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The Initiation (The Secret Circle #1)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 6,247 ratings · 339 reviews

Cassie doesn't want to move to live with her grandmother in New Salem. But when she arrives, she discovers that her destiny is inescapable: she is initiated into the Secret Circle, a coven of young witches whose power has controlled the town for three hundred years.
Hopelessly in love with the coven leader's boyfriend, Cassie risks falling prey to dark powers which could de...more

Paperback, 244 pages

Published October 17th 2002 by Hodder Children's Books (first published January 1st 1992)

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The Awakening and The Struggle by L.J. Smith

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Jun 27, 2007 Noralil Fores rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of YA Novels

As a young teen, L.J. Smith was an idol. From Dark Visions to The Vampire Diaries, she crafted dark genre pieces that were both intelligent and gripping. To this day, I reread my well worn copies with childlike glee, running over in my mind the influences her writing had on my imagination: the fact that for years I wanted to be a parapsychologist, that I love overblown fantasy stories with a love twist, that even now I'm wearing a hemitite bracelet.

The first part of the The Secret Circle triolo...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: boys-that-make-me-swoon

I read the series a few years back and now realise just how much I ate it up. I decided to re - read them after watching the first ep of the TV show and deciding that it looked promising. Plus I remember really enjoying the series so thought refreshing my memory might do some good

Unfortunately with reading something years later, you notice a whole lot more.

Cassie' mother has decided that they are to move to Salem Falls after she hears that her estranged mother is ill. But that couldn't be furthe...more I read the series a few years back and now realise just how much I ate it up. I decided to re - read them after watching the first ep of the TV show and deciding that it looked promising. Plus I remember really enjoying the series so thought refreshing my memory might do some good

Unfortunately with reading something years later, you notice a whole lot more.

Cassie' mother has decided that they are to move to Salem Falls after she hears that her estranged mother is ill. But that couldn't be further away from what Cassie wants. How can her mother expect her to just suddenly up and leave a place she has known as home her whole life, and especially since she met that handsome boy with the dog. Leaving would mean she would never see him again, and the very thought makes her sick. *even though it's the first time she's ever met the guy*

Her fear becomes reality when shortly after she finds herself meeting her grandma for the first time and enrolled at school. There she finds herself shunned by all including the headteacher. Lost and confused she soon discovers that there may be more to worry about than just being ignored. For a certain few seem to have their eye on her, and not all of them have the best of intention.

Through reading THE INITIATION I realised that there was a whole lot of cheesy dialogue which made me wince quite a few times actually. Not to mention it got slightly tiring every time one of the girls were described as beautiful, striking with glorious manes of black hair and Nick always as "cold". I get that he doesn't show much expression or whatever but I'd rather every time he was introduced that the word "cold" wasn't repeated. Then there is the fact that our MC is full of shit. She goes on and on about resisting and being determined to not hurt her mate, but then hardly holds back and makes out with him anyway! What happened to self - control and common sense. Don't ramble about caring for your mate and resisting someone you're not going to bother to. Worse yet, you have seen the guy ONCE in your life, and the next time you meet him you suddenly realise that you love him? I mean come on!

Right now I don't like her very much. And neither of the boys are as hot as I recalled them. Shame. But it's entertaining and one that you find yourself intrigued by despite it's flaws. So, I did enjoy the book, but I'm hoping the next two are an improvement.(less)

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Oct 16, 2007 Tara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: YA Dark Readers

Shelves: ya

Ok, confession: I just ADORE books that have anything to do with witches, vampires, werewolves, etc. This series is such a great read! You will enjoy them if you are into YA.

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May 13, 2012 Kate May rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I only read this because I started watching the CW series which really drew me into the storyline. However, the TV show is completely different, as the book only seems to function as a basic set-up for it.

