Customer Reviews

Power (Secret Circle)

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"The Power" is the final book in L. J. Smith's "Secret Circle" trilogy, and I would strongly advise not reading it until you have read the two previous novels "The Initiation" and "The Captive". Yes, it's annoying trying to track down two books that belong to the same story (in my opinion the whole thing should have been one complete volume), but "The Secret Circle" is Smith's most intricate and worthwhile story - you'll get the most out of it if you read all three volumes in their correct order.

In "The Initiation" Cassie Blake joined an elite coven of teenage witches living in New Salem, only to find herself in love with coven-leader Diana's boyfriend Adam. To make things worse, he reciprocates her feelings and soon Cassie is being blackmailed by Diana's cousin Faye to do her bidding, or she'll spill the beans on the affair. In "The Captive", Cassie fell into Faye's trap, and helped her find the sinister crystal skull that releases a `dark energy' that she suspects is behind the mysterious deaths occurring in New Salem. With coven leadership passed to Faye, Cassie's grandmother killed (but not before imparting some valuable information) and Faye preparing to reveal Cassie and Adam's secret, we head into "The Power."

With the unleashing of the crystal skull, the coven now finds themselves up against the original leader of the Salem coven - Black John, who instigated of their births in order to build up a strong yet controllable young coven. Though most of the coven's parents thought they had finished him off years ago, he's back and is now making things intensely difficult for the witches at the school. Appearing as the new principal Mr Brunswick, he impinges an oppressive regime upon the school that weakens the coven and gives added power to the likes of Portia Bainbridge - the witch hunter that Cassie met on holiday. With Faye on his side, he seems set to unleash a devastating hurricane on the township, destroying everyone in his way.

It seems the coven are up against huge odds, what with the violent school students, a defunct Faye, the approaching hurricane, Black John's malevolent presence, and yet another terrible secret that is to be revealed to Cassie. But though all this, there is time for witchy rituals and blossoming friendships, especially with fellow coven member Nick - though there may just be a betrayer at work in the midst of their coven...

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, this is definitely Smith's best complete work - she gathers together all of her familiar storytelling elements (ie, good vs evil, a love triangle, a series of murders, supernatural mysteries) and presents them in a fresh, interesting way. Dotted throughout are little subplots and ideas; most potent of all his her version of the Salem witch trials, and the way she imposes them on a modern day setting. In fact, Cassie's kidnapping at the hands of the angry mob of teenagers is quite harrowing. The forms of manipulation that `Mr Brunswick' uses at the school are cleverly used and have real weight in the context of the real world.

I do however have some complaints, the nature of which bring "The Power" from a four star review to a three star one. Looking at other reviews, I notice that I'm not the only one disappointed at the resolution of Cassie's love triangle. Her relationship with Adam always felt too sudden and unconvincing (I'm not an advocate for love at first sight, especially in teen-reads), and it seems unconceivable that he would break up with the girl he's been with since primary school for a girl he's only recently met. On the other hand, Cassie had a sweet chemistry with `bad-boy' Nick, which is dropped suddenly and unfairly. Throughout the story, I toyed with the idea that the Adam/Cassie attraction (that seemed to be based more on hormones than real feelings) was actually the result of a spell Faye or Black John had cast in order to create divisions amongst the coven. Not so. Smith had the opportunity to end the story with two happy couples - instead we have one rather hollow one.

Secondly, Smith often builds up dramatic moments only to have them fall flat. Faye revealing the truth to Diana has been a catalyst boiling for a while, and Smith even used it for the second book's cliffhanger. But it comes to an unlikely conclusion, with Diana simply forgiving the two of them instantly. Keeping in mind that this is directly after the traumatic switching of coven leadership, and the death of Cassie's grandmother, it seems implausible that Diana could do this so easily. Why not build up tension and leave it hanging for a bit longer? Why not divide the coven and therefore make its reunion more powerful? Also in this vein is the final battle against Black John - it's unfortunately utterly anti-climactic, and is over and done with in one chapter. That's the huge conflict that the entire book has been heading towards?

Finally, many plot threads are simply not cleared up properly, and many readers may feel short-changed at the swiftness with which the end is wrapped up. It was desperately in need of a final chapter, just to see how the characters fit back into the normal routines of life and how they were effected by their struggle (especially with regards to Faye's abrupt turnaround and Cassie's father).

But despite an ending that is somewhat unworthy of its beginning "The Secret Circle" is a good read, with an intriguing plot, a strong, realistic female lead, and enough good ideas to keep you interested. If Smith ever considers more books in this series, I'd definitely read them.

In the final book of the trilogy, Cassie and Adam are caught in the line of fire. Begging for redemtion, Cassie promises to redeem herself, and forgiven for all, Cassie now faces much more serious problems. With Nick in love with her, Cassie must decide how to handle her relationship with him. Losing her only family help, she comes face to face with something so terrifying, the coven may not survive. Confronting an enemy from the older coven's past, the coven learns the truth about their past. The enemy they face is the cause of all the death's of so many of the Club's parents. Learning that her family is the strongest, and she is not in fact a half witch, Cassie is shamed to learn the truth about her past. With Faye on the enemy's side, the coven is no longer at full strength. One of the remaining members of the coven is secretly working with the enemy, unknowingly betraying the Club. When Portia and her witch hunting brother's return to town, there's even more trouble. When the time comes for battle, and the coven's new leader is on the wrong side, the coven must elect a new leader. If they don't win they will die, because none of them will ever join the enemy's side. And never have I enjoyed any story more than this one!

