Fade to Black

Ian Black is only 19, but the weight of the modern world rests on his shoulders in the form of his magical heritage. Ian is also the star of his own stage show, using his secret powers to supplement his tricks and illusions, and a bit of a vigilante, sniffing out danger among members of his audience and rushing to defend them against the forces of evil. When he saves Rayne Bevan, a local college student bent on investigative reporting, he becomes the subject of her professional interest, and soon she leads Ian’s enemies straight to his door. Danger abounds for Ian and his friends, but the tension and suspense simply don’t hold up, and Duff’s writing often feels clunky. Her characters are all technically adults, but they react and behave like younger teenagers. Even undemanding readers will struggle to appreciate the slow-moving story and its immature characters. [em](BookLife) [/em]