Book Review: Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Title: Witch Eyes
Author: Scott Tracey
Series: Witch Eyes #1
Publisher: Flux Books
Publication Date: September 8, 2011
Number of Pages: 332 Pages
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Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.
After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.
To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves.

MY REVIEW

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey is a maleficent tale full of magic, danger, feuding families, and the tangled web of a star-crossed love. After a terrifying vision, Braden runs from Montana to Belle Dam, Washington to protect his Uncle John from danger. In Belle Dam, he gets to experience high school for the first time, makes actual friends, and even meets a boy. Braden is excited to feel like a typical teenager, except he always has to wear sunglasses to keep his power contained. The problem is that Belle Dam is divided between two witch families, the Thorpes and the Lansings. Both want to persuade Braden to join their side to have a weapon against the other. Everything changes when Braden discovers Jason Thorpe is his father, and the boy he is falling for, Trey, is the son of Catherine Lansing.

Braden is a character who has always been on the outside, because of his gift or curse as he sees it. Braden is a strong main character, but also very sensitive. He does not want to be some pawn in a vicious feud, and he does not care that he is a Thorpe. When Braden first comes to Belle Dam, he is a bit on the naive side, but as he grows and changes, he begins to discover many people have ulterior motives for caring for him. I loved watching Braden discover himself, and survive on his own. 

Braden creates many new friendships and relationships when he starts his life in Belle Dam. One of the first friends he makes is Jade Lansing, who turns out to be the sister to Gentry or Trey Lansing. Jade does not really care for the feud between her mother and Braden’s father. She does not know who Braden’s father is, but understands that they want him to play a part in the feud. At first, Braden does not even know if Trey is straight or gay, but that does not stop him from forming a friendship, that later moves into a more romantic relationship. I really like Trey and his protectiveness of Braden, even though Braden has the power to defend himself. Braden also makes friends with Riley, an aspiring journalist who just happens to have no part in the feud. I loved these relationships, and I am curious to see how they may grow or changes as the events of Witch Eyes lead into the sequel Demon Eyes. 

I have heard this described a few times as Romeo and Juliet with witches, and it really does have a star-crossed lovers story behind it. I really enjoyed Witch Eyes, because it was a beautifully crafted story. I was so entranced by the story, that I could not put it down even if I wanted too. Witch Eyes defiantly had me under its spell. Scott Tracey is a true genius when it comes to putting words on a page. I cannot wait to dive head first into Demon Eyes. 

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