Witch Eyes (Witch Eyes, #1)

Dec 15, 2011 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: male-protagonist, on-my-bookshelf, desert-island-keeper, awesome-couples, m-m, young-adult, 3-stars

3.5

I think my expectations for this book were a little bit too high. Don't get me wrong, I really liked this book, but it didn't quite blow me away like I hoped it would. The main reason I bought this book was because I rarely see YA fantasy books in the LGBT category, so I grabbed this one as soon as I heard of it. So yeah, I was a bit disappointed, but it was still a very enjoyable read.

The characters, in my opinion were great. I loved Braden, the main character, a whole lot. I liked how badas...more

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Nov 28, 2011 TheFountainPenDiva rated it 5 of 5 stars

Okay, why aren't there more YA books out there this good? Oh, I know why. Because they're too damn busy trying to be the next Twilight.

Let me get this out of the way: the hero of this awesome novel is gay. Yes, boys and girls, Braden is gay and he's got magickal powers and he's not bemoaning his state as a gay young man because he's too damn busy trying not to end up as a pawn in a dangerous and age-old game between two warring factions. If gay characters behaving in a powerful and heroic fashio...more Okay, why aren't there more YA books out there this good? Oh, I know why. Because they're too damn busy trying to be the next Twilight.

Let me get this out of the way: the hero of this awesome novel is gay. Yes, boys and girls, Braden is gay and he's got magickal powers and he's not bemoaning his state as a gay young man because he's too damn busy trying not to end up as a pawn in a dangerous and age-old game between two warring factions. If gay characters behaving in a powerful and heroic fashion offend you, go read something lame and safe like the aforementioned Twilight.

Of course a book this amazing and engrossing isn't going to come from the cookie-cutter, play it safe, Caucasian-hetero-centric New York publishing world, which is good news for the smaller and independent publishers who are willing to give savvy readers what we really want, which is more diversity of characters. In this case it's Flux,the YA imprint of the famous New Age publishing company Llewelyn.

As expected from a book that features magick and which is published by a company such as Llewellyn, it's obvious author Scott Tracy understands what magick is and what it isn't, what it does and what it can't.

There's just something refreshing about Braden that has nothing to do with the fact that he prefers bollocks to breasts, LOL. He's real, in spite of the powerful magic he possesses (and sometimes which possesses him). He's confused by his witch eyes, the power to see through spells and illusions; by the tantalizing and dangerous secrets about his family, about fitting in. He makes mistakes. No Gary Stus here, thank you very much. I love the fact that anytime he uses his powers, there's a price.

Like another reviewer, I'm on Team Anyone-But-Trey. In fact, Team Drew is looking pretty good to me right now.

Another thing I liked about this book is how well the female characters fared. There are way too many instances of misogynistic FAIL (most sadly being committed by female authors whom one would think would know better). Trey's sister Jade and the intrepid school newspaper go-to chick Riley are well-thought out and come off less like typical high school tropes and more like real people.(less)

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Aug 23, 2012 Kira rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, made-me-want-to-choke-myself, not-amazing-but-not-shit, papa-dont-preach, sentimental-value, awesome-mythology, ghosts

I like to keep stuff in my bra.

Not books or animals or shake weights, or anything. Mostly purse items, like coins or lemon candies, and the odd packet of wet wipes. Oh, and I keep electronics in there, too.

It's just so handy. Assuming your bra fits properly, you're probably going to have to limit your bounty to slim or small items, but still - better that than to have to wear clothes with pockets. When I'm working out, why would I want to wear jeans or carry a bag when I can just as easily stuf...more I like to keep stuff in my bra.

Not books or animals or shake weights, or anything. Mostly purse items, like coins or lemon candies, and the odd packet of wet wipes. Oh, and I keep electronics in there, too.

It's just so handy. Assuming your bra fits properly, you're probably going to have to limit your bounty to slim or small items, but still - better that than to have to wear clothes with pockets. When I'm working out, why would I want to wear jeans or carry a bag when I can just as easily stuff all my essential crap into my underwear? Genius!

Today I took the dog for a walk, and it was so freaking hot outside that I (a) refused to take a sweater with pockets with me, and (b) refused to carry anything. So, with the above logic, I wore my sports bra and carried all manner of trinkets inside it: my keys, my phone, bags for poop collection, all strategically placed so that you couldn't actually see them through my shirt.

"Fantastic!" I cried, and left the house at a jog.

It was super-bright outside, so I put my sunglasses on before I left. I walked for perhaps an hour, and when I got back to my block I decided to take the plunge and walk the rest of the way without my sunglasses. Alfresco, kids! Let's do it!

