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Persephone Alcmedi #1
Vicious Circle
Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by reading Tarot cards, writing a syndicated newspaper column and kenneling wærewolves in the basement during full moons.
Everything changes when one of Seph's friends is murdered.
The high priestess of the local coven offers Seph an unbelievable sum to hunt down the killer, and Seph enlists the help of her wærewolf friends--including Johnny, the hunky 6'2" leather-clad singer for the techno-metal-goth band Lycanthropia.
The attraction between them is dangerous, but nothing could be as lethal as the showdown that awaits them.
Everything changes when one of Seph's friends is murdered.
The high priestess of the local coven offers Seph an unbelievable sum to hunt down the killer, and Seph enlists the help of her wærewolf friends--including Johnny, the hunky 6'2" leather-clad singer for the techno-metal-goth band Lycanthropia.
The attraction between them is dangerous, but nothing could be as lethal as the showdown that awaits them.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 11, 2009
54 people are currently reading
6652 people want to read
About the author
Linda Robertson
14 books376 followersLinda Robertson (who as of late 2022 has begun writing as Linda Robertson Reinhardt) is an internationally published novelist and her short stories have appeared in several anthologies. In addition to writing fantasy and urban fantasy, she is also a musician and award-winning composer. She has written and produced full orchestral scores to accompany her novels as well as a few short, independent films. Her music is available on most streaming channels. She’s also a graphic artist, a painter, and she dabbles in screenwriting. A mother of four boys, Linda is married and lives in Ohio.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 267 reviews
March 9, 2011
First reaction: sounds like every other voice in urban fantasy. Nothing seems to really stand out to me, the main character could probably be interchanged with every other mediocre urban fantasy main character.
And then the situation Persephone gets into? She says yes to killing someone? With no real information, other than the fact that the person she is to kill supposedly murdered a friend of hers? It's just... stupid. The person who gives her the job is super sketchy, and she gets guilted into taking it. I'm sorry, but being guilted into murdering someone is... I don't even have the words. And the person giving the main character the job is a grade A bitch; I'm sorry but there has to be a reason why she's not doing it herself if she thinks herself as part of the reason why your friend got killed.
And don't give me your 'justice streak a mile wide' crap. You don't even have all of the facts before you agreed to it. It's more vigilantism than justice. Some characters can pull it off, but in this case? No. Or at least not how the author built up this entire scenario--complete with 'you are justified' by some sort of mystical totem thing later on. And of course your sense of justice doesn't forbid you from taking money for assassinating someone.
Most of my problem, I think, is because of the character, Vivian, who gives the job to Persephone. If Persephone had decided to do this (assassinating the one who killed her friend) on her own, I would have been all right with it. But bringing Vivian to the mix makes it less like Persephone's ideas and her sense of 'justice' and more like she's some idiot who was made into a hired killer for no real reason other than she did it before (by accident) and she's guilted into it. Along with the money, of course.
It doesn't help that I dislike Persephone's Nana (her grandmother). I am sure she is a tough, quirky old lady. It doesn't excuse a person for being a jerk. It doesn't matter if the house is part of her home too--if you're sharing a house, the least you could do is discuss with the other housemate that you're bringing home a great dane puppy. The way Persephone just caves in drives me crazy, and the way Nana was repentant (sorta) afterward made me want to throw things at the author. The lady brings home a puppy and the sheer irresponsibility of this (she doesn't even know how big a great dane will be--this is not funny, it's stupid)... and then she acts all woebegone and it's whiplash. And no wonder Nana walks all over you, Persephone, if you always give in.
And for all of Persephone's dislike of people who are prejudiced against werewolves, she sure doesn't mind thinking that all vampires are scumbags.
Of course I thought people who watched his show and followed his bizarre beliefs were almost as freakish as vampires.
Argh. Okay, maybe all vampires in this world are 'evil', but the thought of that irritates me just as much, go figure.
I just am not in the mood to be forgiving. Johnny is the stereotypical bad boy who really isn't. The scenes with Persephone's high school friends are pretty much pointless. Persephone irritates me so much it's not even funny. I got about halfway through the book and had to skim to the end and nothing I read changed my opinion.
It's probably closer to 2 stars, but I really couldn't stand this book, so 1 star it is.
And then the situation Persephone gets into? She says yes to killing someone? With no real information, other than the fact that the person she is to kill supposedly murdered a friend of hers? It's just... stupid. The person who gives her the job is super sketchy, and she gets guilted into taking it. I'm sorry, but being guilted into murdering someone is... I don't even have the words. And the person giving the main character the job is a grade A bitch; I'm sorry but there has to be a reason why she's not doing it herself if she thinks herself as part of the reason why your friend got killed.
And don't give me your 'justice streak a mile wide' crap. You don't even have all of the facts before you agreed to it. It's more vigilantism than justice. Some characters can pull it off, but in this case? No. Or at least not how the author built up this entire scenario--complete with 'you are justified' by some sort of mystical totem thing later on. And of course your sense of justice doesn't forbid you from taking money for assassinating someone.
Most of my problem, I think, is because of the character, Vivian, who gives the job to Persephone. If Persephone had decided to do this (assassinating the one who killed her friend) on her own, I would have been all right with it. But bringing Vivian to the mix makes it less like Persephone's ideas and her sense of 'justice' and more like she's some idiot who was made into a hired killer for no real reason other than she did it before (by accident) and she's guilted into it. Along with the money, of course.
It doesn't help that I dislike Persephone's Nana (her grandmother). I am sure she is a tough, quirky old lady. It doesn't excuse a person for being a jerk. It doesn't matter if the house is part of her home too--if you're sharing a house, the least you could do is discuss with the other housemate that you're bringing home a great dane puppy. The way Persephone just caves in drives me crazy, and the way Nana was repentant (sorta) afterward made me want to throw things at the author. The lady brings home a puppy and the sheer irresponsibility of this (she doesn't even know how big a great dane will be--this is not funny, it's stupid)... and then she acts all woebegone and it's whiplash. And no wonder Nana walks all over you, Persephone, if you always give in.
And for all of Persephone's dislike of people who are prejudiced against werewolves, she sure doesn't mind thinking that all vampires are scumbags.
Of course I thought people who watched his show and followed his bizarre beliefs were almost as freakish as vampires.
Argh. Okay, maybe all vampires in this world are 'evil', but the thought of that irritates me just as much, go figure.
I just am not in the mood to be forgiving. Johnny is the stereotypical bad boy who really isn't. The scenes with Persephone's high school friends are pretty much pointless. Persephone irritates me so much it's not even funny. I got about halfway through the book and had to skim to the end and nothing I read changed my opinion.
It's probably closer to 2 stars, but I really couldn't stand this book, so 1 star it is.
July 7, 2009
The bare bones of this story will be familiar to urban-fantasy devotees: Werewolves, vampires, faeries, and witches all exist and have become public knowledge in recent years. Girl, tough and feisty, takes it upon herself to dispense justice in a supernatural murder case. Girl is chosen against her will to play a major role in paranormal affairs. Girl is wooed by attractive werewolf and attractive vampire. I was worried Vicious Circle would be just like a hundred other novels with a similar premise, but Linda Robertson does some really interesting things to make her story stand out.
First, she realistically explores what might happen if supernatural races existed and came out of the closet. Vampires are well-regarded in society due to the glamorous image they have cultivated; faeries have gained acceptance by pretending to be harmless. Weres, however, are treated as second-class citizens. Persephone Alcmedi does her best to fight these attitudes, writing a pro-were newspaper column and renting out her basement to weres as a full-moon shelter. Anti-were prejudice hampers Persephone's mission at every turn. No cop wants to touch a were-related case, and no hospital wants to treat a were patient.
I was also impressed by the unusually accurate Wicca in Vicious Circle. (OK, so real Wiccans don't shoot visible bolts of brightly colored energy when they cast spells, but that's creative license!) The belief system, the ethical code, and the structure of Persephone's rituals are clearly well-researched.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Persephone is not the misanthropic heroine you might expect. She has a lot of emotional boundaries that keep her from being a social butterfly, but at the same time, she has a powerful protective streak when it comes to those she cares about. "Do you always take care of people?" asks a young girl whom Persephone has just taken under her wing. The answer is yes. In the early pages of Vicious Circle, Persephone finds herself sheltering her grandmother, a Great Dane puppy, a severely injured werewolf, and the aforementioned little girl, along with her usual canine visitors. As the plot unfolds, trying to protect everyone is a full-time job. I found this aspect of Persephone's character refreshing and unusual.
I enjoyed Vicious Circle, and I'm interested in seeing where this series goes. I think it has a lot of potential.
First, she realistically explores what might happen if supernatural races existed and came out of the closet. Vampires are well-regarded in society due to the glamorous image they have cultivated; faeries have gained acceptance by pretending to be harmless. Weres, however, are treated as second-class citizens. Persephone Alcmedi does her best to fight these attitudes, writing a pro-were newspaper column and renting out her basement to weres as a full-moon shelter. Anti-were prejudice hampers Persephone's mission at every turn. No cop wants to touch a were-related case, and no hospital wants to treat a were patient.
