Concentric Circles by Aithne Jarretta
Sirena Press
Contemporary Romance, Fantasy
Full length, Spicy
Review by Snapdragon

♥ ♥ ♥

Shayla Brinawell, desperate for a bit of adventure, sets off on an ordinary-enough vacation, to Glastonbury, England. She is an intriguing main character, from the first. She is not dissatisfied with herself exactly, but feels there is something she lacks, some mystery she needs to understand. That subtly-presented sense of incompleteness lends an aura of mystery to Shayla. In a way, she is almost a mystery to herself. She studies online Scottish vernacular for a bit of amusement, and wonders about a language she imagines she hears within and does not understand. Shayla has learned to pay attention to a certain sense of connection. While she dismisses coincidences, something will lead her to a certain jewel and a distant place almost beyond imagining.

And we meet Meekal. He is the gentle, well-meaning, and incredibly sexy hunk you want to discover in any romance... but oh! He can be quite something else, too. And he does not waste many moments before revealing his attraction for Shayla. Still, he does not reveal every little thing about himself. The many secrets of Meekal you will have to discover, but some of his comments offer an idea of his unique perspectives. Having trouble with your current reality? Why, "a simple shift in belief is all you need..." Meekal's surprises are perhaps the best side of him. The many facets to his character are all totally admirable...even if it takes a while to believe them!

The setting here lends a wonderful sense of the past to the tale. It provides a link to the great history and mythology that have wound around the place, but it also never intrudes unnecessarily. The background never becomes ponderous, nor too descriptive.

Jarretta's characters shine through all of the action. The main characters are not the only ones who are wonderful. The odd Celtic goddess, your everyday closet witch, friends, Meekal's endless family, and even the park ranger all can be funny, annoying, and distantly lofty, depending; but all have quick comments, add humor or terror (or both) and keep this story dynamic throughout. So clearly do some lights shine that it makes it easy to identify the dark. Identifying evil is only part of the battle -- power might be commonplace, but it also needs to be guarded.

Rich with a language of legendary past - from Avalon to Glastonbury - but filled with a very original, magical story, amazing characters, Concentric Circles is a fun page-turner, for sure. Those that love fantasies woven around the mythic Avalon will be utterly delighted to discover Jarretta's fresh contribution to the genre. Intriguing, well-written and more than a little unusual.