Feeling totally empowered, I took off my sunglasses, and this stream of swear words just - I don't know! Just came from nowhere! Because the sun fucking blinded me, and the dog looked up at me like, "Girl, are you okay? You're...look, I hate to say it, but you're embarrassing me."

I told her to keep on going, feel the burn, and I tried to blink it out. But holy shit! As my eyes began to adjust, a kind of slow realization hit me: Scott Tracey is a genius.

I mean, really. The mythology in this book is just kick-ass. It takes something as everyday and mundane as light sensitivity and expands it into this - this network of demons and witches and town feuds and ice cream and offices and shit. Lots and lots of really awesome shit.

Why, then, am I giving this book two stars?

Because it's exactly like my bra. It somehow manages to contain way too many huge and confusing things. Witch Eyes is probably the first instance in which I've spent 80% of the book with no idea what the fuck is going on. There's a lot of going here, going there, some kissing, some yelling, some bitching, some screaming, some pain and then BAM! We're somewhere else, doing something else, and wait...what?

My theory is this: there are way too many red herrings in this book. It's a mystery, really, in which our protagonist Braden must figure out why the two most powerful families in this town are feuding, and subsequently stop the whole thing from going down. Now, it would seem that the first logical step would be to approach each side of the feud and ask, in a polite and unassuming voice, "Prithee, fair gentlemen and maiden, why dost thou feud?"

If you thought that, well, you'd be wrong. According to Braden, the most sensible thing to do in this situation is to make an absolute meal of sneaking around looking for information, never really tying anything together, and insulting everyone along the way.

I say "insulting everyone along the way" because in all honesty, Braden is just a horrible person. Well, okay. Maybe that was slightly harsh. When Braden is working alone, he's pretty much the patron saint of getting shit done. He takes everything seriously, thinks (I know! He thinks! What next?), comes to conclusions (confusing conclusions, but conclusions nonetheless) and he doesn't put up with anyone else's bullshit. But when he's working with other people, particularly people who want to help, he's just this rude, condescending judgmental little bum. Riley, for instance, is just a normal girl who tries to make Braden feel at home in his new school. While she's being fun and engaging in conversation with him, Braden does nothing but judge her. He judges what she's wearing, what she's saying, and generally treats her like crap. Jade, too. Jade is nothing but friendly to Braden, despite being on the opposite side of the feud, and yet in his head all he does is judge, judge, judge.

I really hated this side of him, and I hated that I hated it. Bear in mind what I said before: Braden is, on the whole, a capable and proactive protagonist. He occasionally leaves his brain in the top drawer of his nightstand, but who doesn't? It's for this reason that Braden's attitude to other people, other people who've only ever been friendly to him, really bothers to me. I want to love him. But I cannot.

This holier-than-thou attitude doesn't end at Riley and Jade, either. Candy, Lucien's totally uninvolved secretary is constantly bitched out by Braden. She does nothing to him, for him. Barely speaks to him. She and Braden have nothing to do with each other. Yet when Braden first sees her, he thinks this:

"Mr. Fallon will see you now," the supermodel behind the secretary's desk cooed. Fake hair, fake lips. Fake everything. I didn't believe that any parent would willingly name their daughter Candy. She was a Playboy Playmate dressed up as a secretary. This had to be some kind of joke.

Beyonce named her child Blue Ivy. Next to that, Candy is the new Sally.

Jokes aside, this is just grotesque. What the hell gives Braden the right to stand there and decide that since this woman has had cosmetic surgery, she is somehow stupid and inept at her job? "A Playboy Playmate dressed up as a secretary"? What the hell did this woman ever do to put Braden's nose out of joint? Nothing. She did nothing. That snippet was the product of nothing but Braden's condescending and self-important attitude.

Argh!

And it's not like this book is badly written. There are a couple of issues with punctuation and some gratuitous use of the word "badass" but on the whole, it's definitely readable. Enjoyable, even. If only that enjoyability extended to the romance!

I mean, really. Did we need another Twilight? No, we didn't. Trey is simply bland. I was more interested in Drew, but he turned out to be a jackass, so no go there. It's not like I thought Braden really deserved to be with anyone, because he's kind of an asshole, but the romance was really what interested me here.

Too bad it wasn't interesting!

There's no chemistry between Braden and Trey at all. Trey is just a very convenient and pretty piece of cardboard for Braden to run to, then run away from, then run to again. Wash, rinse and repeat. There was also little to no build-up to their relationship; it just happened, and then Trey ickily talks about his sister about three seconds after they finish kissing. What the fuck, Trey? Do not talk about family members while you are with a significant other, and aroused. It's supremely weird. I just...no.