I was also impressed by the unusually accurate Wicca in Vicious Circle. (OK, so real Wiccans don't shoot visible bolts of brightly colored energy when they cast spells, but that's creative license!) The belief system, the ethical code, and the structure of Persephone's rituals are clearly well-researched.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Persephone is not the misanthropic heroine you might expect. She has a lot of emotional boundaries that keep her from being a social butterfly, but at the same time, she has a powerful protective streak when it comes to those she cares about. "Do you always take care of people?" asks a young girl whom Persephone has just taken under her wing. The answer is yes. In the early pages of Vicious Circle, Persephone finds herself sheltering her grandmother, a Great Dane puppy, a severely injured werewolf, and the aforementioned little girl, along with her usual canine visitors. As the plot unfolds, trying to protect everyone is a full-time job. I found this aspect of Persephone's character refreshing and unusual.
I enjoyed Vicious Circle, and I'm interested in seeing where this series goes. I think it has a lot of potential.
May 4, 2018
This was a very uneven reading experience for me. The middle third or so was fantastic, with big twists; Robertson pulls off a dramatic tour de force of a kind I don't often see, if ever, with a dozen or so well-defined individual characters in an isolated house having several different adventures simultaneously, each of which is exciting in its own right. The rating would be five stars easily if we could take that part, extract just enough from the preceding verbiage so that everything makes sense (you could do it in five or six short scenes I think), and then take the main course(s) of action right through with no extra stuff to the climactic scenes at the end. That would be a brilliant story, though half the length of a standard UF novel; maybe combine it for publication with another therapeutically shortened novel?
Just a suggestion from your friendly editorial consultant.
Robertson presents us with a world (well, northeastern Ohio anyway) that makes an interesting premise: the existence of vampires, witches, and werewolves has been revealed; the vampires and witches have been clever enough to cover up their misdeeds and garner public prestige, but the werewolves can't hide the violence of their furry state and are despised and maltreated by the general population.
Our heroine, a witch named Persephone Isis Alcmedi, takes the side of the werewolves (here always called "waeres"). She writes a column under a penname (thereby earning a living? really?) in which she argues that waeres who volunteer to be caged during their furry stage (apparently only one night a month?) are valuable members of society, and she operates such a "kennel" on her own property (that isolated house in the countryside) where a group of friendly waeres let her lock them up before they change. Each cage in the kennel holds either a single waere or a male-female couple who spend the night once a month vigorously doing what real wolves do only once a year.
Such a couple and several other waeres, in their human form, have major roles in the story, as do Persephone's crusty old grandmother Demeter and Beverly, a child whose mother's murder launches the story. Persephone's key relationships are with two males: Johnny, a waere who is mysteriously more than he seems, and Menessos, who is much more than just a powerful vampire. Although the story action is resolved before the end, these two relationships are not and appear to be setting up a thread for the whole series.
It's an exciting story if you can slog through the slow parts, many of which don't seem to add much to the main story--especially the repeated dwelling on Persephone's relations with her friends from high school who were never really friends. If those scenes were intended for insight into Persephone's personality and character, they're grossly unnecessary in my view because right in the main story line she takes responsibility for harm that has come to one of the waeres under her protection and goes to tremendous lengths, including a major personal sacrifice, to make it right. That's all we need to know that she is a genuine heroine.
Just a suggestion from your friendly editorial consultant.
Robertson presents us with a world (well, northeastern Ohio anyway) that makes an interesting premise: the existence of vampires, witches, and werewolves has been revealed; the vampires and witches have been clever enough to cover up their misdeeds and garner public prestige, but the werewolves can't hide the violence of their furry state and are despised and maltreated by the general population.
Our heroine, a witch named Persephone Isis Alcmedi, takes the side of the werewolves (here always called "waeres"). She writes a column under a penname (thereby earning a living? really?) in which she argues that waeres who volunteer to be caged during their furry stage (apparently only one night a month?) are valuable members of society, and she operates such a "kennel" on her own property (that isolated house in the countryside) where a group of friendly waeres let her lock them up before they change. Each cage in the kennel holds either a single waere or a male-female couple who spend the night once a month vigorously doing what real wolves do only once a year.
Such a couple and several other waeres, in their human form, have major roles in the story, as do Persephone's crusty old grandmother Demeter and Beverly, a child whose mother's murder launches the story. Persephone's key relationships are with two males: Johnny, a waere who is mysteriously more than he seems, and Menessos, who is much more than just a powerful vampire. Although the story action is resolved before the end, these two relationships are not and appear to be setting up a thread for the whole series.
It's an exciting story if you can slog through the slow parts, many of which don't seem to add much to the main story--especially the repeated dwelling on Persephone's relations with her friends from high school who were never really friends. If those scenes were intended for insight into Persephone's personality and character, they're grossly unnecessary in my view because right in the main story line she takes responsibility for harm that has come to one of the waeres under her protection and goes to tremendous lengths, including a major personal sacrifice, to make it right. That's all we need to know that she is a genuine heroine.
December 28, 2010
***3.5***
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a solid introduction to this world and these characters. But I am being a little cautious in my review and my expectations as I move forward with the series, because there are some serious shades of Anita Blake at play here. Given that that series became a total crap-fest, it makes me nervous. Anyway, here's what we have:
Our heroine, Persephone, is a more powerful witch than she realizes. Further, she seems to have an important role to play in keeping the balance between various factions in the supernatural world. This comes as a shock to her, because frankly she's a bit of a loner. I like her a lot.
Johnny is the powerful warewolf who is infatuated with her. He's sweet, strong, adores her, all good things. He is also wildly jealous of the attention she is receiving from a vampire, and is prone to doing shitty things and/or putting her into shitty positions because of that jealousy. At this stage of the game, I like him quite a bit (which was true with Richard in the beginning of Anita Blake, whereas now I would just like him to be run over by a truck), but I am wary because of these jealousy-induced poor decisions.
Menessos is the uber-powerful vampire (in the beginning here, the assumption is that he is out of the warewolf's league in terms of strength, which is again on-par with Anita Blake). He's mysterious and angsty (this is probably true of 99% of vamps in UF though), and seems to be utterly fascinated with Persephone. He is happy to manipulate her for his own ends, and compromise her so that she is forced to make devil's bargains with him. Sound familiar?
Anyway. I don't mean to make it sound like there is nothing else going on in the book - there is, and I enjoyed it, and I am already nearly through with the second book, honestly. But the above summarizes why I am approaching the series with caution. Not getting too invested.
Here's hoping things play out better for Persephone than they did with Anita.
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was a solid introduction to this world and these characters. But I am being a little cautious in my review and my expectations as I move forward with the series, because there are some serious shades of Anita Blake at play here. Given that that series became a total crap-fest, it makes me nervous. Anyway, here's what we have:
Our heroine, Persephone, is a more powerful witch than she realizes. Further, she seems to have an important role to play in keeping the balance between various factions in the supernatural world. This comes as a shock to her, because frankly she's a bit of a loner. I like her a lot.
Johnny is the powerful warewolf who is infatuated with her. He's sweet, strong, adores her, all good things. He is also wildly jealous of the attention she is receiving from a vampire, and is prone to doing shitty things and/or putting her into shitty positions because of that jealousy. At this stage of the game, I like him quite a bit (which was true with Richard in the beginning of Anita Blake, whereas now I would just like him to be run over by a truck), but I am wary because of these jealousy-induced poor decisions.
Menessos is the uber-powerful vampire (in the beginning here, the assumption is that he is out of the warewolf's league in terms of strength, which is again on-par with Anita Blake). He's mysterious and angsty (this is probably true of 99% of vamps in UF though), and seems to be utterly fascinated with Persephone. He is happy to manipulate her for his own ends, and compromise her so that she is forced to make devil's bargains with him. Sound familiar?
Anyway. I don't mean to make it sound like there is nothing else going on in the book - there is, and I enjoyed it, and I am already nearly through with the second book, honestly. But the above summarizes why I am approaching the series with caution. Not getting too invested.
Here's hoping things play out better for Persephone than they did with Anita.
July 27, 2021
The majority of the book wasn't that exciting or intresting but at the end it had my interest peaked. Might continue to read the second installment as I think it could be more fun to read about after this ending. It was an okay read overall.
July 23, 2016
2.5 stars. Maybe.
This book was kind of ridiculous. And by "kind of" I mean almost completely.
Persephone (our heroine) is a King Arthur-obsessed witch who doesn't give Johnny (our hero) the time of day for six months b/c of his tattoos and the way he dresses. It should be noted that I didn't infer her reasons for giving him the brushoff--she said it, straight out.
She's a witch. And she's intimidated by tattoos. And leather.
She has her "have I been judgmental?" epiphany when her cantankerous grandmother (who notoriously despises all weres) has no objections to Johnny whatsoever. Nana even likes him.
Enter big, scary Menessos (our secondary hero/big bad) who just happens to look exactly like Persephone's dream version of Arthur (yes, the Arthur she dreams about, literally) and that's about as much trite as I can handle.
Inexplicably I find myself undecided about the next book. And that's the only reason this book gets 2.5 stars--I didn't hate it enough to completely rule out the possibility of reading the next book.
This book was kind of ridiculous. And by "kind of" I mean almost completely.
Persephone (our heroine) is a King Arthur-obsessed witch who doesn't give Johnny (our hero) the time of day for six months b/c of his tattoos and the way he dresses. It should be noted that I didn't infer her reasons for giving him the brushoff--she said it, straight out.
She's a witch. And she's intimidated by tattoos. And leather.
She has her "have I been judgmental?" epiphany when her cantankerous grandmother (who notoriously despises all weres) has no objections to Johnny whatsoever. Nana even likes him.
