What do you think?
Rate this book
Balefire #1-4
Balefire
The whole Balefire series by Cate Tiernan is now in one edition.
After seventeen-year-old Thais Allard loses her widowed father in a tragic car accident, she is forced to leave the only home she's ever known to live with a total stranger in New Orleans. New Orleans greets Thais with many secrets and mysteries, but none as unbelievable as the moment she comes face to face with the impossible � an identical twin, Clio.
Thais soon learns that she and the twin she never knew come from a family of witches, that she possesses astonishing powers, and that she, along with Clio, has a key role in Balefire, the coven she was born into.
Fiery Clio is less than thrilled to have to share the spotlight, but the twins must learn to combine their powers in order to complete a rite that will transform their lives and the coven forever.
After seventeen-year-old Thais Allard loses her widowed father in a tragic car accident, she is forced to leave the only home she's ever known to live with a total stranger in New Orleans. New Orleans greets Thais with many secrets and mysteries, but none as unbelievable as the moment she comes face to face with the impossible � an identical twin, Clio.
Thais soon learns that she and the twin she never knew come from a family of witches, that she possesses astonishing powers, and that she, along with Clio, has a key role in Balefire, the coven she was born into.
Fiery Clio is less than thrilled to have to share the spotlight, but the twins must learn to combine their powers in order to complete a rite that will transform their lives and the coven forever.
974 pages, Paperback
First published December 16, 2010
87 people are currently reading
3,219 people want to read
About the author
Cate Tiernan
92Ìýbooks3,783Ìýfollowers"was born in New Orleans, LA, in 1961. New Orleans is one of the most interesting American cities, and it has an incredibly rich and exotic culture that had a profound influence on me. Kids in other cities have lemonade stands; we sold voodoo gris-gris and made wax dolls in the likenesses of our enemies. It's a very beautiful city, and the constant heat and humidity make gardens grow out of control. There's an air of lassitude there, a general acceptance of eccentic or flamboyant behavior--the heat simply makes people do crazy things.
I went to school in New York, and after school went back to New Orleans. Then I went back to New York (Manhattan) and got a job in publishing and started writing. My first book, a young, middle-grade chapter book, was published in 1990.
Living in Manhattan was incredible, even though I didn't have a lot of money. There was so much to do and see, and so many interesting people to watch. There was a lot of frenetic energy there, and sometimes that felt very wearing and hard to live with. After eight years I was ready for a change, and my husband and I moved back to New Orleans. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
(While I was in NY, I helped edit "The Secret Circle" by L.J. Smith. I thought it was great.)
We stayed in New Orleans five years. By the time we had two small children we knew we had to find someplace safer to live. I was glad my children were born in New Orleans--I had been born there, and my father had, and his father had, and his father had and so on. There was something about the connection of generations of blood coming from one place that I found very primal and important.
Now I live in a cohousing community in Durham, NC. This is the most suburban place I've ever lived, and it's very different from living right in the middle of a city. For one thing, there aren't enough coffee shops. However, it's incredibly safe, and the community is very important to me. There are a lot of strong women here, and I find them inspiring.
Am I a witch? Well, no. Even Wicca is too organized a religion for me. I'm much more idiosyncratic and just need to do my own thing, which is kind of new-agey and pantheistic. It's not that I don't work or play well with others, but I need to decide for myself when I do a certain thing, and how I do it. However, I can really relate to Wicca, and I so appreciate its woman-centeredness and its essentially female identity. I love those aspects, among others.
I have several favorite writers. Barbara Hambly has been the biggest influence on how I describe magic. She's an incredibly imaginative and empathetic writer with a gift for creating a rich, sensual world. I love Barbara Pym, an English writer whose books came out mostly in the fifties. She was a master at describing the thousand tiny moments that make up a woman's day; how the seemingly small and inconsequential thing can suddenly take on a huge emotional importance. I greatly admire P.D. James. She's one of the very few writers who makes me actually look up words in the dictionary. She has a beautiful, precise, educated command of the language that leaves me in awe. I love Philip Larkin's poetry. I read a lot of nonfiction and also have some favorite romance writers. Before anyone groans, let me say that these women write really well about women trying to achieve emotional fulfillment, and that's kind of what we're all doing, right? I also just like reading about sex. Anyway, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and early Linda Howard are my faves.
And then of course there's my dark side, but more on that later.
" -
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for
I went to school in New York, and after school went back to New Orleans. Then I went back to New York (Manhattan) and got a job in publishing and started writing. My first book, a young, middle-grade chapter book, was published in 1990.
Living in Manhattan was incredible, even though I didn't have a lot of money. There was so much to do and see, and so many interesting people to watch. There was a lot of frenetic energy there, and sometimes that felt very wearing and hard to live with. After eight years I was ready for a change, and my husband and I moved back to New Orleans. (Are you seeing a pattern here?)
(While I was in NY, I helped edit "The Secret Circle" by L.J. Smith. I thought it was great.)
We stayed in New Orleans five years. By the time we had two small children we knew we had to find someplace safer to live. I was glad my children were born in New Orleans--I had been born there, and my father had, and his father had, and his father had and so on. There was something about the connection of generations of blood coming from one place that I found very primal and important.
Now I live in a cohousing community in Durham, NC. This is the most suburban place I've ever lived, and it's very different from living right in the middle of a city. For one thing, there aren't enough coffee shops. However, it's incredibly safe, and the community is very important to me. There are a lot of strong women here, and I find them inspiring.
Am I a witch? Well, no. Even Wicca is too organized a religion for me. I'm much more idiosyncratic and just need to do my own thing, which is kind of new-agey and pantheistic. It's not that I don't work or play well with others, but I need to decide for myself when I do a certain thing, and how I do it. However, I can really relate to Wicca, and I so appreciate its woman-centeredness and its essentially female identity. I love those aspects, among others.
I have several favorite writers. Barbara Hambly has been the biggest influence on how I describe magic. She's an incredibly imaginative and empathetic writer with a gift for creating a rich, sensual world. I love Barbara Pym, an English writer whose books came out mostly in the fifties. She was a master at describing the thousand tiny moments that make up a woman's day; how the seemingly small and inconsequential thing can suddenly take on a huge emotional importance. I greatly admire P.D. James. She's one of the very few writers who makes me actually look up words in the dictionary. She has a beautiful, precise, educated command of the language that leaves me in awe. I love Philip Larkin's poetry. I read a lot of nonfiction and also have some favorite romance writers. Before anyone groans, let me say that these women write really well about women trying to achieve emotional fulfillment, and that's kind of what we're all doing, right? I also just like reading about sex. Anyway, Jennifer Crusie, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and early Linda Howard are my faves.
And then of course there's my dark side, but more on that later.
