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Black Magic
In this magic shop the magic is real. And the trick is on you. Citrus Glade is a dying town that needs new businesses, but the one that just opened is doing much more harm than good. Stranger Lyle Miller's magic shop seems to only stock what its select customers desire. When four outcast boys buy common party tricks, only Lyle knows what those tricks can really do. As subtle changes occur around town, a few residents realize that something is amiss...and getting worse. But it may already be too late. Lyle's black magic has empowered more townspeople to help him execute his Grand Adventure, a plan that will reduce the town, and half the state, to rubble.
Audible Audio
First published May 7, 2013
53 people are currently reading
450 people want to read
About the author
Russell James
49 books217 followersRussell R. James was raised on Long Island, New York and spent too much time watching Chiller, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Dark Shadows, despite his parents’ warnings. Bookshelves full of Stephen King and Edgar Allan Poe didn’t make things better. He graduated from Cornell University and the University of Central Florida.
After a tour flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight.
His wife reads what he writes, rolls her eyes, and says “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
He has published the novels DARK INSPIRATION, SACRIFICE, BLACK MAGIC and DARK VENGEANCE, the compilations OUT OF TIME and TALES FROM BEYOND, as well as numerous short stories. He founded the Minnows Literary Group.
He and his wife share their home in sunny Florida with two cats.
Drop by the website to kill some time with some short stories.
After a tour flying helicopters with the U.S. Army, he now spins twisted tales best read in daylight.
His wife reads what he writes, rolls her eyes, and says “There is something seriously wrong with you.”
He has published the novels DARK INSPIRATION, SACRIFICE, BLACK MAGIC and DARK VENGEANCE, the compilations OUT OF TIME and TALES FROM BEYOND, as well as numerous short stories. He founded the Minnows Literary Group.
He and his wife share their home in sunny Florida with two cats.
Drop by the website to kill some time with some short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 26, 2018
My original BLACK MAGIC audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
Black magic is the name of the game in this entertaining horror story from Russell James. Dark magician Lyle Miller has set up shop in the downtown portion of the dying Citrus Glade, Florida, where his magic shop draws the attention of four teenage misfits and a priest who suspects devilry is afoot. Such is the opening of Lyle's Grand Adventure, which promises to deliver plenty of bloody murder alongside an apocalyptic storm that will wipe Citrus Glade and all its inhabitants clean off the map.
Black Magic was a nice surprise to discover. At first, I had thought the story lacked focus as much of the first hour of this 8 1/2 hour listen is devoted to introducing the book's major players, of which there are many. James assembles a large cast to wreak plenty of havoc upon, ranging from the mayor of Citrus Glade to the town's sole DPW worker, a citrus farming family, a drug mule, a handful of retirees living in an old folks home, and more. Thankfully, Black Magic rewards the patient listener and James draws his diverse cast together in a few surprising ways, drawing them all into various energetic and action-packed set pieces. This book also served as my introduction to Russell James, and I was pleasantly surprised at his ruthlessness as he dispatched characters in some rather unsettling, and magically showy, ways (it's only after having listened to Black Magic that I now realize I have several other titles from this author on my Kindle, which I'm now forced to move up the reading queue a bit!). The classic trick of sawing somebody in half gets a gory, gut-twisting workout in a scene I won't soon forget, and James riffs on several other well-known magic tricks along the way in wonderfully gruesome scenarios. James doesn't pull any punches and, frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
On narrating duties is David Stifel, whose baritone voice gives this book's various horrors rich gravitas and plenty of weight. Having listened to a few of Stifel's other readings, I knew what to expect from this reliable narrator and wasn't disappointed. Black Magic is a fun work in its own right, but Stifel makes it an easy listen to sink into. He's a pro, delivering a well-finished audiobook with no noticeable flaws in the production.