Enter big, scary Menessos (our secondary hero/big bad) who just happens to look exactly like Persephone's dream version of Arthur (yes, the Arthur she dreams about, literally) and that's about as much trite as I can handle.
Inexplicably I find myself undecided about the next book. And that's the only reason this book gets 2.5 stars--I didn't hate it enough to completely rule out the possibility of reading the next book.
November 13, 2016
Nice book. Stupid agenda. But still a fetching and refreshing read. A good take on Wicca as well.
May 21, 2010
Review courtesy of AllThingsUrbanFantasy.blogspot.com
Persephone Alcmeda (aka Seph) is little like Rachel Morgan and Stephanie Plum rolled into one. Like Rachel, she's a powerful witch who can tap into ley lines and manipulate magic. And like Stephanie, she has to deal with her batty old grandmother making comments about her love life and random people moving in with her all the time.
In the back of my address book was a list of contact numbers for the wærewolves who kenneled in my basement during full moons. My finger ran down to the name Johnny. A last name wasn’t necessary to clarify this guy. There was only one Johnny.-VICIOUS CIRCLE
VICIOUS CIRCLE has a sudden revelation world building scenario. The world lived in blissful ignorance of Wære, Vampires, Witches, and Fey until recently. The human population has been struggling to adapt ever since. The Wære have endured the worst treatment by far. Police won't investigate crimes about them and hospitals will discharge them regardless of their condition the moment the Wær virus is detected.
Seph is instantly likeable as the witch with sympathies towards Wære and a strong, if often reckless sense of justice. She has a quirky love for Arthur Pendragan aka King Arthur that does a nice job of humanizing her. And the Wære/rock star Jonny as well as another romantic possibility who I won’t name keep things interesting and promise a bigger payoff in future books.
The biggest problem I had with VICIOUS CIRCLE is how small it seems. Nearly the entire book takes place in Seph's house. Plus it took a really long time before any action happened. I liked the character of Jonny as a playful and shameless flirt, but he didn’t have nearly enough scenes.
Overall, VICIOUS CIRCLE introduces us to a complex magical world, a likeable heroine still unsure of her powers, and the potential for lots of romantic tension. These all help compensate for a small, slightly slow story. Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 2) is available now, and Fatal Circle will be out June 29, 2010
Sexual Content: References to sex.
Persephone Alcmeda (aka Seph) is little like Rachel Morgan and Stephanie Plum rolled into one. Like Rachel, she's a powerful witch who can tap into ley lines and manipulate magic. And like Stephanie, she has to deal with her batty old grandmother making comments about her love life and random people moving in with her all the time.
In the back of my address book was a list of contact numbers for the wærewolves who kenneled in my basement during full moons. My finger ran down to the name Johnny. A last name wasn’t necessary to clarify this guy. There was only one Johnny.-VICIOUS CIRCLE
VICIOUS CIRCLE has a sudden revelation world building scenario. The world lived in blissful ignorance of Wære, Vampires, Witches, and Fey until recently. The human population has been struggling to adapt ever since. The Wære have endured the worst treatment by far. Police won't investigate crimes about them and hospitals will discharge them regardless of their condition the moment the Wær virus is detected.
Seph is instantly likeable as the witch with sympathies towards Wære and a strong, if often reckless sense of justice. She has a quirky love for Arthur Pendragan aka King Arthur that does a nice job of humanizing her. And the Wære/rock star Jonny as well as another romantic possibility who I won’t name keep things interesting and promise a bigger payoff in future books.
The biggest problem I had with VICIOUS CIRCLE is how small it seems. Nearly the entire book takes place in Seph's house. Plus it took a really long time before any action happened. I liked the character of Jonny as a playful and shameless flirt, but he didn’t have nearly enough scenes.
Overall, VICIOUS CIRCLE introduces us to a complex magical world, a likeable heroine still unsure of her powers, and the potential for lots of romantic tension. These all help compensate for a small, slightly slow story. Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 2) is available now, and Fatal Circle will be out June 29, 2010
Sexual Content: References to sex.
February 27, 2012
So this book wasn't quite what I had expected. When it comes to urban fantasy, I tend to like for things to be exciting. This book wasn't really exciting save for the parts where Menessos was involved.
I think my problem was the characters. I didn't connect with any of them and something just felt off the entire I was reading the book. The whole deal with Lorrie's killer was pretty obvious. Vivian told Persephone she was naive and she certainly showed herself to be exactly that. Not to mention really ignorant. And Beverly's character really seemed off. She may have just lost her mom, but for a nine year old, she just sounded much too old. I kept forgetting she was only nine. Honestly, the only characters I really found interesting were the vamps. I'd keep reading to find out what happens with Menessos. Honestly, how is he a vamp wizard?
My other problem was with Persephone's interactions with her old high school friends. That really didn't seem necessary to me. I just didn't understand the point. That reminds me of another problem. Some of the dialogue in the book felt forced. I think that's what the "off" feeling for me was. And what was with Johnny doing something so stupid with the stake? When he was the one to go out and get it from the cornfield, I knew he probably did something stupid. Persephone doesn't trust Menessos partly because of how he manipulated her pain through the mark and kidnapping Beverly and Nana (I didn't really blame him for that second part. That was Johnny's fault), but it doesn't seem like she can trust Johnny, either. He lied and almost got them all killed, but he's still staying in her house with them all. She should have let him take a long walk home, too.
I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series. If I do, it'll probably be a while before I get back to it.
I think my problem was the characters. I didn't connect with any of them and something just felt off the entire I was reading the book. The whole deal with Lorrie's killer was pretty obvious. Vivian told Persephone she was naive and she certainly showed herself to be exactly that. Not to mention really ignorant. And Beverly's character really seemed off. She may have just lost her mom, but for a nine year old, she just sounded much too old. I kept forgetting she was only nine. Honestly, the only characters I really found interesting were the vamps. I'd keep reading to find out what happens with Menessos. Honestly, how is he a vamp wizard?
My other problem was with Persephone's interactions with her old high school friends. That really didn't seem necessary to me. I just didn't understand the point. That reminds me of another problem. Some of the dialogue in the book felt forced. I think that's what the "off" feeling for me was. And what was with Johnny doing something so stupid with the stake? When he was the one to go out and get it from the cornfield, I knew he probably did something stupid. Persephone doesn't trust Menessos partly because of how he manipulated her pain through the mark and kidnapping Beverly and Nana (I didn't really blame him for that second part. That was Johnny's fault), but it doesn't seem like she can trust Johnny, either. He lied and almost got them all killed, but he's still staying in her house with them all. She should have let him take a long walk home, too.
I'm not sure if I'll continue with this series. If I do, it'll probably be a while before I get back to it.
July 7, 2011
Pros:
-I loved Persephone, she was an awesome heroine. She knew when to fight and when not to fight. She was strong and soft at the same time and she was one bad ass witch.
-Johnny was also excellent, he was bad ass too, but he could also cook and was in a band. I wasn't a huge fan of his look, covered in tattoos, piercings, and long hair, some of that is great, but it was too much for me. He also had to make more dirty innuendos than was necessary. Again some is great, but it was bordering on too much. But I'm glad Persephone didn't just give in to his charms right away, she stood up to him and only slowly let him into her life.
-The plot was good, there were parts I totally didn't expect which was good.
-Definitely ended well enough that I will pick up the sequel.
-This book is classified as Adult, but other than the innuendos and some kissing the sexual content was minimal. Which is exactly what I like in my books, enough to get the imagination going, but the book isn't centered around getting the heroine into bed.
Cons:
-There was one story thread I didn't think was necessary, Persephone's relationship with her old high school friend, with all the supernatural action that was going on in the book it seemed weird that the heroine would go rushing off to hang out with friend she hasn't seen in years. I understood why the author put it in but I felt it caused the story to drag a little. Which is the only reason this book is getting a 4 rating instead of a 5.
- I wasn't the hugest fan of Persephone's Nana. She got a little annoying, but she did seem to get less annoying near the end of the book.
This book gets a 4 out of 5
-I loved Persephone, she was an awesome heroine. She knew when to fight and when not to fight. She was strong and soft at the same time and she was one bad ass witch.
-Johnny was also excellent, he was bad ass too, but he could also cook and was in a band. I wasn't a huge fan of his look, covered in tattoos, piercings, and long hair, some of that is great, but it was too much for me. He also had to make more dirty innuendos than was necessary. Again some is great, but it was bordering on too much. But I'm glad Persephone didn't just give in to his charms right away, she stood up to him and only slowly let him into her life.
-The plot was good, there were parts I totally didn't expect which was good.
-Definitely ended well enough that I will pick up the sequel.
-This book is classified as Adult, but other than the innuendos and some kissing the sexual content was minimal. Which is exactly what I like in my books, enough to get the imagination going, but the book isn't centered around getting the heroine into bed.
Cons:
-There was one story thread I didn't think was necessary, Persephone's relationship with her old high school friend, with all the supernatural action that was going on in the book it seemed weird that the heroine would go rushing off to hang out with friend she hasn't seen in years. I understood why the author put it in but I felt it caused the story to drag a little. Which is the only reason this book is getting a 4 rating instead of a 5.
- I wasn't the hugest fan of Persephone's Nana. She got a little annoying, but she did seem to get less annoying near the end of the book.