My thoughts on the first part of the book series: It's a fast read, quite a page-turner. But its writing style - oh my. Some parts are just repetitive and there's a clear overuse of adjectives. Its tone isn't much better either. I mean some parts were really great, but others - way too over-dra...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Amanda rated it 1 of 5 stars

I picked up this book after seing some of the TV series episodes and I must admite that I am disappointed. I thought it would be as dinamic s the tv series, but NO, and I don't usually say that but I almost gave up reading it.

I hated Cassie. She's childish, insecure and stupid. She keeps dreaming about a boy she has only seen once and talked to for less than an hour. Also, she keeps winning and crying, because she has no friends and she wants Diana to be friends with her.

And that's not the wo...more

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Nov 15, 2007 Aneesa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: from-back-in-the-day

I read this trilogy so many times as a teen that I had to buy a whole new set of books since they were so worn out. And then I pretty much wore those out too. I think the novels definitely qualify as guilty pleasures. I hadn't touched the books in years but when I was moving, I happened to come across my tattered copy and decided to open it up again. To my surprise, I tore through them in about a day and a half! At the age of 25, after having read these books about a dozen times, I found myself...more

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Feb 16, 2009 Jocey rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Amanda Y., Ashley R.

Recommended to Jocey by: Daniellesof2014

The Initiation, by Lisa J. Smith, is a book about a girl who moves to her grandmother and discovers a huge secret about herself and her family. The main character is Cassie. She is 16 years old, and has blue eyes. Cassie’s main internal struggle is that she’s in love with her friend’s boyfriend. Her main external struggle is with Faye, a girl from the club she’s apart of.

During my time reading this book I made a text-to-text connection. There was a part in the book where Cassie, was hearing a...more

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Feb 15, 2009 Daniellesof2014 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 7th-grade-ir-books-jen

the Initiation

The Initiation is about a girl named Cassie Blake, who goes from California to a town called New Salem with her mother to help her grandmother. There she meets a boy named Adam who she falls for, and a group of people, which just so happens that everyone is afraid of. Cassie now finds dark secrets about this group of teenagers and this town. This Secret Circle may help Cassie find what been missing her whole life or it may just as well kill her.

One thing that this book reminds me...more

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Apr 03, 2013 Lade rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I like the book series more than the television series.

Cassie's character in the TV series is much stronger than the book character.
Cassie moves to New Salem with her mum so they can stay close to her grandmother(that's what she thinks).
The real reason is because she is a witch.

She arrives almost immediately before the initiation of a new member (Kari Henderson) to make the circle bound and complete.

Kari is found dead before the initiation ceremony and Cassie is put in her place. Cassie becomes...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Courtney Bocci rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, fiction, nook, high-school-or-prior, ya, reread

I waffled a lot over what to rate this, and then split the difference between what my 12-16 year old self said and what my current self said. I absolutely ADORED these books (and The Vampire Diaries, and The Forbidden Game, though the only one that has stood the test of time for me is the last) when I was a wee little Courtney. They were fantastic - I couldn't decide if I wanted to be Diana, Faye or Cassie, which boy I thought was the best (Adam, duh), etc.

Seen through adult eyes . . . OMG, I'd...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Don't_Trot_and_Text rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Beautiful Craetures fans, Harry Potter fans, romance fans, paranormal fiction fans, YA fiction fans

I had never planned on reading The Secret Circle: The Initiation; but to my surprise I'm glad I did. My English teacher had this book in her possesion and lent it to me thinking I would like it. I wasn't going to say no. I had already previously known that the author of this book is also the author of the Vampire Diaries, a series I've never quite given the time or interest to read. Although I let my inner reading instincts run wild all the way to the novel Beautiful Craetures, a book I didn't...more