Russel James delivers a highly enjoyable and engaging magic-based horror thriller. Black Magic is more Wes Craven than Charmed, so if you're looking for a fun, pulpy romp with plenty of darkness and savagery, this should fit the bill rather well. And if that doesn't sell you, there's some mean alligator action as a nice bonus!
[Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com]
Black magic is the name of the game in this entertaining horror story from Russell James. Dark magician Lyle Miller has set up shop in the downtown portion of the dying Citrus Glade, Florida, where his magic shop draws the attention of four teenage misfits and a priest who suspects devilry is afoot. Such is the opening of Lyle's Grand Adventure, which promises to deliver plenty of bloody murder alongside an apocalyptic storm that will wipe Citrus Glade and all its inhabitants clean off the map.
Black Magic was a nice surprise to discover. At first, I had thought the story lacked focus as much of the first hour of this 8 1/2 hour listen is devoted to introducing the book's major players, of which there are many. James assembles a large cast to wreak plenty of havoc upon, ranging from the mayor of Citrus Glade to the town's sole DPW worker, a citrus farming family, a drug mule, a handful of retirees living in an old folks home, and more. Thankfully, Black Magic rewards the patient listener and James draws his diverse cast together in a few surprising ways, drawing them all into various energetic and action-packed set pieces. This book also served as my introduction to Russell James, and I was pleasantly surprised at his ruthlessness as he dispatched characters in some rather unsettling, and magically showy, ways (it's only after having listened to Black Magic that I now realize I have several other titles from this author on my Kindle, which I'm now forced to move up the reading queue a bit!). The classic trick of sawing somebody in half gets a gory, gut-twisting workout in a scene I won't soon forget, and James riffs on several other well-known magic tricks along the way in wonderfully gruesome scenarios. James doesn't pull any punches and, frankly, I wouldn't have it any other way.
On narrating duties is David Stifel, whose baritone voice gives this book's various horrors rich gravitas and plenty of weight. Having listened to a few of Stifel's other readings, I knew what to expect from this reliable narrator and wasn't disappointed. Black Magic is a fun work in its own right, but Stifel makes it an easy listen to sink into. He's a pro, delivering a well-finished audiobook with no noticeable flaws in the production.
Russel James delivers a highly enjoyable and engaging magic-based horror thriller. Black Magic is more Wes Craven than Charmed, so if you're looking for a fun, pulpy romp with plenty of darkness and savagery, this should fit the bill rather well. And if that doesn't sell you, there's some mean alligator action as a nice bonus!
[Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com]
May 19, 2013
Brilliantly original, chilling and fun as hell. Russell James taps into his own innner magic with this one! A must read.
June 14, 2013
In a word: delightfully gruesome, with lots of small-town quirkiness, an evil magician you will hate, and heroic everyday characters you will love.
I was initially drawn to Black Magic by its cover, which I think is so well done, especially for a small publisher. The eerie glimpse into the magic store’s windows and the brewing storm overhead promise lots of horrific entertainment. And I’m happy to say the cover perfectly captures the mood of this story. Black Magic was a well-written and perfectly paced book that will appeal to fans of Stephen King. Russell James does not shy away from gory scenes, so if you have a weak stomach, this might not be the book for you. But like King, he makes his story just as much about the characters as the horror, and he throws in some humor to lighten the mood.
The story takes place in the small Florida town of Citrus Glade, a dying community on the edge of the Everglades whose Apex Sugar Mill shut its doors years ago. A newcomer named Lyle Miller has just decided to set up shop, and some of the residents of Citrus Glade think this might be just what the town needs to boost its economy. But Lyle is not who he seems. In fact, he is a 2000-year-old sorcerer who has chosen the town as the site of his next "Grand Adventure," and because he is an evil sorcerer, that adventure involves destroying the town of Citrus Glade and everyone in it.
