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Damask Circle #3
Circle of Desire: Damask Circle, Book 3
A tempting fate
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan's niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims - even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In 10 years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he's up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf...and the full moon is rising.
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan's niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims - even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In 10 years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he's up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf...and the full moon is rising.
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First published July 31, 2003
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About the author
Keri Arthur
102 books6,002 followersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
April 7, 2014
Initial Thoughts: This book reminded me a little of the first book in the series, Circle of Fire. I liked the hero and heroine in this book. Kat was a member of the Damask Circle and well versed in all things supernatural. On the other hand, Ethan is at odds with his werewolf side, not even knowing how to shift. Ethan also has some serious commitment issues. No problem - these two are hot together. Full review to come...
The Review:
Circle of Desire is a little reminiscent of the first book in the series, Circle of Fire. In this third book in the Damask Circle series, children are once again going missing, kidnapped by an ancient creature known as a mara.
Ethan Morgan is quite close to the case. His niece was one of the missing children and he’s going out of his mind trying to find her. Not a good thing to do as the moon is getting full and his werewolf side is going crazy.
Katherine Tanner and her grandmother Gwen have been sent by the Damask Circle to investigate the kidnapping. Katherine is a raven shifter and an empath. Gwen is a powerful witch with psychic abilities.
The investigation forces Ethan and Katherine to work together. When they discover that the creature that kidnapped the children was a mara, they realized that this was a formidable opponent, able to summon zombies and other werewolves to do her dirty work. The mara needs to feed on dark emotions such as fear in order to breed.
The relationship between Ethan and Katherine was a little frustrating. Ethan’s behavior was ruled by the phases of the moon. In the days prior to a full moon, his werewolf became very lusty and required sexual release. Katherine was a willing partner, but she wanted more of a relationship, something that Ethan could not commit to. The sex was hot and heavy and these two are meant for each other.
I did enjoy this book however I did have a few reservations. I felt that Katherine was entirely too willing to give into Ethan, even in the middle of an investigation. Nothing’s like sex on the run, right? I also found that Katherine put herself in danger’s way a little too easily. I also found Ethan a little wishy-washy with regards to committing himself in a relationship.
Overall, Circle of Desire was an entertaining read and I am now ready to tackle more of this author’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!
The Review:
Circle of Desire is a little reminiscent of the first book in the series, Circle of Fire. In this third book in the Damask Circle series, children are once again going missing, kidnapped by an ancient creature known as a mara.
Ethan Morgan is quite close to the case. His niece was one of the missing children and he’s going out of his mind trying to find her. Not a good thing to do as the moon is getting full and his werewolf side is going crazy.
Katherine Tanner and her grandmother Gwen have been sent by the Damask Circle to investigate the kidnapping. Katherine is a raven shifter and an empath. Gwen is a powerful witch with psychic abilities.
The investigation forces Ethan and Katherine to work together. When they discover that the creature that kidnapped the children was a mara, they realized that this was a formidable opponent, able to summon zombies and other werewolves to do her dirty work. The mara needs to feed on dark emotions such as fear in order to breed.
The relationship between Ethan and Katherine was a little frustrating. Ethan’s behavior was ruled by the phases of the moon. In the days prior to a full moon, his werewolf became very lusty and required sexual release. Katherine was a willing partner, but she wanted more of a relationship, something that Ethan could not commit to. The sex was hot and heavy and these two are meant for each other.
I did enjoy this book however I did have a few reservations. I felt that Katherine was entirely too willing to give into Ethan, even in the middle of an investigation. Nothing’s like sex on the run, right? I also found that Katherine put herself in danger’s way a little too easily. I also found Ethan a little wishy-washy with regards to committing himself in a relationship.
Overall, Circle of Desire was an entertaining read and I am now ready to tackle more of this author’s books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for a review copy of this book.
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews. Check it out!
July 15, 2014
Circle of Desire was the book I loved more in the Damask Circle spin-off. You can see the first tendrils of what will become the author's next successful series, Riley Jenson- Guardian.
Mostly, I loved the tighter plot, the stronger heroine. I loved the author's stronger stance on women, gender and sex. No, we are not yet to the Guardian's point. But there's less virgin territory here, more of women who know what they want (if not yet what they are worth :)
Kat is knowledgeable, strong, she's the one that saves the day. Ethan is a bit more clichéd, the tortured-woe-is-me-women-are-untrustworthy kind of guy. Kinda idiotic and in need of a good beating, but he did come around. Moreover, he was all bark and no bite :D
It's a pity the Damask Circle did never really appear as a character in itself. It would have been a stronger link and point among the books.
World-building is solid enough, but not strong or dense. We are still in the early PNR phase, I think ;)
On a personal note.
- Loved the night of promises. It was as sweet as in Moon Sworn. It was great seeing its origin here. :)
- Eww, I've got named as a soul-sacking vampire... :|
DRC courtesy of Random House via Netgalley.
Mostly, I loved the tighter plot, the stronger heroine. I loved the author's stronger stance on women, gender and sex. No, we are not yet to the Guardian's point. But there's less virgin territory here, more of women who know what they want (if not yet what they are worth :)
Kat is knowledgeable, strong, she's the one that saves the day. Ethan is a bit more clichéd, the tortured-woe-is-me-women-are-untrustworthy kind of guy. Kinda idiotic and in need of a good beating, but he did come around. Moreover, he was all bark and no bite :D
It's a pity the Damask Circle did never really appear as a character in itself. It would have been a stronger link and point among the books.
World-building is solid enough, but not strong or dense. We are still in the early PNR phase, I think ;)
On a personal note.
- Loved the night of promises. It was as sweet as in Moon Sworn. It was great seeing its origin here. :)
- Eww, I've got named as a soul-sacking vampire... :|
DRC courtesy of Random House via Netgalley.
April 24, 2014
Katherine, raven shapeshifter and psychic, and her grandmother are hunting a new enemy of the Damask circle: some unknown and unseen force is kidnapping children. Their bodies turn up weeks after their disappearance – but they’re not just dead, their very souls have been consumed
Obviously, this has to stop. And with Damask circle resources stretched, any help they can get is very welcomed
Ethan is a police officer, his niece has been captured and he’s definitely ready to step up and join the hunt. As a werewolf he has a lot to offer – but he hates what he is and whatever fling he and Katherine has, he is determined for it not to develop into more. Here’s there to save his niece, not fall in love.
Interestingly, after I complained about the formulas of the last book, this book rather subverts them. Oh, he is still the physically superior, she is still the magical, less physical person (there are limits after all), but she is the one who is informed. Katherine is the one who understands about the supernatural and their nature and she is the one who both guides Ethan into the world of the supernatural and works to get him to accept his nature as a werewolf. She is the expert, she is the guide, she is the one who knows what is going on and, with her powers, she is the one who is probably the most dangerous of the two of them
Of course, in the past books those women were scared and traumatised by their true nature, while Ethan is enraged and angsty so while we break the pattern we still have the trope of the love of a good woman saving the broody man-who-has-been-hurt-by-the-ladies before.
That hurt-by-the-ladies can sometimes manifest itself as outright misogyny – one woman hurt him in the past so now all women cannot be trusted. Women are evil and conniving, women get pregnant to entrap decent menfolk with their wicked wicked wombs… I have no idea what Katherine sees in him beyond the hawtness
He also has a moment of, to say the least, careless language towards Katherine’s casual attitude to sex which comes across as slut-shamy, but she is very good at calling that out.