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Sep 23, 2012 Tessa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Un petit clin d’œil à Twilight page 56: “Elle revoyait sa chambre, chez elle, en Californie, avec ses meubles en mélaminé blanc, ses posters de Twilight et sa nouvelle chaîne MP3 qu’elle s’était payée avec son argent de baby-sitting.” Ou comment montrer que Cassie est une lycéenne d’aujourd’hui qui aime les belles histoires d’amour, les vampires et les loup-garous.
Après cette petite parenthèse, l’avis général est que l’action a du mal à se lancer, au bout de 100 pages, on en sait soit trop soit...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Monica rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cartea Ritualul am cumparat-o de la BRAVO! si am citit-o pe nerasuflate. Mi s-a parut foarte draguta,desi coperta nu m-a impresionat prea mult, adica e draguta,dar am vazut altele cu mult mai bune. Trecand peste detaliul acesta, nu pot sa cred ca spun asta, dar cartile cu supracoperta sunt mult mai bune de citit decat cele de buzunar. Si stiti de ce? Cele de buzunar se TERMINA MULT PREA REPEDE!

Bun, acum sa trecem la aspectul scrisului. Autoarea scrie cursiv, la persoana a treia, cu mult talent,p...more Cartea Ritualul am cumparat-o de la BRAVO! si am citit-o pe nerasuflate. Mi s-a parut foarte draguta,desi coperta nu m-a impresionat prea mult, adica e draguta,dar am vazut altele cu mult mai bune. Trecand peste detaliul acesta, nu pot sa cred ca spun asta, dar cartile cu supracoperta sunt mult mai bune de citit decat cele de buzunar. Si stiti de ce? Cele de buzunar se TERMINA MULT PREA REPEDE!

Bun, acum sa trecem la aspectul scrisului. Autoarea scrie cursiv, la persoana a treia, cu mult talent,pot adauga,descrierile fiind suficiente.Abordeaza subiectul dragostei si paranormalului,si pot spune ca este deosebit cum scrie o poveste despre vrajitoare.Am observat ca acest subiect este mai rar intalnit, nu siu de ce, insa in cartile citite de mine,vrajitori protagonisti sunt mai rari. Termenii utilizati sunt intalniti si in limbajul curent, deci este o lectura usoara.

Cassie,protagonista noasta,abia asteapta sa se mute inapoi in insorita Californie, departe de colega ei enervanta Portia,o fata laudoaroasa,obsedata de realizarile personale. Intriga acestei povesti este intalnirea lui Cassie cu un baiat roscat,frumos,pe tarm. Cassie il ajuta sa scape de doi batausi,care se intamplau a fi chiar fratii Portiei,mintindu-i ca fugise in alta parte,cand el se ascunsese intr-o barca. Misteriosul baiat ii multumeste dandu-i o calcedonie si sarutandu-i mana.

Inima lui Cassie incepe sa bata tot mai tare, si se indragosteste de baiat.De fapt, nu poate fi chiar dragoste la prima vedere, Cassie simtind mereu ca baiatul o "trezise", si simtea legatura dintre ei ca "o struna de argint:"

Tocmai cand se bucura ca se putea intoarce in Califonia, mama lui Cassie ii da de veste ca trebuie sa mearga la bunica ei,in New Salem, si sa locuiasca acol,deoarece este o femeie batrana care are nevoie de ajutor. Revoltata,Cassie accepta cu greu sa locuiasca in casa darapanata a buncii ei, initial caracterizand-o ca fiind o batrana ciudata, insa pe parcursul cartii de ataseaza de ea.

In acest orasel,Cassie admira frumusetea unor anumiti copii si pot spune ca ador cum descrie autoarea persoanejele. Insa, frumusetea nu dureaza prea mult deoarece Cassie trebuie sa mearga la scoala, unde mai toata lumea o evita si Faye, o fata cu par negru si rea ii joaca feste de prost gust,,pana cand aproape o omoara,insa Diana o salveaza.