This book is a giant meh for me, which is a shame. I was so, so disappointed when it went downhill for me; I absolutely love Scott Tracey's vlogs and blog. He's this hilarious and awesome person. But this BOOK. This BOOK, Scott Tracey! What are you doing, kitten? What are you doing? Why am I not crying with love for this book? Why isn't it fantastic? WHY?

I'm really sad right now. I'll read the next one because I am so hopelessly in love with the amazing mythology, but other than that - nothing. I'm actually thinking of re-reading this one just so I can take another stab at understanding what the hell it was all about. I cannot wrap my face around it. Did anybody else get it? Can they please explain to me what the heck the feud was all about? I could not understand it, and it's bugging me so much, because I think if I could only get the plotline, I'd probably be able to give it another star.

But I can't.

And...cut.

BONUS TIME!

Feel the burn.

description

(less)

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Sep 13, 2011 Katie(babs) rated it 1 of 5 stars

Scott Tracey’s Witch Eyes is a book I really wanted to like. I was interested in reading because not only is the main protagonist a male, but is gay. There are not many paranormal YA’s with a gay protagonist that I can think of. And the most positive thing I can say about Witch Eyes is Braden, the hero, is a very appealing fellow. I really liked him and how he tries to overcome his handicap and tribulations thrown at him.

Unfortunately the writing wasn’t strong enough since the buildup and gettin...more Scott Tracey’s Witch Eyes is a book I really wanted to like. I was interested in reading because not only is the main protagonist a male, but is gay. There are not many paranormal YA’s with a gay protagonist that I can think of. And the most positive thing I can say about Witch Eyes is Braden, the hero, is a very appealing fellow. I really liked him and how he tries to overcome his handicap and tribulations thrown at him.

Unfortunately the writing wasn’t strong enough since the buildup and getting from point A to point B took way too long. Also the world building was an issue where everything is revealed in such a way where again, I grew tried waiting for something explosive to happen.

Braden lives with his Uncle John in what he calls the Middle of Nowhere, Montana. Braden is home schooled and must wear his sunglasses every minute of the day because he sees spooky visions and flashes of scary images that no one else can see. Braden’s eyes hold magic within them that he can barely control. His Uncle John is his teacher and mentor and tries to help Braden learn better control. Lately Braden has become ansty. He feels like he’s cut off from the rest of the world and when he asks his uncle about his parents, he doesn’t get any real answers. And then he listens in on a phone call his uncle receives, where a place call Belle Dam is mentioned, as well as his father. Braden decides to leave his uncle and hops on a bus to find the answers he’s searching for.

His introduction to Belle Dam and the residents there are more than strange. There seems to be a family feud going on much like something from Romeo and Juliet and now Braden is a part of it. His father Jason Thorpe is an enemy of Catherine Lansing, one of the most powerful people in Belle Dam. Braden now will be forced to choose sides. His father rubs him the wrong way and even making friends becomes more than a hassle. But one resident there, Trey, goes out of his way to befriend Braden, although he isn’t upfront with him at first. Plus Braden starts to develop feelings for Trey other than friendship that Trey seems open to. But someone is trying to take Braden out of the picture and possibly kill him because the power he has in his eyes could destroy Belle Dam and those who want to rule there.

Witch Eyes is an easy read and one that’s simply written where I can see many teen boys and more than a few female readers enjoying the world and characters Scott has created. Half way through Witch Eyes, the story grew flat for me. I just couldn’t stay entertained. I wanted more for Braden, but the world he was apart of was too lacking for me.

The way Braden’s sexuality is revealed was too much telling. I wish this was revealed slowly as we get to know Braden. An example of this is when Braden is on the bus going to Belle Dam. An attractive guy, Braden thinks of as an Adonis in Abercrombie, hops on board. Braden is attracted to the Adonis, but instead of seeing his reactions and emotions unfolding on the page, it was much like a pause (think Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell doing his "time out"), where another narrator comes forth to point out that Braden is gay. Braden then brings up his uncle and how his uncle tried to ignore Braden’s sexual orientation. It came across as preachy to me and really took me out of the moment. I felt this revelation about Braden could have been handled better.

Also I think the emphasis on how different Braden is from his unnatural eyes to his sexuality is too much. It grew very tedious and really took away from the action and suspense that this book needed to be a winner.

Witch Eyes failed for me and I couldn’t finish. This is one book I wish I didn’t have to give a DNF to but there just wasn’t enough excitement and too many lulls to keep me reading.(less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-debut-author-challenge, arc

Belle Dam is a town that has been shrouded in darkness ever since its inception. It is a town divided by a feud between the two powerful families who keep its secrets – the Lansing’s and the Thorpe’s. It is a town whose residents must choose sides in this battle that has continued to rage through generations.