This book gets a 4 out of 5
April 21, 2023
Around 3.6
I'm surprised because I figured this would be an average UF/PNR but I was very interested in the main character and in what was going on around her. I think some details could have been done better but for a first book and the first in a series too, it was quite well done.
I'm surprised because I figured this would be an average UF/PNR but I was very interested in the main character and in what was going on around her. I think some details could have been done better but for a first book and the first in a series too, it was quite well done.
September 1, 2010
Whoa! Vicious Circle was just amazing! I bought this book for my own pleasure when I won the second and third book in a contest. I had to get book one so I knew what had already passed and I am so glad that I did! It was just incredible!
First off, gotta mention the little itty bits of Greek mythology that are added to the mix of the story and I LOVE that! As I already mentioned awhile ago. Seph's name alone brings more to merit to that fact, but there are a few other things that happen, such as a Tarot reading with cards depicting Greek heroes and Gods. Love it!
Moving on...the characters! OMG I seriously loved every single character in this book! Seph was a great protagonist and hero. She was tough and yet still vulnerable in some aspects. She still wants to do what's right even when it could be dangerous. Such as taking on the job the coven asks of her to track down and kill a very powerful vampire. It's a suicide mission. But she takes the case on, eventually because it was her best friend who was murdered and she does it to protect Beverley, the nine-year-old daughter her friend unwillingly left behind.
Beverley, while being one of the lesser characters was still a sweetie. She's only 9, but she's a pretty perceptive kid.
I LOVED Seph's grandmother, Demeter! Another Greek mythology name! I was giddy with the relation to the names of Demeter and Persephone being that they were mother and daughter in Greek myths! Of course, Demeter is grandma here and she is a riot! She smokes, she's loud, she brings a dog into Seph's house without telling Seph she bought one--it was free technically--but the dog is a Great Dane! And they definitely don't stay cute little puppies. But Demeter has attitude and you gotta love that. She even tells Seph that she (basically) needs to go have sex. She doesn't say it explicitly but the message is implied. She is a very blunt woman, but she is also very intelligent and I just loved that about her.
Now, Johnny. Oh boy. Gotta love that man! He has such a simple name. Thinking of those older movies or shows with the high school boyfriend being named Johnny. Simpleton, you think, but still handsome. Johnny is none of that! He is a tattooed cover man with several piercings and basically is just described to be ever so hot! And he is just fulled of innuendos that he only shares with Seph.
I really loved the building of Seph's and Johnny's relationship. Seph thinks at first, he's just flirting because that's what guys do. But then she realizes there's more to it than that. And she starts to wonder if his feelings for her are deeper than mere flirting. There was a building to their relationship despite seeing it coming. It was a gradual process and I loved that. I loved seeing the start of their romance build from friendship to more. It felt realistic!
Seph has a mix of friends, some humans ones that pop up for only a short time, which makes me wonder if there is something to read into their sudden appearance and disappearance. Or if it is truly nothing. Her other friends include several weres--spelled differently but I don't know the lettering for it it was a mix of an "a" and "e"--who were a riot as well. You can tell that Seph related closer to her Were friends than her human ones and she herself is a witch, so she falls in between on the human and supernatural lines.
Supernaturals are known to the public at large here. And the supes are treated like second class citizens and this becomes an issue at times for the characters. It was disturbing but it made for good dialogue and plot threads.
The main story plot was great, I thought it started off too simple, too easy at first when Seph agreed to take this case on. Then everything spirals out of control. And even when you think the end is coming, there's still several pages left to go. There were just so many surprising twists and turns that I just couldn't put the book down! It was nicely paced and makes for an excellent read.
There were some laugh out loud moments too. I LOLed quite a bit. Mostly with Demeter and some of Johnny's innuendos and Seph's wit.
There was also quite a bit of loose-ends at the end to keep you wanting more, yet still wrapping up the matter at hand. There is definitely going to be more development between Seph and the others and the MATTERS that took place. Things definitely changed for Seph at the end. Surprising changes too.
Overall it was a fantastic read and I really could go on talking about it longer, but I think I discussed enough! I give the book 5/5 stars, definitely!
First off, gotta mention the little itty bits of Greek mythology that are added to the mix of the story and I LOVE that! As I already mentioned awhile ago. Seph's name alone brings more to merit to that fact, but there are a few other things that happen, such as a Tarot reading with cards depicting Greek heroes and Gods. Love it!
Moving on...the characters! OMG I seriously loved every single character in this book! Seph was a great protagonist and hero. She was tough and yet still vulnerable in some aspects. She still wants to do what's right even when it could be dangerous. Such as taking on the job the coven asks of her to track down and kill a very powerful vampire. It's a suicide mission. But she takes the case on, eventually because it was her best friend who was murdered and she does it to protect Beverley, the nine-year-old daughter her friend unwillingly left behind.
Beverley, while being one of the lesser characters was still a sweetie. She's only 9, but she's a pretty perceptive kid.
I LOVED Seph's grandmother, Demeter! Another Greek mythology name! I was giddy with the relation to the names of Demeter and Persephone being that they were mother and daughter in Greek myths! Of course, Demeter is grandma here and she is a riot! She smokes, she's loud, she brings a dog into Seph's house without telling Seph she bought one--it was free technically--but the dog is a Great Dane! And they definitely don't stay cute little puppies. But Demeter has attitude and you gotta love that. She even tells Seph that she (basically) needs to go have sex. She doesn't say it explicitly but the message is implied. She is a very blunt woman, but she is also very intelligent and I just loved that about her.
Now, Johnny. Oh boy. Gotta love that man! He has such a simple name. Thinking of those older movies or shows with the high school boyfriend being named Johnny. Simpleton, you think, but still handsome. Johnny is none of that! He is a tattooed cover man with several piercings and basically is just described to be ever so hot! And he is just fulled of innuendos that he only shares with Seph.
I really loved the building of Seph's and Johnny's relationship. Seph thinks at first, he's just flirting because that's what guys do. But then she realizes there's more to it than that. And she starts to wonder if his feelings for her are deeper than mere flirting. There was a building to their relationship despite seeing it coming. It was a gradual process and I loved that. I loved seeing the start of their romance build from friendship to more. It felt realistic!
Seph has a mix of friends, some humans ones that pop up for only a short time, which makes me wonder if there is something to read into their sudden appearance and disappearance. Or if it is truly nothing. Her other friends include several weres--spelled differently but I don't know the lettering for it it was a mix of an "a" and "e"--who were a riot as well. You can tell that Seph related closer to her Were friends than her human ones and she herself is a witch, so she falls in between on the human and supernatural lines.
Supernaturals are known to the public at large here. And the supes are treated like second class citizens and this becomes an issue at times for the characters. It was disturbing but it made for good dialogue and plot threads.
The main story plot was great, I thought it started off too simple, too easy at first when Seph agreed to take this case on. Then everything spirals out of control. And even when you think the end is coming, there's still several pages left to go. There were just so many surprising twists and turns that I just couldn't put the book down! It was nicely paced and makes for an excellent read.
There were some laugh out loud moments too. I LOLed quite a bit. Mostly with Demeter and some of Johnny's innuendos and Seph's wit.
There was also quite a bit of loose-ends at the end to keep you wanting more, yet still wrapping up the matter at hand. There is definitely going to be more development between Seph and the others and the MATTERS that took place. Things definitely changed for Seph at the end. Surprising changes too.
Overall it was a fantastic read and I really could go on talking about it longer, but I think I discussed enough! I give the book 5/5 stars, definitely!
September 9, 2011
“Only when the sun’s light has fled
is my life lived and my hungers fed,
but I will live on and on, forever
if you will but swear to leave me never.”
He leaned in and put his lips to mine.
3.5 Stars
Surprisingly good book, I have no idea why but I thought I had already read this book and didn't like it. But I went back and re-read the blurb and there was a blank in my memory so I gave into my curiosity and read it. Turns out, no...I hadn't read it before. :P After finally sorting the confusion out I started to really enjoy the book.
The story is about a witch called Persephone, she enjoys her space and doesn't socialize all that much with the weres she kennels there once a month. All turns upside down when her Nana moves in. This woman would have had me tearing out my hair in clumps, she was definitely a handful but provided the book with alot of humor. She also insists on called a Great Dane puppy 'Poopsie' *sigh* Definitely a few screws loose. Then an old friend is found dead, she then gets a call from the current High Priestess of of the Cleveland, Ohio coven. Vivian basically blackmails her to 'deal' with the murderer responsible for her friends death.
I'm a sucker for a good love triangle, Johnny is a were who kennels with her and a huge flirt. Persephone assumes he does it with everyone but soon learns he really likes her and wants to date.It takes time as Persephone has never seen him that way, but she slowly looks beneath the tattoos and piercings to find a very sweet and genuinely nice guy. Our second love interest is Menessos who is a vampire, a very important one with alot of power. After some tragic events she finds herself unnaturally drawn to him. But is it him influencing her or real feelings arising??? By the end of the book I was a little on the fence with Johnny and Menessos, they both made some very bad decisions and broke Persephone's trust. Can't wait to see how this pans out in the next book.
This was a solid start to the series and the author has introduced some great characters that I think are going to play huge parts in coming books. I also appreciated the fact that Persephone had an 'Arthur' addiction. It made her seem more real, we all have our embarrassing quirks right? :P
January 25, 2010
Imagine you are witch just minding your own witchy business. And then imagine that you are drawn neck deep into a murder, are conned into taking a hit out on a vampire (and haven’t the foggiest on how to “off” someone), and housing one very sexy rock n’ roll waerewolf. All with your elderly crabby nana nipping at your heels, a ciggy ever present at her lips. Such is the case of Linda Robertson’s Vicious Circle. Robertson gently clubs you over the head with a thrilling read.
