Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, #1)

Jul 07, 2011 Book Rants rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Aug 31, 2012 Barbara ★ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-witches-wizards, paranormal-werewolves, first-in-series, female-lead, paranormal-vampires, urban-fantasy, set-in-usa-ohio

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 beca...more

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Dec 10, 2012 StrangeBedfellows rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 p...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Joshua Burns rated it 4 of 5 stars

As seen on Rabidreads.ca

What sets this book apart from the rest for, at least, the first three hundred pages is its willingness to defuse plot lines and surprise. The initial meeting which sets all this in motion gives us very clear genre expectations. The blurb for the book will catch you up to speed if you already aren’t.

Persephone must slay a vampire while gaining the aid of Johnny, innuendo-slinging werewolf. I am happy to say that all these plans are quickly thwarted, the only sure thing be...more As seen on Rabidreads.ca

What sets this book apart from the rest for, at least, the first three hundred pages is its willingness to defuse plot lines and surprise. The initial meeting which sets all this in motion gives us very clear genre expectations. The blurb for the book will catch you up to speed if you already aren’t.

Persephone must slay a vampire while gaining the aid of Johnny, innuendo-slinging werewolf. I am happy to say that all these plans are quickly thwarted, the only sure thing being Persephone and Johnny’s hook-up, the pay-off of which manages to be both thrilling and cool as cucumber in ranch dressing. My major complaint, in fact, arises from their relationship, more on Johnny’s side than anything. Within the last seventy pages he becomes another person. Perhaps this change is slightly warranted what with being a bad ass alpha but I became more and more disappointed in him as the story wrapped up.

This novel also contains a B story which seemingly comes in and out of nowhere. I respect again and again the author’s comfort with showing things from her world. You learn a lot about how witches and vampires function without it feeling forced. Much of this may derive from Persephone’s voice and attitude the latter of which deserves nothing but merit always making up for her wrongs and caring for those around her.

The novel functions as a great introduction to the side characters packing them in as effortlessly as pancakes, aside from the B story characters that is. I don’t know how to treat the B story because I don’t think it should be removed nor do I think it should be expanded or shortened. I don’t know how I feel about the feeling that it will come back to bite our butts in future books.

I would be excited to read more in this series so long as Johnny comes back to a semblance of normality, cracking jokes as effortlessly as he does eggs because he’s a good cook. All in all, a quick and ensnaring read that indulges often in disrupting expectations rather than following through.(less)

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May 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Viciously-Creative and Wicked start to a New Urban Fantasy Series!,

This book started off a bit slow but quickly accumulated speed and never stopped. Persephone is a witch living in a world where preternaturals are all out of the closet and fighting for survival among judgmental humans. Humans are predictable as always; prejudice and holier-than-thou until they get enough exposure to whatever frightens them that they stop caring or just accept the situation. The preternaturals set in this world...more

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Apr 06, 2012 OpenBookSociety.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Verushka

Beware of spoilers

There is nothing more hilarious than seeing a name spelled like “Gavyn” in an urban fantasy novel. It reeks of someone trying too hard to make a character stand out and more often than not plays out like an overbearing mother trying too hard to make her kid unique.

Then there are names like Persephone Isis Alcmedi, a mouthful I would pity any child having. However, we meet Seph as she is called in this book as an adult, a pagan w...more Review brought to you by OBS staff member Verushka

Beware of spoilers

There is nothing more hilarious than seeing a name spelled like “Gavyn” in an urban fantasy novel. It reeks of someone trying too hard to make a character stand out and more often than not plays out like an overbearing mother trying too hard to make her kid unique.

Then there are names like Persephone Isis Alcmedi, a mouthful I would pity any child having. However, we meet Seph as she is called in this book as an adult, a pagan witch who is currently living with her grandmother, Demeter and their great Dane puppy Ares, formerly known as Poopsie. No really. Seph’s is named for the Greek Queen of the Underworld, Persephone and Isis, the Greek Goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility, not to mention a friend of slaves, sinners and the downtrodden. Wikipedia tells me, she listened to the rich as well. This makes for an interesting combination for Seph, who lives up to both her names – she is a friend to werewolves, kenneling those that trust her through their monthly change, and an instrument of vengeance in the same breath. It is that which makes up much of the book.