But in order to fuel his magic, Lyle needs the help of the residents of Citrus Glade to add juice to his powers. He selects those whose “whapna,” or essence, leans towards the dark side, including four boys who call themselves “The Outsiders,” a nasty old man named Shane who terrorizes the local retirement home, and a loser named Vicente whose used car business is a front for a drug smuggling operation. With a few dazzling tricks to entice the boys and a bit of black magic to rope in Vicente and Shane, Lyle is set to topple what remains of this pitiful town.
But a handful of heroes catch on to Lyle’s tricks and they will do anything to stop him. Andy Patterson, who is the last employee of the Department of Public Works, his mother Dolly who is slowly losing her battle with Alzheimer’s, and a young biologist named Autumn who has come to Citrus Glade to study the Everglades are a few of the characters who are ready to rid the town of Lyle and his black magic for good.
James’ real talent is getting to the heart of small town life: its disappointments, economic failings and the despair that comes with families on the brink of collapse due to climate change and other factors. The Arroyo family owns and works an orange grove, but Felix Arroyo’s orange trees haven’t been doing very well. Until Lyle comes to town, though. His powers infuse Felix’s orange trees with enough magic to produce beautiful fruit overnight, giving the family a bit of hope, at least until things start going horribly wrong.
The author does a great job of portraying small town characters, and two of my favorites were Andy and his elderly mother Dolly. Andy is the good son who loves his mother and weathers her many memory lapses, as painful as they are. And James has given Andy an intriguing back-story: he’s an Army vet who had a life-changing experience in Afghanistan, an experience that colors his daily life in Citrus Grove. Dolly’s character takes a wonderful turn when the side effects of Lyle’s magic start to not only improve her memory, but her mobility as well. Before long, Dolly’s mind is as sharp as a tack, and along with her friend Walking Bear, a wonderful character who fancies himself a Native American and has an armadillo as a spirit guide, she sets out to stop Lyle’s magic before it can destroy the town.
Even the peripheral characters are well drawn, like Juliana, Vicente’s drug addicted girlfriend who can’t seem to tear herself away from the abusive Vicente, or his piles of cocaine, for that matter. A couple of characters border on the cliché, like the Reverend Rusty Wright who immediately knows that Lyle is “the work of Satan” and sets out to find proof of his evil deeds. But for the most part I enjoyed all of James’ portrayals of ordinary folk who are just trying to survive in a dying town.
The author uses the magician’s bag of tricks to his advantage, taking ordinary props like the magician’s hat and wand and imbuing them with wicked and evil magic. He also infuses wry humor into the story with his tricks. Paco (one of the Outsiders) is given a wand that makes things disappear, and the first thing he wants to get rid of is his Ritalin (he has ADHD)! And Barry, another of the four boys, gets a special top hat from Lyle, a hat that can call forth any small animal. It’s a dream come true for a boy whose parents don’t allow pets in the house, until the magic turns nasty and something monstrous emerges. But watch out: a couple of standard magician’s tricks are given a diabolical treatment, and one of the most creatively horrific scenes I’ve ever read involves poor Reverend Rusty when he tries to break into the Magic Shop.
Aside from a couple of awkward sentences that could have used a bit more editing, the writing is polished and the pace will keep you turning pages. James wraps things up with a bang but includes some poignant moments that give this story emotional depth. For horror aficionados, Black Magic is a treat, not a trick, and is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
I was initially drawn to Black Magic by its cover, which I think is so well done, especially for a small publisher. The eerie glimpse into the magic store’s windows and the brewing storm overhead promise lots of horrific entertainment. And I’m happy to say the cover perfectly captures the mood of this story. Black Magic was a well-written and perfectly paced book that will appeal to fans of Stephen King. Russell James does not shy away from gory scenes, so if you have a weak stomach, this might not be the book for you. But like King, he makes his story just as much about the characters as the horror, and he throws in some humor to lighten the mood.