One of the things that make Persephone Alcmedi so appealing is that she is not an overtly powerful character-at least not right off the bat. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have some serious clout. Rather Robertson has hammered her into a gentle but very resilient witch. She’s not the bad ass that rolls into town on a motorcycle with a rifle strapped to her back. But she definitely does rise to the occasion when it is needed. Here we have a character who for all intents and purposes, is virtually clueless about the supernatural world outside of her own sphere.
As a solitary, but hereditary witch with significant power, and a few waerewolf friends to call her own, life was pretty simple. Readers get to journey with Seph as she learns that she is capable of so much more and an astounding destiny awaits her as the Lustrata. The reader is drawn to this as the character develops. And as for Menessos…woo-wee..Robertson has spared no expense in drawing him. As much as Johnny will give everyone a rock n’ roll heartache, Menessos is definitely the one to watch. He will make you pant for more.
Robertson has all the cues, all the required ingredients to make a hot pot of chili and she is quite the cooker so far, but let’s ratchet up the pace of the plot, toss in some more cayenne (just a smidge), and set the burner to simmer and you’ll have one heck of a firecracker. This series has great potential and I will definitely be reading more of Linda Robertson!
(c)Nicola Mattos www.fiendishlybookish.com
One of the things that make Persephone Alcmedi so appealing is that she is not an overtly powerful character-at least not right off the bat. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have some serious clout. Rather Robertson has hammered her into a gentle but very resilient witch. She’s not the bad ass that rolls into town on a motorcycle with a rifle strapped to her back. But she definitely does rise to the occasion when it is needed. Here we have a character who for all intents and purposes, is virtually clueless about the supernatural world outside of her own sphere.
As a solitary, but hereditary witch with significant power, and a few waerewolf friends to call her own, life was pretty simple. Readers get to journey with Seph as she learns that she is capable of so much more and an astounding destiny awaits her as the Lustrata. The reader is drawn to this as the character develops. And as for Menessos…woo-wee..Robertson has spared no expense in drawing him. As much as Johnny will give everyone a rock n’ roll heartache, Menessos is definitely the one to watch. He will make you pant for more.
Robertson has all the cues, all the required ingredients to make a hot pot of chili and she is quite the cooker so far, but let’s ratchet up the pace of the plot, toss in some more cayenne (just a smidge), and set the burner to simmer and you’ll have one heck of a firecracker. This series has great potential and I will definitely be reading more of Linda Robertson!
(c)Nicola Mattos www.fiendishlybookish.com
February 24, 2016
1.5 stars
Meh. Nothing new here. Of course, this book was published a decade ago and if I had read it back then maybe I would have thought it was new and awesome. As it is, I've read a LOT of urban fantasy stories over the years so I'll just review all the old standards that are present in this one.
1. A likable yet still mostly bland heroine. Nothing much stands out about her until suddenly, *Bum-Bum-BUM!* she becomes The One.
2. The enigmatic, devastatingly handsome, immortal being who takes a sudden interest in the aforementioned likable but pleasingly bland heroine because in all his long centuries of life he has somehow never met anyone like her. Maybe all these immortal beings live as 24 hour shut-ins. Or maybe they really mean they've never met a woman quite so devoid of basic common sense because, personally, at only a few chapters in I was already thinking our heroine lacked some basic critical thinking skills. It took her well over the halfway mark before she even started to ask questions she should have been asking way back at chapter three. Not the brightest tool in the shed but what do I know? I'm not an immortal being.
3. The makings of the usual love triangle. And our heroine won't let piddling little things like spoil the attraction. Pfft! If the guy is hot enough it trumps everything else.
4. The use of a mark/bond/whathaveyou to create a forced sense of intimacy between the heroine and one of the potential suitors because, oh I don't know, the author just doesn't want to put in the effort to actually craft a relationship over time.
So, yeah, been there, done that, tired of that. This is another series that is one-and-done for me.
Meh. Nothing new here. Of course, this book was published a decade ago and if I had read it back then maybe I would have thought it was new and awesome. As it is, I've read a LOT of urban fantasy stories over the years so I'll just review all the old standards that are present in this one.
1. A likable yet still mostly bland heroine. Nothing much stands out about her until suddenly, *Bum-Bum-BUM!* she becomes The One.
2. The enigmatic, devastatingly handsome, immortal being who takes a sudden interest in the aforementioned likable but pleasingly bland heroine because in all his long centuries of life he has somehow never met anyone like her. Maybe all these immortal beings live as 24 hour shut-ins. Or maybe they really mean they've never met a woman quite so devoid of basic common sense because, personally, at only a few chapters in I was already thinking our heroine lacked some basic critical thinking skills. It took her well over the halfway mark before she even started to ask questions she should have been asking way back at chapter three. Not the brightest tool in the shed but what do I know? I'm not an immortal being.
3. The makings of the usual love triangle. And our heroine won't let piddling little things like spoil the attraction. Pfft! If the guy is hot enough it trumps everything else.
4. The use of a mark/bond/whathaveyou to create a forced sense of intimacy between the heroine and one of the potential suitors because, oh I don't know, the author just doesn't want to put in the effort to actually craft a relationship over time.
So, yeah, been there, done that, tired of that. This is another series that is one-and-done for me.
November 10, 2009
Persephone Alcmedi is by no means a professional assassin, but she did kill a guy once. Now her secret is no longer safe, and a High Priestess offers to pay Seph mucho moolah to kill Goliath Kane. Who's a vampire. However, vampire-wizard Menessos is more dangerous, and if he's going to die, Seph's going down with him.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, and now Seph's gone from a quiet home to sharing with six others. Sometimes more. Witches, wærewolves and vampires don't seem a gratuitous number at first, but as Seph gains more power, she edges closer to Mary Sue territory - and being a "chosen one" of sorts (Lustrata) only confirms that. Beverley is a precocious child, and grandmother Demeter...well, similarities to Janet Evanovich's character Grandma Mazur are inevitable. While Demeter may be here for comic relief and occasional knowledge, I don't quite feel that she's believable or realistic. On the other hand, my grandmothers have a lot more health problems, so I don't really have another elderly female with whom to compare her.
Then there's the sub-plot involving Seph's friends from...high school or college; I don't remember. One of them's found religion, which makes things awkward for everyone else. Actually, this sub-plot doesn't seem to have anything to do with the main plot, and thus could/should have been deleted. Unless Nancy plays a major part in the next book.
The group shares a great rapport, which makes their friendship believable, but my favourite character far and beyond is Amenemhab, a jackal who delivers wisdom during Seph's meditations. The novel is enjoyable enough, but I was never really in a rush to get back to it, though likely the Melbourne heatwave has robbed me of enthusiasm. I'm still interested in reading Hallowed Circle and Fatal Circle, though.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, and now Seph's gone from a quiet home to sharing with six others. Sometimes more. Witches, wærewolves and vampires don't seem a gratuitous number at first, but as Seph gains more power, she edges closer to Mary Sue territory - and being a "chosen one" of sorts (Lustrata) only confirms that. Beverley is a precocious child, and grandmother Demeter...well, similarities to Janet Evanovich's character Grandma Mazur are inevitable. While Demeter may be here for comic relief and occasional knowledge, I don't quite feel that she's believable or realistic. On the other hand, my grandmothers have a lot more health problems, so I don't really have another elderly female with whom to compare her.
Then there's the sub-plot involving Seph's friends from...high school or college; I don't remember. One of them's found religion, which makes things awkward for everyone else. Actually, this sub-plot doesn't seem to have anything to do with the main plot, and thus could/should have been deleted. Unless Nancy plays a major part in the next book.
The group shares a great rapport, which makes their friendship believable, but my favourite character far and beyond is Amenemhab, a jackal who delivers wisdom during Seph's meditations. The novel is enjoyable enough, but I was never really in a rush to get back to it, though likely the Melbourne heatwave has robbed me of enthusiasm. I'm still interested in reading Hallowed Circle and Fatal Circle, though.
December 26, 2011
So I understand what the book was about but it didn't quite complete the task that the it was out for.
The mystery wasn't quite solved and the perpetrator wasn't brought to justice and all I got was more questions than answers.
This book had a heck of a lot of potential and a lot of stuff was left unanswered as more things were introduced. Seph had potential as a character as did Johnny and Demeter. I'm not a fan of Menessos so if he was supposed to be a sympathetic character I never received the memo. I very much was on Johnny's side about .
The dialogue could've been a little less stilted and Persephone's own prejudices could've been explored a bit more. I like Johnny and his actions at the end of the book didn't sway me from disliking him. In fact, his actions were the only thing that made sense. Seph was right to be angry but I hope it doesn't carry over to far.
Again, this book had potential and it kept my interest but it also left me confused.
I will say that the magic and the tarot were well researched. Also, the idea that vampires are gross but pretty isn't new but the way that Robertson explained their smell and their powers as well as was very intriguing.
I want to know more but I don't know if I'm gagging for it.
The mystery wasn't quite solved and the perpetrator wasn't brought to justice and all I got was more questions than answers.
