Fabrizio is an unschooled orphan when the city of Pergamontio, Italy, binds him to Mangus the Magician as an indentured servant. Mangus is a crotchety old man who insists that Fabrizio does no magic—only illusions. This is an important distinction in Pergamontio because the king has de clared magic—and magicians—illegal, a crime punishable by death. When hundreds of fliers advocating the overthrow of King Claudio appear in Per gamontio, Mangus and Fabrizio are accused of magic because the writing on each of the papers is identical. Avi imbues this mystery with the ignorance and superstition of the Dark Ages while introducing a new invention— Gutenberg’s printing press. Avi is the recipient of the Newbery Award and two Newbery Honor Awards. lmp

The tantalizing prequel to Avi's bestselling MIDNIGHT MAGIC is now in paperback!

A plot to overthrow King Claudio is brewing in the Kingdom of Pergamontio.Scholarly Mangus the magician-along with his street--smart and faithful new servant boy, Fabrizio--have been marked as easy scapegoats for the traitor lurking within the king's court. Together, these two unlikely partners must gather clues to solve the mystery and prove their innocence before the stroke of midnight...or face death!Intricate plotting, surprise twists, and lively prose make for another suspenseful page-turner that stands alone or sets the stage for MIDNIGHT MAGIC!