Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, #2)

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Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi #2)

by Linda Robertson (Goodreads Author)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 1,172 ratings · 90 reviews

And you think beauty pageants are scary?

Persephone Alcmedi has been persuaded to compete for the position of High Priestess of the Cleveland, Ohio, coven now that the former priestess, Vivian Diamond, has strangely gone missing. Unfortunately, there are a few small problems with the idea. Not only does Seph know rather more about Vivian's disappearance than the other wi

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Paperback, 384 pages

Published December 29th 2009 by Pocket Books (first published December 14th 2009)

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Apr 01, 2013 E. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal

4 1/2 stars

“Hallowed Circle” by Linda Robertson is the second novel in the entertaining paranormal Persephone Alcmedi series which centers around a solitary witch who normally operates outside of a coven. She is maneuvered into competing for the highest position of her local coven which is named the Venefica (Sorceress) Coven but fears that her recently acquired status as the Lustrata and her ties to a powerful vampire-wizard will have extremely negative repercussions. Her complicated life which...more 4 1/2 stars

“Hallowed Circle” by Linda Robertson is the second novel in the entertaining paranormal Persephone Alcmedi series which centers around a solitary witch who normally operates outside of a coven. She is maneuvered into competing for the highest position of her local coven which is named the Venefica (Sorceress) Coven but fears that her recently acquired status as the Lustrata and her ties to a powerful vampire-wizard will have extremely negative repercussions. Her complicated life which includes guardianship of a young waerwolf and a Nana who was evicted from her nursing home but still is a practicing witch, not to mention a personable waerwolf named Johnny who is also a rock star make it even more difficult for her to concentrate on her tests. Then the murders of the contestants start.

This exciting paranormal story conveys several complex power struggles even as it plays with stereotypes about the various types of other-worldly beings. The imaginative competition with Persephone’s sometimes unexpected reactions to her tests gives a nice portrait of the hierarchy of the ruling council as well as insight into Persephone’s character. The silver-tongued suggestive comments constantly supplied by the sexy waere in her life as well as the lasting repercussions of the events that took place in “Vicious Circle” provide intriguing subplots that tie the series together yet there is enough background supplied that the reader is not completely lost. The description of the traditional rituals to celebrate Halloween and the occurrence of a blue moon provide depth and richness to the story and I was greatly entertained by the results of Persephone’s inclusion into a very elite society as she added to the stereotype of witches. A great addition to the series, appreciation will undoubtedly be enhanced by reading the previous book but it is not absolutely required in order to appreciate this very entertaining tale. I look forward to reading the subsequent novels in the series.

A copy was provided to me in return for an honest review(less)

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Feb 20, 2013 Alexia Chantel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Robertson gives us book two in the Persephone Alcmedi series, proving that this is an author and series to follow!

Johnny, the irresistable tattooed alpha were is now Seph’s boyfriend. Who else is glad that she got over her prejudices and saw the man behind the tattoos? He has her best interest at heart, but in true alpha male form he makes some choices that benefit him without considering what his actions could mean for Seph. Too bad for Johnny he brings Menessos a little closer to Seph in the p...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Joshua Burns rated it 3 of 5 stars

As seen on Rabidreads.ca:

The fact that this book and its predecessor were published in the same year stuns me. But let's assume that for a moment that I should be the one checking myself. Perhaps it was my attitude that was out of wack. For some reason I believed Linda Robertson published Vicious Circle as a one-off then returned to her idea a year or two later. I can't quite explain why I had this echoing in my head as I cracked the first book's spine or even its successor. How are we to know w...more As seen on Rabidreads.ca:

The fact that this book and its predecessor were published in the same year stuns me. But let's assume that for a moment that I should be the one checking myself. Perhaps it was my attitude that was out of wack. For some reason I believed Linda Robertson published Vicious Circle as a one-off then returned to her idea a year or two later. I can't quite explain why I had this echoing in my head as I cracked the first book's spine or even its successor. How are we to know what projects come to fruition and what projects do not? I've been the proud parent of several stunted, unpublished, unverifiable, unredeemable manuscripts that even now I think of fixing, developing, and putting spines in but that my roommate has wisely advised I dump in favor of new, more honest, more near-to-life stories. We all know how successful that transition has been. Hint: what one cannot see, one cannot judge.

