Customer Reviews

Inner Circle (Private, Book 5)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When 15-year-old Reed Brennan earned a scholarship to the prestigious Easton Academy, she thought that it was finally her chance to escape the small town living of Croton, Pennsylvania; as well as her pill-popping, practically catatonic mother, and the drama that accompanied her. For once, she would have the ability to be around scholars, receive a good education, and, if all went well, rub elbows with the various fashion-forward celebutantes who called Easton their home for the high school years. While all of the above came true, however, during her sophomore year, Reed found herself more in a state of perpetual fear and mortification, as opposed to comfort. After being taken in by the "Billings Girls" - Noelle, Ariana, Kiran, and Taylor - Reed was under the impression that she would be able to coast through her high school career. After all, as a Billings Girl, you are entitled to privileges that many students - no matter how good their connections - only dream about. But after a year full of heartbreak, corruption, hazing, murder, and loss of friendships, Reed can't help but hope that her junior year at Easton will be, hopefully, a little less stressful. Unfortunately, at Easton, the former seems impossible.

After debating about whether or not to return to Easton after a killer year, Reed takes the plunge, and decides that she'll stick it out at the posh prep school, sans her murderous friends from last year. Returning to Billings, Reed is concentrating on passing her classes - with flying colors - and spending as much time with her boyfriend, Josh, whom she hasn't seen since the summer began. With her formers friends out of the picture, six places are left to be filled in Billings, and, for the first time in her life, Reed will have the chance to vote in who she thinks are the best candidates to take those spots. But her dreams are dashed when a new headmaster announces himself to the student body of the ivy-covered academy, and, with his debut, reveals that Billings is banned from holding the traditional, secretive initiation that has made them so coveted for the past eighty-years. Instead, six students - Constance, Missy, Astrid, Kiki, Lorna, and a new student named Sabine - have been chosen to fill the six coveted slots, without any say from the Billings Girls. While Reed feels cheated by the new revelation, she accepts the decision, and tries to concentrate on her personal life, which involves Noelle's old boyfriend, Dash. But Cheyenne Martin refuses to take this new rule lying down, feeling that the new rules are a mockery to Billings residents of the past. Cheyenne, as an outgoing senior, wants to make this year one for the record books; and she'll do anything to keep tradition alive, regardless of who, or what, stands in her way.

I have counted down the days until INNER CIRCLE's release since I turned the last page of CONFESSIONS, and I couldn't be more pleased. Kate Brian has, once again, penned another amazing installment to the PRIVATE collection, creating various twists and turns on each and every page that literally make you salivate to learn what will happen next; and introducing an array of new characters who keep the story flowing smoothly. As vicious as Noelle, Ariana, Kiran, and Taylor were, their presence was sorely missed with INNER CIRCLE. However, the introduction of island honey, Sabine, as well as an inside look at Cheyenne Martin more than made up for it. Reed, as always, is an irresistible character, whose good morals, and refusal to back down, even when forced to tango with creepy backstabbers makes her appealing from start to finish. Her romance with Josh is utterly adorable; while her welcoming nature, and attempt to take newcomer Sabine under her wing only makes you enjoy her presence even more. While Cheyenne Martin was introduced to the series in CONFESSIONS, she appeared as a fairly sweet individual. So is not the case. In INNER CIRCLE, Brian gives us the opportunity to meet the "real" Cheyenne. The one who will battle anyone - or anything - to get her way; and stops at nothing to make everyone's lives miserable. Sure, her fashion sense is fabulous, but her personality leaves much to be desired. However, her nastiness is a wonderful contrast to Reed's kindness, and only makes the little "catfights" between the two more interesting. Sabine is a fun new character. Her funky fashion, and ability to be as conniving as the next girl - even with minimal knowledge of Easton's ranks - is humorous, and makes you love her even more with each passing page. As always, Brian has woven a tight, classic tale that brings the hallowed halls of Easton back to life; and, with a killer cliffhanger, sets the series up for an amazing sequel. This is one INNER CIRCLE you'll be clawing to get into!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

I liked this book a lot, because it kept my wondering as to what was going to happen next. With the new girl Sabine as Reeds new friend and roomate in Billings, it puts a bug up Cheyennes craw, making her determined to get the new girls, who were not voted into Billings but put there by administration, kicked out. With six new spots in Billings taken up by six people who aren't neccesarily Billings material, it put Cheyenne on a mission to see those who aren't fit for Billings to leave. But things don't always go as planned when Reed stands up and fights for the girls, creating a split that will lead to many dangerous events. With Reed getting a blast from the past, a secret contact that makes her wonder what if? will her relationship with her maybe not so perfect boyfriend Josh last? find out, cause you have got to read the new phase in Reed's life. The ending is such a shocker, I don't think anyone really saw it coming. Trust me, if you enjoyed the other books, you're going to want to finish this book so fast, and the ending will have you begging for more to read. I'm already wishing the next one was out and on the stands.

Another year has begun at Easton Academy, and junior Reed Brennan is hoping that this year will be peaceful. But it wouldn't be Easton without drama, would it? Of course not. Easton has a new headmaster who is determined to destroy the power of the Billings Girls. Ignoring the tradition of the Billings Girls choosing new members of the exclusive house, he assigns six girls. Reed supports his decision and decides to help the new girls, but new Queen Bee Cheyenne is determined to keep Billings the same as it always is.

