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geezenstack444's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn't get through it. Bored after the first few pages.
katyanaish's review against another edition
4.0
***3.75***
This book was... hmm. It is a hard one to review. In some ways, I liked the first one better. Mostly, I think, because the first one had a concrete and linear plot. This one had what felt like 6 B-plots, but no strong A-plot. And in that way, to me, it felt like a bridge book. Some very important things happened, things that needed to happen to set Persephone up for her Big Role (not saying that sarcastically, just trying to avoid being spoilery).
I am not quite sure how I feel about what happened with Johnny. Because firstly, I am not happy with Seph apologizing. She didn't do anything wrong. Taking a day to sort out her feelings - literally ONE DAY - is more than fair. I guess I was just sort of surprised at Johnny. Because though it was not what it seemed, he seemed to react really... strongly. The song, in particular, seemed somewhat harsh. I am being deliberately vague here, again, to avoid spoilers.
That said, I thought the ending was strong, though that vow she made to the Eldrenne set off some warning bells for me. Happily starting book 3 now... :)
This book was... hmm. It is a hard one to review. In some ways, I liked the first one better. Mostly, I think, because the first one had a concrete and linear plot. This one had what felt like 6 B-plots, but no strong A-plot. And in that way, to me, it felt like a bridge book. Some very important things happened, things that needed to happen to set Persephone up for her Big Role (not saying that sarcastically, just trying to avoid being spoilery).
I am not quite sure how I feel about what happened with Johnny. Because firstly, I am not happy with Seph apologizing. She didn't do anything wrong. Taking a day to sort out her feelings - literally ONE DAY - is more than fair. I guess I was just sort of surprised at Johnny. Because though it was not what it seemed, he seemed to react really... strongly. The song, in particular, seemed somewhat harsh. I am being deliberately vague here, again, to avoid spoilers.
That said, I thought the ending was strong, though that vow she made to the Eldrenne set off some warning bells for me. Happily starting book 3 now... :)
claire_loves_books's review against another edition
3.0
I read the first in the series, but I felt like I missed a whole book in between- apparently there was this big fight with Menessos where Seph destroyed the stake amongst other dramatic things, and this really did play a big part in the story- it influenced how all the characters acted and Seph was constantly mentioning it- so I want to read about it! It's just frustrating to have a huge chunk of story missed out.
I also found the writing overly descriptive- I don't car who has the gray ribbon with the silver buckle and who's got the black ribbon with the copper buckle (and who has the marron and purple ribbons with which patterns), it doesn't add anything to the story other than pages of unnecessary description.
Seph also seems to be unbelievably speshul, there have only been two lustratas ever! and now seph is the third! and she has her own speshul wolves and a speshul connection with the vampires! At the beginning of the series she was a relatively powerful solitary witch and now she's just the most speshul person evah!
I also found the writing overly descriptive- I don't car who has the gray ribbon with the silver buckle and who's got the black ribbon with the copper buckle (and who has the marron and purple ribbons with which patterns), it doesn't add anything to the story other than pages of unnecessary description.
Seph also seems to be unbelievably speshul, there have only been two lustratas ever! and now seph is the third! and she has her own speshul wolves and a speshul connection with the vampires! At the beginning of the series she was a relatively powerful solitary witch and now she's just the most speshul person evah!
snarkymotherreader's review against another edition
4.0
Most of her duties are covered throughout the series, ever expanding and changing as the world demands. The ones highlighted in Hallowed Circle deal mostly with Seph’s acceptance of her magical role in the world and her troubles with Johnny, the uber-sexy and tattooed waerewolf who lives in her attic. I think this is why I love the book so much. It’s not all violent attacks and machinations. The reader is able to truly understand Seph and her world, her motivations, and the things that hold her back from realizing her full potential.
Full review available here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=26849#more-26849
Full review available here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=26849#more-26849
ria_mhrj's review against another edition
4.0
Another interesting seed-sower for the series, this book nicely sets up future conflicts and leaves mysteries to be solved. I'm looking forward to reading the third in the series, I just hope it doesn't fall into the trap of Persephone becoming so magically talented that she can fix everything because SHE IS JUST SO AWESOME. I get very sad when promising series succumb to this path, but I'm an optimist so let's keep the faith!
lalabristow's review against another edition
4.0
I loved book 1, Vicious Circle, and this second installment of the Persephone Alcmedi series just made this series a must buy for me.