This book had a heck of a lot of potential and a lot of stuff was left unanswered as more things were introduced. Seph had potential as a character as did Johnny and Demeter. I'm not a fan of Menessos so if he was supposed to be a sympathetic character I never received the memo. I very much was on Johnny's side about .
The dialogue could've been a little less stilted and Persephone's own prejudices could've been explored a bit more. I like Johnny and his actions at the end of the book didn't sway me from disliking him. In fact, his actions were the only thing that made sense. Seph was right to be angry but I hope it doesn't carry over to far.
Again, this book had potential and it kept my interest but it also left me confused.
I will say that the magic and the tarot were well researched. Also, the idea that vampires are gross but pretty isn't new but the way that Robertson explained their smell and their powers as well as was very intriguing.
I want to know more but I don't know if I'm gagging for it.
October 17, 2009
I picked up this book after seeing the cover on a site I went to. I didn't expect much from it, but do have to say that it quickly sucked me in. It is a litte different take on the whole witches, werewolves, and vampires thing.
Persephone, or Seph, as she goes by most of the time, seems to just collect people that she watches over. As she gathers more and more of these people she winds up trying to help them and quickly gets into a situation where she is lied to and is over her head. She tries her best to protect and watch out for these people, but it just gets harder and harder as she encounters things / beings she is not equipted to deal with. She muddles her way through with help from her friends, but not always doing what they think she should, she stays true to herself and does what she knows is right.
For a first book in a series this was a good one setting up the people, the world, and some of the rules that they live by. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Persephone, or Seph, as she goes by most of the time, seems to just collect people that she watches over. As she gathers more and more of these people she winds up trying to help them and quickly gets into a situation where she is lied to and is over her head. She tries her best to protect and watch out for these people, but it just gets harder and harder as she encounters things / beings she is not equipted to deal with. She muddles her way through with help from her friends, but not always doing what they think she should, she stays true to herself and does what she knows is right.
For a first book in a series this was a good one setting up the people, the world, and some of the rules that they live by. I am looking forward to seeing what comes next.
August 22, 2015
3.5 stars
I think I may have enjoyed this more if I hadn't finished the Hollows series a few weeks ago. Kim Harrison's world is one of the best the urban fantasty genre has to offer and I knew going into Vicious Circle that I probably wouldn't love it as much as I've loved the Hollows. I probably should have waited a few months before trying another UF series and I may have liked this more.
I did enjoy Vicious Circle. The witches were very Wiccan inspired and I liked that they were quite religious and spiritual. The wolves and vamps were dangerous, which again is something I liked.
This book just didn't wow me and I think that's because nothing really happened. The whole book was pretty much played out in the main character's house and there was a lot of talking and not a lot of action. It was very much 'a day in the life of a witch'.
I may continue on with this series as it's a nice easy read but I'm not in love with it unfortunately.
I think I may have enjoyed this more if I hadn't finished the Hollows series a few weeks ago. Kim Harrison's world is one of the best the urban fantasty genre has to offer and I knew going into Vicious Circle that I probably wouldn't love it as much as I've loved the Hollows. I probably should have waited a few months before trying another UF series and I may have liked this more.
I did enjoy Vicious Circle. The witches were very Wiccan inspired and I liked that they were quite religious and spiritual. The wolves and vamps were dangerous, which again is something I liked.
This book just didn't wow me and I think that's because nothing really happened. The whole book was pretty much played out in the main character's house and there was a lot of talking and not a lot of action. It was very much 'a day in the life of a witch'.
I may continue on with this series as it's a nice easy read but I'm not in love with it unfortunately.
January 11, 2012
Oh no, it happened again. An UF book that failed to grab my attention, I can't seem to muster up my reviewing powers either.
But ok the book then. I just do not know, it was the same old story. The heroine failed to make me care for her. Sure I liked her, but I did not care. I did not care for the hunky love interest either. The one thing that did make me care was when the wicked bad vampire showed up, oh he was fine and evil. I would have liked to see more of his dark seductive powers.
Therefore I can't say what made me find this book just ok. The story was fine. Assassination, weres in the basement, a hunky guy who she should go for even if he is bad boy. So it must be the people. A story can be wonderful but if I do not care, I do not like. A story can be bad, but if I still like the people, I like the book.
Conclusion:
Just not for me at this time-
But ok the book then. I just do not know, it was the same old story. The heroine failed to make me care for her. Sure I liked her, but I did not care. I did not care for the hunky love interest either. The one thing that did make me care was when the wicked bad vampire showed up, oh he was fine and evil. I would have liked to see more of his dark seductive powers.
Therefore I can't say what made me find this book just ok. The story was fine. Assassination, weres in the basement, a hunky guy who she should go for even if he is bad boy. So it must be the people. A story can be wonderful but if I do not care, I do not like. A story can be bad, but if I still like the people, I like the book.
Conclusion:
Just not for me at this time-
August 6, 2012
I need to just stop reading anything published after 2008. This had no voice, no solid background, and nothing unique. While I enjoyed the spunky Nana character, I quickly grew angry at the main character for not confronting her about rules for moving into her house. Then the whole, oh I randomly agree to kill someone? First off, did I miss a part where she had superpowers and was trained in fighting or homicidal magic? People don't just decide to agree to kill someone because they feel bad for the person who was murdered. Honestly, lamest excuse ever at why she agreed. So many things in this book were poorly thought out or not thought out at all. I have no patience for that. I did not finish this.
November 16, 2012
3.5. Plodded along at a decent enough pace but the supernatural beings didnt really do it for me, and other than Johnny and Nana, noone seemed to have a real personality. Oh and the vampire is a little too Jean Claude for my liking...and I dont like him at all!. I thought it was handled quite strangely near the end, where storylines were resolved 100 pages before the end, then you sort of had to follow Seph on her day to day activities wondering when this was finally going to end..Ok back to 3 stars , theres no way i can give this more than Mark of a Demon. I need 10 stars to play with!!
Read
July 6, 2022Dnf at 43%
November 14, 2011
Robertson’s ‘Vicious Circle’ throws us in the deep-end from page one. The book starts with Persephone Alcmedi learning that a werewolf friend of hers, Lorrie, has been violently murdered. Not long after learning this news Persephone receives a call from the local witch Priestess, Vivian Diamond, who wants to enlist Persephone’s help to find and kill the murderer. Persephone feels obligated to hunt down the guilty party, mainly as a way to give Lorrie’s young daughter, Beverley, justice.
The plot starts off helter-skelter, right in the thick of action, and because of that ‘Vicious Circle’ feels like half a book, or the 3rd or 4th book in a series, not the first. In ‘Vicious Circle’ Persephone already has a standing relationship with the waerewolf community, since she kennels them on the full moon. Because of this relationship, Persephone also has a standing romantic interest, with waerewolf biker ‘Johnny’. When we meet him, Johnny and Persephone already have witty repertoire and a heavy flirtation going on.
Much is made of Persephone’s previous friendship with murdered waerewolf, Lorrie – especially the bond she made with Lorrie’s young daughter, Beverley. We never read a scene depicting Persephone’s interaction with Lorrie and Beverley prior to the murder – but we are expected to believe that Persephone would risk life and limb to kill Lorrie’s murderer, just for Beverley’s sake.
It’s not that I want every book I read to have a ‘David Copperfield’ beginning to it, I don’t need to start with the protagonist’s birth. And sometimes starting a book in the thick of action works extremely well. Lee Child’s ‘Killing Floor’ is a good example, as is Kim Harrison’s ‘Dead Witch Walking’ – both books take a while to properly introduce the protagonists, letting the action play out and suck readers in. ‘Vicious Circle’ isn’t clumsy because it starts in the thick of action; it just sometimes feels as though Linda Robertson denied the reader a lot of good background and character introductions.
The romance also feels a little bit too easy – when we meet Johnny he is clearly infatuated with Persephone, and she admits that for a year now he’s been pushing for a date with her. But Persephone also admits that she’s been reluctant to start anything – mostly because of Johnny’s outward appearance (tattoos everywhere, rides a motorcycle). Yet when we meet Persephone she is right at the point in their friendship where she starts seeing him as something more than a simple flirtation, and seriously considers dating him.
The romance comes a little bit too easily – I am a fan of ‘will they or won’t they?’ relationships. Kate & Curran (Ilona Andrews), Ivy & Rachel (Kim Harrison) or Barrons & Mac (Karen Marie Moning) – there isn’t a whole lot of romantic tension between Johnny & Persephone, making it a little hard to invest much in them.
There is a second possible relationship in the second half of the book that I found far more interesting because there’s an edge to it – a certain amount of danger if Persephone chooses to pursue it.
It may seem like I have a lot of gripes about this book, and despite my big concerns, I did really enjoy it. I loved Johnny; he’s a contradiction; tattooed waerwolf with a heart of gold. I also really liked the witchy aspect of the book – there’s lots of rhyming incantations that are great to read. And I genuinely liked Persephone, she seems like a cool down-to-earth girl and I look forward to reading more of her adventures in future books.
‘Vicious Circle’ isn’t reinventing the Urban Fantasy wheel; this isn’t anything new in the increasingly popular genre, but it is a fun read. It does feel as though the book is starting in the middle of the story, to the detriment of character background and relationship investment. Despite that draw-back, I am really looking forward to the second book ‘Hallowed Circle’, due out on the 29th of this month, and a third book set to be released in 2010.
