Secret Series), 12-year-old Clay is accused of writing graffiti on the wall of his school and is sent to a summer camp for troubled youth on a largely deserted volcanic island. From the moment he arrives at the camp, things seem a little off. Why is a large portion of the grounds off-limits? What’s up with the mysterious, sealed-off library? Who is the young girl who appears in the library’s window? And why do so many of the campers keep accidentally referring to Shakespeare’s The Tempest, a play that Clay studied at school? As Clay uncovers the secrets of the island, he not only learns about his own abilities, but he also discovers information about his long-lost magician brother Max Ernest.
This series is a companion to Bosh’s Secret Series, which details the escapades of Clay’s elder brother Max Ernest. I found the Secret Series to be a little more silly and zany, whereas this book was fairly straight forward and less quirky. I suspect that this direct approach was a set up for the later books in the series, but I had hoped for more whimsy. The book was fairly dry for me, and even after the big reveal at the end, a lot of elements didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Still, I think the middle grade audience, especially fans of the Secret Series, will love this one, and I look forward to seeing where Bosh takes Clay’s story in sequels.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and to NetGalley for the advance copy!
This series is a companion to Bosh’s Secret Series, which details the escapades of Clay’s elder brother Max Ernest. I found the Secret Series to be a little more silly and zany, whereas this book was fairly straight forward and less quirky. I suspect that this direct approach was a set up for the later books in the series, but I had hoped for more whimsy. The book was fairly dry for me, and even after the big reveal at the end, a lot of elements didn’t make a whole lot of sense. Still, I think the middle grade audience, especially fans of the Secret Series, will love this one, and I look forward to seeing where Bosh takes Clay’s story in sequels.
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and to NetGalley for the advance copy!
paragraphsandpages's review
4.0
Stars (Out of 10): 8/10 Stars
Overall Thoughts: Pseudonymous Bosch was an author I read a good while ago, when I was a good bit younger. I enjoyed the creativity and uniqueness of those books, and even all these years later, their books still have the same qualities! I was actually looking forward to finally reading this book after having it on my bookshelf for a while, but then kept putting it off and reading other books first. In the end, this book did live up to the expectations that built up over the three months I put it off! It was quirky, different, and mysterious, and all these traits combined to an extremely intriguing book!
The Good: I always liked the voice this author/narrator had, and this book was no exception! The little jokes kept sometimes otherwise boring scenes more interesting, and I felt connected to both the narrator and the characters. I’ve also always liked when an unattached narrator seems like it’s own characters (which was part of why I liked the Romantics by Leah Konen so much!) In addition, I really enjoyed the mysterious plot, and was not expecting that from the description of the book! The ending was also quite different than anything I could’ve predicted!
The Bad: While mostly I loved the author interventions, at some points it did kill the mood of the book, especially near the end. The end was building up, and being super mysterious, but then a few tidbits from the author kind of ruined that mood. The ending also felt less grand than it was made out to be.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: I wasn’t completely amazed with the characters, and they weren’t what kept me so interested in the book. But they worked with the plot extremely well, and I did like how Clay remained distrustful after all that happened!
The Plot: I really enjoyed the mysterious feel this book had, at least in the beginning! It kinda died around the end, and while the end was a great reveal, it felt unimportant, or less grand, than it should’ve been made out to be? However, I really enjoyed the first 90% of the book, with all the mysteries, clues, and puzzles there were! It was definitely an intriguing book, and I’m excited to read the next one!
The Favorite Character: Clay (and Leira seems like she’ll be cool!)
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: Buy it, especially if you liked Bosch’s other books!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
Overall Thoughts: Pseudonymous Bosch was an author I read a good while ago, when I was a good bit younger. I enjoyed the creativity and uniqueness of those books, and even all these years later, their books still have the same qualities! I was actually looking forward to finally reading this book after having it on my bookshelf for a while, but then kept putting it off and reading other books first. In the end, this book did live up to the expectations that built up over the three months I put it off! It was quirky, different, and mysterious, and all these traits combined to an extremely intriguing book!
The Good: I always liked the voice this author/narrator had, and this book was no exception! The little jokes kept sometimes otherwise boring scenes more interesting, and I felt connected to both the narrator and the characters. I’ve also always liked when an unattached narrator seems like it’s own characters (which was part of why I liked the Romantics by Leah Konen so much!) In addition, I really enjoyed the mysterious plot, and was not expecting that from the description of the book! The ending was also quite different than anything I could’ve predicted!
The Bad: While mostly I loved the author interventions, at some points it did kill the mood of the book, especially near the end. The end was building up, and being super mysterious, but then a few tidbits from the author kind of ruined that mood. The ending also felt less grand than it was made out to be.
SPOILERS BEGIN HERE
The Characters: I wasn’t completely amazed with the characters, and they weren’t what kept me so interested in the book. But they worked with the plot extremely well, and I did like how Clay remained distrustful after all that happened!
The Plot: I really enjoyed the mysterious feel this book had, at least in the beginning! It kinda died around the end, and while the end was a great reveal, it felt unimportant, or less grand, than it should’ve been made out to be? However, I really enjoyed the first 90% of the book, with all the mysteries, clues, and puzzles there were! It was definitely an intriguing book, and I’m excited to read the next one!
The Favorite Character: Clay (and Leira seems like she’ll be cool!)
Buy it, Borrow it, or Bin it: Buy it, especially if you liked Bosch’s other books!
This review can also be found on my blog: https://paragraphsandpages.wordpress.com/
caro_c's review
5.0
Pseudonymous Bosch is amazing. His Secret series was one of my favorites I have ever read. I was so excited to read this book, and I wasn't disappointed. You should read the Secret series first, because even if they don't sound connected, it's good to know the first books. I love Bad Magic, the ending was perfect!
allisonmae's review
5.0
holy crap i loved this book so much it just made me want to reread the secret series because i love the authors writing style so much