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Mar 02, 2011

Jennifer rated it:

A few weeks back, I checked this book out of the library for a re-read, having initially read “The Burning Times” nearly a year ago.

I hadn’t expected to get hooked when I first picked up “The Burning Times,” but let’s just say that I didn’t get much accomplished that particular weekend other than reading this novel straight through. I had thought I would be reading a fairly mundane story about the inquisition and medieval witch burnings, and I was happily caught off-guard by Kalogridis More...

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Jan 27, 2011

Alex rated it:

From Jeanne Kalogridis, author of the Vlad the Impaler trilogy, comes a novel of medieval France, Burning Time. In this book many issues come to play: pagan ritual, magic, the Black Death, as well as an appearance from Edward the Black Prince during the Hundred Years War.

Sybille is one of the Race, an embodiment of the pagan goddess Diana, who came into existence years before God, ad the two beliefs that exist in a world fighting for the belief in only one of them. Sybille has now be More...

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Aug 08, 2011

Elaine rated it:

This haas to be one of the most stunning books I have ever read-indeed, I wouldn't be surprised if it were my favourite read of this year.Set in the years of the Inquisition, the plague, and the persecution of the Cathars,it offers a real rollercoaster ride. The main protagonists are riveting in their accessibilty, and Sybille's story is overpowering in it's beauty. Simultaneously she appears saintlike, yet so representative of "normal" mankind, that she could be a friend or neighbour More...

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Aug 06, 2009

Tabatha rated it:

This book begins deceptively simply. It is an alluring enough story, quickly involving you in the tale of Sybille, a seemingly average woman with a fantastic destiny. It involves many familiar historical concepts such as serfdom and accusations of witchcraft and heresy. Then, about three-quarters of the way through, this story erupts into a much larger tale. It's like peering through a peephole and then opening the door. This is where Kalogridis shines with both intrigue and human fallacies. In More...

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Jan 06, 2009

Brooke rated it:

I think I would give it 3 1/2 stars just for the first half of the story. I liked I Mona Lisa more, but the storyline of this was intriguing if a bit mystical and scattered. I have always been interested in stories of the witches beliefs and pagan goddess worship. It was kind of interesting how she tied in Christianity, judaism, and the goddess worship. I think that this one had promising parts, it just wasn't the greatest writing. It ended weakly and I have to say it was only an okay read More...

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Apr 02, 2008

Lauren rated it:

I picked this novel up after I finished The Borgia Bride. I LOVED the Borgia Bride and I enjoyed I, Mona Lisa. I thought this book would be of a similar genre, but about medieval France instead of Rennaissance Italy. I was also interested in the inquisition period and the Babylonian Captivity (Avignon papacy). I had read reviews on Amazon that the book was a bit strange, but I was not prepared for how strange it was. I was prepared to suspend belief - after all, I enjoy the magical realism genre More...

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Oct 14, 2008

Elizabethesaurus rated it:

I truly enjoyed this book. I read it a long time ago, and recently remembered fragments of the plot and wanted to read it again. It took me a while to figure out what book it was so I could take it out of the library again, but I was glad I did. There were definitely times when it wasn't quite as well written as it could be, so there was some confusion, but I thought the plot was involving enough to make up for that a bit. It's one of the only novels I've found about pagan/goddess religions, More...

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Nov 17, 2010

Julie rated it:

As a historical fiction fan, I thought this book was right up my alley. However, Kalogridis' writing leaves much to be desired. She must have written with a thesaurus by her side because she unnecessarily replaces adjectives with the largest words she can find. The over-use of words like "ere" and "naught," combined with the overabundance of pronouns like "Evil" and "Race" bog down the narrative.

The magic instilled by the Goddess of the story More...

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Feb 17, 2009

puddlescript rated it:

I've really enjoyed all of Kalogris's books and this was no exception. However, it is my least favorite. The storyline is intrigiung and I like the characters, but there are parts that just were poorly written. Having been so impressed with her writing in her other books, I can't help but wonder if she really gave this one her all. Like some other reviewers stated, the writing is a bit lazy at times. But otherwise, it is a good read and it went really fast.

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Nov 15, 2011

Janet rated it:

I gave this book two stars not because it is poorly written, but because of my disappointment. It wasn't at all what I expected. I picked it up thinking I’d find a fictionalized account of the witch trials. And until about halfway through, I was right. Then it did a complete 180 and zoomed off into the realm of high fantasy. The ending practically begs for a sequel…but if one appears I won’t be reading it.