Din opinia autoarei, Diana avea parul "ca razele soarelui si lunii impletite".Diana o ia la ea acasa, ii ofera tot confortul,si chiar si niste prietene. Cum Cassie devine una din grupul Dianei, nimeni nu o mai evita, ba chiar viata ei se schimba in bine. Intr-o seara, Cassie este bagata intr-un sac si luata pe sus, crezand ca este rapita,insa de fapt asta era unica ei sansa sa intre in Cerc, Si ce credeti ca face? Oricum,ea isi dorea foarte mult asta,asa ca intra in cercul de vrajitori.

Problema apare atunci cand baiatul de care s-a indragostit vine in New Salem, la iubita lui, Diana. Si lucrurile se complica si mai mult cand Cassie afla ca Adam(asa se numea) o place...

Si cam asta e toata recenzia mea. Spor la citit. Ce parere aveti? (less)

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Jun 10, 2012 Patty Curran rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 11th-grade-advisory

This book has had its ups and downs during the reading. I got stuck with it and could not stop reading. I think I like it so much because I love the way LJ Smith writes her books. She is the same author of The vampire diaries (my favorite novel).
Plus, I am really into fiction. I find it nice to read about things other than the everyday stiff that every teenager deals with. It is a way to escape and experience something aside from the real world. I also like how it is a different approach of vam...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Ágata Bresil rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Like most stories that come to the shelves of readers, this one has a girl who moves to a new city and don't have a father.

Cassie moves to New Salem, a city founded 300 years ago by a group of witches.
The protagonist is lost by having her life changed dramatically because of a sudden, she and her mother (who is ill) will live with her grandmother who she had never known before and who she thinks weird. Cassie used to be labeled a shy person, so she decides that with the new city comes a new life...more Like most stories that come to the shelves of readers, this one has a girl who moves to a new city and don't have a father.

Cassie moves to New Salem, a city founded 300 years ago by a group of witches.
The protagonist is lost by having her life changed dramatically because of a sudden, she and her mother (who is ill) will live with her grandmother who she had never known before and who she thinks weird. Cassie used to be labeled a shy person, so she decides that with the new city comes a new life and then tries to get to be cool, getting desperate to get in a group, make new friends, but their plans go by water down when she realizes that the new city where she lives is all strange and to be more specific, it seems to blame all of this mystery in the street where she lives.
She discovers that there is a club, which it is replaced by a desire to go after it becomes their leader's best friend, Diana, but the club will prove much more than a school with bullies putting fear.

An intense romance, complete with mysterious boy, love triangle and a bit of witchcraft.

My opinion on this book has had its ups and downs during the reading. There is no way to deny that I got stuck with it and could not stop reading. Well in that style 'only until the next chapter'. At first I was on the back foot. It is the first L.J. Smith's book I read and I honestly had no idea what to expect.

What left me discouraged to continue reading was the beginning, the author have put these OBVIOUS clues, right away, as the word witch and everything else. It seemed pretty dumb. The whole beginning of the book seemed not so well prepared, something done quickly, only to jump right into all the "action".

Another thing I tried on every page I read, was to find a way to convince me that Cassie was not as silly as it seemed to be described. She has those moments when she shows very strong in the facing the situations, but I felt that she was like a fool, played back and forth, dazzled by some useless stuff and not paying the slightest attention to the abnormal, even though she belongs the abnormality, we agree that it's not easy to see magic happens when you've never seen it before.

I'm also looking forward to the second book, only to find out more details about her mother, if this disease will be explain, because it disappeared from the book at some point and it is as if the author forgot the importance of this in Cassie's life.

It is a book with many loose ends. But it is a book I thought it was great for me to resume my reading. I'm very pleased with the novel, it made me sigh and find it very beautiful and painful.

Compared with the series, it is obvious that the book is much more intriguing and with a slower pace, we can think and digest new information quietly. The reading is quick and easy.

