The Initiation (novel)
.jpg) | |
| Author | L. J. Smith |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Secret Circle series |
| Genre | Fantasy, Romance, Young adult fiction |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | September 15, 1992 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 320 pp (first edition) |
| ISBN | 0061067121 |
| Followed by |
The Captive The Power The Divide The Hunt The Temptation |
The Initiation, the first part in a series of works entitled The Secret Circle, is a young adult novel by author L. J. Smith. Smith is famous for her other works such as The Vampire Diaries and the Night World series.
The novel follows a young girl, Cassie Blake, who moves to New Salem. She befriends a mysterious group of teenagers who run the high school. She finds out that she's part of a coven of witches, and on top of that, the boy she's destined to be with is dating her best friend.
Plot
A chance encounter brings sixteen-year-old Cassie Blake to fall for the mysterious Adam Conant. After meeting him, she rids herself of the idea of a relationship with him because she thinks they’ll never see each other again. Cassie and her mother move to New Salem, and, much to her surprise, Adam is there. At her new high school, Cassie encounters a strange group of students who rule the student population. In time, she meets Diana, the fair-haired beauty, whom Cassie comes to love like a sister. Faye Chamberlain, the voluptuous and dark puppet master, desires to turn Cassie into her plaything. After her encounters with the group of students, Cassie learns that she, along with the other students, is a witch. Cassie later finds that the boy she feels sparks with, is actually the boyfriend of Diana, leader of the coven and Cassie’s best friend.
Main characters
Cassie Blake
Cassie is shy and withdrawn, until she meets Adam. As the main protagonist of the novel, Cassie’s journey involves the sticky situation of falling in love with her best friend’s boyfriend. She finds out that she is a witch, and is later initiated into the coven.
Faye Chamberlain
Faye, the antagonist, pushes her friends, and first cousin, Diana, around a lot because she enjoys the thrill of it. Faye longs for the rush of power that magic brings her. She believes that magic should be used to benefit those who can wield it.
Diana Meade
Diana, Cassie’s best friend and Faye’s first cousin, is the leader of the coven of witches. As the embodiment of everything light and good in the world, Diana believes that magic should be harnessed for positive purposes.
Melanie Glaser
With an above average knowledge of crystals, Melanie is an expert on the mysterious crystals in the coven of witches. She becomes fast friends with Cassie. Melanie has a calm and collected personality, and she is a friend to Diana. She believes that magic should be used for good.
Adam Conant
Adam practices good magic and is the all-around boy next-door type. His girlfriend is Diana, but he quickly falls for Cassie after their chance meeting. He is friends with Faye, Melanie, and Nick.
Nick Armstrong
Nick is very mysterious and quiet, but over time becomes more outgoing. He is a member of the coven, and friends with Adam.
Editions
The novel has been published in many editions in hardcover, paperback, and e-book form. In 2008, HarperCollins Publishers released an omnibus edition of the novel entitled "The Initiation and the Captive (Part 1)," which included the first novel and the first half of the second novel in the series.[1]
Awards and recognition
Reception
The Initiation has received much critical acclaim since its release in 1992. A member of the site So Many Books, So Little Time, wrote that the novel is "one of the best books about witches" they have read.[4] A user by the pseudonym of prophecygirl at Wondrous Reads said that the novel was "fast moving and easy to read." The user goes on to say that "it is still just as good over a decade later."[5] A member of The Juggler, in affiliation with the Pagan Newswire Collective, posted a review stating that The Initiation was 'fairly Pagan-positive and aware,' and that Smith "seems to get modern witches in a way that most authors do not."[6]
The series
"The Secret Circle" series includes six novels, but L. J. Smith only wrote the first three novels. The second three are written by Aubrey Clark.[7][8]
The novels written by L. J. Smith within the series are:
- The Initiation (1992)
- The Captive (1992)
- The Power (1992)
Other novels in the series, by Aubrey Clark, are:
- The Divide (2012)
- The Hunt (2012)
- The Temptation (2013)
Adaptation
The CW picked up the pilot of The Secret Circle in 2011.[9] After just one season, the show was canceled.[10]
External links
References
- ↑ "The Initiation and The Captive (Part 1) (Secret Circle Series #1-2) by L. J. Smith". BN.com. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ↑ Roback, Diane (March 22, 2010). "Facts and Figures 2009: Meyer's Reign Continues". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ↑ Brown, Carolyn J.; Keating, Mary Ellen (December 3, 2012). "Barnes & Noble Announces The Initiation from L. J. Smith's Secret Circle Series As the Latest Spotlight Pick". Barnes & Noble Booksellers. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ↑ "The Initiation (The Secret Circle #1-2) by L.J. Smith". So Many Books, So Little Time. March 31, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ↑ "Review: The Secret Circle - Initiation by L. J. Smith". Wondrous Reads. August 15, 2011. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Book Review: The Secret Circle (Volume 1) by L. J. Smith". The Juggler. March 9, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ↑ "L. J. Smith vs Ghostwriter". Y.A. Book Addicts. May 20, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ↑ Alter, Alexandra (April 17, 2014). "'Vampire Diaries' Writer Bites Back". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved November 10, 2014.
- ↑ West, Kelly (May 19, 2011). "CW 2011 Fall TV Premiere: The Secret Circle". CinemaBlend. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ↑ McGrath, Jenny (May 11, 2012). "The Secret Circle Has Been Canceled: No Season 2 for the CW Show". WetPaint. Retrieved November 11, 2014.