I have to be honest and say that the beginning, up to the first third of the book was a bit slow and patchy for me. Some of my favorite characters took a while to show and I missed them and it also took a while for the story to build up and reach a nice steady pace. There was a lot of preparing ground for the end and when I was done with the book I could actually appreciate it.
All my faves were back, Nana, HOT werewolf Johnny, cute Beverly, Seph's Were Friends... I was really happy to see them all back. Johnny showed up as flirtatious as ever, intent on having Seph for himself and it was very enjoyable to see his advances and her slowing yielding in his hands, and what hands, let me tell ya!
I really like Persephone as the heroine. She is flawed, but has such a heart and sense of right and wrong that I truly admire. I love how she gets set straight by her totem animal, a jackal, and that she is strong enough to accept being wrong and trying to fix things.
I don't want to delve too much into the plot, because I don't think I could do that without spoiling things. However, I can say that it was awesome to see the inner workings of the Witches' Covenstead, getting to know more about the Weres and getting a better understand of the Stain Persephone has, that connects her to the Vamps.
From the build up and the developments in this novel, I can see that there is so much to happen. I can't wait to get my hands on the next books and read more about them all.
As I said on my review of Book 1, this is not a groundbreaking series nor it reinvents the wheel. But Linda has definitely taken much thats has been proven right and true in the Urban Fantasy genre and made it her own. I love how this series is progressing and I have to say I LOVED seeing Seph and Johnny getting more intimate... Damn, that was hot! hehe
I have to be honest and say that the beginning, up to the first third of the book was a bit slow and patchy for me. Some of my favorite characters took a while to show and I missed them and it also took a while for the story to build up and reach a nice steady pace. There was a lot of preparing ground for the end and when I was done with the book I could actually appreciate it.
All my faves were back, Nana, HOT werewolf Johnny, cute Beverly, Seph's Were Friends... I was really happy to see them all back. Johnny showed up as flirtatious as ever, intent on having Seph for himself and it was very enjoyable to see his advances and her slowing yielding in his hands, and what hands, let me tell ya!
I really like Persephone as the heroine. She is flawed, but has such a heart and sense of right and wrong that I truly admire. I love how she gets set straight by her totem animal, a jackal, and that she is strong enough to accept being wrong and trying to fix things.
I don't want to delve too much into the plot, because I don't think I could do that without spoiling things. However, I can say that it was awesome to see the inner workings of the Witches' Covenstead, getting to know more about the Weres and getting a better understand of the Stain Persephone has, that connects her to the Vamps.
From the build up and the developments in this novel, I can see that there is so much to happen. I can't wait to get my hands on the next books and read more about them all.
As I said on my review of Book 1, this is not a groundbreaking series nor it reinvents the wheel. But Linda has definitely taken much thats has been proven right and true in the Urban Fantasy genre and made it her own. I love how this series is progressing and I have to say I LOVED seeing Seph and Johnny getting more intimate... Damn, that was hot! hehe
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
4.0
One of the reviews I stumbled across said that the book almost read like 3 in 1. First, Seph's relationship with Johnny, second things with the coven politics, and then a fight with the fey.
There were some twists I could have done without- the waere twins- and some I did not see coming. And there were some that I wish had been given more time, like Hunter's motivations and Seph's revelation about the stain.
Still, enjoyed it overall and number 3 is already on my to-read list.
There were some twists I could have done without- the waere twins- and some I did not see coming. And there were some that I wish had been given more time, like Hunter's motivations and Seph's revelation about the stain.
Still, enjoyed it overall and number 3 is already on my to-read list.
alexiachantel's review against another edition
4.0
Robertson gives us book two in the Persephone Alcmedi series, proving that this is an author and series to follow!
Johnny, the irresistable tattooed alpha were is now Seph’s boyfriend. Who else is glad that she got over her prejudices and saw the man behind the tattoos? He has her best interest at heart, but in true alpha male form he makes some choices that benefit him without considering what his actions could mean for Seph. Too bad for Johnny he brings Menessos a little closer to Seph in the process.