L.J. Smith has her mystery.(less)

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Apr 02, 2012 Melanie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have had two L.J. Smith series on my to-read list for quite some time, but I always postponed reading both because there was always something else I was a little more excited about. However, after becoming a fan of the CW show "based" on The Secret Circle series, I decided to go ahead and give this one a try. I'm not sure I'm glad I did. Generally (with the exception of anything written by Nicholas Sparks), I believe in the adage, "The book is always better," but in this case -- at least with...more

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Dec 27, 2011 Jennifer (Books That Spark) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, own-finished-copy

I decided to delve into 'The Secret Circle' book series after watching the pilot episode of the new television series of the same name. The series is based on the books written by L. J. Smith back in 1992. Following the success of the television series, the books have returned to the spotlight.

The Initiation introduces the reader to teenager Cassie Blake. When we first meet Cassie, she is hanging out on a beach in Cape Cod with a girl named Portia and a couple of her friends. Cassie doesn't fee...more I decided to delve into 'The Secret Circle' book series after watching the pilot episode of the new television series of the same name. The series is based on the books written by L. J. Smith back in 1992. Following the success of the television series, the books have returned to the spotlight.

The Initiation introduces the reader to teenager Cassie Blake. When we first meet Cassie, she is hanging out on a beach in Cape Cod with a girl named Portia and a couple of her friends. Cassie doesn't feel as though she fits in with this crowd and the reader is given the impression that she dislikes them somewhat. All is fine for Cassie though, as she reminds herself she only has one more week before she can return home to her real friends in California, or maybe not...

Instead of returning to the comforts of California, Cassie's Mother moves her daughter to New Salem in order to visit the Grandmother she has never met before. New Salem is a nightmare for Cassie. She doesn't like her Grandmother's house or the location as a whole and dreams of returning to her old life in California. Cassie is forced to enrol at a new school and her hopes of fitting in are dashed when she falls victim to teasing and taunts from her peers. She also learns about an exclusive group of students known as the 'Club'. The 'Club' is secretive, run the school and Cassie would like nothing more than to become a part of it. Will the 'Club' invite Cassie to become a member? What is the 'Club' and what is their secret?

The Initiation's central theme is Witches. This was a theme I hadn't come across while reading before so the concept was new to me. However, L. J. Smith introduces the concept well and I feel it worked well. There are references to the Salem Witch Trials which enable the theme to be one that is realistic and interesting to read about.

The Initiation is the first book of three in the series and it's what I'd describe as a “setting-up” book. By this I mean that it introduces the reader to the characters, the concept of the series and sets the scene and plot for the subsequent books. However, there are still twists along the way and there were some very exciting elements to the overall plot. For instance, I especially enjoyed reading about Cassie's relationship with Adam Conant. Adam is someone she met during her time at Cape Cod, so imagine her surprise when she meets him again in New Salem. Adam happens to be a member of the 'club' too and it was interesting to read the developments in their relationship. Cassie and Adam share a deep, intriguing connection and I look forward to seeing how this develops in the following books.

The protagonist and heroine Cassie seems like a normal teenager, one that has worries about fitting in and doing the right thing. I feel a lot of girls would be able to relate to her on some level. L. J. Smith develops a number of different characters who are enticing in their own rights. Each one offers something different and are people the reader can relate to. Smith offers comparisons of the characters to some figures in Greek mythology which I particularly found engaging.

The book sets the next book up perfectly and in a way which I'm sure will have you eager to continue onto the next one. I know I'm looking forward to it!(less)

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Nov 15, 2011 Babi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Círculo Secreto...Booom, o que eu posso dizer?É o melhor livro que já li da L.J. Smith!

Círculo Secreto: A Iniciação é o primeiro livro da trilogia, e pra mim, foi uma grande e maravilhosa surpresa, eu já queria muito ler esse livro desde que li Diários do Vampiro, e toda hora que eu entrava no site da Amazon ou Book Depository eu pensava "acho que vou comprar a trilogia" e cinco minutos depois "acho que vou deixar pra depois". Então veio a série de TV The Secret Circle,baseada no livro, amei o p...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Sarabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This series is SO GOOD!

