The Tower at the End of the World

Just when we think that Lewis and Rose Rita have faced their biggest villain yet in the form of a cthonic demon from space, we’re right back where we started and facing the dastardly Izards and their doomsday clock once again! You would think it’s old hat for Brad Strickland to go back to the magicians who kicked off the series and it wouldn’t be possible for him to match the drama and intrigue of John Bellairs’ original novel, but he actually does a decent job of it! He sets the story at the exact opposite time of year, during Lewis and Rose‘s summer vacation, and sends them on an island adventure where they run into the (until now) unknown son of the Izards - who is up to just as much poor behaviour as his parents. After show more spending decades travelling the world collecting knowledge on folk magic from a multitude of cultures and seeding magical feeder groups of evil wizards, Ishmael Izard finally has his eye set on getting revenge on the Barnavelts and on killing everyone on earth so he and his cadre of sorcerers can rule the world. In typical fashion, Lewis and company kind of stumble upon his evil plan via the hidden island which is his home base, but through careful sleuthing and some luck they manage to foil his plans. Strickland writes some decidedly dark moments into this story - with frightful spectres to haunt Lewis and a gristly end being graphically portrayed for Izard and his crony - but the trick that finally defeats these villains is perfectly suited for Lewis and his quick wit and keeps the tone from getting too dark with its classic children’s story style. The action in this story is also extremely well done, as we get moments of sea-faring adventure balanced with small town mystery vibes, culminating in a story that measures up well to Bellairs’ original tale of magic. show less

Lewis, Rose Rita, Uncle Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmerman are racing against yet another Doomsday Clock to save the world from old Isaac Izzard's son, the equally nasty Ishmael Izzard, who has set up his evil shop, so to speak, on an invisible island.
This series is so fun and I love that Charlie loves them, too. As always, just the right amount of creepy without becoming outright scary.