The plot starts off helter-skelter, right in the thick of action, and because of that ‘Vicious Circle’ feels like half a book, or the 3rd or 4th book in a series, not the first. In ‘Vicious Circle’ Persephone already has a standing relationship with the waerewolf community, since she kennels them on the full moon. Because of this relationship, Persephone also has a standing romantic interest, with waerewolf biker ‘Johnny’. When we meet him, Johnny and Persephone already have witty repertoire and a heavy flirtation going on.
Much is made of Persephone’s previous friendship with murdered waerewolf, Lorrie – especially the bond she made with Lorrie’s young daughter, Beverley. We never read a scene depicting Persephone’s interaction with Lorrie and Beverley prior to the murder – but we are expected to believe that Persephone would risk life and limb to kill Lorrie’s murderer, just for Beverley’s sake.
It’s not that I want every book I read to have a ‘David Copperfield’ beginning to it, I don’t need to start with the protagonist’s birth. And sometimes starting a book in the thick of action works extremely well. Lee Child’s ‘Killing Floor’ is a good example, as is Kim Harrison’s ‘Dead Witch Walking’ – both books take a while to properly introduce the protagonists, letting the action play out and suck readers in. ‘Vicious Circle’ isn’t clumsy because it starts in the thick of action; it just sometimes feels as though Linda Robertson denied the reader a lot of good background and character introductions.
The romance also feels a little bit too easy – when we meet Johnny he is clearly infatuated with Persephone, and she admits that for a year now he’s been pushing for a date with her. But Persephone also admits that she’s been reluctant to start anything – mostly because of Johnny’s outward appearance (tattoos everywhere, rides a motorcycle). Yet when we meet Persephone she is right at the point in their friendship where she starts seeing him as something more than a simple flirtation, and seriously considers dating him.
The romance comes a little bit too easily – I am a fan of ‘will they or won’t they?’ relationships. Kate & Curran (Ilona Andrews), Ivy & Rachel (Kim Harrison) or Barrons & Mac (Karen Marie Moning) – there isn’t a whole lot of romantic tension between Johnny & Persephone, making it a little hard to invest much in them.
There is a second possible relationship in the second half of the book that I found far more interesting because there’s an edge to it – a certain amount of danger if Persephone chooses to pursue it.
It may seem like I have a lot of gripes about this book, and despite my big concerns, I did really enjoy it. I loved Johnny; he’s a contradiction; tattooed waerwolf with a heart of gold. I also really liked the witchy aspect of the book – there’s lots of rhyming incantations that are great to read. And I genuinely liked Persephone, she seems like a cool down-to-earth girl and I look forward to reading more of her adventures in future books.
‘Vicious Circle’ isn’t reinventing the Urban Fantasy wheel; this isn’t anything new in the increasingly popular genre, but it is a fun read. It does feel as though the book is starting in the middle of the story, to the detriment of character background and relationship investment. Despite that draw-back, I am really looking forward to the second book ‘Hallowed Circle’, due out on the 29th of this month, and a third book set to be released in 2010.
November 3, 2009
Ever read a really great book that you can read over and over and enjoy it the third time as much as the first? This isn't one of those books. I read Vicious Circle when was first released and I enjoyed it. I rated it a strong 4. It's been a while since I read it, so I decided to re-read it before I read Hallowed Circle. I've just finished and found that I didn't enjoy it as much as I remembered.
SPOILER AHEAD....
* The sub-plot with Persephone's school friends is filler. It could have easily be left out.
* The issue of her parentage is brought out like it may have some future relevance to the story, but so far (1/4 into Hallowed Circle) nothing has.
* Persephone's long self-reflection dialogs via meditation are boring and do little to advance the plot. Much of the things she reflects on (like parentage) aren't fully developed or integral to the plot.
* Johnny's description is a little too goth for me. Tattoos covering his entire body (and face), multiple eyebrow/nose rings, etc.
Johnny's attitude toward Persephone is a little too demeaning and I don't get the impression of him truly caring for her as a person. Most of his interaction with Persephone is either him stating that she's the Lustrata or making lewd sexual innuendos towards her, often in front of her Grandmother.
- "the best things are sometimes hard"
- "If you get messy, I promise, I'll clean you up personally."
- "I won't bite, I won't even lick unless you want me to."
- "I thought you already knew how to do it"
- "next time we'll try French. Or Thai. Some Thai can be really hot. I like it hot."
- I don't think I've ever tasted anything Greek. But I'd love to."
Johnny was supposedly "created" to serve the Lustrata, fully believes that Persephone is the Lustrata, yet he deceives her and goes against her specific wishes. Johnny's actions cause an innocent (semi-innocent at least) person to be killed. She kicks Menessos out of her house because he's not trustworthy, but Menessos never betrayed Persephone... only Johnny did that.
After Persephone is marked (stained), Johnny looks at her like she's dirty. Even after Nana claims that the Persephone MUST have the mark in order to be the Lustrata, Johnny continues to treat her like she truely is stained/dirty. Imagine treating a rape victim like she asked for it and is a whore as a result. Similar theory. Persephone views herself as "dirty" and "stained" for having the mark and Johnny does nothing but reinforce her beliefs.
If Johnny is so knowledgable and dedicated to serving the Lustrata, and not just servicing Persephone(sexually), he should accept that she must keep the mark, help her understand that it is a mark and not a stain, and stop treating her like the only thing he wants is sex.
Personally, I'm rooting for Menessos in Hallowed Circle. I'm about 1/4 into it and while he's talked about, hasn't made an appearance yet. It's just Johnny and his sexual innuendos so far.
SPOILER AHEAD....
* The sub-plot with Persephone's school friends is filler. It could have easily be left out.
* The issue of her parentage is brought out like it may have some future relevance to the story, but so far (1/4 into Hallowed Circle) nothing has.
* Persephone's long self-reflection dialogs via meditation are boring and do little to advance the plot. Much of the things she reflects on (like parentage) aren't fully developed or integral to the plot.
* Johnny's description is a little too goth for me. Tattoos covering his entire body (and face), multiple eyebrow/nose rings, etc.
Johnny's attitude toward Persephone is a little too demeaning and I don't get the impression of him truly caring for her as a person. Most of his interaction with Persephone is either him stating that she's the Lustrata or making lewd sexual innuendos towards her, often in front of her Grandmother.
- "the best things are sometimes hard"
- "If you get messy, I promise, I'll clean you up personally."
- "I won't bite, I won't even lick unless you want me to."
- "I thought you already knew how to do it"
- "next time we'll try French. Or Thai. Some Thai can be really hot. I like it hot."
- I don't think I've ever tasted anything Greek. But I'd love to."
Johnny was supposedly "created" to serve the Lustrata, fully believes that Persephone is the Lustrata, yet he deceives her and goes against her specific wishes. Johnny's actions cause an innocent (semi-innocent at least) person to be killed. She kicks Menessos out of her house because he's not trustworthy, but Menessos never betrayed Persephone... only Johnny did that.
After Persephone is marked (stained), Johnny looks at her like she's dirty. Even after Nana claims that the Persephone MUST have the mark in order to be the Lustrata, Johnny continues to treat her like she truely is stained/dirty. Imagine treating a rape victim like she asked for it and is a whore as a result. Similar theory. Persephone views herself as "dirty" and "stained" for having the mark and Johnny does nothing but reinforce her beliefs.
If Johnny is so knowledgable and dedicated to serving the Lustrata, and not just servicing Persephone(sexually), he should accept that she must keep the mark, help her understand that it is a mark and not a stain, and stop treating her like the only thing he wants is sex.
Personally, I'm rooting for Menessos in Hallowed Circle. I'm about 1/4 into it and while he's talked about, hasn't made an appearance yet. It's just Johnny and his sexual innuendos so far.
July 14, 2016
This book was ok. I neither hated nor loved it. There were some things that I really liked and some things that were just somewhat annoying. This also applied to the characters. I really didn't have a problem with Johnny. I thought it was weird that Persephone had a problem with him because of...tattoos. Tattoos in a world that includes vampires, waeres, witches, fairies, etc... how on earth would someone feel wary of someone else because of tattoos? Personally I thought it was kind of shallow and it didn't really endear her character to me at all.
Anyway, she removes her head from her ass eventually. But just as soon as I think I might enjoy the dynamic between the two of them, along comes a vampire whom I suspect will represent the third side of a love triangle. Now maybe if I had read this book when it first came out, I might not be sick of vampires in UF to the extent that I am now and maybe I would have hoped for a Menessos Persephone relationship, or at least not minded it so much, despite that he's turning out to be a champion dirt bag. Maybe not. What I do know, is that I just don't have the patience for it right now. Reading the blurbs for the later installments in this series tells me that he's not going anywhere any time soon.
As far as the plot went, it was fine. I thought it was kind of typical for the plot in the first book in a series. Interesting enough but not too involved, and a way to introduce characters, etc.. I thought that some of the waeres were assholes. Especially Theo. Theo's got her panties in a twist because Persephone asked her to do some digging on a certain murder suspect. Digging gets Theo injured and close to death. Persephone risks a lot to save her life. Theo wakes up hale and whole but immediately wants to pounce on Persephone for getting her involved in this mess. Sorry Theo, but isn't this digging kind of what you do? Also, wasn't Lorrie - the murder victim - your friend?
I will probably read the next in the series just to see how various relationships are handled, whether this does become a love triangle, and how much I enjoyment I get out of the plot.
