Vicious Circle (Persephone Alcmedi Series #1)

Witches, Werewolves and Vampires...Oh My!

This book was pretty good. I mean, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but overall, I'd still say it was good. I think I originally picked up this book because of the cover (it fit with one of my challenges) and because the synopsis sounded fantastic. In my opinion, it didn't live up to the promises of the synopsis, but nonetheless enjoyable.


I keep going over and over my feelings for this book trying to figure out why I felt the way I did. I mean, the storyline was pretty good, so what it really comes down to, for me, was the writing and the main character. The writing wasn't my favorite. Not that it was really bad or anything, but it confused me some of the time. There were so many new terms that were not explained and you had to kind of figure it out along the way, it was frustrating. I think because the terms would pop up and you'd be like did they already tell me what this was? I kept scrolling back in the book to see if I'd missed something. I will say this about the writing though, it got better as I read and I didn't feel the need to put the book down at all which is always a good sign. By the end of the book, the writing felt better to me.


As for the main character, Persephone, she annoyed me. Not all the time mind you, but a lot of the time she just annoyed me. I don't think I could understand her a ton. She seemed so embarrassed of who she was to anyone who was human. It was like she had 2 personalities. Looking back now, I think the author did that on purpose, but throughout the book I kept palming my forehead and thinking really Persephone, are you really that big of a shallow idiot!! Granted, I think a lot of the time she really was *palms forehead* I am a girl, and I don't think I will ever understand my own race...

But, there were a lot of redeeming qualities in the book. For one, it had a twisted plot. I kept trying to guess what was going to happen next all the way up until the end. Also, I really liked Persephone's Nana and the male werewolf hottie, Johnny. Now, as all you readers know, I'm a victim of The Bad Boy Complex and Johnny really fits into that. I think, maybe a lot of that was the tattoos and piercings and his genius at innuendos (I've got a knack for those), but he kept me reading and I wanted to get in as much of him as possible. As for Nana, I always like an old woman who may appear weak but can bust out the moves when necessary. I believe, wholeheartedly, that Nana fit that picture. Yeah, she was pesky and sneaky at times, but it fit her character terribly well.

All that being said, I will definitely be reading the sequel for a couple reasons. First of all, I think that Robertson's writing is going to be so much better in the next book, I could just feel it (I'm a dork...). Plus, now that I know all the jacked up terms from the first book, I shouldn't be so confused. Secondly (or is that thirdly?), at the end of book one, Persephone has a kind of epiphany so I think I've grown to understand her a lot better. I'm hoping that she won't annoy me as much anymore. Last of all (which kind of nicks the "couple" statement), I want some more Johnny and I'm very curious to see what happens with the vampires I met towards the end of the book.

So, I guess what I'm saying, is that this may not be the best book I've read, but I'd say it was worth it and I'm hankering for the sequel soon which I think will be way better than the first. *crosses fingers* I'll keep ya posted!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Walk Softly but Carry a Big Stick.'er Stake...

Imagine you are witch just minding your own witchy business. And then imagine that you are drawn neck deep into a murder, are conned into taking a hit out on a vampire (and haven't the foggiest on how to "off" someone), and housing one very sexy rock n' roll waerewolf. All with your elderly crabby nana nipping at your heels, a ciggy ever present at her lips. Such is the case of Linda Robertson's Vicious Circle. Robertson gently clubs you over the head with a thrilling read.


One of the things that make Persephone Alcmedi so appealing is that she is not an overtly powerful character-at least not right off the bat. That doesn't mean that she doesn't have some serious clout. Rather Robertson has hammered her into a gentle but very resilient witch. She's not the bad ass that rolls into town on a motorcycle with a rifle strapped to her back. But she definitely does rise to the occasion when it is needed. Here we have a character who for all intents and purposes, is virtually clueless about the supernatural world outside of her own sphere.


As a solitary, but hereditary witch with significant power, and a few waerewolf friends to call her own, life was pretty simple. Readers get to journey with Seph as she learns that she is capable of so much more and an astounding destiny awaits her as the Lustrata. The reader is drawn to this as the character develops. And as for Menessos.woo-wee..Robertson has spared no expense in drawing him. As much as Johnny will give everyone a rock n' roll heartache, Menessos is definitely the one to watch. He will make you pant for more.


Robertson has all the cues, all the required ingredients to make a hot pot of chili and she is quite the cooker so far, but let's ratchet up the pace of the plot, toss in some more cayenne (just a smidge), and set the burner to simmer and you'll have one heck of a firecracker. This series has great potential and I will definitely be reading more of Linda Robertson!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great read!