" -
Cate Tiernan is a pseudonym for
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
July 7, 2012
My love for 's caught me quite unexpected last year and that the sequel turned out to be equally engaging and lovely surprised me just as much. But when I decided to order the series, some older young adult fiction by the same author, as a one-book-reprint, I had already upped my expectations by a chunky notch. I was prepared to meet not one, but two prickly, paranormal heroines who would worm themselves into my heart like Natasya had done. For the description surely sounds like a darker, witchier, sexier young adult version of :
A girl from Connecticut, whose father has just died in a car accident and who is now moving in with a strange and otherworldly "voodoo" family friend she had never heard of before, and a young, fun-loving witch living in New Orleans with her Nan cross paths in High School and discover that they have to be identical twins. They get roped into a bizzare story full of magic and fall in love with the same mysterious guy. Well... pre- I would have heard and heeded the unmistakable sound of the paranormal warning bells tolling like mad: The words "love triange" and "mysterious young man" used together in a blurb by Booklist are something that would have me make a U-turn before even contemplating to add a title to my wishlist under normal circumstances. But a book by the author of ... I had been so confident that another miracle would happen and bought the 974 pages in one go.
The reward for my unusual optimism have been 131 pages of the most severe, most nauseating and most disturbing case of double instant-love I have ever come across. After having read myself through quite a share I did not really believe that surpassing the lowest of low would be possible. But it was. After one drink on a lumpy love-seat in a dark bar Girl One (Clio) is "totally, completely, 100 percent happy", convinced that she has found "the one" she is going to spend her life with and that he is worthy of her love: "I know I wanted another margarita and instead got a 7UP, which made me fall even more in love with him. I could trust him." Shortly after, Girl Two (Thais) falls head over heels in love with the same guy in a beautiful garden next to a hidden church. She admits she is "a little creeped out" by his low voice and his suggestion to leave for his nearby apartment together, but "there was no mistaking it -" she "saw admiration in his eyes. Attraction." And when he says that they will soon meet again, she "knew that he was right".
Well. I am going to stop reviewing this now. I still feel a bit queasy.... but also a bit angry at myself. I could have bought my own copy of or with the money. Alas, back to being a suspicious buyer.
A girl from Connecticut, whose father has just died in a car accident and who is now moving in with a strange and otherworldly "voodoo" family friend she had never heard of before, and a young, fun-loving witch living in New Orleans with her Nan cross paths in High School and discover that they have to be identical twins. They get roped into a bizzare story full of magic and fall in love with the same mysterious guy. Well... pre- I would have heard and heeded the unmistakable sound of the paranormal warning bells tolling like mad: The words "love triange" and "mysterious young man" used together in a blurb by Booklist are something that would have me make a U-turn before even contemplating to add a title to my wishlist under normal circumstances. But a book by the author of ... I had been so confident that another miracle would happen and bought the 974 pages in one go.
The reward for my unusual optimism have been 131 pages of the most severe, most nauseating and most disturbing case of double instant-love I have ever come across. After having read myself through quite a share I did not really believe that surpassing the lowest of low would be possible. But it was. After one drink on a lumpy love-seat in a dark bar Girl One (Clio) is "totally, completely, 100 percent happy", convinced that she has found "the one" she is going to spend her life with and that he is worthy of her love: "I know I wanted another margarita and instead got a 7UP, which made me fall even more in love with him. I could trust him." Shortly after, Girl Two (Thais) falls head over heels in love with the same guy in a beautiful garden next to a hidden church. She admits she is "a little creeped out" by his low voice and his suggestion to leave for his nearby apartment together, but "there was no mistaking it -" she "saw admiration in his eyes. Attraction." And when he says that they will soon meet again, she "knew that he was right".
Well. I am going to stop reviewing this now. I still feel a bit queasy.... but also a bit angry at myself. I could have bought my own copy of or with the money. Alas, back to being a suspicious buyer.
July 23, 2012
I think I like Balefire more than any other books of , because it exemplifies some of the best things about her writing:
1. Her ability to write about people without attaching labels or value judgements: For example, Clio is proud, vain, and arrogant, but never, ever does she say that she "is trying to get rid of her flaws and be a better person". The character grows, but never unbecomes herself (Compare , and it's obsessive dislike of individuality). Thais doesn't have these qualities, but the we-all-deserve-to-die attitude is interesting. Also,
2. Her bleak outlook of the world is very agreeable to me, as well. The part where Thais asserts that all human beings are guilty is so true and accurate.
3. Her ability to let characters grow organically, rather than making them static, and changing their personalities when it suits her.
The one way in which Balefire is better than is that it's much more in tune with its setting. Reading this book, it's impossible not to want to go to New Orleans!
It does seem like this series was rushed and incomplete, but it's easy to see why it sold so little: the copious drinking (some underage), the promiscuity, and the moral ambiguity are sure to alienate the crowd that likes *cough cough*, but those are the aspects that I like best about it.
1. Her ability to write about people without attaching labels or value judgements: For example, Clio is proud, vain, and arrogant, but never, ever does she say that she "is trying to get rid of her flaws and be a better person". The character grows, but never unbecomes herself (Compare , and it's obsessive dislike of individuality). Thais doesn't have these qualities, but the we-all-deserve-to-die attitude is interesting. Also,
2. Her bleak outlook of the world is very agreeable to me, as well. The part where Thais asserts that all human beings are guilty is so true and accurate.
3. Her ability to let characters grow organically, rather than making them static, and changing their personalities when it suits her.
The one way in which Balefire is better than is that it's much more in tune with its setting. Reading this book, it's impossible not to want to go to New Orleans!
It does seem like this series was rushed and incomplete, but it's easy to see why it sold so little: the copious drinking (some underage), the promiscuity, and the moral ambiguity are sure to alienate the crowd that likes *cough cough*, but those are the aspects that I like best about it.
July 24, 2010
From the review blog.
Clio Martin and Thais Allard are twins, separated at birth by their grandmother, Petra, to protect them from the questionable machinations of people within her own coven. Thais goes with her father to live in Connecticut, while Clio remains with Petra in New Orleans. But when they are 16, their father is killed in a mysterious accident, and Thais finds herself in the hands of strangers in a city she never thought she had any connection to. Running into their twin the first day of school is the least of the surprises the girls face as they both discover their family's true history, one that goes back further than either of them ever imagined.
It is a mystery that these books ever fell out of print, and it is a blessing that they will be brought back. Clio and Thais's world is vividly drawn. Tiernan's New Orleans is a character in itself, emanating from the page. The Balefire coven is filled with rich, complex characters, from the duplicitous Luc-Andre, the penitent Michel, the haughty Axelle, the wise Petra, and the fiery Richard. The system of magic in this series is so organic to the world and very believable.
One complaint is the somewhat rushed ending -- Tiernan had planned a 15 book series, but low sales required it to end at four. However, she has tweeted her intentions to smooth it out for the reprint. Also, it switches perspective between Clio and Thais every other chapter, which I don't mind, but I know that annoys some people.
Clio Martin and Thais Allard are twins, separated at birth by their grandmother, Petra, to protect them from the questionable machinations of people within her own coven. Thais goes with her father to live in Connecticut, while Clio remains with Petra in New Orleans. But when they are 16, their father is killed in a mysterious accident, and Thais finds herself in the hands of strangers in a city she never thought she had any connection to. Running into their twin the first day of school is the least of the surprises the girls face as they both discover their family's true history, one that goes back further than either of them ever imagined.
It is a mystery that these books ever fell out of print, and it is a blessing that they will be brought back. Clio and Thais's world is vividly drawn. Tiernan's New Orleans is a character in itself, emanating from the page. The Balefire coven is filled with rich, complex characters, from the duplicitous Luc-Andre, the penitent Michel, the haughty Axelle, the wise Petra, and the fiery Richard. The system of magic in this series is so organic to the world and very believable.