Unfortunately, while Katherine is, possibly, the stronger of the two she also needs rescuing at least twice and there is no real equivalent going the other way. It’s like the book couldn’t just let her be the stronger one, there had to be something to weaken her or put him in the role as white knight.
So there are some nicely subverted tropes – or, at least, patterns subverted – but some problems. The romance itself starts well in that both Katherine and Ethan are happy to have a casual fling and Katherine is certainly not a blushing virgin and has even had good sex before – all of which are nearly unheard of in the genre. But we have the woo-woo raising its head, with Ethan’s werewolf nature forcing him to have sex and creating a special lusty sex aura that affects all women around him in a frankly consent breaking and rape-esque manner. Ok, not with Katherine – she’s eager and willing, but even then, the fact the werewolf aura induces almost irresistible lust in all women around him means it’s virtually impossible for him to know whether any woman he sleeps with during the full moon actually consents to sex.
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Obviously, this has to stop. And with Damask circle resources stretched, any help they can get is very welcomed
Ethan is a police officer, his niece has been captured and he’s definitely ready to step up and join the hunt. As a werewolf he has a lot to offer – but he hates what he is and whatever fling he and Katherine has, he is determined for it not to develop into more. Here’s there to save his niece, not fall in love.
Interestingly, after I complained about the formulas of the last book, this book rather subverts them. Oh, he is still the physically superior, she is still the magical, less physical person (there are limits after all), but she is the one who is informed. Katherine is the one who understands about the supernatural and their nature and she is the one who both guides Ethan into the world of the supernatural and works to get him to accept his nature as a werewolf. She is the expert, she is the guide, she is the one who knows what is going on and, with her powers, she is the one who is probably the most dangerous of the two of them
Of course, in the past books those women were scared and traumatised by their true nature, while Ethan is enraged and angsty so while we break the pattern we still have the trope of the love of a good woman saving the broody man-who-has-been-hurt-by-the-ladies before.
That hurt-by-the-ladies can sometimes manifest itself as outright misogyny – one woman hurt him in the past so now all women cannot be trusted. Women are evil and conniving, women get pregnant to entrap decent menfolk with their wicked wicked wombs… I have no idea what Katherine sees in him beyond the hawtness
He also has a moment of, to say the least, careless language towards Katherine’s casual attitude to sex which comes across as slut-shamy, but she is very good at calling that out.
Unfortunately, while Katherine is, possibly, the stronger of the two she also needs rescuing at least twice and there is no real equivalent going the other way. It’s like the book couldn’t just let her be the stronger one, there had to be something to weaken her or put him in the role as white knight.
So there are some nicely subverted tropes – or, at least, patterns subverted – but some problems. The romance itself starts well in that both Katherine and Ethan are happy to have a casual fling and Katherine is certainly not a blushing virgin and has even had good sex before – all of which are nearly unheard of in the genre. But we have the woo-woo raising its head, with Ethan’s werewolf nature forcing him to have sex and creating a special lusty sex aura that affects all women around him in a frankly consent breaking and rape-esque manner. Ok, not with Katherine – she’s eager and willing, but even then, the fact the werewolf aura induces almost irresistible lust in all women around him means it’s virtually impossible for him to know whether any woman he sleeps with during the full moon actually consents to sex.
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September 1, 2016
Children kidnapped, tortured and killed is abhorrent. Immediately, this plot is going to generate more emotion in me. I'm actively engaged and wanting to know more. I want the evil responsible to be completely exterminated. This is a job for Katherine aka Kat. She and her grandmother are part of the investigative team from Damask Circle. They are psychics and shifters prepared to do what they must to hunt down the kidnappers and rescue the children. They are hindered by a "muggle" cop, Ethan.
Ethan is a werewolf shifter yet he doesn't believe in the paranormal world. His eyes are forced wide open as Kat exposes him to zombies, vampires and witches - oh my! Ethan struggles with his need to bring the perpetrators to a court of law and putting them down. Is it wrong to not have issues with killing monsters? Yes, I have no issues being judge, jury and executioner. It seems Kat doesn't have this issue either.
This tale is my favourite in the series. Kat is a strong female who is a survivor. The emotional stabbing from Ethan makes me crazy. Ethan is one baggage laden boy. His hang ups are understandable even if a bit immature. There are many times a reader may want to slap Ethan out of his self-pity party. Ms. Arthur creates interesting characters with layers to explain their motives. She also paints the monsters in this book with some pretty evil acts. Ms. Arthur doesn't sugarcoat or avoid the nasty parts of humanity. This extreme delineation between good and evil is balanced with the character flaws in her hero. He's not perfect. In addition, Kat isn't pure either. She does some questionable things to justify her end goal.
This book is a fast read. The characters do have steamy chemistry with some lovely rough sex. The erotic piece to this book is greater than the other two in this series. It's a pleasant surprise and quite arousing. This tale is recommended to paranormal lovers who love a kick ass heroine.
*provided by Edelweiss
Ethan is a werewolf shifter yet he doesn't believe in the paranormal world. His eyes are forced wide open as Kat exposes him to zombies, vampires and witches - oh my! Ethan struggles with his need to bring the perpetrators to a court of law and putting them down. Is it wrong to not have issues with killing monsters? Yes, I have no issues being judge, jury and executioner. It seems Kat doesn't have this issue either.
This tale is my favourite in the series. Kat is a strong female who is a survivor. The emotional stabbing from Ethan makes me crazy. Ethan is one baggage laden boy. His hang ups are understandable even if a bit immature. There are many times a reader may want to slap Ethan out of his self-pity party. Ms. Arthur creates interesting characters with layers to explain their motives. She also paints the monsters in this book with some pretty evil acts. Ms. Arthur doesn't sugarcoat or avoid the nasty parts of humanity. This extreme delineation between good and evil is balanced with the character flaws in her hero. He's not perfect. In addition, Kat isn't pure either. She does some questionable things to justify her end goal.
This book is a fast read. The characters do have steamy chemistry with some lovely rough sex. The erotic piece to this book is greater than the other two in this series. It's a pleasant surprise and quite arousing. This tale is recommended to paranormal lovers who love a kick ass heroine.
*provided by Edelweiss
March 28, 2014
For full review please visit - http://thelast2know.wordpress.com/
Let me start of by saying that, at first, I was dragging my heels with this book. I wasn't won over by the way both characters were willing to jump in the sack with questionable motives and reasoning. But, by the end, I warmed up to their relationship as it progressed.
What worked for me in this book?
Kat - She was a great character to read. Not too whiny, but not too 'in control', if that makes sense? She had a real balance of both confidence and doubt that I appreciated.
Plot - Definitely the better of the three in this series (is there more? I don't think so.. I'll check and get back to you on that. Heh.) It was much more logical and the emotional responses and involvement of the main characters made sense this time too.
Lovage - Got yerself some hawt sexy time in this book, mmm hmm. I think this was handled better in this book too (despite my minor gumbles below, but that is more directed at the 'why' than the mechanics).
What didn't work?