The story takes place in the small Florida town of Citrus Glade, a dying community on the edge of the Everglades whose Apex Sugar Mill shut its doors years ago. A newcomer named Lyle Miller has just decided to set up shop, and some of the residents of Citrus Glade think this might be just what the town needs to boost its economy. But Lyle is not who he seems. In fact, he is a 2000-year-old sorcerer who has chosen the town as the site of his next "Grand Adventure," and because he is an evil sorcerer, that adventure involves destroying the town of Citrus Glade and everyone in it.
But in order to fuel his magic, Lyle needs the help of the residents of Citrus Glade to add juice to his powers. He selects those whose “whapna,” or essence, leans towards the dark side, including four boys who call themselves “The Outsiders,” a nasty old man named Shane who terrorizes the local retirement home, and a loser named Vicente whose used car business is a front for a drug smuggling operation. With a few dazzling tricks to entice the boys and a bit of black magic to rope in Vicente and Shane, Lyle is set to topple what remains of this pitiful town.
But a handful of heroes catch on to Lyle’s tricks and they will do anything to stop him. Andy Patterson, who is the last employee of the Department of Public Works, his mother Dolly who is slowly losing her battle with Alzheimer’s, and a young biologist named Autumn who has come to Citrus Glade to study the Everglades are a few of the characters who are ready to rid the town of Lyle and his black magic for good.
James’ real talent is getting to the heart of small town life: its disappointments, economic failings and the despair that comes with families on the brink of collapse due to climate change and other factors. The Arroyo family owns and works an orange grove, but Felix Arroyo’s orange trees haven’t been doing very well. Until Lyle comes to town, though. His powers infuse Felix’s orange trees with enough magic to produce beautiful fruit overnight, giving the family a bit of hope, at least until things start going horribly wrong.
The author does a great job of portraying small town characters, and two of my favorites were Andy and his elderly mother Dolly. Andy is the good son who loves his mother and weathers her many memory lapses, as painful as they are. And James has given Andy an intriguing back-story: he’s an Army vet who had a life-changing experience in Afghanistan, an experience that colors his daily life in Citrus Grove. Dolly’s character takes a wonderful turn when the side effects of Lyle’s magic start to not only improve her memory, but her mobility as well. Before long, Dolly’s mind is as sharp as a tack, and along with her friend Walking Bear, a wonderful character who fancies himself a Native American and has an armadillo as a spirit guide, she sets out to stop Lyle’s magic before it can destroy the town.
Even the peripheral characters are well drawn, like Juliana, Vicente’s drug addicted girlfriend who can’t seem to tear herself away from the abusive Vicente, or his piles of cocaine, for that matter. A couple of characters border on the cliché, like the Reverend Rusty Wright who immediately knows that Lyle is “the work of Satan” and sets out to find proof of his evil deeds. But for the most part I enjoyed all of James’ portrayals of ordinary folk who are just trying to survive in a dying town.
The author uses the magician’s bag of tricks to his advantage, taking ordinary props like the magician’s hat and wand and imbuing them with wicked and evil magic. He also infuses wry humor into the story with his tricks. Paco (one of the Outsiders) is given a wand that makes things disappear, and the first thing he wants to get rid of is his Ritalin (he has ADHD)! And Barry, another of the four boys, gets a special top hat from Lyle, a hat that can call forth any small animal. It’s a dream come true for a boy whose parents don’t allow pets in the house, until the magic turns nasty and something monstrous emerges. But watch out: a couple of standard magician’s tricks are given a diabolical treatment, and one of the most creatively horrific scenes I’ve ever read involves poor Reverend Rusty when he tries to break into the Magic Shop.
Aside from a couple of awkward sentences that could have used a bit more editing, the writing is polished and the pace will keep you turning pages. James wraps things up with a bang but includes some poignant moments that give this story emotional depth. For horror aficionados, Black Magic is a treat, not a trick, and is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the author for supplying a review copy.
This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy.
January 28, 2019
An entertaining magic based horror where a malevolent 1000 y/o sorcerer sets up shop with the intention to destroy the occupants of the local community. The novel is reminiscent of Stephen King's "Needful Things" albeit not in the same league. Still worth a read and I give it 4 stars for entertainment value.
