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Northern Circle Coven #3
Entangled Secrets
The Northern Circle coven’s future is in question once again. But this time, hearts and souls are on the line, making the stakes higher, the magic more crucial, and the battle more fateful than ever before . . .
Pregnant and alone at twenty-one, Chandler Parrish sought refuge within the Northern Circle coven’s secluded complex. Never revealing the identity of her child’s father, Chandler has raised her now eight-year-old son, Peregrine, in peace, and used her talent as an artist and welder to become a renowned metal sculptor. But her world is shaken to the core when Peregrine shows signs of natural faerie sight—a rare and dangerous gift to see through faerie glamour and disguises that could only have come from his father’s genes. Worse yet, the boy has seen a monstrous faerie creature trailing Lionel Parker, a magic-obsessed journalist determined to expose the witching world.
But the very man who threatens the witches’ anonymity may also be key to healing Chandler’s long broken heart. As dangerous desires and shocking secrets entangle, new faerie threats and demonic foes close in on the coven and High Council. Loyalties will be tested. Fierce magics will be called upon. And Chandler will have to face her past to save all she holds dear: her coven, her child—and perhaps even her own soul.
Pregnant and alone at twenty-one, Chandler Parrish sought refuge within the Northern Circle coven’s secluded complex. Never revealing the identity of her child’s father, Chandler has raised her now eight-year-old son, Peregrine, in peace, and used her talent as an artist and welder to become a renowned metal sculptor. But her world is shaken to the core when Peregrine shows signs of natural faerie sight—a rare and dangerous gift to see through faerie glamour and disguises that could only have come from his father’s genes. Worse yet, the boy has seen a monstrous faerie creature trailing Lionel Parker, a magic-obsessed journalist determined to expose the witching world.
But the very man who threatens the witches’ anonymity may also be key to healing Chandler’s long broken heart. As dangerous desires and shocking secrets entangle, new faerie threats and demonic foes close in on the coven and High Council. Loyalties will be tested. Fierce magics will be called upon. And Chandler will have to face her past to save all she holds dear: her coven, her child—and perhaps even her own soul.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2020
117 people want to read
About the author
Pat Esden
9 books251 followersPat Esden would love to say she spent her childhood in intellectual pursuits. The truth is she was fonder of exploring abandoned houses and old cemeteries. When not out on her own adventures, she can be found in her Northern Vermont home writing about brave, smart women who are determined to protect the people and places they love. She is the author of the contemporary fantasy Dark Heart series, and the Northern Circle Coven series.
(I only review and rate books that I've enjoyed reading)
(I only review and rate books that I've enjoyed reading)
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 19, 2020
I have been rabidly curious about the tattooed welder & artist we met in the first book of this series (and whose metal flying monkey creations were turned against her!) And because I'm a nosy busybuddy, I also wanted to know why she was a single parent, and who the father of her son, Peregrine, was.
We got all the answers in this book, as well as a look into Chandler's backstory as an adopted child, her wild younger years, and her affinity with fire & her patron spirit the Fire Salamander. As politics and magic come to a head in the community of witches and their High Council in New England, with possible demon and fae involvement, we get to see both couples from the the first two books as well as Chandler and a new love interest go into action to both help a young sick child as well as come into their own powers as a coven.
Esden loves to create situations for her characters where their worst fear comes to pass: and in this one she puts Chandler through a mother's wringer of pain. Peregrine may be the key to helping save another child's life, but allowing him to take part in a super secret ritual may put him in the worst kind of danger. She is forced to confront long-held secrets and her own fear of losing her child.
And as always in an Esden book, there's a creative, playful and loving relationship between the two love interests. There was a lot packed into the book, but I felt the male lead didn't quite get enough camera time leading up to quite a steamy scene with him and Chandler. It left me not as invested as I usually am. But I love the choices Chandler made to risk herself with a relationship even while dire events in the witching world meant she might have her love torn away.