They're all fantastic. I read the Secret Circle Series when I was like twelve (I'm almost seventeen now) and I still can't get the storyline out of my head. I think that LJ Smith is the reason that I adore witches and fantasy so much.

The basic plot is that Cassie (heroine) moves to New Salem in New England and finds out she's all part of a "bigger plan". She's supposed to complete the coven of twelve witches even though they're all still in high school, they end up battling forces of evil and whatnot even as Cassie has to deal with Faye, one of the more "intense" witches in the coven who dreams of becoming the leader of the coven by overthrowing Diana, Cassie's best friend. Cassie also has two love interests here which also comes into the plot.

To those who have been lucky enough to read this -- am I the only one who wanted Cassie to go for Nick? Anyhow, if you haven't read this, it really is interesting, even if my review doesn't let on and just sounds corny. Like I say, the best plots are ones that you can explain but just have to read. If you're interested, I hope you get your hands on a copy!

After months of waiting for this book to be republished, I wasonly slightly disappointed. Personally, I like Nick better than Adambut I understand how it wouldn't fully work out. I do think the book had an incomplete ending. I would have liked to see how things ended up back at school, because Portia was still there and things were kind of at a cliffhanger. I'm not judging L.J. Smith by this book, though, because I've read so many of her other ones and they were all ten-star material. So although this one was sort of a bust, don't blow this author off!

Anybody who's an L.J. Smith fan will love this book. I loved the way everything turned out, and I am glad that everyone ended up the way they should. Anybody who reads this book will not be disappointed. There is suspense on what will happen next, there is romance, and there are so much vivid imagery, that I could not believe it!

This is a wonderful book! It was beautifully written and had many beautiful moments in it. I really liked the indepth information about the herbs and other things the witches used. I also like the bits of mythology used in the story. It was a wonderfully romatic book. It was one of the kinds that you think about even a years after your read it. I've went back to re read this book and get the warm fuzzies that go with it. It's the kind of book that gets in your head and stays in it and goes into your dreams and you dream abou it.

This is a very good book. I have read this book repeatedly since 1997, and now finally own all three. I think this trilogy is one of the best by L J Smith because it's really one book split up into three volumes and goes alot more indepth than some of her other books.

My favourite character is Nick, surprisingly enough but I don't think, like some other reviews I have seen, that he should 'get together' with Diana - the two characters are totally wrong for each other. The ending is rather predictable, but if Cassie didn't end up with Adam the entire trilogy would be pointless, as the basic theme is Cassie and Adam's tormented love for each other - though they don't work out until The Power that their love will never go away.

this is a book that you can read over and over again. cassie is a great character and you get caught up with what she's feeling. l.j smith keeps the reader captivated the whole time (just like she has with all her other books too!)and i try to read as many of her books as i can find and i love them all!

These books made me feel as though I was right there with the rest of the circle. L. J. Smiths books are all great. I love all of them. Even though I did think Nick and Cassie should have been together Adam and Cassie would have been a good couple. I also truely do hope that L. J. Smith makes continuations of these books for they are all awsume . I love them all and will read any books she rights.

In this conclusion ea. of the characters must really make a choice as to who they want to be. Despite all the characters being sworn into a coven they have never been united. There has always been Faye's gang of wild and reckless witches that like to use their powers to have fun and then Diana's gang of goody-goody brainiacs. Then there's Nick - who's remained quietly reserved about his feelings the whole time.
Now that there is a common evil outside of their group (John Black)they have made a pact to work together to destroy him, with the exception of Faye who is drawn to the power he possesses. Now the time has come. The final battle.
Together the coven must select a permanent leader and figure out a way of stopping John Black and protecting the town of New Salem.
I enjoyed every minute of this book. It was fully of mystery, romance, betrayal, strategic battles, poems, etc. But it really shows what we all experience and must battle (figuratively) while growing up and leaving HS.
I do however have one complaint and what really takes the review down from 5 to 4 stars is Cassie's choice in a mate. The 2nd book hinted at a likeness Nick had for Cassie but he really starts to open himself slowly up to Cassie and it is so sweet because you know how hard it is for Nick to lay openly exposed like that. But Cassie forever stays convicted to this love she has for Adam. I'm totally an advocate for love at first sight, but Adam is just too polite and nice w/o any layers at all. In her third "Dark Visions" book, "The Passion", she has a similar quartet of lovers. Kait and Cassie (the main characters) are very similarly attracted to the nice boy (Rob/Adam) but where "The Passions" ends w/ Kait discovering a true connection of equalness to the "bad boy" Gabriel this book ends w/ Cassie never really feeling any attraction to Nick - only using him as a security blanket while she battled her lust for Adam.
Nick and Cassie have so much in common - personality wise - and I think she could really make him happier and together they'd work so well. Whereas I just see quietness between Adam and Cassie - I think they'll end up just empty.
Despite my dissatisfaction w/ the person Cassie chooses (sorry for giving that away) I strongly reccommend you to read each of the books of this trilogy. They are just incredibly real!!