November 6, 2017
Audible:I loved this book!It was very like a bunch of other books I loved.A store comes to town and kids start to do magic tricks,then it's not just tricks.There is an ancient evil beneath the town and a few are chosen to fight it.David Stifel was a very good narrator.A great read!“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.
October 19, 2020
An unexpectedly delightful horror. There is horror, but there’s also humor and adventure. Definitely recommend.
June 30, 2014
From beginning to end, this twisted and creepy story kept me wondering how the Grand Adventure would shake out. I was frustrated not to have been given much backstory about Lyle. I would have like to have gleaned some sort of understanding of why he felt it so necessary to corrupt specific children and some other marginalized people. Lyle has been around a long time – what motivates him? Has he always been rotten? Is he simply an agent of chaos or something more sinister?
The imaginative, crass evil that Lyle systematically unleashes in the sleepy, unsuspecting town of Citrus Glade is absolutely staggering. I actually woke up from dreaming about a particularly gruesome scene in the middle of the night, picked up the book and continued reading because my mind could not let go.
This book delivers a shocking story of an evil puppeteer deliberately plucking out and manipulating weak, disenfranchised souls for no other reason than to reign devastation upon an entire community of folks already beaten down and near economic ruin. When a few people finally figure out the town is in deep trouble, their plan to thwart Lyle’s scheme is rushed into action. I was captivated!
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
The imaginative, crass evil that Lyle systematically unleashes in the sleepy, unsuspecting town of Citrus Glade is absolutely staggering. I actually woke up from dreaming about a particularly gruesome scene in the middle of the night, picked up the book and continued reading because my mind could not let go.
This book delivers a shocking story of an evil puppeteer deliberately plucking out and manipulating weak, disenfranchised souls for no other reason than to reign devastation upon an entire community of folks already beaten down and near economic ruin. When a few people finally figure out the town is in deep trouble, their plan to thwart Lyle’s scheme is rushed into action. I was captivated!
This book was given to me in exchange for my honest review.
Reviewed by Laurie-J
December 13, 2013
Russell James' debut Dark Inspiration was somewhat less than inspiring. It was entertaining enough to not turn the reader off the author, but not much more than that. Plus I couldn't resist a book that had to do with magic. With this book, his third, James definitely shows improvement. While the titles remain inexplicably bland and generic and the cover art matches the story in the vaguest of way with the details way off, the contents are very solid. This book features a more original, although seriously underdeveloped idea,(ideally, the magician character would have had much more of a backstory), better realized stronger characters, tons of action, plenty of horror and a very nice ending. The pacing is so quick, the chapters are short, makes this a very easy and quick read. The setting was very well done, south Florida at its muggiest swampiest best. Looks like James has found his niche on the market churning out solid literary equivalents of B horror movies. Quick fun and entertaining way to spend a few hours. Recommended.
December 30, 2016
While I did not enjoy this book to the extent that I did Mr. James's short fiction, I still found it an entertaining if somewhat slightly ill-paced read. What I mean to say is that for the majority of the book events escalate rather slowly. In fact, other than the opening scene, there is not a single death until the last quarter of the book. With a villain as sinister as Lyle, I had expected a great deal more damage to be done.
That said, I liked the story overall. The characters were engaging, the kids naive enough to be realistic, and the danger toward the end ramped things up rather quickly. Good job, Mr. James, and here's hoping I'll enjoy the next one just as well.
That said, I liked the story overall. The characters were engaging, the kids naive enough to be realistic, and the danger toward the end ramped things up rather quickly. Good job, Mr. James, and here's hoping I'll enjoy the next one just as well.
October 20, 2013
This was an awesome, well-written book!! Small town magic gone awry after being formed by a sinister plan. The ending was cool and I can't wait for a sequel. More review to come! Super cool read!
