The Magic Misfits Need All the Luck They Can Get

SPOILER ALERT
This review is for those who have read or are familiar with the previous books of The Magic Misfits or don't mind knowing spoilers for them.
SPOILER ALERT

~The Fourth Suit~
The Magic Misfits
Book 4
Written by Neil Patrick Harris
Illustrated by Lissy Marlin & Kyle Hinton
Amazon ~ Powell's

Ridley Larsen is everything you want in a friend. She's tough as nails, she's fiercely loyal, and she's smart as a whip. But she can be a harsh critic, which has put her position with the Magic Misfits on the rocks, even as the threat of the group's longtime enemy Kalagan looms large. Ever since his recent appearance in Mineral Wells, the kids know that a showdown with the vicious magician is imminent.

They must first deal with a series of odd instances and random attacks, though, all of which they use to bring themselves closer to discovering where Kalagan may be hiding, and the nature of his true identity. But can Ridley finally master her temper and put her essential magical skills to good use? She'll do anything to protect her friends, and when the time comes, she'll find that the Magic Misfits are strongest when they all work together.


Obviously after reading the first three I had to continue into the finale. Ridley was always my favorite of the Misfits, due in no small part to her prickly attitude but fierce loyalty to her friends (tough on the outside, gooey on the inside are my favorite characters), so I was always most excited to read her POV. And for it to be the finale to the series? All the better!

I honestly don't have much to say about this one. The characters are as great as ever, the setting still idyllic, and the themes still powerful and moving. I mean, I guess I could complain that my library's copy was a pdf version instead of the kindle book, so I couldn't make any highlights, but I assume that's a limited problem.

Okay, so I've always praised this series for having the kids not completely isolated from caring, helpful adults, but now things are a bit different. Coming off of the ending of the last book, the Misfits are definitely wary of everything around them. Kalagan has shown that he's not above hurting kids to get what he wants, and as a master of mesmerism it seems he doesn't even have to get his own hands dirty to do it. The subject of trust has always been a major theme in the series, but with Ridley, the least trusting of the Misfits as the POV character, and with enemies seeming to lurk in every shadow, it's definitely at the forefront. And in my opinion, it is handled masterfully.

While the narration does seem to talk down to the audience at times, the storytelling definitely doesn't. Sure, there are a few inserts and asides, like a verbal storyteller often does, playing with their audience a bit, but that never takes away from the messages being delivered. Everyone can find it hard to trust, secrets and mistakes can seem unforgivable, and communicating with others is difficult no matter your age. This series, while focusing on the titular young Misfits, always shows that the problems faced are shared with the adults around them. Whether it's Leila and Sandra's struggles with confronting their pasts, Theo and Mick's struggles with obligations to family vs friends, or Ridley and Dante's struggles with secrets that threaten to isolate them, every scenario is addressed with sincerity and respect.

And that's really all I want to say about these books. I could go into more specifics about the jokes or mystery or climax, but really what's the fun in spoiling something great? If you've enjoyed the series so far, you'll no doubt enjoy the finale. And if you haven't read them yet, consider this my endorsement of the full series, and go pick them up now.

Overall, this is a fantastic ending to a fantastic series. The illustrations, tricks, and narration are definitely geared toward younger readers, possibly having it read to them, but I think even older readers will find something to love in these characters and their stories, as I have. So whether you're looking for some magic tips and tricks, a bit of whimsy and fun, or just a good story to curl up inside, definitely give The Magic Misfits a try. I laughed, I cried, I felt wonder and joy, and really that's all the magic I can ask for right now.