Menessos...Menessos. Do you love him, his Arthurian aura, charisma and all. Or do you hate him, he is controlling and does something only when he can be benefitted. At times you will feel a little of both, and as frustrating it is as a reader it is so much more for Seph. Robertson does a wonderful job of writing Menessos, giving and pulling at the right moments.
All the men drama aside, Seph has her hands full trying to compete for the position of High Priestess. A position that she wants to pass up, but can’t. It is interesting to get a view into the inner workings of the witches. There are some powerful old ladies here, and lots of political inner-workings.
Robertson writes a great ending for Hallowed Circle. Wraps up the storyline of the High Priestess and leaves you hanging waiting for more.
*copy courtesy of publisher
Separate review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-hallowed-circle-by-linda.html
Johnny, the irresistable tattooed alpha were is now Seph’s boyfriend. Who else is glad that she got over her prejudices and saw the man behind the tattoos? He has her best interest at heart, but in true alpha male form he makes some choices that benefit him without considering what his actions could mean for Seph. Too bad for Johnny he brings Menessos a little closer to Seph in the process.
Menessos...Menessos. Do you love him, his Arthurian aura, charisma and all. Or do you hate him, he is controlling and does something only when he can be benefitted. At times you will feel a little of both, and as frustrating it is as a reader it is so much more for Seph. Robertson does a wonderful job of writing Menessos, giving and pulling at the right moments.
All the men drama aside, Seph has her hands full trying to compete for the position of High Priestess. A position that she wants to pass up, but can’t. It is interesting to get a view into the inner workings of the witches. There are some powerful old ladies here, and lots of political inner-workings.
Robertson writes a great ending for Hallowed Circle. Wraps up the storyline of the High Priestess and leaves you hanging waiting for more.
*copy courtesy of publisher
Separate review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-hallowed-circle-by-linda.html
drey72's review against another edition
4.0
Persephone Alcmedi has accepted certain truths in her life. She’s a witch. She’s done bad things. She’s friends with weres. She’s linked to a super-scary vamp. And she now has a foster daughter. But no way is she going to accept that she’s the Lustrata!
But that’s a worry for another day. The temporary High Priestess of the Cleveland coven — since Vivian’s “missing” — wants Seph to compete for the actual position. Something about not wanting another power-hungry Vivian type taking over… Knowing how bad Vivian was for the coven, Seph reluctantly agrees. Next thing she knows, she’s in a top-witch-takes-all competition for High Priestess. Then the competitors start dying…
Hallowed Circle is chock-full of plot and action, and I love that Seph grows as a character. She finds her strength, and reconciles herself to the fact that sometimes you have no choice but to do harm. And she learns that moving forward — whatever the circumstances, whatever the consequences — is not a bad thing when it’s done for the right reasons. Whether you want to, or are ready to.
I’m glad I picked up this series, it’s heart-of-gold plus quirky plus serious mojo equals entertaining reading. I’m moving on to Fatal Circle next!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
But that’s a worry for another day. The temporary High Priestess of the Cleveland coven — since Vivian’s “missing” — wants Seph to compete for the actual position. Something about not wanting another power-hungry Vivian type taking over… Knowing how bad Vivian was for the coven, Seph reluctantly agrees. Next thing she knows, she’s in a top-witch-takes-all competition for High Priestess. Then the competitors start dying…
Hallowed Circle is chock-full of plot and action, and I love that Seph grows as a character. She finds her strength, and reconciles herself to the fact that sometimes you have no choice but to do harm. And she learns that moving forward — whatever the circumstances, whatever the consequences — is not a bad thing when it’s done for the right reasons. Whether you want to, or are ready to.
I’m glad I picked up this series, it’s heart-of-gold plus quirky plus serious mojo equals entertaining reading. I’m moving on to Fatal Circle next!
drey’s rating: Excellent!
althenaruby's review against another edition
5.0
My favorite part of this book the test/trials to become the leader of the local coven. I liked each task and the "twist" to the trials itself. Not excited about her new cell phone and all that entails but I guess that's more of a wait and see. I usually don't enjoy books where there are children but Beverly is a good kid. She stays out of as much as the action as she can. I like the side characters. Wish we had more info on everyone but that's another thing that should get fleshed out in further books. Not a fan of Nana always smoking and her meanness towards Seph confuses me at times.