September 5, 2013
Good characters in this book. A new store opens up in a very small town & things start happening. Very weird things!
June 19, 2017
First time reading Russell James. Enjoyed this book, characters were good, story line flowed and the plot was pretty good. Recommend.
February 11, 2019
I would say it's your average horror novel. Nothing spectacular. This was definitely not as good as Sacrifice which I enjoyed much more.
October 5, 2017
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Citrus Glade is a little small town with a great past but a bleak present and future. Lyle Miller arrives in town and opens a mysterious magic shop, which appears to be almost empty, but just has the necessary item on display when the right visitor arrives. Four boys purchase there different items, without knowing that they are getting much more than what they think, since they will be part of an evil plan crafted by Lyle.
I have to say that I expected more from this book. The premises were interesting enough but the lack of character development and background stories made me lose interest. It is clear that Lyle is a very old evil being, since we get a couple of glimpses about his past hear and there, but not really enough to make him a solid character. The most developed characters were the four boys, victims of Lyle, but even like that they were two dimensional. The rest of characters were likable but mere drafts. Their actions were expected.
All in all, despite these minor issues, it was an enjoyable story, a bit long winded for my liking, but an easy and entertaining listen. David Stifel, its narrator was the best part of this audiobook. More than just reading, he is a great story teller, creating a special atmosphere and unique character interpretations. Just only because of the narration, this audiobook is worth the listen.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Citrus Glade is a little small town with a great past but a bleak present and future. Lyle Miller arrives in town and opens a mysterious magic shop, which appears to be almost empty, but just has the necessary item on display when the right visitor arrives. Four boys purchase there different items, without knowing that they are getting much more than what they think, since they will be part of an evil plan crafted by Lyle.
I have to say that I expected more from this book. The premises were interesting enough but the lack of character development and background stories made me lose interest. It is clear that Lyle is a very old evil being, since we get a couple of glimpses about his past hear and there, but not really enough to make him a solid character. The most developed characters were the four boys, victims of Lyle, but even like that they were two dimensional. The rest of characters were likable but mere drafts. Their actions were expected.
All in all, despite these minor issues, it was an enjoyable story, a bit long winded for my liking, but an easy and entertaining listen. David Stifel, its narrator was the best part of this audiobook. More than just reading, he is a great story teller, creating a special atmosphere and unique character interpretations. Just only because of the narration, this audiobook is worth the listen.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2021
The blurb of this book put me in mind of Stephen King's 'Needful Things', but unfortunately it didn't stand up to my expectations.
The characters were numerous and completely two dimensional, I genuinely didn't care about the fates of any of them. The evil Lyle seemed immature and weak for a supposedly ancient 'magician', his magic seemed overly simplistic and unbelievable at the same time as well as being not at all scary. If it wasn't for the graphic murder description I would have said it felt like a young adults/children's book.
The characters were numerous and completely two dimensional, I genuinely didn't care about the fates of any of them. The evil Lyle seemed immature and weak for a supposedly ancient 'magician', his magic seemed overly simplistic and unbelievable at the same time as well as being not at all scary. If it wasn't for the graphic murder description I would have said it felt like a young adults/children's book.
May 21, 2019
Loved it
I have to say seeing my name in this book 😲 me very much. because my name is rare. But other than that this book was very well written. I will not give spoilers because it would ruin the fun of the book. All I can say is I just wish I knew what the great adventure was but other than that it was a great read. I give this book 4.5 evil sorcerer out of 5..
I have to say seeing my name in this book 😲 me very much. because my name is rare. But other than that this book was very well written. I will not give spoilers because it would ruin the fun of the book. All I can say is I just wish I knew what the great adventure was but other than that it was a great read. I give this book 4.5 evil sorcerer out of 5..
February 27, 2019
Familiar
Put Stephen Kings Dreamcatcher and It together and you've got this book. Complete hack job. Don't waste your time reading this.
