Juno Books

VICIOUS CIRCLE by Linda Robertson

"I read Linda Robertson's Vicious Circle in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it. It's a rare book that gives you a protagonist you'd like to actually be friends with." -- Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood books

"This urban fantasy has a good plot told in the first person by a feisty heroine with a sense of humor. Well-developed supernatural characters, mystery and a touch of romance add up to an out-of-this-world thriller." (4 Stars) -- RT Booklovers

July 2009
Mass Market Paperback
384 pages | $7.99
ISBN: 978-1-4391-5428-1

On Simon&Schuster.com
Witches and werewolves don't mix...

Being a witch doesn't pay the bills, but Persephone Alcmedi gets by between reading Tarot cards, writing her syndicated newspaper column, and kenneling werewolves in the basement when the moon is full--even if witches aren't supposed to mingle with wolves. She really reaches the end of her leash, though, when her grandmother gets kicked out of the nursing home, and Seph finds herself in the doghouse about some things she's written. Then her werewolf friend Lorrie is murdered...and the high priestess of an important coven offers Seph big money to destroy the killer, a powerful vampire named Goliath Kline. Seph is a tough girl, but this time she bites off more than she can chew. She needs a little help from her friends--werewolf friends. One of those friends, Johnny, the motorcycle-riding lead singer for the techno-metal-Goth band Lycanthropia, has a crush on her. And while Seph has always been on edge around this 6'2" leather-clad hunk, she's starting to realize that while their attraction may be dangerous, nothing could be as lethal as the showdown that awaits them.

Don't miss the second of the Circle Series: Hallowed Circle!

More Reviews

"Ms. Robertson blends tried and true supernatural elements with some fresh ideas of her own, creating an entertaining combination. Vicious Circle moves forward at a steady pace, provides paranormal action, and takes readers on an adventure filled with strong characters and their tangled human emotions. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Persephone Alcmedi series, Hallowed Circle..."--Darque Reviews

"This is an amusing lighthearted...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...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."--Alternative Worlds

"The bare bones of this story will be familiar to urban-fantasy devotees: Werewolves, vampires, faeries, and witches all exist and have become public knowledge in recent years. Girl, tough and feisty, takes it upon herself to dispense justice in a supernatural murder case. Girl is chosen against her will to play a major role in paranormal affairs. Girl is wooed by attractive werewolf and attractive vampire. I was worried Vicious Circle would be just like a hundred other novels with a similar premise, but Linda Robertson does some really interesting things to make her story stand out.

"First, she realistically explores what might happen if supernatural races existed and came out of the closet. Vampires are well-regarded in society due to the glamorous image they have cultivated; faeries have gained acceptance by pretending to be harmless. Weres, however, are treated as second-class citizens. Persephone Alcmedi does her best to fight these attitudes, writing a pro-were newspaper column and renting out her basement to weres as a full-moon shelter. Anti-were prejudice hampers Persephone's mission at every turn. No cop wants to touch a were-related case, and no hospital wants to treat a were patient.

"I was also impressed by the unusually accurate Wicca in Vicious Circle. (OK, so real Wiccans don't shoot visible bolts of brightly colored energy when they cast spells, but that's creative license!) The belief system, the ethical code, and the structure of Persephone's rituals are clearly well-researched.

"Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Persephone is not the misanthropic heroine you might expect. She has a lot of emotional boundaries that keep her from being a social butterfly, but at the same time, she has a powerful protective streak when it comes to those she cares about. "Do you always take care of people?" asks a young girl whom Persephone has just taken under her wing. The answer is yes. In the early pages of Vicious Circle, Persephone finds herself sheltering her grandmother, a Great Dane puppy, a severely injured werewolf, and the aforementioned little girl, along with her usual canine visitors. As the plot unfolds, trying to protect everyone is a full-time job. I found this aspect of Persephone's character refreshing and unusual. "(4 Stars) -- Fantasyliterature. com

"This book has it all. It's a paranormal reader's wet dream: witches, werewolves, vampires and minions. Written with a witty style that will have you laughing in places--it's a real page turner. Ms Robertson has obviously spent a lot of time on research and it shows. This is without a doubt one of the best paranormal books I've read in a while. Refreshing and very witty, Ms Robertson earns a place on my must buy list."--Rites of Romance Reviews

"...Vicious Circle is a smart, action-packed urban fantasy that will have fans everywhere cheering for more! There are so many great characters to choose from that it was hard to choose a favorite, but I did have one. It was Steph's Nana. She wanted to be in the middle of everything, but at the same time didn't like what Steph did. She especially disliked the werewolves. She felt they would hurt her, so she got herself a Great Dane puppy. Just picture a little old lady taking care of a hyper-active puppy." (4 Angels)--Fallen Angels

