I have reviewed this work before, but that was a few years ago when my life and my writing was in a different place.  I’ve had years, plural, to grow both as a person and a writer since that review, and after reading the book a second time through with fresh eyes and a fresh perspective, I’ve found new insight that forces me to revisit my prior thoughts.

So let’s get to it.

Witchy Eye

By David John Butler

“Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends.” ― Alphonse de Lamartine

The character of any story is, in part, a reflection upon the character of the author.

Interests and hobbies peak through the pages; rising up from within paragraphs and chapters to show things that the author holds dear.  Some authors always have older muscle cars within their works.  Others have extensive dives within a specific area they themselves love (or hate) and their work is full of the pleasure and pitfalls that each contains.  Others share their love of books, or a fascination with video games.  Perhaps a hobby game which has stolen a part of their soul, or even a passionate devotion to role-playing and the games and activities which surround it.

Throughout each page of Witchy Eye, it is clear that there is such a passion which drives David Butler: Music. 

Music is woven through nearly every chapter of the book.  Cunning works of David’s own creation, mixed with fresh takes on classic American songs molded to fit the world he has built.  Within each part of the story there is never a period where music is absent.  Teaching songs, walking songs, songs of battles won and battles lost.  Ballads of gods and dirges for the dead, all are represented with equal care and skill.

They are the tent-poles which hold up the pages of Witchy Eye.  Their strength is used to raise a glorious work, and the sights and sounds are enough to take your breath away. 

David did not simply build upon the past with his creation; he has crafted it anew with agonizing attention to detail.  I cannot imagine the work that must have gone into crafting this world, the research books required would probably qualify as their own library.  It.  Is.  Seamless.  At no point, in no place, are we brought outside the world he has written.  Witchy Eye is continually built upon itself, line by line, verse by verse, until you are so in tune with the melody that you find yourself thinking about it whenever you put the book down.

Throughout it all is the flow of the music, the rhythm of songs tied into the rhythm of the story.  Characters are built with care, stacked layer upon layer with the patience of a maestro hell-bent upon a performance the audience will be unable to forget.  The arcs are simply phenomenal; each distinct, no two redemptions played the same.  None of it feels forced, none of it feels unreasonable, and all of it is in harmony with the rest of the song being played.

As the plot deepens with more and more instruments added to the orchestra, there are no sour notes.  The action is taut, the sound and fury of it drawing you to the edge of your seat.  Tension is built with determined tempo, the crescendo built slowly until you can hardly sit still.

Then comes the dramatic finish, the culmination of the story brought together with dizzying speed, all the instruments playing off one another until the sound of it echoes within soul. 

Then the music softens, the ferocious ending bringing you down from the atmosphere with gentle promises of more to come.  As you approach the end, you do not feel cheated.  From the dizzying heights, you could see that much like the mighty Mississippi, this story has a ways yet to flow.

I could not help but tap my toes to the music as David played it, and when this particular song had ended, I waned nothing more than for it to continue.