So what disturbed the truth of the Robertson's oeuvre? How could I not know that Vicious Circle was, in fact, not as its name would suggest an insular enterprise but one that was waiting to go out and about and, since there is no better word for it, spiral? Was it the author's bio, mother of four kid's and plays in a band, that made it sound like a hesitant excursion? Was it my belief that Vicious Circle was an under-appreciated urban fantasy novel? By all means, I should have seen that the ending did not twine itself round like cherry stems. I might have been the fool coming in, but Linda Robertson looks a little foolish coming out.

She provides exposition like Vicious Circle were an ancient stele unearthed with great difficulty, museumed for hundreds of years, that finally up and poofed due to the curse that was latent in it, a perfectly well recorded curse that the museum attendants knew about and even prepared for and weren't the least bit surprised when the stele was gone and wasn't seen for another hundred years. The book makes very clear to us in its first few pages that it occurs days after its predecessor. Why would any of these characters require refreshment of their backstories? She just got done seeing them. If they are reappearing, at least, make their relevance to your life a more present activity. What do they look like now versus what they looked like before? How has Persephone changed? If this sounds silly for a plot that picks up days after the last, then we know what to blame.

Nothing ruins rather good scenes and imagery more than exposition. Having jumped in out and of several series, I find exposition, more or less unneeded. The characters will develop as much as we need them in for whatever space of time we are reading them. This is not to say that the preceding books should be ignored rather they should be all the more treasured for holding the dim secrets of the past that the characters are now going on about. Exposition, like so many nice things, is unequivocally nice. It is only good manners to fill us in on the proceedings. Unfortunately as one knows so well about things that are filled in, the filling can never quite satisfy the anticipation. One cannot appreciate filling at all if it is filled in before you appreciate what has been left empty. If anything these expository flourishes should be left towards the end of the book where they will explain away the mystery that is building upon us. Wasn't that the vampire...didn't they do this...I relish that fact that by the time one reaches book six in a series one begins to receive what little should be ex-posited.

Let us assume we want to be caught up. We read to be caught, no? We read to be choked up. We read to be throttled. Do I not want to be caught up in the present scene? Imagine then how difficult it is to do when the scene you are trying to watch in a soap opera is blasting you with flashback after flashback so that the kiss which should be coming to us is delayed. This isn't the best example since one wants a kiss to be delayed. Let us say our soap opera hunk is crossing the street when he is bombarded by a long series of flashbacks that explains his relation to the crosswalk...This again falls short of proving my point. Let us say our soap opera harlette is consulting the mirror when a fairie appears. Instead of spending time developing the appearance of this beauteous creature to another beauteous but achingly mortal creature, we are entertained by all the harlette's previous consultations of the mirror. At this point, I give up. Somehow all these flashbacks work.

I sat down to read Hallowed Circle. I began reading meanwhile wondering how soon this was published after the last. I finished. My inner thoughts read something like: "I appreciate that the author caught me up over those first sixty pages, to prime me for what will follow, but even so little in a three hundred page book is too much and what is unforgivable is that some of the primer does not even get painted over. She ruined that colorful scene out in the cornfield. For this I cannot forgive her."

Of course one could argue, since I have brought it up, that since the events of this book take place two weeks after the first that many of the events in the first book should be fresh in Persephone’s memory. All the more reason I would fire back that she should be turning these thoughts over and developing them beyond the fact that the vampire was here, the werewolf was there.

To sidetrack (finally) and to talk about the glitches in the system in a glitchy manner, Persephone is a name that I cannot understand even fictional people being unable to pronounce. As the previous book made clear she is an immensely likable character whether it be taking care of her Nana, taking care of a fallen comrade’s child, or taking care of the waeres when they shape-shift. People should be getting her name right. Persephone has got to be in the upper echelons of mythological names that are easy to pronounce. She remains honest under the most distressing situations. Her honesty, in fact, under the gavel in one scene comes across as nigh unbelievable.