And it is the town to which Braden Michaels runs in order to protect his uncle from the vision of a future which cost him his life.

But when Braden learns that Belle Dam was once home to some...more

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Aug 19, 2011 Erica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Oh my gosh, I have just been reading so many fabulous books lately. Witch Eyes fit right in that category. I have been really looking forward to Witch Eyes for months, since I first heard about it, and I honestly don't know if I have the words to express my feelings for Witch Eyes, but I'll certainly try.

I really love witches. I think they're one of the most fun, well paranormal isn't really the right word but I'll just use it for the lack of a better word, paranormal being out there because the...more

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Sep 16, 2011 Meggie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, magic

Truly well developed, interesting story. With well created characters, and the story developed with so much mystery, you don't know who is good or who is bad or even fishy between them. The story pulled me into instantly. There was no boring moment in this plot. I will definitely look forward to next part in this series. DEFINITELY HIGHLY Recommended book!!

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Sep 21, 2011 Steven dos Santos rated it 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. Feuding witch families, star-crossed gay male couple, hellhounds, shape shifters, mysterious town, etc. What's not to like?

The main character, Braden, had a humorous and interesting voice ("Angst was a bitch to get out of leather," LOL) and the story moves ahead at a brisk pace, with enough twists and turns to hold reader interest until the end.

There's enough resolution in this novel to satisfy, while at the same time leaving the door open for future installments.

I al...more

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May 11, 2013 Dark Faerie Tales rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-michelle

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.

Quick & Dirty: A wonderful male MC with a strong point-of-view in an engaging paranormal.

Opening Sentence: Binding circles were bad news, my uncle said.

The Review:

I’ve heard great things about Scott Tracey’s Witch Eyes. In a world of popular young adult fiction, Witch Eyes stands out, to me. Tracey builds a dynamic world, filled with strong characters and an even stronger plot. With many supernatural, action, and suspenseful elements, Tracey adds his own...more

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Apr 18, 2013 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, fantasy, young-adult

So this is really good. Like, really.

I mean, in and of itself it's a pretty average YA novel. Boy has a special power and a special destiny, comes to town and spends the rest of the book attempting to find the truth of his destiny while navigating a new romantic interest with an inexplicable draw on him, who is probably the Juliet to his Romeo. Witch Eyes being exceptional in that Braden's love interest is a dude.

And, you know, this is how you write gay people, world, you write them as people....more

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Feb 08, 2013 Lindie rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think I over-hyped this book a little in my mind. I mean, it has boy witches. Gay boy witches. What more could I want? Well, something that made a go "what the hell?" a little less often. I apologise in advance, I feel a mini rant coming on and it might get spoilery.

First off, the world-building in this was pretty damn cool. Magical city planning! It was well thought out and enjoyable.

Our main character, Braden, is 17 years old and awesomely gifted (or cursed, depending on how you look at it...more

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Mar 13, 2012 Bibliojunkies rated it 3 of 5 stars

*** 1/2

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 pow...more

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Feb 09, 2012 Jennifer Monzon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

Where do I begin with this review!! What a refreshing read from all the same books out there that basically have the same theory. This story is both modern and mystical and traps you from the very first page. This story has a little bit of everything. Magic, mystery, romance, and darkness to satisfy you with a good read.

The story is based in a small town called Belle Dam. Belle Dam is full of ancient secrets between the families of the Montague's and the Capulet's and the feud is ongoing even i...more

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Jan 12, 2012 Monica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: in-the-bookshelve

I went into this book not really knowing what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. The story is definitely refreshing as I haven't read anything recently that is similar. Think Romeo and Juliet meets Haven (a TV show based on a Stephen King book - The Colorado Kid).

*If you want to go into this book a complete surprise stop reading here - not really spoilerish though*
Braden is gay (this part I have to say I thought was awesome!) It's so nice to have a character that...more

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Nov 09, 2011 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars

Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were so many reasons I wanted to read this novel. The main character of the novel is gay, instead of a smaller background character. It's a young adult novel that focuses on a male main character instead of a female. Plus, the magic and specifically Braden's witch eyes really drew me in. There are so many ways you can twist magic and wizards/witches to be your own, and the author definitely did that. I really enjoyed Belle Dam as the setting. It was a very creepy place that...more Plot: 3.5 Stars
There were so many reasons I wanted to read this novel. The main character of the novel is gay, instead of a smaller background character. It's a young adult novel that focuses on a male main character instead of a female. Plus, the magic and specifically Braden's witch eyes really drew me in. There are so many ways you can twist magic and wizards/witches to be your own, and the author definitely did that. I really enjoyed Belle Dam as the setting. It was a very creepy place that centered around a fued between Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe. There were a number of details about the fued that were glossed over that would've probably helped me understand things a bit more as the reader, and I hope more of these details will come out in future novels as Braden learns more about his witch eyes.

