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soarintotaylor's review against another edition
I was a little disappointed with the ending, but it was overall a good book.
aelvargas's review against another edition
3.0
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.
alouminumfalcon's review
2.0
I finally read this series after loving the Sweep series growing up and I'm disappointed with it. At times it felt fantastic but more often it felt very much like I was being told there were plots around rather than being shown them. The end of the series comes about very quickly and quite Deus ex machina without any real satisfaction. I devoured the four books in three days partly because of their blistering pace which is at times good but also means, as I've seen other reviews comment, that we have two heroines fall in love at first sight which leaves the reader with whiplash. There's nothing satisfying about the relationships because there's no time to develop them as the whole series seems to take place in the space of two weeks. It's a shame because the premise is interesting but the character motives are so hollow. I don't really believe that the girls would have done what they did in the final book nor am I clear on the conclusion.
ceuran's review
4.0
Let me tell you this flat-out right now. If you base this series off of the first book, you will never like it. The first book pretty much just felt like an outline so you could get a feel for all of the characters and the world that they lived in.
But read past the first book... And are you ever in for a ride. While the romance in this book was definitely annoying at times, I really liked this onimbus. The Balefire series works so much better as a bind up than four separate books. The story flows so effortlessly from novel to novel.
But it's the romance and the slowness of the first book that's keeping me from rating this a full 5/5 stars.
But read past the first book... And are you ever in for a ride. While the romance in this book was definitely annoying at times, I really liked this onimbus. The Balefire series works so much better as a bind up than four separate books. The story flows so effortlessly from novel to novel.
But it's the romance and the slowness of the first book that's keeping me from rating this a full 5/5 stars.
ariellynne's review against another edition
5.0
Love this book. Has magic, mystery, twins, coming of age, and just a bit of romance.
sigo's review against another edition
3.0
I loved all of Cate Tiernan's other books, so I was really looking forward to reading this series, but I found that this one was not as interesting as her other series. The pace was really slow and I felt that there was too much build-up and suspense and not enough actual action. The ending felt rushed and didn't properly wrap up the storyline. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book. I liked Tiernan's characters and the details that she included about New Orleans. Overall, a good series to read if you want an easy, interesting read.
erika_briggs's review
3.0
This is a good book about twins who were separated at birth and got united by a mere slight of fates and...NO. Unfortunately that is not the case. Yes twins were separated at birth and were united, but not because of anything chanceful.
Thais* and Clio are sisters. And witches. Clio is a popular girl in her school in New Orleans. Thais is a non-so-popular girl from the boonies. Her- their- dad has just died. Thais is thrown into a world of supernatural adventure and peril. And NO again. Yes she is thrown into peril and the supernatural world, but it's hardly an adventure. It's a life and death situation and things like that are never adventurous....although I suppose that depends on what you think would be adventurous.
Balefire is really good, but could be a little less cliché and touché. Clio is a let's-party--until-we-can't-stand girl, and Thais is a let's-clean-up-the-party-before-Nan-gets-home-girl. It's the end of a cycle and the beginning of a cycle, it's a wheel that can't stop spinning and it's a death story that can't seem to end. Who wants to die?
Thais* and Clio are sisters. And witches. Clio is a popular girl in her school in New Orleans. Thais is a non-so-popular girl from the boonies. Her- their- dad has just died. Thais is thrown into a world of supernatural adventure and peril. And NO again. Yes she is thrown into peril and the supernatural world, but it's hardly an adventure. It's a life and death situation and things like that are never adventurous....although I suppose that depends on what you think would be adventurous.
Balefire is really good, but could be a little less cliché and touché. Clio is a let's-party--until-we-can't-stand girl, and Thais is a let's-clean-up-the-party-before-Nan-gets-home-girl. It's the end of a cycle and the beginning of a cycle, it's a wheel that can't stop spinning and it's a death story that can't seem to end. Who wants to die?
kittenlebon's review
5.0
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 !
pegahe's review
5.0
Balefire was really an incredible read. It was exactly the kind of book (or series) I had been pining to read and I finished it quickly.
This was the kind of book that once I started, I couldn't stop. I'd say "I'll just read this chapter" and 200 pages later I'd finally stop. The kind of book that just gripped me and made me forget of everything except itself. A real page turner, it was. There was always something happening and I loved the mystery and suspense. The storyline was interesting and complicated. I devoured this book.
What I liked best were the characters. I related so strongly and I loved them all so much. The book was written in alternating point of views so we got to see a little bit of everyone. There was a huge cast of characters from the Treize to Clio's friends and almost every person was unique in their way with a backstory. Almost because there wasn't enough time for everyone to shine. I got attached to these characters who were both good and bad and made surprising choices. Richard and Claire along with the twins were among my favorites. It was fun to read of everyone's relationships.
The magic was very good too! Based on the few other books I've read by the author, Cate Tiernan knows her magic. She made Bonne Magie believable. The magic was complicated and interesting. I loved that the magic had consequences that were scary. Magic wasn't portrayed as something awesome you can always use. It was something awesome that should be used wisely.
My only complaint is that the ending left some loose threads that are pretty much going to drive me crazy. I wouldn't object to another book to close things off even more. Or even a short story. I just want more. ;)
If you love witches and magic, with romance, darkness and danger you'll love Balefire. 4.5 stars,
**** & 1/2 *
This was the kind of book that once I started, I couldn't stop. I'd say "I'll just read this chapter" and 200 pages later I'd finally stop. The kind of book that just gripped me and made me forget of everything except itself. A real page turner, it was. There was always something happening and I loved the mystery and suspense. The storyline was interesting and complicated. I devoured this book.
What I liked best were the characters. I related so strongly and I loved them all so much. The book was written in alternating point of views so we got to see a little bit of everyone. There was a huge cast of characters from the Treize to Clio's friends and almost every person was unique in their way with a backstory. Almost because there wasn't enough time for everyone to shine. I got attached to these characters who were both good and bad and made surprising choices. Richard and Claire along with the twins were among my favorites. It was fun to read of everyone's relationships.
The magic was very good too! Based on the few other books I've read by the author, Cate Tiernan knows her magic. She made Bonne Magie believable. The magic was complicated and interesting. I loved that the magic had consequences that were scary. Magic wasn't portrayed as something awesome you can always use. It was something awesome that should be used wisely.
My only complaint is that the ending left some loose threads that are pretty much going to drive me crazy. I wouldn't object to another book to close things off even more. Or even a short story. I just want more. ;)
If you love witches and magic, with romance, darkness and danger you'll love Balefire. 4.5 stars,
**** & 1/2 *
acuriousreaderr's review
4.0
So aside from that even though all 4 books are small combine it is one huge book that took me awhile to read. The first book I didn't like so much. It was slow and just overall a tad bit confusing. The second one I felt the same about. It was an okay book but I didn't like it alot. The third book I really did like. It had alot of suspense and it was my 2nd favorite out of all of them. The fourth one I liked the most. It had the most surprises and suspense. This book shocked me alot. There was alot of twists and turns. In the beginning of the fourth one it was a bit slow but it sped up alot once it was wrapping up.