Review: Darkbound by Scott Tracey

Darkbound by Scott Tracey 
Published- Flux
Released- April 8th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Malcolm has seven days to unravel a twenty year old mystery, find a body, capture a killer and keep a demon at arm's length.No one hates being a witch quite like Malcolm. But if there's one thing worse than being a witch, it's being a Moonset witch. There are very few things in his life that he can control, and after a fight with his siblings, he's losing his grip on what he's got left.A creature as old as Hamelin has crept out of the Abyss, and its siren song has infected the teenagers of Carrow Mill compelling them, at first, to simply be swept away in love. But love soon turns dangerous, as passion turns to violence and an army of sociopaths is born.
The Pied Piper isn't just a story, and he's got his eyes set on Malcolm, promising a life of freedom from magic and the shackles of the Moonset bond. As Carrow Mill burns, Malcolm must make the hardest choice of his life: family? Or freedom?

My Thoughts:
Switching point of views are always a little tricky, especially with paranormal genres. 

Once the reader falls in love with a particular voice, it’s sometimes hard to let anyone else in the spotlight. While I'm always curious enough to accept a change in character's perspective, I still go into it a little weary. Moonset, the first book, was told in Justin’s pov and is the reason I really fell for this series. Not only was he easy to connect with, but he had this really sharp way he held himself. Smart but sarcastic witty but warm and while he’s always known that his coven bonded ‘family’ is screwed, he was at least optimistic about it. Malcolm? Not so much.

Going into this book, I must admit, I wasn't prepared for how really dark Malcolm could be. I had known that he liked to rely on his physical strength more then his magical ones, but I didn't know just how much he despises, well, everything. He hates magic and everything that comes with it. He hates the fact that he has to constantly live in the shadows of his parents sins and that he can’t have any kind of normal life. He also hates that he’s stuck to his ‘adopted’ siblings because of some magical coven bond and is against learning how to control it. He’s cynical, jaded and pissed off. He wants his freedom but will it cost him the only family he has?

While I didn't always like Malcolm’s attitude, I still have to admit he was a real force in this one. Tracey knew what he was doing. Malcolm may be the oldest of the Moonset children but not the wises. He had to find his own path and his own way of dealing with the pressures of this magical life he never asked for and struggle with his haunted history that he wants to overcome. Still, this was cleverly done and I ended up really enjoying the darker side of this Moonset teen and his journey of self-worth.

I really loved the plot line, it was very well crafted. Tracey continues to thrive with dedication to historical detail for this world as well as giving us the magical madness that I crave in my books while adding a seriously sadistic Prince demon that was both unhinged and riveting. The storyline was less action packed then the last book, but it’s definitely more suspenseful and fascinating. I loved diving deeper into the history of the original Moonset and the monsters that wrecked havoc during their rein. The Abyssal Prince demon was crazy consuming. He offered Malcolm something that he wants more then anything. His freedom, and for added measure to insure Malcolm see things his way, the Prince started to infect the witches of Carrow Mill with dark spells, twirling the town with deadly seduction and warping their every thought. When one of the Moonset brothers gets hurt, Malcolm has no choice but to make peace with Jenna and work together to find a way to stop the Princes evil doings and uncovers long buried secrets along the way.

Justin, Jenna, Malcom, Cole and Bailey are so much stronger when together. I love how they play off one another in banter and devotion. They were bonded together for a purpose, even if they don’t understand why and it’s those moments I find myself enjoying the most. But for this book, it’s really Malcolm’s story and the journey he needed to take to finally accept what he is and what he has to do. However,  I was surprised that Jenna was featured in this one so closely to Malcolm since these two particular characters don’t really like each other and don’t get along very well, despite them being ‘siblings’. Still, it was really great to see them put their differences aside and work together for the greater good. But I think my favorite part is when all the Moonset children come together, uniting their magic through the coven bond at the end of the story. It was a very defying moment for Malcom, for the reader and what it means for future books. I also really loved the Abyssal Prince. This guy was seriously creepy and unnerving. Tracey wrote him good.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself with Darkbound. The writing is really very smart and I loved that Tracey kept me on my toes throughout the entire story. If you’re looking for a magical read with a unique twist in paranormal, then I would recommend this series as a solid entertaining escape. There is so much more to the story and I look forward to seeing what Tracey has in store next for this world and the Moonset children who can’t escape their fate. Well done!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes

Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway- Moonset by Scott Tracey

Today WinterHaven Books has the wonderful opportunity to review,  Moonset by Scott Tracey. Special thanks to Rockstar Book Tours for hosting this blog tour as well as allowing us to participate. 
You can view the complete Moonset tour schedule; Here! 