Put Stephen Kings Dreamcatcher and It together and you've got this book. Complete hack job. Don't waste your time reading this.
June 21, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! Impeccable pacing, seamless transitions between character POV, and just the right amount of gore. Can’t wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended!
December 22, 2025
Another homerun by Russell James. I can't wait for the next Scaradise in Tampa to see this local legend and get my horror/thriller book fix! :)
September 14, 2020
I found this in my local library, read the back cover and immediately thought, "Oh, this may be like Stephen King's Needful Things" so my interest was piqued. I even read a few reviews and the bulk gave this James Russell novel four and five stars. Wow! Did the other readers and I have two versions of the same book? Likely not.
Lyle Miller opens a magic shop that has the thing one wants. But the shop only sells a few items to one teenager and his friends. Apparently, they are part of Lyle's Grand Adventure. Oh, just wait until you find out what that is. I was hoping for a Storm of the Century meets Needful Things concept in this book. Nevertheless, after my question, "What is the Grand Adventure?" was answered, I realized that this book was not the adventure I thought it would be.
In a nutshell, magic is real, the mayor is weak and passive, naive boys become catalysts, nursing home residents turn criminal, the Grand Adventure, cooked up by Lyle Miller (warlock/magician), is a farce, and unlikely heroes 'rise' to the occasion to save the day.
Lyle Miller opens a magic shop that has the thing one wants. But the shop only sells a few items to one teenager and his friends. Apparently, they are part of Lyle's Grand Adventure. Oh, just wait until you find out what that is. I was hoping for a Storm of the Century meets Needful Things concept in this book. Nevertheless, after my question, "What is the Grand Adventure?" was answered, I realized that this book was not the adventure I thought it would be.
In a nutshell, magic is real, the mayor is weak and passive, naive boys become catalysts, nursing home residents turn criminal, the Grand Adventure, cooked up by Lyle Miller (warlock/magician), is a farce, and unlikely heroes 'rise' to the occasion to save the day.
May 2, 2014
A one thousand-year old sorcerer who goes by the name of Lyle, of all things, settles in Citrus Glade, Florida in order to initiate a great adventure – a series of supernaturally induced events to unleash carnage and destruction. All just for the fun of it. So he concocts a massive hurricane over southern Florida – with Citrus Glade as the focal point. He casts evils spells on many of the tropical wild-life (the town sits on the edge of the Everglades), and the creatures turn into freakish packs of killing machines, destroying anyone they can get their teeth on. Lyle recruits four middle school boys with promises of teaching them awesome magic tricks – in return the boys unwittingly serve as conduits for the rising local apocalypse. In addition, Lyle gathers two of the town’s low-life individuals – and elderly/disabled man who used to be a ruthless anti-union floor manager at the now defunct sugar plant and the local drug dealer – in order to use their dastardly personalities to further facilitate the evil sorcery being concocted by Lyle.
The town is populated by some definite hero types: Andy the young veteran just returned from Afghanistan and haunted by PTSD who now is the sole department of public works employee; Autumn, the young PhD in biology who is investigating/researching the animal and reptile behavior in the Everglades (and obvious romantic interest for Andy); Andy’s mom Dolly who is struggling with dementia and living in an assisted living facility; and Walter Connell (his Indian name is Walking Bear) - another resident of the assisted living facility who has made spiritual connections with certain animals who indicate that something is terribly wrong…
Black Magic by Russell James is a lot of fun, and the story moves quickly. The hurricane description and passages are deftly written. Alligator and python attacks (especially the latter) are pretty creative. At times, however, the special effects fall apart. There is an attack by mosquitoes when our heroes enter Lyle’s Magic Shop which is pretty lame – and for some reason one of the characters drops his gun while in the shop and will not go back to retrieve it even though it is just a few yards away. Then there is an attack by a group of carnivorous bunny rabbits which, well, left me shaking my head.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. However, there were periodic lapses of internal consistency – the latter of which is needed for the suspension of disbelief in horror. For instance, Lyle (and why name him “Lyle”) is not convincing as an evil sorcerer. At times he comes across like a cartoon character. And, why does Lyle, who can create hurricanes and turn all of the beasts of the Everglades into organized packs of ravenous monsters, need a group of 13 year-olds to facilitate his evil deeds? The same question holds for the mean old guy and the drug dealer – and these two are practically worthless when it comes down to the nitty-gritty. Then there are the two residents of the assisted living facility whose dementia comes and goes for the convenience of the plot.