What I liked about the previous book was how it defused otherwise predictable proceedings. This book kind of makes me want to put my foot in my mouth because every defusal feels forced and campy. Some of the best scenes are what I complained about in the previous book, scenes where nothing supernatural occurs and three people just sit at a coffee table and relate their beliefs.

So the strengths reside in its treatment of mundane scenes like pumpkin carving or kung-fu fighting. These events are taken slow, even a terrific sex scene. But following that the gears start to shift, speeding through a concert setting where a rather forced catalyst occurs. Seriously girl if you just hung around a little longer...not to mention the explanation for it comes across as laughable (in a good way). All in all, a lot of the witchcraft testing reminded me of Harry Potter and the Goblet. The ending then rushes you out and the action gets confusing and other characters have to explain it to each other over and over and all of the minor characters lose development and become hollow.

I think the cover is a good summary of the proceedings: very colorful but only in that upper right hand corner where Persephone (or some other character because !SPOILER! Persephone does not rock out in this book) holds her hand out.
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May 14, 2012 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Persephone's Hallowed Transformation!,

I strongly recommend you read the previous book Vicious Circle before reading this book.

Persephone Alcmedi has finally accepted that the path she had chosen for her life has been drastically altered. Seph has gone from only being accountable for herself, to now caring for her crafty and hilarious grandma, smart and adaptable foster child, hot rock-star were boyfriend and her ethereal connection with the devious and cunning vampire, Menessos. Seph has grown...more

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Nov 14, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in Linda Robertson’s ‘Persephone Alcmedi’ series.

I liked the first book ‘Vicious Circle’, but felt Robertson put too much emphasis on past relationships that weren’t established but often referenced. I think this second book works much better because those relationships are now familiar to readers.

First there’s the romance between Persephone and biker werewolf, Johnny. In ‘Vicious Circle’ Johnny was already enamored of Persephone, but she was wary of his tattooed appearan...more This is the second book in Linda Robertson’s ‘Persephone Alcmedi’ series.

I liked the first book ‘Vicious Circle’, but felt Robertson put too much emphasis on past relationships that weren’t established but often referenced. I think this second book works much better because those relationships are now familiar to readers.

First there’s the romance between Persephone and biker werewolf, Johnny. In ‘Vicious Circle’ Johnny was already enamored of Persephone, but she was wary of his tattooed appearance and lycanthropy. In ‘Hallowed Circle’ Johnny is still infatuated with our girl Persephone, and he turns his flirtation up a notch – preferring lewd puns over the gentle courting of book 1. Persephone is still wary of her feelings for Johnny, but she is at least willing to admit to them.

“The right thing to do would be for you to acknowledge that you feel something for me that’s remotely close to what I feel for you. I’ve asked for only a single grain of sand from you, Persephone, while I’m the whole fucking beach at your feet. You want to appreciate me but your thoughts are always turning to him!”

In ‘Hallowed Circle’ Linda Robertson dabbles in some smutty writing – and it’s good – my only complaint is there’s not enough! A lot happens regarding the Johnny/Persephone relationship – but it’s all at the very beginning of the book. Robertson hits us with several romantic developments in the first half of the book, but then she puts the romance aside and focuses on the witches plot in the second half.

The nuts and bolts of the plot is wonderful – one of my favorite things about ‘Vicious Circle’ was all the references to Wiccan culture, and it’s amped up in ‘Hallowed Circle’. There is more of those wonderful witchy chants and rhymes and a closer examination of witch politics. ‘Hallowed Circle’ almost has a ‘Harry Potter: and the Goblet of Fire’ feel to it as Persephone enters into a competition to decide the new witches coven leader.

The other major relationship development in this book is between Persephone and vampire, Menessos. I would have liked more focus on the progress of this relationship – Robertson heats things up and drops little tidbits, promising deeper examination in future books – but those hints are so delectable I wish there’d been more focus in this book.

I loved this second instalment; ‘Hallowed Circle’ is further proof that ‘Persephone Alcmedi’ is shaping up to be a very promising fantasy series. Persephone is a wonderful heroine, ballsy and upstanding, but prone to bouts of foolishness and bull-headedness. There’s a wonderful blend of Wicca, lycanthropy and vampirism that ticks all my favourite supernatural boxes. I really look forward to the third book, ‘Fatal Circle’, to be released June 29th this year.(less)

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Sep 09, 2011 Roxanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

"If you want to know about the meat that's up—" Johnny whispered.
"I don't need to hear about your kielbasa."
"Okay, so rather than an oral description, you'd prefer actual hands-on experience with my 'ball-sa.' I'm good with that."