Moonset by Scott Tracey
Publisher-Flux
Release-April 8th 2013
Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N

Justin Daggett, his trouble-making sister, and their three orphan-witch friends have gotten themselves kicked out of high school. Again. Now they’ve ended up in Carrow Mills, New York, the town where their parents—members of the terrorist witch organization known as Moonset—began their evil experiments with the dark arts one generation ago.When the siblings are accused of unleashing black magic on the town, Justin fights to prove their innocence. But tracking down the true culprit leads him to a terrifying discovery about Moonset’s past . . . and its deadly future.

 My Thoughts:
Moonset was once an ordinary coven. Not remarkable in any one way till something set them on the path to darker magic which continued to crave unstoppable forbidden powers. They started a war, became terrorists that lead to hundreds of deaths. They were a feared unstoppable force. Then one day they simply surrendered. No one knows why, maybe it was momentary clarity that freed them from the dark forces. But being quickly tried and executed, their plans were never revealed.
However, they did leave something else behind...
Malcolm, Justin, Jenna, Cole and Bailey. The children of Moonset. They will always be reminded of the sins of their parents and branded by an unbreakable curse that sets their fate as one. Something or someone is coming. Will the Moonset children be evil's second-coming? Or can they rise above and escape their tainted bloodline?

Wow! I had so much fun with this book!
This would be my first book by Scott Tracey, but it wont be my last. Tracey's writing is smooth, sharp and confident and has the perfect blend of magic and madness. I was easily absorbed from the first page till the very last. It's been a long time since I enjoyed magical element in my escape to this extent, but it also has a little bit of everything else I love. Mystery, suspense, wicked idea and wonderful imagination and even a touch of romance to make me smile.

Moonset is told in Justin's point of view which I absolutely loved. Not only do I adore male characters pov's but Justin has one of those voices that is easy to connect with instantly. He's got a great sense of humor, looks out for his family and glues you to the pages throughout the entire story.
His twin sister, and the only one related to him by blood, Jenna on the other hand is a really piece of work. Attention seeker, stubborn, frustrating, bratty, always stirs up trouble. You know the kind. Someone you'd love to slap or watch someone put her in place. I can't say that I loved her, but she's got sharp wit and I found her colorful dialog to be most entertaining, plus, you can't deny she loves her family.
As for the rest of the 'adopted' siblings, I liked them a lot as well. Malcolm is the eldest and relies more on his physical strength then magical spells. Cole is funny and fearless while Bailey is the youngest, she's sweet, pixie-like and very much protected.
Together these are the teenagers of Moonset and they have so much weight on their shoulders that I'm amazed they can even walk straight. To be viewed and judged solely by the actions of what their parents did in the world before their death must be both exhausting and excruciating. But through it all they look out for each other, being each others family and friend. I love their bond, their connection, their humor, their banter and overall good nature despite everything. They are a wonderful cast of character that have you invested the minute you meet them and they will make you want to see it through till the very end.

The concept and story line has a good mixture between a healthy dose of gathered information about the history and magical aspect and the full force of what that magic has planed for this group of misfit teens.
There are a handful of adult/guardians that, quite frankly I never cared for. Other then Quinn (he was cool) they all seemed very judgmental, unfair and full of themselves despite there good intentions.
This also has very little romance, which the sap in me would usually complain about, but to honest the story line was so busy you don't even miss it. What we did get was cute though. The minute I met Ash, I knew we were gonna get along just fine. She's a fun, witty, fiery characters that's a bit odd but there is a kind of twinkle in her personality that I found infectious.

All in all, I had a great time with this book. You can tell that Scott Tracey took his time in this world filling it with action and adventure and so much magic. The fun kind, complete with titles and spells and creatures and a history that made this universe unique, intriguing and fascinating. There is a lot to process but the way it's told felt easy to absorb everything this book has to offer. It also leaves us on a good note, but I'm still really looking forward to seeing where Tracy will take these characters next!

A very well done fun filled adventure fit for fans who is looking for a fresh twist in their magical escape!
Loved it! Next!
                       

                                                                    4.5 Snowflakes

Scott Tracey is a YA author who lived on a Greyhound for a month, wrote his illustrated autobiography at the age of six, and barely survived Catholic school (and definitely not for the reasons you might think).He is the author of the WITCH EYES trilogy, of which the final book, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013. He is also the author of the LEGACY OF MOONSET series, the first book of which, MOONSET, will be released April 8, 2013, as well as a contributor to the SHADOWHUNTERS & DOWNWORLDERS anthology, edited by Cassandra Clare.His career highlights include: accidentally tripping a panic alarm which led to nearly being shot by the police; attacked in a drive-thru window by a woman wielding a baked potato, and once moving cross country for a job only to quit on the second day.His gifts can be used for good or evil, but rather than picking a side, he strives for BOTH (in alternating capacity) for his own amusement.

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