Review - Hallowed Circle (Persephone Alcmedi, Book 2) by Linda Robertson (4.5/5 stars)

Reading level: Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Size: 384 pages
Publisher: Pocket
Release Date: December 29, 2009
ISBN-13: 978-1439156780
Stand Alone or Series: 2nd book in the Persephone Alcmedi
Source: Paperbackswap.com
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

This is the second book in the Persephone Alcmedi series.  There are nine books planned in this series, with the fifth book Wicked Circle, planned for a December 2011 release.  I really enjoyed this book even more than Vicious Circle (Book 1). I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series, but enough back story is given that it's not absolutely necessary.

This book picks up shortly after the first book ends.  Persephone (Seph) is trying to adjust to the idea of being the Lustrata, housing a young girl, housing her older mother, and housing Johnny the werewolf who is protecting her.  In addition to that she is finding that being bound to the vampire wizard Menessos has given her some strange new powers.  Then two things happen; first she is nominated to enter the competition to become the local Coven's next High Preistess and second a fairy comes to warn her that other fairies will be out for her blood because of her relationship to Menessos.

The majority of the book deals with Seph competing for the position of High Priestess.  Seph's issues with all the other people in her life are woven around this competition and eventually everything ties together.  I really enjoyed how Seph grew as a character in this book.  Seph is great, she is always out to help people, remains very down to earth, and yet still comes off as a tough girl at times.  Johnny and Menessos are also intriguing characters with complex pasts that you really want to learn more about. 

This book was more solid urban fantasy than paranormal romance; which I love.  There are a couple hot scenes between Seph and Johnny, but that is definitely not the focus of the book.  I love that Seph appears to be a one man girl; at least so far...

The plot was very well done.  Robertson has a number of different plot elements going on, but they are very well woven together and never seem too frantic.   I was impressed with how all of these plot elements came together in the end (everything seemed well planned out) and with how the story was set up to continue on into the next book, Fatal Circle.

Robertson also does an incredibly good job of explaining the magic system in her books.  I really love that; I hate it when there is no system or thought behind magic. You can tell that Robertson has really thought through her magic system.  The action scenes were also very well done and the pacing is perfect.  This was a hard book to put down and I found myself incredibly engaged throughout the whole story.  There is humor woven throughout which makes the book even more fun to read and lightens things up so that the book never gets too dark.

Overall I was very impressed with this book and really enjoyed it.  The characters are interesting and engaging, the plot well woven, the writing easy to read and fun, action scenes are well done, the magic system also well put together and interesting.  Seph is a character you really grow to love and you can't help but cheer her on.  Robertson has created a world and characters that are a step above many other urban fantasies out there.  Fans of The Hollows series by Kim Harrison, Jane Yellowrock by Faith Hunter, October Daye by Seanan McGuire, Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, and similar authors should give this series a try.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
- Horror and Urban Fantasy Challenge
- 100+ Reading Challenge