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A review by gracenextdoor
Bad Magic by Pseudonymous Bosch
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...