Circles of Seven

Dragons in Our Midst #3

by Bryan Davis

    The first book, Raising Dragons , plunged two teenagers, Billy Bannister and Bonnie Silver, into mind-boggling mysteries, life or death pursuits, and deadly sword-to-sword battles.
In the second book, The Candlestone , Billy is led into mortal combat with a powerful dragon slayer. Separated from his friends and finding his dragon traits useless against this enemy, he has to rely on new weapons, a sword and shield he cannot even see.
    Now in Circles of Seven, using their dragon traits and the wisdom they gained through their earlier adventures, Billy and Bonnie explore a multi-dimensional domain of evil. In this realm, they navigate seven perilous worlds, each one manifested in a circular plane of existence that leads them deeper into the domain of a powerful enemy.
The seventh circle holds a group of prisoners, captives of the evil mistress of the circles, and Billy has to find a way to set them free and give them new life. When tragedy strikes along the way, Billy has to face the most difficult decision of his life, whether to forsake Bonnie to rescue the prisoners or to find a way to save her, his best friend in the world.
Filled with action, danger, and suspense, Circles of Seven is sure to keep readers in their seats, following Billy and Bonnie to the exciting conclusion.

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Christian, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Christian Fantasy

432 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

About the author

Bryan Davis is the author several speculative-fiction series, including Dragons in Our Midst, Oracles of Fire, Children of the Bard, Dragons of Camelot, The Reapers Trilogy, The Time Echoes Trilogy, Tales of Starlight, Dragons of Starlight, the Oculus Gate, Not So Famous Dog Tales, Astral Alliance, and Wanted: Superheroes.

Bryan and his wife, Susie, have homeschooled their four girls and three boys.

Bryan was born in 1958 and grew up in the eastern U.S. From the time he taught himself how to read before school age, through his seminary years and beyond, he has demonstrated a passion for the written word, reading and writing in many disciplines and genres, including fantasy, theology, fiction, devotionals, poetry, and humor.

Reviews

[Abby Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.
That was so CRAZY. Larry's awesome. Walter just gets better. I don't think I've ever read another book quite like this one.
Full review to come!

This is definitely one of the craziest and most creative books I've ever read. It has a smart mouth talking computer, dragons, Arthurian legend, lots of suspense, a delicious amount of Biblical truth throughout, and to top it all off, beautiful rhyming poems dripping with meaning that I'm sure I didn't understand completely at some points.
Despite all those elements, the book fits together well and flows smoothly. I have to say that the other two books before this one in the series were nothing compared to it in terms of CRAZINESS and AWESOMENESS. Like, book 1 kinda looks a little boring compared to this one XD There was symbolism and meaning and trials and tests and virtues and vices and legends and Biblical truth, all woven together for a fascinating, beautiful tale.

Now granted, because of all of this these books might be a bit too crazy for some people. It's definitely not everyone's cup of tea. At some points I was a little unsure if it was mine. But if you like speculative fiction, this definitely fits in the realm of speculative.

It was so fun and rewarding to see Billy come into his own in this book! He's really changed since book 1, and started to become a true man in every sense. Bonnie doesn't change much (except maybe for the very end), but she's angelic as always. The most beautiful moment for me with Billy was when when he laid Bonnie down and surrendered her to God on the bridge. That was a huge moment for him and it was honestly so beautiful.

Let us also not forget Walter and all the other awesome side characters! Walter is such a great guy, okay? And I never thought I'd like a computer like Larry, but I do.

And please, let's not forget the awesome moral, virtuous examples shown forth in this story, all the truth woven in. It is SO REFRESHING. Especially since it's located in a section of the library where, when you look around at the other titles, there's not much of that going on. Nor is there much hope, it all tends to be leaning towards despair. But not in this series, and I am all here for it. Plus, I daresay it has just as good, if not better, of a plot as the rest of those books do.

Suffice it to say, this and book 4 are my favorite books of the series, because they are where things REALLY take off. If I was to reread the series, I might just start with book 2 and skip 1, but I don't know, I am a person who likes things in order... We shall see ;)
I can also totally see why Bryan Davis had trouble pitching this series, especially at a time when Christian fantasy was not common, because it is very out of the box.
So, that's it for this review!