She isn’t particularly bloodthirsty, but she has a streak of justice a mile wide, something Vivian Diamond, a witch is counting on when she comes to Seph to find the killer of Lorrie, a werewolf she was helping. Lorrie, a close friend of Seph, who kenneled with her, moved away some time before the book begins and Seph had lost touch with her and her daughter, Beverly. But not before Lorrie had come to her for help with a stalker that Seph claims she accidentally killed through much of the book. Vivian wants to know who killed Lorrie, wants the killer taken care of and what follows is a well thought out case, that is designed to shed light on Seph, and her links with the others – werewolves, vamps and witches within this world.

Seph isn’t a vigilante in this, she merely wants to help set right the wrongs she sees. Despite her taking the case of finding Lorrie’s killer and promising Vivian the vengeance she seeks, I never got the feeling that Seph was as bloodthirsty as that agreement suggested. She is a character that wants to help, that writes columns on the unfair treatment of werewolves in hospitals and normal society, something which plays a lot into this book.

By the end of the book, thanks to the werewolves she surrounds herself with, and her heritage, on her father’s side (who she’s never known) she discovers something unique about herself that explains her desire for justice and her reticence in doing whatever to achieve it. It’s the beginning of a interesting battle for her, within herself, and one that isn’t easy. Or so I hope.

There is a wealth of supporting characters here, some which suffer because of the sheer number. That doesn’t detract from those that get the author’s attention – Johnny, a werewolf, and love interest, Demeter her grandmother and Beverly, Lorrie’s kid – are the main supporting cast that shape who Seph is in this book, with the ending promising a different set in future novels.

I am still on the fence about this book for some reason – it’s engaging, well thought out with a likeable female heroine, who has some struggles ahead of her that I can appreciate. I’m hoping it’s first-bookitis, where in the main purpose of the book is to set up a world, and it is one of the hardest ones to write in a series I think. It’s worth picking up the second novel in this series though.

(less)

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Nov 14, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 3 of 5 stars

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...more 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.
(less)

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Sep 09, 2011 Roxanne rated it 3 of 5 stars

“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...more

“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 (less)

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Jul 27, 2011 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-5-stars

Plot: 3 Stars
The plot of this novel was refreshing and fun. All of the paranormal creatures were interesting and had a unique twist. There were many aspects of this story that I really enjoyed. Especially the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. But there were also aspects that didn't work so well. The biggest of these is the fact that we are told that werewolves and witches aren't supposed to mingle, but we're never really told why. There's a brief moment in which it is implied...more Plot: 3 Stars
The plot of this novel was refreshing and fun. All of the paranormal creatures were interesting and had a unique twist. There were many aspects of this story that I really enjoyed. Especially the twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. But there were also aspects that didn't work so well. The biggest of these is the fact that we are told that werewolves and witches aren't supposed to mingle, but we're never really told why. There's a brief moment in which it is implied that a witches magic affects the werewolf's shift, but there's really nothing else to explain why. I hope more information about this comes up in future books.

Pace: 3.5 Stars
This novel was a bit of a bumpy read. There were many moments in which I was glued to the page, surprise twist after surprise turn. But there were also times in which I had to force myself through a scene or two. There weren't many scenes like that, but just enough to slow down my reading.

Characters: 3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed a number of the characters, but felt we didn't really get to know them that well. I really liked reading the dynamic between Persephone and her grandmother, and I hope they continue their current dynamic in future books. I really wanted to enjoy Johnny with his techno-goth band and tattoos, but I feel like we never got to see too far under the surface. Even the villians seemed a bit lacking in details at times. But what I did learn about these characters will definitely not keep me from reading the next books in the series in hopes that they grow throughout the next couple books.

