Twisting in Time by Fred Gracely is the third book in the Misfits Magic series. Goff, a teenage Verlokken boy with no family left, has seen enough tragedy to last him a lifetime, and he just wants to keep his head down. But when a series of murders takes place at Castle Charmont and children begin to disappear, he has no choice but to get involved. Together with two new friends, he sets off on an adventure that takes him down dangerous paths. Giant sea creatures, dark wizards, and winged lizards are the least of his problems, though. He’s been marked for execution for being a wizard, and the only way out is to embrace his Verlokken nature. It’s terrifying, but it’s the only way to avoid more tragedy. Can the friends escape and solve the mystery, or is it all over for them?

I’ve not read any of the other books in Fred Gracely’s Misfits Magic series, but I found Twisting in Time an easy read, with plenty of back story to help me understand what was going on. This is clearly the product of a creative storyteller, a fantasy tale that draws you in right from the first page. The characters are excellent, developed to the point where you feel like you know them well, and the plot is unique, filled with twisting action all the way through. The only 'downside' to this book was that it had to finish! I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I would urge any reader to tackle the series from the start to get a better understanding and appreciation of the main character and the storyline.

Misfit’s Magic: Twisting in Time by Fred Gracely is a fantasy fiction work for the young adult reading audience. We find ourselves in a world where magic is dangerous and misunderstood, with Goffren, an orphaned Verlokken teen, who keeps his head down and his heart locked away. Living alone in a kitchen broom closet with only a rat for company, Goffren is haunted by a tragedy he caused and the power he fears. But when a trail of missing children and mysterious murders rocks Castle Charmont, Goffren finds himself drawn into the mystery alongside two unlikely allies: a loudmouthed festival performer and a reserved apprentice magician. Together, they uncover dark magic, ancient secrets, and a terrifying truth about Goffren’s own destiny.

Author Fred Gracely has a vivid imagination that translates into some wonderfully cinematic language to show readers a richly built magical world full of portals, monsters, and suspenseful twists. Goffren is at the centre of it all, with close narration that lets us into the head of this lovable, deeply flawed protagonist. The emotional arc hits hard and makes you want to root for him from cover to cover. I loved the pacing of the story, which offers a smoothly cinematic plot that never slows down. There is loads of excitement for YA readers as they encounter giant sea creatures, winged lizards, wizard mobs, and other original twists. The dialogue sets a perfect balance of humor, heartbreak, and high stakes as the tension and important plot information move along naturally. Readers learn with the characters, but also grow with them emotionally as the theme of found family and self-acceptance comes through stronger with every page. Overall, I would certainly recommend Misfit’s Magic: Twisting in Time as an accomplished fantasy read.

Misfit’s Magic by Fred Gracely finds a young orphan embarking on an epic adventure of self-discovery. Goffren (Goff for short) is a teenage Verlokken. To say his relationship with the magical realm is complicated is putting it mildly. Anyone he befriends seems to end up in the thick of danger and paying the price, which leads people to avoid him and drives him to choose a life of solitude in the Royal Kitchen’s broom closet. The only company he welcomes is that of his pet rat. He’s haunted by the family he once had, so the last thing he wants is to make friends, especially with a girl working at the Royal Festivals or a Royal Magician apprentice. But these two are dragged into an undertaking as they work to help him find answers to missing children and a series of murders.

The adventure is fast-paced and packed with plenty of danger from creatures to obstacles. The stakes grow with every turn, and this keeps you heavily invested in seeing how Goff’s luck will turn out. Goff encounters a variety of troubles that nearly cost him his life, from escaping a dungeon to a sea-creature to a wizard-hating mob. These situations are a clever way to steadily up the suspense as the adventure continues and to use the threats that Goff faces to risk him reliving the tragedy he’s running from. The various characters he encounters - his new friends - help him learn to trust and see deeper than his self-blame. These dynamics provide humor with characters that provide lovely contrasts to his closed-off nature. Throughout the story, you eagerly keep turning the pages to see if he’ll accept his fate and learn how to use it for strength as he struggles to embrace his Verlokken nature. The world offers an exciting fantasy backdrop with eclectic variety, such as wizards, sea-creatures, winged lizards, and magical portals. Fred Gracely uses these elements in a well-rounded fantasy that is equal parts intriguing and magical, and filled with wonder and danger. Misfit’s Magic is a highly recommended and charming fantasy that ups the stakes with every turn and has plenty of peril, suspense, and adventure along the way.

Misfit’s Magic: Twisting in Time by Fred Gracely is a richly imaginative middle-grade fantasy novel that follows Goffren, a lonely teen with mysterious powers, as he embarks on a perilous and magical journey. Set in the vibrant realm of Slaathwick and anchored by the comforting rituals of boarding school life, the story intertwines themes of magic, danger, friendship, and fate. Goffren, known for his culinary skill and quiet demeanor, strives to maintain a low profile, haunted by the destructive potential of his hidden identity as a Verlokken—beings feared for their untamed and misunderstood powers. Gracely skillfully alternates between the magical and the mundane, balancing moments of gentle humor and heartfelt introspection with sequences of escalating suspense and magical strangeness. The early chapters reintroduce characters from past adventures and slowly unravel a mystery linked to a mystical artifact called a Time Lock. As Goffren’s reality begins to twist, familiar places and people are swept into a new timeline, and what starts as a quiet evening stroll soon becomes a plunge into memory, identity, and destiny.

The world-building is lush and intricate, filled with talking animals, ancient spells, secret societies, and morally complex magic. Fred Gracely’s language is often lyrical, and his metaphors, such as the magical “Lillies of Lament” that grow from shared sorrow, create a poetic emotional core. The dialogue is well written and captures the essence of each character. Readers are invited to wrestle with whether we can outrun our destiny, or whether our magic, like our pain, must be faced head-on. Misfit’s Magic: Twisting in Time will appeal to readers who enjoy fantasy grounded in emotion and told with warmth and creativity. Some readers may find the book long, but it is engaging. I've read the previous two books, and I am a fan!