Captive (Secret Circle)

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Summary: "That Was When the Man in Black came to New Salem..."
Review: "The Captive" is the second book in the Secret Circle Trilogy by L. J. Smith, her most worthwhile trilogy. In the first book "The Initiation", teenager Cassie Blake and her mother moved to New Salem, where she was adopted by a group of witches within the school, who needed a twelfth member for the completion of their coven. There were complications however: although Cassie is instant friends with the coven leader Diana, Diana's cousin Faye is hostile and manipulative toward her. Meanwhile, Cassie has fallen for Diana's boyfriend Adam, and now Faye is blackmailing Cassie into doing whatever she asks - if she doesn't, she'll tell Diana the truth.

And what Faye is after is the sinister crystal skull that the coven uncovered, but that Cassie suspects is somehow behind the awful deaths of several people within New Salem - and she knows that it'll become twice as dangerous if it ends up in Faye's hands. But telling Diana that her beloved boyfriend and her best friend have been cheating on her would break her heart, as well as see her kicked out of the coven. She seemingly has no choice but to get Faye the skull - but first she has to find it...

Meanwhile, Cassie is investigating other strange occurrences around New Salem - she's been experiencing odd dreams, and her mother and grandmother's behaviour is still secretive and aloof. She finds a sealed and blocked off cellar at the local cemetery, as well as an unusual feature on the graves of the other witches' parents - all of them died in 1976. What happened that year to kill so many of the first generation? Another time phenomena strikes Cassie as odd - all the teenage witches celebrate their birthdays within three months of each other, almost as if the parents coordinated their children's' births.

As well as this there is the usual teenager-novel fare: school dances, joy riding, bullying, hormones, raunchy games, and a sprinkling of witchy rituals throughout. Finally though, the story accumulates with the vote for the permanent coven leader, a position coveted by both Faye and Diana, and a disaster that reveals much of the back-story to the terrible happenings at New Salem.

However, the story ends with one of L. J. Smith's frustrating cliff-hangers which forces you to track down and pay for the next book before you find out what happens. I've always found this to be one of the most unappealing components of Smith's books, unlike book series like "Harry Potter" for example, with each installment containing a full, complete plot, Smith's books are divided into several volumes for the simple reasoning: they get more money this way. If there is a publication out there that combines all three of the books into one, I suggest getting that instead of spending money on three separate books.

"The Captive" is possibly the best book in the series, melding several mysteries and plot devices into a whole, with enough intrigue and suspense to keep anyone interested. Cassie's dilemma certainly makes compulsive reading, as does the duality between Diana and Faye, and the direction that the coven can take. The figure of Black John lurks in the background like a sinister shadow (and is certainly Smith's best villain) and again Smith deftly portrays the relationships and attitudes of normal, understandable characters in an abnormal situation. Here we get to see a little more of the personalities of the rest of the coven, and although the Cassie/Adam love match still seems a little unlikely to me, it shakes things up well for the final book "The Power".


Rating:
Summary: CHILLING!
Review: Book two began exactly where the first left off! Cassie was part of the Circle. Faye was blackmailing Cassie to help her become the Coven's leader when the votes were next cast. Cassie, torn between what she felt for Adam and her loyalty toward Diana, would do almost anything to keep Faye from twisting truths into believable lies!

Meanwhile, more dark energy escapes from the crystal skull and more kids are found dead from the high school. Cassie will lose a loved one, find her working stone, learn some shocking family secrets, and her grandmother will reveal who Black John is and where he is now!

Lastly, all secrets of all the Coven members are about to be revealed!

***** This one is not as gripping as the first was, but still exciting! (Cassie is finally getting a back bone!) I am left eager to dive into the third book! Thank goodness I purchased all three books of this trilogy at once! Terrific series! *****

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Summary: Cassie flirts with the dark side!
Review: Faye, a powerful member of the coven, is blackmailing Cassie. Faye wants to have more power and be the leader of the coven and Cassie has to help her reach her goals. Cassie soon realizes that her actions may hurt Diana even more than the truth about Cassie and Adam would. Still, Cassie feels trapped and her only way to be free may be to join the dark side.

I enjoyed this one just as much as the first. The action didn't slow down and I was hooked throughout the entire thing. I also liked Cassie's brush with the dark side. It gave the series a depth that it may not have had otherwise. Another thing I liked was how the coven was no longer split up into groups of good and bad members. All in all this is a great middle book that doesn't fail to live up to the first.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I loved this book! The first Secret Circle book was good and this one was even better. I can't wait to read the conclusion to this series!

Rating:
Summary: The Captive
Review: The Captive begins right where the first book left off. Faye is blackmailing Cassie into voting for her. Somehow Faye found out about Cassie and Adam and she's still threatening to tell Diana. So now Cassie is torn between her intense loyalty towards Diana and her feelings for Adam. She doesn't want Faye lying to Diana and hurting her. Faye also blackmails Cassie into getting the crystal skull and when Faye gets it she accidently releases more dark energy. In this exciting sequal we will learn more about Cassie's family's past, and Cassie will lose someone she cares about.

Another great read. If you like this, be sure to check out the Night World series also by L.J. Smith

Rating:
Summary: Captivating second book to the Secret Circle Trilogy
Review: The whole series is great....I read them over and over, never tiring of them. The story is about Cassie Blake, 16-year girl, who moves with her mother from California to New Salem, Massachussetts, and discovers a whole new life for her. In the second book, Cassie tries to overcome Faye, repress her feelings for Adam, and stay true to her best friend and adopted sister, Diana. The story is in a word....captivating. I recommend someone who's interested in buying this book, buy all three: The Initiation (book 1), The Captive (book 2), and The Power (book 3), of the Secret Circle Trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: Good middle of an excellent series
Review: This book does all that the middle part of a trilogy does. It brings insight into characters, advances the plot, identifies the threat and begins to draw the group together. Only to bust them apart towards the end, or are they?

The Captive in the piece is Cassie, who is being blackmailed by Faye. There is a dark force let loose, and it is affecting the Outsiders and those of the Coven. Things are not quite so black and white any more, except of course that Faye and Diana are like sunshine and shadow - the 'hero' and 'villain' of the piece. Cassie's feelings of guilt and unhappiness at her deception of Diana is well explored, and getting to know the Henderson brothers, Deborah, Melonie and in particular Nick better was worth reading the book for.

The ending of the book was definitely the climax of the piece and will lead the final book off to a running start. All in all a successful 'middle' book, and most definitely to be read as part of the trilogy.

Rating:
Summary: She's hooked me!
Review: This is the first book by L.J. Smith that I read. I was leaving to go on a vacation and I wanted something to read. I happened to pick this book and the two that follow after it and I've been hooked on L.J. Smith books ever since. Out of all of her three part series, this is one of my favorites. I was going to say it IS my favorite but I can't decide between this one and The Forbidden Game. They are both excellent!

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Summary: I just cant wait for the next!
Review: This is the seond in Lisa Jane Smiths trilogy, and now that I've read it I cant wait for the next! Hidding the fact that shes in love with Adam, her best friends boyfriend and the fact that shes being blackmailed by Faye Cassie is almost pushed to the limit. Wanting to tell but cant. But in the end the truth comes out..