Cover: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this cover. I felt the cover model was a good match to what we learn about Persephone. My favorite part is the light swirls and designs. They really give an abstract magic feel without having to actually come out of the cover model's hand or a wand. The color choices were also interesting because purples aren't used as often on urban fantasy covers. I just wish there could've been a werewolf somewhere on the cover. Although the story is focused on Persephone, the werewolves play a large part in her life so it makes sense that they should be portrayed on the cover.

Overall: 3.5 Stars

Disclosure: I bought this book for my own enjoyment. (less)

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Apr 02, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Strong Urban Fantasy With a Breath of Freshness
Persephone Alcmedi is a witch with a highly active sense of responsibility to her fellow man, woman, waerewolf, fae, and vampire (well, okay, maybe not to the vamps), and she's just realized that there may actually be a destined calling to account for that powerful thirst for justice for all things with a pulse...and maybe even some things without one. In a world where Vamps and Fae have had way better PR than Waeres as they've stepped out of the me...more Strong Urban Fantasy With a Breath of Freshness
Persephone Alcmedi is a witch with a highly active sense of responsibility to her fellow man, woman, waerewolf, fae, and vampire (well, okay, maybe not to the vamps), and she's just realized that there may actually be a destined calling to account for that powerful thirst for justice for all things with a pulse...and maybe even some things without one. In a world where Vamps and Fae have had way better PR than Waeres as they've stepped out of the metaphysical closet, and witches and waeres don't mix, Persephone pens a waere-friendly syndicated newspaper column (under a pseudonym) and reads tarot for a living - just as living is getting a lot more complicated.

She's got a once-a-month waere border who's got the hots for her and has inexplicably taken to calling her Red, a crotchety grandmother freshly sprung from a nursing home who now lives in her house and brought home a huge great dane pup without permission, and a set of her own slightly narrow and preconceived notions - about lead singers with imposing piercings and tats in particular and vampires in general. Then a waere friend of Persephone's is murdered and she's "hired" (takes a lot of money from a bitch-witch because she feels an overwhelming need for justice for her friend's now orphaned daughter) to "take care of" (kill) the offender.

Well, they say karma is a bitch, and perhaps Persephone's karma for a past wrong precipitates the explosion of just about all her world views and shakes her to her very foundations. Up becomes down, black and white become gray, and her sense responsibility grows to epic proportions as Persephone struggles to keep up with the changes in her life and the creeping-ever-closer closing of one very vicious circle.

Speaking of Vicious Circle...it's a very good and solid start to an intriguing new venue for urban fantasy fans, and Robertson gives us a reluctant heroine with a strong grasp of magic and the ability to, perhaps albeit a bit grudgingly at times, adapt to the changes in her life without whining and moaning too much about them. There's an impressive group of likable and loathsome characters here, and while the hot rocker-waere and equally-hot-but-way-scarier urbane vamp (both with interest in Persephone) may not be the newest wrinkle in urban fantasy plot development, the characterizations and world building are unique enough to deliver a hearty good read that doesn't feel like a retread of a hundred other books.

The beginning of Vicious Circle could possibly be criticized for starting out a bit slow, and I suppose it does, but as it picks up in both speed and intensity, drawing you in faster and faster, I think the pacing is a perfect foil, allowing the reader to start to get a sense of Persephone and her world just as you start really racing to the end.

I personally would've liked the setting - most of the last half of the book goes no farther than Persephone's house and grounds - to be a bit wider in scope to give us a more detailed view of the world in general. I felt a little claustrophobic at times with all the characters crammed into the house. That and the feeling like there wasn't much new ground in the first half of the book kept it from being a five star reading experience for me. It's a really good read, though, and I'm looking forward to the second in the series, Hallowed Circle.

