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paradoxically's review against another edition
1.0
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 into taking it. I'm sorry, but being guilted into murdering someone is... I don't even have the words. And the person giving the main character the job is a grade A bitch; I'm sorry but there has to be a reason why she's not doing it herself if she thinks herself as part of the reason why your friend got killed.
And don't give me your 'justice streak a mile wide' crap. You don't even have all of the facts before you agreed to it. It's more vigilantism than justice. Some characters can pull it off, but in this case? No. Or at least not how the author built up this entire scenario--complete with 'you are justified' by some sort of mystical totem thing later on. And of course your sense of justice doesn't forbid you from taking money for assassinating someone.
Most of my problem, I think, is because of the character, Vivian, who gives the job to Persephone. If Persephone had decided to do this (assassinating the one who killed her friend) on her own, I would have been all right with it. But bringing Vivian to the mix makes it less like Persephone's ideas and her sense of 'justice' and more like she's some idiot who was made into a hired killer for no real reason other than she did it before (by accident) and she's guilted into it. Along with the money, of course.
It doesn't help that I dislike Persephone's Nana (her grandmother). I am sure she is a tough, quirky old lady. It doesn't excuse a person for being a jerk. It doesn't matter if the house is part of her home too--if you're sharing a house, the least you could do is discuss with the other housemate that you're bringing home a great dane puppy. The way Persephone just caves in drives me crazy, and the way Nana was repentant (sorta) afterward made me want to throw things at the author. The lady brings home a puppy and the sheer irresponsibility of this (she doesn't even know how big a great dane will be--this is not funny, it's stupid)... and then she acts all woebegone and it's whiplash. And no wonder Nana walks all over you, Persephone, if you always give in.
And for all of Persephone's dislike of people who are prejudiced against werewolves, she sure doesn't mind thinking that all vampires are scumbags.
Of course I thought people who watched his show and followed his bizarre beliefs were almost as freakish as vampires.
Argh. Okay, maybe all vampires in this world are 'evil', but the thought of that irritates me just as much, go figure.
I just am not in the mood to be forgiving. Johnny is the stereotypical bad boy who really isn't. The scenes with Persephone's high school friends are pretty much pointless. Persephone irritates me so much it's not even funny. I got about halfway through the book and had to skim to the end and nothing I read changed my opinion.
It's probably closer to 2 stars, but I really couldn't stand this book, so 1 star it is.
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 into taking it. I'm sorry, but being guilted into murdering someone is... I don't even have the words. And the person giving the main character the job is a grade A bitch; I'm sorry but there has to be a reason why she's not doing it herself if she thinks herself as part of the reason why your friend got killed.
And don't give me your 'justice streak a mile wide' crap. You don't even have all of the facts before you agreed to it. It's more vigilantism than justice. Some characters can pull it off, but in this case? No. Or at least not how the author built up this entire scenario--complete with 'you are justified' by some sort of mystical totem thing later on. And of course your sense of justice doesn't forbid you from taking money for assassinating someone.
Most of my problem, I think, is because of the character, Vivian, who gives the job to Persephone. If Persephone had decided to do this (assassinating the one who killed her friend) on her own, I would have been all right with it. But bringing Vivian to the mix makes it less like Persephone's ideas and her sense of 'justice' and more like she's some idiot who was made into a hired killer for no real reason other than she did it before (by accident) and she's guilted into it. Along with the money, of course.
It doesn't help that I dislike Persephone's Nana (her grandmother). I am sure she is a tough, quirky old lady. It doesn't excuse a person for being a jerk. It doesn't matter if the house is part of her home too--if you're sharing a house, the least you could do is discuss with the other housemate that you're bringing home a great dane puppy. The way Persephone just caves in drives me crazy, and the way Nana was repentant (sorta) afterward made me want to throw things at the author. The lady brings home a puppy and the sheer irresponsibility of this (she doesn't even know how big a great dane will be--this is not funny, it's stupid)... and then she acts all woebegone and it's whiplash. And no wonder Nana walks all over you, Persephone, if you always give in.
