What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fifth Circle
Sean is no stranger to darkness. He’s overcome a dangerous addiction, struggled with mental illness, and faced relentless bullying by his peers. His best friend, Alex, has always been there for him, but when he falls in love with her, he replaces his online gaming obsession with a possessive interest in her.
Alex’s survival depends upon her ability to lock memories of her troubled childhood deep inside her mind, but an unhealthy relationship with Sean causes dark visions of her past to rise to the surface. Sean’s obsession and Alex’s complacency collide, resulting in tragedy.
Together, Sean and Alex live in a hell of their own making. One will escape at the expense of the other. Both will discover why Dante chose to condemn the Wrathful and the Sullen in the Fifth Circle of Hell.
Alex’s survival depends upon her ability to lock memories of her troubled childhood deep inside her mind, but an unhealthy relationship with Sean causes dark visions of her past to rise to the surface. Sean’s obsession and Alex’s complacency collide, resulting in tragedy.
Together, Sean and Alex live in a hell of their own making. One will escape at the expense of the other. Both will discover why Dante chose to condemn the Wrathful and the Sullen in the Fifth Circle of Hell.
229 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2013
About the author
Tricia Drammeh
27 books89 followersTricia Drammeh is a wife and mother of four children who lives in New Hampshire. Her published works include The Fifth Circle, The Seance, Better than Perfect, and the Spellbringers series. She is currently working on her ninth novel. When Tricia isn't writing, she can be found hanging out with her dog, devouring books, or drinking record-setting amounts of coffee.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 22, 2013
Despite being nowhere near the target demographic for the work, I rather enjoyed Tricia Drammeh’s first novel The Claiming Words. When I found out that The Fifth Circle was a darker novel, less geared toward a Young Adult audience than her first, I was very excited to read it. I was not disappointed. I think that The Fifth Circle is a stronger novel than The Claiming Words, and one that I found very hard to put down.
The Fifth Circle is a novel that centers on two very broken individuals. As in The Claiming Words, Tricia Drammeh writes in a first person perspective that jumps between these two characters. It would be easy for this technique to feel gimmicky, but in this book it is central to how the story is told, and works beautifully. Much of the conflict in the story is directly between these two characters, so jumping to the other perspective really keeps you engaged in the dramatic tension. Also, these relationships are, in some ways, more defined by what is not said than what is said. Both of the characters have hidden motives and agendas, and their inner dialogues often sharply contrast with how they present themselves to others. That contrast creates a fascinating read when presented in this back-and-forth perspective. I continually found myself compelled to go on at the end of a chapter because I was dying to find out what the other person really thought about what had just happened.
Of course, no book is perfect. Most of the criticism that I have about this book centers on the character of Sean. Even though I ultimately liked Tricia Drammeh’s choice of first-person perspective, the limitations of that point of view do become apparent in some of Sean’s chapters. Sean is dealing with a severe mental illness, and as such, his perspective on the world is very skewed and difficult to understand at times. I appreciate her commitment to unflinchingly tell his story through those mentally ill eyes, but I feel that the character would have benefited from being presented more sympathetically at times. I wouldn’t want her to go so far as to make me “like” Sean - I think that the fact that he is an unlikable character is a very strong and interesting choice - but every decision that he makes is so purely self-centered and so extreme that at times he begins to seem like a caricature. However, therein lies the problem with first-person perspective. Perhaps for someone with the mental issues that Sean has, this simply is reality and any kind of self-reflection, or additional characterization would dilute what Drammeh was trying to convey about the mentally ill. I realize it’s a tricky problem, but I still feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I could have been rooting for Sean more often than I was, especially toward the end of the book.
The Fifth Circle is a really excellent book and is very highly recommended. It presents a fascinating look at mental illness, has compelling characters with complex relationships, and has a story that will linger with you long after you read it. It can be heartbreaking at times, but ultimately gives you hope. I can’t wait to read more of Tricia Drammeh’s books.
