|
The Secret Circle: The Initiation and The Captive Part I (The Secret Circle) | 
 enlarge | Author: L. J. Smith
Publisher: HarperTeen
Category: Book
List Price: $8.99
Buy New: $5.04
You Save: $3.95 (44%)
This item is no longer available
Rating:  8 reviews
Sales Rank: 26141
Media: Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 416
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 1
ISBN: 0061670855
EAN: 9780061670855
ASIN: 0061670855
Publication Date: August 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The circle's power has lured her home Forced to move from sunny California to gloomy New England, Cassie longs for her old life. Even so, she feels a strange kinship to a terrifying group of teens who seem to rule her school. Initiated into the coven of witches that's controlled New Salem for hundreds of years, she's drawn into the Secret Circle, a thrill that's both intoxicating and deadly. But when she falls for the mysterious and intriguing Adam, Cassie must choose whether to resist temptation or risk dark forces to get what she wants—even if it means that one wrong move could ultimately destroy her.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 3 more reviews...
Still Love The Series October 6, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I absolutely loved this series when I was a kid and I was thrilled to see that the books were being re-printed. I slightly wished that they would have swapped out a couple of words or phrases that really dated the books - like references to clothing styles, music, etc. I think the essence of the books would have remained the same if the gang wasn't trekking around in bicycle pants and scrunchies while listening to their boom boxes - I'm exaggerating, but I still think they could have updated some of the blaringly outdated references in the book by replacing a few words just to make it a little more relevant to YA's right now. That's just my opinion it certainly doesn't diminish how much I still love these books - even years later.
I think Aurie's review is right on the money. Teens love transformation (duckling to swan) stories with a supernatural twist - and Smith does a great job of developing the characters and making them very compelling and relatable - particularly Cassie.
I really enjoyed the Twilight series and I re-read The Secret Circle right around the time I was reading Twilight and I thought there were some interesting similarities in the characters and language. When I was reading, I wondered if Meyer was inspired by Smith. Cassie and Bella are very similar characters - both initially described as plain, ordinary, and not super outgoing. Both transform and ultimately save the day and get the guy. I know the recipe is pretty common in YA, but some of the stylistic shifts just felt like deja vu. For example, when Cassie was describing looking at herself in the mirror before going to the dance - it was the same tone shift that Meyer used when Bella looked at herself in the window on her wedding day. That's probably why I liked both book series so much - the meat and potatoes were different (witches vs. vampires) but the skeleton or core was basically the same. I would love to know if Meyer was influenced by Smith's books - it would make a lot of sense.
I would highly recommend these books to YA's or anyone who enjoys the YA genre.
 Captivating, but . . . September 22, 2008
This is a very captivating and entertaining book. I read a lot of urban fantasy books and was turned onto this author, believe it or not, through my niece. Because of her insistence, I have recently read some of her teen paranormal books and have quite enjoyed them. I first read the Vampire Diaries and then bought this book and will give it to my niece. It held my interest so much that I absolutely did not want to put down the book until I was finished.
My one problem (big one) with this is that it abruptly cuts off right in the middle of something very important/interesting. I then figured out that the trilogy is split into two books, with the 2nd book in the original trilogy being split between the two new releases. I would definitely recommend waiting until the 2nd is released (12/23/08) before starting the first book.
Epic Win September 7, 2008
Ah, The Secret Circle. Quite simply, I adore these books. I'm absolutely thrilled that they're being re-released, as my old copies are now quite creased and have started to fall apart. I finally get to replace them! Though I'll never throw the originals away, mostly because I would feel like that was sacrilege, but also because I don't like these new covers nearly as much as the old ones.
Yes, these books are THAT good. I first read them as a young teenager, because my sister and I were both big fans of Smith's Vampire Diaries saga. At first we were both confused, because we thought these TSC would be about vampires, too. We quickly decided that witches were just as much fun to read about as vampires!
