Fred Gracely’s sequel to The Last Halloween opens with young Goff Graham waking from yet another nightmare. Try as he might, the someday-journalist can’t seem to catch a break. After saving the world (and almost dying in the process), Goff certainly earned the right to leave behind Spraksville and walk away from the world of magic. After all, what’s the point of going to a new, magic-free school if you can’t turn the page on your past and reinvent yourself? Unfortunately, Goff soon discovers that, when it comes to the world of magic, the door is never fully closed. Enter Dempsey, an undercover agent who recruits Goff and his friends and sends them on a globetrotting mission to uncover a centuries-old threat. To make matters worse, a coven of witches are haunting the halls of Amworth Academy. With the safety of everyone he cares about hanging in the balance, it’s once again up to Goff to save the world—with (or without) his magical abilities.

Any author attempting to create a successful follow-up to a critically-acclaimed debut has their work cut out for them. In the case of MISFIT’S MAGIC: Shades Of Winter, Fred Gracely is more than up to the challenge. Gracely has once again skillfully assembled a balanced cast of characters. The brainy Halstrom and often-eccentric Lydia are a perfect match for Goff’s heart-on-his-sleeve everyman persona. Readers will certainly appreciate the detailed world-building and finely-tuned plot.

Sure, there are elements of the Misfit’s Magic universe that will likely remind readers of another wizarding world, but in a way that surprisingly never feels derivative. If anything, Goff’s world feels like it has always existed alongside the other well-known fantasy realms. This is as much a testament to Gracely’s vivid writing as anything else. For instance, the following passage (from the opening pages) is a great example of how Gracely consistently hints at a much larger universe residing just beyond the page: “As the smoke floated toward the unfortunate tree, the man broke the silence with a raspy, wicked laugh and then clicked down the brick path toward the front gate, his breath freezing into a silver wake trailing behind him. That’s when Goff had awoken.”

Of course, at the heart of every great fantasy series is a compelling protagonist. In that regard, Goff is as authentic and relatable as they come. As the story progresses and Goff’s circumstances grow darker and more uncertain, his insecurity begins to get the better of him, all of which makes his triumphs all the more rewarding. A self-described lifelong “misfit,” Gracely has seemingly poured himself into these characters—and it shows. While there are a handful of references to his debut, Gracely has also crafted a sequel that easily works as a standalone novel. Best of all, Gracely gives readers a satisfying, frustration-free conclusion that leaves ample room for further installments.

With an enchanting blend of magic, humor, and suspense, Fred Gracely’s MISFIT’S MAGIC: Shades Of Winter is a fast-paced, satisfying YA sequel brimming with epic action and unexpected twists.

~James Weiskittel for IndieReader