~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another. (less)

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Mar 08, 2011 Paradoxical rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reading-list, books-otherwise

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 int...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Chibineko rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The urban fantasy genre is booming with tons of gritty new characters, vampires & werewolves (oh my!). Linda Robertson's `Vicious Circle' brings us a new set of characters in very familiar roles- some of which seem to have been somewhat inspired by other series & characters. I say "inspired" rather than "copied" because even though some readers may find the characters familiar, the author does put her own spin on them.

The story follows Persephone, a young witch in a world that has just d...more The urban fantasy genre is booming with tons of gritty new characters, vampires & werewolves (oh my!). Linda Robertson's `Vicious Circle' brings us a new set of characters in very familiar roles- some of which seem to have been somewhat inspired by other series & characters. I say "inspired" rather than "copied" because even though some readers may find the characters familiar, the author does put her own spin on them.

The story follows Persephone, a young witch in a world that has just discovered the presence of the supernatural... and not everyone's happy that they are there. Persephone practices magic, kennels werewolves during the full moon & writes a column about the supernatural in her local paper. She was content to keep her life somewhat simple until an old were friend of hers is brutally murdered & the local coven leader asks her to investigate the death.

I really did enjoy this book for the most part. Like I said above, there's a lot of familiar themes in this book. I couldn't help but think about how similar this series was to the Kitty Norville, Rachel Morgan & even L.A. Banks' Neteru series in some aspects. The similarities are relatively shallow at best, as Robertson tries her best to make them seem unique to the series. She mostly succeeds at this, but at times I really couldn't help but compare them.

I do like the characters for the most part, although I'm a little less than thrilled with the character of Menessos. When he was introduced I couldn't help but eye-roll because it was painfully obvious that he was going to be a potential love interest. (Seriously, can we have an UF book where one of the love interests isn't a vampire?) Maybe it's because I was really liking the character of Johnny, maybe it's because it was a clear sign of a future plot arc concerning a mythological character in the series, but I just wasn't feeling the connection between Menessos & Persephone. (Although to be fair there really wasn't a lot of genuine sparks between the two, but it's very obvious there's going to be a love triangle.)

Overall, this was a nicely done first book. There's enough here to intrigue me into buying the second book in the series & recommending it my fellow UF fanatics. I like the world that Robertson has put together & as long as she keeps putting out stuff on this level (or better), I think that she has a chance of becoming a presence in the UF genre. (less)

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Aug 18, 2010 Naoise Night rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: pretty-damn-good

First: Persephone Isis Alcmedi has just shot to the top of my ‘characters with wicked cool names’ list. Now, on to the review!

I liked this book. It had an interesting take on the origins of vampires and werewolves. The author references Greek mythology a lot, and does a good job of describing the actions and relationships between the gods, so someone who wasn’t familiar with the myths wouldn’t have a problem.

Persephone, or Seph, is a witch. She has just taken her Gran out of the nursing home to...more

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Jan 24, 2010 Fiendishly Bookish rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 tha...more 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 (less)

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Jan 11, 2010 Sabrina rated it 3 of 5 stars

I slipped very easily into reading Vicious Circle. The heroine Persephone is an intriguing character and I wanted to find out more about her even after the first few pages.

This book seemed very familiar to me and this was good and bad. On the bad side, I felt that many parts of Linda’s world mirrored Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series and Persephone reminded me of Rachel very much. Likewise, Master Vamp Menessos made me think of Laurel K. Hamilton’s Jean-Claude as there was sexual tension mixed...more

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Nov 10, 2009 Tez rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 numbe...more

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Oct 17, 2009 Darcy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 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 h...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

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...more 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.
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Aug 13, 2010 Stacey rated it 5 of 5 stars

So I picked this book up on a whim and I was well rewarded for this purchase. This book amazed me from the start. Persephone is a witch and witches aren't supposed to like warewolves. Every full moon, Seph kennels a bunch of wares to keep themselves and others safe. Seph's wiccan nature is well developed and fairly true to real Wiccan beliefs. When Seph's warewolf friend is murdered and she is offered money to assassinate her killer, Seph questions her very nature and what she is capable of. Sep...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Van rated it 4 of 5 stars