[Nate Philbrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 was so confusing to 14-yr-old me, but boy...it's always been my favorite of the series! Can't believe I hadn't added these yet.

[ChrissiesPurpleLibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventure continues! Epic battles between light and dark. Age old prophecies come to life on the page. Young hero and heroines seek to save the world from danger at every turn. I had so much fun!! One more book to go 🔥🔥🔥

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, the spiritual symbolism in this book! This book brings the Dragons in Our Midst series to new heights and delighted me. While the first half of the book can be a little confusing with the seven circles of the underworld, the many temptations and songs from Merlin, and the jumping between dimensions, the second half of the book is amazing. I couldn't stop listening to it.

The dialogue is sometimes a little trite, but this unique fantasy series pulls in elements of mythical lore, science, and Christianity to create an epic adventure. The spiritual truths are simple but poignant, forcing the characters to come to moments of surrender and sacrifice, and the characters are SO lovable. From the professor to Walter to Bonnie to Shiloh, they are lovable, flawed, interesting, and funny. It's a great series for preteens and teens, but there is something in this series for adults too!

3.75/5 (the best book of the series so far!)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still my favorite in this series.

~~~

2022 Series Review:
When I first read the Dragons in Our Midst series not long after this book released, it quickly hit my favorites list. The Oracles of Fire series took me a little longer to win me over, but eventually, it joined its predecessor on my top ten (technically sharing a space, as you really can't have one without the other). But time went on, and my growing reading list meant I reread less, and before long, years had passed without my touching these books (except to occasionally take Bookstagram photos). And the question arose: were they as good as I remembered? Other favorites from that time had fallen in favor as I found other stories that I loved more and that rang more true and as I discovered other authors with lovelier writing. Would Dragons in Our Midst and Oracles of Fire hold up?

In October 2021, I decided to find out. And as I delved into the familiar pages, I quickly found myself falling in love again with the story, characters, and themes, all of which were as excellent as I remembered — or, in some cases, better. Maturity on my part meant I could better appreciate certain characters and choices that had frustrated the younger me and that I could more clearly see the spiritual truths Davis weaves into every page of his writing. And books I originally didn't love — mostly Tears of a Dragon, Enoch's Ghost, and The Bones of Makaidos — I found I liked much better this time around because, again, I could better appreciate the themes, particularly the theme of sacrifice that runs so strongly through this series.

It's bit interesting for me to think that in some ways, these books were published at the last possible moment that they could've been really successful, both in- and out-of-story. In-story, the increasing omnipresence of the internet and surveillance and just the increased number of people with cameras on their phones would've made it nearly impossible for the dragons and anthrozils to stay hidden (especially in the case of LITERAL dragons or Bonnie and her wings) — and that's not even starting on the events at the end of Circles of Seven or the merging of Earth and Hell in Oracles of Fire. Those were a Big Deal in the story; they'd be receiving hundreds of times more attention and panic today.

And out-of-story, well, you can't get far into these books without recognizing that Davis isn't exactly subtle with his spiritual themes. Even compared to other books of the time, these books are saturated with Biblical truth, scripture, allegory, and messages — I would argue even more so than some books that were explicitly allegorical. It's even more evident compared to a lot of Christian fiction today, which tends to be much more subtle. But honestly? It's kind of refreshing to read a book that's so in-your-face about these things.

So, do these books hold up? Absolutely. If you've never read them before, pick them up. And if you have read them before, well, don't you think it might be time for a reread?

[Annalise Kraines · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this days ago and I barely know what to say. So I'm going to summarize this for you HERE WE GO:

Billy and Bonnie are in England for reasons neither they nor I understand. They end up in hell to free prisoners because of a prophecy (that refers to Bonnie as Billy's "maid" so that's fun). Hell is made up of 7 circles, and over the course of the book Billy and Bonnie run into literal Satan, are guided by Joseph of Arimathea in his butler era, and fight giant glowing demons. Billy is bitten by a beetle and goes through puberty really fast. He's also hit on by several adult women (he is 15). Bonnie continues to be the most perfect faithful angel and tbh God is made out to be a confusing riddler who won't give his most faithful followers a straight answer or guidance about pretty much anything. Walter and Ashley continue to be dry and very annoying. There's way more computer jargon than there should be in a book about dragons.

