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Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I took advantage of having the day off to finish reading Shattered Circle -- the sixth installment in Linda Robertson's "Persephone Alcmedi" series.

Once again, this book picked up right where the last one left off. Having recently been attacked by her werewolf lover, Johnny, Seph has taken refuge with the vampire Menessos. Logically, she knows Johnny didn't mean to harm her, but emotionally, she is finding it difficult to trust him.

Johnny is not without his own problems. As the newly crowned Domn Lup, the king of the werewolves, he now must navigate politics and negotiations, as well as try to avoid the amorous attentions of Aurelia, his "assistant". In addition, he's recently learned he has a son from a youthful relationship, and now Johnny fears the boy's life may be in danger.

As for Menessos, he has had to relinquish his position as Haven Master, once it became known that he was under Persephone's control, and not the other way around.

In addition, Seph's ward, Beverly, has stolen a magical artifact from Persephone's room in an effort to contact her dead mother. Instead, she is sucked into a ley line. To save her, Persephone must throw her lot in with an entity that even the vampires fear, and the price he demands is steep.

Well now. It's one thing to have a lot going on in a book, but this was really too much. Aside from that, the author wrote Persephone's pov in first-person, but every other pov was in third. Personally, I feel that if you're going to write in first-person pov, commit to it and don't go doodling off to follow other characters in third. It makes the narrative too jarring. We followed Seph, Beverly, Johnny, Menessos, Mero, Goliath, Ailo, Liyliy, and Demeter. I needed a cast list just to keep up! The story was very fast-paced, obviously, and it was well written; I simply didn't appreciate that the author crammed everything into one book. Characterizations were well done, even the villains. My other complaint is that Persephone is becoming the ultimate Mary Sue. Every man wants her, and it's getting tedious, quite frankly.

Favorite line: That's what I want. To be in control of my life, not a victim of it.

I'm waffling over a score here. The story was intense and well-written, but certain things rubbed me the wrong way. Since that was subjective, I'll give this a four.

Last night, I read the rest of Arcane Circle, by Linda Robertson. It's the fourth book in her series about witch Persephone Alcmedi.

Once again, this book picked up right where the last one left off. That's both exciting and exhausting, methinks! I wonder if poor Persephone ever gets a chance to rest.

Seph is in the midst of trying to settle and house dozens of magical creatures that elected to stay with her after the battle with the fae. In addition, she's also trying to plan a birthday party for her ward, Beverly. To compound things, the ruler of the werewolves is on his way from Romania, intending to see for himself if it's true that Seph's boyfriend, Johnny, is truly the Domn Lup of all werewolves. Unfortunately for Johnny, his magic has been bound in a series of magical tattoos that he has no memory of receiving.

Now, Seph and Johnny must prepare to meet with the Rege, while at the same time trying to figure out a way to unlock Johnny's powers as the Domn Lup. Throw in a jealous rival or two, narrow-minded parents, and a blast from Persephone's past, and this story careened along at a fast pace. Love it!

Favorite line: She must have decided we should have a side of Raucous with Ear-Splitting sauce - because she was being anything but quiet.

Least favorite line: Hours later, I awoke to the ward alarming in my head. The clock read eleven-eleven.
OMGWTFBBQ1111!?!?

Five of five!

♦♦♦♦♦

I just finished reading Hallowed Circle by Linda Robertson. It's the second book in her series about solitary witch Persephone Alcmedi.

This book picks up shortly after the first left off. Seph is learning to live with the stain she carries from being marked by master vampire Menessos, while also adjusting to werewolf Johnny living in her home. One of the local witches nominates Persephone for the recently vacated post of High Priestess. Seph has no ambition to be High Priestess, but when she goes to the Covenstead to formally decline the nomination, she encounters an obnoxious contender and is compelled to compete, if only to knock the other woman out of the running.

In the meantime, Persephone is juggling her growing attraction to Johnny, dealing with her aging grandmother, trying to be a mother figure to her ward Beverly, and oh yes, coming to grips with the fact that she is the illustrious Lustrata of legend.

When a contestant for High Priestess is murdered at the trials, Seph finds herself trying to solve a murder even as she must compete.

I loved this book! Persephone is a marvelous heroine. While she could have come across as a Mary Sue, the author has given her flaws and foibles that simply make her all the more endearing. There are other books in the series, and I am anxious to read the rest. Must know what transpires!

Five stars:

★★★★★