15 November 2022

The Vicious Circle transports you to the heart of cult life. This book digs into the effects extreme religious beliefs can have on people and share how a need to believe and belong can have disastrous results. This book will keep you intrigued as you join the character as she experiences cult life and discovers that things are not what they appear to be.

This was my first encounter with Katherine St John and I found myself wondering if she has experienced cult life herself. Her story is detailed and well-researched. She allows you to share in the characters’ emotions as they discover their belief and trust are misplaced. This is a moving, twisty tale that will leave you amazed at people’s desire for belonging and their eagerness to serve.

Sveta loved her uncle Paul. He was a ray of sunshine in her otherwise bleak childhood. Paul Bentzen made everyone he encounter feel special. After her father’s death, Sveta lost touch with her uncle. As she grew up she followed his career as a motivational speaker and writer. Uncle Paul was famous – until a scandal at one of his retreats lead to a nasty court case and he disappeared from the public eye. Years later Sveta receives a phone call informing her that her uncle has passed away and that he has left his entire estate to her. A huge amount of money. Sveta has no idea why Uncle Paul would leave everything to her and not to his wife.

Travelling to Xanadu, Paul’s remote retreat in the Mexican jungle Sveta meets up with Lucas. A man who broke her heart when she was only eighteen, and as her uncle’s lawyer, she is forced to deal with him. When she arrives at Xanadu is in awe of the size of the place, and all the beautiful people who live there. This community of peaceful souls living in harmony in this remote location leaves Sveta feeling inspired. However, it soon becomes clear that everything is not as perfect as it appears. While Sveta is caught in a struggle between Kali and Lucas – she has no idea who she can trust and the more she finds out the more she is certain that Xanadu is not what it appears to be.

This book highlights the dangers of extreme religious beliefs, but it also looks at other important issues. The author signs a light on body consciousness and the dangers of eating disorders while she shows the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right people. There is an underlining message about the dangers of wanting perfection and a reminder about the importance of knowing yourself. The author leaves the reader with a reminder that you are in control of your own life, and that you can choose the life you wish to live. This book while a work of fiction leaves the reader with a message.

The characters are varied, from the protective mother who does not share her feelings to a woman who believes while heartedly that she is the chosen own.

I felt annoyed with Sveta. This woman was introduced as someone working very hard to fit into a world where she did not feel comfortable. Her fiancé and future in-laws treated her horribly, yet she allowed it. I felt as if she was sticking around because of a need for money and status. Not winning her any brownie points. When she arrives at Xanadu, it confused me that she was prepared to hand over her inheritance as this was the opposite of who I thought she was. This woman is insecure and as the story develops you see how she becomes stronger as she makes decisions for the good of others rather than herself while her confidence grows. The author did a great job with this character.

The Vicious Circle was an unusual read for me, yet I found myself enjoying the book and eagerly flipping pages to find where it would end.

This book delivers a couple of interesting twists that make the story an entertaining read while dealing with some rather serious topics in the background. When reaching for this book, you can expect the unexpected as you quickly realise that you cannot trust any of the characters. I do not doubt you will have fun trying to figure out this story.