Between this fever dream of a plot, writing that emotionally jerks its reader around, and the constant use of the word "virgin", I am going to fall down.

[Tracey Dyck · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This was my second or third read.)

Wow, what a book! I remember it being my favorite in the Dragons in Our Midst series, and I think that still holds true. What can I say? I love the symbolism.

I don't think I can do my history with Circles of Seven justice, so we'll settle for a short list of what I loved:

-Billy's growth. He still has a long way to go, and he made some mistakes, but he didn't completely backslide like so many protagonists do! He's actually building on the foundation of character laid in books 1 and 2.
-Bonnie's faith is beautiful and she's still one of my heroes.
-Ashley and Walter and foreshadowing. ;) And snark. Walter gets on Ashley's nerves so much right now, but I love how their friendship survives.
-England!
-The symbolic, spiritual journey Billy takes through the seven circles is amazing. I feel like I uncover more every time I read it.
-Morgan makes her entrance and ugh, I hate her.
-So much set-up for future books!
-Shiloh is a sweetie.
-The Ezekiel 37 inspiration at the end was A+++.
-Prof yells about driving on the wrong side of the road, physically attacks baddies, trips a rude cameraman, and is generally a lovable, wise, genteel fellow through it all. I love him.

And that's about all the coherence I can manage today. *hugs book*

[Zanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

if the candlestone went off the rails then circles of seven pointed a nuclear missile at the entire planet just to ensure it could never go on the rails again because the rails have been obliterated beyond recognition. like, how could it possibly get weirder than people being turned into light and sucked into a stone? *smash cut to a supercomputer, possession, whatever the heck a prism dog is, girl who has been fifteen for forty years, interdimensional travel around england, literal satan, resurrection, bonnie's cousin looking exactly like her for unclear reasons, oh and also they're in hell did i mention* and also then they set all the fallen angels loose. in england. 'cause you thought it couldn't get crazier.

all in all, not a book i (inadvisably, nostalgically) love as much as the first two and probably the fourth. maybe the weakest of all the books, honestly. the morgan possession consent stuff? no thanks! also WHAT WAS THE DAMN FISH JOKE!

[Marilla Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

By far my favorite book in the series so far! (Ratings of the previous two books have been adjusted to reflect that.) I loved how character development was handled in this book for both preexisting and new characters. The whole situation with Shiloh was also executed really well. My previous issues with writing style aren't so apparent in this book either.

Larry is my new favorite dude.  And I knew I was oddly drawn to Palin for a reason!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storyline - Circles of Seven - Billy and Bonnie have to enter the Circles of Seven to find the lost dragons. In the Circles, the are tempted and tried and have to defeat Morgan and Devin. Can they get through the Circles in one piece or will one pay the ultimate price? And what are these demon creatures that are in one of the Circles?

Positive - The characters are honorable and self sacrificial. They fight the evil that is not only coming after the dragons but also the world. The characters grow in faith and trust as they are tempted and tried. Billy has to grow the most to believe in God, his father, and an ancient prophecy that causes much mystery throughout the series until the end. Bonnie caries the most trust and faith and helps her friends, especially Billy, to gain that trust. She also sacrifices herself to save another who had be held captive in one of the books.

Negative - There isn't much negative things in the books.

Writing - Bryan Davis' writing is captivating and his storytelling original. The characters are good and try to do the right thing and the books tell and promote good morals and lessons.The wording and depictions are captivating and imaginative. This is an enjoyable author who is worth the time to read.

Personal Opinion - I find the books entertaining and interesting. The characters develop well over the series and the hummer within the books are funny and not inappropriate (even though Walter burps in at least one book but that is about as bad as the hummer gets). They can get a little strange for my taste once in a while, but when a new Bryan Davis book comes out, I want to read it.

[Elissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! It took me awhile to get into it, a lot longer than the first two, but once I finally got into it, once again, it was a stay-up-til-2am kind of book.