One complaint is the somewhat rushed ending -- Tiernan had planned a 15 book series, but low sales required it to end at four. However, she has tweeted her intentions to smooth it out for the reprint. Also, it switches perspective between Clio and Thais every other chapter, which I don't mind, but I know that annoys some people.
![Profile Image for Carol [Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ Addict].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1626057011i%2F10717098._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
February 19, 2015
This book was quite an undertaking, it was very long but actually, it went pretty fast. I picked it up at a library used book sale, not knowing what I would be getting, and ended up pleasantly surprised. It is four books, consolidated into one. It is the story of two twin 17 year old sisters, one named Thais Allard, raised in Connecticut, and the other one, Clio Martin, raised in New Orleans. They didn't know each other existed, each believing they were an only child, until Thais's father is killed and someone she has never met shows up and says they are to be her legal guardian and takes Thais to New Orleans. On the first day of school they discover each other and their story begins. They are from a long line of witches, Clio already practicing and Thais brand new to the craft. They discover they are two parts to a group of 13 witches needed to recreate a spell that happened 240 years ago.
What I really liked about this book is that each chapter switches to a different person's POV. Mostly back and forth between Clio and Thais. I really enjoyed getting more of their personal feelings that way. I loved the way that every one of the 13 witches all had a personal agenda and how they all wove together. The author, Cate Tiernan, took her time building a love story for each one of the sisters, and building up for the big final confrontation. By the end, I really felt like I really knew each and every one of the characters. This story isn't only about witchcraft but also about personal discovery and growth. Don't be put off by the length of the book, it really does go fast. I really did enjoy this book and do recommend it. If you read it and enjoy it, be sure to let me know.
What I really liked about this book is that each chapter switches to a different person's POV. Mostly back and forth between Clio and Thais. I really enjoyed getting more of their personal feelings that way. I loved the way that every one of the 13 witches all had a personal agenda and how they all wove together. The author, Cate Tiernan, took her time building a love story for each one of the sisters, and building up for the big final confrontation. By the end, I really felt like I really knew each and every one of the characters. This story isn't only about witchcraft but also about personal discovery and growth. Don't be put off by the length of the book, it really does go fast. I really did enjoy this book and do recommend it. If you read it and enjoy it, be sure to let me know.
January 23, 2011
I liked this series, but not as much as I liked the Sweep series. I think that it could have been a little shorter and even though this was all 4 books in the series it felt unfinished like there should have been one more book. Spoilers below.
I read 974 pages and still never found out who was trying to kill the twins, Melita never was resolved and the 13 generations thing was left hanging. Are they going to start ageing normally, are they going to wither up and turn to dust? It just feels like things are too unresolved.
I read 974 pages and still never found out who was trying to kill the twins, Melita never was resolved and the 13 generations thing was left hanging. Are they going to start ageing normally, are they going to wither up and turn to dust? It just feels like things are too unresolved.
October 26, 2020
looking back on this now: what the f*ck.
May 2, 2024
Re-read of an old favourite, holds a lot of nostalgia for me. Used to want to name my daughter Thais, maybe not anymore!
May 12, 2011
Wow! This book blew me away. Considering I've read this entire series in 2 days. I could not put this book down to save my life. I do not typically read books concerning all things witch's and so forth. But this book.. All 4 books in this series were done superbly. The characters, the plot, the suspense, all of it was executed beautifully. U become invested not just in the main characters but even in those who at first glance, u may not like so much.
This one is one about choices. Choices, choices what to do right? What are u willing 2 sacrifice for those u love? Who are u? Are u a product of ur environment or something else? Something more? Are u gonna do the right thing simply because it's the right thing & not base ur actions on whether it's what u want or not? This book asks these questions and so much more.
It's also about the darker sinister things that we refuse to see within ourselves. And the dangers that lie ahead when we refuse to acknowledge & rectify them. That constant battle between good & evil. It's about love as well. U remember, the 1st time u realized u loved someone. That awesome ultimate high u felt upon realizing it's love. That 1st betrayal that sometimes follows it. Ur 1st heartbreak and learning for the 1st time how to pick urself up & make the choice to either try again or allow ur fear to over take you. Or to simply in the end, learn 2 forgive.. Oh how this book took me back to those places! LOL
The entertainment/drama/suspense aspect of this book keeps u drawn in but the message between the lines I hope, will not be lost on you. This is an awesome read with a very bittersweet, not so predictable ending. I highly recommend this read.
This one is one about choices. Choices, choices what to do right? What are u willing 2 sacrifice for those u love? Who are u? Are u a product of ur environment or something else? Something more? Are u gonna do the right thing simply because it's the right thing & not base ur actions on whether it's what u want or not? This book asks these questions and so much more.
It's also about the darker sinister things that we refuse to see within ourselves. And the dangers that lie ahead when we refuse to acknowledge & rectify them. That constant battle between good & evil. It's about love as well. U remember, the 1st time u realized u loved someone. That awesome ultimate high u felt upon realizing it's love. That 1st betrayal that sometimes follows it. Ur 1st heartbreak and learning for the 1st time how to pick urself up & make the choice to either try again or allow ur fear to over take you. Or to simply in the end, learn 2 forgive.. Oh how this book took me back to those places! LOL
The entertainment/drama/suspense aspect of this book keeps u drawn in but the message between the lines I hope, will not be lost on you. This is an awesome read with a very bittersweet, not so predictable ending. I highly recommend this read.
May 24, 2011
I enjoyed reading this series until I got to the last book. The world building was fantastic, the "take" on witches and magic was slightly different from the norm, the backstory was interesting, the main characters were great, but the ending wasn't good for me. It left too many things unanswered.
*SPOILERS COMING*
There was so much hype about Melita that when she was finally introduced into the book I was expecting fireworks and a huge battle. That didn't happen. Instead she saves Clio - saying that she needes her to perform the rite again - and then disappears from the novel without performing the rite!
Two of the characters aged and it turned out that no one was immortal anyway. So, everyone was going to start aging. So, why did some characters start aging faster than others? And where they going to start aging till they reached their true ages?
Did Marcel and Sophie get together?
Why didn't Jules want to be with Claire?
Why was Kevin in the novel if he was just a fill in until Thais could get together with Luc?
Why did Luc lie and say he loved Clio, not Thais, on a couple of different occasions?
What was the plot point about with the twins becoming less like themselves and more like the other?
What was the point of the plot point where Clio drowned - and then was saved by Melita? If she was going to be saved, why have her drown?
Who, besides Richard, had been trying to hurt the twins?
There are other questions, but no point in asking them here. I'm just wondering if there are more books to come in the series. Something to check out, I guess.
But in terms of satisfaction at the end, I didn't really have any. Pity.
*SPOILERS COMING*
There was so much hype about Melita that when she was finally introduced into the book I was expecting fireworks and a huge battle. That didn't happen. Instead she saves Clio - saying that she needes her to perform the rite again - and then disappears from the novel without performing the rite!
Two of the characters aged and it turned out that no one was immortal anyway. So, everyone was going to start aging. So, why did some characters start aging faster than others? And where they going to start aging till they reached their true ages?
Did Marcel and Sophie get together?
Why didn't Jules want to be with Claire?