A fast-paced, fun read with compelling characters and plenty of plot twists to keep the reader guessing. I devoured this book...can't wait for the sequel! Wonderful for fans of urban fantasy.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is an amusing lighthearted chick lit urban fantasy

Persephone "Seph" Alcmedi is a witch, but pays her bills with other paranormal practices like reading tarot cards and writing a newspaper column. Seph also breaks the rules of witch-hood and the city ordinance by running a kennel in her basement to keep werewolves out of trouble during the full moon. Everyone knows the Were and witches are like an oilman and a tree hugger.

Seph is outraged when her grandma is kicked to the curb by her nursing home management. She puts that on hold when a vampire kills her were-friend Lorrie Kordell. She is offered a hell of a lot cash to bring the bloody killer to justice. However, the predator Goliath Kline is too dangerous for a mere witch to restrain so she turns to Johnny the lead singer of techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia, who has more than a crush on her; a feeling she reciprocates though she hides it from the biker using grandma as her heart guard.

This is an amusing lighthearted chick lit urban fantasy that stars a female David witch struggling with her bills, grandma, and Johnny battling Goliath the invincible cruel vampire; Vegas would never allow betting on this one. The story line is breezy from the onset as a frustrated Persephone wishes her kennel guests would keep the Krispy Kreme boxes off her lawn before the neighbors howl about her garbage and never slows down. Fans will appreciate this jocular tale in which the plot is never quite serious as the kennel master witch turns amateur sleuth leading to a showdown with a vampire who will enjoy drinking bewitching blood.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

On the Fence About This One Review brought to you by OBS staff

On the Fence About This One

Review brought to you by OBS staff member Verushka

There is nothing more hilarious than seeing a name spelled like “Gavyn” in an urban fantasy novel. It reeks of someone trying too hard to make a character stand out and more often than not plays out like an overbearing mother trying too hard to make her kid unique.

Then there are names like Persephone Isis Alcmedi, a mouthful I would pity any child having. However, we meet Seph as she is called in this book as an adult, a pagan witch who is currently living with her grandmother, Demeter and their great Dane puppy Ares, formerly known as Poopsie. No really. Seph’s is named for the Greek Queen of the Underworld, Persephone and Isis, the Greek Goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility, not to mention a friend of slaves, sinners and the downtrodden. Wikipedia tells me, she listened to the rich as well. This makes for an interesting combination for Seph, who lives up to both her names – she is a friend to werewolves, kenneling those that trust her through their monthly change, and an instrument of vengeance in the same breath. It is that which makes up much of the book.

She isn’t particularly bloodthirsty, but she has a streak of justice a mile wide, something Vivian Diamond, a witch is counting on when she comes to Seph to find the killer of Lorrie, a werewolf she was helping. Lorrie, a close friend of Seph, who kenneled with her, moved away some time before the book begins and Seph had lost touch with her and her daughter, Beverly. But not before Lorrie had come to her for help with a stalker that Seph claims she accidentally killed through much of the book. Vivian wants to know who killed Lorrie, wants the killer taken care of and what follows is a well thought out case, that is designed to shed light on Seph, and her links with the others – werewolves, vamps and witches within this world.

Seph isn’t a vigilante in this, she merely wants to help set right the wrongs she sees. Despite her taking the case of finding Lorrie’s killer and promising Vivian the vengeance she seeks, I never got the feeling that Seph was as bloodthirsty as that agreement suggested. She is a character that wants to help, that writes columns on the unfair treatment of werewolves in hospitals and normal society, something which plays a lot into this book.

By the end of the book, thanks to the werewolves she surrounds herself with, and her heritage, on her father’s side (who she’s never known) she discovers something unique about herself that explains her desire for justice and her reticence in doing whatever to achieve it. It’s the beginning of a interesting battle for her, within herself, and one that isn’t easy. Or so I hope...

I am still on the fence about this book for some reason – it’s engaging, well thought out with a likeable female heroine, who has some struggles ahead of her that I can appreciate. I’m hoping it’s first-bookitis, where in the main purpose of the book is to set up a world, and it is one of the hardest ones to write in a series I think. It’s worth picking up the second novel in this series though.

See the full review and more at openbooksociety dot com

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Verushka There is nothing more h

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Verushka

There is nothing more hilarious than seeing a name spelled like “Gavyn” in an urban fantasy novel. It reeks of someone trying too hard to make a character stand out and more often than not plays out like an overbearing mother trying too hard to make her kid unique.