Persephone ‘Seph’ Alcmedi is a solitary witch and makes her living by writing a column in the papers educating people about Wæres. Seph’s life gets turned upside down when she finds out her friend Lorrie, a Wære is murdered. The following day the local priestess, Vivian Diamond reveals that she know who killed Lorrie, and hires Seph to take care of the guy because human authorities don’t care about any Wære business/problems. Seph reluctantly agrees thinking of Lorrie’s daughter, Beverly, but on...more Persephone ‘Seph’ Alcmedi is a solitary witch and makes her living by writing a column in the papers educating people about Wæres. Seph’s life gets turned upside down when she finds out her friend Lorrie, a Wære is murdered. The following day the local priestess, Vivian Diamond reveals that she know who killed Lorrie, and hires Seph to take care of the guy because human authorities don’t care about any Wære business/problems. Seph reluctantly agrees thinking of Lorrie’s daughter, Beverly, but one crucial fact that Vivian decided to leave out is that the murderer, Goliath Kline is a vampire. Enlisting the help of her Wære friends, Seph is in for a big surprise as she faces a powerful vampire and discovering a power/destiny she never knew she was capable of.

Vicious Circle is told from the first-person narrative, and takes place in Cleveland, Ohio where all the witches, Wære and vampires are known to the human public. Every group abhors one another, and like the tagline says ‘‘witches and werewolves don’t mix…’’ but Seph is an exception becoming friends with the Wære she kennels on the full moon. The book moves a pretty constant pace; there weren’t any big crazy revelations or shocking twist/turns. In spite of that, I found myself absorbed in the story and the characters. Seph is a down-to earth type of heroine, relatable and realistic. Readers immerse themselves in Seph’s regular life (problems with her old high school friends and guy problem *ahem* Johnny) and the supernatural side. While Seph isn’t kick-butt like most UF heroines, she has the potential to become one in future books, which is hinted with her supposedly being the ‘Lustrata’, a witch that bring balance to the three groups/walk in all three worlds.

Vicious Circle is the first book in the Persephone Alcmedi series, and is a solid urban fantasy series worth checking out. Although Vicious Circle doesn’t really bring anything new to the urban fantasy genre, Robertson does a great job in captivating readers with her writing and created a world with characters you want to read more about. This first book is just the tip of the iceberg of what we see from the characters and storyline for there is much, much more to Seph, Johnny and Menessos. I really enjoyed Vicious Circle, and can’t wait to see where Robertson takes this series.

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Jan 01, 2013 Monica Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

I've been on a bit of an urban fantasy kick lately. I grabbed this paperback as I needed something to read on the train to NYC. I am so glad that I did. Peresphone Alcmedi is a witch. Seph lives in an alternate world in which vampire and waerwolves and witches are known to regular humans. (Simialar to the one in which Anita Blake lives). Seph has just taken in her grandmother who had been in a nursing home. While getting Grandma settled Seph gets a phone call from the local coven's High Priestes...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Katyana rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ass-kicking-women, fiction, shapeshifters, series, uf, vampires

***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 keepi...more ***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.(less)

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Feb 13, 2011 Jen (In the Closet With a Bibliophile) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: blue-cover

3.5 Stars

This book was pretty good. I mean, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but overall, I'd still say it was good. I think I originally picked up this book because of the cover (it fit with one of my challenges) and because the synopsis sounded fantastic. In my opinion, it didn't live up to the promises of the synopsis, but nonetheless enjoyable.

I keep going over and over my feelings for this book trying to figure out why I felt the way I did. I mean, the storyline was pretty good, so w...more 3.5 Stars

This book was pretty good. I mean, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but overall, I'd still say it was good. I think I originally picked up this book because of the cover (it fit with one of my challenges) and because the synopsis sounded fantastic. In my opinion, it didn't live up to the promises of the synopsis, but nonetheless enjoyable.