Why was Kevin in the novel if he was just a fill in until Thais could get together with Luc?
Why did Luc lie and say he loved Clio, not Thais, on a couple of different occasions?
What was the plot point about with the twins becoming less like themselves and more like the other?
What was the point of the plot point where Clio drowned - and then was saved by Melita? If she was going to be saved, why have her drown?
Who, besides Richard, had been trying to hurt the twins?
There are other questions, but no point in asking them here. I'm just wondering if there are more books to come in the series. Something to check out, I guess.
But in terms of satisfaction at the end, I didn't really have any. Pity.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Shelved as 'to-buy'
September 5, 2021Separated since birth, seventeen-year-old twins Thais and Clio unexpectedly meet in New Orleans where they seem to be pursued by a coven of witches who want to harness the twins� magickal powers for its own ends.
December 25, 2011
I really enjoyed this book.It was full of surprises...Not joking.I had no idea it was Manon trying to kill the twins.And Melita was Carmela?!Wtf was that!?I knew that she was Melita.They always discrible her with dark eyes and always in the dark.In the end,well,when Thais was doing the spell do take out all of Daelous -I think thats who you write his name.Whatever- she started thinking of her fathers death!I started crying,it was so sad.I think it was Melita that killed him.Dealous was the father of the child Ceries had!OMFG!!When I saw that, I was in complete shock! But the ending was so stupid!Luc disides to be freinds with Thais! :O ...No words to discribe my shock.He loved her!WTF!Then he wants to be freinds!Thats just stupid!Clio and Richard are so cute together...Im in love with Kevin,Richard,and Luc...Its pretty obvious!
But the ending was so....AMAZING!!!!! I never thought it would end like this.If I could give it a zillion stars,I would.Hells ta the yeah!
But the ending was so....AMAZING!!!!! I never thought it would end like this.If I could give it a zillion stars,I would.Hells ta the yeah!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2011
Really great series... I loved the flow of it and the pace at which the story progressed... The whole love triangle between the twins and their male counterparts was dizzying, yet breath taking at the same time... Couldn't help but feel heart broken along with the twins at their first love's betrayal, and then to see them trying to pick up the pieces of their broken hearts... There was so many action filled scenes as well and though I felt they could have been a little more heart stopping, I wasn't disappointed... Towards the end you see unlikely aliances and romances... And then it ends alittle abruptly for me... The one who started it all finds threefold law falling on their head and then I'm wondering why that person brought another person back to life and what the hecks up with let's just be friends... Gah! Anyways, I was glad that two of the main characters made a love match and so I'm satisfied... Felt like there could have been one more book to tie up the loose ends...
April 7, 2012
My friend gave me this book cause I needed something to read and warned me ahead of time that she didn't like it at all and it wasn't very good BUT her sister loved it. Me, being the book lover that will read almost anything, went "ok I'll give it a shot." Thinking about it now, I wish I never picked it up. It was a waste of my time and I could have been reading something else honestly. Due to my book OCDness I had to finish what I started so the chapters I did read (I skipped one here and there) I totally skimmed. It confused me too. There was a lot of info packed and the way it was written. it's first person alternate. I can understand why the books went out of print. Bottom line, don't read this unless you have nothing else. I wouldn't have minded re-reading the hunger games for the 6th time.
April 2, 2017
For my written review, please check out the link below:
Debs :-)
Debs :-)
October 7, 2020
4/5 stars! Actually a 3.5 but I bumped it up for nostalgic purposes.
Really enjoyed it, I think the backdrop of New Orleans and the witches was perfect. The plot twists were super interesting to watch and super fun to read through.
My biggest issue was that certain plot points and the ending needed more fleshing out. It felt like the ending of the fourth book was a set up for future books, and it would have been interesting to see the plot of any subsequent books.
Really enjoyed it, I think the backdrop of New Orleans and the witches was perfect. The plot twists were super interesting to watch and super fun to read through.
My biggest issue was that certain plot points and the ending needed more fleshing out. It felt like the ending of the fourth book was a set up for future books, and it would have been interesting to see the plot of any subsequent books.
Read
April 1, 2011So, as I’m sure you can tell from my , I love the writings of Cate Tiernan. And before reading Immortal Beloved, these four books, now published in a bind-up as one, were my favourite of hers.
The story switches POV between girls. Thais and Clio. Thais� father has just died and she is sent to live with some strange woman she’s never heard of before in New Orleans. When she starts high school there, she runs into Clio. And Thais and Clio are identical. Looking at Clio is the same as looking in a mirror for Thais.
What follows this discovery of estranged twins, is a family secret, spells gone wrong, a web of lies and evil and mystery. And magic. I love Tiernan’s brand of magic.
When writing a book that switches POVs you always run the risk of having the reader prefer a POV over the other. And that was certainly true with me. As much as I thought Clio was a realisticly, well-written teenage girl…I just didn’t like her. I loved Thais, however. And the intricate cast of characters surrounding the sisters. All of them with good and bad qualities. That was another thing I loved. Not one character was completely evil, nor was anyone completely good. Even Clio and Thais do some horrible things. And the main love interest does some really horrible things.
Which was awesome! Because I liked him anyway. Not right away, of course. But everyone had all this great development and growth. Even the characters I didn’t like were interesting. And at the end of the fourth book, when everything comes together…it was completely satisfying and nothing was left hanging. Not, that absolutely everything was tied up in a nice, neat little bow. There were some things left to the readers imagination. But it ended in such a way that I felt complete with the story and the characters.
And I just love Thais� main love interest. I can’t name him because…well, spoilers. But the journey he takes really emphasizes his flaws and insecurities, and I just love a good love interest who isn’t perfect.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Balefire series. It’s fantastic. I’m just sorry you (probably) wont be able to get the four separate books with the awesome covers. Not that the bind-up cover isn’t gorgeous as well…I just really like my covers.
Reviewed on on February 18, 2011.
The story switches POV between girls. Thais and Clio. Thais� father has just died and she is sent to live with some strange woman she’s never heard of before in New Orleans. When she starts high school there, she runs into Clio. And Thais and Clio are identical. Looking at Clio is the same as looking in a mirror for Thais.
What follows this discovery of estranged twins, is a family secret, spells gone wrong, a web of lies and evil and mystery. And magic. I love Tiernan’s brand of magic.
When writing a book that switches POVs you always run the risk of having the reader prefer a POV over the other. And that was certainly true with me. As much as I thought Clio was a realisticly, well-written teenage girl…I just didn’t like her. I loved Thais, however. And the intricate cast of characters surrounding the sisters. All of them with good and bad qualities. That was another thing I loved. Not one character was completely evil, nor was anyone completely good. Even Clio and Thais do some horrible things. And the main love interest does some really horrible things.
Which was awesome! Because I liked him anyway. Not right away, of course. But everyone had all this great development and growth. Even the characters I didn’t like were interesting. And at the end of the fourth book, when everything comes together…it was completely satisfying and nothing was left hanging. Not, that absolutely everything was tied up in a nice, neat little bow. There were some things left to the readers imagination. But it ended in such a way that I felt complete with the story and the characters.
And I just love Thais� main love interest. I can’t name him because…well, spoilers. But the journey he takes really emphasizes his flaws and insecurities, and I just love a good love interest who isn’t perfect.