It was wonderful to see Billy finally stepping up to the plate, becoming a man of God, resisting temtation after temptation. Also, this installment in the series is a lot funnier than the first two, I absolutly loved Ashley's supercomputer "Larry" too too funny, my parents probalby thought i was crazed, hearing me laughing my head off in in the back of the house haha! And of course as always, there is always-joking Walter, but this time you get to see a new side of a Walter, a true chivalrous knight. I loved the character of Shiloh, who "has all she really needs". Davis paints the pictures of the circles so vividly, you feel like your walking along side Billy and Bonnie, sitting next to Shiloh in her alley, or locked in Morgan's dungeon. When Morgan is trying to getBonnie or Shiloh for a hostiam, you feel like screaming, when Billy is about to release the "Watchers" You silently screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO BILLY!!!!!!!!!"
When Barlow reports that the eyes in the eighth circle are gleaming, your heart skips a beat, and your reading faster than ever, all the time saying, "oh, Bonnie can't really be dead" yet always know that she is really dead. A wonderful masterpeice of suspense, faith, courage, chivalry, and wit. I cannot wait to read the final installment in the series.
Again, masterfully done Mr. Davis!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story raises the stakes very high for our hero Billy Bannister. He learns that he's King Arthur's heir, and he must go on a dangerous journey through a different dimension called the Circles of Seven. Seven different plains that will test and stretch Billy to his limits. Billy is allowed to take along one helper, so Bonnie goes with Billy, and she is tested also. The goal is to reach the seventh circle and free captives that are trapped there, but there are also demons that are trapped there as well, and Morgan Le Faye Merlin's longtime nemesis works to get Billy to free the demons with her sorceress powers and by sending Billy to the breaking point. But when tragedy strikes along the way Billy most choose what to do to save the captives and Bonnie. Will she be revived? Circles of Seven is a breath taking read. One that will bring you to your knees and cause you to bite your nails as well as cause you to shed some tears. Come and see how Billy grows in his triumphs over the tests of each circle, but the greatest test of all will bring him to his knees, and it maybe the hardest thing that he will ever go through in his life. This one is the favorite of many fans. I've read this book many times, and It's still as amazing and captivating as the first time. Come and learn about Sacrificial love in the most exciting book in the Dragons in Our Midst series. They story continues and ends in Book 4 Tears of a Dragon.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my personal favorite out of the series. The plot was much more gripping than the rest of the series (and that's saying alot!), and the characters developed well. Larry the supercomputer was hilarious. Some of the poems used in the book were good too. One thing that I still don't understand is where all the New Table knights went. They vanished partway through the book and were never seen again...

[Matthew Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In every reread, I uncover layers of meaning I missed the first and second and third times.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good.

[Patrice Doten · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been sticking it out with this series, hoping it was leading toward something cohesive and sound. Alas, each subsequent book sinks further into a derivative mishmash of classic books, legends, and Bible stories. They don't work together, and they undermine one another. Merlin (always either a druid or a sorcerer in the legends) recast as a prophet of God? Half-human/half-dragon characters portrayed as devout Christians who go through portals into Dante's hell and confront Arthur's sister Morgan who's supposedly the wife of a fallen angel (called "Watchers" from the extra-Biblical apochrypha)? It just ends up in a big tangle. Add corny, didactic dialogue, melodrama, easy victories over obstacles, lack of significant consequences for poor choices, unnecessary POV changes, lots of other Biblical elements used unscripturally (the fruit on the Eden tree was NOT an apple!), and way too much pseudo science, and I'm throwing in the towel. I will try one of his other series, based on a recommendation, but this one was not for me.

[Elizabeth Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Larry. All I have to say is Larry. Larry needs to be president, he needs all the press, he deserves all the awards.
Also Walter. I’m deceased. The amount of pure comedic behavior that came out of that boy.
Also the slight romantic relationship theme was handled very well throughout the entire book.
This was by far the best book in the series so far.
Okay also Hartanna is an absolute dragon goddess that is to be respected and protected at all costs.
Also I got halfway through this book and then finished the second half in one sitting which I would not recommend on an eye health level but on a bibliophile level I would 10/10 recommend.
That’s all.

