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Moonset, a coven of such promise...Until they turned to the darkness. After the terrorist witch coven known as Moonset was destroyed fifteen years ago - during a secret war against the witch Congress - five children were left behind, saddled with a legacy of darkness. Sixteen-year-old Justin Daggett, son of a powerful Moonset warlock, has been raised alongside the other orphans by the witch Congress, who fear the children will one day continue the destruction their parents started. A deadly assault by a wraith, claiming to work for Moonset's most dangerous disciple, Cullen Bridger, forces the five teens to be evacuated to Carrow Mill. But when dark magic wreaks havoc in their new hometown, Justin and his siblings are immediately suspected. Justin sets out to discover if someone is trying to frame the Moonset orphans...or if Bridger has finally come out of hiding to reclaim the legacy of Moonset. He learns there are secrets in Carrow Mill connected to Moonset's origins, and keeping the orphans safe isn't the only reason the Congress relocated them...
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This book reminds me a bit of The Secret Circle, which made it an automatic love for me. Scott Tracey works magic, history and politics into his book so well, he brings a really fascinating world to life. Beyond just being a great story complete with power struggles, family loyalty, a hero who's slightly tortured, a bit of love and of course, witches, it really feels like this book is saying something and serving a purpose greater than itself.
It seems that every teenager, at some point, has to deal with who their parents were, or the choices they made. A large part of this book is the fact that these five teenagers are living with the consequences of their parent's mistakes. They're punished and restricted, even though they are innocent (for the most part...). They have to fight for their own rights and freedoms, but they are often held back or shut down. I love the (often sneaky) ways they manage to hold onto or claim their own power and to claim themselves as individuals.
Individuality is also a struggle these characters are facing. At one point Justin mentions that the crimes of an individual are the crimes of the entire coven. The other four witches in Justin's coven are like family to him, but almost involuntarily, as they can never be too far apart. They're all treated the same, even though each one is an individual. I think this is what made Jenna, Justin's "twin" the most interesting character to me. She just seems to be doing her best to hold on to herself, to hold on to her power, and it just comes off as her being difficult and kind of mean. She's also the one who fights the most for her rights, especially her right to learn about her powers and defend herself.
It's also about repression. There's a great debate that happens in the middle of the book, where Justin is kind of forced to stick up for his evil ancestors, even though he doesn't really believe in what his parents did. The debate though, takes on the form of any debate in which a minority group is fighting for their rights. It comes down to - who has the right to decide what is best for another group of people and why can't we seem to separate an individual from a label?
I've talked about all these issues that seem to surface in the novel, but these are all the things I see that give this book depth. I loved Justin and I loved the way the "family" dynamics played out. With five important characters to keep track of, I was really happy that everyone got page time and I felt like I came to understand the way everyone worked. I think I actually channeled Justin's character in the respect that I didn't trust anyone who wasn't in his coven. Everyone else was lying until they proved themselves.
I really loved this book and just kind of fell for the characters and for the magic. There's a really rich history that goes with the Moonset world and I'm really looking forward to finding out where that background propels them in the next book. I'm looking forward to more from Justin and I actually want to get into Jenna's head a bit more, just to find out what she's thinking. But if you like witches, and if you're like me and think there just aren't enough books about witches, then definitely pick this one up!
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About Scott Tracey: 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 WITCH EYES, chosen as one of Amazon's Best LGBT Books of 2011, as well as an ALA Popular Paperback in the Forbidden Romance category. The final book in the WITCH EYES trilogy, PHANTOM EYES, will be released in the fall of 2013.
He is also the author of MOONSET, a new series which 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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Check out the other stops on this tour this week:
Check out the other stops on this tour this week:
Mar. 25th - Me, My Shelf and I - Guest PostSee the entire tour schedule!
Mar. 26th - Book Brats - Interview
Mar. 26th - In the Best Worlds - Review
Mar. 27th - Once Upon a Twilight - Guest Post
Mar. 28th - BookHounds YA - Interview
Mar. 29th - WinterHaven Books - Review
Mar. 30th - The Book Cellar - Guest Post
Mar. 31st - Magical Urban Fantasy Reads - Review
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Giveaway: There are FIVE copies of Moonset up for grabs for five winners! Giveaway is US only, must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway ends on April 20, 2013.
