YA Review and Contest--WITCH EYES by Scott Tracey

 Seems like I’ve been reading a lot of YA lately, but there’s just so much coming out! Today, I’m looking at a new release by debut author, Scott Tracey. Witch Eyes is a fascinating twist on the witch trope, with a 17-year-old gay male protagonist and an isolated small-town setting. Want to win a copy? Read on…

THE OFFICIAL BLURB: Braden's witch eyes give him an enormous power. A mere look causes a kaleidoscopic explosion of emotions, memories, darkness, and magic. But this rare gift is also his biggest curse. Compelled to learn about his shadowed past and the family he never knew, Braden is drawn to the city of Belle Dam, where he is soon caught between two feuding witch dynasties. Sworn rivals Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe will use anything--lies, manipulation, illusion, and even murder--to seize control of Braden's powers. To stop an ancient evil from destroying the town, Braden must master his gift, even through the shocking discovery that Jason is his father. While his feelings for an enigmatic boy named Trey grow deeper, Braden realizes a terrible truth: Trey is Catherine Lansing's son . . . and Braden may be destined to kill him.

MY THOUGHTS: Yay! We’re breaking stereotypes all over the place here. Just as I made the protagonist in my own series a female wizard and not a witch—gotta start breaking down that glass ceiling somewhere, yes?—Witch Eyes features witches of both genders. In fact, the guys outnumber the women, so hat’s off to Scott Tracey for stepping out of the box.

            Witch Eyes is a fascinating read. The young witch Braden, who must wear dark glasses to keep his eyes from taking in so much sensory information from his surroundings that it will kill him, pays a heavy price for using his magic—debilitating migraines, for example. When he heads to the city of Belle Dam, thinking he’s protecting the uncle who raised him, he unwittingly sets off a chain of events between two longtime rivals—one of whom is, to his surprise, his father—that threatens to not just tear the town apart but destroy it. The lines between who is good and who is evil get blurred, reshaped, and constantly shift.

            And is there another power out there somewhere, pulling the strings?

            The relationship that develops between Braden and Trey is sweet and believable, and reading about the fast growing-up Braden has to do both emotionally and magically makes for a great read. I can’t wait for the next one!

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