So much excitement in this book!! I was around 30% last night and thought...OK 1 more chapter then bed time. THEN something shocking happened with Johnny and Persephone so I then thought...OK maybe 1 more won't hurt right?? WRONG! I stayed up till 2am till I finished...more

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

Shelves: urban-fantasy

Magically Delicious
Set just a handful of weeks following the events of Vicious Circle, the book that introduces the reader to Robertson's world of witches, waeres, vamps, and fairies, Persephone Alcmedi is back to stir up some magic. The justice-loving, solitary witch and earnest granddaughter of Demeter, guardian of Beverley, and witch-of-Johnny's-dreams hasn't yet fully dealt with nor truly understands the ramifications of a vampire stain forced on her by Menessos and a mythical position of po...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Ami rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: urban-fantasy-paranormal-futuristic

While the whole 'pageant' to pick High Priestess (now that Vivian is 'gone'), which include Persephone is quite entertaining (love the 'punked' session :p), but I am having issues with Persephone herself.

I am superbly annoyed with how Persephone deals with her attraction with Johnny. I mean, come on, she needs to ask her totem regarding the good sex?!? Because she's afraid that the mindblowing sex is because of the vampire mark?? She doesn't count the fact that she's doing it with Johnny, who h...more

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Nov 26, 2011 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I was hoping the 2nd in this series would be as good as the 1st...I was wrong, it was better! We are watching a character grow and come to terms with her witch gifts and vampire mark(stain) and her love/lust for her live in protector...a werewolf named Johnny. Also the love and care for her Nana and her foster daughter. As she dons the mantle of the famed Lustrata, a justice bringer to all "others" she is also nominated to become High Priestess to the local coven. Seeking to make sure that the F...more

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Aug 13, 2010 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

I looked forward to this book ever since I read the first book "Viscious Circle" on a whim. The supporting characters drew me in immediately, especially werewolf, band-leader Johnny. I also loved that Persephone took in orphaned Beverly and her elderly and sharp tongued grandmother. "Hallowed Circle" was another great installment. Persephone is running for the high priestess or coven leader, mostly as a favor to a friend and she has no desire to win. She just wants to make sure the coven doesn't...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Van rated it 3 of 5 stars

3 1/2 stars.

Hallowed Circle, the second book in the Persephone Alcmedi series takes place approximately three weeks after Vicious Circle. Seph is trying to balance her life and time between her Wærewolf column, taking care of Nana and her foster daughter Beverly, figuring out her feelings for Wærewolf Johnny, and coming to term with her Lustrata destiny. To add to her ever burdening shoulders, Seph finds out that she was nominated to be a candidate to be high priestess, with Vivan Diamond ‘’miss...more

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Dec 31, 2011 ♠ Sharon is an emotional book junkie ♠ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

In Hallowed Circle, Persephone has her hands full. She has her dead friend's daughter living w/her, her elderly grandmother, her possible waere boyfriend and she is marked by a powerful vampire sorcerer. What else could happen? Well, the nice little witch down the street nominates her to compete to be the next High Priestess in the Eximium, which she cannot be since she is the Lustrata. Oh yea, I forgot, she also has some fairies threatening her and the vampire!

There is a lot going on in this bo...more

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Dec 28, 2010 Katyana rated it 4 of 5 stars

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

***3.75***

This book was... hmm. It is a hard one to review. In some ways, I liked the first one better. Mostly, I think, because the first one had a concrete and linear plot. This one had what felt like 6 B-plots, but no strong A-plot. And in that way, to me, it felt like a bridge book. Some very important things happened, things that needed to happen to set Persephone up for her Big Role (not saying that sarcastically, just trying to avoid being spoilery).

I am not quite sure how I feel about w...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this second installment we find our heroine, Persephone manipulated into vying for the position of High Priestess of her local coven. I have to admit I was upset thinking that she is going to go like the last book a be manipulated by others again. However, in this case, this maneuver not only proves to be wise, but it accelerates her character growth.