The Fifth Circle is a novel that centers on two very broken individuals. As in The Claiming Words, Tricia Drammeh writes in a first person perspective that jumps between these two characters. It would be easy for this technique to feel gimmicky, but in this book it is central to how the story is told, and works beautifully. Much of the conflict in the story is directly between these two characters, so jumping to the other perspective really keeps you engaged in the dramatic tension. Also, these relationships are, in some ways, more defined by what is not said than what is said. Both of the characters have hidden motives and agendas, and their inner dialogues often sharply contrast with how they present themselves to others. That contrast creates a fascinating read when presented in this back-and-forth perspective. I continually found myself compelled to go on at the end of a chapter because I was dying to find out what the other person really thought about what had just happened.
Of course, no book is perfect. Most of the criticism that I have about this book centers on the character of Sean. Even though I ultimately liked Tricia Drammeh’s choice of first-person perspective, the limitations of that point of view do become apparent in some of Sean’s chapters. Sean is dealing with a severe mental illness, and as such, his perspective on the world is very skewed and difficult to understand at times. I appreciate her commitment to unflinchingly tell his story through those mentally ill eyes, but I feel that the character would have benefited from being presented more sympathetically at times. I wouldn’t want her to go so far as to make me “like” Sean - I think that the fact that he is an unlikable character is a very strong and interesting choice - but every decision that he makes is so purely self-centered and so extreme that at times he begins to seem like a caricature. However, therein lies the problem with first-person perspective. Perhaps for someone with the mental issues that Sean has, this simply is reality and any kind of self-reflection, or additional characterization would dilute what Drammeh was trying to convey about the mentally ill. I realize it’s a tricky problem, but I still feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I could have been rooting for Sean more often than I was, especially toward the end of the book.
The Fifth Circle is a really excellent book and is very highly recommended. It presents a fascinating look at mental illness, has compelling characters with complex relationships, and has a story that will linger with you long after you read it. It can be heartbreaking at times, but ultimately gives you hope. I can’t wait to read more of Tricia Drammeh’s books.
May 30, 2014
I dipped into this book because I know and admire Tricia Drammeh as a YA author, and because I liked the book cover and blurb. Once dipped in I found myself hooked on the story of Alex and Sean.
The story is told using first person, alternating chapters between Alex and Sean, two eighteen year olds at the end of their school careers, both outsiders, both with a history of misery. It doesn’t take long to realise that they are both psychologically damaged. But the extent of the damage unfolds gradually and inexorably, and no detail of the plot is without significance.
Sean escapes into violent computer games, Alex into schoolwork. Sean’s escapism is exacerbating his erratic and compulsive behaviour; Alex’s could lead to her salvation. But they are drawn together by default. As negatives they should have repulsed one another, and in a way, the whole story is about how absolutely untenable, almost unnatural their relationship is.
Each event is seen first through Alex’s eyes, then Sean’s, with the distance between the two outlooks increasing as the story hurtles to its climax. The device of alternating viewpoints of the same situation is a simple and extremely effective way of showing the glaring differences between the pair. Each is able to understand the other’s pain, or at least what is at the root of that pain, but is powerless to see the damage they are piling on top of it; Sean through his violence, Alex through her submission. Only at the end of the story does the reference to Dante’s fifth circle of hell become significant.
Tricia Drammeh in my opinion does a remarkable job of getting inside the heads of these two very fragile human beings. Each time I wanted to shout at Alex to open her eyes to what Sean was doing to her, Ms Drammeh shut me up and showed me that Alex was not as oblivious to it as I had supposed. Each time I felt sorry for Sean I was shown inside his head to see the completely egoistical workings of his thought processes.
The parents are at best shadowy, at worst monsters. Each is locked into survival mode, which precludes worrying about anybody else, even their own children. And the terrifying thing is that this is all so believable. At no time did I feel that the author had stepped into the incredible; each ghastly act seemed completely in character. In fact, I am ashamed to say that the only time I found myself imagining a different scenario was in the final few pages. And I can’t say why because it would give the ending away.