Nonetheless, this is a decent 3-star work. Mr. James’ dialogue and pacing are fine, and the read is as breezy as a day on a Florida beach.
The town is populated by some definite hero types: Andy the young veteran just returned from Afghanistan and haunted by PTSD who now is the sole department of public works employee; Autumn, the young PhD in biology who is investigating/researching the animal and reptile behavior in the Everglades (and obvious romantic interest for Andy); Andy’s mom Dolly who is struggling with dementia and living in an assisted living facility; and Walter Connell (his Indian name is Walking Bear) - another resident of the assisted living facility who has made spiritual connections with certain animals who indicate that something is terribly wrong…
Black Magic by Russell James is a lot of fun, and the story moves quickly. The hurricane description and passages are deftly written. Alligator and python attacks (especially the latter) are pretty creative. At times, however, the special effects fall apart. There is an attack by mosquitoes when our heroes enter Lyle’s Magic Shop which is pretty lame – and for some reason one of the characters drops his gun while in the shop and will not go back to retrieve it even though it is just a few yards away. Then there is an attack by a group of carnivorous bunny rabbits which, well, left me shaking my head.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. However, there were periodic lapses of internal consistency – the latter of which is needed for the suspension of disbelief in horror. For instance, Lyle (and why name him “Lyle”) is not convincing as an evil sorcerer. At times he comes across like a cartoon character. And, why does Lyle, who can create hurricanes and turn all of the beasts of the Everglades into organized packs of ravenous monsters, need a group of 13 year-olds to facilitate his evil deeds? The same question holds for the mean old guy and the drug dealer – and these two are practically worthless when it comes down to the nitty-gritty. Then there are the two residents of the assisted living facility whose dementia comes and goes for the convenience of the plot.
Nonetheless, this is a decent 3-star work. Mr. James’ dialogue and pacing are fine, and the read is as breezy as a day on a Florida beach.
December 7, 2016
After reading several other books by Russell James, I decided to go back through Kindle and make sure I had found and read them all. Don't know how I managed to miss this one, but I recently completed it. I know I'm sounding repetitive here, but Russell James has a way of writing that really sucks you into the story. Once I start one of his books, I know my house will be dirty, my husband will remain unfed, and I will lose sleep until I can finish it. :) I saw other reviews that compared this to Stephen King's Stranger Things, but only because of the shared theme of a magic shop. I don't want to give any spoilers here, but James manages to put a very unique and entertaining spin on the theme. And character development is perfect - you want to love and root for the good guys, and no one writes a villain quite like Russell James. He has a way of developing the evil characters that is very believeable, not over the top.
July 3, 2016
There's nothing harmful about a little magic, a few tricks now is there? I may have believed that myself before reading this tale of innocent magic tricks used to channel a darker, more sinister purpose. Using both man and nature to trap the residents of Citrus Glade, a sorcerer soon learns that small towns also contain the biggest hearts and he just might have met his match with these residents.
June 10, 2013
I enjoyed the beginning of this book but about halway through it seemed to drag and I had to force myself to finish it.
December 26, 2013
I really liked this story, I wasn't what I was expecting. Glad I took the chance on it and plan to read his others.
December 15, 2014
I greatly enjoyed this story. If you liked Stephen King's "Needful Things" then give this book a chance. It kept me enthralled from start to finish. And what a finish!
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