I have enjoyed books about vampires as well as books that dealt with magic for years. Nora Roberts has written several books that have dealt with magic, usually as part of one of the trilogies she writes. She started The Circle Trilogy in August of 2006 with Morrigan’s Cross.

In Ireland in the twelfth century, a sorcerer named Hoyt tried to use his power against Lilith, a very powerful vampire. She had turned his twin brother Cian into a vampire. Hoyt wasn’t able to defeat Lilith, but he did hurt her. The goddess Morrigan visited Hoyt, telling him that he and five others must battle Lilith and her army hundreds of years in the future. Hoyt would have to find the other five people who would make up the circle of six. Morrigan only told him that Cian would be one of the circle.

Hoyt was reunited with Cian in modern day New York City. Cian was surprised to see his brother again. He agreed to help battle Lilith even though the two still had some things to work out related to the last time they had seen each other. Glenna Ward was a witch living in the city that realized she was meant to help Hoyt and Cian. The three of them traveled to Ireland where they were joined by Larkin and his cousin Moira from Gaell. Moira was the future queen of Gaell. Blair Murphy, a demon hunter, was the last member of the circle to arrive. She was more prepared to fight than the others. The group had to quickly learn to trust each other and prepare for the upcoming battle. Lilith had some of her followers constantly watching them, waiting for an opportunity to cause trouble.

Morrigan’s Cross featured several magical elements. Hoyt and Glenna were both powerful and they used their magic several times throughout the book. They did their magic in different ways and had different strengths. They used spells for some small things as well trying to find ways to use more powerful spells against Lilith and her followers. Hoyt and Glenna were able to work together, which made them stronger than when they did magic alone. They created a few spells specifically to use against Lilith and her followers. There wasn’t as much magic in this book as there has been in some of Robert’s other books. Larkin had the ability to change into different animals. It seemed like that would be a useful ability during fights. Larkin didn’t use it many times yet, but I’m guessing he will in the next two books. I did enjoy the magical aspects that were in the book.

Before reading Morrigan’s Cross, I had read a few references to a powerful vampire named Lilith though I really didn’t know anything about her. I don’t know what Roberts might have changed about Lilith. Since I do tend to enjoy books about vampires, I may try to find something else about Lilith to read. For this trilogy, Lilith was planning to start a battle that would kill all humans. She had turned Cian into a vampire, but there wasn’t any love lost between the two of them. Cian had stopped drinking human blood hundreds of years before. Other vampires looked down on drinking animal blood. In many of the books and even movies I’ve seen that had vampire characters, something new or different about vampires would be introduced. Roberts really didn’t add anything new or change anything that has been established about vampires in other books and movies. The vampires were most powerful at night and vulnerable to sunlight, though if it was overcast out, they could safely go outside during the day. That has been done in at least one movie. The vampires could be harmed by holy water and crosses as well as killed by a wooden stake. The book did briefly discuss how vampires turned a human into a vampire as well as sharing a few theories for how the very first vampire was created.

Lilith enjoyed hurting people and causing destruction. She didn’t care who she fed on or turned into a vampire and had even changed children. A few things she did were described and could be disturbing to some readers. There was violence in several scenes that involved the group fighting vampires. There were several fights and characters were hurt. The different things the group did for training to try to prepare for the battle were described in several scenes. I have read several other books that were more violent than this one. I am thinking that the next books could be more violent considering what the characters still face. Some readers might think this book was too violent.

Nora Roberts also writes the In Death series as J.D. Robb. The books in the series are futuristic romantic suspense books. The books focus on Eve Dallas, a homicide detective and the different cases she works on. Time in each book is also taken to explore Eve’s relationships with her husband Roarke and friends. I have read and enjoyed all the books in the In Death series as well as many of the books she wrote with her own name. Since J.D. Robb and Nora Roberts are the same person, people that like the books written by one may also enjoy the books by the other. She wrote one book, Remember When, that is listed as being written by both Roberts and Robb. It started off in current times and concluded in Eve’s time with a mystery connecting the two halves of the book. Eve’s part of Remember When took place between Imitation in Death and Divided in Death.

Morrigan’s Cross featured several characters, something that Roberts has done in her other trilogies. The book had a main core of six characters who will be back for the next two books. Hoyt and Glenna were developed a little more than the others that were part of the circle of six. They were both talented with magic and important members of the group. Time was taken during the book for them to develop a relationship as well. They became involved rather fast, which might bother some readers. There were a few sex scenes and sexual situations featuring Hoyt and Glenna in the book. The scenes were descriptive without being graphic. There were a few small hints about who will develop relationships in the next two books.

Cian was also an important character and probably the most complicated since he was a vampire that was planning to fight against the vampire that made him. It wasn’t normal for vampires to fight against their own kind. Cian had stopped drinking human blood hundreds of years before, though he seemed to like some aspects of his existence as a vampire. Moira was considered the scholar of the group and spent a lot of time reading to try to learn about things. She wasn’t sure what to think about Cian at times. She had a close relationship with her cousin Larkin. He didn’t believe Moira until he traveled through time with her to Ireland. Blair came from a family of demon hunters and had trained to do that from a young age. She was probably the best fighter in the group, though Cian was also a strong fighter. Blair was the last to join the group, so she wasn’t as developed as the others. She was dedicated to stopping Lilith and was a bit uncomfortable with the idea of working with a vampire. King worked for Cian. The two men had known each other for years.

Lilith wasn’t in much of the book even though she was the main villain. She only made a few short appearances, so he wasn’t as fully developed as some of the other characters, though that didn’t bother me. She was developed enough to paint a clear picture of her. She was cruel and vicious and looked forward to killing all humans. She didn’t care who she hurt. She was the most powerful vampire and expected her orders to be followed. She showed now one, even her followers, no mercy. A few of the vampires that were working with Lilith turned up briefly. They were developed even less than Lilith was. Only a couple of the other vampires were even identified by name. I am sure Lilith and at least some of her followers will be back in the next two books since having the circle fight her is the main point of this trilogy.

Morrigan’s Cross was a very entertaining start to The Circle Trilogy. I am already impatient to get the next two books. For this trilogy, the books are being released only one month apart, like was done for the Key Trilogy. People that have enjoyed other books by Roberts, especially the ones that have delved into magic or the supernatural, may also enjoy this book.

The Circle Trilogy
Morrigan’s Cross ~ Dance of the Gods ~ Valley of Silence ~

In the Garden Trilogy
Blue Dahlia ~ Black Rose ~ Red Lily ~

Key Trilogy
Key of Light ~ Key of Knowledge ~ Key of Valor ~

Three Sisters Island Trilogy
Dance Upon the Air ~ Heaven & Earth ~ Face the Fire ~

Silhouette Series
Reflections ~ Dance of Dreams ~ Hidden Star ~ Captive Star ~ Secret Star ~ Night Shift ~ Night Shadow ~ Night Smoke ~ Night Shield ~ Cordina's Crown Jewel ~ Cordina's Royal Family ~

Single Titles
Angels Fall ~ Birthright ~ Blue Smoke ~ Chesapeake Blue ~ Engaging the Enemy ~ Genuine Lies ~ Midnight Bayou ~ Once More With Feeling ~ Northern Lights ~ Sweet Revenge ~ Three Fates ~ The Villa ~


Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb
Remember When ~



Recommended: Yes