I turned the pages with increasing trepidation, willing Alex to finally get a grip on herself, though when it looked as though finally she would, I was almost incredulous. But Alex remained true to character and her determination continued to vacillate like a candle in the wind, right until the end.
The Fifth Circle had me completely hooked, with a ghoulish curiosity, to find out what happened next. My sympathies weren’t balanced between Alex and Sean, but I’m not sure they should have been. Sean is not an attractive character, but there are times when he shows sympathy and understanding. If these occasions aren’t enough to turn him from a bad guy to a good guy, I don’t think it is a fault in the writing. The fault is in human nature and how it can be twisted and distorted for a plethora of reasons. In The Fifth Circle, Tricia Drammeh has opened a window into the sad, pathetic and tragic lives of two young people who didn’t deserve the way they life treated them. It is a painful story, beautifully written, and despite the grimness, I can honestly say that it was an exhilarating, captivating read.
P.S. I have to add that I would have rated this book 4.5 stars if it was possible.
The story is told using first person, alternating chapters between Alex and Sean, two eighteen year olds at the end of their school careers, both outsiders, both with a history of misery. It doesn’t take long to realise that they are both psychologically damaged. But the extent of the damage unfolds gradually and inexorably, and no detail of the plot is without significance.
Sean escapes into violent computer games, Alex into schoolwork. Sean’s escapism is exacerbating his erratic and compulsive behaviour; Alex’s could lead to her salvation. But they are drawn together by default. As negatives they should have repulsed one another, and in a way, the whole story is about how absolutely untenable, almost unnatural their relationship is.
Each event is seen first through Alex’s eyes, then Sean’s, with the distance between the two outlooks increasing as the story hurtles to its climax. The device of alternating viewpoints of the same situation is a simple and extremely effective way of showing the glaring differences between the pair. Each is able to understand the other’s pain, or at least what is at the root of that pain, but is powerless to see the damage they are piling on top of it; Sean through his violence, Alex through her submission. Only at the end of the story does the reference to Dante’s fifth circle of hell become significant.
Tricia Drammeh in my opinion does a remarkable job of getting inside the heads of these two very fragile human beings. Each time I wanted to shout at Alex to open her eyes to what Sean was doing to her, Ms Drammeh shut me up and showed me that Alex was not as oblivious to it as I had supposed. Each time I felt sorry for Sean I was shown inside his head to see the completely egoistical workings of his thought processes.
The parents are at best shadowy, at worst monsters. Each is locked into survival mode, which precludes worrying about anybody else, even their own children. And the terrifying thing is that this is all so believable. At no time did I feel that the author had stepped into the incredible; each ghastly act seemed completely in character. In fact, I am ashamed to say that the only time I found myself imagining a different scenario was in the final few pages. And I can’t say why because it would give the ending away.
I turned the pages with increasing trepidation, willing Alex to finally get a grip on herself, though when it looked as though finally she would, I was almost incredulous. But Alex remained true to character and her determination continued to vacillate like a candle in the wind, right until the end.
The Fifth Circle had me completely hooked, with a ghoulish curiosity, to find out what happened next. My sympathies weren’t balanced between Alex and Sean, but I’m not sure they should have been. Sean is not an attractive character, but there are times when he shows sympathy and understanding. If these occasions aren’t enough to turn him from a bad guy to a good guy, I don’t think it is a fault in the writing. The fault is in human nature and how it can be twisted and distorted for a plethora of reasons. In The Fifth Circle, Tricia Drammeh has opened a window into the sad, pathetic and tragic lives of two young people who didn’t deserve the way they life treated them. It is a painful story, beautifully written, and despite the grimness, I can honestly say that it was an exhilarating, captivating read.
P.S. I have to add that I would have rated this book 4.5 stars if it was possible.