[Mary Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This third book is even stranger than the first two. I do not like the theme of Morgan, searching for a body to possess. That is a little much for this target audience. There are also references to the Nephilim and how they caused the flood which could be confusing to those who don’t know their Bible well.

The movement through the different circles was quite confusing. It’s probably worse, listening to the audio format. This one was definitely more violent and a bit scarier than the previous two.

I enjoy most of the characters, and the audio version does a pretty good job, giving them voices, but poor Walter got cheated by the whiny tone used for his lines. He deserves better.

[Juliette · Rating 2 out of 5]

We tried this twice and finished it the second time (we borrowed it three times from the library). If it were up to me, we would not finish this series. My son doesn't really care, so if we find something else that's available, we're going in a different direction.
The problem is that the characters who were so interesting in the first two books, were suddenly flat and boring. I didn't really care what happened to them I mean, Bonnie died and I was like "whatever", usually I would have been in tears

[Rhiannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was an emotional roller coaster at the end, with everyone dying and resurrecting, and it really was powerful. This series renewed my faith in god, but when people kept dying i cried. butr then they ressurected so I was happy? but people kept dying. I had mixed feelings. Also the fact that satan was there it gave me more of a picture of what the garden of eden might have looked like and inspired me to reread some bits of the bibe, like revelations.

[Jordan Daddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably my favourite book within the series! This fully jumps into Dante's inferno, seven circles of hell revamped into Arthurian legend with sprinkles of fun absurdity and biblical thematics. As both a fantasy nerd and a bible nerd it's amazing. Even if you're not Christian at all I would still highly recommend as Bryan Davis crafts fantastic simultaneous storyline's full of heart and challenge.

[ETHAN KING · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unfortunately, I missed reviewing this right after I read it, but since then I have finished this series, so I hope this is a helpful review! Overall, very similar to the other books in this series, with action, fantastical elements, and some comedy. Character development was strong, so I felt like it was very well written.
Probably geared towards age twelve, I would wait till then just for interest purposes. For adults, you might like this, but it is definitely geared towards teens.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories remind me of a combination of so many that I've read over the years, seeming to borrow some of the best parts from things like "Pilgrim's Progress" and "Dante's Inferno". I love that this is a series that incorporates faith with fantasy and delivers it in a way that it makes for good, clean reading even for young adults.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

Billy and Bonnie travel into the circles-seven different worlds in the realm of the enemy with different challenges. Their goal is to rescue prisoners. New Table Knights are lurking around every corner, trying to stop them. Will they make it out of the circles alive?
I really loved this book. I love how Bonnie trusts in God completely. This is one of my favorite books!

[Maya Joelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the Arthur stuff and the connections to Joseph of Arimathea. The Circles are super strange, but nothing unexpected for a Bryan Davis book... I just don't know what I think of Bryan Davis books, really. Also this was where he started to play with Biblical characters and prophecies too much for me.

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Davis has crafted an epic masterpiece! I was immediately immersed into the drama. Twists and turns kept me turning the pages. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.

Recommend to readers who enjoy Young Adult Christian Fantasy.

I borrowed a copy from a friend. I have expressed my honest view.

[myra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book,rising in faith,science, and fantasy. The characters are understandable. Sometimes it gets a little bit cheesy, but it's overall a great book. That cliffhanger is though!!! Guess another library trip is due!

[Ava · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues for our characters through an epic journey. Travels to England and another dimension had us on a wild ride! New characters we are introduced in this story and challenges. Its a good continuation for the adventure!

[Kara · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books are so slow moving and archaic in dialog. I keep reading because the overall story is interesting. Culturally my brain is yanked between 50s dialog and current life. It’s confusing and annoying.

[Hausmanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good characters and how he chose to betray them. Also I love the plot and all of the action. This is a story that really draws me into it when I start reading them. Great Job!!