Also per the usual in this series, there's a lot of focus on the everyday rituals, the ingredients, the timing, the flavors and smells, and the phrases invoked. It gives the action a homey, sense-of-place firmly rooted in the Vermont locale with a touch of spirits, fae intrigue, and Merlin lore.
We got all the answers in this book, as well as a look into Chandler's backstory as an adopted child, her wild younger years, and her affinity with fire & her patron spirit the Fire Salamander. As politics and magic come to a head in the community of witches and their High Council in New England, with possible demon and fae involvement, we get to see both couples from the the first two books as well as Chandler and a new love interest go into action to both help a young sick child as well as come into their own powers as a coven.
Esden loves to create situations for her characters where their worst fear comes to pass: and in this one she puts Chandler through a mother's wringer of pain. Peregrine may be the key to helping save another child's life, but allowing him to take part in a super secret ritual may put him in the worst kind of danger. She is forced to confront long-held secrets and her own fear of losing her child.
And as always in an Esden book, there's a creative, playful and loving relationship between the two love interests. There was a lot packed into the book, but I felt the male lead didn't quite get enough camera time leading up to quite a steamy scene with him and Chandler. It left me not as invested as I usually am. But I love the choices Chandler made to risk herself with a relationship even while dire events in the witching world meant she might have her love torn away.
Also per the usual in this series, there's a lot of focus on the everyday rituals, the ingredients, the timing, the flavors and smells, and the phrases invoked. It gives the action a homey, sense-of-place firmly rooted in the Vermont locale with a touch of spirits, fae intrigue, and Merlin lore.
August 2, 2020
DNF at 47%.
I really liked the second book in this series and so when I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance, unfortunately the heroine, Chandler, never really grabbed my attention and her love interest, the human journalist Lionel Parker (who of course turns out to be a special snowflake after all) just came across as a bit wet.
Chandler had a one-night stand with one of the scions of the High Council's son which resulted in her son Peregrine, her son's father refused to speak to Chandler when she tried to tell him she was pregnant and almost immediately made a dynastic marriage. Peregrine is showing signs of having a dangerous magical talent, the ability to see through faerie glamour, something he inherited from his father and a 'gift' that has led to many witches being killed by the fae.
Chandler's former fellow coven witch placed a curse on Lionel which allows him to see fae, or so they think but when the coven try to lift the spell they discover a shocking secret about Lionel's past.
Oh, and there's also a plot involving Peregrine's half-brother Aidan who is in a coma and the coven believe that they can restore him to health. Even writing all of this I want to know how it all pans out - but I don't want to read any more of this book, I just don't feel engaged by Chandler and Lionel at all. So at 47% I feel I've given it a good shot and I'm giving up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I really liked the second book in this series and so when I saw this book available for review I jumped at the chance, unfortunately the heroine, Chandler, never really grabbed my attention and her love interest, the human journalist Lionel Parker (who of course turns out to be a special snowflake after all) just came across as a bit wet.
Chandler had a one-night stand with one of the scions of the High Council's son which resulted in her son Peregrine, her son's father refused to speak to Chandler when she tried to tell him she was pregnant and almost immediately made a dynastic marriage. Peregrine is showing signs of having a dangerous magical talent, the ability to see through faerie glamour, something he inherited from his father and a 'gift' that has led to many witches being killed by the fae.
Chandler's former fellow coven witch placed a curse on Lionel which allows him to see fae, or so they think but when the coven try to lift the spell they discover a shocking secret about Lionel's past.
Oh, and there's also a plot involving Peregrine's half-brother Aidan who is in a coma and the coven believe that they can restore him to health. Even writing all of this I want to know how it all pans out - but I don't want to read any more of this book, I just don't feel engaged by Chandler and Lionel at all. So at 47% I feel I've given it a good shot and I'm giving up.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
July 28, 2020
I love seeing families in fiction, so that was one of the reasons I was excited to read Chandler's entry in this series. I thought the story was easy to follow, and Chandler's emotional life made sense. Nicely done.