Ethan - Yeah. He's hot. A great character. So what's the problem? He's the same 'generic slightly supernatural hench guy' in each book. There's no distinction; all are tall, toned and hella good in the sack. I was a little annoyed that there seemed to be no attempts to make the 'fantasy' lover a little different for each female, you know?
I really enjoyed Circle of Desire. I think it's my favourite of the three. A keen pace, great sex, and a much more plausible Happily Ever After.
Let me start of by saying that, at first, I was dragging my heels with this book. I wasn't won over by the way both characters were willing to jump in the sack with questionable motives and reasoning. But, by the end, I warmed up to their relationship as it progressed.
What worked for me in this book?
Kat - She was a great character to read. Not too whiny, but not too 'in control', if that makes sense? She had a real balance of both confidence and doubt that I appreciated.
Plot - Definitely the better of the three in this series (is there more? I don't think so.. I'll check and get back to you on that. Heh.) It was much more logical and the emotional responses and involvement of the main characters made sense this time too.
Lovage - Got yerself some hawt sexy time in this book, mmm hmm. I think this was handled better in this book too (despite my minor gumbles below, but that is more directed at the 'why' than the mechanics).
What didn't work?
Ethan - Yeah. He's hot. A great character. So what's the problem? He's the same 'generic slightly supernatural hench guy' in each book. There's no distinction; all are tall, toned and hella good in the sack. I was a little annoyed that there seemed to be no attempts to make the 'fantasy' lover a little different for each female, you know?
I really enjoyed Circle of Desire. I think it's my favourite of the three. A keen pace, great sex, and a much more plausible Happily Ever After.
April 9, 2014
I enjoyed this third entry in the Damask Circle series. I would label it a Paranormal Romantic Suspense. As I recall Keri Arthur's other early work, this one seemed to be heavier on the sex between Kat and Ethan. Not only is Ethan a werewolf, but Kat and her grandmother (the only secondary character with a decent size role)are special as well. I liked all the characters and the bad guys from the mara (a new supe for me), rogue weres and zombies were suitably bad.
This story definitely stands alone and this is a quibble I have with the series. The Damask Circle is mentioned, particularly Seline, but they don't actively play a role in the books...so far. When you're dealing with a child and man killing mara, I would think there'd be more of a team approach instead of one young woman and her arthritic granny on the job.
Other issues I had with this story: Kat is supposed to be a butt kicking heroine but she runs around with no bra, really tight shirts (and occasionally skirts) with her full breasts bouncing while fighting. Can we say OUCH?!? Ethan's reasons for not getting emotionally involved with Kat was forced too. I can see him still grieving about what happened when he was 17, but he was only 17 and holding on emotionally to the individual who left his life didn't seem reasonable and for it not to occur to him until the end of the book that his attachment wasn't as solid as he thought? Bah.
Despite these negatives, I did enjoy the book. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This story definitely stands alone and this is a quibble I have with the series. The Damask Circle is mentioned, particularly Seline, but they don't actively play a role in the books...so far. When you're dealing with a child and man killing mara, I would think there'd be more of a team approach instead of one young woman and her arthritic granny on the job.
Other issues I had with this story: Kat is supposed to be a butt kicking heroine but she runs around with no bra, really tight shirts (and occasionally skirts) with her full breasts bouncing while fighting. Can we say OUCH?!? Ethan's reasons for not getting emotionally involved with Kat was forced too. I can see him still grieving about what happened when he was 17, but he was only 17 and holding on emotionally to the individual who left his life didn't seem reasonable and for it not to occur to him until the end of the book that his attachment wasn't as solid as he thought? Bah.
Despite these negatives, I did enjoy the book. I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 15, 2017
Fast paced - easy read. Good book. Like the werewolves!
March 7, 2014
This is a reissue of an older work and the third book in the series of the Damask Circle. Once again we get new characters with the only tie to any previous ones are occasional phone calls to the leader of the circle. New monster/villain and a slightly different take on zombies. Both the hero and heroine are shifters, one is a bird and the other is a wolf. The hero is the wolf and he has for the most part cut himself off to any permanent relationships with women due to his heart being broken when he was seventeen. I got a bit of laugh at that since most of the time it seems the heroine has the broken heart and has but be coaxed out of their relationship shell. The hunt for the baddie that has kidnapped the kids just didn't feel right for the most part. They never coordinated with the local police one the two of them hooked up even with one of them being an officer and the uncle of one of the missing kids. Set your brain aside for most of the logic of the story and enjoy how they constantly have to have sex while trying to rescue the kids.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
June 8, 2024
Keri Arthur’s "The Circle of Desire" offers an engaging blend of supernatural romance and suspense but falls short of some of her best work. The novel immerses readers in a vivid paranormal world, though the plot is occasionally predictable and unevenly paced.
The protagonist’s journey through dark magic and passion is compelling, with Arthur’s talent for character development shining through. However, some secondary characters lack depth, leaving parts of the story feeling underdeveloped.
The book balances dark themes with witty dialogue, though the emotional stakes sometimes feel muted. Themes like trust and redemption add depth, but their execution can be heavy-handed.
Overall, "The Circle of Desire" is a solid read for fans of the genre, despite its flaws. It remains an enjoyable escape into a world of magic and desire, though it could have benefited from more polish.
October 17, 2024
3.5 stars
Kat and Ethan are both on the trail of a creature that is kidnapping, holding and then killing children including his niece. Ethan is a werewolf and Kat is a raven shifter with a few other abilities as well and they are instantly attracted to each other but Ethan believes he already gave his heart away and he can never love anyone again and since it's a full moon he is basically in heat, they both wind up jumping each other a lot in this book.
I didn't love this one that much, the MMC being in angry denial of his emotions for most of the book, and being dismissive of Kat's knowledge of the things they are tracking was pretty annoying. Kat was a cool character when she wasn't just being a sex doll for the MMC though.
Kat and Ethan are both on the trail of a creature that is kidnapping, holding and then killing children including his niece. Ethan is a werewolf and Kat is a raven shifter with a few other abilities as well and they are instantly attracted to each other but Ethan believes he already gave his heart away and he can never love anyone again and since it's a full moon he is basically in heat, they both wind up jumping each other a lot in this book.
I didn't love this one that much, the MMC being in angry denial of his emotions for most of the book, and being dismissive of Kat's knowledge of the things they are tracking was pretty annoying. Kat was a cool character when she wasn't just being a sex doll for the MMC though.
January 28, 2018
Boom 💥
This was AWESOME! I so enjoyed this series. And this book was my favorite! Again she wrote an amazingly strong fierce female lead, Katherine Turner. AND talk about an alpha male...Ethan was equally fierce as well as a rock head, lol.
This story had it all...action, pnr, and I couldn’t put it down. It was one that I didn’t want it to end but I needed to know the end.
Another fabulous series by Keri Arthur.
This was AWESOME! I so enjoyed this series. And this book was my favorite! Again she wrote an amazingly strong fierce female lead, Katherine Turner. AND talk about an alpha male...Ethan was equally fierce as well as a rock head, lol.
This story had it all...action, pnr, and I couldn’t put it down. It was one that I didn’t want it to end but I needed to know the end.
Another fabulous series by Keri Arthur.
July 10, 2021
I have never yelled at a fictional man so much than I have Ethan in this book. Not only did I feel like the man needed to be slapped on multiple occasions but also shot. But in the end my heart was stolen and I fell even more in love with Gwen, Kat and Ethan and their love for each other. Plus it kind of gave me some answers that I had cuz I read Riley Jensen first. This is definitely worth the read and all the emotions that come with it.
