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Balefire and Moonstone

by Cynthia Gael (Goodreads Author)

4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 · rating details · 4 ratings · 4 reviews

For Tommy Hopkins, rich and well-traveled, the idea of witches is ridiculous. When he turns nineteen, Tommy will be the new Witchfinder General, a line that stretches back to the original, Matthew Hopkins. The Witchfinder General directs WFG Ltd., the richest company on the face of the earth, providing clean, non-polluting power-though few know the power they sell is drain...more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published September 28th 2010 by Gypsy Shadow Publishing Company (first published September 15th 2010)

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Feb 04, 2011 SirenBookReviews rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Cynthia Gael has written a wonderful tale full of romance, magic and suspense in equal parts. The writer sucks the reader in with a wonderfully intense prologue that has Bridgit Sinclair, a “true witch”, being hunted by the Witchmaster General. The scene ends in flames and a curse the witch casts on the man who betrayed her.

When the reader meets one of the two protagonists, Anya Blanchett is introduced; she is not only easily likeable, but also magically intriguing. Tommy Hopkins is rich, handso...more

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Jan 22, 2011 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, witches, ya-teen, gods-n-goddesses

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The son of a Witchfinder and a Chosen One (a true witch) battle a centuries old family curse that is destined to bind them together and then tear them apart. The curse can only be broken “when the love shared overcomes all boundaries.” Are Tommy and Anya the ones who can finally break the curse?

Balefire and Moonstone was an enjoyable enough read, but I didn't have strong feelings either way. The story is told with an alternating perspective that jumps between the first person POV of Tommy and An...more The son of a Witchfinder and a Chosen One (a true witch) battle a centuries old family curse that is destined to bind them together and then tear them apart. The curse can only be broken “when the love shared overcomes all boundaries.” Are Tommy and Anya the ones who can finally break the curse?

Balefire and Moonstone was an enjoyable enough read, but I didn't have strong feelings either way. The story is told with an alternating perspective that jumps between the first person POV of Tommy and Anya. The perspective switches with each chapter and the character's name is at the beginning of the chapter so it is easy to keep track of which character is talking. I enjoy the dual POV, especially when the author uses a style like this that makes it clear which head you are in.

I liked Tommy and Anya, but maybe Tommy a little more. He showed himself as a stand-up guy from the beginning when he stepped in to save Anya from the school bullies. He wants to do the right thing but soon learns he is in deep doo doo, a real stinker of a situation that creates a conflict that he doesn't know how to resolve. He is determined to make it right and never seems to waiver in his feelings for Anya.

After the bully incident, Anya goes home and does a binding spell on Tommy after knowing him for only about, let's see, um...maybe 10 minutes. This didn't make any sense to me. I know they are destined to be together, but yeesh... at that point in the story their feelings for each other were not really explored much at all. She does try to retract the spell later but the Great Mother, the Goddess who speaks to Anya, won't allow it because their destinies run deeper than the spell.

One aspect of the dialogue did bother me and that is how Anya uses the endearment "hun" or "love" a lot with Tommy even though she barely knows him. It made me think of the stereotypical gum-smacking, beehive-wearing, pencil-behind-the-ear waitress sayng, "can I get ya anything, hun?" Though Anya is from the south and they have a destined bond, it just made her dialogue sound forced and unnatural to me.

Anya is a bit conflicted about her witch heritage and has to work through her feelings. She has not come into her full powers until a certain event occurs that triggers them. Around this point in the book I felt there was an inconsistency in the story...

**SPOILER ALERT** SKIP THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERAGE!

After the house is blown up, Anya doesn’t know if Ivy, her mother, was killed or taken by the witchfinders. She even makes a statement to this effect. I expected her to worry and stress about whether her mother was alive or not and maybe try to find out somehow, but this never happens and I found it odd. Then towards the end of the book, there are comments that imply that she believes Ivy to be dead. This explains why she doesn’t try to find out about her mother, but, um... huh? When did she go from not knowing to being sure she was dead? I guess that explains why she didn’t try to find Ivy, but it doesn’t make sense to me. Also, if she does believe Ivy is dead then why didn’t show much of any grief about it? I haz konfewshun.

**END OF SPOILER**

The romance was sweet and I was a somewhat intrigued by the story, just not a lot intrigued. I would like to have seen the bond between Anya and Tommy fleshed out a little more. The writing felt okay to me and though I like the story, I think the pacing just didn't keep me interested enough to make it a page-turner. This story has an unresolved ending and seems to be just the beginning of the story arc that continues in the next book, Balefire and Lodestone.(less)

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Jan 19, 2011 Natasha Larry rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I reviewed this book for Siren Reviews and a full review can be found at

link: review link

I haven't read a book about witches since Harry Potter and I have to say I loved this book. I think any fans of paranormal romance and urban fantasy should read this book. The characters are believable, the plot is unique and the conflict is gut wrenching.

Highly recommended.

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Nov 21, 2010 Cynthia Gael added it · (Review from the author) · review of another edition

Ok..I'm the author, so I really can't comment without sounding bias! But I'd love to hear what you guys thought of it!!

Thanks so much for your interest in Balefire and Moonstone, and don't forget to leave a quick note to let me know how you liked it!

Sincerely,

Cyn

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