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Jul 02, 2010

Amy rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Dec 01, 2010

Linda rated it:

This was basically a fantasy novel, which was not what I expected as I thought it was going to be historical fiction. A good fantasy should take the reader to another world, a place of imagination. This story mixed fantasy with real history in a very confusing jumble that just didn't work. In addition it was just plain boring. Not recommended.

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Sep 02, 2009

Mikel rated it:

I know this a book about pageanism and I'm a Christian but the message of faith in this novel really inspired me. I beleive it's made me a better Christian.

Warning: there is some graphic content at the very beginning that almost turned me off to the book. You can just jump it without jepordizing the story line if you like.

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May 04, 2010

Aradia rated it:

Clear your calendar, lock the doors and turn off your phone. Once you open this book you will be incapable of putting it down.

Of course- I read this when I was 16 years old and perchance I read it now I might be disgusted with it. Keep in mind that it is fiction! Suspension of disbelief is important.

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Sep 17, 2010

Carolina rated it:

The best historical novel of inquisition and sorcery that I've read. I love the story, the characters, and the prose. Awesome. It's a shame that her books not arrive to Chile. Definitely. But I want more about it, about inquisition, about pagan gods and monks with the need to investigate further.

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Oct 21, 2008

Jessica rated it:

First book I've read by this author. Most likely the last as well, although based on other reviews here, readers are saying this is not her best. I hoped for more. It was enough of a page turner to finish, but in the end it felt rushed, and there was definitely some laziness throughout, which is sometimes easy to find in the genres of magic and science fiction writing, as it is easier to get away with certain things because some suspension of disbelief is necessary for reading it in the first More...

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Jul 26, 2011

Candace rated it:

I wish I had of liked this book more. It was about the persecution of witches by the church, with some fantasy thrown in (something I should love) I nearly put it down once, but decided to persevere. I don't know why, but I couldn't love it.

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Feb 26, 2010

Shelley rated it:

This book was a page turner and I did enjoy it, up until the ending. The book got a bit confusing and I felt the story line went in a different direction then I was thinking it would. So I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I'm glad I read it because it was interesting but not one I would read again.

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Sep 14, 2009

Shannon rated it:

I'm all for books that present an alternative view of history, religion, etc. But I swear, if I read the words "my beloved" in a sentence together again, I might scream. I feel like this book and others that present the view of religion that is Goddess worship, women seem to be less powerful and more whiny. I thought this was about empowering women.

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Dec 05, 2011

Amy rated it:

Was really really good at first right until about half way when it started making no sense and veering off into a storyline that didn't make much sense - pity because it had potential.

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Oct 06, 2010

Rachel rated it:

Good book that keeps you guessing as an abbess accused of witchcraft tells her story to the scribe of a leader of the inquisition. Good feel for the time period.

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Jan 27, 2011

Lori rated it:

Have read most of Kalogridis's books and I have to say this wasn't my favorite!!! Was confusing when it went into all the magical visions... but the strong ending made the book a 4 star!!!

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Mar 20, 2011

chucklesthescot rated it:

Sybille was the secrets of magic and paganism by her grandmother. As times change, her kind of people are being arrested and she tells her amazing life story to the man who has to decide if she is a witch or not and will ultimately be deciding whether she lives or dies.

This was a surprisingly good as I don't normally read this kind of book. Sybille was a character who used her power to help ordinary people so you were sympathetic to what was happening to her. You are caught up in her l More...

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Jan 19, 2011

Emma rated it:

Jeanne Kalogridis has an unusual knack for describing the grotesque – she paints imagery that you can pretty much touch and smell – it’s incredibly rich and visual..at times I felt faint reading descriptions of death, eyes dislodged from sockets, war and obviously people being burned at the stake...it was like you were right there witnessing the horror....Don't let this put you off reading it though...as it’s an amazing book and full of magic and mystery (and gore galore)...

Very sad More...

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Jul 02, 2010

Sarah rated it:

It could have gone either way, but the ending fit really well with the story I thought so I have to say I thought this was an enjoyable read.

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Sep 21, 2010

Lady of the Lake rated it:

It's books like this that make me wish we could add half a star to our rating... I'd go with a 3.5.

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Feb 12, 2011

The Reading Cove rated it:

30th: THE BURNING TIMES - Jeanne Kalogridis
Trivia Winner- Connie

~COVE OPINION: C, Okay story

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Aug 12, 2010

Karen rated it:

While I didn't think this was a good as the previous books I have read by this author I still found it fairly gripping.
I really wanted to know if Michel would help the Abbess and if she would escape being burnt at the stake.

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Aug 20, 2010

Candis rated it:

I was disappointed having read I, Mona Lisa first. This is not the same caliber.

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Dec 16, 2008

Julie rated it:

interesting book. historical fiction

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