April 18, 2020
This book has been sitting in my TBR pile for far to long! Being the 3rd book in the series it took a few chapters for me to catch up with what was going on. After that the storyline moved in a well paced way. Mixing action scenes with steamy romance. A good read with a new and interesting supernatural predator. Worth the read but I do think you'd be better off starting at book 1.
November 18, 2017
Always enjoyable
I always enjoy Ms. Arthur's books. They grab you and keep reeling you in. I started this book early (REALLY early) this am and finished it before the sun set. Looking forward to the next in the series.
I always enjoy Ms. Arthur's books. They grab you and keep reeling you in. I started this book early (REALLY early) this am and finished it before the sun set. Looking forward to the next in the series.
January 27, 2018
He hates that he's a werewolf and has fought it for years. She's a raven shifter with telekinetic power working for the Damask Circle to hunt down the creature kidnapping and murdering children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2018
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
August 1, 2022
Absolutely loved this series. This book had humor, adventure, fun and romance.
March 15, 2025
Loved this series of books. Kept me awake at nights just could not put the book down.
September 24, 2025
meh same thing over and over gets boring. like IDC
April 7, 2014
I would like to thank NetGalley and Dell for the opportunity to read this story. Although I received the ebook for free, that in no way impacts my review.
Book three in the Damask Circle series stays pretty true to form, with the feisty female, the dominant male, someone(s) in need of rescue, and a supernatural evil on the loose. Thankfully this book felt much more cohesive and entertaining than the second one in the series.
Katherine, generally known as Kat, is a witch who, along with her grandmother Gwen, works for the Damask Circle. The case they've been called in to assist with is most certainly right up their alley. Yet at the same time there are elements that are new to even them, new to the entire Damask Circle who are working feverishly behind the scenes to uncover the answers Kat and crew need to complete their job and get out alive,
The biggest obstacle is also the biggest attraction - Ethan Morgan. Ethan's niece is one of the missing children. Combine that with his love for her, his feelings of debt to his older brother Luke, his repressed werewolf nature, and a full moon coming and you've got on hell of a mess on your hands.
This book follows one of the tried and true formulas, love given freely on one side and utterly resisted on the receiving end. Luckily it is handled well and doesn't feel too formulaic or trite. The whole thing is well set up and executed. Kat and Ethan share an instantaneous attraction, which they both attribute to Ethan's nature and the call of the moon. But both Kat and her gran Gwen quickly think there is more going on here than raging hormones. Too bad Ethan is to stubborn, and too stuck in the past, to recognize what is right in front of him.
Kat is a great protagonist. She's strong, honest, caring, and has a deep sense of who she is, not too mention what she'll settle for at the end of the day. She faces terrifying creatures and the unknown because someone has to rescue the innocents. She acknowledges her fear but refuses to let it stop her, both physically and emotionally. Though she struggles a bit more with the latter of the two eventually she works through her issues and finds her center again.
While this book clearly follows a well known formula, it's done well enough that the story is still enjoyable. The arc of the story and growth of the characters are well matched, so things come off pretty smoothly, though the ending felt a tad bit rushed to me.
SPOILER:
A TEMPTING FATE
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan’s niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims—even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In ten years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he’s up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness, but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf... and the full moon is rising.
Book three in the Damask Circle series stays pretty true to form, with the feisty female, the dominant male, someone(s) in need of rescue, and a supernatural evil on the loose. Thankfully this book felt much more cohesive and entertaining than the second one in the series.
Katherine, generally known as Kat, is a witch who, along with her grandmother Gwen, works for the Damask Circle. The case they've been called in to assist with is most certainly right up their alley. Yet at the same time there are elements that are new to even them, new to the entire Damask Circle who are working feverishly behind the scenes to uncover the answers Kat and crew need to complete their job and get out alive,
The biggest obstacle is also the biggest attraction - Ethan Morgan. Ethan's niece is one of the missing children. Combine that with his love for her, his feelings of debt to his older brother Luke, his repressed werewolf nature, and a full moon coming and you've got on hell of a mess on your hands.
This book follows one of the tried and true formulas, love given freely on one side and utterly resisted on the receiving end. Luckily it is handled well and doesn't feel too formulaic or trite. The whole thing is well set up and executed. Kat and Ethan share an instantaneous attraction, which they both attribute to Ethan's nature and the call of the moon. But both Kat and her gran Gwen quickly think there is more going on here than raging hormones. Too bad Ethan is to stubborn, and too stuck in the past, to recognize what is right in front of him.
Kat is a great protagonist. She's strong, honest, caring, and has a deep sense of who she is, not too mention what she'll settle for at the end of the day. She faces terrifying creatures and the unknown because someone has to rescue the innocents. She acknowledges her fear but refuses to let it stop her, both physically and emotionally. Though she struggles a bit more with the latter of the two eventually she works through her issues and finds her center again.
While this book clearly follows a well known formula, it's done well enough that the story is still enjoyable. The arc of the story and growth of the characters are well matched, so things come off pretty smoothly, though the ending felt a tad bit rushed to me.
SPOILER:
July 14, 2023
As members of an ancient and powerful coven, the heroine and her grandmother have been enlisted by the police for their help to track and stop the person responsible for the kidnapping and murder of several children. Though they know the heroine is a witch, the human cops have no idea what sort of entity they are after nor how helpless they are to stop it before it kills again. Only the heroine has the knowledge and ability to put an end to the killer but she's received some help from an unexpected source. The hero is a werewolf but that doesn't mean he accepts the declarations of other mythical creatures so easily. He himself fights his inner wolf, changing only when the moon forces him to and overall denying his true nature. When he meets the heroine, he is in the middle of the moon fever which basically turns him into a sex crazed maniac.
As is his general practice, the hero is looking for a lover that will easy the cravings he has for the time of the full moon. After that, he makes it clear he wants nothing further from the woman and goes on his way. And this time he wants the heroine. She herself is craving a lover so when the sexual desire between them is apparent, she is more than willing to accept his offer of a few days of sex while they track down the soul sucking spirit. The hero's own niece is one of the missing children so they have even more urgency than ever but that doesn't stop them from succumbing to their passion ever chance they get. Despite her willingness at first to accept the short-term affair the hero is wanting, she finds herself questioning why they can't take this further, especially when t becomes apparent that whatever is between them is far deeper than sex. But the hero is firm is his refusal to accept commitment despite his behavior which actually says otherwise. A woman he loved turned him away when he showed her his wolf and killed their baby to prevent giving birth to a monster. This is the sole reason he dislikes his other form and it's also the reason he refuses to put himself in the spot to be broken like that again. The moon fever comes and in a spark of honesty when he is lost to the animal within him, he bonds them together, the wolf inside knowing the importance of the heroine even if the man doesn't want to admit it. But the heroine doesn't want false promises or promises she thinks he's made to another woman so the hero must prove that what he feels for her is real.