Pace: 4.5 Stars
This novel flew by as Braden ran around Belle Dam trying to learn anything he can about his witch eyes. Although there were a couple points in which Braden was in a rush, whether to get away from something or to find something else before it was too late, the novel didn't feel rushed. And the calmer scenes, like hanging out with other student at school or falling asleep after a migraine, didn't slow the book down. It felt like Belle Dam was sending Braden in circles as he tried to learn more about his abilities, and it was fun to follow him on his journey.

Characters: 4 Stars
My favorite part of this whole novel was that Braden was gay, he knew he was gay, and he wasn't ashamed of it. It was who he was, and it did not affect the majority of the story. I really liked that he had already figured everything out, it wasn't a big deal, and that this novel was not his coming out. I thought it was a bit too coincidental that Trey, the boy Braden had a crush on, just happened to also be gay. But as they got to know each other, and things weren't always perfect, the coincidental feeling went away. Trey's sister was also a very interesting character, although I wish her part could've been a bit bigger. Although everyone in town knew about the Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe rivalry, I didn't feel like I was as up to speed as the rest of the characters, so I hope more information about them and their rivalry comes out in the next novel.

Cover: 4 Stars
The eyes of the cover model really grab your attention, which makes sense due to both the title of the novel, and Braden's ability. The lightning type detail on one of the eyes gives a hint as to the powers Braden possesses, but still leaves you wondering exactly how his witch eyes work. Although floating face covers don't always work for me, I can't think of any other way to focus on the eyes. I also like that the nose and lips kind of fall away into the forest so that there is nothing to draw your attention to a different part of the cover model. The forest and the mansion below the cover model's face are creepy in all of the right ways. The colors are a bit somber, but fit the feel of Belle Dam quite well.

Overall: 4 Stars

Disclosure: I borrowed this novel from the local library. (less)

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Oct 22, 2011 K rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

I wanted to like this more than I did, and I tried.

Braden has an ability no other witch has. He can look at a spell in progress and unravel it (I think). His vision also reveals any and everything that happened in a place or about a person (I think). When he gets a different sort of vision, one of the future that shows his uncle in danger, he takes off for the mysterious town of Belle Dam because his uncle tells him not to (?) or because he might get answers from his absentee father (?) or becau...more I wanted to like this more than I did, and I tried.

Braden has an ability no other witch has. He can look at a spell in progress and unravel it (I think). His vision also reveals any and everything that happened in a place or about a person (I think). When he gets a different sort of vision, one of the future that shows his uncle in danger, he takes off for the mysterious town of Belle Dam because his uncle tells him not to (?) or because he might get answers from his absentee father (?) or because his vision told him to (?)—I really don’t know why Braden does most of what he does.

I was pretty confused while reading this book. Braden finds Belle Dam a town divided. The Lansings and the Thorpes are the Hatfields and McCoys of the sleepy burg, but I’m a little fuzzy on the whys and hows. The townsfolk keep mum on the whole thing for fear of evil befalling them (?). Now that Braden and his powerful Witch Eyes have stepped into their web, he’s warned that both families want to acquire him for their own purposes. Braden just wants to find out about the one other person who had his ability and how she controlled it, and to keep his uncle safe. But it turns out Braden was born with his allegiance in place. His remote father employs a lawyer who seems to influence almost everything, including Braden’s relationship with the Lansings and his access to information about the town’s secrets. There’s also an immortal, a bad boy jerk, a teen reporter and a conspiracy theorist online gossipmonger—and I still have no idea how they fit into the story ((view spoiler)).

It read a little muddy, from characters holding cups that appear from nowhere to random inconsistencies (e.g. Braden laments his hermit upbringing by mentioning that there weren’t a lot of comic books in his past, and then later makes a thorough Jimmy Olsen analogy). Braden and Trey’s star-crossed romance is based on both allying themselves to sides they don’t support in a feud they don’t support, it’s a problem of their own making. (Or not? I *seriously* don’t get this feud.) The story I think I ended up with (?) was pretty interesting and I did like Braden, it just might have been a more enjoyable reading experience if it were more straightforward. (less)

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Aug 25, 2011 Whatchyareading added it

Shelves: christine, fantasy, series, young-adult

Once again, being a part of the Around the World ARC Tours site came through for me because I got to read Witch Eyes early. After reading the blurb I knew I had to give it a shot because how many supernatural stories are out there written by a guy? I like reading the guy YA writers every chance I can because they always bring a different perspective to the genre. Plus the story sounded remarkably interesting.

