The Secret Circle, Volume I: The Initiation

Cassie Blake is distraught when her mother decides to uproot to the small town of New Salem, in order to take care of a grandmother that Cassie had never even met before. But that is only the start of her problems. Starting a new school, trying to make new friends - and discovering that some of the people she would most like to befriend are all part of some secret Club that Cassie is not permitted to join. Then a girl dies, and Cassie is finally initiated into the Secret Circle, learning that magic is more than just a folktale.These days the YA market for books is flooded with paranormal activity - witches amongst them. But in 1992 when L J Smith first wrote The Secret Circle trilogy it was something fresh and new - and should be reviewed with that in mind. L J Smith was producing well-written compulsive novels about teenagers in love LONG before Edward Cullen was even a glint in Meyer's eye.The opening book in this trilogy reads at a breakneck speed. Smith does not linger on too many opening details, just sets the scene so that Cassie is placed in New Salem ready for the main action to begin. This as far as I am concerned is a positive, because Cassie's life prior to her move is not of interest and therefore should not be lovingly expanded.For me, the biggest strength of Smith's writing is the characters. Here she handles a main cast of twelve, with some peripheral characters who will play a further role in the subsequent two novels of the trilogy. To sufficiently flesh them out and give them strong characteristics that ensure you want to read more about them in such a slight novel (my edition, only 287 pages) takes real skill. And her physical descriptions are just wonderful:"It occurred to her, quite incidentally, that these were probably the three most beautiful girls she'd ever seen. It wasn't just that each had perfect skin, free of the slightest trace of teenage blemishes. It wasn't their gorgeous hair: Deborah's dark disordered curls, Faye's pitch-black mane, and Suzan's cloud of reddish gold. It wasn't even the way they set each other off, each one's distinctive type enhancing the others' instead of detracting from them. It was something else...A kind of confidence and self-possession...An inner strength, an energy..."Cassie is a very strong main character - by her own admission, she is shy and not very outgoing. However, these traits never become the absolute focus of Cassie - rather, they are just a part of who she was. There is also evidence that she has massive potential for growth and character development in future novels, which I am looking forward to exploring. In fact, most of the characters feel very real - they have foibles, and both good and bad qualities. The Henderson brothers and Sean suffer a little from not gaining much 'screen time', but I feel sure this will be remedied.I also love the innocence of the romance - this is definitely YA from early 90s in content. Kissing is as far as these teens are prepared to go, and I for one love this. Too often in YA books I read that have been published more recently there is far too much focus on young girls going further than they perhaps should, and The Initiation harks back to a more chaste time.The only real problem with this novel is it is very much the opening book in a trilogy, so we are really only getting to know the characters and touching on the main gist of the plot, which will be fleshed out in The Captive.In conclusion, anyone who has come to the YA paranormal romance genre recently should definitely check out this opening novel in a classic trilogy. I adore all three books beyond reason and very nostalgically. L J Smith has a fine ability to write characters you will end up caring deeply about, and her prose is magnificent. Highly recommended.

This is literally one of the best teen/young adult books out there. I read it in high school and loved it, the characters are interesting and well developed. The story just gets better and better as you go through the trilogy, and the writer, who also wrote 'The Vampire Diaries' is really talented. Her description and characters are really well thought out. It kept my entertained the entire way through.I found it really interesting to read about the witchcraft side of things, both good and bad. Also, I found the book taught me a lot of things, such as certain crystals and the beliefs that they can influence. It's a really brilliant series and this is just the start.There's nothing harmful in it for younger readers and nothing for mothers to worry about. The great thing is as well, is that it's still good to read as an adult. This is a great book to get teenagers interested in reading I think, and me and my friends all loved these books as teens. Highly recommended.

I love all of L.J. Smith's books. I don't know why--I just do.One of my friends tried to read the SC books and absolutely hated them. She said they were awful. I don't know why--I love them!All L.J. Smith's books make you feel part of the story, especially the NW and SC series. I felt mostly comfortable with the characters Laurel and Cassie, Diana and Adam, Nick, Iliana, Jez and Rashel, Mary-Lynnette and Ash, and Anna and Kait from the DV trilogy.The books are amazingly written and you feel right at home with them. My friend introduced me to them when she was fifteen and I was thirteen. Several years have gone by and I still adore these books. I'm still attemptimg to get Strange Fate (NW) and the last two DV books.Nobody can tell me these books are bad. My mum read the SC trilogy and thought they were okay, but she still insists that no--the NW books aren't supernatural love stories--they're horror (as if--she hasn't read them!).These are the best books by the best author ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Buy these!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Secret Circle series charts the progress of novice witch Cassie as she comes into her power and is accepted by her coven. The first of the series, 'The Initiation' has Cassie arriving in New Salem due to her grandmothers ill health. Now she must start a new school, make new friends, and Cassie is understandably nervous and unhappy at the prospect.And there is reason for her to be nervous. Because of who she is, her schoolmates at first ostracise her, and Cassie does not know why. There seem to be a few of the usual cliques, the popular crowd, and the scary crowd. The Club and the Outsiders. Cassie wants to be one of the popular ones, and is eventually rewarded after some trial by fire when Diana adopts her and protects her. But Diana, and her friends, are more than they seem...Fans of the Wicca series by Cate Tiernan might recognise the basic premise of the series, except that the central female in that series knows most of the characters already. But if you like that serial, you'll enjoy this one too. The Secret Circle is however a little darker, and Cassie's role a little more ambiguous, which makes the series more unpredictable, as events could lean towards the light or the dark.I think this is an outstanding series, and this first book is a fine introduction, with it's careful treatment of the many characters and the shades of light and dark. Even Diana, perceived by Cassie as being so pure and good, is disparaging and doubtful of those Outsiders - there are no absolutes here. Smith clearly knows her teenagers, warts and all and their emotions and responses are absolutely credible. The plot is developed with a light hand, and I look forward to seeing the story continue into the second book, 'The Captive'.