July 11, 2013
From the first page I could relate to Alex, the main character. Her vulnerability and ability to display it so openly drew me in. She might have had insecurities but that is what made her seem real. Let's just say we bonded right from the start.
The writers ability to make her characters come alive as they did are a true testament to her talent. The writing was flawless, crisp, clean and direct.
I liked how the story was told by Alex and by Sean. As a reader I was able to get the full perspective. It kept the story interesting with the different view points. It was almost like reading diary entries that were not meant for anyone else's eyes other than it's author. I think any age group could get something from this story. Even after putting this book down so many thoughts fluttered through my brain.
The powerful story that unfolds is haunting and I found myself filled with emotion. The writer has a way of pulling you in. It is not until you turn to the last page that you are released from that firm grip.
"I turned around and took a few uncomfortable steps towards my house. I could feel his eyes following me. When I tripped over the garden hose in my yard, I prayed for once, he wasn't looking. I peeked over my shoulder and sure enough, he was watching me. My embarrassing display of clumsiness didn't wipe the look of longing in his face, though. His yearning frightened me because I knew one day he might want something more than just a date to the school dance and I wasn't sure if I had the strength to tell him no."
The writers ability to make her characters come alive as they did are a true testament to her talent. The writing was flawless, crisp, clean and direct.
I liked how the story was told by Alex and by Sean. As a reader I was able to get the full perspective. It kept the story interesting with the different view points. It was almost like reading diary entries that were not meant for anyone else's eyes other than it's author. I think any age group could get something from this story. Even after putting this book down so many thoughts fluttered through my brain.
The powerful story that unfolds is haunting and I found myself filled with emotion. The writer has a way of pulling you in. It is not until you turn to the last page that you are released from that firm grip.
"I turned around and took a few uncomfortable steps towards my house. I could feel his eyes following me. When I tripped over the garden hose in my yard, I prayed for once, he wasn't looking. I peeked over my shoulder and sure enough, he was watching me. My embarrassing display of clumsiness didn't wipe the look of longing in his face, though. His yearning frightened me because I knew one day he might want something more than just a date to the school dance and I wasn't sure if I had the strength to tell him no."
April 14, 2013
This was such a good book I didn't want to put it down! This is a contempoary story written with wonderful insight and understanding. Although this novel centers on two teenagers this is a book for adults and mature high-schoolers.
The Fifth Circle will put you on an emotional roller coaster but in the end it will give you hope. Not a miracle-but hope. This is a cautionary story about the harm parents can do for generations when our children are not cherished and protected. I highly recommend this book.
The Fifth Circle will put you on an emotional roller coaster but in the end it will give you hope. Not a miracle-but hope. This is a cautionary story about the harm parents can do for generations when our children are not cherished and protected. I highly recommend this book.
June 8, 2013
I didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Fifth Circle. It wasn't the type of book I typically read and I can't even tell you why I picked it up.
But almost immediately I found myself engrossed in the storyline and in the lives of the two main characters. The characters were believable and dynamic; Drammeh did an amazing job showing us how their lives spiraled into disaster.
I really enjoyed this read, and it will keep me thinking about the story for many days to come.
But almost immediately I found myself engrossed in the storyline and in the lives of the two main characters. The characters were believable and dynamic; Drammeh did an amazing job showing us how their lives spiraled into disaster.
I really enjoyed this read, and it will keep me thinking about the story for many days to come.
March 21, 2014
First - I LOVED this story!
Alex and Sean are neighbors and have been best friends since childhood - they know one another's secrets and oddities and accept them. Now seniors, they are both struggling to overcome issues from their past. When their friendship turns into romance, their relationship quickly morphs into something unhealthy that falls apart in a final climax.