Hm... I also have to say I wanted to kick Johnny's arse in this book for quite some time. I was heartbroken that the one I LOVED in the first bo...more

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Sep 02, 2010 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

Hallowed Circle was picked up a few weeks after Vicious Circle and life is slowing moving on for Seph and her family. Beverley is still coping with her mother's death and Seph is still coping with all that happened in Vicious Circle, thusly her taking back the stain and still being connected to the vampire, Menessos.

Her love life is still a little rocky. She admits to her feelings for Johnny more and more, but there are still quite a few challenges for her to overcome. But not for lack of trying...more Hallowed Circle was picked up a few weeks after Vicious Circle and life is slowing moving on for Seph and her family. Beverley is still coping with her mother's death and Seph is still coping with all that happened in Vicious Circle, thusly her taking back the stain and still being connected to the vampire, Menessos.

Her love life is still a little rocky. She admits to her feelings for Johnny more and more, but there are still quite a few challenges for her to overcome. But not for lack of trying. Johnny still wants her and he is still filled with quick and witty innuendos that crack me up. It's refreshing too, that Seph can laugh and still get red-faced when they happen. As an outsider I laugh, but if it were me in her position I would definitely be blushing as well.

The first few chapters build up to the the task Seph will have to perform. Being in the competition for High Priestess. It's nearing Halloween so there's preparation for that, including an entertaining scene with Seph and Johnny involving pumpkin guts!

Then the main chunk of the book takes place at the testing place. Where the mystery takes place. And what a mystery it is. A place that should be secured well and someone in the competition is murdered and no one will be able to guess this one! I thought I had it, but WOW! It was definitely mystery worthy!

One new character, Hunter, you just love to hate because she's a little too self-involved, but the character development behind that is done remarkably well!

There was more development on Seph's destiny of being the Lustrata. Some details behind that and other parts connected to it make the reading a little confusing, but mostly I just tried to roll with it. After all Seph is still learning about this too.

There are also more developments with Johnny. I won't say what, but just try to recall the Tarot reading Nana had done for him in Vicious Circle. That comes back up again and is important.

The ending was surprising. There was still a nice conclusion and wrap up, but there will definitely be more problems on the horizon and I can't wait to find out what those are!!

Overall I give the book 4/5 stars!
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Jan 28, 2010 Kelly rated it 5 of 5 stars

Linda Robertson’s first novel, Vicious Circle, was a fun read, and its sequel, Hallowed Circle, is even better. In this second installment, Robertson spins a highly original plot (if this has been done in urban fantasy before, it was in a book I missed!), further develops her characters and the relationships among them, and as an added bonus, passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.

Persephone Alcmedi is still reeling from the discovery that she is the Lustrata, a “chosen one” sort of figure....more Linda Robertson’s first novel, Vicious Circle, was a fun read, and its sequel, Hallowed Circle, is even better. In this second installment, Robertson spins a highly original plot (if this has been done in urban fantasy before, it was in a book I missed!), further develops her characters and the relationships among them, and as an added bonus, passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors.

Persephone Alcmedi is still reeling from the discovery that she is the Lustrata, a “chosen one” sort of figure. Plus, she’s still getting used to having her grandmother, a foster-daughter, and a puppy under her roof, not to mention the latest ups and downs in her relationship with Johnny the guitar-playing werewolf. So when she’s nominated to compete in the Eximium, a contest in which a new High Priestess will be chosen, Seph doesn’t want any part of it.

She changes her mind when she meets the front-runner, Hunter Hopewell, who has her nose in the air and a chip on her shoulder. After dealing with the previous High Priestess, Seph doesn’t want yet another snooty social climber ruling the coven, so she agrees to compete in the hopes of knocking Hunter out of the running. But Seph gets more than she bargained for when contestants start turning up dead.

The Eximium is such a unique and fun plot. The murder mystery is compelling, and so is the contest itself, in which five revered crones set challenges for Seph and the other would-be priestesses. Hallowed Circle has two other plotlines running alongside this one; one of them concerns Johnny, and the other deals with the vampire Menessos and a group of ticked-off fairies.