The mystery surrounding Belle Dam is quite the ride. The entire story was laid out in su...more Once again, being a part of the Around the World ARC Tours site came through for me because I got to read Witch Eyes early. After reading the blurb I knew I had to give it a shot because how many supernatural stories are out there written by a guy? I like reading the guy YA writers every chance I can because they always bring a different perspective to the genre. Plus the story sounded remarkably interesting.

The mystery surrounding Belle Dam is quite the ride. The entire story was laid out in such a way that I literally had no idea what was going to happen from one moment to the next and little clue to what was really going on in Belle Dam. Also, I love the name. I wish this was a real town. There’s a Tumblr account for Belle Dam and Witch Eyes with strange pictures that each tell a bit of the story in them. While they probably won’t make sense until you’ve read the book, you can get spooked and intrigued by what the pictures imply. (Some are a tad creepy, jsyk.)

Through Braden, we see the world in an entirely different way. I found every scene with Braden’s “witch eyes” in action fascinating. And when he was wearing the shades, I couldn’t help but refer to him as Scott Summers in my head. (Any time I can use a X-Men reference, I will.)

I rarely read a YA book with guy-on-guy interest, and I guess I didn’t pay that much attention to the blurb once I read about Braden’s eyes and a witch feud because somehow him falling for Trey was overlooked completely. Well, until it happened in the story. After that point, I had to keep reminding myself I was reading a guy’s POV because I’m not used to reading about a guy really looking at another guy.

Regardless, I loved Braden and Trey together. They were so cute, even though there were times I wanted to slap Trey upside the head. Ugh, that boy is clueless about several things. But there’s one scene I’ll probably always remember where they’re hiding from a nasty thing that wants to get them and they’re clinging to each other to hide in a tight spot. It was just so… I’m probably going to reveal something about me here, but I found it kind of hot. It’s a poignant moment.

Overall, the characters and the mystery drew me in and left me wanting more. I’m very much looking forward to the next book, Demon Eyes.

Witch Eyes comes out September 8th from Flux.

Reviewed at WhatchYAreading on August 15, 2011.(less)

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Mar 25, 2013 Ava rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm far too disappointed in the ending to render it any more stars. Seriously? Superb plot, even if the characters are a little stale. I think I ended up enjoying sassy!Grace and John more than I did Braden and the other teens. Point in case? The cliches. Trey, as much as I think Tracey hoped wouldn't come off as the struggling hero-type, came out just that. I don't think I yawned at a supposed enigma for this long in a while. Braden's character, albeit easy to keep up with, didn't have that ext...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Winnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was unique in its own way, it was different, a little disconcerting, humorous and refreshing. I like the author’s way of writing; I like the pace, the tension and the suspense. Tracey Scott, made sure there were lots of battle...
Anonymity... and in the end I was left wanting more!

Belle Dam is a town that has been wearing a veil of darkness ever since its origin. It’s a town ruled by witches! And Belle Dom has been divided by a feud between the two prevailing families who keep its secre...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Annmarie Ager rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Witch eyes is a book that was easy to get into from the very first page i was hooked. Braden has always know he was different the faceted his a witch and that his eyes can see the world in a whole new light. Braden lives with his uncle and is home school but when he see's that something bad is about to happen he head to belle dam but what he finds there is a war between two family's. Both sides want to use Braden gift but there is so much worse going on in this town.People are being manipulated...more

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Mar 10, 2012 Tessa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: yyay, paranormal-or-magic

My blog-partner recommended this: http://crunchingsandmunchings.wordpre...

and it was just what I needed! I realized that I haven't come across many gay characters in my magical books, and that I don't read many urban magic books to boot, and I liked both of these elements very much. The whole secretive powerful magic war in a town setting reminded me of Angel (but Belle Dam is waaaay smaller than Los Angeles).

