Mostly a 'set-up' book that introduces the characters, setting, and the Secret Circle world for readers, written in a clean and simple, bordering on juvenile, style. Still, it was thoroughly engaging and although parts of it seemed a bit overly dramatic, I thought it fit with Cassie's narration as a dreamy teenage girl. ( )

The Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith was always my favorite series of hers so when I decided to read it again I was worried that it would be awful and ruin my fond memories. While I did find it to be less good than I remembered I still quite enjoyed the characters and story even if the writing style was not exactly to my liking. ( )

It’s a little difficult to rate this trilogy when there’s so much nostalgia built in to my rereading. I read these in real time in the fall of 1992 as they came out one by one (& you had to go to the bookstore to get them). I can still see 15 year old me reading one as I babysat on a Saturday night after the kids (ages 4, 2, and 1) were in bed. I loved everything about these books including the magic and romance and friendship. This was pre-internet searching, and for years I wondered what a chalcedony rose was. Along with some sacred Christopher Pike’s, this trilogy remains on my bookshelf as a toast to teenage me. ( )

I admit, I picked this up to see if the writing was as bad as the WB TV series I tried to watch. To be honest, I am not real sure which came out worse.

*shudder* I'd swear the main character was a guy based on the descriptions. Or maybe a closet lesbian. Everyone is attractive to this main character. Not a single ugly person. And a lot of the descriptions are things guys might focus on. Curves, hair, eyes. Either way, just horrid.

There's also the overall attitude. If this girl is supposed to be 16-17, why is she being written like she's 11-13? Temper Tantrums, shy but not introvert shy, and general whining preteen angst.

I officially declare this book a dud. So bad, so SO bad. Why did I push to the half way point again? ( )

I read this trilogy so many times as a teen that I had to buy a whole new set of books since they were so worn out. And then I pretty much wore those out too. I think the novels definitely qualify as guilty pleasures. I hadn't touched the books in years but when I was moving, I happened to come across my tattered copy and decided to open it up again. To my surprise, I tore through them in about a day and a half! At the age of 25, after having read these books about a dozen times, I found myself staying awake waaaay past my bed time to get that "one last chapter." I think that should say it all. ( )