I read it way-back-when, when it came out, I think I was in Middle School.

Re-reading it now, 15 years later, it brought back so many memories. My sudden fascination with nature and rocks, my curiosity about Greek gods and goddesses, my belief that there was something special hidden inside me, as well. The books has amazingly strong character development. You are swept along as Cassie, the heroine, goes from being meek to finding her own inner mettle- all done so naturally...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Okay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While i was watching the pilot of the tv series based upon these book series, I felt like I was a kid again and was watching an afternoon show for kids. Well, like Sabrina. It just had the 90s feeling in it and I love(d) that. And decided I wanted to know more and to my surprise I realized that The Secret Circle was first pulished in 92. I wanted to give a chance to The Initiation. I was not expecting much since I barely could start reading the Vampire Diaries and quit right after a couple of ch...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Erica Chilson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: digital, nook, young-adult, 5-star

A great fast paced Y.A. book. This being the first in the series it was light on magic for a book about witchcraft; understandably though since most 1st books set up the series while future installments expand the concept. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters.

The connection between Cassie & Adam is overplayed or maybe just too soon. I understand the reasoning behind this with some witchery bond. This is a cliche that a lot of books get trapped into. I will say that since this book was...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Joey Butcher rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

With the premier of The Secret Circle being this past week, I knew that I should hurry and read the books beforehand. I have to say I really enjoyed them. In fact I haven’t read a really good witch series since the Harry Potter books and these were published at least five years prior.

When Cassie Blake’s mom drops the new that they’re not going to return to her home in California, she's devastated. After she sees her grandmother’s house in New Salem that they’ll be living in, she gets infuriated...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

L.J. Smith's volume one of The Secret Circle is captivating and suspensful. When Cassie goes to England for her summer vaction, she meets a mysterious guy with a dog on the beach. Her vacation friend, Portia, tells her not to look directly at him. After she mummbles something under her breath, she runs away and tells Cassie not to move. Bored as she is, Cassie decides to go down on the dock and dip her feet in the water. She comes up with a poem in her head, and that's when things go awry. She f...more

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Jul 14, 2010 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bought-copy, ya, series

Cassie Blake is distraught when her mother decides to uproot to the small town of New Salem, in order to take care of a grandmother that Cassie had never even met before. But that is only the start of her problems. Starting a new school, trying to make new friends - and discovering that some of the people she would most like to befriend are all part of some secret Club that Cassie is not permitted to join. Then a girl dies, and Cassie is finally initiated into the Secret Circle, learning that ma...more Cassie Blake is distraught when her mother decides to uproot to the small town of New Salem, in order to take care of a grandmother that Cassie had never even met before. But that is only the start of her problems. Starting a new school, trying to make new friends - and discovering that some of the people she would most like to befriend are all part of some secret Club that Cassie is not permitted to join. Then a girl dies, and Cassie is finally initiated into the Secret Circle, learning that magic is more than just a folktale.

These days the YA market for books is flooded with paranormal activity - witches amongst them. But in 1992 when L J Smith first wrote The Secret Circle trilogy it was something fresh and new - and should be reviewed with that in mind. L J Smith was producing well-written compulsive novels about teenagers in love LONG before Edward Cullen was even a glint in Meyer's eye.

The opening book in this trilogy reads at a breakneck speed. Smith does not linger on too many opening details, just sets the scene so that Cassie is placed in New Salem ready for the main action to begin. This as far as I am concerned is a positive, because Cassie's life prior to her move is not of interest and therefore should not be lovingly expanded.