I didn't want to read this because Noelle and the rest were gone, but I did because I'm addicted to the series. I read this quickly and the writing is sound enough, but I was just annoyed with the characters and the situations to really enjoy this book. Some of the characters didn't seem like new students but I'd never heard of them before, and Cheyenne...I liked Cheyenne in CONFESSIONS and it seemed like Brian gave her a totally different personality this time around. I did like some of the characters, and it was nice seeing Reed develop into a stronger person, but these positives can't overcome the negatives. I was also annoyed with the new headmaster. I understand that he's realistic, but one reason I loved the first books was because they were unrealistic. That's what made them fun, and reading this was slightly less painful than torture.

If you loved the first four books, I'd recommend staying away from INNER CIRCLE. The real Billings House has sadly disappeared, yet I still have hope for LEGACY.

Junior year is here, a new beginning for Reed. Ariana is in jail for the murder of Thomas Pearson; and former seniors Noelle, Kiran and Taylor have moved on to other things. Things are going very well between Reed and Josh, except for the somewhat flirtatious e-mail exchanges she is having with Dash, Noelle's boyfriend. Easton Academy has a new headmaster, one that plans to keep the Billings Hall on a very short leach. The Billings Hall is now under senior-class It girl Cheyenne Martin's control, and she will hold on to old traditions at all cost. Cheyenne seemed like a nice enough person last year, but Reed hadn't imagined that it had all been an act. Cheyenne -- the only person who has outsmarted Noelle -- is controlling, scheming and backstabbing. There are six new prospective dorm-mates at Billings -- Constance, Missy, Lorna, Kiki and a foreign exchanged student named Sabine. Reed is excited to have Constance at Billings, but Cheyenne has other ideas. Cheyenne also has her eyes set on Josh. A new school year, a new set of drama. When it comes to manipulation, Cheyenne makes Noelle seem like an amateur in comparison.

I can't believe how much the series has changed with this new installment. I miss the old characters, even Ariana. But it seems that they are not gone forever. Characters like Dash and Noelle still form a part of the story, but only as faraway characters. I hope to see them back in future books. Reed got a chance to catch her breath during the second semester of her sophomore year, it seems, and Brian decided to skip it and move on to the next slice of drama. Reed is no longer under the fab four's protection, which means she's pretty much on her own. You'll be proud of her though. She's not a pushover in this book. As she says in various parts of this novel, she's learned from the best. Noelle would have been proud. The only fault I find in this is that it is not very believable. After all, Reed was so dependent upon Noelle, Kiran and the others that her sudden confidence and independence made me scratch my head in confusion. The new characters seem benign and one-dimensional compared to the old ones, except for the enigmatic Ivy. I wonder what kind of mischief this would-be villain is going to concoct in future books. I wonder who and what she is, period. Cheyenne is a sneaky little snake, but the twist at the end is absolutely flooring. Still, Inner Circle falls short to its predecessors. The fab four Billings girls not only intrigued Reed, they intrigued me as a reader, and I am sorry to see them gone. As said earlier, I hope it's not for good. And that is why Inner Circle gets three stars. In spite of this stumbling block, this series remains interesting and compelling and I look forward to seeing what will happen in Legacy.

This book was great! It kept me wanting more until I hit the last page. Can't wait until Feb for the sixth book, Legacy!

Previously in PRIVATE:

Josh Hollis, Reed's new boyfriend, was arrested since everyone believed that he was the killer. But the murder of Thomas was finally solved when Ariana had confessed to going back, after the girls had kidnapped him and tied him up, and beating him to death, mainly because Thomas loved Reed more. While Ariana was arrested, so were the other girls, while Reed found her way back home, only to find herself wanting to go back to Easton Academy.

Now back at Easton, Reed hopes that it will be out with the old and in with the new. It is a new year, after all, and Reed just wants a normal life at Easton Academy. With Josh still by her side, Reed finds her rightful place in Billings, along with her new roommates, including Constance and Missy.

The Billings rituals have been taken away, and Reed is actually happy that those are out of her way. Now there is less of chance for something to go wrong.

Most of the girls do not mind, all except for Cheyenne Martin, who wants to appeal to tradition and have all the old rituals back. While proving to be Reed's newest enemy, Cheyenne not only wants to be the head of Billings but also wants to sabotage Reed's relationship along the way.

Even though Reed wants history to be erased, she has to know that it finds a way of repeating itself.

You thought all of the secrets and drama were up, but it is now just the beginning. The PRIVATE series just never gets old.

Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen

Reed is on her way back for her junior year at Easton Academy and this year, there is some new leaders. Trying to make everything fair, Reed messes someone life up and someone dies.....


This book was seriously amazing. Of course it was though, because it's Kate Brian and it's Private. Maybe not quite as much mystery in this one compared to Confessions, but omg....SOOOO Good. If you haven't read it yet, you need to get it as SOON as you can. Go get it right now!!!! And now I cannot wait for Legacy, the sixth book, to come out February 2008....

an amazing book. i absolutely LOVED it!!! you should read this, along with the others in the private series. :) good job kate brian!

when I first got this book I was sooooo excited to finally read her new book after counting down the days for it to come out!
when I finally picked it up I started reading all the way to the end without putting it down. I was sad that it ended so quick but that was one heck of a goooood book. Can't wait for the next.

P.S Josh is hott!! can't wait to see what Reed does with Dash next...

This series is amazing. I love how Kate Brian managed to move the plot forward by introducing new characters, developing old characters, and just changing things up a bit. But this is a good kind of change... the kind of change that will get you dying for more. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.