Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey Review

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
(Witch Eyes #1)
Release Date: September 8, 2011
Publisher: Flux; 332 pages

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.

I had the pleasure of meeting the author of Witch Eyes Scott Tracey at a book signing at a library in New York.  This book along with  the second book in the series was given to me at the signing by a girl who had won an extra copy of both books.  I am extremely happy that I was given these books because I really enjoyed Witch Eyes.  The following day at my favorite bookstore Books of Wonder I heard Scott describe the plot of the book, and his reasons for writing the book and I just knew I had to read as soon as possible.

Witch Eyes is a modern spin on Romeo and Juliet.  It's filled with the tragedy, despair, and feuding families that you would expect from a Romeo and Juliet story, but with an original storyline.  The main character in this series is Braden.  Braden is also homosexual.  At the Books of Wonder signing, Scott said that he wanted to write a book where the main character was gay, but he didn't want to make it a coming out story.  In Witch Eyes, Braden knows that he is gay, his uncle (his guardian) knows he is gay and it's not the basis of the book at all.

The general plot of the book is that Braden has powers.  Magic powers that can pretty much allow him to see anything and everything.  But of course the backlash is that when he uses these powers it causes him intense pain.  And one day when he believes his uncle is in danger, he leaves home.  He moves to a town called Belle Dam and finds himself in the middle of feud between two families that has lasted for years.

One thing I have to say that I really enjoyed about this book was the pace of it.  It wasn't too long, it wasn't too short.  I didn't feel like the book dragged at all.  I would have liked to see a little bit more character development in some of the minor characters.  I'm hoping that the next book in the series will probably go into more detail, since the first book was getting to know Braden.

The magic aspect was a little confusing to me, but it could possibly be because it's described in detail.  The romance in the book is really cute, yet serious.  This book was a wild ride to read.  The plot twist really took me by surprise, and it was an overall joy to read.  I can't wait to read the next book Demon Eyes.