I encourage you to pick up a copy of the Balefire series. It’s fantastic. I’m just sorry you (probably) wont be able to get the four separate books with the awesome covers. Not that the bind-up cover isn’t gorgeous as well…I just really like my covers.
Reviewed on on February 18, 2011.
August 7, 2012
I love the Sweep Series by Cate Tiernan, and so, I thought, hey, I might love this book as well, seeing as how it's by the same author. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
The main problem I had with this book, was how fast both Clio and Thais fell in love with their "mysterious" man. I just couldn't take the relationships they had seriously. Another major problem I had was how slow the plot seemed to be going (which is why it took ages to finish reading), threading along at a snail pace. It wasn't until literally the last 15 pages that I was finally starting to really get into the book, but only to have it end abruptly.
Also, I was confused for most part of the book. I get that Tiernan is just trying to keep things mysterious, a suspenseful surprise, but it didn't come out as such. I was left re-reading several passages, feeling a headache coming on, just trying to decipher some of them. I think Tiernan should have explained some terms to us in the beginning, maybe that would have kept the headaches at bay.
Don't get me wrong, I did, for the most part, enjoy some of the book... I did give this book 3 stars after all, but I just felt, after knowing what a masterpiece Tiernan can write with the Sweep series, that Chalice of Wind could have been better.
But never-the-less, I will trust you Tiernan, I will keep reading. You better not let me down.
The main problem I had with this book, was how fast both Clio and Thais fell in love with their "mysterious" man. I just couldn't take the relationships they had seriously. Another major problem I had was how slow the plot seemed to be going (which is why it took ages to finish reading), threading along at a snail pace. It wasn't until literally the last 15 pages that I was finally starting to really get into the book, but only to have it end abruptly.
Also, I was confused for most part of the book. I get that Tiernan is just trying to keep things mysterious, a suspenseful surprise, but it didn't come out as such. I was left re-reading several passages, feeling a headache coming on, just trying to decipher some of them. I think Tiernan should have explained some terms to us in the beginning, maybe that would have kept the headaches at bay.
Don't get me wrong, I did, for the most part, enjoy some of the book... I did give this book 3 stars after all, but I just felt, after knowing what a masterpiece Tiernan can write with the Sweep series, that Chalice of Wind could have been better.
But never-the-less, I will trust you Tiernan, I will keep reading. You better not let me down.
October 30, 2020
For the most part I liked this series, it wasn’t perfect but I did come to like the twins. If it weren’t for the last book I would have given it four stars. This book has changing perspectives which I was really not fond of but I did get used to it at least.
If you like series with endings don’t read this, it was like the author just decided she didn’t want to continue it and dropped it. I felt like there was so much energy built up for the finale that when nothing happened there was no release and now I'm just left frustrated. It barely even hit on why the twins were important or if Petra really needed to separate them.
The romance was awful. I was really hoping for it to end with the twins realizing they didn’t need a man and that they deserved better than what they were putting themselves through. But aparently they like unhealthy relationships and forceful men. They barely knew Luc and he was so unspecial that I couldn’t understand the obsession over him. Also, poor Kevin, the only good guy.
Overall, could have gone way better, but I enjoyed it for the most part and that’s what I look for in a book. If you’re looking for a steller read, look elsewhere.
Also, so confused with the whole 13 generations of mothers dying in childbirth, I feel like at some point by the 3rd or 4th generation ( at most!) would have decided against having a child. How could it have gotten that far? Another point, why were none of the trieze suspicious about that?
If you like series with endings don’t read this, it was like the author just decided she didn’t want to continue it and dropped it. I felt like there was so much energy built up for the finale that when nothing happened there was no release and now I'm just left frustrated. It barely even hit on why the twins were important or if Petra really needed to separate them.
The romance was awful. I was really hoping for it to end with the twins realizing they didn’t need a man and that they deserved better than what they were putting themselves through. But aparently they like unhealthy relationships and forceful men. They barely knew Luc and he was so unspecial that I couldn’t understand the obsession over him. Also, poor Kevin, the only good guy.
Overall, could have gone way better, but I enjoyed it for the most part and that’s what I look for in a book. If you’re looking for a steller read, look elsewhere.
Also, so confused with the whole 13 generations of mothers dying in childbirth, I feel like at some point by the 3rd or 4th generation ( at most!) would have decided against having a child. How could it have gotten that far? Another point, why were none of the trieze suspicious about that?
December 20, 2015
This book has the complete series to Balefire, which at first I wasn't aware of, but soon after reading was pleasantly surprised and pleased because once I finished the first part, I wanted the complete series.
I wasn't sure how I was going to enjoy this series because I haven't read anything that was a mix with paranormal/witches/magic, and didn't think I would have much interested in a book like this, but I was wrong! Once I finished reading Balefire, I wanted to read more of Cate Tiernan's books because this was a fantastic series that left me wanting to know more about Thais and Clio's life that in a way, had yet to begin.
It's a lengthy read, but I didn't lose interest. While it was mainly focused around Paranormal, Fantasy, and Witchcraft; it balanced wonderfully with romance in the mix and the triangle that occurs that wasn't expected. The characters and story progressed at a good pace, there wasn't a let down in either area.
If you aren't one that like the magic/witch genre, you may want to give this series a chance because I was wary at first myself, but was very surprised once I started reading and came to love another genre that I should have given a chance a while ago.
I wasn't sure how I was going to enjoy this series because I haven't read anything that was a mix with paranormal/witches/magic, and didn't think I would have much interested in a book like this, but I was wrong! Once I finished reading Balefire, I wanted to read more of Cate Tiernan's books because this was a fantastic series that left me wanting to know more about Thais and Clio's life that in a way, had yet to begin.
It's a lengthy read, but I didn't lose interest. While it was mainly focused around Paranormal, Fantasy, and Witchcraft; it balanced wonderfully with romance in the mix and the triangle that occurs that wasn't expected. The characters and story progressed at a good pace, there wasn't a let down in either area.
If you aren't one that like the magic/witch genre, you may want to give this series a chance because I was wary at first myself, but was very surprised once I started reading and came to love another genre that I should have given a chance a while ago.
March 25, 2013
I really like Cate Tiernan's Sweep series, so I expected to like this series more. The writing style and characters were great, but the plot and resolution left much to be desired. With all the books in the same set like this it was easy to see the numerous errors and plot differences from one book to the next. None of the books have much in the way of action, and the climax of each story is...well...anticlimactic. If they weren't all together I'm not sure I'd have read the last three books. The first three endings provided no resolution, but I figured the last one would have to. It didn't. I have so many unanswered questions about this series and none of the really important things were wrapped up - the series just ended. It was like she got tired and gave up on the characters, which is a shame because I really liked the twins, Petra, Luc, Richard and Claire. The others were pretty flat, but still interesting.
March 5, 2011
One of my favorite series! Cleo and Thias are the perfect ying & yang representation of twins. The series is fast paced, and incredibly descriptive, one of my favorite things about Cate Tiernan's writing. Set in modern day New Orleans, I felt like I was part of the culture and community by the time I finished it. Cate shows us a realistic vision of old world magic brought into modern times, and what happens when dark and light magick collides. I became a huge fan of Cate's writing because of the Sweep series, and she doesn't disappoint with Balefire. If you like tales of witchcraft and magick, this is a must read!