I’ve often praised authors for creating a sense of place. Robertson creates a vivid sense of time. Hallowed Circle takes place during the Halloween season and it really feels like it, in every detail.

I couldn’t put Hallowed Circle down. Between the sympathetic characters, the well-grounded magical lore, and an exciting plot in which nothing is quite what it seems, this is a standout urban fantasy. 4.5 stars.

Read this and my review of Vicious Circle at FantasyLiterature (less)

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Dec 10, 2010 Gardavson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy-romance, paranormal, 5-star

I'm enjoying this series surprisingly more than I thought I would. It hasn't made a big name for itself, but it really is a nice read. If there were more emphasis on the hunka men, it would probably fair better. There are vamps and waeres invovled, but it's really more of a witchy read. Persephone is a witch and has recently discovered she is the Lustrata, who is to bring justice and balance to the world amongst the humans, vamps, waeres, witches and fey. She's finding that each group believes t...more

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Jan 20, 2011 Bethany C rated it 4 of 5 stars

This one started off just okay for me. I liked Johnny's innuendos (what can I say, I'm not terrible mature and constantly say 'that's what she said), but other than that the dialogue seemed a little unnatural. The author occasionally loses me just slightly when I feel that descriptions of a scene or object(s) go on just a little bit too long, the exact same way Ilona Andrews does. However, that's really the only criticism I could offer either of them. And some people really like lots of descript...more

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Apr 28, 2010 Tez rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

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Sep 25, 2011 Ellen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Okay, okay, I only gave the first book in the series three stars, so why four for this one? Well, I wish I could have given the first book 3.5 stars, for starters. We're not talking contemporary classics bound to win the Booker nor Pulitzer prizes, secondly. However, this series does appear to be a fun and fast-paced urban fantasy series complete with witches, vampires, weres, fairies and sorts of other creatures of that ilk. I like how Robertson has done her research regarding Wicca, and I only...more

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Feb 05, 2010 Darcy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

This time around Persephone is adjusting to all the changes in her life. Amazing when she thinks about all that has happened in a few weeks, grandma moving in, becoming guardian to a little girl, sort of dating someone, and last but not least learning she has become the Lustrata. Her life was so simple before. But just because the changes have occurred it doesn't mean that she as fully accepted them. Through out this book she struggles with all these new roles in her life. Some of these struggle...more

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Oct 31, 2012 Rita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, romance, vampires, werewolves, witches, 4-stars

This book pure excitement,especially since we can see more into the witch world than in the first book.
One of the thing I liked the most was the relationship between the three main characters.
In the beginning we have a bit of sexual tension between Persephone and Johnny,that was actually fun. Then they have hot witch-waere sex and things are good for a little while until she thinks he cheated on her, well, pretty much a normal relationship this days.
And well let's not forget Menessos, the power...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Theresa rated it 5 of 5 stars

The second installment in a nail-biting series, Persephone Alcmedi returns to readers, after her first adventure as a mother to Beverly, her departed friends daughter, provider and confidant to her grandmother, and in a budding relationship with her waerewolf consort. She is confronted with her “stain” of vampire mark, her burning desire, her witchy duties, and those problems that affect her closest friends. Can Persephone be the Lustrata, the female embodiment of the lady of justice between and...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Kathleen Burket rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Because of the events at the end of Vicious Circle, Vivian is missing and the Cleveland Coven needs a new High Priestess. Lydia, Seph's neighbor and oldest member of the Coven, has nominated Seph for the position. Naturally, because of her involvement in Vivian absence, Seph doesn't want the position. Eventually Seph decides to compete to invent socialite Hunter Hopewell from becoming Cleveland new High Priestess.

