Now that Stacey Brown and her, ahem, friends have come back into my reading orbit after all these years, it seems only fitting to continue reading their story into the spooky season. Although, I suppose it’s been spooky season here for a while, hasn’t it? Anyway.
Stacey only managed just in time to solve the mystery behind her best friend Drea’s stalker. Now, it’s senior year, and unfortunately, there’s another psycho leaving cryptic messages all over Stacey’s life. On top of a thoroughly strange group of students who are obsessed with last year’s murder, Stacey must deal with mysterious new student Jacob LeBlanc, who claims to have nightmares and have an affinity for magic like Stacey does. Needless to say, this school year won’t go out with a whimper.
I could almost say this book is a complete retread of the last book, but with a few decent exceptions. Amber and Drea are a lot more supportive of Stacey’s magic and her nightmares, but they still maintain some of their annoying traits from last year. Drea still can’t seem to get over how her ex-boyfriend Chad and Stacey are now dating, and Amber still cringes whenever Stacey wakes up from nightmares puking her brains out. I still can’t quite see what makes these three girls friends.
There were a few times where the teenage drama kind of stopped the plot and made me wonder whose side these characters were on.
Drea makes it clear that she doesn’t mind her ex-boyfriend and best friend getting together, but it’s strongly hinted that she would rather be back with Chad than Stacey. Stacey is also insecure about her relationship, especially after she accidentally walks in on Drea and Chad together where something has clearly happened between them.
In short, I thought, “Really? We’re going with this shallow back-and-forth drama when there are more important things on the docket right now?”
I can understand why the story would not really want Stacey and Chad together so Jacob can more smoothly enter the picture, but I still grit my teeth at how disinterested and kind of mean Drea was about the whole thing. At times, she was kind and supportive toward Stacey, but at others she was catty and vindictive, again making me wonder how the heck these two girls were quote-unquote best friends.
Some scenes also take far too long to get to the point. Stacey tries to get information about the goings-on out of her friend PJ, but his way of talking is so forced and quirky that you can’t understand his point half the time. It’s also kind of weird how he keeps cozying up to Stacey with all these weird pet names. Thank God Stacey was just as weirded out as I was, but do I have to say again how I just could not understand why Stacey is friends with this weirdo?
Fortunately, that is really the only time where the pacing slowed to an annoying degree. Otherwise, the story moves at a decent clip and it becomes hard to put the book down.
I do like how we get more scenes with Stacey and her mom, who may have a stronger connection to magic than Stacey previously thought. It gets us away from the campus for a little while and also adds a small layer of safety for Stacey, which is nice amidst the chaos and stress.
Plus, we get the addition of Jacob, who, while making a rough entrance, does understand Stacey’s affinity for magic. It does create a little dumb drama, but it’s still nice to have another person in the story who appreciates and understands nightmares and spells and signs the same as her.
The reveal of Stacey’s stalker is exciting and well-done, if a little dramatic and soap opera-esque. I’m not sure about the reasoning behind it, but for this book’s audience, I’m sure it would be a grand twist.
Do I like this book better than the first? Maybe a little. Jacob does help bring a little more literal magic, and the mystery feels a little more suspenseful. If only the dialogue was less corny and didn’t run around the rosie as much.
The Library Key 