And for all of Persephone's dislike of people who are prejudiced against werewolves, she sure doesn't mind thinking that all vampires are scumbags.
Of course I thought people who watched his show and followed his bizarre beliefs were almost as freakish as vampires.
Argh. Okay, maybe all vampires in this world are 'evil', but the thought of that irritates me just as much, go figure.
I just am not in the mood to be forgiving. Johnny is the stereotypical bad boy who really isn't. The scenes with Persephone's high school friends are pretty much pointless. Persephone irritates me so much it's not even funny. I got about halfway through the book and had to skim to the end and nothing I read changed my opinion.
It's probably closer to 2 stars, but I really couldn't stand this book, so 1 star it is.
snarkymotherreader's review against another edition
5.0
Seph is a strong, powerful woman living on the fringe of society with her nana and the odd waerewolf who visits when things get hairy. Her internal and external struggles were well plotted and expertly described, never crossing into the realm of the unbelievable. The detail in which the magic in this world is discussed engaged me as much as the characters did, becoming a living, breathing thing instead of just part of the story.
Full review available here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=26339#more-26339
Full review available here: http://bittenbybooks.com/?p=26339#more-26339
vikcs's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
anam_ali's review against another edition
2.0
Cliched and ugh the vampire trope. But all right for a one time read. Could have been something much, much better, though.
lalabristow's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book by accident a while back and decided to give it a try. I bought the ebook and dug right into it. I have to say that I really enjoyed this debut for the Persephone Alcmedi series.
Seph is a which and in her world, witches and werewolves don't really get along. However, she is sort of friends with a few of them and even provide shelter to them during the full moon, when they can get really dangerous and lose control. She believes in the werewolves cause and even defend it on her newspaper column.
Persephone's life turns upside down when her grandma is kicked out of her nursing home and has to move in with her. Right after that, her werewolf friend is murdered and she is asked by the Coven that rules the witches to destroy the alleged killer, who is none other than a very powerful vampire named Goliath Kline.
To be quite honest, this novel doesn't really bring anything new to the Urban Fantasy table. However, Seph is such a lovable character and the secondary characters are so interesting, that you can't help but get into their world and want more. The plot was very compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat, the twists and turn were very well done IMH. Linda's writing is very good and it has definitely found a place in my heart.
I found Persephone to be a great heroin and really interesting to follow. The potential in her relationship with the werewolf Johnny is great and besides, he is really HOT. hehe =) I am really looking forward to Hallowed Circle, Book 2 in the series =)))
Seph is a which and in her world, witches and werewolves don't really get along. However, she is sort of friends with a few of them and even provide shelter to them during the full moon, when they can get really dangerous and lose control. She believes in the werewolves cause and even defend it on her newspaper column.
Persephone's life turns upside down when her grandma is kicked out of her nursing home and has to move in with her. Right after that, her werewolf friend is murdered and she is asked by the Coven that rules the witches to destroy the alleged killer, who is none other than a very powerful vampire named Goliath Kline.
To be quite honest, this novel doesn't really bring anything new to the Urban Fantasy table. However, Seph is such a lovable character and the secondary characters are so interesting, that you can't help but get into their world and want more. The plot was very compelling and kept me on the edge of my seat, the twists and turn were very well done IMH. Linda's writing is very good and it has definitely found a place in my heart.
I found Persephone to be a great heroin and really interesting to follow. The potential in her relationship with the werewolf Johnny is great and besides, he is really HOT. hehe =) I am really looking forward to Hallowed Circle, Book 2 in the series =)))
ptaradactyl's review against another edition
4.0
Well-written and enjoyable, but a little nervous by the formulas running through it. Super-sexy vampire who knows more than he lets on? Two, actually. Dangerous-on-the-outside, loyal-and-brave-on-the-inside waerewolf who also knows more than he lets on? With tattoos, not less. I really liked it, but I'm afraid it'll go down in flaming cliches.