January 23, 2011
I somehow missed this series when it was first in print so I was thrilled with this bind-up that includes all 4 books in the series. Balefire is a gripping, well-written on long lost indential twin teen sisters finding each other and discovering magic and secrets in New Orleans. It was amazing. I highly reccommended this well written and captivating series. Not to mention, the price of this collection is dirt cheap - under $10 for 4 books !
March 22, 2011
Oh my Gosh! I loved this book. I talked my mom into buying it for me after I spent a few hours babysitting my neighbors kids. I didn't want to put this book down. I practically took it everywhere with me so if I had any time to read: I could. I wanted to reach through the book and slap Luc for hurting the twins. I also wanted to cling to Richard and scream "You're mine! I wish you were real!" xD
December 7, 2015
I'm so disappointed with the book! I had such high hopes for this book because I absolutely loved the Sweep series. The insta love in the first books was unbearable! I didn't really care for any of the characters.
September 21, 2010
One of the darkest, most mysterious series I have ever read. It was incredibly thrilling, and I was impressed the whole way through. Tiernan out-did herself, which is a true triumph.
August 2, 2011
Balefire is super yummy!! Cate did NOT let me down:)
May 7, 2015
Cate Tiernan is a brilliant writer.... I love this novel and her other work.... I'm aspiring to be a writer as brilliant as her
May 24, 2011
Alright, so I'm going to have to do it this way until I completely finish this book. I'm going to give a review for each book once I finish it, since this was originally sold as individual books. So there will be spoilers. Book 1 will only have book 1 spoilers, book 2 will have both 2 and 1 spoilers, and so on. So.....
(BTW: I'll give individual star ratings for each book, then decide a star review overall once I'm completely finished.)
BOOK 1: A Chalice of Wind (Finished: 1/5 Stars)
I just finished reading book one and all I have to say is: I HATE THIS SERIES! I really, really don't like this book! I would have at least thought it was okay if it were not for the fact that Thais had sex with Luc or Andre (whichever you want to call him). At least that's what I implied with the text. I was really trying to like the main characters but they are so unlikeable and so unreal. Clio was so unlikeable, she used her looks to hook up with pretty much any guy she thought was somewhat hot. And then she's already planning on have sex with Andre/Luc on the first date. As for Thais, she was somewhat likeable until she had sex with Luc/Andre after the 3rd or 4th time of seeing him. Honestly, if the author would have had the twins find out before one had sex with him, I would have at least said this book was okay.
As for the overall book. It was slow and boring. It took over 100 pages just for the twins to meet. If I would have picked up this book seperately from the other books, there is NO WAY I would have picked up the second book. I'm so glad that I bought this whole series for only $8, and didn't pay for each individual volume. It was painfully boring, and I was anti-everyone in this book. The only ones I trusted, Thais and Clio, were only trusted because you could hear what was going on in their head. I thought Luc and Andre were brother witches wh were just using them for sex. And if Luc/Andre ends up with either of the twins, I will only give this series a two at most. I honestly cannot of one thing I actually liked about this book. I only picked it up because I thought it was about magic! Turns out it's just about a cheating guy, twin main characters that are just so unlikeable, and a bunch of nonsense that added nothing to this book.
Really, I wish that there wasn't three more books. I won't be picking up this book again till this weekend, I have two tests and five quizzes this week that I know of, one test and one quiz tomorrow. I've got to start studying.
BOOK 2: A Circle of Ashes (Finished: 1/5 stars)
Wow, this author really doesn't want to do anything for herself. After two weeks or so of not even thinking about this book, I find it in my purse and was like, oh yeah, THAT book. So I pick it up and trudge through mud, no, it was A LOT thicker than mud. All it was was two twins mulling over the same guy Luc, who'd cheated on them both with the other twin, and they're still crushing him. To make matters work, this "author" actually has the nerve to make him seem like a good guy, like he's really sorry about cheating on them, oh and then brings up that he has to get one of them to love him if there plan is to work. Gosh, this author is the absolute worse. And if either of those twins ends up with him in the end, I will NEVER forgive this author. Not that I can ever forgive her for this mess she calls a book. Seriously, Balefire has to be the worse book I have ever read. I feel like the muck she calls a book can't get much worse, but every time she proves me wrong. She makes it worse and worse. And to top it all off, she keeps repeating herself over and over again. She wasted over 60 pages repeating the book over and over again, seriously, I'm currently reading this book, I don't need it to repeat again. It's not even from the first book, not that they don't repeat that too. I forgive that since they were originally sold seperate, but I felt like I read the second book twice. I honestly don't know if I'll trudge through the rest, I don't think I could. And there's the problem of nobody making decisions. Luke has to get one of the twins to like him, Clio and Thais have to decide whether they want to become immortal (and they don't even think about it once in this book, maybe once or twice), and nothing seems to get them any closer to anything. At least we found out that Thais's element is water. One problem solved, a millon more to go. The way these books move though, I doubt even half of mine will get answered. I might trudge through this during the summer, but I'm not reading another page until then. (It only took me two days to read this book though, because I was stuck in an office waiting for an hour yesterday, then I trudged through the rest in between shoveling snow today.)
Oh, and the only one I trust at this point is Thais, because Clio is almost out to get her because of Luc. I have to say I would NEVER EVER pick up the third or fourth book if it wasn't for the fact that all four books are in this one. I don't know how anyone could stand this series. The most this book could get from me, and that's if it's absolutely amazing for the last two books, is a 2/5 stars. Maybe 3 if they absolutely deserve a 5, doubt it though.
BOOK 3: A Feather of Stone (Finished: 0/5 stars)
I can't believe I'm still reading....
Wow, this author really is misleading, I though Thais had had sex with him, because she ended that chapter saying their legs were intertwined and that she was all his, but now Thais says on page 581 that she's never made it to third base? What? Now I'm just lost....
So, I've been FORCING myself to read 10-20 pages a day, sometimes more if I was absolutely bored. Sadly, this author really just doesn't know how to write a good story. I will NEVER read another book by her. All of her characters are lacking in depth, the storyline no longer makes any sense (not because I don't understand it, but the characters just go along with it), and the many different point of views just makes it even more confusing. Why couldn't she just pick one? Like third person since she has so many undeveloped characters?
Now really, did she really believe readers would like these two dumb twins. I mean, that have to be dumb if they are crushing on one guy who cheated on them at the same time with the other twin. Or a guy who tried to KILL them? What kind of person actually writes about guys like this and then says they on "your" side, the "good" side. Bull crap! This storyline is crap. I want to go change my shelves so that the original four books are there, that way I can give every single one of them a one, and I haven't even started reading the fourth one yet. And seriously, who would make characters that the reader is literally rooting for them to die. I say darn every time they survive! Whoever is the murderer is a horrible one. They don't know how to kill them right. You here me Richard, you should have killed one of them off 725 pages ago.(For those keeping track, I'm on page 725.) Do your job Richard! (now that's kind of mean) I have no respect for either twin anymore, they allow guys to trek all over them, at least Thais is going out with Kevin. Poor, poor Kevin, having to date an idiot.