For me, the biggest strength of Smith's writing is the characters. Here she handles a main cast of twelve, with some peripheral characters who will play a further role in the subsequent two novels of the trilogy. To sufficiently flesh them out and give them strong characteristics that ensure you want to read more about them in such a slight novel (my edition, only 287 pages) takes real skill. And her physical descriptions are just wonderful:

"It occurred to her, quite incidentally, that these were probably the three most beautiful girls she'd ever seen. It wasn't just that each had perfect skin, free of the slightest trace of teenage blemishes. It wasn't their gorgeous hair: Deborah's dark disordered curls, Faye's pitch-black mane, and Suzan's cloud of reddish gold. It wasn't even the way they set each other off, each one's distinctive type enhancing the others' instead of detracting from them. It was something else...A kind of confidence and self-possession...An inner strength, an energy..."

Cassie is a very strong main character - by her own admission, she is shy and not very outgoing. However, these traits never become the absolute focus of Cassie - rather, they are just a part of who she was. There is also evidence that she has massive potential for growth and character development in future novels, which I am looking forward to exploring. In fact, most of the characters feel very real - they have foibles, and both good and bad qualities. The Henderson brothers and Sean suffer a little from not gaining much 'screen time', but I feel sure this will be remedied.

I also love the innocence of the romance - this is definitely YA from early 90s in content. Kissing is as far as these teens are prepared to go, and I for one love this. Too often in YA books I read that have been published more recently there is far too much focus on young girls going further than they perhaps should, and The Initiation harks back to a more chaste time.

The only real problem with this novel is it is very much the opening book in a trilogy, so we are really only getting to know the characters and touching on the main gist of the plot, which will be fleshed out in The Captive.

In conclusion, anyone who has come to the YA paranormal romance genre recently should definitely check out this opening novel in a classic trilogy. I adore all three books beyond reason and very nostalgically. L J Smith has a fine ability to write characters you will end up caring deeply about, and her prose is magnificent. Highly recommended. (less)

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Jun 01, 2013 AICCA rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I guess I read this book because I know I owe it to myself to read it. I love the Secret Circle TV Show so much!! Too bad they're not going to create a Season 2. Ugh! So the book is VERY different from the TV Show. I fell deeply in love with the TV Show and I can't say I did with the book. The book has twelve people in the circle while the TV Show has six. The six being Cassie Blake, Adam Conant, Diana Meade, Faye Chamberlain, Melissa Glaser and Nick Armstrong, who was replaced by his brother Ja...more I guess I read this book because I know I owe it to myself to read it. I love the Secret Circle TV Show so much!! Too bad they're not going to create a Season 2. Ugh! So the book is VERY different from the TV Show. I fell deeply in love with the TV Show and I can't say I did with the book. The book has twelve people in the circle while the TV Show has six. The six being Cassie Blake, Adam Conant, Diana Meade, Faye Chamberlain, Melissa Glaser and Nick Armstrong, who was replaced by his brother Jake Armstrong after dying. In the book, Cassie was this shy girl who transferred to a place (I forgot the name of the place) and didn't really make a very good first impression. This is where Faye comes in. She's this b**ch with two friends, Melanie and Suzan. She picked on Cassie until it came to the point that Diana had to save her. Diana also has a close friend, Laurel. The Henderson brothers, Chris and Doug. There's also another guy named Sean and finally, Adam Conant. They are the twelve including Cassie. Cassie met Adam first at some beach back in her old home. Adam gave her a crystal for helping him and told her that if she's in pain or feels alone, she should just hold the crystal and think of him. So that's what she did. Diana became her sister. She saved her and looked after her. Cassie first saw Diana when she was walking down their street and saw her by her window. Cassie was mesmerized by how beautiful Diana is. There was also Kori, the Henderson brothers' little sister who was supposed to complete the circle but then she was killed the day of her 16th birthday. And that day, she was supposed to be eligible to be a member of "The Club". That's what they call it. So, one night, Cassie felt herself being pulled and she found herself in a beach with the members of the circle and they bound the circle. Then one day, Cassie was thinking of this guy she met at the beach. She didn't even got to ask him his name. Diana, on the other hand, has a boyfriend named Adam who had to venture off somewhere to collect some things they are curious about. Then, Adam came, Cassie was shocked, Diana was overwhelmed upon seeing Adam back and you get the point. Cassie decided that she would never ever tell her feelings to anyone even if it might kill her because she loves Diana and she doesn't want to hurt her. One night, Adam took Cassie home and they just couldn't deny their feelings. They kissed and they both felt how right it was. Like there was some string pulling them both towards each other. As soon as it ended, Cassie realized how wrong it was. What they did. So they decided to ask help from the Elements (?) Fire, Air, Water and Earth. They swear that if something like that ever happened again, may the gods punish them. That was it. Although, poor Cassie here never thought their would be something worse to come. A letter from Faye inviting her to her home. You see, Faye here has some sources and her sources told her how Cassie was kissing some guy near her home and they weren't exactly hiding. Now Faye has got Cassie wrapped around her little finger since Cassie has to do whatever Faye wants because if she doesn't, well, Faye might just accidentally slip out to her cousin Diana what happened that night.
"You're mine, Cassie. You're mine..body and soul." -Faye
I think that was the last line on the book and that is why the second book is entitled "The Captive". I'm not really sure if I'm gonna be reading the second book anytime soon.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Reymart Dinglasa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama, fantasy, mystery, paranormal, romance, thriller, young-adult

