Full of magic, mystery, murder, and a little bit of mayhem, Mystic Invisible by Ryder Hunte Clancy, pulls you into a new exciting world from page one. This is a middle-grade to YA novel with great heart and an endearing hero. Monte Darrow is a Mystic in a world of Norms. Together with his Mystic family, Monte travels to the Scottish Highlands where his parents hope to locate and eradicate evil magical beings who threaten the local population. There he makes friends and the adventure ensues. The characters are all so well-drawn, complex, and interesting. The story is about good versus evil but it’s so much more than that. This was a great read and kept me entertained throughout. ( )

Mystic Invisible, Ryder Hunte Clancy, Winter Goose Publishing (2021, 267 pps.)
Reviewed by: Patricia M. Muhammad
Date: April 13, 2021

*I received this ebook in exchange for an honest review

*CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Mystic Invisible is a young adult novel which spans Salem Massachusetts, England and Scotland. There are two primary groups of people within this world of magical realism, one referred to as the Norms and the others as Mystics. Norms are ordinary human beings with no special gifts or powers. Mystics are the opposite, most are either warlocks or witches. Magic is regulated and for the most part outlawed from practice by the International Mystic Bureau (IMB). A mystic does not obtain a wand until the reach the halfway mark between the ages of 15 and 16. The main character, Monte is in possession of a special seashell that he found while still stateside. One day when he is with his brother, Garrick, he climbs high on the rocks at Witch's Pointe and is almost killed. A girl named Cameron appears without explanation. Monte has severe lacerations. Upon examination by the Darrow's other friend, an elderly woman, she explain that Monte has markings of a leprechaun. She is mistaken. On another occasion, Cameron warns Monte that he is in danger. Throughout the story, water and stone, among other naturally forming resources are used as agents or manifestations of 'magic'.

After members of the Darrow family and other Mystics examine Monte's sustained injuries, they are considered to be the markings of the demon, Nuckelavee. The adolescents gather to listen to their grandmother speak of a tale of its penchant to destroy anything which lies in its wake. His family believes that the shell Monte found belongs to the demon. Jarus Darrow, Mr. Darrow's twin brother and uncle is summoned to the IMB to be questioned regarding his nephew's (Monte's) use of magic. The family is initially cleared of any wrongdoing. Eventually, the Darrow family relocate from Massachusetts to Scotland and reunite with a family friend, Moira Bryce. She is witty and charming. Garrick and Monte's parents enroll them in a magic school called Stratmarine Academy. Their Uncle Jarus is the academy's headmaster. Between adolescent pranks of the magical sort and one night Garrick being unwittingly turned into a Cat Sith, the academy reflects the dangers of the misuse of magic. Throughout the story, Monte takes guards the seashell, believing it to be special.

Moira uses Cameron's gift as an 'Influencer' to spy on Monte, whom she supposed to be friends with. Moira Bryce's primary goal is to obtain an unlimited source of power to rule both the Mystics and the Norm by obtaining the shell from Monte. Monte does his best to protect it but in a great battle in which Moira uses blood magic (that of Monte's) in a bowl of special metals but reminiscent of a small cauldron to access it. Monte accuses Moira of destroying that which was his possession. She reveals that her spell, with Monte's involuntary participation merely uncovers its true form-the Firepearl. The background is of ice and mountains. Monte realizes that Moira used Cameron to set the unexpected tides to drown him to obtain the shell. Several relics are intermingled with the plot such as wands and other gems. At times the novel seems unoriginal with a magic academy, wolves, witches and Faes (fairies). On a couple of occasions it seems that the author reaches from the storyline of a popular young adult series including much of the same. For example, the author references a creature called Farwen, also known as The Unicorn Witch. Legend relays that Farwen is the guardian of "the British Mystic and Norm realms." When Monte encounters Farwen it informs him that she is "…the mother guardian of this land. I am the perpetrator of all magic that is good and right…I am bound by the immortal laws of the Fae. Edicts that date back to our Mystic beginnings." Her involvement in the battle, especially as she destroys Moira's special glass bowl, when she imparts wisdom to Monte, including that he is to find a way to always protect the Firepearl; as well as Mr. Darrow's twin brother's death in particular is reminiscent of the Harry Potter books. In Mystic Invisible, Uncle Jarus sacrifices his life to save Monte, similar to how Professor Snape (at least in the Harry Potter movie) sacrifices himself to save Harry while a horned, glowing unicorn like beast is present. Another trope is how Mr. Darrow's identical brother, Jarus, dies. At Moira's motion of her wand, Jarus turns into bits and disappears in an oblivion with Moira. This is another instance in which this scene mimics the Harry Potter books and movies. When the children return to the academy, the Grand President takes the Firepearl away from Monte despite his objection. Time passes and the Darrows continue to mourn the loss of Jarus Darrow. Monte joins his brother on the beach with the motions of the tides and feels something in his pocket. He is now in possession of the Firepearl again.

Mystic Invisible is written to be accessible for young and adult readers, but for the most part it is not original. Not only does the author relies heavily on tropes, she appears to adopt specific scenes from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter's series. The storyline does not develop much of the female characters, specifically Maren and Cameron. The novel mentions certain objects such as the Deo stones, but in the end they do not prove to serve much of a purpose in furthering the plot. I was not pleased with the author's heavy reliance on a popular young adult book series which already exists. If you are looking for an original story, unfortunately any potential readers should seek elsewhere. ( )