The Third Circle (Arcane Society, Book 4)

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Leona Hewitt, disguised in men’s formal evening clothes, has secretly made her way into Lord Delbridge’s private museum to recover a relic stolen from her family years ago. But someone else is there in the dimly lit gallery, on the same errand: a tall, black-cloaked man whose very voice is enough to put her in a trance.

Thaddeus Ware, a mesmerist with powerful psychic energy, is accustomed to fearful reactions from others - women in particular. After all, a man who can control the minds and actions of others could rob a lady of her virtue - without her ever knowing! But Leona shows no trace of hysteria in his presence. A force to be reckoned with as both a gifted crystal worker and a woman, she exerts a rather hypnotic power over the hypnotist himself. And she is determined to keep the crystal they recovered, by giving him the slip at a run-down London inn.

Thaddeus, on assignment for the secretive Arcane Society, knows the menace Leona is courting by absconding with the crystal. It is a source of remarkable energy, and it holds the potential for great destruction. Lord Delbridge has already killed two men to acquire it, for it is his key to membership in the elite, shadowy group known as the Third Circle. And with the help of a seductive hunter of preternatural skill, dubbed “The Midnight Monster” by the press, Delbridge intends to find her. With the stolen crystal in their possession, the danger is only beginning.

Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Do not read in order of publication. See review... May 3, 2008
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

Leona Hewitt's power is crystal working. Crystal workers are held in a very low opinion in the Arcane Society due to the legend of Sybil, the rival of the Arcane Society's founder, Sylvester. In her time, Sybil used the green Aurora Stone often. The crystal is useless unless it is activated by someone with the very rare talent. The Aurora Stone was stolen from Leona's mother eleven years ago. So when Leona received word that Lord Delbridge currently had possession of the stone, she crashed his party to retrieve it. The last thing Leona expected was to meet Thaddeus Ware, especially while he was standing over the body of a streetwalker with her throat slashed.

The papers call the serial killer the Midnight Monster. Gabriel Jones, the new Master of the Arcane Society, has given Thaddeus the job of finding out the name of the killer and stopping him. The killer is not only an intelligent madman, but is also a Hunter. Using a Hunter's psychical abilities means that the normal police would never capture him. When Leona crashes into Thaddeus, he immediately sets out to get her to safety. However, it turns out that the lady is after the same artifact he is. Circumstances soon compel the two to join forces. For Leona's protection, she and her extraordinary dog, Fog, move into a townhouse with Thaddeus and his formidable great-aunt.

Another secret society, The Third Circle of the Order of the Emerald Tablet, has been promised the Aurora Stone as a gift from Lord Delbridge and they are en route to pick it up. The Third Circle will also need someone able to work the crystal. It just so happens that Lord Delbridge knows about Leona's crystal talents.

**** Let me say first off that you should NOT read the first four books of this series in order of release. Instead, read them in the order events happened. Read in the following order:

SECOND SIGHT, Book One
THE THIRD CIRCLE, Book Four
WHITE LIES, Book two
SIZZLE & BURN, Book Three

In this story readers will see the J&J agency's birth. After this book, the story jumps to the modern day with the title, WHITE LIES (book two). Readers get the last of the solid foundation needed to set up the rest of this series. Krentz made sure to keep all of the era's rules of etiquettes in mind as the situation evolved around the story's characters. I found that the secondary characters are almost as interesting as the main. The great-aunt is included in a sub-plot, which makes the entire story even more entertaining. Highly recommended! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

1 out of 5 stars

Villains and blackguards August 11, 2008
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

Bloody hell! Damnation! The Third Circle is so full of dastardly Victorians blustering on about the disruption of their villainous plans that it's hard to find the plot. That damnable woman keeps interfering and somehow, the cads can't manage to get rid of her in spite of their mastery of the "psychical arts." I like a good paranormal novel, but this is the second of Quick's novels that I've struggled through. Since reading should be enjoyable, not irritating, I'm off to find an author who relies less on formula and cliche.

4 out of 5 stars

Fun to renew old acquaintances April 28, 2008
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

This was an enjoyable, albeit not fantastic, Amanda Quick, with the usual assortment of intelligent, unconventional characters, including Adam and Mr. Pierce, and others from earlier. Leona and Thaddeus, while not overwhelmingly passionate, don't engage in tedious waffling about their feelings. The mystery was decent, the comeuppance to the bad guys gratifying, and the additional details about the Arcane Society's roots satisfying. I enjoy reading JAK because her books make me feel good about life and love, and this was no exception.(For those who might be considering this as their first Amanda Quick - although it is part of a series,it covers all the necessary details, and can stand on its own.)

3 out of 5 stars

wilbeau April 25, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz is one of my favorite authors today. However this is not one of her best. The other Arcane Society novels had more suspense and better love scenes. This book does let the reader know how Jones& Co. and the matchmaking of the Society were started. I would still recommend the book for true Amanda Quick fans to read.

5 out of 5 stars

enchanting historical romantic suspense April 26, 2008
5 out of 13 found this review helpful

Dressed in men's formal attire, Leona Hewitt sneaks into Lord Delbridge's home while he hosts a party for his male friends and their courtesans. Leona works with the energy of crystal helping heal troubled souls; she currently is seeking the Aurora Stone that belongs by rights to her family although it has been stolen periodically for its alleged power. When she finds the museum room, Leona sees a man looking at the body of a dead woman lying on the floor. Thaddeus Ware also looks for the Aurora Stone, which he intends to return to the Arcane Society as the gem is as much a healing tool as it is a deadly weapon.

Leona finds the stone but Thaddeus takes it; triggering a poison that will drive him insane and eventually kill him. Leona saves his life by using her Aura Stone to heal the hypnotist. Delbridge plans to retrieve the stone because that is his entrance ticket to the THIRD CIRCLE of the Order of the Emerald Table, a cabal within the Arcane Society, a group dedicated to finding the Founder's formula that will enhance paranormal powers. His desire places Leona in danger because she is the only person who can safely use the Aurora Stone; Thaddeus understands her value to the Third Circle and vows to keep her safe even if she rejects his protection.

THE THIRD CIRCLE is Amanda Quick at her mesmerizing best with an enchanting historical romantic suspense that contains a rousing romp, an intriguing mystery, and a touch of the fantasy that come together nicely in a cleverly crafted story line. The quirky cast is fully developed with a couple of the support players seemingly capable of carrying out their own adventures. However, Leona owns this tale as she defies the rules of society to do what she believes is right.

Harriet Klausner

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