Dark Forces #1 The Game and #2 Magic Show

In Dark Forces #1, The Game, Julie and Terri are identical twin sisters, but their lives are changed when Julie is paralyzed in a car accident.  Julie feels sorry for herself and begins playing with a Ouija board in her room at night.  Julie becomes possessed by an evil spirit, and Terri must find a way to help her.

I like the little cultural references that appear in books from the 1980s, since those were my formative years.  On page 25, Terri reflects, "All of a sudden it occurred to her that they didn't make red M&Ms anymore.  She hadn't seen one in years."

So true.  We didn't have red M&Ms at that time because of the health scare with red dye #2. M&Ms never used red dye #2, but they discontinued that color for 11 years.  My favorite M&Ms are green, orange, yellow, and brown. That's the way it was in the 1980s, and that's the way it should be.  The blue and red ones never have looked right to me since they weren't around when I was young.

The constant point of view shifting in the middle of all scenes makes it hard to remember which girl is which.  The book would have been easier to read if the chapters had alternated with each girl's point of view.

The resolution at the end of the book is too quick and easy.

I enjoyed this book.

In Dark Forces #2, Magic Show, Chris inherits a sorcerer's book of spells from a deceased magician.  Chris begins using the book and quickly gains power.  Unknown to Chris, a spirit is using him to get revenge.  Lucy knows that her boyfriend is in danger, but can she help him?

On page 22, Chris asks Lucy to play a game of Asteroids with her.  Yes!  I played Asteroids probably hundreds of times in the early 1980s.

This is a very good book.