Phantom Eyes

September 15, 2013
Although he was stripped of his magic in Demon Eyes (2012), Braden is still enmeshed in the power players' various plots--and he's sick of being a puppet. The small town of Belle Dam is overflowing with magical heavy hitters such as feuding warlocks Jason Thorpe and Catherine Lansing, demons Lucian and Matthias, and the newly returned town founder (who stole Braden's powers), Grace Lansing. Colorful supporting characters don't allow Braden to slip into self-pity over his victimhood, instead pushing him to fight for his life. What they don't know is that Braden is also fighting a prophecy predicting that he will become a terrible force of destruction and evil. Even without powers, Braden doesn't lack agency; to evade those who would control him, he digs further into the history of the town and its ruling families. His own family's history informs his evolving relationship with his father. Multiple desires--revenge against Catherine and Lucian, safety for Trey, the town's liberation from the feud and Riley's healing (she's a casualty of his previous battle with Lucian)--converge in a desperate, dangerous plan that leads Braden down a dark path. Tracey nimbly weaves plot threads and character agendas to create intrigue, double crosses and demonic pacts in a race to a conclusion that will change Belle Dam forever. A clever and thoroughly satisfying end to a strong trilogy. (Paranormal romance. 14 & up)

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February 1, 2014

Gr 9 Up-This last installment of the Witch Eyes paranormal trilogy, follows an embattled teen warlock as he attempts to learn more about his life and his history. Braden, stripped of all powers by an enemy in the previous book, is caught in the middle of a longstanding feud between warring witch families, and he must fight for his life, as well as for the lives of his friends and family. The teen struggles with his obligations and his love for Trey, the scion of a rival family. Along the way, Braden learns more about himself and his deceased mother by connecting with his estranged father and his extended family, all while trying to navigate the dangerous hellscape of his supernatural hometown, Belle Dam. Tracey aims for a quippy and casual tone but often slips into other styles, resulting in a confused narrative voice. The book is complicated, with many plotlines and characters, and too little explanation-a new reader would have difficulty following along without first reading the previous books. The internal logic of the world is inconsistent and often vague, leaving the reader with too many questions. Despite these faults, there is much for readers to appreciate in Phantom Eyes, especially in its tender and realistic portrayal of gay teens. Braden and Trey love each other and are also nervous about moving into the adult world of love and sex. Fortunately, Tracey only takes the Romeo and Romeo trope so far and allows his star-crossed lovers to conquer evil and get their happily ever after ending. Additionally, teens will sympathize with Braden's struggle to build a relationship with his father, by letting go of past hurts and working as a team.-Susannah Goldstein, Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City

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