June 29, 2020
Thank you to Lyrical Press (Kensington Books) and NetGalley for the e-ARC to read and review!
I liked this book more than I thought I would and was pleasantly surprised while reading. I hadn’t read the previous two books but I was able to understand the world, the witches, the magic, and all else the author imagined with no problem.
What drew me to requesting this title was that it involved witches in a primary role, something I’ve been looking for in books for a while. But I also loved all the other magical beings involved too, like the fae.
I liked Chandler’s character. She is a strong mama dragon who will protect her baby boy, Peregrine (who is just the cutest!), at all costs. It’s so cool how she creates artistic pieces with metal and magic. Her romance with Lionel is very slow and sweet and satisfying. They mesh well together and have a lot in common, like artsy stuff.
The first half of the book was a bit slow but good as they all tried to figure out the best course of action for their coven’s well-being and more. The second half was part heist-like events part action and chaos. It was super tensed but I loved every bit of it. Very enthralling.
I did not expect all of those plot twists oh my goodness! Wow! And it all came full circle with implications that this may only be the beginning of something bigger and more dangerous for the Northern Circle Coven.
This was a quick read but entertaining read. I hope there’s another book because I really want to know what happens next!
I liked this book more than I thought I would and was pleasantly surprised while reading. I hadn’t read the previous two books but I was able to understand the world, the witches, the magic, and all else the author imagined with no problem.
What drew me to requesting this title was that it involved witches in a primary role, something I’ve been looking for in books for a while. But I also loved all the other magical beings involved too, like the fae.
I liked Chandler’s character. She is a strong mama dragon who will protect her baby boy, Peregrine (who is just the cutest!), at all costs. It’s so cool how she creates artistic pieces with metal and magic. Her romance with Lionel is very slow and sweet and satisfying. They mesh well together and have a lot in common, like artsy stuff.
The first half of the book was a bit slow but good as they all tried to figure out the best course of action for their coven’s well-being and more. The second half was part heist-like events part action and chaos. It was super tensed but I loved every bit of it. Very enthralling.
I did not expect all of those plot twists oh my goodness! Wow! And it all came full circle with implications that this may only be the beginning of something bigger and more dangerous for the Northern Circle Coven.
This was a quick read but entertaining read. I hope there’s another book because I really want to know what happens next!
July 7, 2020
It is relatively rare to find mothers looking out for their children within urban fantasy, so I was immediately attracted by this dynamic and was delighted to be able to get hold of this one. Which was when I discovered it was the third book in the series… However, while I’m sure that if I’d gone back to the beginning and read these books in the correct order, I would have benefitted from a deeper, richer knowledge of the characters and the ongoing dynamic, Esden has made it possible to crash into this series without readers unduly struggling.
I quickly bonded with gutsy Chandler, who makes things out of metal and is fiercely protective of her young son. There is a strong backstory which has the Northern Circle coven still reeling from the aftereffects and adds to the tension when apparently another threat turns up, perhaps related to the previous trouble.
Overall, this was an entertaining and smooth read with plenty going on, a nice magical system and sympathetic characters. The romantic thread had a bit of heat, but it wasn’t too steamy – while the climactic denouement worked well. I enjoyed the resolution and recommend this urban fantasy adventure to those who enjoy stories involving witchcraft. Though I’d advise you begin with the first book, His Dark Magic. While I obtained an arc of Entangled Secrets from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
I quickly bonded with gutsy Chandler, who makes things out of metal and is fiercely protective of her young son. There is a strong backstory which has the Northern Circle coven still reeling from the aftereffects and adds to the tension when apparently another threat turns up, perhaps related to the previous trouble.
