BEA'S BOOK NOOK "I can't imagine a man really enjoying a book and reading it only once." C. S. Lewis “If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.” ― Oscar Wilde

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Review of Shattered Circle by Linda Robertson

Publisher: Pocket Books
Series: Persephone Alcmedi #6
Format Read: paperback
Source: the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Buying Links: Amazon* | Book Depository* | Barnes & Noble
* affiliate links; the blog receives a small commission for purchases made through these links.

Blurb from goodreads:

After her werewolf boyfriend, Johnny, tried to kill her, Persephone Alcmedi finds herself in the comforting arms of powerful vampire Menessos. She’s trying to sort out her feelings for the two men, but not even Seph is above the confusion of tangled emotions. All Johnny wants to do is mend their relationship and reveal the life-altering news he’s recently received, but his new responsibilities as the werewolf king take up most of his time.

Does this mean Menessos can finally make his move?

Meanwhile, unknown to Seph, her beloved foster daughter, Beverley, has been playing with a magical artifact and making dubious friends on the other side. When Beverley disappears, Seph must seek help from a supernatural being so potent that even Menessos fears him...and such aid always comes with a very steep price.



Bea's Thoughts:

Wow. There was A LOT going on on this book - waerewolf politics, vampire politics, deity politics, even some human politics, romance, revenge, destiny, and more. Like the last book, read this in or two gulps so you can keep track of what's going on. There are also many characters and I sometimes had to page back to remember who was who.

I had thought that this was the last book in the series but I see from the author's website that she's working on the next book. That's good as this one left some loose plot threads and open story lines while others were resolved and the book ends on an ambiguous note. The series could end with this one but there would still be questions. I hope though that Robertson doesn't drag out the series as it's starting to show some cracks; the non-stop action, threads and danger are starting to lose their edge and become soap opera-ish.

Seph, Johnny, and Menessos are still dealing with the fallout from events in earlier books and there are new complications. It seems as if they never get a break; the whole world is out to get them or so it seems. The story is complex and complicated as it follows our triumvirate and their mostly separate struggles with the their changing fortunes. A recurring theme in the books is that of responsibility - accepting it, rejecting it, what is it, and juggling conflicting ones. All three, but Seph and Johnny especially, have grown over the series; their attitudes, outlooks, and perspectives have changed and we've been along for the ride. I liked Johnny better in this book than I did the previous one.

There's a new character introduced that I have mixed feelings about. His true identity was kept secret for reasons that were all too convenient and his interest in Persephone is unclear. Why is she important to him? Why did he hide his name for so long? What is his end game? We don't get the answers to those questions. He does serve to bring the triumvirate together in a way they weren't before but it's a bit too convenient for me. He has a lot of potential though and could make a strong adversary for Seph, Johnny, and Menessos. Beverly again is not around much and when she is around she's mostly asleep or unconscious. She herself does very little though her actions at the beginning of the book drive much of what happens later. I would have liked to see her in a more active role particularly given what Robertson does to her. Honestly, I'd have preferred to see her stay as she was and I'm not sure what the changes will mean to the series as a whole.

Despite those niggles, this was a solid book, well-written and engaging. I'm still enjoying this series.

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6 comments:

  1. This sounds like a cool series althought I think the Lon list of characters will turn me off. I hate it when that happens coz it makes me not connect to them at all.

    At least you managed to wade through that and still enjoyed this.

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    1. If I weren't invested in the series, the long character list would have turned me off for sure. It's a good series but you do have to pay attention. If you like urban fantasy, you should give it a try.

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  2. Hmmm. I haven't tried her yet! Glad you still enjoyed it despite some little troubles.

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    Replies
    1. She's not my favorite but I do enjoy her writing. At some point, give her a try.

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  3. Hmmm, I'm not sure about picking this series up, maybe it would be best left for a time when I have a bit more brain energy to devote to reading for pleasure, it seems like the story is more complex and not really brain candy.

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, it's not the series to pick up when you're looking for something light and easy. But it's worth the time and attention.

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