Tracey makes Braden very much a teen - and although I didn't agree with his decision ma...more

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Oct 07, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. As soon as I saw that Witch Eyes was going to be in the YA Supernatural story genre, but have a gay male protagonist, I knew I HAD to read this book. And Braden was an awesome main character! I loved that there was no 'painful coming out' story. Yes, the story mentioned how his uncle and father weren't exactly comfortable talking about it, but that part had already been put behind him. He just WAS gay, and it was almost a non-issue, which I found amazing. Braden's also extremely likable, capable...more As soon as I saw that Witch Eyes was going to be in the YA Supernatural story genre, but have a gay male protagonist, I knew I HAD to read this book. And Braden was an awesome main character! I loved that there was no 'painful coming out' story. Yes, the story mentioned how his uncle and father weren't exactly comfortable talking about it, but that part had already been put behind him. He just WAS gay, and it was almost a non-issue, which I found amazing. Braden's also extremely likable, capable, not dippy or weak-spined and just generally a competent young man. I found it refreshing, particularly considering this genre, that he wasn't completely useless without his 'hunky smouldering mysterious male lead'. He could take care of himself, and totally didn't need rescuing.
The downside is that I didn't feel as invested in Trey and Braden as I would have liked. Their interactions were very interesting, and I liked the whole alpha male boyfriend thing kind of blowing up in Trey's face in terms of Braden's opinion of it. I liked the Romeo and Juliet aspect of their romance, coming from feuding families, but there just wasn't *enough* interaction. Because of that, sometimes I found it... hard to believe, I guess, that they cared about each other deeply, instead of it being mostly hormones that could *turn* into something. What was there was great, but I wish there had been more time spent on it.
I found the twists and turns in the latter half of the book interested, and I'm really curious to learn more about Lucien and exactly what he is, and more about Grace Lansing. I really liked the town history aspect of the story a lot. It actually kind of had a Silent Hill vibe to it (which is never a bad thing!!!), where the town seemed like an idyllic tourist destination on the surface, but all the foundations were build on blood and darker things.
I also want to see MORE of Trey and Braden. Maybe through the forces keeping them apart, there will be some more development into their relationship.(less)

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Sep 21, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have had my fill of girls going swoony over mysterious boys, so of late I’ve been picking up one YA after another with boy protagonists. I haven’t regretted my decision so far. From Anna Dressed in Blood to Ward Against Death, everything that’s passed my hands have been winners in their own right. Where Cas was smug and confident and Ward was coming into his own (if just a bit unsure of what he could should do.) In this one, Braden is something in the middle: he knows he’s special with Witch E...more I have had my fill of girls going swoony over mysterious boys, so of late I’ve been picking up one YA after another with boy protagonists. I haven’t regretted my decision so far. From Anna Dressed in Blood to Ward Against Death, everything that’s passed my hands have been winners in their own right. Where Cas was smug and confident and Ward was coming into his own (if just a bit unsure of what he could should do.) In this one, Braden is something in the middle: he knows he’s special with Witch Eyes and all, yet is unintentionally aware of the goings on around him. And then add that he was also getting used to who he was. So 10 % in, I was feeling a bit ho-hum about it all (as in, “I think I’ve read this before,”) then I got to chapter nine, then chapter ten, then lo, it was over!

So what do I say now?

It’s a bit like Romeo and Juliet with the family feuds and children of the same falling for each other. Only in Witch Eyes everyone was more suspicious, everyone was holding something back from the other. It’s also a bit like Morganville, as in a town where something suspicious was going on, but for one reason or another, people looked the other way. And you know what? I liked it! Never mind that Braden sometimes came across a little like Ethan in Beautiful Creatures, because I liked getting to know him. And I also liked getting to know everyone else around him. It’s just too bad that the people weren’t as developed as I would have liked because then I might have taken away more from/of them.

All that said, things did progress quickly with most my questions answered. While Braden’s story isn’t a romance (thank gosh,) there is an element of that that's present, so I cannot help but comment on it. He and Trey made like a believable/likeable couple: awkward at first, a bit unsure later on, and later still, suspicious with a mix of protective and attracted to consider. I was rooting for them because I simply enjoyed watching them interact.

3.5/5
(less)

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Jul 31, 2012 Stephen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

Full Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Witch Eyes from Flux Books.

Okay, I have to admit it. This one took me totally by surprise. My experience thus far with Flux Books titles has been hit (Skyship Academy The Pearl Wars 1 by Nick James) or miss (Shadow Walkers by Brent Hartinger — this wasn't a total miss, just something that I thought could have been a whole lot better). So I really didn't know what to expect when I cracked open Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey.

Paranormal fiction (all...more

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Dec 24, 2011 Travis rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

This isn't a book I would have picked up on my own, but it was the first book for the Permanent Floating YA Diversity Book Club, so I decided to give it a go. Aside from the fact that the romance is between two boys, there isn't a single original thing about it. I felt like I was reading an amalgam of a bunch of current supernatural-themed things, including Supernatural, but also Lost Girl and Twilight, which are not terribly original things to begin with. But despite kind of rolling my eyes at...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

It's hard to say no to this cover. Honestly, the first time I saw it I knew I had to have this book. I was also intrigued by the blurb -it's been a long time since I've read a YA paranormal novel with a male lead character and in a genre flooded by female narrators, it's fresh and exciting to finally see something different.