Then there are names like Persephone Isis Alcmedi, a mouthful I would pity any child having. However, we meet Seph as she is called in this book as an adult, a pagan witch who is currently living with her grandmother, Demeter and their great Dane puppy Ares, formerly known as Poopsie. No really. Seph’s is named for the Greek Queen of the Underworld, Persephone and Isis, the Greek Goddess of motherhood, magic and fertility, not to mention a friend of slaves, sinners and the downtrodden. Wikipedia tells me, she listened to the rich as well. This makes for an interesting combination for Seph, who lives up to both her names – she is a friend to werewolves, kenneling those that trust her through their monthly change, and an instrument of vengeance in the same breath. It is that which makes up much of the book.

She isn’t particularly bloodthirsty, but she has a streak of justice a mile wide, something Vivian Diamond, a witch is counting on when she comes to Seph to find the killer of Lorrie, a werewolf she was helping. Lorrie, a close friend of Seph, who kenneled with her, moved away some time before the book begins and Seph had lost touch with her and her daughter, Beverly. But not before Lorrie had come to her for help with a stalker that Seph claims she accidentally killed through much of the book. Vivian wants to know who killed Lorrie, wants the killer taken care of and what follows is a well thought out case, that is designed to shed light on Seph, and her links with the others – werewolves, vamps and witches within this world.

Seph isn’t a vigilante in this, she merely wants to help set right the wrongs she sees. Despite her taking the case of finding Lorrie’s killer and promising Vivian the vengeance she seeks, I never got the feeling that Seph was as bloodthirsty as that agreement suggested. She is a character that wants to help, that writes columns on the unfair treatment of werewolves in hospitals and normal society, something which plays a lot into this book.

By the end of the book, thanks to the werewolves she surrounds herself with, and her heritage, on her father’s side (who she’s never known) she discovers something unique about herself that explains her desire for justice and her reticence in doing whatever to achieve it. It’s the beginning of a interesting battle for her, within herself, and one that isn’t easy. Or so I hope.

There is a wealth of supporting characters here, some which suffer because of the sheer number. That doesn’t detract from those that get the author’s attention – Johnny, a werewolf, and love interest, Demeter her grandmother and Beverly, Lorrie’s kid – are the main supporting cast that shape who Seph is in this book, with the ending promising a different set in future novels.

I am still on the fence about this book for some reason – it’s engaging, well thought out with a likeable female heroine, who has some struggles ahead of her that I can appreciate. I’m hoping it’s first-bookitis, where in the main purpose of the book is to set up a world, and it is one of the hardest ones to write in a series I think. It’s worth picking up the second novel in this series though.

Excellent Read

Interesting plot and characters. Kept me reading way past bedtime. Just got the second book in this series and now my weekend is set!

Persephone and Johnny- a Fairie Stalk Mother's point of View

I've always stood my ground when someone asks me to recommend a book to them and yet again Linda has given me more reason to blurt her name out to people. Even perfect strangers in the book store. Another winning novel!

A Slow Start....

The book started really slow in the beginning. Once you past about 50-100 pages it starts getting better. I couldn't get enough after that and was saddened to see it end. A great start for a series.

A Viciously-Creative and Wicked start to a New Urban Fantasy Series!

This book started off a bit slow but quickly accumulated speed and never stopped. Persephone is a witch living in a world where preternaturals are all out of the closet and fighting for survival among judgmental humans. Humans are predictable as always; prejudice and holier-than-thou until they get enough exposure to whatever frightens them that they stop caring or just accept the situation. The preternaturals set in this world, are persecuted to the extent that clear crimes against them go intentionally unsolved or blatantly ignored by human law enforcement. When Seph's waerewolf friend Lorrie is murdered in a ritualistic fashion, she is propositioned to find the killer and secretly execute them. Seph appears clearly out of her league when she realizes the killer might be a powerful vampire. Seph, never one to opt out or back down, invokes all the strength she can muster and enlists the aid of her waere friends to help her dole out vengeance. But how do you snare and trap a vampire that has the advantage of age-old wisdom, the sense of entitlement and superiority and can spot a scheme and connive a mile away? I really enjoyed this book and its clear humor. Seph is a witchy-heroine that you can believe in. She is brave and not afraid to take chances to protect the weak or her loved ones. I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book in the series Hallowed Circle due out 12/29/09.

Couldn't put it down...

I enjoyed this book immensely! For a first novel, this author did a outstanding job. I always enjoy adding a new author to my list and I'm definitely looking forward to the next novel.

Fast Read

This book was exactly what I'd hope it'd be. A fast, entertaining read. I read it in two days. I could barely put it down. The characters were engaging without being two-dimensional or hackneyed; their depth was unexpected. The pace was relentless. I loved the chain-smoking Nana and the guitar-playing Johnny. It's not Shakespeare, and it's not trying to be, but it was still tailored from quality writing. Even though it's an entertaining read, the penmanship was superior to a lot of other books in this genre; nice symbolism, occcasional poetic prose, mastery of description. This book makes itself noteworthy in its category.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.