Overall, this was an entertaining and smooth read with plenty going on, a nice magical system and sympathetic characters. The romantic thread had a bit of heat, but it wasn’t too steamy – while the climactic denouement worked well. I enjoyed the resolution and recommend this urban fantasy adventure to those who enjoy stories involving witchcraft. Though I’d advise you begin with the first book, His Dark Magic. While I obtained an arc of Entangled Secrets from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10
April 22, 2024
Though Chandler is a lot older than Chloe and Em, is a mother, has a career, and more responsibilities, I’ll still classify it as New Adult because most of her issues stem from when she was about 20 and should have been resolved then instead of eight years later – but her son’s age is important for the plot… So with all the Urban Fantasy stuff in this series, I’ll just label it as that with a steamy romance subplot.
I enjoyed this book until about ¾ through when everything that could go wrong went wrong, Nimue and her ilk was needed for the climax, Peregrine’s father acted as expected – meaning that it was a bit predictable. And personally, I didn’t like that they used the Lord’s name as an expletive. It felt a lot in the last quarter of the book as if the author was putting down Christianity and other books (e.g. Harry Potter) in lieu of actual dialogue. The copy-paste of the healing ceremony was also irritating.
And though it all neatly works out and though I think Chandler is awesome, something feels off about this story… I did like the Black Dog, though.
A good end to the series (as I won’t be reading any future books).
Trigger warnings: wraiths, demons, gaslighting, language.
I enjoyed this book until about ¾ through when everything that could go wrong went wrong, Nimue and her ilk was needed for the climax, Peregrine’s father acted as expected – meaning that it was a bit predictable. And personally, I didn’t like that they used the Lord’s name as an expletive. It felt a lot in the last quarter of the book as if the author was putting down Christianity and other books (e.g. Harry Potter) in lieu of actual dialogue. The copy-paste of the healing ceremony was also irritating.
And though it all neatly works out and though I think Chandler is awesome, something feels off about this story… I did like the Black Dog, though.
A good end to the series (as I won’t be reading any future books).
Trigger warnings: wraiths, demons, gaslighting, language.
June 26, 2020
A fantastic addition to the series. Delving into this character was both exciting and satisfying. She's such a creative and strong person, and I love that she's a single mom. The romantic interest is just the right amount of supportive and kind (and, of course, steamy!). And it's always great to get another peek at the returning characters from the previous books to see what they're up to. Esden expertly layers her knowledge and passion for the genre into the pages, and her eye for detail to really bring this world to life. A must read!
July 9, 2020
I'm always a little sad to see one of Pat Esden's series end. In this particular book regarding the Northern Circle Coven, we follow the romantic and craft life of Chandler Parrish as she embraces her new role as high priestess. There's a lot of political intrigue, torn loyalties, and desires intertwined into an interesting story. I find the portrayal of Chandler's grief for her lost friend Athena particularly well written.
October 17, 2020
I have enjoyed the writing style in this series and it was good to be back with the Northern Circle Coven again. This is the third book so make sure you have read the series in order to get the best experience. The danger in hidden secrets is that if they come out they may just tear your world apart
July 9, 2020
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I liked the characters and the world building.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Even if it's the 3rd in this series it can be read as a stand alone.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
June 29, 2020
Title: Entangled Secrets
Author: Pat Esden
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 5
This is the first book of the Northern Circle Coven series I’ve read…and probably the last. I loved the parts talking about the metal sculpting, because I find that fascinating, but the rest of this was just “meh” for me. I’m not a fan of insta-love, and that’s exactly what this felt like to me. This is probably a case of the book just not being a good fit for me, not an actual problem with the book, but I didn’t really care for this. I’ve gotten away from reading paranormal romances like this, so I probably should have skipped this for that reason alone.
(Galley courtesy of Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
Author: Pat Esden
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: 3 out of 5
This is the first book of the Northern Circle Coven series I’ve read…and probably the last. I loved the parts talking about the metal sculpting, because I find that fascinating, but the rest of this was just “meh” for me. I’m not a fan of insta-love, and that’s exactly what this felt like to me. This is probably a case of the book just not being a good fit for me, not an actual problem with the book, but I didn’t really care for this. I’ve gotten away from reading paranormal romances like this, so I probably should have skipped this for that reason alone.
(Galley courtesy of Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.)
More reviews at Tomorrow is Another Day
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews