Hallowed Circle

Linda Robertson continues her Alcmedi series with this impressive second book. I don't want to spoil anything about the Eximium, but that section of the book had me chewing my nails. Plus, things get incredibly hot between Persephone and Johnny; wow. I can't wait to pick up book number 3.

Set just a handful of weeks following the events of Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 1), 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 power given to her by her goddess, Hecate. She'd better learn to deal quickly, though, as she's been called to enter the Excimium, a witch-lead competition to determine who will be the next High Priestess of the Cleveland Coven...a position formally held by the notorious and now missing Vivian Duncan - missing because Persephone herself turned her over to the vampire Menessos for the crimes of murder and betrayal. But Persephone sure can't explain that...nor can she bow out of the invitation, though she has no desire to be HPS. Forced to compete...and forced to do her best or lose respect among the elders when her calling as Lustrata is disclosed...Persephone is trapped into service, but the competition teaches her more than she thought it would about her own soul and the lengths she will go to do the right thing for the right reasons. As if her daily trials aren't enough - raising the recently orphaned Beverley, taking care of her aging yet still cantankerous grandmother, yearning for the puppy dog eyes and sexy-as-hell bod of the rocker and waere Johnny, and learning to protect herself and her loved ones from dangers known and unknown - the competition might just end up killing her - and that's if she's lucky. Life as the Lustrata is no one's idea of a picnic but Persephone will do as she's always done - fight the good fight. Of course, that's also what got her into this mess to begin with... I liked Vicious Circle quite a bit, but I have to say, I loved Hallowed Circle. With a complex plot that was rich with magic and a much more in-depth, studied exploration of the world in which Persephone inhabits, I was well and truly impressed with the mythos and the attention to minutest detail Robertson created here. There were parts that could've truly dragged for me, because a lot of time is spent on the magic and rituals of witches, and that's not normally something I enjoy reading about, but between the way the book was broken up and Roberston's sublime writing style, it kept my interest high and my fascination fully engaged. We get a much more comprehensive grasp of Persephone's character, as well, and while I wasn't always fond of her in the first book, I definitely loved the direction her character took here. It's so rewarding seeing a strong leading character with a few quirks, foibles, and flaws truly start to embrace who she is, and Robertson writes that particularly well. It's refreshing to read a character who deals more in black and whi

I just wanted to write this short review for readers not sure if they should get this book. Well, I am telling you to get this book! I enjoyed it a lot more than the 1st book which I thought was more of a building block to this fabulous read. In this story the heroine, Persephone really hits her stride. She is entered against her will into a contest to battle it out with other witches for the position of High Priestess of the Cleveland. What really makes this story is the interaction between the witches as they try to outwit each other and my growing admiration for the honorable and no nonsense Persephone. (In sharp contrast to the other contestants) The trials and tests that are conducted against them are enthralling as you wonder what will happen next. As the contestants backstab and ruthlessly try to work themselves up to the top. This book has a lot of plot twists and surprises that kept my heart rate up and `forced' me to finish it that night. Thrilling and mesmerizing, this is already one of my fav books!

Linda Robertson's "Hallowed Circle" is a very well written novel that takes the reader deep into the world of witches and other paranormals. We're reintroduced to Persephone Alcmedi, a young witch conflicted about what to do with her burgeoning power and responsibilities. In this novel, Persephone moves forward to accept the power she has within her. With that power comes significant responsibilities. The test for who will become the head of the coven was imaginative and exciting. Once the action picks up midway through the novel, it continues through the last page. This is more than the second in a series of novels. The author significantly expands on the first novel and gives us more complex characters and situations to digest. I look forward to the next novel. An excellent read,which I would recommend to anyone interested in fantasy and paranormal.

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.