Anyway, she removes her head from her ass eventually. But just as soon as I think I might enjoy the dynamic between the two of them, along comes a vampire whom I suspect will represent the third side of a love triangle. Now maybe if I had read this book when it first came out, I might not be sick of vampires in UF to the extent that I am now and maybe I would have hoped for a Menessos Persephone relationship, or at least not minded it so much, despite that he's turning out to be a champion dirt bag. Maybe not. What I do know, is that I just don't have the patience for it right now. Reading the blurbs for the later installments in this series tells me that he's not going anywhere any time soon.
As far as the plot went, it was fine. I thought it was kind of typical for the plot in the first book in a series. Interesting enough but not too involved, and a way to introduce characters, etc.. I thought that some of the waeres were assholes. Especially Theo. Theo's got her panties in a twist because Persephone asked her to do some digging on a certain murder suspect. Digging gets Theo injured and close to death. Persephone risks a lot to save her life. Theo wakes up hale and whole but immediately wants to pounce on Persephone for getting her involved in this mess. Sorry Theo, but isn't this digging kind of what you do? Also, wasn't Lorrie - the murder victim - your friend?
I will probably read the next in the series just to see how various relationships are handled, whether this does become a love triangle, and how much I enjoyment I get out of the plot.
April 9, 2012
3.5 stars
I felt like the little Chihuahua trying to keep up with the boss dog in those cartoons as we entered the hospital. Johnny’s long legs took him smoothly and swiftly inside while I half ran to keep up, finger-combing my hair in an effort not to look like the witch stereotype.
I need to say this first ... Johnny the waere tattoed techno-metal-Goth band frontman ... ROAARR :D. Sexy and yummy!!! I can't help it, I love shifters better than vampires, so hands down, Johnny makes me all tingling compared to Menessos (though I'm not sure whether Menessos is projected as another love interest for Perspehone). I also like how playful Johnny is, like calling Seph's "Red", which refers to Red Riding Hood, instead of hair colour.
AAANYWAY, as first book in series go, this one is quite okay. I don't find myself struggling too much with the world building. The idea of waeres as result of virus is not difficult to accept. The main plot of Seph trying to kill a vampire who is deemed responsible for the murder of her friend is also straightforward. I admit that I skim the part where Nana (Seph's grandma) explains all those Tarot cards to Johnny (I am sure it means something); I think it will have something to do with the development of Johnny's mysterious past and his turn into waere (other waeres seem to follow his words, plus he still maintains his humanity even when he is changed).
As for Seph, as the heroine, I'm not wholeheartedly impressed with her yet. She sounds whiny, not wanting to take the consequences of things, even her own doing. The way she seems to refuse getting too involved makes Seph sounds irresponsible. Seph also seems ignorant about her own power and knowledge that comes with it. I know, her Nana doesn't teach her much, but I can't find it as a great excuse. Oh, I also find the plot of Seph breaking her relationship with her school friends to be distracting and unnecessary. What is the use of that anyway?
In overall, it intrigues me -- so I might check the second book on this series.
I felt like the little Chihuahua trying to keep up with the boss dog in those cartoons as we entered the hospital. Johnny’s long legs took him smoothly and swiftly inside while I half ran to keep up, finger-combing my hair in an effort not to look like the witch stereotype.
I need to say this first ... Johnny the waere tattoed techno-metal-Goth band frontman ... ROAARR :D. Sexy and yummy!!! I can't help it, I love shifters better than vampires, so hands down, Johnny makes me all tingling compared to Menessos (though I'm not sure whether Menessos is projected as another love interest for Perspehone). I also like how playful Johnny is, like calling Seph's "Red", which refers to Red Riding Hood, instead of hair colour.
AAANYWAY, as first book in series go, this one is quite okay. I don't find myself struggling too much with the world building. The idea of waeres as result of virus is not difficult to accept. The main plot of Seph trying to kill a vampire who is deemed responsible for the murder of her friend is also straightforward. I admit that I skim the part where Nana (Seph's grandma) explains all those Tarot cards to Johnny (I am sure it means something); I think it will have something to do with the development of Johnny's mysterious past and his turn into waere (other waeres seem to follow his words, plus he still maintains his humanity even when he is changed).
As for Seph, as the heroine, I'm not wholeheartedly impressed with her yet. She sounds whiny, not wanting to take the consequences of things, even her own doing. The way she seems to refuse getting too involved makes Seph sounds irresponsible. Seph also seems ignorant about her own power and knowledge that comes with it. I know, her Nana doesn't teach her much, but I can't find it as a great excuse. Oh, I also find the plot of Seph breaking her relationship with her school friends to be distracting and unnecessary. What is the use of that anyway?
In overall, it intrigues me -- so I might check the second book on this series.
Read
July 20, 2011This is a decent urban fantasy with werewolves and vampires and kick-ass female witch for a protagonist. I liked it, but a few things sort of bugged me. For one thing, it's a bit heavy-handed with the emotional growth, and the incessant poetry got on my nerves.
Re the emotional growth, it's written okay, it's just like the heroine comes to a whole lot of conclusions and goes through a whole lot of changes in the course of one book; I found that almost exhausting and a bit implausible.)
Re the bad poetry (primarily as part of the wiccan spellwork) I hate poetry or lyrics inserted in books. So your mileage will vary in that regard. The witchcraft depicted was similar in philosophy and practice to 'real world' witchcraft rituals so I knew the author had done some in depth research; but the poetry sounds hokey when written down, especially since it scans badly. And because I already loathe (loathe, loathe, loathe!) poetry and lyrics in a book (including and even especially LOTR) this bugged me.
Other than that stuff, which is really nit-picky (unless you loathe, loathe, loathe, etc.) this is a pretty good book.
Re the emotional growth, it's written okay, it's just like the heroine comes to a whole lot of conclusions and goes through a whole lot of changes in the course of one book; I found that almost exhausting and a bit implausible.)
Re the bad poetry (primarily as part of the wiccan spellwork) I hate poetry or lyrics inserted in books. So your mileage will vary in that regard. The witchcraft depicted was similar in philosophy and practice to 'real world' witchcraft rituals so I knew the author had done some in depth research; but the poetry sounds hokey when written down, especially since it scans badly. And because I already loathe (loathe, loathe, loathe!) poetry and lyrics in a book (including and even especially LOTR) this bugged me.
Other than that stuff, which is really nit-picky (unless you loathe, loathe, loathe, etc.) this is a pretty good book.
September 1, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book as it reminded me somewhat of Anita Blake without the sex! Vampires, werewolves, witches, some friendly and some not so much. I also saw elements of C.E. Murphy's Walker Paper series, particularly the spirit guides. Persephone does lots of meditation where her spirit animal, a jackal gives her help and advice as well as a mustang who embodies the Goddess.
For the most part I liked Persephone's character though her naivety regarding vampires and even werewolves became dangerous to her and her loved ones. I would think that if you get involved in kenneling werewolves during the full moon, that you would research werewolves and see exactly what you are getting yourself in for. And when the vampires entered the picture, the same. But she just rolled with the punches tripping and stumbling along. I disliked Vivian immensely and couldn't understand why Persephone caved in to her blackmail attempt without a fight. I did like Johnny though the stereotypical bad boy image surely didn't fit him. He was a sweetheart and it was refreshing for Persephone to finally see this. It will be interesting to see where Ms. Robertson takes this series.
For the most part I liked Persephone's character though her naivety regarding vampires and even werewolves became dangerous to her and her loved ones. I would think that if you get involved in kenneling werewolves during the full moon, that you would research werewolves and see exactly what you are getting yourself in for. And when the vampires entered the picture, the same. But she just rolled with the punches tripping and stumbling along. I disliked Vivian immensely and couldn't understand why Persephone caved in to her blackmail attempt without a fight. I did like Johnny though the stereotypical bad boy image surely didn't fit him. He was a sweetheart and it was refreshing for Persephone to finally see this. It will be interesting to see where Ms. Robertson takes this series.
December 11, 2012
A witch who kennels werewolves during the full moon -- how fun is that? Quite a bit, it turns out. Persephone is the kind of heroine you like to read about. She's kind, intelligent, courageous, and still believable. Surrounded by her motley band of friends and family, she's the perfect focus for a story with a little bit of everything.
Like many urban fantasies out there, "Vicious Circle" takes place in a world where witches, werewolves, and vampires are very much real. Persephone is in a rare position, being a witch who freely associates with werewolves. So it's no surprise when her life becomes increasingly complicated with each chapter. Seph quickly finds herself juggling problems both domestic and paranormal, and for some reason everyone looks to her for a solution.
This is the first installment of what could very well be a fulfilling series. The characters are enjoyable and the plot well-laid, with something interesting happening at every turn of the page. Being a somewhat strict judge, I only gave this three stars, but I encourage fans of the genre to try this one out.
Like many urban fantasies out there, "Vicious Circle" takes place in a world where witches, werewolves, and vampires are very much real. Persephone is in a rare position, being a witch who freely associates with werewolves. So it's no surprise when her life becomes increasingly complicated with each chapter. Seph quickly finds herself juggling problems both domestic and paranormal, and for some reason everyone looks to her for a solution.
This is the first installment of what could very well be a fulfilling series. The characters are enjoyable and the plot well-laid, with something interesting happening at every turn of the page. Being a somewhat strict judge, I only gave this three stars, but I encourage fans of the genre to try this one out.
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