"Linda Robertson will impress readers with her debut book, VICIOUS CIRCLE. I have to admit the first thing about it that caught my attention was the cover. Persephone is one hot witch. VICIOUS CIRCLE is all you could look for in an urban fantasy, with witches, werewolves, and vampires mixing it up and each adding their own uniqueness to the story. The plot was full of suspense and it held my attention from the first page. I will be waiting anxiously for the release of her next book, HALLOWED CIRCLE to hit the shelves. It continues with a new story about Persephone and her werewolf friends. Ms. Robertson has already got me hooked."--Romance Junkies

"...The paranormal world imagined by Robertson for Vicious Circle has some major differences to the majority of urban fantasy novels about today. The magic is quite low-key, invoked with witchy rituals and used when strictly necessary-which makes a change from all the stories where showy, crowd-pleasing magic is thrown around at the drop of a hat. Guidance from the higher-powers comes in the form of meditation and a totem guide, again a more real world way of communing with the divine.

"If the witches are low-key, the werewolves have definitely drawn the short straw in Vicious Circle. The werewolf condition is passed on through a contagious virus, meaning that most uninfected humans won't go anywhere near them for fear of catching the virus themselves and to protect themselves they have passed all sorts of laws to make werewolves second-class citizens. When the moon is full the werewolves retain no human sensibilities, they are just hungry predators - so...there are no opportunities for the werewolves to have great adventures and use their werewolf skills and strengths to their advantage.

"These differences help to make Vicious Circle stand out from other books in this genre and above all stop Seph from becoming just another self-righteous, monster hunting, gun-toting gung-ho female urban fantasy protagonist in leather pants... And let's face it there are already more than enough of those manly heroines to go around....

"Vicious Circle is a good start to the Persephone Alcmedi series and although fantasy-wise there is little new here, the writer's light touch keeps the story well grounded. Her characters add a feeling of real life to the story, in particular 'Nana', Seph's loveably irritating grandmother is an inspired addition to the story."--Love Vampires

"Linda Robertson has done a great job in creating characters that draw the reader in with their multi-dimensional personalities in her debut novel, Vicious Circle. As the story progresses the plot begins to thicken and twist, and I was quite pleased to know that all was not as it seemed starting with Seph. "The heroine, Seph, has parental issues (who doesn't). She is open minded, caring and compassionate, but most importantly she's smart. It's not "in your face" smart, but she has her moments. She also does a ton of learning about herself, most of which comes from recognizing her own flaws. "The male characters in the book are extremely interesting and mysterious. Wait, did I mention they are smokin'? They are mysterious and we're only allowed peeks at their past and nature. It's intriguing and makes me want more."--Scooper Speaks

"Another new entry into the urban fantasy genre--with an interesting twist to it. Strong women and men interacting to form teams, of sorts. At first glance it is difficult to know who is on which side once you know the argument, so you'd better watch carefully for clues..."--SFREVU

"... this was a breath of fresh air... I read the novel almost straight through. Kudos to Linda Robertson on a great debut. I eagerly await her next novel."--Urban Fantasy Fan:

"All told, Robertson combines an interesting mix of ritual and lore, contemporary affairs and mystery."-- Breeni Books

Vicious Circle fed my craving for an urban fantasy with a heroine I genuinely liked, and a hero who didn't immediately have the heroine in the palm of his hand... The interesting twist that in this world werewolves and witches aren't exactly friendly does make this world stand apart from many of the other Urban Fantasies I've read... A good read with an interesting world and cast of characters, I'll be looking for the next in this series."--Cheeky Reads

Vicious Circle hooked me in 10 pages flat... Kudos to author Linda Robertson for a remarkable first effort. A worthwhile read."--Tour's Books Blog:

"... an enjoyable novel with a fascinating world... If you like urban fantasy, check this out."--A Community of Bookworms Who Love Fantasy

About the Author

LINDA ROBERTSON is the mother of four wonderful boys, owns three electric guitars, is followed around by two big dogs, and loves one rockin' fella named Jim. Once upon a time she was a lead guitarist in a heavy metal cover band and has worked as a graphic artist. She still composes and creates art, when time permits. Linda is currently the webmistress and Art Director for Strictly 7 Guitars, Jim's seven-string guitar company. She writes and rocks in northeast Ohio.

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