Citrus Glade is a small town that has seen its better days. When a stranger moves in and opens up a new magic shop, the townsfolk are hopeful that their town can improve, but new business owner, Lyle Miller, has nefarious plans. His magic is tailored to fulfill each customer's desire. Four local boys come to the shop to buy magic tricks; the tricks aren\'t so innocent after all. When things start changing around town, some people start to notice, but is it too late? Lyle has ensnared more towns people for his Grand Adventure, one that will endanger Citrus Glade and half the state.

BLACK MAGIC is one wildly inventive and imaginative tale. Author Russell James writes about evil, misguided characters, and a town that refuses to go down easy. The characters were written with personality and realism. Russell's ability to color each one, exploring their strengths and weakness, stood out in the story. A small town that is slowly dying being visited by an evil is not a new theme, mind you, but the way the story was handled certainly was. As a creature lover, I especially liked the thing that revealed itself for Barry. There are many subplots here that complement the main one. There are also some squirm-worthy, gore-laden scenes that are sure to get your ick factor going. BLACK MAGIC is an amusing read that I recommend to horror readers.

Book Summary

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