Sign in with Facebook
70th out of 363 books
—
233 voters
Balefire (Balefire #1-4)
by
Cate Tiernan
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 w...more
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 w...more
Paperback, 974 pages
Published
December 16th 2010
by Speak
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
My love for Cate Tiernan's Immortal Beloved 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 Balefire 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 descripti...more
view all 6 comments
Brilliant.
Cate Tiernan is one of my favourite favourite authors. Her books are amazing!
Cate Tiernan is one of my favourite favourite authors. Her books are amazing!
The secondary characters are beautifully written and fully realized. Some are static; others develop brilliantly. The primary characters are generic teens, one the headstrong popular girl and the other the quiet and well mannered, but they each have a clear POV and add to the overall narrative. The love story is drivel, seemingly shoved in either to meet the demands of a teen lit editor or to advance the plot which seems to have slipped out of the author's control so badly I wondered if her edit...more
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 w...more
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 w...more
I think I like Balefire more than any other books of Cate Tiernan, 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 Little Women, and it's obsessive dislike of individuality). Thais doesn't have th...more
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 Little Women, and it's obsessive dislike of individuality). Thais doesn't have th...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
So, as I’m sure you can tell from my glowing review of Immortal Beloved, 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...more
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...more
So, as I’m sure you can tell from my glowing review of Immortal Beloved, 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...more
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...more
From the Witchy Books Network 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...more
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...more
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, choice...more
This one is one about choices. Choices, choice...more
Here's what I got.
I forgot that writers used to publish books several years ago without major cliffhangers and no resolution from book to book in a series. Because this was published in 2005 it was totally like that and for the most part, I liked it. I wish they still did that, but I can honestly say I probably wouldn't have bought the second book in the series if they had not all been in the book I purchased. The first book was pretty boring. It felt like not much happened and I wasn't pulled...more
I forgot that writers used to publish books several years ago without major cliffhangers and no resolution from book to book in a series. Because this was published in 2005 it was totally like that and for the most part, I liked it. I wish they still did that, but I can honestly say I probably wouldn't have bought the second book in the series if they had not all been in the book I purchased. The first book was pretty boring. It felt like not much happened and I wasn't pulled...more
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 was...more
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...more
The Balefire bind-up contains all four books of the Balefire series: A Chalice of Wind, A Circle of Ashes, A Feather of Stone and A Necklace of Water. I'm really glad I'd picked up the entire volume rather than individual books, I think I would have gotten bored after book two and wouldn't have the proper incentive to continue. The basic plot was the same throughout all four books, so I barely noticed when one book ended and another began, I just pretended it was one very long book.
The plot was...more
The plot was...more
Apr 14, 2011
Nina
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who like Cate Tiernans writing, witchcraft
Balefire is all 4 books in the series combined into one. Cate Tiernan has done it again and written a wonderful series of books. Although not AS amazing as the Sweep series, these books were still very good.
Thais and Clio were separated at birth. But, when Thais dad is killed in a freak accident she goes to live with a distant "friend" of her fathers, Axelle, who she has never even met in her entire life in New Orleans. When she starts school her and Clio discover that they are twins. Once they...more
Thais and Clio were separated at birth. But, when Thais dad is killed in a freak accident she goes to live with a distant "friend" of her fathers, Axelle, who she has never even met in her entire life in New Orleans. When she starts school her and Clio discover that they are twins. Once they...more
This is about a girl named Thais Allard. After she loses her father who dies in a car accident, she is later forced to live with someone in New Orleans, with someone who she doesn't even know. In New Orleans she finds things to be really weird, and she finds out a lot of secrets, but then one day she finds something that she never expected, her twin Clio.
After Thais and Clio get closer they find out that they come from a family of witches and they have magical powers and they are part of Balefir...more
After Thais and Clio get closer they find out that they come from a family of witches and they have magical powers and they are part of Balefir...more
You know that saying about how you know you've finished a good book when you feel like you've lost a child. I don't really know what losing a child feels like (eww, kids) but I know this came pretty darn close. Luc and Richard were amazing. Come on they were hot guys AND they had French accents. YUMMY! I'd start a twin-like threesome with them except I'm tied up with my current husbands Voldemort and Harry Potter in the UK. This book was so much fun. The entire time I couldn't put it down becaus...more
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...more
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...more
I have read the whole sweep series before I picked up this book. I would have to say The Balefire series is my favorite. It has everything a great story should have. Love, Light, Dark, Mystery, Twists, Deception. This was an awesome read. I don't want to go into details, because I feel that is what makes stories worth reading. But this is definatly a great book. I think anyone who likes the teen drama, wiccan tales will just love this book. I bought it for my best friend, and she said and I quot...more
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 t...more
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 t...more
They say you can't judge a book by it's cover. That, fellow GoodReads members, is so true. When I first got the book, I looked at the cover and didn't think it would be very interesting of a read. Then, I got into the book and realized that I was totally wrong! The book is really cool, and inspiringly mysterious. If you like books about romance and the reuniting of- oh, darn... if I continue this sentence, I'll give it away... oh well... you'll just have to read it and find out for yourself! Hap...more
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 boo...more
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 boo...more
This is a bindup of the four books in the Balefire series by Cate Tiernan. The story is centred around two twins who were separated at birth - Thais and Clio. They are reunited when Thais father dies, and as Thais begins to discover witchcraft, both twins learn that their grandmother has been keeping secrets from them, and the people in their grandmothers coven have some dark motives.
I am a big lover of Cate Tiernan books, and this proved to be a very addictive series. Each book continues where...more
I am a big lover of Cate Tiernan books, and this proved to be a very addictive series. Each book continues where...more
This is a omnibus edition of the 4 books of the Balefire series. So, I read them in four sections for each book. I thought that the first section was only okay. I didn't really like the two main characters very much. Thais seemed to cry on every other page and while she was going through a lot this got annoying and Clio was to cliquish for me to like. I also didn't really like many of the supporting characters. But, I felt that the story had potential so I kept reading. Fortunately things got mu...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
**This review is also posted at http://life-ducks.blogspot.com**
This is a good, but long book by Cate Tiernan. Granted it is four books in one volume, it reads like one book. I really wish I had read them as four different books. I got kind of bogged down in the length simply because my attention span is horrible. I really did love the twins and the characters. I liked the plot and really loved that Tiernan changed points of view between first person (Thais) to first person (Clio) to third perso
...more
My dear Cate Tiernan has let me down. This plot was full of promise, and I had high hopes. The first two books were ok, but it got tedious in the remaining ones. I really liked the characters of the Treize. But that being said, I disliked Clio immensely. She was such a cliche, got annoying rather quickly, and had no redeeming qualities. Thais was ok; unsure of herself, but on her way to becoming extremely powerful.
The last two books really pissed me off. It just keep going downhill. The ending w...more
The last two books really pissed me off. It just keep going downhill. The ending w...more
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...more
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...more
Le monde de Balefire est intéressant, l'histoire pourrait être prenante, mais ça ne marche pas et c'est affreusement frustrant, je voulais beaucoup aimer ce livre, il a quand même une belle mythologie et se passe dans une ville qui peut être captivante, la Nouvelle Orléans, avec son atmosphère étouffante, magique, dangereuse, le lieu parfait pour mettre en place cette magie ancienne, mêlée de mots en français qui donne un exotisme tout à fait particulier à l'histoire. Mais c'est difficile à suiv...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| will there ever be a 5th book | 6 | 23 | Oct 15, 2012 05:40pm | |
| do you think there be a fith book | 4 | 13 | Jan 22, 2012 07:05pm |
"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 contro...more
More about Cate Tiernan...
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