Now, things I just can't believe:
1. Kevin dating Thais 2. Thais and Clio still drooling over Luc 3. Clio drooling over Richard, her killer 3. Thais helping a rite that was put together by killing her father 4. Luc having a heart at all 5. Richard having a heart of all 6. Everyone of the triez actually going along with the rite 7. No one has figured out that someone has to die in order for the rite to work? Seriously? Seriously! Are you all that stupid! Obviously the author has no respect for her characters for making them that dumb. 8. Richard, you made out with your great (etc.) granddaughter, sick! And SO MANY others!
Now things that I hate about all the guys in this book:
1. They are actually considered caring guys by this author, really? 2. They physically harm the girls (i.e. Richard/Clio) 3. They are cheaters (Luc/Andre?) 4. The perfect couple is a great(etc.) grandfather and his great(etc.) granddaughter. (i.e. Richard/Clio) 5. Guys are "great" if they try to get you pregnant (i.e. Luc/Clio) 6. Or if they put spells on you (Luc/Clio) 7. Guys helping a girl cheat on them, I'm still trying to figure that one out? (Marcel/Richard/Cerise)8. A guy comparing you to another just really makes you lust after them, yeah right! (Richard/Cerise/Clio)
Now the things I just find out-right degrading!
1. That the author actually believes teen girls act like this! 2. That she believes we'd allow ourselves to so far down-graded by guys! 3. That she'd think we'd actually relate to these characters!
I honestly wish I could return this horrible "book". I'm going to try to sell this or trade it in at a nearby book store. Anything is better than this though. I feel like I just tracked through that horrible kind of mud. You know, the one that sucks your shoe off, so you try and get it back out, but then you try and get it out and your foot gets stuck. And I'm not talking once or twice, throughout the whole storm and this book is the storm and I'm trying to get my feet out of the mud.
BOOK 4: A Necklace of Water (0/5 Stars)
Taking a break, I need time to get over that last book's horrible!
I admit, the last one hundred pages I was skim reading because I couldn't stand reading another book by this author. I will never read another book by Cate Tiernan. Any author who would allow their main character to fall in love with the guy that tried to kill them is just unethical, and then the other main character falls in love with the guy who cheated on her with her sister. Seriously? Do you have no respect for your characters? And what about ethics and the teens that will be reading these? What will they think of your ethics? Hopefully not agree with them.
These books were absolutely horrid, and I wish I could give them a half star. But I'm forced to give them a whole one star! And the only reason I'm giving it that is so that I can bring down this book's score. I can understand why this book is in a bind up, because no one would buy each individual book.
Every time I said this book couldn't get worse, it did. It just kept getting worse and worse and worse. This is the worst set of books I've ever read, and it also has the worst ethics. This is my new most hated book, and it should be proud of itself, it just beat 13 Days to Midnight in that contest!
My only advice:
DO NOT READ THESE BOOKS!
(BTW: I'll give individual star ratings for each book, then decide a star review overall once I'm completely finished.)
BOOK 1: A Chalice of Wind (Finished: 1/5 Stars)
I just finished reading book one and all I have to say is: I HATE THIS SERIES! I really, really don't like this book! I would have at least thought it was okay if it were not for the fact that Thais had sex with Luc or Andre (whichever you want to call him). At least that's what I implied with the text. I was really trying to like the main characters but they are so unlikeable and so unreal. Clio was so unlikeable, she used her looks to hook up with pretty much any guy she thought was somewhat hot. And then she's already planning on have sex with Andre/Luc on the first date. As for Thais, she was somewhat likeable until she had sex with Luc/Andre after the 3rd or 4th time of seeing him. Honestly, if the author would have had the twins find out before one had sex with him, I would have at least said this book was okay.
As for the overall book. It was slow and boring. It took over 100 pages just for the twins to meet. If I would have picked up this book seperately from the other books, there is NO WAY I would have picked up the second book. I'm so glad that I bought this whole series for only $8, and didn't pay for each individual volume. It was painfully boring, and I was anti-everyone in this book. The only ones I trusted, Thais and Clio, were only trusted because you could hear what was going on in their head. I thought Luc and Andre were brother witches wh were just using them for sex. And if Luc/Andre ends up with either of the twins, I will only give this series a two at most. I honestly cannot of one thing I actually liked about this book. I only picked it up because I thought it was about magic! Turns out it's just about a cheating guy, twin main characters that are just so unlikeable, and a bunch of nonsense that added nothing to this book.
Really, I wish that there wasn't three more books. I won't be picking up this book again till this weekend, I have two tests and five quizzes this week that I know of, one test and one quiz tomorrow. I've got to start studying.
BOOK 2: A Circle of Ashes (Finished: 1/5 stars)
Wow, this author really doesn't want to do anything for herself. After two weeks or so of not even thinking about this book, I find it in my purse and was like, oh yeah, THAT book. So I pick it up and trudge through mud, no, it was A LOT thicker than mud. All it was was two twins mulling over the same guy Luc, who'd cheated on them both with the other twin, and they're still crushing him. To make matters work, this "author" actually has the nerve to make him seem like a good guy, like he's really sorry about cheating on them, oh and then brings up that he has to get one of them to love him if there plan is to work. Gosh, this author is the absolute worse. And if either of those twins ends up with him in the end, I will NEVER forgive this author. Not that I can ever forgive her for this mess she calls a book. Seriously, Balefire has to be the worse book I have ever read. I feel like the muck she calls a book can't get much worse, but every time she proves me wrong. She makes it worse and worse. And to top it all off, she keeps repeating herself over and over again. She wasted over 60 pages repeating the book over and over again, seriously, I'm currently reading this book, I don't need it to repeat again. It's not even from the first book, not that they don't repeat that too. I forgive that since they were originally sold seperate, but I felt like I read the second book twice. I honestly don't know if I'll trudge through the rest, I don't think I could. And there's the problem of nobody making decisions. Luke has to get one of the twins to like him, Clio and Thais have to decide whether they want to become immortal (and they don't even think about it once in this book, maybe once or twice), and nothing seems to get them any closer to anything. At least we found out that Thais's element is water. One problem solved, a millon more to go. The way these books move though, I doubt even half of mine will get answered. I might trudge through this during the summer, but I'm not reading another page until then. (It only took me two days to read this book though, because I was stuck in an office waiting for an hour yesterday, then I trudged through the rest in between shoveling snow today.)
Oh, and the only one I trust at this point is Thais, because Clio is almost out to get her because of Luc. I have to say I would NEVER EVER pick up the third or fourth book if it wasn't for the fact that all four books are in this one. I don't know how anyone could stand this series. The most this book could get from me, and that's if it's absolutely amazing for the last two books, is a 2/5 stars. Maybe 3 if they absolutely deserve a 5, doubt it though.
BOOK 3: A Feather of Stone (Finished: 0/5 stars)
I can't believe I'm still reading....
Wow, this author really is misleading, I though Thais had had sex with him, because she ended that chapter saying their legs were intertwined and that she was all his, but now Thais says on page 581 that she's never made it to third base? What? Now I'm just lost....
So, I've been FORCING myself to read 10-20 pages a day, sometimes more if I was absolutely bored. Sadly, this author really just doesn't know how to write a good story. I will NEVER read another book by her. All of her characters are lacking in depth, the storyline no longer makes any sense (not because I don't understand it, but the characters just go along with it), and the many different point of views just makes it even more confusing. Why couldn't she just pick one? Like third person since she has so many undeveloped characters?
