Book Review: Gypsy Magic by Tonya Royston

gypsy-magic-coverThere is a lot of mystery surrounding the plot in Gypsy Magic by Tonya Royston, however it takes the reader the vast majority of the book to get any answers or closure. This book is the first in, what is set up to be, a trilogy. A lot of time is spent getting to know the main character, Gracyn Pierce, who is eighteen-years-old and a recent transplant to Sedgewick, Massachusetts.

Gracyn finds herself in the small town after her mom gets a job that forces her to relocate to Moscow. Not wanting to spend her senior year in Russia, Gracyn decides to go and live with her newly discovered sister, Becca, who their mother gave up for adoption years before Gracyn was born. Becca, and her husband Gabriel are thrilled to have Gracyn in their home. However, as the book slowly progresses, the reader sees that the couple has many secrets.

Gracyn has some secrets of her own, as she is running away a bit in her move to Sedgewick. A scary encounter with her best friend’s step-father, has Gracyn doubting herself and in a constant state of worry. Moving to a new school adds more complications, but she is determined to stay focused on her grades and get into a good college. She meets Alex, a cute senior in a band, and they form a relationship that is more than just friendship. Throughout the book Gracyn keeps him and others at a distance due to the unsettling feelings she has in the town.

A two-year-old, murder happened in the woods near Becca’s house, and the fact that it is still unsolved makes Gracyn nervous. The arrival of Lucian, the victim’s brother and also the main murder suspect do not calm Gracyn down at all. Lucian is a dark and brooding soul. Gracyn cannot help but feel drawn to him, despite being scared of him.

gypsy-magic-horse-197199_960_720The horses on Becca and Gabriel’s property become a large part of Gracyn’s life in Sedgewick. She is initially scared of the animals, due to a scary fall she had while riding as a child. However, Becca encourages her to get to know the horses, and even gives Gracyn a horse of her own. The horse’s name is Gypsy and from the start they have a natural connection that allows Gracyn to overcome her fear of horses.

The whole book really appears to be a set up for the next two novels in the trilogy, as many mysteries go unsolved even at the ending. A lot of questions are left hanging, and it took until the last ten percent of the book for any real answers to be revealed. This fictional novel is considered fantasy, but since so much time is spent getting to know the characters it is more of a teenage angst, coming of age, romance story…at least until the ending where the fantasy theme becomes apparent.

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