I enjoyed this book even though the hero annoyed me to no end. Usually in these books I find myself disliking an annoying heroine who is stubborn and ignorant and completely blind to what's right in front of her face but in this case, it was actually the guy who inspired these feelings. It was his stupid refusal to believe that there were other magical beings and forces at work in this case even though he himself is a goddamn werewolf. He refuses to accept he loves the heroine because when he was seventeen he feels in love with a girl and she thought him a monster. First of all, he's seventeen! No seventeen-year-old dude is falling in love, marrying a girl and then spending his entire adult life in a series of one-night stands because he can no longer believe in love. It was ridiculous. The heroine wasn't so bad. She was open to the sexual affair and she didn't make too much of a fuss when it became apparent they were meant for so much more but rather questioned the hero's motives and tried to make him see sense. She was the strong character in their story and the dominate one of their relationship even though the hero tried to act all macho at times. I liked this book but felt a bit of a loop at times when they would track the Mara, attack it then the building would end up blowing up. It became predictable and where the hell did all these bombs come from??? Overall, I enjoyed the book but it wasn't spectacular. Nether the less I'm interested in the other books of the series.
As is his general practice, the hero is looking for a lover that will easy the cravings he has for the time of the full moon. After that, he makes it clear he wants nothing further from the woman and goes on his way. And this time he wants the heroine. She herself is craving a lover so when the sexual desire between them is apparent, she is more than willing to accept his offer of a few days of sex while they track down the soul sucking spirit. The hero's own niece is one of the missing children so they have even more urgency than ever but that doesn't stop them from succumbing to their passion ever chance they get. Despite her willingness at first to accept the short-term affair the hero is wanting, she finds herself questioning why they can't take this further, especially when t becomes apparent that whatever is between them is far deeper than sex. But the hero is firm is his refusal to accept commitment despite his behavior which actually says otherwise. A woman he loved turned him away when he showed her his wolf and killed their baby to prevent giving birth to a monster. This is the sole reason he dislikes his other form and it's also the reason he refuses to put himself in the spot to be broken like that again. The moon fever comes and in a spark of honesty when he is lost to the animal within him, he bonds them together, the wolf inside knowing the importance of the heroine even if the man doesn't want to admit it. But the heroine doesn't want false promises or promises she thinks he's made to another woman so the hero must prove that what he feels for her is real.
I enjoyed this book even though the hero annoyed me to no end. Usually in these books I find myself disliking an annoying heroine who is stubborn and ignorant and completely blind to what's right in front of her face but in this case, it was actually the guy who inspired these feelings. It was his stupid refusal to believe that there were other magical beings and forces at work in this case even though he himself is a goddamn werewolf. He refuses to accept he loves the heroine because when he was seventeen he feels in love with a girl and she thought him a monster. First of all, he's seventeen! No seventeen-year-old dude is falling in love, marrying a girl and then spending his entire adult life in a series of one-night stands because he can no longer believe in love. It was ridiculous. The heroine wasn't so bad. She was open to the sexual affair and she didn't make too much of a fuss when it became apparent they were meant for so much more but rather questioned the hero's motives and tried to make him see sense. She was the strong character in their story and the dominate one of their relationship even though the hero tried to act all macho at times. I liked this book but felt a bit of a loop at times when they would track the Mara, attack it then the building would end up blowing up. It became predictable and where the hell did all these bombs come from??? Overall, I enjoyed the book but it wasn't spectacular. Nether the less I'm interested in the other books of the series.
April 7, 2014
Book Info
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Dell (first published July 31st 2003)
original titleCircle of Desire (Damask Circle, #3)
ISBN 0440246571 (ISBN13: 9780440246572)
edition languageEnglish
series Damask Circle #3
other editions (7)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
A TEMPTING FATE
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan’s niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims—even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In ten years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he’s up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness, but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf . . . and the full moon is rising.
To be quite honest this third book could be read alone without ever reading the previous works, as a matter of fact by the time finished had grown a bit jaded with the series as the stories are very similar in nature with different couples and villains that they engage in their ongoing fight of good versus evil.
This time around the evil that must be stopped is even wilier than the previous villains, it takes everything within Kat and Ethan’s combined considerable talents to stay alive as they race the clock to find his niece.
There is lots of action taking place in this book that will keep reader turning pages to eagerly keep up with what is happening, the relationship issues this time are from Ethan’s past rather than Kat’s and at times become a little bit more than frustrating as he rehashes the fact that he will consent to only short term involvement as it is all he has to offer Kat. I think however overall this last book just fell short as it just did not have the ability to keep the reader emotionally invested with either the victims or the main characters. As a long time fan of the author am still going to keep her work on my wanting to read lists as other later releases kept me wanting more from her so know that the lack of total enjoyment for this particular book is not enough to cause me to stop reading more that she has written.
Paperback, 352 pages
Expected publication: April 1st 2014 by Dell (first published July 31st 2003)
original titleCircle of Desire (Damask Circle, #3)
ISBN 0440246571 (ISBN13: 9780440246572)
edition languageEnglish
series Damask Circle #3
other editions (7)
Source:Netgalley EARC
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
A TEMPTING FATE
Two children have been found dead, their souls torn from their bodies. Two more are missing, and Ethan Morgan’s niece is one of them. A dedicated cop, Ethan has every intention not only of bringing her back alive but of catching the monster behind these kidnappings. And he will use anyone and everyone to achieve those aims—even a crazy woman who claims to be a witch. But time is ticking. The victims rarely stay alive for more than seven days. Four of those days have already passed.
In ten years of working for the Damask Circle, shapeshifter Katherine Tanner has never come across anything that goes after kids the way this monster does. The last thing Kat needs is interference from a cop who has no idea what he’s up against. But the greatest threat to Kat may come not from the forces of darkness, but from the man she is beginning to love. Because Ethan is a werewolf . . . and the full moon is rising.
My Thoughts
To be quite honest this third book could be read alone without ever reading the previous works, as a matter of fact by the time finished had grown a bit jaded with the series as the stories are very similar in nature with different couples and villains that they engage in their ongoing fight of good versus evil.
This time around the evil that must be stopped is even wilier than the previous villains, it takes everything within Kat and Ethan’s combined considerable talents to stay alive as they race the clock to find his niece.
There is lots of action taking place in this book that will keep reader turning pages to eagerly keep up with what is happening, the relationship issues this time are from Ethan’s past rather than Kat’s and at times become a little bit more than frustrating as he rehashes the fact that he will consent to only short term involvement as it is all he has to offer Kat. I think however overall this last book just fell short as it just did not have the ability to keep the reader emotionally invested with either the victims or the main characters. As a long time fan of the author am still going to keep her work on my wanting to read lists as other later releases kept me wanting more from her so know that the lack of total enjoyment for this particular book is not enough to cause me to stop reading more that she has written.
[EArc from Netgalley in exchange for honest review]
October 28, 2018
Detective Ethan Morgan is searching for his missing niece with desperation on this case. Katherine "Kat" Tanner has been working for The Damask Circle ten years now. Kat is also a shapeshifter and a witch along with her grandmother. This case is truly unique because there is no sign of forced entry in any of missing children disappearances. Ethan is thrown off the case because he's into deep and can't control his shifter side. As Kat and Ethan grow closer, she discovers Ethan's attitude towards love is skewed making him unable to accept love freely given. Can the missing children be found? Will Ethan accept Kat? Whose behind these kidnappings? Your answers await you in Circle of Desire.
