A Bitter Magic by Roderick Townley (review)
Buy Issue for $25 at JHUP- A Bitter Magic by Roderick Townley
Library ed. ISBN 978-0-449-81650-9 $19.99
Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-449-81649-3 $16.99
E-book ed. ISBN 978-0-449-81651-6 $10.99
Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 5-7
Cisley was used to her mother’s incredible stage magic (made even more impressive by the fact that her mother actually had supernatural abilities), but she had no idea that her mother’s new vanishing act would become permanent. Now Cisley is left with her mercenary uncle in a bizarre mansion/tourist trap, uncertain if her mother is dead or simply unable to get back. When the twelve-year-old begins to make some friends (in addition to her pet lobster) and is punished for it by her elitist uncle who doesn’t appreciate her befriending the staff or the local Roma, Cisley realizes she must break out of her grief fog and take action to find her own powers and her mother. Under the magic is a sweet, poignant sadness in Cisley, who doesn’t seem to have any adult who truly cares for her. Her fierce dedication to her new friends is therefore tinged with desperation, and the risk of her losing those friendships is haunting. The author’s fans will appreciate his usual careful development of setting, and this will also please readers with strong motivations to see justice served.
