YA All the Way

Demon Eyes by Scott Tracey is the second book in the Witch Eyes series. Its main character Braden is about as YA as you can get -- he's very defensive towards any authority figure, all mushy about his crush, and incredibly self-centered even when he means to be a good friend.


Of course, he also has super-magic eyeballs that could kill him at any time, as we learn in a rather hilarious opening scene that has Braden throwing a huge temper tantrum at the doctor who shows up at his house. Braden refuses to see any more counselors, is sure that his "father" only cares that he is broken, and is offended that more doctors are being brought in to talk about his feelings. At this point the poor man reveals that he's an opthamologist. So he has to wear sunglasses all the time, even when doing magic.

My high school son described this book as "a good story, although Braden spends most of his time being stupid." I have to agree, although probably most seventeen years olds are in the same boat, what with school bullies, uncertain boyfriends, and of course, the evil magicians dueling each other through the town who happen to be your father and your boyfriend's mother. I like the magic system and the friendships, and it's a bit relaxing to have a protagonist who is clearly not the sharpest tool in the shed. I'll have fun reading the last book, probably tomorrow, and X assures me that Braden gets smarter in that one.

(Fits under Diversity because Braden is gay)