April 6, 2014
Circle of Desire. A Damask Circle Book: 3. Keri Arthur
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I love the Nikki and Michael books, and this spin off trilogy about other members of The Circle has been great. I'm just sad that this is the last one :(
Once again there's a mystery to be solved, people to be saved and a good,sexy,sensual hot male to throw in some spice! Gwen and her granddaughter Kat work for The Circle, and they've been sent to investigate just what is taking and killing children. They're both talented witches and have other talents too.
Dedicated cop Ethan is a born werewolf, though he hates that side of his personality and suppresses it as much as he is able. His niece is one of the latest two children to be kidnapped, and he's been stood down from the case as being too closely involved. He can't just sit back though, and has already met Gwen and Kat. Though he thinks their claims as witches and psychics are nonsense, he knows they are involved in the case with police approval, and he decides sticking with them is his best way of helping. Gwen knows he'll be staying with them – she's seen it in her scrying. He's attracted to Kat and she to him, and its close to the moon when he needs to have sex, lots of it – the moon and the wolf demand it, and its one part of him that he cannot suppress for fear of losing control totally. He tells Kat that its sex only though, he isn't looking for anything more and once the case is over he's walking away. Of course we readers can see how futile that is! I liked Ethan but stubborn and intransigent doesn't even begin to cover his attitude. His eyes are soon opened to the fact there's more to the supernatural world than werewolves, as he sees Gwen and Kat perform spells and scry for clues as to what's going in – and he meets, hough unwillingly – vampires. He's on a steep learning curve, and as he sees what he thinks is impossible become real its a shock.
Gwen and Kat, great team, work very closely together with that innate confidence born of being together and knowing the others style for years. Sometimes I felt Gwen was sniggering a bit about Ethan and his shock as what else is in the world, and the way he and Kat are so pulled together, yet adamant its just sex. And its hot, steamy, erotic sex too.....
As well as giving us characters that feel real, Keri presents the supernatural in a way that makes it all seem believable. She doesn't give her characters get out of jail, quick fix instant new powers but uses tried and tested methods, charms, sleep bombs, kinetic powers and werewolf strength, to get them out of the scrapes they fall in. Its once again a great read, and one that will be in the keepers file. The whole trilogy is a bit lighter in feel that the Nikki series, with the romance angle being stronger but still wrapped up in a satisfying and realistic mystery. I'm just sad that this marks the end – one of the few times I’d like to see a trilogy become longer.....and I never say that! Still, rather than dragged out stories with horrible cliffhangers, each story in this trilogy is complete with just Seline and The Circle linking them, so it doesn’t have that awful feeling as if the book is just been cut right when all the action is happening. It's priced at £5.49 for 304 pages, no cheap but a quality story and one that bears re reading.
Stars: five – fabulous read.
ARC supplied by Netgalley.
Review from Jeannie Zelos Book reviews.
I love the Nikki and Michael books, and this spin off trilogy about other members of The Circle has been great. I'm just sad that this is the last one :(
Once again there's a mystery to be solved, people to be saved and a good,sexy,sensual hot male to throw in some spice! Gwen and her granddaughter Kat work for The Circle, and they've been sent to investigate just what is taking and killing children. They're both talented witches and have other talents too.
Dedicated cop Ethan is a born werewolf, though he hates that side of his personality and suppresses it as much as he is able. His niece is one of the latest two children to be kidnapped, and he's been stood down from the case as being too closely involved. He can't just sit back though, and has already met Gwen and Kat. Though he thinks their claims as witches and psychics are nonsense, he knows they are involved in the case with police approval, and he decides sticking with them is his best way of helping. Gwen knows he'll be staying with them – she's seen it in her scrying. He's attracted to Kat and she to him, and its close to the moon when he needs to have sex, lots of it – the moon and the wolf demand it, and its one part of him that he cannot suppress for fear of losing control totally. He tells Kat that its sex only though, he isn't looking for anything more and once the case is over he's walking away. Of course we readers can see how futile that is! I liked Ethan but stubborn and intransigent doesn't even begin to cover his attitude. His eyes are soon opened to the fact there's more to the supernatural world than werewolves, as he sees Gwen and Kat perform spells and scry for clues as to what's going in – and he meets, hough unwillingly – vampires. He's on a steep learning curve, and as he sees what he thinks is impossible become real its a shock.
Gwen and Kat, great team, work very closely together with that innate confidence born of being together and knowing the others style for years. Sometimes I felt Gwen was sniggering a bit about Ethan and his shock as what else is in the world, and the way he and Kat are so pulled together, yet adamant its just sex. And its hot, steamy, erotic sex too.....
As well as giving us characters that feel real, Keri presents the supernatural in a way that makes it all seem believable. She doesn't give her characters get out of jail, quick fix instant new powers but uses tried and tested methods, charms, sleep bombs, kinetic powers and werewolf strength, to get them out of the scrapes they fall in. Its once again a great read, and one that will be in the keepers file. The whole trilogy is a bit lighter in feel that the Nikki series, with the romance angle being stronger but still wrapped up in a satisfying and realistic mystery. I'm just sad that this marks the end – one of the few times I’d like to see a trilogy become longer.....and I never say that! Still, rather than dragged out stories with horrible cliffhangers, each story in this trilogy is complete with just Seline and The Circle linking them, so it doesn’t have that awful feeling as if the book is just been cut right when all the action is happening. It's priced at £5.49 for 304 pages, no cheap but a quality story and one that bears re reading.
Stars: five – fabulous read.
ARC supplied by Netgalley.
September 25, 2023
I really enjoyed this book
April 2, 2014
Mon avis en Français
My English review
And here’s the last volume of the Damask Circle series. I confess that I thought that by starting the series, I would be able to learn more about this organization that we hear so much about. In the end it is true that this is not the case but I took a great pleasure in discovering all these new characters, all different from each other. In addition, we have in this volume the mention of Nikki & Michael, the two characters of the previous trilogy.
We follow this time two new characters and unlike the first two volumes, it is a woman who is part of the Circle. But not just any woman, a shapeshifter with her grandmother who is a medium. Kat’s gifts don’t stop there and she is capable of many things that we discover throughout the story. Grandmother and granddaughter pursue a supernatural duo who attacks children, removing and killing them by taking away their souls. Trying to stop them, they will team up with the police. By this, they will also cross the road of Ethan. What about this man? Since the disappearance of his niece, this werewolf became completely obsessed with the killer and nothing will stop him to find out who the culprit is. The only problem is that the full moon is approaching and he will soon need a partner to release the tension he has in him. This is where Kat is the perfect candidate. Yet when a relationship begins to develop between them, it seems that only the young woman believes in something, and Ethan doesn’t hesitate to tell her that he will leave as soon as the investigation is resolved.
I loved how Kat, this woman so strong, was completely changing in contact of the werewolf and at the same time it really hurts my heart to see that she was also easily attached to him when he constantly tells her that they have no relationship. Regarding Ethan, it is true that he is frustrating to see that he doesn’t want to see what is happening between them, especially when everything seems obvious. Moreover, it will take a long time for him to realize the truth about his feelings. Plus, it is quite annoying to see that he does not accept his true nature and remains convinced that he is ultimately a monster. Despite this, we understand little by little his reasons when his past is revealed in the chapters. But there is more and it’s true that I enjoyed the plot of the story, everything was really well done. I was curious to discover the reason for these murders and it is true that I did not expect it for a second.