A lot of authors attempt to write teens that come off sounding stilted or whose motivations feel hollow or forced, but not so in this book. It was like stepping in a time machine and going back into my own youth - I probably shouldn't admit this, but I *knew* these people (or people like them). I understood and connected to so much of it - the small town atmosphere, the floating indecision, the pressures to make a choice and have ambition when you can't even figure out what you want to do, and the apathetic way of being swept into things you really don't want to be just because you're "supposed to" or because you think someone else "wants you to".
I'm not usually a fan of first person present tense, but it felt effective in this story. The back and forth between the character's point of view was also good. I enjoyed getting to peek inside both their heads and understand why they did what they did. I also liked that though the book is beautifully dark, the ending is bright. So many of these type of stories stop at the tragic point and never bother to go on to the part where the characters start to grow up a little, and I was glad to see that this one did.
Alex and Sean are neighbors and have been best friends since childhood - they know one another's secrets and oddities and accept them. Now seniors, they are both struggling to overcome issues from their past. When their friendship turns into romance, their relationship quickly morphs into something unhealthy that falls apart in a final climax.
A lot of authors attempt to write teens that come off sounding stilted or whose motivations feel hollow or forced, but not so in this book. It was like stepping in a time machine and going back into my own youth - I probably shouldn't admit this, but I *knew* these people (or people like them). I understood and connected to so much of it - the small town atmosphere, the floating indecision, the pressures to make a choice and have ambition when you can't even figure out what you want to do, and the apathetic way of being swept into things you really don't want to be just because you're "supposed to" or because you think someone else "wants you to".
I'm not usually a fan of first person present tense, but it felt effective in this story. The back and forth between the character's point of view was also good. I enjoyed getting to peek inside both their heads and understand why they did what they did. I also liked that though the book is beautifully dark, the ending is bright. So many of these type of stories stop at the tragic point and never bother to go on to the part where the characters start to grow up a little, and I was glad to see that this one did.
April 28, 2013
Thought provoking
The theme of Dante’s fifth circle of hell is played out expertly throughout this slice of life in Midwestern America. The story is told from two perspectives. The wrathful Sean, a bipolar gamer on a descent into his own hell, rejects the conventional help offered to him and instead fixes on his girlfriend Alex. The sullen Alex, a girl damaged by her past “not to be spoken of,” is an intellectual, apathetic, attractive young woman with no self-esteem. Alex lets Sean control her with his emotional blackmail. Alex is but a fallen leaf blown by Sean’s controlling raging windstorm. Together they have condemned themselves to live in the Fifth Circle by their actions and inaction.
The book took hold of me from the start and held me with each page I turned. I found myself talking to the characters trying to steer them away from the path their choices were sending them on. This a deeply moving story, told with gritty realism.
This book is excellent for discussion. I recommend it for the reader that wants to think, feel and examine great writing.
The theme of Dante’s fifth circle of hell is played out expertly throughout this slice of life in Midwestern America. The story is told from two perspectives. The wrathful Sean, a bipolar gamer on a descent into his own hell, rejects the conventional help offered to him and instead fixes on his girlfriend Alex. The sullen Alex, a girl damaged by her past “not to be spoken of,” is an intellectual, apathetic, attractive young woman with no self-esteem. Alex lets Sean control her with his emotional blackmail. Alex is but a fallen leaf blown by Sean’s controlling raging windstorm. Together they have condemned themselves to live in the Fifth Circle by their actions and inaction.
The book took hold of me from the start and held me with each page I turned. I found myself talking to the characters trying to steer them away from the path their choices were sending them on. This a deeply moving story, told with gritty realism.
This book is excellent for discussion. I recommend it for the reader that wants to think, feel and examine great writing.
July 5, 2013
This is a story of the relationship between Alex and Sean. Each side is told with conviction. It tells of the sad and the bad, and of the abused and the abuser. It speaks of patterns repeated.
I was pleased with the ending, happy that Alex managed to move on to make a life outside of that of a victim. It is something that many victims never manage.
I was pleased with the ending, happy that Alex managed to move on to make a life outside of that of a victim. It is something that many victims never manage.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews