Book Review: Silent Circle*
6:00:00 PM
We got to talking in the group message and eventually switched over to email. She was working on the third installment of her current series and we discussed swapping chapters. Of course, I knew I needed to read the first two books in the series in order to get all caught up. Luckily, Cassandra was kind enough to offer a copy of each and sent them my way.
I've always been really interested in this specific genre--young adult + paranormal--even before the whole Twilight phenomenon. So I was more than interested in started Silent Circle. It had all of the elements that usually catch my attention, so it immediately went onto my "to be read" list. Unfortunately, that list was a little long and it took a while before I could get to it. However, that just motivated me to finish the other books as soon as I could!
Synopsis:
“Most teens get a car for their seventeenth birthday. Me? I get inducted into a freaky coven of witches.”
When Emerson wakes up on her seventeenth birthday, she has no idea that her life will change forever. After her mother’s inexplicable suicide three years ago, she’s gotten used to the scorn and sideways looks of her classmates. She knows that everyone believes her mother was crazy, and that it’s only a matter of time before Emerson cracks herself. So when Emerson starts seeing auras and hearing voices, she begins to think that the rest of the town may be right.
That is, until Caiden, an enigmatic boy from her class, tells her that she’s a witch, just like her mother. With the truth revealed, a whole new world opens up to Emerson, a world she soon discovers holds its own dangers.
Caiden agrees to help Emerson navigate this secret world, training her to control her newfound abilities. But Caiden isn’t the only witch in town. When a rival coven shows up to recruit Emerson, she has to decide whether to join Caiden’s coven, or risk facing these dangerous witches alone.
Silent Circle is the first novel in the young adult urban fantasy series, The Witches Circle.
When Emerson wakes up on her seventeenth birthday, she has no idea that her life will change forever. After her mother’s inexplicable suicide three years ago, she’s gotten used to the scorn and sideways looks of her classmates. She knows that everyone believes her mother was crazy, and that it’s only a matter of time before Emerson cracks herself. So when Emerson starts seeing auras and hearing voices, she begins to think that the rest of the town may be right.
That is, until Caiden, an enigmatic boy from her class, tells her that she’s a witch, just like her mother. With the truth revealed, a whole new world opens up to Emerson, a world she soon discovers holds its own dangers.
Caiden agrees to help Emerson navigate this secret world, training her to control her newfound abilities. But Caiden isn’t the only witch in town. When a rival coven shows up to recruit Emerson, she has to decide whether to join Caiden’s coven, or risk facing these dangerous witches alone.
Silent Circle is the first novel in the young adult urban fantasy series, The Witches Circle.
Review:
Before I even began reading the book, I immediately began talking to Cassandra about her book covers. I mean, aren't they gorgeous?! As a fellow photographer, I know how hard photography can be and even if you can get everything to cooperate, the editing can be difficult too. So, I had to give her props for her covers.
To be honest, I don't have too many notes for this book. Usually, I write stuff down in the "notes" app on my iPhone, but I was so interested in the book that I barely wrote anything down! That says a lot about Cassandra's writing! As a reader, a writer, and an editor, I usually have a lot to say about sentence structure, plot lines, and more, but this book is the exception!
The first thing that I noted was how much I liked the hook in the first chapter. I was drawn in by the descriptions and I immediately wanted to read further. I knew that I needed to pace myself so I wouldn't get a migraine, but I ended up finishing the book in just four sittings. Cassandra does a great job keeping the reader interested and changing things up!
I also really liked her main character. I found her very easy to relate to and I wanted to know more about her. Cassandra has a way with descriptions, so readers can really feel like they know the characters in the book. Even when I didn't learn much about someone, I was still able to visualize a character based on her descriptions.
I'd also like to give Cassandra props for her use of vocabulary. As a writer, I'm always looking for great words to replace one's that are overused. My favorites from Silent Circle are sashay, skitters, and saunters. They sound pretty basic, but they can really spice up a scene!
Silent Circle was not only interesting, but it was also informative. Over the last year, I have really gotten into the meanings of stones, herbs, and oils. I haven't mastered them or anything, but I found those sections of the book to be my favorite. After reading Cassandra's author bio, I learned that she has practiced Wicca for nearly a decade. Not only that, but she's even written non-fiction books on the subject! Her knowledge on the topic shows greatly in her writing. I definitely think it added a special touch to the book, that simple research wouldn't have added!
Overall, I would 100% recommend this book! I loved everything about it! Cassandra, of course, set it up to continue the series and I am more than interested in finishing it! I honestly can't wait to start reading the next one and I'll definitely be sharing a review with you guys! Hopefully I'll be able to get my hands on the third book soon too!
If you want to follow up with the author or purchase a copy of the book, please follow the these links:
Have you read Silent Circle? I would love to hear what you thought about it in the comments!
* This book was provided by the author in exchange for a review. However, all opinions and comments in this review are 100% my own. *
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of commission. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I'll receive some type of commission. For more information, you can read our full disclosure here. *
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