Braden isn't like the other kids he knows. He has witch eyes, which allow him to see the world in a different way than those around him, something that's more honest and real...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

That was amazing!!! The first gay fantasy romance! Beside that it was a gay romance; the story.... is just mind-blowing. People said that this book is really good. So I was like “what the heck? Bring it on!”
Braden’s eye is normal as the rest. He called it the witch eyes. It is a gift as well as a curse. When he removes his sunglasses, he sees everything that no witch could do... but it causes him an after taste of migraine and some destruction. Braden went to a city called Belle Dam where he u...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Mitch Sullivan rated it 3 of 5 stars

I liked this book. Quite a lot. I wanted to give it 4, but settled on 3. I loved the characters, I like the casual and matter-of-fact handling of Braden's sexuality, I was pretty happy with the story overall.

The main love interest suffered from a bit of excessive turbulence, though. It's good for drama, but I found it somewhat difficult to keep up with Braden and Trey's 'I like you / now I hate you / back to liking you again' attitude.

I also didn't quite understand the gravity of the feud that...more

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Sep 18, 2011 branewurms rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: childrens-and-ya, queer-fic, read-2011, sci-fi-fantasy

3 1/2 stars. Really fun YA paranormal with a touch of romance. Follows fairly standard patterns (except for, y'know, the whole pairing being two dudes thing, which is unfortunately scarce in YA).

Although the structure and story-beats are pretty straightforward for the genre, there are some pretty distinctive and original flares, I think. I, at least, haven't seen this sort of almost abstract and impressionistic approach to magic in a paranormal before. Pacing's a bit uneven, and I think Braden...more

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Dec 12, 2011 Sammy2006 rated it 3 of 5 stars

When we first meet Braden he is living with and training with his Uncle John. We are introduced to his extraordinary poser the moment he first takes off his sunglasses. What happens next is both a cool gift and a nightmarish burden to bear. Imagine sitting on the train riding to work and being able to hear every thought around you. Now imagine that you can also hear the thoughts and memories of the thousands and thousands of people who have sat in the very seat which you currently occupy. Furthe...more When we first meet Braden he is living with and training with his Uncle John. We are introduced to his extraordinary poser the moment he first takes off his sunglasses. What happens next is both a cool gift and a nightmarish burden to bear. Imagine sitting on the train riding to work and being able to hear every thought around you. Now imagine that you can also hear the thoughts and memories of the thousands and thousands of people who have sat in the very seat which you currently occupy. Furthermore, all those thoughts are racing at you, flinging themselves against your mind; the pressure of which builds exponentially every time you cast a spell. Witch eyes--that is Braden's gift, his power, his curse. It is through these eyes that he sees a future moment where his Uncle is in danger--his very life threatened. Braden realizes he must return to his place of birth, Belle Dam, in order to save his uncle from that very fate. Once there, he meets Trey--the son of a prominent family--one that is directly pitted against his own estranged Father, Jason. He also meet Lucien--a lawyer who seems to play both sides--that of his Father's and that of his rival, Catherine Lansing--Trey's mother. Trey and Braden begin to fall in deep like with one another--not love--but definitely the possibility is there, flirted with by the author. If this is beginning to sound like a modern, paranormal version of Romeo and Juliet with a m/m twist--you would be right--there are definite overtones here. One thing leads to another, other characters are introduced, there is a final showdown with Lucien, a violent ending and a bittersweet open ended resolve to the like/love relationship between Trey and Braden.

This was an involved and intricate story line with many threads opened and explored and some deliberately left open to enable sequels to the original story--there are two planned as of this post. SO, I should have no problem with the unanswered questions except...I had great difficulty with that very issue. I felt like this was 4 or 5 stories running simultaneously and therefore I felt that the main character and his love interest were shallow characters at best--I never really felt worry or concern for these boys--I felt like they were still strangers to me after 5000 kindle pages--that's a lot of book to leave unfinished. I didn't understand how a boy who was motivated to leave everything he knew to save his Uncle but then rarely thought about that uncle after the first few hundred kindle pages--and when he did think about him, communicate with him--their conversations were less than satisfying and left this reader more muddled and confused than before.

Tracey has the makings of a good story here but he needed to refine and reshape, even edit before releasing it. There were too many clues here left unsolved--too much story and not enough resolution. When I compare this to other YA stories I have read it left me less than satisfied. The story, while mildly entertaining failed to draw me in, failed to make me eager for a sequel.(less)

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