I keep going over and over my feelings for this book trying to figure out why I felt the way I did. I mean, the storyline was pretty good, so what it really comes down to, for me, was the writing and the main character. The writing wasn't my favorite. Not that it was really bad or anything, but it confused me some of the time. There were so many new terms that were not explained and you had to kind of figure it out along the way, it was frustrating. I think because the terms would pop up and you'd be like did they already tell me what this was? I kept scrolling back in the book to see if I'd missed something. I will say this about the writing though, it got better as I read and I didn't feel the need to put the book down at all which is always a good sign. By the end of the book, the writing felt better to me.

As for the main character, Persephone, she annoyed me. Not all the time mind you, but a lot of the time she just annoyed me. I don't think I could understand her a ton. She seemed so embarrassed of who she was to anyone who was human. It was like she had 2 personalities. Looking back now, I think the author did that on purpose, but throughout the book I kept palming my forehead and thinking really Persephone, are you really that big of a shallow idiot!! Granted, I think a lot of the time she really was *palms forehead* I am a girl, and I don't think I will ever understand my own race...

But, there were a lot of redeeming qualities in the book. For one, it had a twisted plot. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next all the way up until the end. Also, I really liked Persephone's Nana and the male werewolf hottie, Johnny. Now, as all you readers know, I'm a victim of The Bad Boy Complex and Johnny really fits into that. I think, maybe a lot of that was the tattoos and piercings and his genius at innuendos (I've got a knack for those), but he kept me reading and I wanted to get in as much of him as possible. As for Nana, I always like an old woman who may appear weak but can bust out the moves when necessary. I believe, wholeheartedly, that Nana fit that picture. Yeah, she was pesky and sneaky at times, but it fit her character terribly well.

All that being said, I will definitely be reading the sequel for a couple reasons. First of all, I think that Robertson's writing is going to be so much better in the next book, I could just feel it (I'm a dork...). Plus, now that I know all the jacked up terms from the first book, I shouldn't be so confused. Secondly (or is that thirdly?), at the end of book one, Persephone has a kind of epiphany so I think I've grown to understand her a lot better. I'm hoping that she won't annoy me as much anymore. Last of all (which kind of nicks the "couple" statement), I want some more Johnny and I'm very curious to see what happens with the vampires I met towards the end of the book.

So, I guess what I'm saying, is that this may not be the best book I've read, but I'd say it was worth it and I'm hankering for the sequel soon which I think will be way better than the first. *crosses fingers* I'll keep ya posted!(less)

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Jan 15, 2011 Amanda The Book Slayer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kick-butt-heroine, magic-users, paranormal-romance, sexy-alpha-male, vampire, werewolf, witches-warlocks, fae

3.5/5 ***

I enjoyed this book. It kinda reminded me of the a mix of Caitlin Kittredge series 'Nocturne City and Black London' . This has a little of everything in it. Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches. I believe that Fae come into play later in the series.

Persephone Alcmedi is a kick-butt main female character. She is a witch but also a friend to the local werewolves. She kennels them on the full moon.

Main problem is that Seph is hired to take out the man who killed her good friend. Things are...more

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Jul 25, 2009 Lindig rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

It's getting harder and harder for "paranormal" writers to come up with something good. All the standard tropes have become so familiar that we the readers recognize them at a glance and think "oh no not more . . . (greek/roman gods/goddesses or shapeshifters or vampires or werewolves etc etc on and on). Often, it's the quality of the writing or characterizations that put one book in a higher rating.

This book succeeds on its own merits to a great degree, but it very obviously is a set up for a...more

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Jan 16, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book we have Persephone a witch who reads the tarot for people and writes a column in the local newspaper about werewolves because they have become the acceptable prejudice in the society. Denied even basic health care rights, Persephone takes up their mantle in the name of justice. In fact, justice has become her call to duty in almost any situation. This brings us to her current problem she must solve.