Nana, Beverley, Johnny, Menessos, Goliath, Poopsie the Pup, and others from the fir...more

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May 10, 2010 Mary rated it 2 of 5 stars

Good ideas, but man, waayyy too much description, and when we're done with the description, look, we've got some bad poems to throw in as well! But if we call them "song lyrics" then they aren't bad, right? Sorry, honey, I don't care what happens to you any more.
And I'm taking off a full star for chain-smokin' grannie. Maybe the author thinks nicotine addiction adds "character," but instead she's more of a caricature. To have someone constantly smoking around a kid would add all kinds of respira...more

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Jul 23, 2010 Jackie Uhrmacher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Most of her duties are covered throughout the series, ever expanding and changing as the world demands. The ones highlighted in Hallowed Circle deal mostly with Seph’s acceptance of her magical role in the world and her troubles with Johnny, the uber-sexy and tattooed waerewolf who lives in her attic. I think this is why I love the book so much. It’s not all violent attacks and machinations. The reader is able to truly understand Seph and her world, her motivations, and the things that hold her...more

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Feb 26, 2013 Lisarenee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: nbrc-2013-b-reading-challenge, nbrc-tower-team-b-challenge-shelf

My Synopsis:
"There are legends...aren't there always?" Nana said quietly, the croak of her voice softer than usual. Legends about the beginning of time, the ending of it. Every culture, every religion has their stories about it--ours is no different. And there are always secret societies, keepers of knowledge hidden from the general populace. There are enemies. There are heroes. The pendulum of power swings." Her focus sharpened on me, and I felt it like a cold blade at my throat. Nana stubbed...more

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Nov 27, 2010 MissM rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2010

This one was a bit rough for me. The quirky style and characters of the first one felt flat and often annoying this time around. I often felt bored and wanted things to go somewhere and do something.

And the horrible poetry! Dear gods, enough already with the 13 year old version of "song lyrics." It was just gag-inducing for me.

I'd probably give the third one a chance just to see if some of the spark from the first one comes back but if not, ugh, I'll definitely be done with the series. I couldn'...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Shandy Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, reviews-2013, urban-fantasy

This book starts off with some smexy fireworks, then drags for a bit then BAM back to the good stuff.
In the beginning Seph finally is won over by Johnny's charms which turns into a very hot scene. This leaves Seph confused, and wondering if she's herself or if it's her stain making her passionate. When Johnny's gets a chance to acquire a record contract she goes to support and surprise him only to see something she shouldn't. Because I love Johnny, I kept telling myself through out the book that...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars

Although I like first person perspectives, I am finding it difficult to like hearing about what’s going on in Seph’s head. I don’t find her as selfless as she is portrayed. Seph seems to spend most of her time sharing her own mental ramblings and meditation sessions with the reader. For someone who writes a syndicated informative column about waerewolves, she doesn’t seem to know much about them. Things one should know, considering the column she writes. So what does she write about? The most sh...more Although I like first person perspectives, I am finding it difficult to like hearing about what’s going on in Seph’s head. I don’t find her as selfless as she is portrayed. Seph seems to spend most of her time sharing her own mental ramblings and meditation sessions with the reader. For someone who writes a syndicated informative column about waerewolves, she doesn’t seem to know much about them. Things one should know, considering the column she writes. So what does she write about? The most she knows is that they kennel at her house once a month. In terms of bonding, I feel that Nana spends more time mothering Beverly than Seph does.

And how many times do we have to hear how EXTRAordinary and SPECIAL Seph is? Oh, that’s right, we hear it from just about all of the secondary characters throughout the books.

Yes, she’s the Lustrata. Now please tell, what does this mean exactly? Lustrata = bringer of justice and light, who can walk between the worlds. The Authority for Justice. In fact, she’s even compared to the Lady of Justice. C'mon, really? You have got to be kidding me! She is unable to even make decisions about her own love life. She even consults her totem animal to help in making these decisions.

She accepts her role as the Lustrata, by performing a ritual. And now, Johnny and the other waeres can adopt their role as Seph’s glorified lap dogs. I don’t like the idea of servitude on the part of the waerewolves, or Menessos, as well, with the whole “stain” reversal saga.

All in all, I have a preference for more action less romance, so I found the relationship between Seph and Johnny rather tedious at times. Their ‘witty’ exchanges quickly turned annoying and cringe-worthy. Get it on already! And move on, to more story and interesting plot themes and so forth.

The Eximium was the most exciting part of the book. The witchy stuff is entertaining.

I find myself wanting to read on, purely to learn more about Menessos and Johnny, still trying to figure out who I like more. I seem to be stuck in a love triangle. How ironic.
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