Now really, did she really believe readers would like these two dumb twins. I mean, that have to be dumb if they are crushing on one guy who cheated on them at the same time with the other twin. Or a guy who tried to KILL them? What kind of person actually writes about guys like this and then says they on "your" side, the "good" side. Bull crap! This storyline is crap. I want to go change my shelves so that the original four books are there, that way I can give every single one of them a one, and I haven't even started reading the fourth one yet. And seriously, who would make characters that the reader is literally rooting for them to die. I say darn every time they survive! Whoever is the murderer is a horrible one. They don't know how to kill them right. You here me Richard, you should have killed one of them off 725 pages ago.(For those keeping track, I'm on page 725.) Do your job Richard! (now that's kind of mean) I have no respect for either twin anymore, they allow guys to trek all over them, at least Thais is going out with Kevin. Poor, poor Kevin, having to date an idiot.
Now, things I just can't believe:
1. Kevin dating Thais 2. Thais and Clio still drooling over Luc 3. Clio drooling over Richard, her killer 3. Thais helping a rite that was put together by killing her father 4. Luc having a heart at all 5. Richard having a heart of all 6. Everyone of the triez actually going along with the rite 7. No one has figured out that someone has to die in order for the rite to work? Seriously? Seriously! Are you all that stupid! Obviously the author has no respect for her characters for making them that dumb. 8. Richard, you made out with your great (etc.) granddaughter, sick! And SO MANY others!
Now things that I hate about all the guys in this book:
1. They are actually considered caring guys by this author, really? 2. They physically harm the girls (i.e. Richard/Clio) 3. They are cheaters (Luc/Andre?) 4. The perfect couple is a great(etc.) grandfather and his great(etc.) granddaughter. (i.e. Richard/Clio) 5. Guys are "great" if they try to get you pregnant (i.e. Luc/Clio) 6. Or if they put spells on you (Luc/Clio) 7. Guys helping a girl cheat on them, I'm still trying to figure that one out? (Marcel/Richard/Cerise)8. A guy comparing you to another just really makes you lust after them, yeah right! (Richard/Cerise/Clio)
Now the things I just find out-right degrading!
1. That the author actually believes teen girls act like this! 2. That she believes we'd allow ourselves to so far down-graded by guys! 3. That she'd think we'd actually relate to these characters!
I honestly wish I could return this horrible "book". I'm going to try to sell this or trade it in at a nearby book store. Anything is better than this though. I feel like I just tracked through that horrible kind of mud. You know, the one that sucks your shoe off, so you try and get it back out, but then you try and get it out and your foot gets stuck. And I'm not talking once or twice, throughout the whole storm and this book is the storm and I'm trying to get my feet out of the mud.
BOOK 4: A Necklace of Water (0/5 Stars)
Taking a break, I need time to get over that last book's horrible!
I admit, the last one hundred pages I was skim reading because I couldn't stand reading another book by this author. I will never read another book by Cate Tiernan. Any author who would allow their main character to fall in love with the guy that tried to kill them is just unethical, and then the other main character falls in love with the guy who cheated on her with her sister. Seriously? Do you have no respect for your characters? And what about ethics and the teens that will be reading these? What will they think of your ethics? Hopefully not agree with them.
These books were absolutely horrid, and I wish I could give them a half star. But I'm forced to give them a whole one star! And the only reason I'm giving it that is so that I can bring down this book's score. I can understand why this book is in a bind up, because no one would buy each individual book.
Every time I said this book couldn't get worse, it did. It just kept getting worse and worse and worse. This is the worst set of books I've ever read, and it also has the worst ethics. This is my new most hated book, and it should be proud of itself, it just beat 13 Days to Midnight in that contest!
My only advice:
DO NOT READ THESE BOOKS!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2017
Goodness I'm so glad that I've finally finished this book I've been picking up and putting down this book since last month and omgggg it was possibly the worst book I've read.
It was so childish and annoying 50% I was annoyed with thais the other 50% I was annoyed with Clio and the whole situation and the long dragged out plot and everyone realizing or not realizing what was going on and what happened in the past honestly it was like a really trashy tv series (I like those even better ) where everyone loves or lusts after one another but hates each other secretly and will back stab each other the second they can.
Don't even get me started on the romance it was just gross and frankly made me actually like love triangles in any other book compared to this one. I'm sorry but I cannot appreciate the fact that the love triangle was different in this book. I cannot. Nope I don't care for luc, I don't care for the way the girls act bc of him. (Honestly tho this was more of a love square ?? Maybe even worse then that )
I hated myself for not letting myself or even being able to DNF this because it was honestly so hard and I've been enjoying everything else I was reading and I really wanted to never to return to it but for some odd reason I cannot DNF books and in some cases it sucks.
Really dragged out this series to 4 books for nothing really to happen in books 2 and 3 that could've happened in book 1 or even made book 4 into just a sequel and put everything all together. *shrugs and rolls eyes*
Sad to say I really hated this book because I really loved immortal beloved when I read it in highschool, maybe I would've like this series then but I kinda doubt it.
Well on to better books now. Hopefully I would be rolling my eyes for a while now that I've finished this.
It was so childish and annoying 50% I was annoyed with thais the other 50% I was annoyed with Clio and the whole situation and the long dragged out plot and everyone realizing or not realizing what was going on and what happened in the past honestly it was like a really trashy tv series (I like those even better ) where everyone loves or lusts after one another but hates each other secretly and will back stab each other the second they can.
Don't even get me started on the romance it was just gross and frankly made me actually like love triangles in any other book compared to this one. I'm sorry but I cannot appreciate the fact that the love triangle was different in this book. I cannot. Nope I don't care for luc, I don't care for the way the girls act bc of him. (Honestly tho this was more of a love square ?? Maybe even worse then that )
I hated myself for not letting myself or even being able to DNF this because it was honestly so hard and I've been enjoying everything else I was reading and I really wanted to never to return to it but for some odd reason I cannot DNF books and in some cases it sucks.
Really dragged out this series to 4 books for nothing really to happen in books 2 and 3 that could've happened in book 1 or even made book 4 into just a sequel and put everything all together. *shrugs and rolls eyes*
Sad to say I really hated this book because I really loved immortal beloved when I read it in highschool, maybe I would've like this series then but I kinda doubt it.
Well on to better books now. Hopefully I would be rolling my eyes for a while now that I've finished this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2018
It's an average series, you have the paranormal in the form of witches, a number of love triangles, almost everyone is involved in someone else's triangle. The biggest problem is it just ends. You finally get the scene with the big bad and there are 25 pages left in the series. 25 pages to have the battle with the big bad, explain everything, wrap up a who done it mystery, and resolve the love triangles. It doesn't happen. Undetailed spoiler ahead, but really not much of a spoiler unless you've never read this type of series and have no idea how these things play out. Still, generalized spoiler ahead. You get the shortest show down of the entire series, they just say eh we dont know to the mystery, what come up pence?, and most of the love triangles aren't addressed and for the ones that are they literally go from I hated you to oh wait you are my soul mate with zero development. It's basically like when a student has a time limit on an essay and realizes they only have two minutes left so they just start listing everything rather than describing it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.