I liked Persephone and yet she frustrated me. I loved her compassion and her sense of...more

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Aug 31, 2009 Dorri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: magic-ties, shape-shifters, urban-fantasy

This book was a good book in character studies. Everyone plays a part and each part entwines with each other to create new and unusual pairings. It starts with a witch by the name of Persephone Alcmedi, Seph to the few people she knew, who was living an ordinary life doing Tarot readings and housing her werewolf freinds in the kennels in her basement on full moon nights. Through out the life of the book she ends up with a collection of people; her grandmother, a great dane puppy, a severely inju...more

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Jul 07, 2009 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 prem...more 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. (less)

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Dec 14, 2010 Shelley aka Gizmo's Reviews rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal-romance, 2009-release, witches

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the first book of the Persephone Alcmedi series. It is definitely a PNR entry since it has witches, waerewolves (spelled per the book), and of course, vampires.

Synopsis: Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by between reading Tarot cards, writing her syndicated newspaper column, and kenneling werewolves in the basement when the moon is full; even though witches aren't supposed to mingle with wolves.

She reaches the end of her leash when her grandmother gets kic...more This is the first book of the Persephone Alcmedi series. It is definitely a PNR entry since it has witches, waerewolves (spelled per the book), and of course, vampires.

Synopsis: Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by between reading Tarot cards, writing her syndicated newspaper column, and kenneling werewolves in the basement when the moon is full; even though witches aren't supposed to mingle with wolves.

She reaches the end of her leash when her grandmother gets kicked out of the nursing home and moves in with Seph. Then her werewolf friend Lorrie is murdered and the high priestess of an important coven offers Seph big money to destroy the killer, a powerful vampire named Goliath Kline. (Seph ended up killing Lorrie's stalker, and now people think she's some sort of assassin.)

A couple of things from this book. Seph has a spirit guide that attempts to guide her into making good decisions. It seems he feels that being an assassin is not a bad thing for Seph to become. I found the idea of a spirit guide almost in line with the Walker Papers by CE Murphy.

Persphone, it seems, is something called a Lustrata; one that supposingly can unite humans, vampires and waerewolves. She also has the ability to tap into key lines. (Sounds like Rachel Morgan.) Of course, her Nana, failed to let her know any of this information while she was growing up. It wasn't until they find this Codex (Book of Shadows as it were) does it all come out.

Master Vampire names Menessos shows up at Persphone's home with Lorrie's killer Goliath (who didn't actually kill her. He, in fact, actually loved her because she wasn't human.) Menessos agrees to help Seph with the spell that will bring her friend Theodora back from near death after being run off the road by Goliath.

In return for his help, he gets Vivivan, the codex and a stake. Also, Goliath must apologize to Theo and no harm shall come to anyone in her home. The problem is, he ends up betraying Seph by marking her with his blood and causing all (4) waere's to shift.

Then there's the love interest Johnny. He comes across as a knight in shining armor. He's also lead singer of a group calling itself Lycanthropia. He's the mystery in this story. He has the ability to change into a waere at will, an can control other waere's. He doesn't do Seph any favors, however, when he switches out Menessos's stake for one that he made himself; causing a brutal death and the kidnapping of Nana and Beverly from Seph's house.

The plot was pretty well maintained throughout the book, with a few twists here and there. The book ended without a pause, or a continuation that forces people to pick up the next book. I do, however, want to know what Seph does with Johnny after his stupidity. 3.5 rating(less)

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Dec 31, 2012 Theresa rated it 4 of 5 stars

The world needs to get ready to deal with things it always dismissed as myths, werewolf, witches, fairies, and vampires are real, so deal with it. Persephone is a witch, and in her life time all the truths have been revealed but her own. She is friends with Werewolves, and kennels them during the phase of the moon that causes them the most problems. She is finding that after college life has brought many changes including her Nana needing to move back in with her. She has started a column on Wer...more

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Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi #1)

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