A new very good volume and although it is true that I would have liked more information on the Circle, I had a great time with these three volumes and I’m always curious to read more about the author. A nice surprise.
My English review
And here’s the last volume of the Damask Circle series. I confess that I thought that by starting the series, I would be able to learn more about this organization that we hear so much about. In the end it is true that this is not the case but I took a great pleasure in discovering all these new characters, all different from each other. In addition, we have in this volume the mention of Nikki & Michael, the two characters of the previous trilogy.
We follow this time two new characters and unlike the first two volumes, it is a woman who is part of the Circle. But not just any woman, a shapeshifter with her grandmother who is a medium. Kat’s gifts don’t stop there and she is capable of many things that we discover throughout the story. Grandmother and granddaughter pursue a supernatural duo who attacks children, removing and killing them by taking away their souls. Trying to stop them, they will team up with the police. By this, they will also cross the road of Ethan. What about this man? Since the disappearance of his niece, this werewolf became completely obsessed with the killer and nothing will stop him to find out who the culprit is. The only problem is that the full moon is approaching and he will soon need a partner to release the tension he has in him. This is where Kat is the perfect candidate. Yet when a relationship begins to develop between them, it seems that only the young woman believes in something, and Ethan doesn’t hesitate to tell her that he will leave as soon as the investigation is resolved.
I loved how Kat, this woman so strong, was completely changing in contact of the werewolf and at the same time it really hurts my heart to see that she was also easily attached to him when he constantly tells her that they have no relationship. Regarding Ethan, it is true that he is frustrating to see that he doesn’t want to see what is happening between them, especially when everything seems obvious. Moreover, it will take a long time for him to realize the truth about his feelings. Plus, it is quite annoying to see that he does not accept his true nature and remains convinced that he is ultimately a monster. Despite this, we understand little by little his reasons when his past is revealed in the chapters. But there is more and it’s true that I enjoyed the plot of the story, everything was really well done. I was curious to discover the reason for these murders and it is true that I did not expect it for a second.
A new very good volume and although it is true that I would have liked more information on the Circle, I had a great time with these three volumes and I’m always curious to read more about the author. A nice surprise.
April 1, 2014
Children are going missing, then days later their bodies are being found with their souls ripped from them and evidence of a brutal death. Ethan Morgan's niece is one of the missing children. Ethan is a dedicated cop....and a werewolf, and he has no intention of doing as ordered and sitting twiddling his thumbs...no, not only will Ethan bring her back alive but he'll capture the monster behind this. To do so, he'll have to start believing in magic and the supernatural, and trust the crazy woman with a serious chocolate addiction, but who claims to be a witch. The victims stay alive for 7 days if they're lucky. 4 days have already passed since Ethan's niece was taken. For someone who trusts no-one, he's on a strict time limit to learn how to trust again.
Katherine Tanner, a raven shapeshifter, has worked for the Damask Circle for 10 years, and in all of those years she has never come across anything like the monster going after these children. The last thing Kat needs is an interfering cop with no idea what is going on, or what he's up against. The greatest threat to Kat may not be the Mara they're hunting, it may just be the very attractive werewolf with sky-high emotional walls.
Okay so these books have just gotten better and better, I thought nothing could top Fire, but I was wrong!
I loved Kat so much, she was strong, she remained strong through everything that happened with Ethan and the case, she was a survivor and she had so much courage and bravery.
Ethan...well doesn't it make a difference to have the male love interest be the one with all the emotional baggage?! It was so refreshing, and such a change from the usual formula for romance books. I really really wanted to smack some sense in to him, and bang their heads together! It was the perfect romance, and was written perfectly.
As usual Arthur has created characters strong enough to stand on their own, written with depth and complexity. The monsters in the book where suitably creepy and evil. Arthur doesn't leave anything out, we get the scenes set and described in all their horror, there is no glossing over things. We again have characters who aren't perfect, they have their flaws, which just makes them so human and easy to relate to.
The plot was just as good as Fire, it was complex, it kept you guessing, there where plenty of twists and turns. The unique monster mythology continues to be rich and full of detail in just the right amount, and seamlessly integrated in the narrative.
Circle of Desire is fast paced and packed with action, romance, zombie's, werewolves, vampires and buckets of intrigue.
Katherine Tanner, a raven shapeshifter, has worked for the Damask Circle for 10 years, and in all of those years she has never come across anything like the monster going after these children. The last thing Kat needs is an interfering cop with no idea what is going on, or what he's up against. The greatest threat to Kat may not be the Mara they're hunting, it may just be the very attractive werewolf with sky-high emotional walls.
Okay so these books have just gotten better and better, I thought nothing could top Fire, but I was wrong!
I loved Kat so much, she was strong, she remained strong through everything that happened with Ethan and the case, she was a survivor and she had so much courage and bravery.
Ethan...well doesn't it make a difference to have the male love interest be the one with all the emotional baggage?! It was so refreshing, and such a change from the usual formula for romance books. I really really wanted to smack some sense in to him, and bang their heads together! It was the perfect romance, and was written perfectly.
As usual Arthur has created characters strong enough to stand on their own, written with depth and complexity. The monsters in the book where suitably creepy and evil. Arthur doesn't leave anything out, we get the scenes set and described in all their horror, there is no glossing over things. We again have characters who aren't perfect, they have their flaws, which just makes them so human and easy to relate to.
The plot was just as good as Fire, it was complex, it kept you guessing, there where plenty of twists and turns. The unique monster mythology continues to be rich and full of detail in just the right amount, and seamlessly integrated in the narrative.
Circle of Desire is fast paced and packed with action, romance, zombie's, werewolves, vampires and buckets of intrigue.
July 31, 2010
Kat and her grandmother have been working for the Damask Circle for 10 years but this is their hardest case yet. Children have been disappearing, with their bodies turning up within a week showing that they have been brutally murdered. With their psychic abilities Kat & her grandmother are working with the police trying to track down the killer and rescue the children who are still missing. Ethan is a police officer but since his niece was kidnapped he has been removed from the case - that isn't going to stop him from doing everything he can to find her though and he quickly realises that Kat is going to be the key to help him. As a werewolf Ethan has abilities that can help Kat much more than the police can so they need to work together if they are going to stop the murderer before any more children go missing or end up dead.
Circle of Desire is the last book in the Damask Circle trilogy by Keri Arthur but as the series each revolve around a different set of characters and there is no continuation of the story it is easy to read the books out of order or as stand alone stories. I've enjoyed and would recommend all 3 books in the series though this was probably my favorite of them all.
I really liked both Kat and her grandmother, the relationship between them was really nice to see and they obviously cared for each other deeply. Kat's grandmother had me laughing out loud in several places with her open attitude to sex and the way she was so upfront about Kat and Ethan's growing relationship. Kat was a strong character, her abilities really take it out of her but she was very strong and determined to stand on her own two feet. Ethan was one hot werewolf and if you've ever read Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series then you'll know all about wolves and their natural appetites as the full moon draws nearer! Because he was hurt in the past Ethan is very reluctant to face up to the feelings he starts to develop for Kat but will he admit how he feels before he loses her forever?
As I've come to expect from Keri Arthur Circle of Desire was an enjoyable paranormal romance with great chemistry between the main characters, plenty of action and a strong plot line. I'd happily recommend this series to paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans.