L.J.Smith is a good writer. But now I miss her writing the story of her own.

I gave this book 4.78 because the story is really interesting. The fact that it all started for Initiation. I love how she created Faye, I love the fulness of her character and Diana is too damn perfect that sometimes I think it's not really possible to be this adored like it's crazy.

I actually agreed with what the TV show showed, the book became a platform for the tvshow to be created. And I agree that the TV show cut...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Tiffany Pham added it · review of another edition

The Secret Circle: The Captive Part II and The Power The Power The Captive The Power The Temptation The Hunt The Divide

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Oct 29, 2011 Cat rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, paranormal, series

This series is yet another teenager finding her destiny. And whilst I connect the dots a mile away, I fell into the story. The dialogue and the writing made it easy to envision the story and I found the characters fleshed out well enough. I worry that there are too many characters involved -- 12 to make the circle -- but Smith has done a good job defining each group and each individual within that group.

The story is about Cassie who travels with her mom back to her mom's home town -- New Salem;...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Katie rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 15, 2013 Mel rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio-book, library, urban-fantasy, witches, young-adult

The Initiation by L.J. Smith is the first book in The Secret Circle series and a prime example of why I should always read the book before watching the movie and/or TV show. I was a HUGE fan of the short lived The Secret Circle show and after re-watching the first and only season on Chiller I was itching to finally dive into the books. Bad idea. Very bad.

The book is soooo much different than the TV show (which is expected) but not different in a good way. The characters are completely different...more

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About L.J. Smith

L.J. SMITH has written over two dozen books for young adults, including The Vampire Diaries, now a hit TV show. She has also written the bestselling Night World series and The Forbidden Game, as well as the #1 New York Times bestselling Dark Visions. She loves to walk the trails and beaches in Point Reyes, California, daydreaming about her latest book. She also loves to hear from readers (info@lja...more

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Books by L.J. Smith

The Awakening and The Struggle (The Vampire Diaries, #1-2)

The Fury and Dark Reunion (The Vampire Diaries, #3-4)

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Quotes from The Initiation

“Well then," Faye said. "Now that you've heard our story, we have just one question to ask you." She fixed Cassie with an odd half smile and said in a sweet, false voice, "Are you planning to be a good witch or a bad witch?” — 56 people liked it

“Listen to me," he said, and to her dismay he stepped closer. "When I first met you," he said, "I had no idea you were one of us. How could I? But I knew that you were different than that phony friend of yours. Not just another pretty girl, but somebody special.” — 10 people liked it

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The Initiation (The Secret Circle #1)

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