Review: Well written coming of age YA novel
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 25, 2014
I enjoyed this offering from first time author, Jeff Jacobson, and eagerly await the next two books on the horizon to complete the story. The book finished with a cliff hanger and I'll be hanging on by my fingernails until the next installment is published. I really fell in love with the main character, Charlie, who we meet when he is quietly going about his rural teenage life, living with his home body single mom, when the story opens.  Suddenly, his whole world is turned upside down when he finds out that there is more to this world than what appears on the surface and there really are things that go bump in the night.  Charlie has to begin to grow up faster than he really wants too. He is fifteen when he suddenly becomes aware that he is from a lineage of witches and it is his turn to join the ranks. To top it all off, he meets another boy, whom he finds attractive, and it  makes him realize that he is probably gay and born that way too. Charlie is shy by nature and he has to work hard to overcome his tendency to just blend in quietly when his life is turned upside down. We see him grow up, faster than he is really wanting to, as he faces the challenges in both his public and personal life.I enjoy YA novels and I enjoy paranormal themes from time to time.  This work is skillfully crafted, never boring and handles the good versus evil and double coming of age themes marvellously. The sweet awakening of Charlie's feelings for Diego, amid the awakening of his magical powers are a lot to deal with for fifteen year old Charlie. Yet he manages to manage just fine.  I admire him.  A great read for youth and adults alike.