That being said, it's still it's own book and I really enjoyed the read. I'm just nervous!
That being said, it's still it's own book and I really enjoyed the read. I'm just nervous!
alexiachantel's review against another edition
4.0
Have you been feeling like your urban fantasy series are lacking? Characters undeveloped and story lines stale? Then you will want to check out the Persephone Alcmedi series by Linda Robertson!
Vicious Circle introduces you to a young witch, Persephone or Seph to her friends. She has a destiny, and no matter how inconvenient and messed up it will make her life she accepts it and gives it her best try.
She needs to be the balance, the meter of justice. Though she isn’t sure how to do this when she isn’t sure who the bad guys are. You meet some weres, one incredibly sexy bad boy Johnny. You meet some vamps, Menessos who is the epitome of ancient and gallant. Add in the fact that Seph is a witch and she has a connection to each world.
A great start for the series, incredible characters, and enough action without taking away from the ground work of the series.
*copy courtesy of publisher
Separate review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-vicious-circle-by-linda.html
Vicious Circle introduces you to a young witch, Persephone or Seph to her friends. She has a destiny, and no matter how inconvenient and messed up it will make her life she accepts it and gives it her best try.
She needs to be the balance, the meter of justice. Though she isn’t sure how to do this when she isn’t sure who the bad guys are. You meet some weres, one incredibly sexy bad boy Johnny. You meet some vamps, Menessos who is the epitome of ancient and gallant. Add in the fact that Seph is a witch and she has a connection to each world.
A great start for the series, incredible characters, and enough action without taking away from the ground work of the series.
*copy courtesy of publisher
Separate review posted at Reading Between the Wines:
http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/01/review-vicious-circle-by-linda.html
bookfessional's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. Maybe.
This book was kind of ridiculous. And by "kind of" I mean almost completely.
Persephone (our heroine) is a King Arthur-obsessed witch who doesn't give Johnny (our hero) the time of day for six months b/c of his tattoos and the way he dresses. It should be noted that I didn't infer her reasons for giving him the brushoff--she said it, straight out.
She's a witch. And she's intimidated by tattoos. And leather.
She has her "have I been judgmental?" epiphany when her cantankerous grandmother (who notoriously despises all weres) has no objections to Johnny whatsoever. Nana even likes him.
Enter big, scary Menessos (our secondary hero/big bad) who just happens to look exactly like Persephone's dream version of Arthur (yes, the Arthur she dreams about, literally) and that's about as much trite as I can handle.
Inexplicably I find myself undecided about the next book. And that's the only reason this book gets 2.5 stars--I didn't hate it enough to completely rule out the possibility of reading the next book.
This book was kind of ridiculous. And by "kind of" I mean almost completely.
Persephone (our heroine) is a King Arthur-obsessed witch who doesn't give Johnny (our hero) the time of day for six months b/c of his tattoos and the way he dresses. It should be noted that I didn't infer her reasons for giving him the brushoff--she said it, straight out.
She's a witch. And she's intimidated by tattoos. And leather.
She has her "have I been judgmental?" epiphany when her cantankerous grandmother (who notoriously despises all weres) has no objections to Johnny whatsoever. Nana even likes him.
Enter big, scary Menessos (our secondary hero/big bad) who just happens to look exactly like Persephone's dream version of Arthur (yes, the Arthur she dreams about, literally) and that's about as much trite as I can handle.
Inexplicably I find myself undecided about the next book. And that's the only reason this book gets 2.5 stars--I didn't hate it enough to completely rule out the possibility of reading the next book.
nelsonseye's review
3.0
I liked the main character, secondary characters (Nana surprisingly) and the main story. I found some of the spells and tarot stuff hard to follow, but I think that's on me. Finally, I wasn't too fussed about the witch-werewolf-vampire triangle (not my favourite trope at all) but I do think the author set it up/did it well.