The Secret Circle

By: L.J. Smith

L.J. actually stands for Lisa Jane.. and all this while i thought LJ was a "HE"..

my mistake.

anyway.. this book didnt disappoint me.. it was one of those few books i felt compelled to give standing ovation at the end of it..

**** clap-clap-clap ****
:D

ya.. i got it bad..

the story started out just ok.. esp in the 1st chapter.. by the 3rd or 4th chapter - there's nothing much i can do to put down the book.

i was hooked big time..
and u think u got it BAD with twilight??

you havent read this one yet.

its originally a trilogy
1: The Initiation
2: The Captive
3: The Power

- now reprinted into two parts.. it was first published somewhere in 1992..

yup... that long ago.
but believe me.. LJ SMITH is making a big comeback..

and i mean b.i.g.
make that capital B.I.G.

well.. the story opens with a girl named Cassie who felt like an outsider for most of her life.. it was during summer holiday when she met Adam and felt an instant connection (almost the same as the imprint concept in twilight though i think Smith started the whole thing - now that i think about it) with. she helped him and he was gone before she could even asked for his name. fast forward after summer, she had to move to New Salem. and this is where the story gets more and more interesting.

On the first day itself in New Salem, Cassie made an enemy out of Faye.. one of the girl from the in-crowd whom is also part of The Club who rule the school and not even the teacher can do anything about the trouble they're causing in the school.

All the club members stay in the same area called Crowhaven Road, as is where Cassie's staying.

What Cassie doesnt know was that The Club is actually a coven of witch. also, what Cassie doesnt know was that she is actually a descendant of powerful witches..

you know.. Salem.. witch.. burning.. you do know about the Salem Witch Trial kan?? well, its connected to all that..

well.. she was being bullied one day.. and a girl, Diana whom is the leader of The Club helped her and upon knowing that Cassie stayed in the same area, she took Cassie in as her "adopted" sister and they became close.

due to some events im not gonna reveal here.. Cassie was initiated to be part of The Club to complete the circle which should be 12 of them. but at the moment there were only 11 of them.

After the initiation, Diana's boyfriend came back.. and it was the same guy Cassie met during her summer holiday. Adam - the 12th member of the circle.

yup. the story of the forbidden love. You cant help but loving Cassie's character and yet there is absolutely no reason to hate Diana. both a strong character and the nicest people u ever met (in book - that is).. and you can understand the dilemma Cassie and Adam had.

Its not so much of love story that draws me to this book.. that is only 20% - 30% at most..?? the rest are all about the fights between good and evil (as always).. spells.. stones... all those witch craft thingy. im not sure what was it about this book but there is definitely something about this book that should've made it BIG a long time ago..

the only slack part about this book was that the book ends with the 2nd book. im hoping for a sequel.. i dunno, a comeback of the villain.. anything actually for a sequel..

having read ALMOST all her books, which i will do the review when i rajin.. i have to say it here.. though - NOT - in a very definite tone.. that meyer must've gotten some of her BASIC idea from smith.

just my opinion.
:)

so LK or MK (whomever yg got extra cash)... go and get this book..
THIS IS A MUST READ.

and i cant emphasize that any bolder or bigger than that.

over and out.