The Captive, Part II and The Power by L.J. Smith

The Captive, Part II and The Power by L.J. Smith
Released: January 1st, 2009
Published by: HarperTeen
Series: The Secret Circle, Bind-up 2
Page Amount: 390 pages, US paperback
This is the second bind-up in the Secret Circle series. Although we do not post intentional spoilers in our reviews, please do not continue reading unless you have read The Initiation and The Captive, Part I by L.J. Smith.
"Cassie has joined the most alluring-and deadly-in-crowd imaginable. But power comes with a price, and it's more dangerous than she knows. Torn between the dueling desires of the two leaders of the Secret Circle, she must ultimately choose between saving all of the New Salem, and her own dangerous love for bewitching Adam, which threatens to tear the circle apart. In the ultimate battle between good and evil, will Cassie's supernatural powers be strong enough to lead the coven out of danger? Or will she fall prey to the dark forces within?"

REVIEW: 

I really like the Secret Circle. I read the first book a year or two ago, and had to re-read it recently since the show on The CW has really messed up the actual story in my head. Let me just say, unlike Smith's other series The Vampire Diaries, where the show is way better than the books; I actually prefer the Secret Circle novels to the show.

There is something about the books that I really enjoy but I can't really put my finger on it. I really love stories about witches, the kind that use the elements and mother nature, and this book definitely has that. It also has a really good struggle between what is good and what is evil and making your decision on which you would rather try to be.

One thing I didn't really like, but saw a lot less as the story progresses was Cassie's timidness. I felt like she could have been a much stronger character, but then again if she were the story wouldn't have happened the way that it did. I really liked the other characters in the circle as well. I felt that they all played a really important role and in ways were each their own main character. It is really hard to write so many personalities and to make them important and I think Smith did a good job, although I would have liked to see a little less strictness in each of them. They each had something they were good for, and I like when characters are actually like people and are good at multiple things.

All in all, this series is definitely something I would recommend to everyone. I really enjoyed reading it. The writing style was quick and easy to get lost in, and I found myself not being able to stop myself from reading just one more page.

FIRST LINE: 

"The voices from above were getting nearer."

RATING BREAKDOWN: 

Plot: 18/20
Characters: 17/20
Writing: 17/20
Creativity: 17/20
Ending: 8/10
The 'It' Factor: 8/10
=85/100, B ()

PARENTAL SUGGESTION: 

This book contains the following:
Violence
Mild/Excessive Cursing
Mild/Excessive Sexual Content
Drug/Alcohol Abuse