Bad Magic (Pseudonymous Bosch)

Bad Magic follows The Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch as its next installment. Released in 2014 by Little, Brown, this book is one of the titles in the Bad Books collection, which also features Bad Luck and Bad News. The story focuses on Paul-Clay, commonly called Clay, who is the sibling of Max Ernest, and takes place at a peculiar summer camp designed for troubled youths.

Reception

Krista Hutley, writing for Booklist, commended Bosch’s combination of physical comedy, witty narrative commentary, and elements of magical adventure, likening Bad Magic to the works of Lemony Snicket and the M. T. Anderson series Pals in Peril. Both Hutley and Kirkus Reviews observed references to Shakespeare's dramas, though they considered these nods "interesting but extraneous" and "not integral to the plot." Publishers Weekly pointed out further allusions to Lord of the Flies, Gilligan's Island, and the television series Lost.

In terms of story progression, Hutley commented that the narrative "takes a bit too long to develop," whereas Kirkus found the plot twists to be "more inscrutable than clever." Additionally, Publishers Weekly praised Gilbert’s artwork for contributing humor throughout the book.