Circle of Desire is the last book in the Damask Circle trilogy by Keri Arthur but as the series each revolve around a different set of characters and there is no continuation of the story it is easy to read the books out of order or as stand alone stories. I've enjoyed and would recommend all 3 books in the series though this was probably my favorite of them all.
I really liked both Kat and her grandmother, the relationship between them was really nice to see and they obviously cared for each other deeply. Kat's grandmother had me laughing out loud in several places with her open attitude to sex and the way she was so upfront about Kat and Ethan's growing relationship. Kat was a strong character, her abilities really take it out of her but she was very strong and determined to stand on her own two feet. Ethan was one hot werewolf and if you've ever read Keri Arthur's Riley Jenson series then you'll know all about wolves and their natural appetites as the full moon draws nearer! Because he was hurt in the past Ethan is very reluctant to face up to the feelings he starts to develop for Kat but will he admit how he feels before he loses her forever?
As I've come to expect from Keri Arthur Circle of Desire was an enjoyable paranormal romance with great chemistry between the main characters, plenty of action and a strong plot line. I'd happily recommend this series to paranormal romance and urban fantasy fans.
March 31, 2014
I've been waiting for this book since I started reading A Damask Circle Series. The last book; a goodbye to a world filled with supernatural beings and humans with amazing powers. It was a bittersweet reading, because of the pleasure it gave me, but also the sadness of the farewell.
The story of this Circle of Desire uses, once again, the same formula of the previous volumes, where we have a shapeshiter and a werewolf, who meet during the investigation of kidnapping and murderer of children.
I must confess that, although it is pretty much the same as the previous ones, the story isn't dull, but I felt a little disappointed with how things ended. Maybe because it is the last, I was expecting something more, something that would bring me to tears when the time to say goodbye arrived, and although it is an excellent book, I just wanted more. It is full of action and romance between the two main characters, Kat and Ethan.
Even though I didn't experience such a strong connection with these two characters (Maddie and Jon were the firsts, Kirby and Doyle unforgettable), I believe they were the best in this trilogy. They are very well developed characters, more mature, and they both know what they want and what to do, only shaking when it comes to their real feelings. The sexual moments are, once again, very well written, without becoming dirty.
It's a fact that the idea behind the three books of A Damask Circle series is always the same and it brings nothing new - some crime, two people with some kind of power who fall in love and don't want to admit it. It might sound boring, but it is so far away from it. The way Keri Arthur writes, although there is nothing I can pinpoint and scream "it is amazing", lives from its simplicity and intensity, balanced in a good harmony which makes it hard for us to stop reading.
I became a serious fan of Keri Author. I repeat what I said in other reviews, it's a shame she isn't published in Portugal, because I believe she would be greatly loved. All I have now is her original works, and hope that the author someday returns to this world secretly protected by the Damask Circle.
http://eu-e-o-bam.blogspot.pt/2014/03... [PT]
The story of this Circle of Desire uses, once again, the same formula of the previous volumes, where we have a shapeshiter and a werewolf, who meet during the investigation of kidnapping and murderer of children.
I must confess that, although it is pretty much the same as the previous ones, the story isn't dull, but I felt a little disappointed with how things ended. Maybe because it is the last, I was expecting something more, something that would bring me to tears when the time to say goodbye arrived, and although it is an excellent book, I just wanted more. It is full of action and romance between the two main characters, Kat and Ethan.
Even though I didn't experience such a strong connection with these two characters (Maddie and Jon were the firsts, Kirby and Doyle unforgettable), I believe they were the best in this trilogy. They are very well developed characters, more mature, and they both know what they want and what to do, only shaking when it comes to their real feelings. The sexual moments are, once again, very well written, without becoming dirty.
It's a fact that the idea behind the three books of A Damask Circle series is always the same and it brings nothing new - some crime, two people with some kind of power who fall in love and don't want to admit it. It might sound boring, but it is so far away from it. The way Keri Arthur writes, although there is nothing I can pinpoint and scream "it is amazing", lives from its simplicity and intensity, balanced in a good harmony which makes it hard for us to stop reading.
I became a serious fan of Keri Author. I repeat what I said in other reviews, it's a shame she isn't published in Portugal, because I believe she would be greatly loved. All I have now is her original works, and hope that the author someday returns to this world secretly protected by the Damask Circle.
http://eu-e-o-bam.blogspot.pt/2014/03... [PT]
May 1, 2014
**Originally written for Book Bliss book blog. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**
Review:4 stars
General: This book had a very different, but similar feel to the other Circle books. I think the thing it shared in common is all three started much faster than the stories in the Riley Jensen and Nikki & Michael series - which I love. You're thrown right into the mix. You're also always dealing with slightly darker deeds by the villain in the Circle books and this one was no exception. I was highly intrigued the minute the bad team stepped up to the plate, albeit a little confused and had to reread the first few pages, but certainly interested in the deeds that were being done - I also think I liked that it was real pair this time as opposed to someone really controlling someone else. But where this was differed the most was the plot elements. I felt this book had a much stronger feel of "tension" than the first two. Ethan and Tanner seemed to connect on a different level than the other two couples and were much darker as characters own their own as well. Also this book really brought on the heat in the bedroom whereas most of the novels skim over it. I enjoyed all the extra elements in this book.
So why not a five star? I was waiting to read these after I picked up the Nikki and Michael series to learn more about Circle and of course Selene. I think I was disappointed in the lack of actual interaction from the circle in this one despite it being about two prominent supernaturals.
Characters: Katherine- Katherine was a bit disconnected for me. I believed her as a heroine and Circle agent. But I couldn't seem to connect with her. She was intelligent, kick butt and really connected with Ethan but for some reason I just couldn't get in sync with her.
Ethan- Ethan was sexy, confused, determined and dangerous all at once. I really liked his character. He was an alpha personified and I think my favorite alpha to date of Keri Arthurs.
Review:4 stars
General: This book had a very different, but similar feel to the other Circle books. I think the thing it shared in common is all three started much faster than the stories in the Riley Jensen and Nikki & Michael series - which I love. You're thrown right into the mix. You're also always dealing with slightly darker deeds by the villain in the Circle books and this one was no exception. I was highly intrigued the minute the bad team stepped up to the plate, albeit a little confused and had to reread the first few pages, but certainly interested in the deeds that were being done - I also think I liked that it was real pair this time as opposed to someone really controlling someone else. But where this was differed the most was the plot elements. I felt this book had a much stronger feel of "tension" than the first two. Ethan and Tanner seemed to connect on a different level than the other two couples and were much darker as characters own their own as well. Also this book really brought on the heat in the bedroom whereas most of the novels skim over it. I enjoyed all the extra elements in this book.
So why not a five star? I was waiting to read these after I picked up the Nikki and Michael series to learn more about Circle and of course Selene. I think I was disappointed in the lack of actual interaction from the circle in this one despite it being about two prominent supernaturals.
Characters: Katherine- Katherine was a bit disconnected for me. I believed her as a heroine and Circle agent. But I couldn't seem to connect with her. She was intelligent, kick butt and really connected with Ethan but for some reason I just couldn't get in sync with her.
Ethan- Ethan was sexy, confused, determined and dangerous all at once. I really liked his character. He was an alpha personified and I think my favorite alpha to date of Keri Arthurs.
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