[REVIEW] Hallowed Circle – Linda Robertson

Linda Robertson
Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 2)
Simon & Schuster Pocket Juno (US & CA: 29th December 2009; UK: 4th February 2010; AU: 11th February 2010)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

Persephone Alcmedi isn’t just a witch who writes a syndicated newspaper column, kennels wærewolves, lives with her grandmother, and is guardian to a kid. She is also the Lustrata, the Bringer of Justice and Light. Something like that, anyway. Whatever it is, it makes her a Speshul Snowflake. And despite that she’s a solitary witch, she’s gunning to become the next High Priestess of the local coven – or at least stop a certain someone else from gaining that position.

The competition – the Eximium – is by far the highlight here. It takes up only the middle third of the novel, but it’s bloody awesome. As for the rest of the book…it didn’t work for me. Or I didn’t work for it; just couldn’t summon up enthusiasm. My bad.

February 2010 Releases

Before, there were January 2010 Releases. Now come the February 2010 Releases. For future scheduling, check out the Reading Wishlist.

December 2009 Releases

Done with November 2009 Releases? Time for December 2009 Releases, representing my wishlist from US, UK, Canada and Australia publications. For releases further into the future, Reading Wishlist has been freshly updated.

[REVIEW] Vicious Circle – Linda Robertson

Linda Robertson
Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 1)
Simon & Schuster Pocket Juno (US & CA: 30th June 2009; Date; AU: 17th August 2009)
Buy (US) Buy (UK) Buy (CA) Buy (Worldwide)

Persephone Alcmedi is by no means a professional assassin, but she did kill a guy once. Now her secret is no longer safe, and a High Priestess offers to pay Seph mucho moolah to kill Goliath Kane. Who’s a vampire. However, vampire-wizard Menessos is more dangerous, and if he’s going to die, Seph’s going down with him.

A friend in need is a friend indeed, and now Seph’s gone from a quiet home to sharing with six others. Sometimes more. Witches, wærewolves and vampires don’t seem a gratuitous number at first, but as Seph gains more power, she edges closer to Mary Sue territory – and being a “chosen one” of sorts (Lustrata) only confirms that. Beverley is a precocious child, and grandmother Demeter…well, similarities to Janet Evanovich’s character Grandma Mazur are inevitable. While Demeter may be here for comic relief and occasional knowledge, I don’t quite feel that she’s believable or realistic. On the other hand, my grandmothers have a lot more health problems, so I don’t really have another elderly female with whom to compare her.

Then there’s the sub-plot involving Seph’s friends from…high school or college; I don’t remember. One of them’s found religion, which makes things awkward for everyone else. Actually, this sub-plot doesn’t seem to have anything to do with the main plot, and thus could/should have been deleted. Unless Nancy plays a major part in the next book.

The group shares a great rapport, which makes their friendship believable, but my favourite character far and beyond is Amenemhab, a jackal who delivers wisdom during Seph’s meditations. The novel is enjoyable enough, but I was never really in a rush to get back to it, though likely the Melbourne heatwave has robbed me of enthusiasm. I’m still interested in reading Hallowed Circle and Fatal Circle, though.