(very minor spoilers below, beware)
The heroine of this trilogy is Cassie Blake, and she is a character that every girl reading the books will both relate to and admire. As a younger reader, I remember feeling really elated by this, because if I was even a little bit like Cassie, I must be a better person than my teenage mind gave me credit for. And I think that new readers will come to the same realization.
As the story starts, Cassie is fairly ordinary, or at least she sees herself that way. She's average looking and fairly shy. She doesn't stand up for herself, and she's easily intimidated. Smith never writes her as a COWARD, though, just as a timid, typical teenage girl who desperately longs to fit in with her peers. When she first sees Diana (who later becomes her best friend), she assumes that Diana is out of her league because Diana is beautiful. A very realistic reaction, in my opinion, and one I had many times in high school.
As the books progress, so does Cassie. She slowly begins to realize her own potential without compromising who she was in the very first chapter. She's a character who follows her heart and tries to do what she really believes is right. She makes mistakes, definitely, and is far from perfect, but even when she deliberately does the wrong thing, she feels guilty about it and tries to clean up whatever messes she helped cause. When forced to choose, she almost always chooses her family and friends over her own wants. I think she's a fantastic role model for tween readers (and adult readers, too, come to think).
All of Smith's characters are very richly developed. Diana, the beautiful best friend, seems absolutely perfect at first. She's eternally kind and loving and generous and innocent. But it becomes clear that she's also TOO naive at times, TOO trusting. Faye, who is the anti-Diana, isn't as bad as she is initially portrayed. Her selfish/nasty aspects don't go away (which would be unrealistic and less fun), but her more redeeming qualities are brought to light the more the reader and Cassie get to know her.
This story is exciting and interesting. At its core, it's about Cassie discovering who she is. It just so happens that she's from a long line of witches. At the time when I first read The Initiation and The Captive, I had never read a story quite like it. I realize now that the YA market is full of supernatural paperbacks, so I don't know if that will still be true for new readers. Witchcraft, soulmates, magic, a mysterious evil... seems like a lot of books use this recipe now-a-days. But what I think makes Secret Circle (and all of Smith's books, really) stand apart, is how readers really FEEL what the leading character is feeling. Despite all the supernatural aspects, these books seem so genuine and real, because Cassie's thoughts and emotions are so understandable.
L.J. Smith will forever be one of my favorite authors because of this trilogy. It not only has been a personal joy to read and reread, but it has added to the bond that I share with my sister who first introduced me to Smith's books so many years ago. We've often read the books together, so much so that, for her 30th birthday in November, I've recently purchased her a piece of chalcedony carved in the shape of a rose (I'm a total nerd, I realize, but I know she'll immediately understand what it is and that it's my way of saying I love her and miss our childhood days).
To sum up, these books are full of awesome. I can't imagine anyone not enjoying them.
Excellent, Amazing, Great, Awesome, and other adjectives . . . August 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have read much of L.J. Smith's work. Alright all of it. And ALL of her work is very well done, The Secret Circle Trilogy being no exception.
Smith is great at hooking the reader right off the bat with the appearance of a mysterious stranger on a beach. Cassie Blake, the central character, is a shy girl at first and totally relatable and down to earth. The antagonists are really awful, and "hateable". The plotline is in NO way predictable and flows wonderfully, with a constant build and hardly any lull in action. Each character is unique and easily discerned from the others, and their interaction is natural and fun! Cassie blossoms from a shy girl something more through her discovery of the Secret Circle.
Seriously. Read it.
L.J. Smith has done it again! August 18, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
i didnt hesitate to buy since i am a fan of her books. she never dissapoints that's for sure. i loved Cassie's character and she got her emotions perfect. It sucks to be the new kid, she made all the choices (wrog or right) that anyoe in her position would have made. Adam reminded me (in a weird way of a more relaxed Edward from Twilight) but i was confussed if this was a republished book or new entirely. but either way it was awesome. i couldnt help but like Nick, i htink he was my fav boy character, yeah i liked Adam but there's something about Nick that i dunno.....anyway the book is great i would recomend it to anyone who loves a good story with twist. :)
|
|
|
Powered by Associate-O-Matic
| |
